Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Toyota and Wyland Foundation Recognize 30 Environmental Heroes in Southern California

Wyland_foundation_logo_stack

TORRANCE, Calif. (April 24, 2012) – Toyota and the Wyland Foundation are proud to congratulate the winners of the 2012 Earth Month Heroes, a Southern California program created by the organizations to annually recognize 30 exemplary citizens who find ground-breaking ways to work toward sustaining a healthy planet. The Wyland Foundation, Toyota and regional broadcast partner KCBS / KCAL will make donations of $250 on behalf of the Earth Month Heroes to deserving organizations in Southern California, with a $1,000 grand prize donation, to support local conservation efforts. For the full list of Earth Month Heroes, visit losangeles.cbslocal.com/earth-month-heroes/.

This is the second year of Earth Month Heroes in Southern California. Individuals of all ages from the areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura counties, north San Diego County and the Inland Empire were selected by the Wyland Foundation after an open nomination process by neighbors, colleagues and peers throughout February and March for their environmental achievements. The 2012 grand prize winner is Dency Nelson, an early local organizer of activities during the first Earth Day in 1970. Nelson was chosen for his lifetime efforts to raise the profile of sustainable living in urban environments, and is a founding member of Plug In America, a non-profit public charity that promotes emissions-free driving.

"Toyota is honored to support the 2012 Earth Month Heroes, all of whom are demonstrating how one person truly can make a difference to help our planet,” said Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy and community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “We salute their efforts, and encourage others to follow their lead by finding impactful ways to preserve our environment and natural resources.”

“We received so many incredible nominees for the Earth Month Heroes program this year, it was difficult to select 30,” said artist Wyland. “We’re delighted to celebrate their environmental spirit by making donations in their names, and also thank Toyota and KCBS/KCAL for their support – their contributions have helped us generate awareness about the importance of conservation to protect our environment both for today and the future.”

Toyota’s support of the Wyland Foundation, a non-profit founded by renowned environmental, marine artist Wyland, is part of the automobile company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. This year, Toyota also supported the Wyland Foundation in hosting the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, March 30 – April 30, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. With support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the campaign challenged mayors nationwide to inspire their residents to conserve natural resources by taking a free, online pledge to save water. Participants in the city that registers the most pledges within the Challenge dates will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, including the new Toyota Prius c, which has an EPA-estimated city fuel economy rating of 53 miles per gallon. To take the free online pledge, visit mywaterpledge.com.

In addition to its support of the Wyland Foundation, Toyota engages the public through a variety of environmental initiatives and activities as part of the company’s commitment to impactful environmental stewardship. One of Toyota’s key environmental initiatives is TogetherGreen™, a five-year program funded by a $20 million Toyota grant to the National Audubon Society that aims to inspire people to take action to improve the health of the environment. For the past 14 years Toyota has also partnered with the National Environmental and Education Foundation (NEEF) to support National Public Lands Day (NPLD), held annually in September, and is the largest, hands-on volunteer event to improve and enhance public lands. Recently the partnership expanded to include “Every Day” grants to community-based organizations.


Courtesy of Toyota

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Toyota and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Announce National Partnership to Help Combat America’s High School Dropout Crisis

Toyota and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) announced today a national partnership through the establishment of a college readiness initiative, which will help fund youth education and improve high school graduation rates. As a founding sponsor of D2D - Diplomas to Degrees, Toyota is providing a $1.5 million grant over three years to help provide tools, resources and support to Boys & Girls Club teens to help prepare them to move from high school to college graduation.

