America's Best-Selling Car Tuned Up for 2013 NASCAR Season:

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) today formally introduced the new 2013 Toyota Camry that will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) beginning next season at TRD’s Salisbury, N.C. facility.

The introduction of the new 2013 Camry for NASCAR competition marked the culmination of an aggressive redesign to provide the 2013 Camry with an updated and more-unique identity. TRD worked together with Calty Design, part of Toyota’s global network design team, to create an on-track Camry that incorporates design elements which give America’s best-selling car its distinct character.

“We’re thrilled to finally unveil our new 2013 Camry and we think NASCAR fans will really appreciate that our new on-track Camry looks like the one in their driveways,” said Ed Laukes, TMS vice president of marketing communications and motorsports. “Our 2013 Camry looks more like the production vehicle than ever before, and we hope this helps revitalize the long-standing relationship between fans and manufacturers in NASCAR. Never before have we had a Camry competing in NASCAR that looked so similar to its production counterpart.”

A new front grill-area that matches the production model, distinct character lines down the side of the vehicle and an updated rear bumper make the redesigned 2013 Camry stock car more relevant than ever before to its showroom sibling.

“We’re extremely proud of the new Camry and the development of the car was truly a unique process,” said Lee White, president and general manager of TRD. “NASCAR and all four manufacturers were brought together to guide the direction of the new cars. We all worked together to put the ‘S’ back in NASCAR -- we all wanted race cars that look more like our stock, production models -- and together we accomplished that. Our new Camry for 2013 is a great looking race car. Everyone at Toyota is eager to have our drivers in a race car that more resembles the street Camry.”

For 10 straight years, and 14 of the past 15 years, the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in America. Built at Toyota manufacturing facilities in Georgetown, Kentucky and Lafayette, Indiana, the 2012 Toyota Camry was recently named the ‘Best Redesigned Vehicle’ by Kelley Blue Book. In addition, the Camry has been named the ‘Most American Car’ by Cars.com’s American-Made Index for three consecutive years.

In an effort to create more distinct and stock vehicles for the race track, NASCAR worked together with the four series manufacturers to determine what areas were either ‘locked in’ or ‘open’ for unique design. NASCAR also allowed for the exchange of glass for solid body pieces.

“When everyone at Toyota first saw the design of the 2013 Camry, the first reaction was, ‘They’re actually going to let you race a car that looks like that?’,” said Andy Graves, TRD’s vice president of chassis engineering. “That just demonstrates how excited everyone was about the new design of the Camry stock car.”

The new 2013 Toyota Camry will make its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Daytona International Speedway’s ‘Speedweeks’ in February.

courtesy of toyota.com

Scion tC Receives Autobytel and AutoPacific 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Award:

The 2012 Scion tC today was recognized as the Top Rated Sporty Car in the 16th Annual Autobytel and AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

Autobytel and AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award measures how satisfied an owner is with his or her new vehicle. New vehicle owners provide input on 48 individual attributes that objectively measure the ownership experience such as driver’s seat comfort, power and acceleration, interior and exterior styling, cargo space/capacity, ease of getting in and out, and quietness inside the vehicle.

The second-generation tC, which was completely redesigned for the 2011 model year, features new styling, enhanced performance, and technologies that add to the driver’s experience. It remains a tremendous value with more power, increased fuel efficiency, superior driving dynamics, and more safety features than its predecessor.

For 2012, the tC sports coupe includes as standard equipment a new Pioneer™ audio system that features Bluetooth® hands-free, Bluetooth streaming audio and HD Radio™ technology. It features a spirited 180-hp, 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

A new tC Release Series 7.0 (tC RS 7.0) also debuted for model-year 2012. The tC RS 7.0 comes exclusively in High Voltage Yellow exterior paint with contrasting black side view mirrors and black 18-inch alloy wheels. The aggressive exterior is further stylized with a TRD body kit that includes front and rear lower valences and side skirts. The front bumper incorporates a honeycomb lower grille that is unique to this Release Series.

