Category: Toyota (Page 5 of 6)

Global Launch of All-New 2012 Toyota Camry

August 21, 2011 / Staff

Join Toyota live via webcast as they introduce the completely redesigned 2012 Camry on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. This first-of-its-kind reveal for Toyota will include a presentation by Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manger, live from Hollywood, and a visit to the Camry plant in Georgetown, Ky. to view the first vehicle coming off the assembly line. In addition, a special NASCAR-related announcement will be made as part of the program.

With the Camry being “America’s Car,” Toyota is engaging the public in this unique event by offering consumers the opportunity to view the program live on Toyota.com and, following the webcast, Bob Carter will be hosting a TweetChat via Twitter at 1:00 p.m. PDT (4:00 p.m. EDT).

Toyota is inviting media and consumers alike to participate in the event via Twitter using the hashtag #CamryLive and to pose questions during the TweetChat with Bob Carter using the hashtag #CamryChat. Details are below.

WHO: Bob Carter, Toyota group vice president and general manger, Toyota Division

WHAT ELSE: Camry has been the best-selling car in America for nine years running and 13 of the last 14 years. Since it was introduced in 1983, more than 8.5 million have been sold in the U.S. and 15 million worldwide. Designed to meet the needs of the 21st century driver, the 2012 Camry will provide technologically advanced features, a contemporary design inside and out, improved performance and fuel efficiency, and refined ride and handling. The all-new Camry and Camry Hybrid will arrive at Toyota dealerships this fall.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23 at 10:00 a.m. PDT/1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CENTRAL

WHERE: To view the live webcast and download related Toyota materials following the broadcast, click here.

Toyota

Scion IQ Priced

July 21, 2011 / Joe Gustafson

Scion, the “Youth Brand” of Toyota, has priced their newest car for the American market, the iQ. The Scion IQ is set to hit our shores with a price tag of $15,995. The iQ is Scion’s version of the Toyota iQ sold in foreign markets.

Personally, like the Smart car, I don’t really see the point of this car at all. People buy city cars for style and/or frugality. The iQ posses none of these traits.

First, the iQ looks like the design they threw away while making the Toyota Yaris, which is no looker itself. Short, squat, and wide, the iQ is the exact opposite of how to make a pretty car. In addition, it is a Scion. This may be a plus if you consume bucketfuls of energy drinks per day, and wear flat-brimmed baseball caps, but if you are an actual adult, the Scion badge is a detriment. The iQ’s Quasimodo looks especially come to light when sat alongside the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500, its European competition, who have won a case full of international design awards.

Secondly, it is not frugal in the slightest. At $15,995 it is nearly the most expensive in its segment outside the better equipped and better looking Ford Fiesta hatch (the Fiesta sedan is cheaper than the iQ). The Mazda2, Hyundai Accent, and Fiat 500 all undercut it in price and all offer either looks (Fiat), value (Hyundai with its 10 year warranty), or driving performance (Mazda). Not to mention all these cars are larger and will not be mistaken for windup toys when pulling up to someone’s house for a first date. The most glaring flaw is that across the sales floor, Toyota offers the Yaris for around 13K, which is also larger and at least boring to look at instead of outright atrocious.

Finally, you may think that it gets fantastic gas mileage because of its small size and light weight (around 2100 pounds). Wrong again. The iQ gets only 37mpg highway. All of the mentioned competition, except the Yaris, gets more miles out of a drop of gas. Plus, The Yaris only gives up one mpg on the highway to the iQ while also being larger.

At the end of the day, there is no point to the iQ. It is a three year old, warmed over Toyota with a Scion badge that is not cheap, not frugal, and not pretty. The urban commuters the iQ wants to attract are too focused on fashion and badge snobbery to even make a passing glance at a Scion. Fuel misers will go right for more efficient offerings, and people shopping on price won’t buy it either. In fact, Scion’s targeted youth clientele may not buy it either since nothing about a rebadged Toyota that looks like a melted ice cream scoop screams youthful exuberance. The iQ is just another sign that the Scion brand is floundering for life. The car enthusiast’s only hope for the Scion brand is the upcoming FT-86.

Fiat, Ford, News, Scion, Toyota

cheap car city car Fiat 500 Ford Fiesta fuel mileage Mazda 2 New Scion Scion Scion iQ

“The Car Show” Review

July 14, 2011 / Joe Gustafson

Quick, what’s the newest car show with male hosts and car related stunts? If you answered Top Gear USA, you are wrong. The real answer is the imaginatively titled The Car Show on the Speed Channel every Wednesday at 10/9c. The formula is familiar: male hosts, studio audience, car themed stage, and car stunts. But was it any good? I found out firsthand last night after tuning in for the debut.

