Toyota Going High-Tech With Its Interiors

According to trademark applications filed by Toyota, customers may soon enjoy a touch-sensitive dashboard and inductive charging for mobile devices, which could potentially increase the Japanese automaker’s appeal among tech-savvy new car shoppers.

Touch sensitive displays are nothing new, as Ford has embraced them in the MyFord Touch system since 2010 or so. Cadillac has taken the concept to the next level with its CUE system, but Car and Driver thinks Toyota may go one step farther and build a full touch sensitive dashboard for future models.

It’s filed for a trademark on something called “Intellitouch,” which will likely be used in conjunction with similar Toyota patent filings, including one called a “Reconfigurable Tactile Control System Display,” which could give drivers multiple options for dash display setup. Knobs and buttons may soon vanish entirely from the center stack landscape.

Another Toyota trademark filing was for “EBIN,” which Toyota describes as storage containers for mobile devices with built-in inductive charging capabilities. Since the tech behind this is relatively mature, implementing this as part of a future interior design shouldn’t pose problems. In fact, both Chrysler and GM have plans for similar systems, too.

There’s no word yet on when Toyota plans to roll out these technologies, or which models will see them first.

 

Courtesy of MotorAuthority.com

Welcome to the work week fans! Here is a Monday Maintenance Tip for you!

Octane Overdose

"If some is good, more is better" thinking does not apply to octane. Here the rule is to supply whatever octane the engine is rated for and call it done. Higher-than-required octane does not yield more power or mileage, only oil company profits.

Some engines are rated for premium 91 octane fuel but can burn 87 octane regular, thanks to the magic of knock sensors. In that case, run regular gas if puttering around surface streets, and premium fuel if full-throttle driving is part of your daily repertoire.

Toyota factories recognized by EPA for improved environmental performance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized eight Toyota manufacturing sites in North America for achieving a 10 percent reduction in energy intensity through its Energy Star Challenge for Industry program.

Collectively, these eight facilities — including the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc. plant in San Antonio — have reduced energy intensity by nearly 24 percent.

Energy intensity is measured relative to efficiency improvements in process and equipment. The Energy Star Challenge for Industry recognition is only granted to individual industrial sites. To gain recognition, the site’s company must be an Energy Star partner.

“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 America,” says Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. Executive Vice President Steve St. Angelo. “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 Toyota facilities recognized by the EPA include:

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (San Antonio);

• Bodine Aluminum (Jackson, Tenn., and St. Louis, Mo.);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (Huntsville);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (Princeton);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (Buffalo).

Courtesy of The San Antonio Business Journal

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Check out this great offer from Toyota Certified Center of Santee. It won't last long so hurry in!

Check out this great offer from Toyota Certified Center of Santee. It won't last long so hurry in!

From flash mobs to lip-dubbing, the bar for marriage proposals keeps being raised higher and higher. That's how Danny got inspiration for his proposal to Robin from a Toyota commercial!

On this day in 1969 the Lunar Module of Apollo 11 touched down on the moon's surface and, as the world watched, Neil Armstrong took his first steps on this previously unexplored territory. If you had the chance to go to the moon would you?

Available navigation on the go, another reason you can always count on the Toyota Corolla!

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Toyota Camry beats Ford F-150 as most 'American made'

Once again,Cars.com has come to the counter-intuitive conclusion that the Toyota Camry is the most American of all cars -- more U.S. sourced parts, U.S. production and U.S. sales.

It was the fourth-straight year that the Camry came in tops in the "American-made" survey. This year, the Ford F-150, the nation's best-selling vehicle, almost beat it. But in the end, Toyota, Honda and General Motors combined for eight of the 10 vehicles on the list.

"When people think about buying an 'American' car, they might just think automatically of the Detroit Three," said Patrick Olsen, editor in chief at Cars.com. "In reality, this classification isn't as cut and dry as it used to be."