The announcement was made at an education celebration event on the campus of Bowie State University in Bowie, Md., where more than 150 local Boys & Girls Clubs teens from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region were joined by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, former NBA player and Boys & Girls Club alum A.C. Green, as well as representatives from Toyota and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
“I am pleased to join Toyota and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to announce a new national partnership to prepare our children for the future,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “To move forward in this changing new economy, we must create jobs and expand opportunity – and education is the best tool we have.  In Maryland, we have set a goal to improve student achievement and school, college and career readiness by 25 percent by 2015 because we believe in giving our children the tools they need to succeed.  Together, with innovative partnerships like this, we can return to the urgent work of building up our children’s future.”
Studies have shown that students who fail to graduate high school prepared to obtain a postsecondary education are less likely to gain full access to our country’s economic, political and social opportunities. Therefore, Toyota and BGCA are dedicated to ensuring Club members receive the support needed to succeed in their academic careers and in life. 
Piloted in ten cities over the past year, D2D – Diplomas to Degrees will now be available in more than 1,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. The program is designed to help youth develop short and long-term goals; explore post-secondary institutions to familiarize teens with the college lifestyle; pursue and secure essential financial assistance; and foster supportive relationships with caring adults who can provide ongoing advice and mentorship throughout the teens’ academic experience. 
“Toyota is committed to helping improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work,” said Mike Groff, vice president, Sales, Marketing and Product Planning, Toyota Financial Services. “Our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs is an extension of our focus on education and a key component of the new D2D program is engaging our associates to volunteer as mentors and college coaches through their local clubs. The ultimate goal of this program is to increase the number of youth who graduate from high school and enroll in a college, university or other postsecondary institution.”

In addition to D2D - Diplomas to Degrees, Toyota has provided close to $1 million in academic scholarships for more than 225 Boys & Girls Club alumni and staff and supported thousands of middle and high school youth with mentorships, internships and financial or career programs to help them become productive and caring adults. Toyota has worked closely with BGCA to support Boys & Girls Club of East Los Angeles, investing toward the local organization’s Formula for Impact Grant.
“BGCA is committed to working with youth to ensure they are prepared for post-secondary education, but we can’t do it alone,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO at BGCA.  “With the help of corporations like Toyota, we now have the opportunity to provide targeted programs for youth through key transition periods between high school and college.  Schools, families and community partners are all vital parts of the education equation and we must work together to improve the outlook for our nation and secure more great futures for our youth.”

 

Courtesy of Toyota

Monday, April 16, 2012

Car Care Tip

Tire_pressure_gauge
Fans! Here is a car care tip. Check your tire pressures regularly. Bad tire pressures can affect fuel economy, handling and comfort.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Sensational New 2013 Toyota Avalon Makes World Debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show

2013_avalon_002
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. revealed the all-new 2013 Avalon premium mid-size sedan today at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The new Avalon is re-conceived for the premium mid-size sedan segment with a progressive and emotionally styled exterior design.

When it arrives to dealerships late this year, the new Avalon will offer improved dynamic performance, a greater degree of refinement, and a highly spacious, comfortable interior experience with an abundance of outstanding convenience technologies.

The new 2013 Avalon is the result of a North American-focused design and engineering effort. The new sedan’s dramatic exterior and interior design was conceived by a youthful and talented team at the Calty Design Research Inc. facilities in Southern California and Michigan. The car’s engineering development was principally led by a passionate and dedicated group based at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Continuing a North American focused theme, the 2013 Avalon will be assembled at Toyota’s facility in Georgetown, Ky. True to the future product mission set forth by Toyota Motor Corporation President, Akio Toyoda, the new Avalon’s more stylish, bold, sporty exterior design and luxurious interior styling are matched by an enhanced dynamic package, a combination that foreshadows the more compelling and passionate nature of future Toyota products.

Enhanced Avalon Dynamics

In addition to its stunning design, numerous structural and chassis improvements were made to the new Avalon to enhance the ride quality, straight-line stability and handling. The body structure gains improvements in torsional rigidity thanks to additional and strategically placed welds, improved body bracing, and high-strength steel in key areas in order to provide a stiffer chassis and optimize suspension performance. The new Avalon suspension relies on MacPherson struts with advanced valving and rebound springs to balance handling and agility with ride comfort. Coil spring rate and front and rear sway bar stiffness was increased from the current model to help improve body control and body roll. The Avalon’s electric power steering (EPS) system has been tuned to help deliver enhanced controllability and vehicle agility while also realizing superior linear stability.

The new Avalon offers three distinct drive modes that help tailor dynamic performance to the driver’s needs. The drive modes - Normal, Eco, and Sport -are made available through driver-selectable switches. In Sport mode, throttle response is enhanced and steering effort is weighted from center to offer a sportier character. Eco changes throttle response and A/C power usage to help improve fuel economy. Steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters help provide a sportier drive while in the D or S Mode, where the revised throttle helps improve shift response to help maximize engine power and vehicle performance.

