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Check out the Prius v at the LA Auto Show. Get up close and personal and see what the most spacious member of the Prius Family has in store.

Toyota Fun-Vii is rolling, customizable weirdness

The Tokyo Motor Show wackiness has officially begun, and the first far-out concept comes courtesy of Toyota and the Fun-Vii.

Forget custom paint jobs and vinyl graphics, the Fun-Vii lets you change the exterior design "with the same ease as downloading an application," allowing drivers to display everything from custom messages to flashy graphics through some manner of magical exterior display technology.

The same goes for the interior, which Toyota claims can be customized to suit the mood of the driver, with a variety of themes and an augmented reality function taking place of the traditional navigation system.

Less far-out is the incorporation of a "navigation concierge" that provides up-to-the-second driving and multimedia information through a virtual assistant. And naturally, the Fun-Vii interfaces with both your smartphone and other road users, adding both a safety and social element to the driving experience.

 

Courtesy of AutoBlog

Toyota releases new FT-86 teaser footage ahead of Tokyo reveal

Toyota has released a new teaser for the company's upcoming FT-86 that gives us all a glimpse into the vehicle's design process. The quick spot depicts designers as they slave over both exterior and interior details by choosing wheel and material options for the two-door sports coupe. We're guessing the same level of attention to detail went into crafting its North-American-bound twin, the Scion FR-S. The video also gives us a quick glance under the hood, where we see a very familiar-looking naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer engine.

A fairly stout strut-tower brace is also clearly visible in the ad, though it looks as if Toyota has kept the vehicle's battery under the hood instead of kicking it to the rear of the vehicle for slightly better weight balance. It's also worth noting just how low the Subaru flat-four sits in the engine bay of the FT-86. The top of the engine sits well below the strut towers, making for what looks to be a decidedly low center of gravity. While you're waiting for this car to debut at next week's Tokyo Motor Show, hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of AutoBlog

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Toyota and Lexus Are Back on Top in Kelley Blue Book Resale Value Survey!

Toyota and Lexus are the brands with the best resale value for 2012 models, according to Kelley Blue Book.

The distinction is based on how well new models are expected to retain their original list price after five years of ownership.

According to the used-car pricing service, the average vehicle, irrespective of brand, is expected to retain about 35.5 percent of its original value after five years, which means that a $50,000 new car today would be worth approximately $17,750 after five years. The average 2012 Toyota, however, would retain 41.5 percent of its original value, while a Lexus would retain 37.9 percent, according to the service.

Toyota and Lexus, which were winners in the report for the 2010 model year, were ousted last year by Subaru and BMW.

“Toyota has done well primarily with their trucks, which are holding value quite well,” said Eric Ibara, director of residual consulting at Kelley Blue Book, in a telephone interview.

 

Residual values in the survey reflect projected future auction values for vehicles in average condition with 75,000 miles at the end of a five-year lease or ownership period. Low-volume vehicles or vehicles with a list price of more than $60,000 are excluded from consideration for the awards, except in the luxury and high-performance categories.

Residual values improved across all surveyed brands, Mr. Ibara noted — on average they were 1.5 percentage points higher than last year.

The Jeep Wrangler is the vehicle with the highest resale value, at 55 percent. In dollars and cents, a base 2012 Sport model, with two-wheel drive and a list price of $22,845, would have a resale value of $12,564 after five years.

The top 10 cars from the 2012 model year expected to achieve the best resale value were the Audi Q7, Chevrolet Camaro, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Infiniti FX, Jeep Wrangler, Lexus RX, Nissan Frontier, Toyota FJ Cruiser and Toyota Tacoma.

There are also winners in 19 categories, ranging from subcompact car to full-size pickup. They are, in alphabetical order: Audi A5 and Q7; Chevrolet Camaro V-6, Camaro SS, Traverse and Volt; Ford F-Series Super Duty; Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Fit and Odyssey; Jeep Wrangler; Lexus IS and RX 450h; Nissan Maxima; Subaru Outback; and Toyota Camry, FJ Cruiser and Tacoma.