He points out that Italy's Fiat owns a majority stake in Chrysler, despite its status as a Big 3 Detroit maker. More foreign makers are building their vehicle in the U.S. as a way to hedge against a strong dollar.

"U.S. sales are a component of our index for a number of reasons," said Olsen. "For one thing, it's safe to say that the more a vehicle sells, the more U.S. workers are involved in production and delivery of the vehicle and the more U.S. dealers are profiting. Additionally, we think it's valid to give credit for how American buyers embrace a vehicle."

Here are the 10 most American vehicles and where they're made:

1. Toyota Camry, Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind.
2. Ford F-150, Dearborn, Mich., and Claycomo, Mo.
3. Honda Accord, Marysville, Ohio
4. Toyota Sienna, Princeton, Ind.
5. Honda Pilot, Lincoln, Ala.
6. Chevrolet Traverse, Lansing, Mich.
7. Toyota Tundra, San Antonio
8. Jeep Liberty, Toledo, Ohio
9. GMC Acadia, Lansing
10. Buick Enclave, Lansing

Coutesy of USA Today

Welcome back to the work week fans! Here is a cost-effective maintenance tip for you!

Touching up paint flaws early can save a heap of money down the road. You can touch up small scratches and chips with touch-up paint, available for a few dollars at your car dealership and at some auto-parts stores. Make sure you get an exact color match. Touch-up paint usually comes in a small bottle with an applicator brush in the lid.

Thank you to the author of this outstanding review! Great job Scott, keep up the great work!

Toyota Certified Center of Santee - (5) Star Review on DealerRater

• I have a 2008 Highlander. I have it serviced at Toyota in Santee. Scott Miller is very helpful, and goes above and beyond to make sure I have quality service. He is to be commended for his customer service. I am very happy with Toyota of Santee! Thank-you Scott. -Jejacobsen

We want to know about your first day on the open road. Do you remember your first day being able to drive by yourself? Any memorable experiences from going solo?

Three athletes. One dream. One team. Watch the video below to follow their journey.

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Rita, thank you so much for your kind words. Keep up the great work Scott!

Toyota Certified Center of Santee - (3 out of 3) Rating on Google+ Local

• Scot Miller...he has everything it takes to make a human being..toyota is lucky to have him as a service rep. ...he is kind ,helpful, truthful and will do anything to make the vist easy and try anything to save you money. Very caring individual ..I will not go to toyota if scot is not their. He has become our family car doctor since we mostly own toyotas, my children even trust him as our car mechanic....he has fixed little things on my daughters car without even writing it up or making a case for it..He is very honest...thank you Scot Miller, God bless you always, you are the best -Rita H.
  

Cincinnati Children's and Toyota Expand National Safety Program to Address Significant Disparity in Motor Vehicle Deaths Among Minority Children

Responding to disproportionate rates of African American and Hispanic children dying in motor vehicle-related crashes, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Toyota today announced that they are doubling the reach of their groundbreaking safety education program Buckle Up for Life. Buckle Up for Life – or Abróchatea laVida in Spanish – is the only national program of its kind. To view a video about the program, please click here. 
Research analyzed by Cincinnati Children’s – a national leader in pediatric and adolescent medicine – shows that African American and Hispanic children are more likely than other children to die in motor vehicle crashes. Research also shows that, due to multiple factors, African American and Hispanic children are significantly less likely than non-African American and non-Hispanic children to be buckled up in seat belts or car seats.
 
Key Facts

    -Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. between the ages of 1 and 12.[i]
    -Three out of every 4 car seats are not used or installed correctly[ii] and almost 50% of fatally injured children were unrestrained at the time of a crash.[iii]
    -In crashes involving fatalities in children under 14, seat belt use is lower among African Americans than among all other race or ethnic groups.[iv]
    -Hispanic children are significantly less likely to be buckled up than Non-Hispanic children across all age groups.[v]
    -The number of children buckled up nearly tripled among the families who participated in one of Buckle Up for Life’s pilot cities.[vi]

Expansion Doubles the Reach of Buckle Up for Life
 
The new locations for Buckle Up for Life include Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Orange County, Calif. They join programs already in place with local hospital partners in Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and San Antonio. The program’s expansion to Las Vegas is being conducted in conjunction with Children’s Hospital of Nevada at UMC. Hospital partners in Houston, Philadelphia and Orange County will be announced soon.
 