High Voltage Yellow accents make their way into the interior with color-tuned black and yellow seat fabric, leather wrapped steering wheel with yellow stitching and an individually numbered badge. The tC RS 7.0 features Smart Key, a convenient keyless entry system that unlocks the doors with a touch of the door handle. The system also includes a red TRD push-button start allowing the car to be started with the push of a button. The use of the Smart Key system is a first for Scion.

Like all Scion models, the tC is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The tC comes standard with Scion Service Boost, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and two years of 24-hour roadside assistance.

courtesy of toyota.com

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5-star review on DealerRater:

"we where very pleased with carolines service she did everything to get us a car .we didnt have the best credit but toyota of redlands would not let us leave without makeing sure we left with thw car and the terms we wanted . they even came to our home to pick up trade in witch was wonderful we are very pleased and would most defenitly recomend toyota of redlands to all our friends and family."

From Bayous to Beltways: Two for the Road!

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Even after driving his truck more than 1 million miles, Glen Allen doesn’t think the old girl has reached the end of the road. She keeps on rolling, even on a long trip. “I can leave right now, punch your address into my GPS and drive with as much confidence as I have when I drive to the grocery store a quarter mile away,” says Allen, who lives in St. Amant, La. That’s important for a man who makes his living driving across the country, escorting vehicles carrying oversized loads. Allen bought his 1996 pickup truck in January 1997 from Price LeBlanc Toyota in nearby Baton Rouge. The truck had six miles on it. It was his fourth Toyota vehicle, the only brand he’s ever owned. “I bought my first one when I was 21 years old,” he says. “It was an ’84 Xtra Cab, white with gray interior.” He later bought a ’91 Corolla and a ’93 Toyota pickup truck. “I’ve been very impressed with Toyota’s products,” he says. “I really don’t have the desire to purchase anything else.” He’s particularly pleased with his current truck. “For a small truck, it has plenty of leg room and head room,” he says. “It’s been a comfortable little truck for me. I can reach anything I need from the driver’s seat.” Comfort is vital to Allen, who can rack up 90,000 miles a year escorting trucks carrying bulldozers, cranes and other heavy equipment. “I could get a call in the next five minutes telling me to go to Minnesota,” he says. “I never know where I’m going or when I’m going. I’ve got to keep my bag packed.” Despite the uncertainty, he says, “It’s exciting because I get to go to a lot of places I never dreamed of going. I’ve been to 38 states and Canada. I enjoy taking back roads, running into little hole-in-the-wall restaurants.” Allen doesn’t spend all of his time on the road. He sometimes spends hours in parking lots while the big trucks are being loaded. But he doesn’t mind waiting because his cabin is comfortable enough for naps. “I get some of my best sleep in my truck,” he says. Even during Louisiana’s scorching summers. “I can sit in my truck all day long with the air conditioning on, and the temperature never goes up,” he says. Allen calls his truck “My Little Red Demon.”  As for the gender, he says, “I think a vehicle is always a ‘her,’ isn’t it? You treat her nicely, and she’ll take care of you.” Allen has treated his vehicle nicely. “I don’t dog the truck,” he says. “I don’t hot rod it at all.” He gets the tires rotated regularly and changes the oil every 5,000 miles. He replaced the original engine at 658,000 miles. “The original clutch looked so good; the mechanic was tempted to put it back in.” He got the truck painted a couple of years ago because “I wanted her to look good when she turned a million.” Yes, Allen was confident his truck would reach that milestone. “Once I saw how far the first engine got me, I thought I could get to a million.” Today, his truck has about 1,080,000 miles on it. Although his family and friends have urged him to get a new truck, he’s in no hurry. “It’s still in great shape,” he says. “Even if I get a new truck, I’ll keep this one for local jobs.” When the time does come, Allen will probably get a Tacoma “unless I’m just completely blown away by a Tundra.” In the meantime, he says, “I take care of my truck the best I can and boogie down the road. We spend a lot of time together. She’s the love of my life, what can I say?”

courtesy of susan pack

Toyota to Increase V6 Engine Production in Alabama!

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Toyota announced today it will expand its Huntsville, Ala. engine facility to increase North American production of V6 engines. The approximately $80 million investment will bring total plant investment to more than $700 million. Approximately 125 new jobs will be created, increasing employment nearly 10 percent to 1,150. 