The series premier consisted of a cheap car race challenge, a game show segment with an audience member, an obligatory NASCAR interview with Jimmie Johnson, a current news segment, a Porsche GT3 RS speed run, and a Rolls-Royce Ghost test at Pebble Beach. The segments were fairly decent with merely “ok” cinematography and presentation. Playful banter and jokes between hosts were above average, and cars were criticized pretty hard if they warranted it. However, because there were so many segments, each one felt rushed and incomplete in order to squeeze in the others. The Rolls Royce test and the cheap car race challenge in particular had you wishing that they dedicated more time for them instead of a dull interview with Mr. Beige himself, Jimmie Johnson.

Adam Carolla definitely carried this first episode. His sarcastic remarks and deprecating remarks towards the hosts, himself, and the show lifted the entertainment value well ahead of Top Gear USA. However, Matt Farah (of fastlanedaily.com) and Dan Neil (Wall Street Journal Car Critic) both had their moments as well. And that brings me to the biggest problem of The Car Show: John Salley.

A former NBA star, fourth host Salley seemed like he was on his way to another show and wandered into a The Car Show taping. The man has no knowledge of cars whatsoever or endearing personality traits. First, on discussion of the new Porsche Supercar, he made the comment that it was “just a Porsche.” Weird, but maybe he is so rich he buys a Porsche every day for his dogs to eat out of. However, that hypothesis was quashed with this comment during a Toyota conversation:

“Toyota makes a good car. I drive a Corolla.”

So not only does he knock Porsche, but he holds up a Toyota Corolla as a great car; on a car enthusiast’s program. Knocking Porsche is fine, but purchasing a Toyota Corolla is THE cardinal sin in the religion of cardom. John Salley’s opinions are now null and void if he drives the most boring and beige car imaginable.

Other than Mr. Salley’s complete lack of car knowledge and screen presence, The Car Show shows a lot of promise. As the season progresses, the hosts’ chemistry will improve and Adam Carolla will get even funnier as well. If they find a way to focus more on less segments, this show could be better than Top Gear USA. We will see what Top Gear USA has to offer soon since they debut on Sunday at 10/9c on History. But seriously, above all else, get rid of John Salley. Three’s a party, but adding a fourth member who drives a Toyota Corolla is an incredibly boring crowd.

To see what time The Car Show televises in your area, check your local listings, or The Car Show’s website.

Porsche, Toyota

Adam Carolla Car show Review Car TV show Dan Neil Matt Farah Speed Channel The Car Show

Toyota Bigs Give More Authority to U.S. Executives

June 1, 2011 / Staff

This comes a bit late but better late than never!

From AutoGuide.com:

Toyota is taking product development authority away from Japanese bosses and putting it in the hands of North American executives as part of a larger change aimed at fixing quality control issues that hurt the automaker’s reputation last year.

Until now, vehicles produced and designed and developed in North America had to be approved by chief engineers in Japan. Vehicles unique to the North American market such as the Venza, Sienna, Avalon, Tacoma and Tundra will no longer require painstaking and frustrating sign-offs from Japan at each step of the development processes.

“We are going to implement the process from design to preparation for production to development, cost planning, and identifying and selecting suppliers,” said Inaba, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. “All these processes are going to be 100 percent done here, without going back to Japan for approval.”

The changes come too late to affect the development of the redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry due this fall, however upcoming models based in North America, such as the next Tundra pickup, will see the result of the new structure.

Check out more for AutoGuide.com.

News, Toyota

Toyota sales

Toyota production will be back up sooner than originally planned!

May 12, 2011 / Staff

From the Detroit Free Press:

Toyota will begin cranking up its North American factories faster than expected, returning to 70% of normal production in June as it rebounds from parts shortages caused by the earthquake in Japan.

The company cut production to about 30% of normal in May by idling factories for several days or reducing their hours. It warned dealers to expect shortages of some models well into the summer.

But Toyota said Wednesday that the parts situation is improving as supply companies take measures to counter the effects of the quake.

A March 11 earthquake and tsunami damaged auto parts plants in northeastern Japan, causing shortages that have affected nearly all automakers but have hit Toyota and Honda especially hard.

Toyota said in a statement that it would evaluate production for each model every month, and it may not return to fully normal production until late this year.

Next month, though, Toyota will move to 100% production of eight models in North America. They include the Avalon large car, Camry midsize car, Corolla compact, Highlander SUV, Matrix small car, Sequoia large SUV, Sienna minivan and Venza crossover vehicle, Toyota said in a statement.

Read the full article.

New Cars, Toyota