A number of vehicles singled out Wednesday were winners in their categories or were among the top 10 last year as well. When a vehicle is included two years in a row, it is an indication that its value is not a fluke, Mr. Ibara said.

“A good example is the Mini Cooper,” he said. “It was the top vehicle in its segment for nine years in a row. That’s a very strong record.”

A new, catch-all category for electric cars, which does not discriminate between purely electric cars or plug-in hybrids, was added this year. The 2012 winner in this segment was the Chevrolet Volt, with a projected residual value of 27 percent. The only other vehicle in the running was the Nissan Leaf, with a residual value of 25.5 percent.

These residual values were lower than the 35.5 percent average, Mr. Ibara said, because a $7,500 federal tax credit would lower the $39,995 Volt’s transaction price. That, in turn, would push its residual value lower, he said.

 

From: TheNewYorkTimes

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New Toyota FCV-R Fuel-Cell Concept Heading for Production in 2015

Toyota's conceptual products at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show are a bit more than crowd pleasers as both the FT-EV III mini we showed you earlier today and the FCV-R study pictured here, are slated to enter production.

The FCV-R is a next-generation fuel-cell concept model fueled by hydrogen that Toyota says is planned for launch in 2015.

According to the Japanese automaker, the fuel-cell unit is located beneath the specially designed body thus saving space with the concept being able to accommodate up to four passengers and their luggage.

The next generation fuel cell stack consists of a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tank, which said to provide a driving range of approximately 700 km or about 435 miles.

Being that the FCV-R not only resembles the Prius in looks but is also very similar in size at 4,745 mm long, 1,790 mm wide and 1,510 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm, it is possible that the two cars share the same platform architecture.

We'll know more when Toyota officially reveals the car at the Tokyo show on November 30.

From: CarScoop

Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program Helps Fill Need for Mobility Vehicles

16 Winners of 100 Cars for Good Will Receive Specially Built Toyota Sienna Minivans to Serve Mobility-Impaired Community 

A total of 100 nonprofit organizations were selected by the public to receive a new Toyota vehicle

 Providence TrinityKids Care, the only children’s hospice program serving Los Angeles and Orange counties, will receive a Toyota Sienna minivan, courtesy of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which awarded 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving non-profit organizations. The Sienna minivan for Providence is one of 16 donated vehicles that have been specially built by Toyota to better assist those who are mobility-impaired, whether due to illness, age or disability. The delivery took place at Toyota’s Torrance campus.

 

Providence TrinityKids Care is a pediatric hospice service for critically ill children and their families, whose team of medical experts provide their expertise to help keep children comfortable at home. The organization is the only dedicated in-home children’s hospice and palliative care program in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The organization plans to use its Toyota Sienna to develop its Transportation Program, which will help families get to and from medical appointments. 

Toyota introduced the U.S. auto industry’s first factory-installed, power rotating lift-up seat in the Sienna, which is the minivan selected by Providence TrinityKids Care. Toyota calls this feature Auto Access Seat, a lift-up seat designed to assist passengers to get in and out of the vehicle with ease and safety. Ten other winning organizations will also receive a Toyota Sienna with this equipment. Five of the winners will receive a Toyota Sienna Rampvan®, a lowered-floor minivan with a power ramp for wheelchair access. These five Sienna minivans were converted by BraunAbility, a Toyota business partner, and the largest manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vans and wheelchair lifts worldwide.

 

Program Overview

Winners of the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program were determined based on voting from the public. Each day, five organizations were profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page where the public was invited to show their support by voting to determine the winning non-profit organization. Each daily winner was awarded a new Toyota vehicle to help the organizations continue to do “good” in their local communities. The remaining finalists each received a $1000 grant from Toyota.

Public voting for the 100 Cars for Good program opened May 9, 2011 and continued through August 16. Voters were allowed to place one vote per day, each day, over the course of the program. Each day, the previous day’s winner was announced and five new nonprofit organizations were featured for voting.  Winning organizations could choose from the following vehicles: Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna or Sienna Mobility. Toyota Financial Services will provide a six-year, 100,000-mile Toyota Vehicle Service Agreement to provide extended protection beyond the vehicle warranty.

