Toyota and BMW Announce Collaboration on Lithium-Air Vehicle Battery

Posted on: January 25, 2013

Toyota Motor Corp and BMW AG will jointly research a lithium-air battery expected to be more powerful than the lithium-ion batteries used in many hybrid and electric vehicles, according to the two firms. The companies signed binding agreements to collaborate on several projects meant to usher in future vehicle technology.

“[Toyota] and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of future sustainable mobility,” said Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board at BMW. “In light of the technological changes ahead, the entire automotive industry faces tremendous challenges, which we also regard as an opportunity. This collaboration is an important building block in keeping both companies on a successful course in the future.”

The Japanese and German automakers aim to complete a fuel-cell vehicle system by 2020, and a concept for a mid-size sports vehicle by the end of this year. They will also work together on developing lightweight technologies such as composites, which will help make cars greener.

Toyota Furia Concept Hints at a Newly Redesigned Corolla

Posted on: January 22, 2013

Unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota hints at a newly redesigned Corolla with the 2013 Corolla Furia Concept. The concept represents an exterior styling study by Toyota designers, and it builds on the brand’s product development priority to develop more dramatic, expressively designed vehicles.

“The Corolla Furia Concept is an early indicator of where our compact car design may lead in the future”, commented Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “It blends a heightened emphasis on dramatic design and modern elements of high technology to generate curb appeal that will surprise a lot of people.”

Designed around the theme of ‘Iconic Dynamism,’ which centers around pure and simple elements to create a confident, decisive and recognizable appearance, the Furia  will attract the consumer that is looking for a vehicle with a more dynamic and aggressive look. The concept includes LED head and tail lamps, carbon fiber accents and 19-inch wheels, and the wheels are pushed to the corners to maximize interior.

LAcarGUY Partners with Grades of Green in Trash Free Lunch Challenge

Posted on: January 15, 2013

LAcarGUY’s group of South Bay dealerships have partnered with Grades of Green to kick off the 2013 Trash Free Lunch Challenge. Grades of Green is challenging schools to reduced lunchtime waste by encouraging students to pack trash-free lunches and to sort waste into recycle, compost and landfill bins. The 4R System that Grades of Green introduced helped divert over 10,000 bags of trash and saved participating schools thousands of dollars in 2011-2012.

Click to view slideshow.
The project teaches students the 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (compost)

• By bringing TRASH FREE each day, the students will make a difference at school by REDUCING lunch time landfill waste. They will know the number of landfill bags produced at lunch before the Challenge and by being TRASH FREE during the Challenge, they will see that number decrease.
• By bringing REUSABLE lunch boxes, water bottles, sandwich and snack containers each day they will reduce lunch time waste.
• The school will implement a sorting system during lunch which will include bins for: RECYCLING, ROT (compost), liquids and stacked trays. Educational games will teach students about WHAT items go into each bin and WHY.
• Each bin in the sorting system will be clearly labeled to support students in the proper sorting process. These signs will educate and reinforce the concepts of REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE and ROT.

The Grades of Green team has been visiting participating schools and holding assemblies to educate students and get them excited about the project. Applications to participate in the project are due March 15th and finalist chosen among those schools with the least amount of trash will be announced March 22nd. Judges will visit the finalists on April 16th and the winning school will be announced on April 22nd at the awards ceremony.

Toyota Talks Up Future Mazda Small Car Collaboration

Posted on: January 10, 2013

by Zach McDonald

In November, Toyota and Mazda announced an agreement to replace the current Yaris with a Mazda-built, Toyota-badged small car that may or may not be sold under the Yaris name. The car will be based on and manufactured alongside the Mazda2 at Mazda’s new Mexican production facility, which is set to open next year in Guanajuato. Under the agreement, Mazda will build 50,000 units of the car per year and 90,000 units of the Mazda2 at the same factory.

Consumer Reports Name Toyota Prius as Best New Car Value

Posted on: January 7, 2013

Many people assume that a low purchase price makes a car a good value. But a cheaper car can actually end up costing more in the long run. Or down the road you could end up regretting its disappointing performance or reliability. And that’s no bargain.

Recently, Consumer Reports (CR) has named the Toyota Prius as the best overall value for the automotive dollar in its annual Best New-Car Value analysis, unseating the Honda Fit, which has held the title for the past four years. According to CR, there are plenty of less expensive cars. But they are not a match to the Prius for its comfortable ride, competent handling, roomy interior, excellent reliability, and, of course, its great fuel economy.

