Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Toyota to Debut a Stunning U.S.-Designed Sedan at the 2012 New York International Auto Show

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Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. will debut an all-new U.S.-designed sedan at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. This global premiere will take place in the Galleria room within the Jacob Javits Center at 10:30 a.m. EDT on April 5, 2012.

The sedan’s exciting new design features an elegant yet athletic look.

Media and the public will have the opportunity to participate in a live-streaming video chat with the designers of the new sedan by submitting questions via Twitter and Facebook with the #ToyotaDesign hashtag. The Toyota Design Live chat is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT on April 5, 2012 and hosted on facebook.com/toyota.

Courtesy of Toyota

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Toyota Giving 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits -- Less Than One Week Left to Apply

Time is running out for nonprofits to apply for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will be giving 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. Winners of these vehicles will be selected through public voting on Facebook.

 Applications will close in less than one week – at 12:00 pm PT on Monday, March 26 or once 5,000 applications have been received, whichever comes first. Complete information is available at 100carsforgood.com.

 Webinar for nonprofits tomorrow – Thursday, March 22 at 12:30 pm ET – http://ow.ly/9Mq6P


How 100 Cars for Good Works: 

 

  • An independent panel of experts will identify 500 finalists from the applications received. Finalists will be notified in April. Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and non-profit Native American or Alaskan tribes with sovereignty are eligible to apply.
  • Beginning on Monday, May 14, the public will be able to vote on Facebook for the organizations they think should win a new car at 100carsforgood.com. (This links to a special 100 Cars for Good Facebook page.)
  • Five finalist organizations will be profiled each day for 100 consecutive days. Whichever nonprofit has the most votes at the end of the day will win a vehicle.
  • Finalists will be eligible for one of six Toyota models.  The four runners up every day will each receive a $1,000 grant from Toyota.
  • Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer of Toyota Motor Sales, commented, “At Toyota, we appreciate what a big difference a new car or truck can make for organizations that are doing so much to improve lives and strengthen communities across America. Over the past 20 years, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits throughout the U.S. 100 Cars for Good allows us to build on that commitment in new ways, putting the public in the ‘driver’s seat’ as we work to help community organizations broaden their impact.”
Helping Nonprofits Build Digital Marketing and Social Media Skills:

 

  • 100 Cars for Good is also an opportunity for Toyota to help nonprofits develop or expand their digital marketing skills. As part of this commitment, the company will provide every finalist with a digital video camera, training toolkit and free online advertising credits to help support their 100 Cars for Good campaign.
  • Molly Reeser, Executive Director of Detroit’s Camp Casey, one of last year’s 100 Cars winners noted, “In addition to a new truck, Toyota gave us the training and resources we needed to get more sophisticated about social media marketing for the long-term. This has had a real impact, with our ‘likes’ on Facebook jumping five-fold very quickly.”

Courtesy of Toyota

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Here is a service tip to help keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition. The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure.

Key_chains

Monday, March 19, 2012

Forbes Lists Five Toyota Vehicles as Toughest Cars for 2012

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Of the nine vehicles on the Forbes list of the Toughest Cars for 2012 list, five are Toyota products -- Toyota Highlander, Prius and Sienna and Scion xB and xD.  Forbes based its conclusions on the research, dependability studies, and safety testing of J.D. Power and Associates, Consumer Reports, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). First, the publication selected vehicles in each segment (including cars, minivans, SUVs, and crossovers, but excluding trucks) that received a “Top Three” rating in the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.  Next, it compared that list with Consumer Reports “Most Reliable” vehicles, based on its 2011 Annual Auto Study. Any vehicle that appeared on both lists then proceeded to the final scrutiny, the IIHS’s Top Safety Picks for 2012.  In order to make the list, a vehicle must receive a rating of “good” on all four of the IIHS’s crash tests.

Courtesy of Toyota

Fans! Check out the 2012 Toyota Prius.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

New Fuel Efficient Models Help Strengthen Toyota's Industry Leading Fuel Efficiency

As drivers endure the steady ascent of fuel prices nationally, Toyota, the most fuel-efficient full-line auto manufacturer in the United States, has strengthened its portfolio of efficient cars with five recently introduced vehicles that offer an average combined fuel economy of 44 mpg.  

The Scion iQ (EPA rated 37 mpg combined), Camry Hybrid (EPA rated 40.5 mpg combined average for LE and XLE trim levels), and Prius v (EPA rated 42 mpg combined) all arrived to market in late 2011. The Prius Plug-in (EPA rated 50 mpg combined and 95 MPGe), featuring extended electric range, is making its way to first customers in the 15 launch states, and the Prius c (EPA rated 50 mpg combined) will be on sale nationally March 12.

These new vehicles represent a broad range of leading-edge drivetrain and engineering technologies that help them achieve a high level of efficiency. Hybrid Synergy Drive, extended electric vehicle range, generous use of lightweight high-strength steel, a focus on aerodynamics, and the use of efficient Continuously Variable Transmissions are among the features that help these new vehicles attain a high level of fuel efficiency. 

These five new models arrive to market with Toyota already enjoying a 12-percent improvement in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and a 10-percent improvement in U.S. truck CAFE over the past five years. Toyota remains committed to a long-term plan to bring a portfolio of advanced technologies to market, including hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.