The expansion will allow Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL) to build an additional 216,000 engines each year, boosting total V6 annual capacity to 362,000. A new 300,000 sq. ft. building will be constructed. The increased production will begin in March 2014. 

TMMAL currently assembles 4-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines for eight of 12 Toyota North American built vehicles. TMMAL is the only Toyota plant globally to produce these three types of engines in one facility.

This investment will increase engine production at the Huntsville plant to more than 700,000 annually, and will increase total Toyota engine production in the U.S. to more than 1.4 million per year.  Toyota also builds engines in Kentucky and West Virginia.

“We are proud to announce our fourth expansion, only a few months after celebrating 10 years of success in Huntsville and Madison County,” said Jim Bolte, President of TMMAL. “Today wouldn't be possible without continued commitment from our outstanding team members and support from our community partners.”        

“Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has been a dedicated corporate citizen in Alabama for more than ten years, and today’s announcement is an exciting new chapter for this company and this community. Toyota’s success in Alabama is a testament to the hard-working men and women of the production and leadership teams who have dedicated themselves to producing quality products,” said Governor Robert Bentley. “This expansion is also a testament to the business climate we’ve worked hard to create in Alabama – a climate in which companies are encouraged to expand, innovate, and create new jobs. We thank Toyota for the company’s continued confidence in Alabama and Huntsville, and we look forward to a continued long-term relationship."

Today’s announcement is the latest in a string of Toyota production increase announcements since February including Toyota plants in Indiana, West Virginia, Canada and Kentucky. Cumulative investment total is approximately $645 million and more than 1,100 jobs are being added.

“This V6 line addition continues to reflect our growing optimism for an improving North American market, and we continue to study more localization in North America,” said Steve St. Angelo, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. 

courtesy of toyota.com

Toyota of Redlands thanks you for writing this awesome review!

5-star review on Google Maps:

"I had decided to replace my 1997 Tacoma (323460 miles) with another Tacoma. Visited Toyota of Redlands on Thursday and looked at a few of them. Went back on Firday and bought a 2012 Tacoma w/Double Cab. Pauly, the salesman was very helpful and understood my needs; didn't push me to get more truck than I wanted. The finance people were great, especailly Toi, who was very clear and thorough while going through all the paperwork. I've been back a couple of times for non-problem reasons and the place feels like home. This was my first-ever new vehicle purchase. I purchased the previous Tacoma from another dealer as a six-month old lease return. Thanks, Ken Howells"

 

Thank you for this awesome feedback! We greatly appreciate it!

5-star review on DealerRater:

"Smooth transaction. Helpful staff. All paperwork completed in a timely manner. Great price for 2011 Prius. For a treat El Burrito located nearby. Try the Garbage Burrito."

Thank you for sharing your experience with us!

"Efficient, professional. You delivered the car I asked for."

Bill Nye shows you how Bluetooth®* wireless technology is a great way to make and receive calls...even calls from the Bill Nye of the future. #priusc

Toyota and Discovery Education Celebrate Teachers and Students for their Creativity in Promoting Teen Driver Safety!

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SILVER SPRING, Md. (May 4, 2011) – Toyota and Discovery Education announced today the winners of the Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge and Toyota Teen Driver Educators’ Challenge, the nation’s premier teen safe driving challenges.  Winners will receive a variety of cash and prizes, such as $20,000, a Toyota Driving Expectations event and virtual driving simulators.  These Challenges are part of Toyota and Discovery Education’s joint program, Toyota Teen Driver, which provides educators, parents and students with comprehensive lesson plans, take-home resources, an interactive game and more to help avoid distractions while driving and stay safe behind the wheel. 

Chosen from nearly 125 entries, this year’s Video Challenge Grand Prize winner of a $20,000 cash prize is Jacob Orlowski from Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo.  Recognizing that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, Orlowski created a video inspiring his peers to take action and create real life solutions to prevent distracted driving.  The Video Challenge asked high school students across the country to create a unique two-minute video describing how they would encourage safe driving among their peers.  In March, 10 finalists were chosen and their videos were posted on the Toyota Teen Driver website for a “fan voting” period where the public was invited to vote to determine the grand prize winner.  The remaining nine finalists each received $1,500 in cash.