The 500 finalists, from which the 100 winners were ultimately selected, were chosen by an independent panel of judges who are experts in the fields of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. To learn more about all the finalists, including winning organizations, visit www.facebook.com/toyota and click on the 100 Cars for Good tab.

 

Quotes

“Toyota is proud to add these modifications for the 16 winners of the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program that serve those who live with mobility impairment. We know that these changes will help each of the winning organizations further the ‘good’ they do each day. Being a part of this program has been a joy and an honor as we got to know each of the winning organizations and the work they do. They all represent truly the best of human compassion, ingenuity and dedication, and we thank them for their ongoing service.” – Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

“We are so grateful to Toyota for the generosity they have shown to organizations like us through the 100 Cars for Good program. The Sienna will help us provide safe, reliable transportation to families in need, and since mobility is a challenge for many, the Auto Access Seat makes it that much more valuable. We know that all of the winners of 100 Cars for Good feel the same appreciation we do!” – Terri Warren, Chief Executive, Providence TrinityCare Hospice.

“The Braun Corporation was delighted to play a role in the 100 Cars for Good program. We see the need for mobility vehicles every day, and the enormous impact just one of these cars can make. We applaud Toyota for making this investment for 16 of the program’s winners, and congratulate each of the organizations.” – Nick Gutwein, President, The Braun Corporation.

 

The other winning organizations that will receive a specially built Sienna minivan are:

 

ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
ACDS – Association for Children with Down Syndrome	Plainview, New York
Alaska Christian College	Soldotna, Alaska
Aleethia Foundation	Washington, DC
Any Baby Can, Inc.	Austin, Texas
Arbor Day Farm / Lied Lodge & Conference Center	Nebraska City, Nebraska
Carolina Canines for Service	Wilmington, North Carolina
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center	Chicago, Illinois
Children’s Specialized Hospital	Mountainside, New Jersey
Dream Power Animal Rescue Foundation	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hills & Dales Child Development Center	Dubuque, Iowa
Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s Foundation	Louisville, Kentucky
My Angel with Paws	Deland, Florida
Redwood	Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
SafePlace	Austin, Texas
Sandhills Children’s Center	Rockingham, North Carolina
The Hope Institute for Children and Families	Springfield, Illinois

 

 

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. 

For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.>>;

 

About Toyota Financial Services

TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota in the United States, offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and extended service contracts through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS).  Lexus Financial Services is the brand for financial products for Lexus dealers and customers. TFS currently employs over 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $87 billion.  It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.  For more information, please visit www.toyotafinancial.com.

 

About Providence Health & Services, Southern California:

Providence Health & Services, Southern California, is a Catholic, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing quality and compassionate health care and reaching out to the poor and the vulnerable in the communities it serves. Providence Southern California operates five acute care medical centers in the Los Angeles area: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Providence Tarzana Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in Torrance and San Pedro. The region also has numerous ancillary facilities including Hospice care for adults and children, long-term care, numerous outpatient clinics and a high school. For more information, please visit http://providence.org.

 

About The Braun Corporation

The Braun Corporation is the largest manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vans, ramps, and wheelchair lifts worldwide and enables people with physical disabilities to regain mobility and lead active and independent lives. The Indiana-based company was founded by Ralph Braun, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at a young age and unable to walk by age 15. Ralph was motivated by his disability to invent the world’s first electric scooter (the Tri-Wheeler) and wheelchair lift (the Lift-A-Way) in his parents’ garage. Word spread and demand for the product increased, resulting in the birth of Save-A-Step Manufacturing, which ultimately became The Braun Corporation. The company offers the most diverse line of vehicle platforms in the industry, including the most popular minivan models from Dodge/Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota. For more information, or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.braunability.com or www.facebook.com/braunability.    

 

 

Courtesy of Toyota.com

New 2012 Prius v Features Pandora

Latest Prius Model Delivers Integrated Pandora Experience Through Entune System

 

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 10, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Pandora (NYSE: P), the leading personalized radio service, announced today that the newest model of the Prius Family, the Prius v, will feature Pandora. The Prius v is arriving at Toyota dealers nationwide and is the third Toyota vehicle model to feature Pandora personalized radio in the head unit, joining the Camry and the Tacoma.

