Toyota increasing Prius C production to meet high demand at home and abroad

When we last asked Toyota representatives about the production capacity of the 2012 Prius C, we were told the company's Iwate, Japan plant could make up to 30,000 units each month. That sounds like a lot, but Toyota is currently sending just 20 percent – 6,000 a month – to the United States.

Back in December, when the car went on sale in Japan, the company received 120,000 orders in the first five days it was on sale. As we noted last week, Toyota also sold 1,200 Prius C units in the first three days it was on sale in the States. The baby Prius may not be as popular here as it is at home, but 6,000 a month sure doesn't seem like it's enough.

The C is made at just one plant, run by Toyota's Kanto Auto Works Ltd. affiliate in northern Japan. A strong yen and all those Japanese orders means that the C models that do get made are mostly delivered to the home country instead of be placed on a boat to be exported. Toyota originally planned to produce just 20,000 C models a month, and is now looking at how to go over even the 30,000-unit level.

By increasing efficiencies at the plant and moving production of non-Prius C models (specifically, the not-available-in-the-U.S. Toyota Ractis) from Iwate to other plants, the unspecified increase should be in place by the middle of 2012. Thus far, there is no official talk about making the C at other plants.

 

Couresy of Automotive News via Autoblog

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Courtesy of FuelEconomy.gov

Toyota, Volvo & Chevy Trucks Lead the Pack With Vincentric Best Value in America Awards

The 8th annual Vincentric Best Value in America awards were announced earlier today, with Toyota earning the top spot for best value passenger cars, Volvo being named the best value luxury brand, and Chevrolet earning the award for best value truck brand.

The overall Toyota performance was even stronger when including its Lexus and Scion divisions, with the manufacturer taking 13 Vincentric awards total, including four hybrid segments. Chevrolet augmented its truck strength in the electric/plug-in hybrid segment, as the Chevrolet Volt won for the second year in a row. Strong value was also shown by Hyundai vehicles, as the automaker garnered four Vincentric awards, including the two-time winner Hyundai Tucson, while Kia also had multiple winning vehicles. Notable success among the other brands included Honda, whose CR-V won for the sixth year, and Ford, whose F-150 led the popular 1/2 ton pickup segment.

"Our awards take into account all costs involved with owning a vehicle, which enables consumers to understand automotive value and measure the impact that owning a specific vehicle will have on their financial situation," stated David Wurster, President of Vincentric. "Our 2012 results show strong performance from a wide variety of manufacturers, indicating that automakers continue to use cost-of-ownership as a key metric when benchmarking performance against competitors."

Vincentric measures cost-of-ownership using eight different cost factors: depreciation, fees & taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. Using a statistical model, the company identified the Vincentric Best Value in America winners by measuring which vehicles had lower than expected ownership costs given their market segment and price. Each vehicle was evaluated in all 50 states plus DC using a range of annual mileage intervals and insurance profiles.

SOURCE: marketwatch.com

Vote: Toyota to Give 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits

Toyota launched 100 Cars for Good, a major national philanthropy program Monday in which the automaker is giving away 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. 

Winners will be selected each day through public voting on Facebook.  

Camp Casey awarded a truck in first year of program

This is the second consecutive year for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program. 100 Cars for Good is the first Toyota initiative to engage the public in determining how its corporate philanthropic donations will be awarded.

Vehicles from the first year of the program were awarded to nonprofits in 31 states and the District of Columbia, including Camp Casey of Royal Oak.

Camp Casey offers programs to children with cancer and their families, including the popular Horsey House Call which brings a horse to the doorstep of kids too ill to attend events offered by the organization.

“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 in very short order,” said Molly Reeser, Camp Casey executive director in a press release.