Dynamic Exterior Styling

The new Avalon’s dynamic exterior styling defines a sleek and expressive profile that helps communicate a sense of motion for the vehicle even when it is at rest. The beltline has been lowered to accentuate a strong stance. Compared to its predecessor, the new Avalon is a bit more compact yet displays better proportions with a longer, sloping roofline, flared front fenders, and reduced front and rear overhangs, lower vehicle height, and reduced body-to-tire gap. New 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheel and tire combinations fill the wheel well to enhance the vehicle’s dynamic exterior expression.

Key exterior design elements include the square Double-eye PES (Projector Ellipsoid System) headlamps with HID (High-Intensity Discharge)and elegant DRL (Daytime Running Lights) feature available that provide excellent night time visibility while helping define a narrower, more taut and muscular exterior expression. A wider, more assertive grille design provides a bolder front perspective. At the rear, high-performance LED combination tail lamps are adopted which are more integrated with the revised rear-body styling. The dual rear tailpipe outlets further the more cohesive design theme.

Modern Interior Experience
Design elements enhancing comfort, convenience and technology help create the luxurious experience that will prove tempting to buyers of the next Avalon. The 2013 Avalon offers a modern, spacious, premium interior highlighted by abundant rear seat legroom, while featuring a myriad of available features. Beyond mere dimensions, the new Avalon’s interior design enhances the cabin’s sense of spaciousness and comfort. The front seat’s hip point has been lowered by 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) to help create improved headroom. The new power front seat design with increased side bolstering is more supportive and offers an expanded range of downward adjustment. In addition, the structural components of the sunroof and the headliner design have been optimized to help increase the cabin’s roominess. A concave dash panel design, located in front of the passenger, helps create an expansive feeling. While the rear overhang has been reduced by 1.7 inches, the luggage compartment capacity is 16.0 cubic feet, an increase of 1.6 cubic feet as compared to the outgoing model.

The Avalon’s premium interior attains a high level of refinement by reducing wind, engine and road noise inside the cabin. The resultant interior is even significantly quieter and more comfortable than the current Avalon and it creates an ideal environment to enjoy conversation, music or Toyota’s available multimedia system, Entune™. Sound absorbing materials have been strategically placed around the cabin and body structure while not inhibiting a reduction in overall vehicle weight. The windshield and front side-glass panels utilize acoustic glass that helps control sound intrusion into the cabin. Reductions in wind noise have been realized by optimizing exterior shape, specifically cowl and louver sealing, outer mirror shape and position, and wiper-blade position, which have all been developed to dramatically reduce wind noise generation. Exterior gaps and steps have also been minimized to reduce wind noise around the door glass areas.

The new Avalon’s interior utilizes premium materials and a high degree of craftsmanship to offer an upscale experience. Rich, supple leather trims the steering wheel, shift knob, and seat upholstery helping add visual and tactile appeal. Hand-crafted, decorative stitching is adopted for the steering wheel, and soft-touch materials on the dash panel and door trim elevate the vehicle’s sense of tactile luxury. Smoked chrome-metallic accents are applied to the instrument panel, center console, door panel, and steering wheel surfaces to help add distinction and exceptional feel. Available push-button controlled soft white ambient lighting illuminates key regions of the interior to help convey the sense of luxury. The new Avalon’s center console includes a convenient console tray that is ideal for the storage of electronic hand held devices. The new Avalon’s console area is equipped with a USB port, AUX input terminal and three 12-volt power outlets to help facilitate device interface and charging.

The new Avalon will offer innovative technologies such as advanced capacitive touch switches with positioning and sensitivity that makes them ideal for vehicle system controls. Other premium in-car technologies include three color display screens that support the multi-information display, the audio/navigation interface, and the climate control panel. An easy to use Display Audio system with 6.1 inch touchscreen is standard on the new Avalon; while a JBL Synthesis Premium Audio system, HDD Premium Navigation with 7” screen, dynamic radar cruise control, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a three-zone air conditioning system are also on the list of available features and equipment.

Safety
Like all Toyota models, the new Avalon will feature Toyota’s Star Safety System™ standard, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, and Smart Stop Technology brake-override system.