The Prius v is equipped with Entune, Toyota's platform for in-car infotainment solutions. With Entune, Pandora controls are made available via the radio touchscreen, allowing drivers to easily select stations, skip songs, or give songs a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down using the vehicle's existing controls. The key to connecting Pandora with Entune is the smartphone.

Executive Vice President of Business and Corporate Development Jessica Steel said, "We are delighted to have Pandora become part of the very popular Prius. The combination of these two forward-looking products paints an exciting picture of the future of the driving experience."

ABOUT PANDORA

Pandora (NYSE: P) gives people music they love anytime, anywhere, through connected devices. (OK, we've added comedy as well so we're also up for playing some jokes you'll love.) Personalized stations launch instantly with the input of a single "seed" - a favorite artist, song or genre. The Music Genome Project®, a deeply detailed hand-built musical taxonomy, powers the personalization of Pandora® internet radio by using musicological "DNA" and constant listener feedback to craft personalized stations from a growing collection of hundreds of thousands of recordings. Tens of millions of people in the U.S. turn on Pandora to hear music they love.  www.pandora.com

SOURCE Pandora

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/10/4044552/new-2012-prius-v-features-pandora.html#ixzz1dLx1X279

Toyota Prius Plug-in named 2012 Urban Green Car of the Year

The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in has been named the 2012 Urban Green Car of the Year by Decisive magazine as part of The Urban Wheel Awards, after selection by a panel of independent automotive journalists.

The Urban Wheel Awards panel spent months to identify the most stylish, practical and attainable new vehicles for 2012 by evaluating dozens of cars  and trucks in a variety of North American urban settings before selecting the three winners including the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in. Each of the three Urban Vehicles of The Year will be featured online at decisivemagazine.com.

The Hyundai Veloster was picked as the 2012 Urban Car of the Year with runners up including the Chevrolet Sonic and MINI coupe. The Range Rover Evoque took Urban Truck of the Year edging out the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Mercedes-Benz M Class. The Toyota Prius Plug-in took Urban Green Vehicle of the Year title by outdistancing the Infiniti M35h and Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

“This is the Prius everyone has been waiting for,” said Lyndon Conrad Bell, editor-in-chief of Decisive magazine. “Endowing the world’s favorite hybrid with the ability to run purely on electric power for significant distances and recharge itself from an AC outlet remade and exceptional urban green car into the ideal urban green car.”

“We are pleased with the recognition of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in as a well-designed, smart and attainable vehicle, especially in an urban environment,” said Jim Colon, vice president of Toyota product communications at Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. “We’re confident that the Prius Plug-in’s extended electric range, selectable EV mode, expected 87 MPGe and quick home charging are among the features that helped Toyota secure this distinction.”

The multicultural Urban Vehicles of the Year panel is comprised by Camilo Alfaro of Auto Proyecto, freelance reviewer Mary Chapman, Arv Voss of Auto Impressions, and Frank Washington of AboutThatCar.com.

The 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards (UWA) will be held on January 8, 2012, in the MotorCity Casino Hotel's Sound Board Theater in Detroit, MI.

Notably, the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) executive committee has named the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, hosted by the Emerging Diversity Education Fund (EDEF) and Decisive Media, the Official Multicultural Event of NAIAS.

 

From: TorqueNews

Video: Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda races in NASCAR Camry

 

When Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda came out from Japan a couple months ago to introduce the all-new Camry, he found a way to get out and have a little fun -- on a raceway.

While in Las Vegas, he took a spin in the 850-horsepower NASCAR version of the Camry. Toyota is posting a video of the experience today. From the looks of that video, he had a fine time.

He was also on hand at the Georgetown, Ky., plant that will produce the Camry in the U.S. when the car was formally introduced to the world.

Toyota has a lot riding on the new Camry. It's coming in both conventional and hybrid versions. Oh, and a NASCAR version.

 

From: USAToday

Toyota Announces Plans to Export U.S.-Built Sienna to South Korea

Expands Exports of American-Built Vehicles to 19 Countries around the World

November 1, 2011 – New York, NY – Toyota today announced plans to begin exporting U.S.-built Sienna vehicles to distributors in South Korea. 