According to the EPA class summary found on U.S. Department of Energy’s www.fueleconomy.gov website, Toyota offers several models that achieve 2012 Best-in Class fuel economy EPA ratings (excluding Plug-in Hybrid and pure EV vehicles).  The Prius c leads the EPA’s compact classification with 50 mpg combined. The Prius Liftback’s combined 50 mpg leads the EPA’s midsize category, and the midsize station wagon class is led by the 42 mpg combined offered by the Prius v.  These segment classifications are determined by the EPA’s measurement of a vehicle’s interior volume.

Toyota and Scion branded vehicles also represent six of the site’s Top 10 EPA-rated Fuel Sippers for 2012 (excluding PHEV or pure EV products), and occupy four spots in that list’s top five.  Toyota family vehicles found on the U.S Department of Energy’s Fueleconomy.gov Top Ten EPA-rated Fuel Sippers include: 
  • 2012 Prius c (ranked 1st, 53 city, 46 hwy)
  • 2012 Prius (ranked 2nd, 51 city, 48 hwy)
  • 2012 Prius v (ranked 4th, 44 city, 40 hwy)
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid LE (ranked 7th, 43 city, 39 hwy)
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE (ranked 8th, 40 city, 38 hwy)
  • 2012 Scion iQ (ranked 10th, 36 city, 37 hwy)
Prius was named the Best Overall Value of the year (Passenger Car category) for 2012 by IntelliChoice. Prius continues to be the world’s best-selling fuel-efficient vehicle, with more than 3.5 million vehicles sold worldwide.  Since its U.S. introduction in 2000, Prius – when compared to the average car – has saved American consumers an estimated $2.93 billion in fuel costs*, 1.1 billion gallons of gas* and 16.1 million tons of CO2 emissions*.

* Based on average EPA estimated combined mpg rating of Prius versus all MY 2001 to 2011 cars, 10,000 miles/year, and average U.S. gas prices including taxes. Fueleconomy.gov. Actual mileage may vary. US Energy Information Administration

Courtesy of Toyota

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Kudo Ghassan!

Friday, March 9, 2012

100 Cars for Good’ Applications Open on March 12

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Toyota believes that vehicles, and the mobility they provide, can serve as meaningful tools in enriching the good works of charities in communities across the country.  If you know a nonprofit organization in need of a new vehicle, Toyota encourages you to spread the word about the company’s 100 Cars for Good program.  Toyota will award 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public.

 Starting Monday, March 12, 2012 (9:00 a.m. PDT), eligible nonprofits can apply for a chance to win one of six Toyota vehicles through Toyota’s Facebook page.  The deadline is March 26 or until 5,000 applications are received, whichever comes first.

 For sample communications to help promote the program, please go to http://getingear.toyota.com/pr/community/document/Communications_Tool_Kit_FINAL.pdf

 If you want to cast your vote, go to the 100 Cars for Good site on Toyota’s Facebook page starting May 14 to help decide which nonprofits win a new car.

Courtesy of Toyota

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

2013 Toyota Venza to Make North American Debut at New York Auto Show

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Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today announced the 2013 Venza crossover vehicle will make its North American debut as part of the Toyota display at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
The Toyota Venza crossover, which redefines vehicle versatility by combining a sleek design with SUV flexibility, will now offer enhanced exterior styling, added value through several new standard convenience features and updated option packages that include the Entune™ multi-media system for 2013 model year. 
Venza’s aerodynamic shape has been tastefully modified with a new upper and lower grille, fog lamps and rear taillights. The updated styling is complemented by a new 19-inch wheel design and three new exterior colors: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica. 
The 2013 Venza will continue to be available in LE, XLE and Limited grades. The LE and XLE models are available with all powertrain combinations: four-cylinder, V6, front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD); the Venza Limited comes with the V6 engine only, in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.

  Value has been enhanced and ordering simplified with the addition of many standard features in all three grades.   The value-driven LE grade adds new standard features such as Display Audio, Blind Spot Mirror, puddle lamps and outer mirror turn signals. The XLE grade adds standard Driver Memory Seat, Reverse Tilt Outer Mirrors and Display Audio with Navigation and Toyota Entune™ multi-media system. The premium Limited grade adds standard LED Daytime Running Lights and Premium HDD Navigation with Entune and JBL®.

Venza was developed specifically for the North American market, appealing to customers who prioritize bold, innovative design, a luxurious and refined interior and excellent handling, but still require roominess and versatility. Venza provides SUV flexibility with its fold-flat rear seats, spacious cargo area, elevated driver sightline, available AWD and up to 3,500-lbs. towing capacity.

The Venza design was the creation of Toyota’s Calty Design studios in Newport Beach, Calif., and Ann Arbor, Mich.  Calty designers leaned toward a sleek concept with a wide stance and sporty exterior, that included important SUV attributes, such as cargo space, towing capability and available all-wheel drive performance.

Venza was primarily engineered at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.  It is assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), in Georgetown, Ky.  More than 70 percent of Venza’s components come from North American suppliers.

Courtesy of Toyota