Here’s how the 100 Cars for Good program works:

• Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and non-profit Native American or Alaskan tribes with sovereignty can apply online at www.100carsforgood.com beginning on Monday, March 12.  This address will link to the 100 Cars for Good Facebook page.
• 100 Cars for Good applications will be open for two weeks (until Monday, March 26 at 11:59 am PST), or until 5,000 applications are received.  From this group, 500 finalists will be selected and certified by an independent panel of experts.  Finalists will be notified in April.
• Each finalist will then submit a short video and explanation on how a new vehicle would help further its work. Both will be featured on the 100 Cars for Good site.
• Public voting on the finalists will begin on Monday, May 14 at www.100carsforgood.com with five organizations up for consideration each day for 100 consecutive days. 
• The four runners up each day will each receive a $1,000 grant from Toyota.
• Finalists will be eligible for one of six Toyota models, including the Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. 
• A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

SOURCE: patch.com/

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly

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Tires tend to lose air over time. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.  Buy a digital tire gauge and check your tires once a month and before a long trip. Proper inflation pressures can be found in your owner's manual or on a sticker on the car.  Remember to check tire pressure only after the car has been sitting for several hours in order to ensure that the tires are cold -- the friction of driving heats the tires and increases pressure, which can hide an under-inflated tire.

Courtesy of fueleconomy.gov

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Exterior Car Paint Maintenance

Exterior car paint maintenance is as simple as washing and waxing, but oftentimes, an overlooked part of car care. Maintaining the paint helps to retain value by keeping a car in its best possible condition while also protecting the paint from the environment.

·         Thoroughly washing the car is one of the most important aspects of exterior paint maintenance. Dust, mud, and acid rain can scratch and dull the paint surface. Frequent washing with a high quality car wash formulated for automotive use will remove surface contaminants and help maintain the shine.

·         Experts recommend using only a microfiber cloth designed for automotive applications to dry a car. Microfiber cloths are specifically designed to trap any residual dust and dirt to reduce scratches on the paint surface.

·         Cleaner waxes can be used on older cars to remove swirl marks or oxidation. However, it is usually suggested that this sort of product not be used on newer cars or cars that have recently been repainted.

·         Car paint sealant or polish is a product that generally only needs to be applied a few times a year, prior to waxing. It is great for helping to protect the paint surface. However, it does not provide as much gloss as wax.

·         Traditional paste or liquid car wax is most often carnauba based and while it will provide an outstanding shine, it must be frequently reapplied in order to maintain protection. Cars that are housed outdoors will need more frequent applications than garaged cars. However, all cars should be waxed regularly.

Most automakers offer their own line of exterior paint maintenance products designed for use on their vehicles, which can take some of the guesswork out of what products to use. Regardless of the products used, it is important that they be applied following the manufacturer’s recommendation. Maintaining car paint will not only keep the car looking great, it will also increase value when it is time to trade in or sell.

Courtesy of Autos.com

FIVE TOYOTA MODELS NAMED CONSUMER REPORTS' TOP PICKS; FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A DECADE ONE BRAND HAS DOMINATED

New Camry Hybrid makes top picks list debut

YONKERS, NY - As the competition grows stronger with each passing year, it has been increasingly difficult for a single automaker to dominate Consumer Reports' annual Top Picks list. This year, Toyota is the first brand to earn half of the top 10 spots in nearly a decade.

The redesigned Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Highlander edged out the competition to become Top Picks in Consumer Reports' Family Sedan and Family SUV categories respectively. The Camry Hybrid delivers a surprising 38 mpg overall fuel economy-the best in class and as good as some smaller and less versatile hybrids.

The two new Toyota additions join the incumbent Prius, RAV4, and Sienna as the best in their individual categories to secure the brand a starring role in this year's list.

Consumer Reports' 2012 Top Picks report, Automakers Report Cards and other key findings from the Annual Auto Issue were announced at a press conference today before the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) in Washington, D.C. For more details and videos of the Top Picks, go to www.ConsumerReports.org.

"Every year the competition grows tighter; in recent years as many as nine different brands have taken the top spots. Combined with the improved Camry, Toyota's ability to maintain a competitive lead among hybrids and SUVs is a big factor in its strong presence on this year's list," said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports' automotive editor.

The last time a single brand held such a grip on Consumer Reports' Top Picks was Honda in 2003. Historically a strong performing brand, this year there are no Honda models on the list for the second time in three years.