The Sienna is produced at Toyota’s manufacturing plant in Princeton, IN. A top seller in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, this is the first time the vehicle will be exported outside of North America. Shipments are scheduled to begin in early November. 

Toyota began exporting U.S.-built vehicles in 1988. These exports increased 30% in calendar year 2010 to about 100,000 units. With the start of these shipments to South Korea, Toyota will now export U.S.-assembled vehicles to 19 countries around the world. 

Other export vehicles include the Georgetown, KY-produced Avalon sedan, the Princeton, IN-produced Sequoia SUV and the San Antonio, TX-produced Tacoma and Tundra pick-up trucks. Combined, these three U.S. plants directly employ more than 12,500 team members. They are also responsible for an estimated 65,000 other U.S. jobs at vendors and suppliers.

 

“Toyota’s North American operations are constantly working to identify and expand new export opportunities for the vehicles we produce here, building on our extensive investments in auto production, research and development in the U.S. and helping to maintain a strong, stable base of jobs,” said Yoshimi Inaba, president and COO of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. “With this development and other possible achievements in the future, we hope to continue boosting exports from our North American operations.”

Sienna exports to South Korea are initially forecasted at approximately 600 units annually.

About the Toyota Sienna

Toyota introduced the third-generation Sienna family van for 2011 model year with a sharper focus on comfort, versatility, style and fuel efficiency. The 2011 Sienna also introduced a four-cylinder engine choice and remains the only van in the segment to offer an all-wheel-drive option. For 2012 model year the XLE grade adds a standard power passenger seat and auto on/off headlights.

Sienna was completely redesigned last year to cater to traditional family van needs while also meeting growing demands for more responsive driving character and onboard “infotainment” technology. The Sienna SE combines sportier exterior styling with more dynamic driving performance from a sport-tune suspension system.

The Sienna was designed primarily by Toyota’s Calty Design Research in California and Michigan, developed at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana.

 

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Courtesy of Toyota.com

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SEMA Preview: New Toyota Yaris Suits Up for Club Racing

The annual aftermarket extravaganza that is known as the SEMA Show will host the debut of Toyota Yaris B-Spec Club Racer that will compete in the SCCA B-spec class race category next year with Action Sports Star and BMX legend Jamie Bestwick behind the wheel.

Toyota said that Bestwick will try to qualify for and compete in the 2012 SCCA National Championship Runoffs, held at the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wiscosnin.

Built by SportsCar Magazine, Toyota's new racer is based on the all-new, second generation 2012 Yaris hatchback and features a special livery that pays homage to the Japanese firm's 1998 LeMans pole-winning GT-One racecar.

The three-door hatch has been stripped down and fitted with a roll cage as well as race-spec steering wheel and bucket seat for the driver. Other changes include performance upgrades to the chassis and engine while the car rides on P205/50ZR15 racing tires.

 

TOYOTA YARIS CLUB B-SPEC CLUB RACER FEATURES

EXTERIOR

- Toyota Le Mans GT-One inspired graphics
- OMP tow hooks

INTERIOR

- Autopower Industries 8-point SCCA-spec roll cage
- Autopower window net
- OMP AFFF 2.8L fire system
- OMP HTE FIA race seat
- OMP 805 6-point FIA harness
- OMP WRC steering wheel
- RLC Racing Track Commander data acquisition system

TIRES/WHEELS

- Hoosier Racing Tire A6 P205/50ZR15
- Enkei RPF1 15x7

SUSPENSION

- Cusco Zero-3 Series Suspension kit
- Cusco Center Lock Pillowball Upper Mounts

BRAKES

- Pagid RS29 brake pads

POWERTRAIN

- Toyota 1NZ-FE 1.5 liter with VVT-i
- AEM Performance Electronics EMS Series 2
- Beta Motorsports cat-back exhaust
- Church Automotive Testing custom tune
- Joe Gibbs Driven XP1 Racing Oil
- Joe Gibbs Driven Super Speedway Gear oil
- K&N air filter
- K&N oil filter

 

From: CarScoop