If there is one word to describe how Toyota Motor has behaved in its 50 years in the American market, it is careful — careful not to expand too fast or appear brash in its goals, lest it stir up political resentment as it gathered market share at the expense of Detroit.
But Toyota is making some surprisingly aggressive moves this week at the North American International Auto Show as it heads into markets long dominated by its American and European rivals. And the moves represent a notable shift for a company where conservatism has been a watchword. On Sunday, Toyota unveiled the Crew Max, a bigger, four-door version of its new Tundra pickup truck, which itself will be the biggest truck Toyota has sold in the United States.
And on Monday, Toyota's Lexus luxury division was due to take the wraps off two high-performance models, including a powerful sports car, the first in a new line of cars that it has dubbed F — for fast.
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