Toyota and Lexus models placed at the top of six of the 10 categories that Consumer Reports analyzed. The automaker’s hybrid cars, in particular, represent excellent values overall, with great fuel economy and reliability along with low depreciation working in their favor. Toyota hybrid models topped three of the categories and placed second, behind the non-hybrid version of the same model, in an additional category.

RAV4 EV Incentives Reach as High as $17,500

Posted on: January 3, 2013

by Zach McDonald of HybridCars.com

Toyota’s decision to release the RAV4 EV exclusively in California instantly ensured that buyers of the car would receive an additional $2,500 in state incentives on top of the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit. But thanks to a series of additional perks, the first lithium ion battery-powered crossover utility vehicle available in the United States will now be even more affordable.

With a substantial (and expensive) Tesla-built 42-kWh battery pack, the RAV4 EV starts at $49,800—in league with many luxury hybrids. In addition to $10,000 in federal and state credits, Toyota will reportedly tacking on $7,500 in incentives—including $5,000 cash back and $2,500 in “loyalty cash” for returning Toyota customers.

Behind the Design of the 2013 Toyota Avalon

Posted on: December 31, 2012

From its completely redesigned exterior to its remarkably comfortable interior, the 2013 Avalon is unlike any Toyota that’s come before it and paves the way for where we’re going next. Watch the following video to find out about the vehicle’s design inspiration as designers tell their story:

Toyota Tests Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Technology

Posted on: December 28, 2012

Toyota Motor Corp. has begun testing car safety systems that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and also with the roads they are on. The newly completed Intelligent Transport System facility in Toyota’s Mount Fuji Technology Centre, houses a large network of indoor roads that are used to test the latest safety technologies. Test vehicle receive information from sensors and transmitters installed on the streets to minimize the risk of accidents in situations such as missing a red light, a vehicle advancing from blind spots, and pedestrians crossing the street. The data can then be used by the individual vehicle to prepare for a collision or stop one from happening through electronic intervention, like automatic braking. Not only can the cars receive information, but they can also relay it to other vehicles on the road.

Toyota officials said the smart-car technology it is developing will be tested on some Japanese roads starting in 2014. Similar tests are planned for the U.S., although details were not decided. Such technology is expected to be effective because half of car accidents happen at intersections, according to studies. Managing Officer Moritaka Yoshida said Toyota sees preventing collisions, watching out for pedestrians and helping the driving of the elderly as key to ensuring safety in the cars of the future.

Toyota also previewed a new feature that helps the driver brake harder to prevent rear-ending the vehicle in front. Toyota officials said drivers often fail to push hard on their brakes in such situations because they get into a panic. Toyota said the technology will be available soon and hinted it will be offered for Lexus luxury models. It already offers features like automatic cruise control and blind-spot monitoring in some of its Toyota and Lexus vehicles.Technology involving precise sensors remains expensive, sometimes costing as much as an entry-level Toyota vehicle.

2013 Toyota Avalon Offers World’s First Application of Qi Wireless In-Car Charging

Posted on: December 21, 2012

Among the various technologies available in the 2013 Toyota Avalon, one that stands out as a world’s first is the in-console Qi wireless charging for Qi-enabled mobile phones and devices which is part of the Technology Package. Available for both the gasoline and hybrid versions of the new Avalon Limited, other technologies include Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Automatic High beams and a Pre-Collision System.

Qi has become the global standard for wireless power and charging. Devices can be charged simply by placing them on or near any Qi-enabled surface. Any Qi-enabled device works with any Qi charger, no matter what brand of manufacturer.

Now integrated in 34 mobile phone models, the Qi wireless charging system is found in recent launches of the LG Goole Nexus 4, Nokia Lumia 920, and HTC Windows Phone 8X. Qi-certified products range from smartphones to charging pads, gaming controllers, Blu-ray Disc recorders, smartphone docking speakers, vehicle phone chargers, alarm clocks and battery packs, to charging modules that can be installed in tabletops and furniture.

Toyota Named Best Automotive Brand in 2013 kbb.com Resale Value Awards

Posted on: December 17, 2012

Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com Best Resale Value Awards recognizes current and forthcoming vehicles for their projected resale value throughout the first five years of ownership. And for 2013, Toyota topped its competition and was named the top brand, and it has received this top honor in three of the last four years.