For the Educators’ Challenge, teachers nationwide were tasked with creating a detailed action plan on how they would promote safe driving among teens in their school and in their community.  This year’s winners were chosen for their plan’s creativity, content and structure.  First Place winner Erin Hattabaugh from Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tenn., has won a Toyota Driving Expectations in-school safe driving event, a virtual driving simulator for her school and a $5,000 grant to implement her winning action plan.  Second Place winner Carrie Shampoe from Clymer High School in Clymer, N.Y., has won a virtual driving simulator for her school and a $1,500 grant to implement her winning action plan.  Both winning lessons will be made available on the Toyota Teen Driver website for teachers to use.

Toyota Driving Expectations is a free program for teen drivers and their parents that has educated more nearly 20,000 participants since 2004.  The program puts teens and parents behind the wheel and introduces “real world” obstacles, conditions and distractions in a safe and controlled driving environment. Virtual driving simulators, provided by Virtual Driver Interactive, are programmed with One Simple Decision™ – a program designed to stop impaired and distracted driving with a first person experience that focuses on real life consequences.  The simulators will also include Toyota Teen Driver’s “Heads Up!,” an interactive road driving challenge demonstrating the perils of distracted driving.

“At Toyota, we are deeply committed to ensuring that drivers are safe at every phase of life,” said Pat Pineda, Group Vice President, National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation.  “Toyota Teen Driver is an important part of that commitment, and we are thrilled with the work of the students and teachers who participated in our Video Challenge and Educators’ Challenge programs.  Their creativity and smart thinking in addressing solutions for such a serious public health concern are an inspiration that we are pleased to join Discovery Education in supporting.”

“Discovery Education is proud to reward these teachers and students for finding creative ways to address safe driving among teens with action items they can use in and outside of their classrooms,” said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education vice president.  “We recognize the value in crafting unique learning opportunities that get communities involved in important issues that affect their everyday lives.  Challenges like these underscore the need to involve educators, families and students in educating teens on the importance of creating a safe driving experience on the road.”

For more information on Toyota Teen Driver, visit toyotateendriver.com.

courtesy of toyota.com

Voting for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Opens This Morning at 10 am ET/7 am PT!

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Toyota is giving 100 cars over 100 days to nonprofits that could really use a new set of wheels. And voters like you help decide which one gets a new ride every day!

Starting May 14 through August 21, it's the voters' turn to do their own good deed by voting for their favorite organizations and causes. All voters have to do is log in to their Facebook profile and use the 100 Cars for Good app to vote on one of that day's five nonprofit organizations. Each afternoon, the previous day's winner is announced and a fresh batch of five finalist organizations will be ready to compete for votes. Vote once a day because each vote counts and each day brings another new car to another deserving organization.

Go to Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE 100carsforgood.com for more details, and of course to *VOTE*!

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5-star review on Google Maps:

"We re leased a 2012 Camry LE and had a great experience with Jamie. It was a straight forward, no nonsense and honest transaction. This was the way we were used to doing business at our previous dealer in the Chicago area. The only negative was after the fact when we were billed for overage milage on our previous lease. We had thought that this charge was waived as part of the deal but it was not. I would recommend this dealership to all of our friends."

Hey fans! Happy Friday and welcome to the weekend!

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Wyland Foundation and Toyota Announce Winning Cities of Mayor's Water Conservation Challenge!

The Wyland Foundation and Toyota today announced the 12 winning cities of the 2012 National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, an online competition held throughout April that encouraged residents in all 50 states to conserve water, save energy and reduce pollution.

The winning cities are:

·         Laguna Beach, California

·         Victoria, Minnesota

·         South Shore, Kentucky

·         Charlestown, New Hampshire

·         Manhattan Beach, California

·         Eden Prairie, Minnesota

·         Fort Pierce, Florida

·         Quakertown, Pennsylvania

·         Greeley, Colorado

·         Madison, Wisconsin

·         Charlottesville, Virginia

·         Toms River, New Jersey

The Wyland Foundation, founded by renowned environmental artist Wyland, created the Challenge with Toyota in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the primary federal law protecting water resources in the United States. Organizations spearheading the effort also include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water, U.S. Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, WaterPik, Rain Bird, Lowe’s, STERLING Plumbing, PADI and Project AWARE.

