Toyota Recognized for Improvement in Environmental Performance

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Toyota is known for being an ecologically “green” company. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized eight of Toyota’s manufacturing facilities for improvements in environmental performance. Toyota achieved a 10% reduction in energy intensity, with a 24% reduction collectivity among the eight sites.

These reductions were part of the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry program. Toyota also received its eighth consecutive ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award for continuing its efforts to protect the environment through energy efficiency and better management.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Executive Vice President Steve St. Angelo, said, “Thanks to the efforts of our team members, Toyota has reduced our total energy use per vehicle over the last five years as we achieved greater energy efficiency across North American. This demonstrates that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen as we continuously identify new opportunities to reduce energy consumption while improving our processes.”

The eight sites recognized by the EPA are as follows:

  • Bodine Aluminum, Jackson, TN
  • Bodine Aluminum, St. Louis, MO
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Huntsville, AL
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Cambridge, ON Canada
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Woodstock, ON Canada
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Princeton, IN
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, San Antonio, TX

Plug-in Toyota Prius Hybrid Receives 4-Star NHTSA Rating

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid an overall score of 4 out of 5 stars.

The plug-in Prius received 5 stars for the side-impact crash test, but received 4 stars in all other tests, including frontal crash and rollover. The 5-door standard Toyota Prius, which the plug-in is based on, received 5 stars in all categories. The two vehicles share the same body, safety features, and components, so it makes one wonder why there is a difference.

Toyota explains, “The disparity in ratings for what appear to be vehicles with identical unibody structures may be attributed to the additional weight carried by the Plug-in model, and how that weight influenced the methodology of the NHTSA test. The increased mass of the Prius Plug-in model (about 120 lbs.) helps the vehicle carry additional energy into the barriers that are part of the NHTSA tests. Importantly, all of the occupant seating positions of the Plug-in model receive the same safety ratings as the regular Prius model.”

 

Three Toyota Models Make the List for “Top Family Vehciles”

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What constitutes a “family friendly car”? For some, this means a vehicle with plenty of cargo room to haul the kids around to school, activities, vacations, and everything in between. For others, this may mean safety and assurance that it will keep their family safe in all circumstances. To some families, this is determined by the car with the best fuel economy that will help maintain a tight budget.

Edumunds, a company known for analyzing different aspects of the automobile industry, recently published its list of the “Top 15 Best Family Vehicles.” When compiling the list, Edmunds took the diverse needs of family-vehicle shoppers into account. Safety and reliability were the primary focus, but Edmunds also looked at the performance and availability of family-friendly amenities.

Toyota proved to be a star with three different models represented on the list. Edmunds chose the Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, and Toyota Sienna as three of its top 15 family friendly cars. The Toyota Camry was chosen as a part of the “sedan” category. The Toyota Prius V was represented in the “fuel sippers” category and the Toyota Sienna among the top “big haulers” for families.  For the full list of top family vehicles for 2012, visit http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-15-best-family-vehicles-for-2012.html.

 

Toyota Camry Takes No. 2 Spot for 2012 Auto Sales

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With half of 2012 behind us, data is being released about the top selling products for the first half of the year. In the U.S. auto sales category, the Toyota Camry was a front runner with 213,903 sales so far this year. The Toyota Camry sales were just behind the leader in U.S. auto sales, the Ford F series pickup truck. 

Although the Camry was the second most sold vehicle in America over the past six months, it saw the biggest increase in sales from last year. Its 45% gain since last year took the leading spot in the sales improvement category. A complete redesign of the vehicle for the current model year has helped sales. Also, the easing inventory crunch that resulted from a part shortage after the earthquake in Japan last year was a contributing factor.  The Toyota Camry also deemed the title as the perennial sales leader in the passenger car segment of the market.

Toyota was also represented in this official list of top selling vehicles in the U.S., compiled by Autodata Corp. by taking the No. 7 spot, as well. The Toyota Corolla was the seventh most selling vehicle in America with total sales of 151,726 in the first half of 2012.

Other vehicles on the list include the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck (No. 3), Honda Civic (No. 4), and Nissan Altima (No.5). With new design plans in the works by Honda, Nissan, and Chevrolet for upcoming models, the Toyota Camry and Corolla will be facing some stiff competition in the second half of the year.

Toyota Ranked #1 on List of Best Global Green Brands

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If buying “green” is something that you spend a lot of time thinking about and pursuing, you should consider a Toyota for your next vehicle purchase. According to Interbrand’s “2012 Best Global Green Brands Report,” Toyota is the most ‘green.’ This list encompasses more than just car manufacturers; it covers any and all types of companies, like Johnson & Johnson (#2), Starbucks (#36), and UPS (#43).

The report focuses on two areas: sustainability performance and sustainability perception. Interbrand determines the perception score by polling 10,000 respondents in ten different countries. There is almost always a gap, one way or the other, between how a company actually performs and how sustainable people perceive it to be.

David Pearson, global sustainability leader of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, stated, “It is becoming increasingly clear that sustainability is a ‘must have’ rather than a ‘nice to have’ for a lot of companies…Closing the gap between sustainability performance and market perception is an incredibly important part of taking and continuing the sustainability journey.”

