KEY POINTS:
Toyota have unveiled their 2008 Formula One car, recognising that they need to do much better this year if they are to shake off their reputation as big-spending under-achievers.
The team finished sixth last season, thanks to McLaren being stripped of all their constructors' points for a spying controversy, but have been absent from the grand prix podium since the Australian Grand Prix of April 2006.
Their meagre tally of 13 points last year was less than half the amount scored by Williams, who also use the Japanese manufacturers' engines.
"We have to do better than we did in 2007," Toyota motorsport president John Howett said at the Cologne factory for the launch of the TF108.
"We have to work harder, faster and smarter than our competition."
Team principal Tadashi Yamashina, who has said he has been given two years to get the team on the winning track, didn't go as far as his predecessor Tsutomu Tomita, who publicly apologised last year for the team's failures. But he made clear that Toyota, who have yet to win a race, were getting restless for success.
"Our clear target in 2008 is to make a big improvement in our results because we were not satisfied with our performance last year," he said.
"Our drivers should be aiming to finish in the points regularly and challenging for the podium."
Toyota have a different line-up from last year, with Germany's Ralf Schumacher losing his place to compatriot Timo Glock alongside Italian Jarno Trulli.
"I'm sure we can do great things," said Trulli. "In 2005 we had a great result and I'm sure we have the potential to bounce back.
"Finishing on the podium is always possible and realistic," said Trulli.
Glock follows in the footsteps of compatriot Nico Rosberg and Britain's Lewis Hamilton as the latest winner of the GP2 support series to break into Formula One.
Toyota said the TF108 represented a significant step forward with a longer wheelbase, new gearbox, revised suspension and aerodynamic overhaul.
- REUTERS