2014 Toyota Corolla Order Guide Leaked

Posted on: May 21, 2013

The all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla is expected to launch later this year but some of the details about this much anticipated vehicle have been leaked. The public got the first glimpse of the next-generation design at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, where Toyota unveiled the Furia concept shown below.

According to the leaked details, Toyota will stick to the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, but will add Toyota’s Valvematic variable valve timing which may mean added power. A four-speed automatic will be standard on the base model, while the manual transmission now has six gears and CVT can be had at the higher trim levels. In addition, both engine output and fuel efficiency should improve slightly over the 2013 model.

Toyota Avalon Hybrid Draws Praise in Reviews

Posted on: May 20, 2013

by Zach McDonald | HybridCars.com

Toyota‘s new Avalon Hybrid was released earlier this year as the latest product of Toyota‘s gradual push to offer hybrids across every segment of its vehicle lineup. The Avalon Hybrid‘s sibling, the Lexus 300h ES shares its drivetrain with the Avalon Hybrid but comes at a higher pricetag and with more amenities.

Toyota Refreshes TMG EV P002 for Pikes Peak

Posted on: May 17, 2013

Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) will send a revised TMG EV P002 to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to defend its electric title. Based on last year’s ground-breaking run of 10 minutes 15.380 seconds, engineers at TMG’s electric vehicle technology center have generated more performance from the TMG powertrain to further improve the mark.

The P002 now has a top speed of 142.9 miles per hour, 1200 newton meters of maximum torque and 400 kW of maximum power. Before the annual climb, the EV P0002 will get aerodynamic upgrades and more track testing. A Schneider Electric EVlink DC charger will charge the P0002′s 42-kWh lithium ion ceramic battery on race day. All these upgrades and the history of record-setting gave Claudia Brasse, TMG’s executive coordinator of strategic EV development, reason to call the TMG EV P002 the “standard bearer for electric race cars.”

On June 30, just one week after TMG’s Toyota Racing team takes on the Le Mans 24 Hours with a hybrid prototype, Rod Millen will drive the TMG EV P002 at Pikes Peak. As a multiple record-setter at Pikes Peak and regular competitor in Toyota machinery, the 61-year-old New Zealander is highly experienced and will benefit from various improvements to the high-tech racer.

LAcarGUY Supports Heal The Bay’s “Bring Back the Beach” Fundraiser

Posted on: May 15, 2013

LAcarGUY is a longtime supporter of Heal The Bay, participation in beach cleanups, and most recently, LAcarGUY owner Mike Sullivan joined their Board of Directors. To celebrate our partnership, LAcarGUY’s Toyota/Scion Santa Monica will be donating a 2013 Scion FR-S for this year’s Bring Back The Beach live auction, with all proceeds going to Heal The Bay.

We urge you to support this great cause and join us for an amazing night on the Beach with Heal The Bay supporters

All-New 2014 Toyota 4Runner Showcases Off-Road Heritage

Posted on: May 14, 2013

While some people are switching to smaller cars or making the move to hybrids, for die-hard SUV fans, a proper SUV is the only way to go, rugged and capable of going almost anywhere. With the all-new 2014 Toyota 4Runner, there’s more features, more capabilities, along with a redesigned look and feel, inside and out, making it one of the few SUVs left that can literally tow its own weight!

One of the first things that stand out is its facelift with new headlights, grille and front bumper giving it an edgier and more muscular look. Smoked headlights, clear-lens tail, new 17-inch wheels on SR5 and Trail models, while the Limited continues to ride on 20s, and a standard roof rack on all trim levels complete the refreshed style on the outside. New additions to color choices include Super White, Attitude Metallic Black, Barcelona Metallic Red, and Nautical Blue Metallic.