“We had two goals for the National Mayor’s Challenge,” said artist and environmentalist Wyland, who spearheaded the project. “It brings communities together and gets people thinking about simple ways to take their commitment to conservation even further.”

The Challenge divided cities into four regions (West, Midwest, South and Northeast) and categorized them by population according to ZIP Codes (5,000-30,000 residents, 30,001-100,000 residents, 100,000+ residents). Cities with the highest percentage of residents within the city's ZIP code boundaries who made online pledges at mywaterpledge.com to reduce their water use were recognized as the winners. Participants in the winning cities will now be entered into a drawing to win more than $50,000 in prizes, including the Grand Prize of a Toyota Prius c Hybrid, as well as custom-designed sprinkler systems from Rain Bird, Eco-Flow Showerheads from WaterPik, water-saving toilets from STERLING Plumbing, and 1,000 gift cards for Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores.

“Toyota congratulates all of the winners of the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation, and we thank the Wyland Foundation for creating a fun and innovative program to show how easy it can be to conserve water,” said Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy and community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

“Conserving water is one of the most important actions we can take to protect this irreplaceable resource, and small actions that people take in their homes can add up to make a big difference,” said U.S. EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner. “EPA was proud to partner with the Wyland Foundation and Toyota on this challenge and congratulates the winning cities, and everyone who participated.”

To celebrate the winners of the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, the Wyland Foundation and Toyota hosted an event on May 3 in Miami Beach where Wyland joined members of the community to paint a 400-square-foot marine life mural celebrating South Florida marine life.  Toyota’s support of the Wyland Foundation is part of the automobile company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability. Toyota engages the public through a variety of environmental initiatives as part of the company’s commitment to impactful environmental stewardship. To learn more about how Toyota supports sustainability, please visit toyota.com/about/environment.

courtesy of pressroom.toyota.com 

Save In May Sales Event!

Fans! It's time to save in the month of May at your nearest Toyota. See your dealership for exclusive details: http://www.toyotaofredlands.com/

Toyota Named One of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity!

April 25, 2012 - New York, NY – Toyota has been named one of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity®, finishing 41st overall in the publication's 12^th annual survey.

 

Toyota’s 2012 inclusion marks sixth year the company has been recognized by DiversityInc. The company’s 41^st overall ranking on the Top 50 list is an improvement from the 2011 survey, where Toyota ranked 46^th overall. 

The competition for this year’s awards was stronger than ever, with a total of 587 companies across a wide range of industries—including consulting, retail, manufacturing and banking— vying for a position on the 2012 list. The awards were entirely driven by metrics obtained in a detailed survey. DiversityInc’s Top 50 companies demonstrate consistent strength in four areas: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity.

“At Toyota, we believe that leveraging the diversity of talent, experiences and perspectives is essential to effectively meeting the needs of our customers,” said Shigeki Terashi, president & chief operating officer for Toyota Motor North America, Inc. “Our commitment to maximizing diversity in every aspect of our business is rooted in Toyota’s guiding principles, and we’re grateful to once again be recognized by DiversityInc for our progress in this area.”

In addition to the being included in the list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity overall, Toyota also ranked seventh in DiversityInc’s Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees.

These are just two of Toyota’s latest recognitions for its efforts around diversity and inclusion. Other recent honors include inclusion in the Human Rights Campaign "Best Places to Work Corporate Equality Index" for the past four years; induction into the Billion Dollar Roundtable, in recognition of over $1 billion in annual spending with certified ethnic and women-owned suppliers; and receiving the “Corporation of the Year” award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

“Toyota’s commitment to diversity is very deep,” said Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc. “The innovative ways the company ties diversity to the business—from philanthropy, supplier diversity, employee resource groups and maximizing the contributions of workers with disabilities throughout operations—highlights Toyota’s emphasis on constant improvement.”

courtesy of pressroom.toyota.com