Flashy shoes and the 2012 Toyota Corolla: The Joys of the World

America's Best-Selling Car Tuned Up for 2013 NASCAR Season

Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda and NASCAR driver Kyle Busch test drive the 2013 NASCAR Camry. (video)

---

---

---

---

---

SALISBURY, N.C. (May 22, 2012) -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) today formally introduced the new 2013 Toyota Camry that will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) beginning next season at TRD’s Salisbury, N.C. facility.

The introduction of the new 2013 Camry for NASCAR competition marked the culmination of an aggressive redesign to provide the 2013 Camry with an updated and more-unique identity. TRD worked together with Calty Design, part of Toyota’s global network design team, to create an on-track Camry that incorporates design elements which give America’s best-selling car its distinct character.

“We’re thrilled to finally unveil our new 2013 Camry and we think NASCAR fans will really appreciate that our new on-track Camry looks like the one in their driveways,” said Ed Laukes, TMS vice president of marketing communications and motorsports. “Our 2013 Camry looks more like the production vehicle than ever before, and we hope this helps revitalize the long-standing relationship between fans and manufacturers in NASCAR. Never before have we had a Camry competing in NASCAR that looked so similar to its production counterpart.”

A new front grill-area that matches the production model, distinct character lines down the side of the vehicle and an updated rear bumper make the redesigned 2013 Camry stock car more relevant than ever before to its showroom sibling.

“We’re extremely proud of the new Camry and the development of the car was truly a unique process,” said Lee White, president and general manager of TRD. “NASCAR and all four manufacturers were brought together to guide the direction of the new cars. We all worked together to put the ‘S’ back in NASCAR -- we all wanted race cars that look more like our stock, production models -- and together we accomplished that. Our new Camry for 2013 is a great looking race car. Everyone at Toyota is eager to have our drivers in a race car that more resembles the street Camry.”

For 10 straight years, and 14 of the past 15 years, the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in America. Built at Toyota manufacturing facilities in Georgetown, Kentucky and Lafayette, Indiana, the 2012 Toyota Camry was recently named the ‘Best Redesigned Vehicle’ by Kelley Blue Book. In addition, the Camry has been named the ‘Most American Car’ by Cars.com’s American-Made Index for three consecutive years.

In an effort to create more distinct and stock vehicles for the race track, NASCAR worked together with the four series manufacturers to determine what areas were either ‘locked in’ or ‘open’ for unique design. NASCAR also allowed for the exchange of glass for solid body pieces.

“When everyone at Toyota first saw the design of the 2013 Camry, the first reaction was, ‘They’re actually going to let you race a car that looks like that?’,” said Andy Graves, TRD’s vice president of chassis engineering. “That just demonstrates how excited everyone was about the new design of the Camry stock car.”

The new 2013 Toyota Camry will make its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Daytona International Speedway’s ‘Speedweeks’ in February.

 

Courtesy of Toyota

Toyota Hits Four Million Unit Global Sales Milestone for Hybrids

• 1.5 Million Toyota Hybrid Vehicles Sold in the U.S.

TORRANCE (May. 22, 2012) – Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan announced its global hybrid vehicle sales totaled four million units through April 2012.

Toyota currently sells 18 hybrid passenger vehicles in 80 countries and regions around the world. This year, hybrid vehicle accounted for 15 percent of TMC’s global vehicle sales. Prius, Toyota’s first hybrid passenger car, went on sale in Japan in 1997. Hybrid technology was later introduced to the U.S. in 2000 with the arrival of the Prius.

Since then, the Toyota Division of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. sold 1.5 million hybrid vehicles in the U.S., accounting for 65 percent of all hybrid vehicles sold in the region. Prius, the iconic hybrid brand, comprises half of all hybrids on the road in the U.S. with sales totaling 1.2 million units through April 2012.

The expansion of the Prius has been successful in the U.S. since the Prius v was introduced in to the market in November 2011 followed by Prius c and Prius Plug-in during the first quarter 2012. In that time, Prius family sold 60,859 units in the U.S.

"All of us at Toyota would like to sincerely thank our customers, who have made Prius the best-selling hybrid in the industry," said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. "While we're proud of this accomplishment, we are not stopping here as hybrids will continue to be a core technology for Toyota."

In addition to the Prius Family, Toyota’s other U.S. hybrid models include versions of the Camry and Highlander, which feature larger displacement applications of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Toyota calculates that the total number of its hybrid vehicles sold globally since 1997 have produced to approximately 26 million fewer tons of C02 emissions than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

 

Courtesy of Toyota

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Driving in High Wind Conditions

Driving in high winds can be dangerous and even more hazardous because of the other weather conditions that normally accompany them. Extreme caution should be used when driving a car in any type of severe weather.