Toyota Unveils Green Concepts at Shanghai Auto Show

Posted on: May 6, 2013

At the Shanghai Auto Show last week, Toyota revealed a pair of green technology concepts, which might be a preview of hybrid systems that could appear in future models. Both cars are aimed at the Chinese market, with the FT-HT Yuejia debuting a six-seater hatch and the Yundong Shuangquing II previewing a new sedan model.

Toyota says that the hatch’s “Yuejia” name means “happy family”, while the sedan’s name combines “movement upon clouds” with the term “dual support” – the latter a reference to its petrol-electric powertrain. The Yundong Shuangqing II seems to be a more subdued version of the Furia concept seen at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but now with a hybrid powertrain. Both the Furia and Yundong Shuangqing II concepts have sharply defined sheetmetal to separate the front of the car from the side. The two cars’ profiles look identical, from the upward kink of the rear side window to the character line that strikes through the door handles.

Little has been revealed about the concepts’ hybrid drivetrains, although Toyota has confirmed that a new system is being developed at its Changshu plant in China.

LAcarGUY at Manhattan Beach Earth Day Event

Posted on: May 1, 2013

This past weekend, LAcarGUY‘s team were on-hand at the unveiling of the official H2.0 Fountain at Polliwog Park on Earth Day. LAcarGUY is proud to be among a number of community partners who have contributed to support Leadership Manhattan Beach’s initiative to provide seven state-of-the-art water drinking fountains to the community, where three of which include a fountain especially for canine companions.

LAcarGUY‘s Manager of the Environment, Alisha Auringer, and CIO, Tim James, had the opportunity to fill up their water bottles using the bottle-refilling dispensers! LAcarGUY was also presented with a sponsorship plaque from the wonderful team at Leadership Manhattan Beach.

Check out a few pics from the day! If you attended the event, tell us what you think of the new drinking fountains!

Toyota Celebrates 5 Million Hybrids Sold Worldwide

Posted on: May 1, 2013

Toyota Motor Corporation recently announced a milestone, that it has sold five million hybrid vehicles worldwide. Nearly two million of those sales were sold in the United States, under the Toyota and Lexus brands. In Canada, over 77,000 hybrids have been sold to date and account for over 80 percent of Canada’s total hybrid sales in 2012.

In the U.S., Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles make up 70 percent of the automotive industry’s total hybrid sales, while they account for 16 percent of overall Toyota and Lexus sales both locally and globally.

LAcarGUY Sponsors Manhattan Beach H2.0 Drinking Fountains

Posted on: April 25, 2013

LAcarGUY is proud to be among a number of community partners who have contributed to support Leadership Manhattan Beach’s initiative to provide seven state-of-the-art water drinking fountains to the community, where three of which include a fountain especially for canine companions.

The locations of the new water stations are determined by the city’s Public Works Department for high use and visibility and can be found at the following locations: the Strand by the Pier, Polliwog Park, The Greenbelt, Marine Avenue basketball courts, and Manhattan Village soccer field. Future stations include the Strand by El Porto and Metlox Plaza. Manufactured by Most Dependable Fountains, Inc., the “H2.0 Station” is nearly 4-feet-8-inches tall and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Leadership Manhattan Beach has a mission to develop and unite community leaders by providing a flagship nine-month leadership training program that is held annually. 25 to 30 Manhattan Beach community members (adults and high school students) are selected to be part of the program to learn about various community services and programs. Individuals work collaboratively on a class project that brings immediate benefit to the City.

LAcarGUY Sponsors Grades Of Green Trash Free Lunches

Posted on: April 24, 2013

LAcarGUY, the leading hybrid dealer group in the world, was a proud sponsor for the second annual Grades of Green Trash Free Lunch Challenge at local schools.

There were 17 local schools that participated in the challenge and the top three were all sponsored by LAcarGUY stores! First Place went to Lunada Bay Elementary School, sponsored by Pacific Porsche. They won by reducing trash going to landfills by 87.5%. The school was honored with a celebration on Earth Day, on April 22, and will received a $1,000 education grant.