Toyota is not only #1 for 2012, but was #1 for 2011 as well. Toyota has made environmental sustainability a key feature in its company culture (think of the Prius).

So, the next time you are car shopping and need to “go green,” go with Toyota.

Toyota Tundra Auctioned off for $100,000 at Charity Event

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This past weekend, Toyota donated a very unique vehicle for the Barrett-Jackson auto auction. With a rusted-looking exterior, vintage style 20-inch wheels, antique interior appearance, and wood bed floor, the donated Toyota Tundra looked like a beaten-down truck from years ago. The appearance of the Tundra was intentional, however, and was built by NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer. The intention was to pay homage to the American Heartlands.

Honoring the American Heartlands deemed appropriate as the proceeds from the Barrett-Jackson auto auction went to the Emporia Community Foundation, benefiting the citizens of Emporia, Kansas who were hit hard by tornadoes. The third annual Orange County, California auction was held June 22-24, generating more than $14 million in sales of collectible cars in front of a crowd of over 54,000 people.

With a slow start to bidding on the vintage style Toyota Tundra, the winning bid was estimated at $30,000. However, Bowyer sweetened the deal by adding in a driver suit and a trip to next year’s Daytona 500 NASCAR race.  From there the bidding increased to a final price of $100,000.

 

Toyota Showcases a Car for Kids

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Every kid’s dream has come to life with Toyota’s reveal of the Camatte, a car designed for children.  The miniature sized car was designed “for parents and children to experience together the fun of driving, car customization, and car enthusiasm.” The concept was introduced at a Tokyo toy show earlier this month.

This pint-sized electric car is just over 8 feet long and 4 feet wide and reaches speeds of 25 mph. Although disappointing to kids who want to hit the road, the Toyota Camatte is not certified for on-road driving. Toyota recommends driving in open areas such as fields or go-kart tracks.

To get children excited about cars from a young age, Toyota designed the Camatte to be very customizable. Every body panel, along with the lights, roof, and rear seats, is designed to be removable.

The Camatte’s layout was planned specifically for guidance while a child drives.  The three-seat layout puts the child driver in front with two seats in the rear. The rear-seat parental controls allow you to provide assisting braking and steering when needed. The idea is to get children comfortable with driving and controlling a vehicle from a young age.

While this is still a concept and there are no plans for manufacturing, this type of toy could be a strategy for automakers to encourage children to stick with this brand when they are old enough to drive their own car.

Watch the YouTube video below to see the car being built at the Tokyo toy show.

watch?v=m4iHHV0PtCk&noredirect=1

Toyota Corolla: Going to the Movies

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With summer here, and blockbuster movies set to hit the theaters, you might encounter a situation like the one below. If you are in your Toyota Corolla, you may be able to avoid these distractions and navigate safely to the movies.

The 2012 Toyota Corolla is an affordable small car that comes with comfortable seating, easy-to-use controls, and was named a Top Safety Pick by IIHS. Owners of the Corolla enjoy the sharp driving capabilities and great fuel economy, with the Corolla earning 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Stop by McInerney Toyota and test drive a new Corolla. It could get you out of a sticky situation.

Best Family Cars of 2012 Select Toyota Prius, Camry, and Sienna

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Three Toyota models have been selected in the fifth annual Top 15 Best Family Cars by Parents magazine and Edmunds.com, appearing in the July issue of Parents magazine, which hit newsstands on June 12

Toyota earned picks across three of the five categories including high mileage cars, sedans, and large vehicles. Car experts from Parents magazine and Edmunds.com judged hundreds of vehicles, focusing on safety and reliability. Each car was rated on performance, interior, exterior, and family-friendly features. Only cars with antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and at least six air bags qualified for the list. All three Toyotas selected were awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick in 2012.

In the high-mileage category, Toyota’s Prius V is praised for its generous cargo space and versatility for the fuel efficient family on-the-go.

In the sedan category, Toyota’s 7th generation Camry combines comfort with handling and style to provide a family car Dad can be proud to drive.

Toyota Sienna pulls away with a large vehicle pick, providing flexible configurations to fit any family and cargo combination.

Share the vehicle that works best for your family and why below.

2013 Scion FR-S Arrives

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After much anticipation, the 2013 Scion FR-S is now available for sale at a starting price starting at $24,200. This front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports coupe delivers 200hp and produces 150 pound-feet torque, while still earning 30mpg on the highway with manual transmission and 34 mpg for automatic (which costs $25,300).

Scion vice president Jack Hollis is thrilled the FR-S is finally on the market and believes consumers are too in saying, “We can’t wait for performance driving enthusiasts to get into the FR-S because we know that they are going to love it!”

Quick, nimble, and dynamic maneuverability are among the many features available based on the FR-S’s lightweight design.  The interior features a 2+2 comfortable seating configuration in which the front seats are mounted low enough to allow the rear seats to fold down for extra space.

Don’t forget about the programmable shift indicator installed in addition to the tilt and telescopic adjusted steering wheel.  The FR-S wouldn’t be a sports car without a complete audio system—an eight-speaker complete with HD Radio™ technology.

Finally the FR-S comes with a Scion Service Boost and as with other Scion models a warranty—specifically a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.