• Be aware of the other vehicles around you in high winds. This is especially true with RVs, campers, trucks, buses, or trailers being towed.
• Slow down the speed of your car to minimize the wind’s affect on your vehicle.
• Avoid parking near trees, downed power lines and buildings.
• The main factors that keep you on the road are the weight of your vehicle, so if you are driving a little city-car along the motorways in the high winds,you should be more careful.
• Plan ahead. As you have to drive more slowly in high winds you should expect your journey to take longer than usual and therefore leave extra time. You definitely don’t want to be speeding to make up the time!
• Make steering corrections when driving from a protected to unprotected area. This is because the wind may move your car with a sudden force after being in the protected area.
• Lower your speed when driving next to larger vehicles such as trucks and buses. These vehicles can swing out and hit your car if the wind picks up suddenly.
• Listen to the radio for changes in weather conditions that could become more dangerous.
• Wind is often accompanied by heavy rain or winter precipitation. Stay alert for slippery areas.

• Courtesy of Car-Use.net

Toyota back on top as world's largest car maker

Japanese brand reclaims crown from GM thanks to 2.49 million sales in first quarter of 2012

In a comeback for the ages, Toyota has reclaimed its spot as the world's largest automaker.

Initial sales reports for 2012 so far suggest that the Japanese brand, which was badly hit by natural disasters last year, is now outselling American rival General Motors.

Toyota was the world's largest automaker between 2008 and 2010, but lost its crown to GM after the Japanese earthquake and then flooding in Thailand seriously disrupted its production.

Now though, the brand is back on top, having sold 2.49 million between January and March, compared to 2.28 million by General Motors.

Volkswagen, the world's number three, sold 2.16 million, Bloomberg calculated.

Many observers consider Toyota to be in a better position now than it has been in years -- with global gas prices still high, demand for its fuel-efficient vehicles is soaring, especially for the Prius.

Demand for the model in the U.S. alone is outpacing the prediction of 220,000 vehicles sold in 2012, Toyota said this week, with the Prius comfortably selling more in April than competitors such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt combined.

This week it unveiled its first all-electric vehicle, the RAV4 EV, at an electric vehicle show in Los Angeles.

The electrified SUV is a reprise of one of the world's first electric vehicles, the original RAV4 electric, with several new enhancements -- it's been developed with the help of leading electric automaker Tesla, and now features a 100 mile (160km) range and performance equivalent to the gas-powered RAV4.

Courtesy of AFP/Relaxnews via NY Daily News

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Caring for Windshield Cracks and Dings

Checking your windshield is important because a ding that occurs in spring or summer can cause a break in the winter. Most people drive more in warm weather and more driving means more vibration, which can cause a ding to expand into a cracked windshield.

Warmer weather also means running the air conditioning. "The shock of quickly going from hot to cold stresses a windshield and causing that ding to suddenly become a cracked windshield," says Jim Olson, director of national accounts and brand awareness for NOVUS® Windshield Repair.

Here are some tips if you have a ding or star on your windshield:

    Inspect the ding. If it has a cone shape, a circle deep in the glass or looks like a small star with points spreading out, have the ding repaired promptly. These are serious dings that can grow into a cracked windshield.

    Don't touch a ding or attempt to repair it yourself. Without special equipment and training, you will only contaminate the damaged area, making repairs hard to complete.

    As a temporary measure, put a piece of clear tape, like packing tape, over the ding. This won't keep the ding from spreading, but will help prevent contamination.

    Don't wash the vehicle-especially through the car wash.  Soap and water can contaminate the spot and a high-pressure wash can cause the ding to expand.

    Driving a vehicle with a windshield ding causes vibration and exposure to the elements cause the ding to spread.

    Avoid slamming the car doors and don't close the doors with the windows rolled all the way up. The vibration or buildup of air pressure inside the car can cause the ding to spread.

    Don't run the defroster, heater or air conditioning on high settings.  Don't park the vehicle in the sun. Rapid changes in interior temperature or prolonged exposure to sunlight can stress and weaken the windshield.

 

Source: NOVUS via Road & Travel Magazine

2012 Venza: Overview

Options shown. Not all features available on all vehicles and model grades. Please see your Owner's Manual for further details and important safety information.

Toyota reveals 2012 RAV4 EV; plans to build roughly 2,600 over next 3 years

Toyota revealed on Monday the production version of its eagerly awaited 2012 RAV4 EV all-electric crossover, with a powertrain designed and provided by startup electric carmaker Tesla Motors.

Surprising many at the event, Toyota revealed its production plans: It expects to build and sell roughly 2,600 RAV4 EVs over the next three years, and it will launch in only four California regions.