Consumer Reports' Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from more than 275 vehicles the organization has recently tested. Top Pick models must meet CR's stringent criteria in three areas: road test, reliability, and safety. They must rank at or near the top of their category on overall road test scores; they must have earned an average or better predicted-reliability Rating based on problems Consumer Reports subscribers reported on 1.3 million vehicles in the latest survey; and they must perform well if included in crash or rollover tests by the government or the insurance industry.

The Hyundai Sonata and Subaru Impreza also make their Consumer Reports' Top Picks debuts. The Sonata was named Top Pick Affordable Family Sedan, while the recently tested Subaru Impreza narrowly edged out the Hyundai Elantra as Top Pick Small Car. The all-wheel drive Impreza gets high marks for being a well-rounded sedan with nimble handling and a compliant roomy interior, and absorbent ride that rivals some luxury sedans.

The Toyota Prius was named CR's Top Pick Green Car for the 11th time and the ninth consecutive year-both records claimed by no other model in the history of Consumer Reports' Top Picks. The Prius, including the recently tested Prius V wagon version, continues to set the standard for its blend of fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability. The 44 overall mpg CR measured for the hatchback is still the highest of any five-passenger, non-plug-in vehicle CR has tested and the 41 mpg for the new Prius V wagon easily tops its class.

Three returning models round out the list: the Chevrolet Avalanche, Ford Mustang, and Infiniti G. The iconic Ford Mustang earns CR's Top Pick in the Sporty Car category. The 5.0-liter V8 in the GT coupe provides scorching acceleration, a great exhaust sound, and good fuel economy for its class. The Infiniti G returns as Top Pick Sports Sedan with its inviting blend of luxury and driving fun. And in the Pickup Truck category, the Chevrolet Avalanche provides the best combination of utility and versatility of any pickup CR has tested.

The Top 10 Picks By Category:

FAMILY SEDAN: Toyota Camry Hybrid ($29,052). In addition to its impressive 38 mpg overall fuel economy, other high points include a comfortable ride; a roomy, quiet, cabin; fairly quick acceleration; and for 2012, a nicer interior and somewhat crisper handling (although the Camry is still no sports sedan).

SMALL SUV: Toyota RAV4 ($24,405 to $30,328). With a four-cylinder engine, the RAV4 delivers some of the best gas mileage in its class (23 mpg). The spirited V6 version accelerates as quickly as many sports sedans and gets only 1 mpg less than the four-cylinder model.

FAMILY HAULER: Toyota Sienna V6 ($35,810). The Sienna fits the bill nicely for families looking for a comfortable, roomy interior, plenty of features, and the ability to carry up to eight people. Among its high points are lively performance, decent fuel economy (20 mpg), and a comfortable ride, although the handling is rather lackluster. It's the only minivan that has at least average reliability.

GREEN CAR: Toyota Prius ($26,750 to $28,217). The Prius sets the standard for fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability with its overall 44 mpg. Its roomy interior, comfortable ride, and hatchback versatility make it easy to live with. The 41 mpg of the new Prius V wagon easily tops its class.

FAMILY SUV: Toyota Highlander ($38,578 to $47,255). The refined, comfortable, and quiet Highlander has consistently ranked near the top of its class in CR's road-test scores and has had above-average reliability. The V6 version delivers a decent 18 mpg overall, and the hybrid model tops all SUVs at 27.

Complete details on Consumer Reports' Top Picks for 2012, Automaker Report Cards, Best and Worst list and other key findings are available in the April issue of Consumer Reports on newsstands March 6th or visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports' testing procedures are the most comprehensive of any U.S. publication or Web site. More than 50 individual tests are performed on every vehicle, including evaluations of braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. Roughly 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up on each test car during the testing process. CR buys all its test cars anonymously from dealers. Other reviewers base their evaluations on press cars that are hand-picked by the automakers.

Consumer Reports is the world's largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

 

Courtesy of Consumer Reports