The new Avalon helps to prioritize occupant safety with a best-in-class10 airbags system. A Pre-collision system is also available that is designed to “sense” an impending frontal collision and can help mitigate damage. A variable ratio brake pedal is adopted that varies the initial and final pedal effort ratios to help realize excellent brake pedal feel.

In addition to a rearview monitor, Avalon offers an available Blind Spot Monitoring system which is designed to help detect vehicles behind the outer mirrors and to help alert drivers in addition to a new Rear Cross Traffic Alert system (RCTA) that can alert drivers of cross traffic when they are backing up.

Courtesy of Toyota

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Happy Wednesday Fans! Here is your weekly car care tip.

Do not race your car’s engine during start-up. This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.

Vroom

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Toyota and Wyland Foundation Partner to Encourage Resource Conservation Throughout Earth Month

Toyota kicks off Earth Month by expanding its partnership with the Wyland Foundation to encourage residents nationwide to preserve our natural resources by taking an online pledge to conserve water. Toyota’s support of the Wyland Foundation, a non-profit founded by renowned environmental, marine artist Wyland, is part of the automobile company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

This year, Toyota will support the Wyland Foundation to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act as the organization hosts the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, March 30 – April 30. With support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the campaign challenges mayors nationwide to inspire their residents to conserve natural resources by taking a free, online pledge to save water. Participants in the city that registers the most pledges within the Challenge dates will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, including the new Toyota Prius c, which has an EPA-estimated city fuel economy rating of 53 miles per gallon. To take the free online pledge, visit mywaterpledge.com.

"An integral part of Toyota's commitment to sustainability is building strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Wyland Foundation, which for years has been running innovative programs that focus on environmental education," said Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy and community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. "Both Toyota and the Wyland Foundation are passionate about educating and inspiring people of all ages about the importance of environmental stewardship. We hope that the possibility of winning a new Prius c Hybrid vehicle will motivate even more people to get involved."

“With a shared goal of promoting environmental stewardship, we are excited to continue working with Toyota on our Earth Month initiatives,” said artist Wyland. “With great support from partners like Toyota, we are able to expand the Mayor’s Challenge to even more cities this year, and generate awareness about the importance of conservation to protect our environment both for today and the future.”

This year also marks the second anniversary of Toyota and Wyland’s Earth Month Heroes, a Southern California program that recognizes 30 exemplary citizens who find ground-breaking ways to work toward sustaining a healthy planet. The Wyland Foundation, Toyota and regional broadcast partner KCBS / KCAL will make donations of $250 on behalf of the Earth Month Heroes to deserving organizations in Southern California, with a $1,000 grand prize donation, to support local conservation efforts. For the full list of Earth Month Heroes, visit wylandfoundation.org, starting April 1.

To kick off both the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation and Earth Month Heroes program, the Wyland Foundation and Toyota will host an event on March 30 at The Americana Brand in Glendale, Calif. with environmental artist, Wyland. Open to the public, Wyland will paint a marine life mural with attendees that will later be displayed in Anthropologie at The Americana. Additional support was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Waterpik, Rain Bird, Lowe's and Sterling Plumbing.

In addition to its support of the Wyland Foundation, Toyota engages the public through a variety of environmental initiatives and activities as part of the company’s commitment to impactful environmental stewardship. One of Toyota’s key environmental initiatives is TogetherGreen™, a five-year program funded by a $20 million Toyota grant to the National Audubon Society that aims to inspire people to take action to improve the health of the environment. For the past 14 years Toyota has also partnered with the National Environmental and Education Foundation (NEEF) to support National Public Lands Day (NPLD), held annually in September, and is the largest, hands-on volunteer event to improve and enhance public lands. Recently the partnership expanded to include “Every Day” grants to community-based organizations.

The all-new Prius c is designed to function as an urban-friendly vehicle with an engaging driving experience and hatchback utility. With a city fuel economy rating of 53 mpg, Prius c offers the highest city mpg rating of any vehicle without a plug. The Prius c joins the Prius Family, which includes the third generation Prius Liftback, the versatile new Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which will debut in early 2012.

Courtesy of Toyota

Thank you for telling us about Caroline's excellent service.