That’s only a fraction of the 10,000 or so Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid models that the company will likely sell during 2012. It would appear to indicate that the RAV4 EV is essentially more a “compliance car”—designed to meet California Zero-Emission Vehicle rules—than a product Toyota plans to market and sell aggressively across the country.

“We look forward to seeing how the market responds” to the RAV4 EV, said Bob Carter, Toyota’s group VP and general manager. He predicted that the RAV4 EV would attract “sophisticated early technology adopters, much like the first-generation Prius.”

The 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV has a range estimated at 100 miles—the EPA range rating is more likely to be 70 to 75 miles—and it carries a list price of $49,800 before incentives.

Toyota says the performance and handling of the electric RAV4 matches that of the most powerful gasoline RAV4 model, fitted with a V-6 engine. In Normal mode, it takes 8.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, and top speed is limited to 85 mph.

In Sport mode, however, the 0-to-60-mph time is cut to 7.0 seconds, and top speed rises to 100 mph. With the battery pack mounted centrally and low in the floorpan, the RAV4 EV should be fun to drive—something that certainly can’t said of every crossover utility. The blue dash display turns red when the driver selects Sport mode.

Following a 2010 meeting between new Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, the RAV4 EV was announced in July 2010. Toyota showed an early prototype at the Los Angeles Auto Show that November, and first drives of refined prototypes came in April 2011.

Tesla provides the lithium-ion battery pack, power electronics, and the electric motor that powers the front wheels, with a rated peak power of 115 kilowatts (154 hp). The battery warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Many modifications unique to the electric model have been made to the base vehicle. Toyota claims that the RAV4 EV is the world’s most aerodynamic SUV, quoting a drag coefficient of 0.30.

Compared to gasoline versions, the new model has a modified front bumper, grille and surround, as well as changes to the side mirrors and rear spoiler, and underbody shields and changes to smooth airflow under the vehicle.

The RAV4 EV comes as a high-end model in the RAV4 range. Both front seats--including the six-way adjustable driver’s seat—incorporate heaters. A central 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display shows EV operating data as well as telematics and infotainment. Low beams and daytime running lights are LED, with projector high beams.

Toyota will offer three colors: Blizzard Pearl White, Shoreline Blue Pearl, and Classic Silver Metallic. Seat inserts and door trim are made of a blue-tinted “Neutron” fabric. Cargo space is 73 cubic feet, the same as the standard RAV4.

The RAV4 EV comes with a standard 120-Volt charging cable, although Toyota is working with Leviton to provide 240-Volt home charging stations for owners. One option is a 40-amp, 9.6-kilowatt station that will provide a charging time of roughly 6 hours. The vehicle’s onboard Tesla charger can operate up to 10 kilowatts. The charging port is a standard J-1772 socket.

The electric RAV4 will initially be offered for sale late this summer in four California regional markets: San Diego, Los Angeles/Orange County, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area. It will go into production at Toyota’s RAV4 plant in Woodstock, Ontario, within weeks.

The unveiling took place on the exposition floor of the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium, held this week in the Los Angeles Convention Center.

SOURCE: washingtonpost.com

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Cold Facts About A/C Refrigerant

How did we ever get along without air conditioning in our cars? It’s a feature we take for granted until, suddenly, it’s blowing hot air.

 

In the past few years, many owners have discovered that fixing an inoperative air conditioner can cost a few hundred dollars or more, depending upon the make and model of vehicle. The reason is that the old standby R-12 refrigerant, trade named DuPont Freon, has been replaced by R-134a. Touted as being environmentally safer than its predecessor, R-134a has been standard since ’94.

If your older vehicle needs major repairs to the air conditioning system you can expect to replace refrigerant and the oil in the compressor in addition to the old components. You also may need to install a retrofit conversion. Do not allow anyone to mix refrigerants. They’re not inter-changeable. You cannot add R-134a to your older air conditioner without first flushing the system. Further, according to the Car Care Council, some substitutes are volatile mixtures of propane, butane and flammable hydrocarbons. Keep in mind the fact that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, you’re damaging the ozone layer.

An annual inspection of the vehicle, including the air conditioning system, may help forestall costly repairs. Ask your service center to evaluate your system before those hot and humid days of summer.

 

Courtesy of CarCare.org

Toyota to Debut All New RAV4 EV at EVS 26

Torrance, Calif., April 30, 2012---Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., will debut the all new RAV4 EV at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles. Toyota's news conference will be held on Monday, May 7 at noon in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Credentialed media can receive complimentary EVS26 registration by visiting www.evs26.org.

 

Courtesy of Toyota