“Years ago, a mother who was involved in a car crash in which her child died said something to me that to this day haunts me but also inspires me, ‘If I only knew,’” said Dr. Victor Garcia, founding director of Trauma Services at Cincinnati Children’s, professor of pediatric surgery and a co-founder of Buckle Up for Life. “The number of African American and Hispanic children dying unnecessarily in motor vehicle-related crashes is alarming, something I see first hand in my work as a trauma surgeon. This is a public health emergency that can be avoided and needs to be addressed. We know that safety education and access to car seats can make a major difference, and working with Toyota, we are glad to have the opportunity to help.”
 
“At Toyota, we are strongly committed to the belief that everyone deserves to be safe,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president of National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation at Toyota Motor North America. “Through our educational outreach, Collaborative Safety Research Center and numerous partnerships with leading hospitals, nonprofits and research universities nationwide, Toyota is engaged extensively in programs that help ensure that drivers and passengers are safe at every stage of life. Buckle
Up for Life is a vital commitment for Toyota, and we are proud to be working with the visionary medical staff at Cincinnati Children’s and with local hospital partners across the country to expand its reach.”
 
Toyota’s support for Buckle Up for Life is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to help make local communities safer and stronger. The company has contributed more than half-a-billion dollars to nonprofits throughout the U.S. over the past 20 years.
 
Today’s announcement was made at the National Council of La Raza annual conference in Las Vegas.
 
About Buckle Up for Life/Abróchate a la Vida
Buckle Up for Life, or Abróchate a la Vida, is a national, community-based injury prevention initiative supporting the African American and Hispanic communities. Working with local hospitals and churches, Buckle Up for Life addresses the economic, cultural and, where appropriate, language barriers to motor vehicle safety.
 
Over a six-week period, the program’s medical experts and trained specialists work closely with participants of all ages to deliver vital safety information in an engaging, culturally sensitive and memorable way.   Participants are eligible to receive free car seats, and they are matched with certified child passenger safety technicians to help install these car seats and ensure that children are properly restrained.
 
Buckle Up for Life, which began in 2004, was developed jointly by trauma specialists at Cincinnati Children’s and vehicle safety experts at Toyota. National expansion of the program has been sponsored by Toyota. Additional information is available at www.buckleupforlife.org.

Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom

Thank you Gary for this amazing review! Keep up the great work Scott!

Toyota Certified Center of Santee - (5) Star Review on DealerRater

• Mr. Scott Miller has been handling all my service needs for 5 different vehicles over the years. I can call Scott the day before and make an appointment the following day.

  I have 100% trust with Scott's ability to handle all of my service needs. I get my oil changed every 3K miles and the techs are quick to get me in and out with the completed service done correctly.

  Scott's a straight shooter when it comes to required service recommendations and also quick to let you know if something is not needed.

  I never have any issues at the Santee Dealership and it's a breeze to get my car's servicing needs completed with 100% trust that it's it's been done, and done correctly!! -Gary S.
  

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Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Gets Royal Treatment in Europe

The first production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid in Europe was delivered to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, as the Japanese automaker employs some royal cachet to market the car.

The prince will use the Prius Plug-in Hybrid for "private purposes," said Toyota in a statement. The prince has a two-month loan on the car from Toyota, which notes that he currently has a standard Prius in his automotive stable.

Prince Albert may be Toyota's best unofficial salesman in Europe. A one-off Landaulet edition of the Lexus LS 600h hybrid took center stage at his 2011 wedding to Charlene Wittstock.

Of course, with the handover of the keys to the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Monaco also gets to strengthen its position as one of the green leaders in Europe. Even though the principality is just 48 acres with a population of 35,000, it is also home to 424 free charging stations.

The link between European royalty and cars is a strong one. Witness the media frenzy that ensued after England's Prince William and commoner Kate Middleton celebrated their nuptials last year with a joyride in an Aston Martin DB6 Volante.

Courtesy of The Inside Line

The Star Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key, didn’t become our national anthem until almost 150 years after the declaration of independence. Can you guess what year the Star Spangled Banner became decreed as the United States national anthem?

Clint Collects First Win In A Camry

In Sunday afternoon’s Toyota Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at the road course in Sonoma, Calif., Camry driver Clint Bowyer collected his first victory as a member of Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR), as well as his inaugural victory driving a Toyota.

Bowyer, who joined MWR at the beginning of the 2012 season to drive a Camry, dominated the race at the 1.99-mile, 11 turn road course. He led the field three times for a race-high 71 laps (of 112) in the MWR No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry.

Bowyer started sixth and moved into first-place for the first time on lap 25 -- leading the field for nine circuits. The Emporia, Kansas-native then led again for 23 laps (48 to 70), before being at the front of the field for the final 39 laps (74 to 112) -- including a green-white-checkered finish -- en route to victory lane.

Rather than drive his Camry into the Sonoma winner’s circle, Bowyer walked into the first-place ceremony after his victory ‘burnout’ left him short of enough fuel to make the drive. It was his only misstep of the day.

“Super excited for everybody involved to be in victory lane with this group so early in the season,” said Bowyer, after the race. “It’s a dream come true. I’m very proud of all our partners, especially everybody at MWR. To switch teams like I did was a huge risk and a chance for me, and it was obviously a chance for me to showcase my talents. I’m proud of everybody back home at the shop -- thank you guys for building us real good race cars. What a wonderful opportunity at this stage in my career to make this jump -- and make it work. I’m proud of everybody -- Brian Pattie (crew chief) and everybody on this 5-hour ENERGY Toyota. This is just awesome.”

Bowyer’s MWR teammates also had strong showings in the first NSCS road race of the season. Brian Vickers registered a fourth-place finish in the No. 55 Camry and Martin Truex Jr. ran among the leaders throughout the race and led the field for 15 laps -- before he ended up 22nd after contact on the track late in the final laps.

“We’re all working together at MWR,” added Bowyer. “That’s something that I’m very proud of. All these guys work together and the crew chiefs and the engineering staff -- and everybody at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) -- that’s what it takes. All of our cars ran good today and it’s because everybody works together.”

The victory also moves Bowyer closer to securing a spot in the Chase championship playoff.

“It’s huge towards the Chase and everything else,” added Bowyer. “This is big for our team’s confidence level. It’s a young organization that’s going to be in this sport a long time and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

It marks the first NSCS win of the 2012 season for Bowyer and the first NSCS victory of the year for MWR. It was also Bowyer’s ninth top-10 finish of 2012.

In addition, Bowyer’s victory was the fifth win for a Camry driver this season. Besides Bowyer picking up the Sonoma first-place trophy, Denny Hamlin has two wins (Phoenix and Kansas), Kyle Busch has one victory (Richmond) and Joey Logano also has one win (Pocono).

Since the start of the 2007 season, Toyota drivers have now accumulated 44 wins and 37 poles.

Logano (10th-place) was the third Camry driver to register a top-10 at Sonoma.

Other Camry drivers in the field included Busch (17th), Bobby Labonte (24th), Landon Cassill (31st), JJ Yeley (33rd), Hamlin (35th), Travis Kvapil (36th), Chris Cook (42nd) and Joe Nemechek (43rd).

In the unofficial NSCS point standings, Bowyer moved into seventh-place -- 67 points behind leader Matt Kenseth. Hamlin (eighth) and Truex are also among the top-10 in the standings.

Courtesy of Toyota Racing