Toyota Prius Family of Vehicles Receive GreenCarReports' '2012 Best Green Car to Buy' Award

GreenCarReports.com has named the 2012 Toyota Prius family of vehicles as its “Best Green Car to Buy 2012.” Beginning with the 2012 model year, the Prius will expand to a family of four vehicles, including the third-generation Prius Liftback, the Prius v, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the Prius c.

GreenCarReports editors choose the most significant new “green” car available to shoppers during the 2012 model year, taking into account new technologies, their practicality, and their impact on the environment. The GreenCarReports’ “Best Green Car to Buy” award recognizes mass-market, environmentally sensitive vehicles that are available below $60,000. Utilizing the TheCarConnection’s ratings as a starting point for their evaluation, the GreenCarReports editorial team applies their criteria to select the winner that will carry the “Best Green Car to Buy 2012” environmental message.

“The Prius is more than just one car this year,” said Green Car Reports Editor John Voelcker. “With a new Prius v and the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, it’s now a family of vehicles with some of the highest gas mileage on the market today, and the Prius name is likely to help encourage buyers to take the plunge into plug-in vehicles."

The Prius vehicles that won the GreenCarReports’ “Best Green Car to Buy 2012” award were chosen from a competitive field of environmentally sensitive cars that also included the Fiat 500, Honda Civic Hybrid, Infiniti M35h, Mitsubishi i, and Volkswagen Passat TDi.

The Prius Liftback is in its third generation and earned an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined (51 city mpg/ 48 highway mpg) rating. The Prius v, which went on sale in October, will be an unmatched combination of versatility and fuel efficiency in a midsize. With 58-percent more cargo space than the Liftback, the Prius v has more cargo space than 80-percent of the small SUVs on the road today, while still accomplishing an EPA-estimated 44-mpg city.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which offers seating for five, is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. With expected class-leading fuel economy better than 50 mpg in the city, which is the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle, the Prius c will be an entry into the Prius Family appealing to youthful shoppers seeking fuel efficiency, technology, and spirited driving dynamics in the subcompact segment. Both the Prius c and Prius Plug-in will go on sale in the spring of 2012.

The Prius vehicles rely on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which benefits from 14 years of global market development, and pairs a highly efficient gasoline internal combustion engine with two high-output motor/generators, a large rechargeable battery, and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission to help the vehicles attain class-leading fuel economy in their respective segments. The development of the systems that govern the operation, integration and regenerative capabilities of the Hybrid Synergy Drive system represent considerable engineering effort, and help enhance the efficiency and performance of succeeding generations of Hybrid Synergy Drive equipped vehicles.

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Toyota Wins Best Automotive Brand in 2012 Kelley Blue Book Resale Value Awards

Toyota was named the top brand in 2012 Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com 2012 Best Resale Value Awards. The awards recognize current and forthcoming vehicles for their projected retained value throughout the first five years of ownership.

Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in America for nine consecutive years and 13 of the past 14 years, took the honor of Best Resale Value in the mid-size car segment. The Toyota Tacoma compact pickup truck and FJ Cruiser mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) were named Best Resale Value award winners in their respective vehicle categories and were also among the top 10 vehicles for Best Resale Value. 

“Winning the top brand in the Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards is a very significant honor as it reflects Toyota’s commitment to quality, dependability and reliability, which ultimately adds up to great value,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. “Toyota will continue to deliver the finest cars and trucks consumers have come to expect for over half a century.”

Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book^® Official Residual Value Guide, which is determined by a skilled staff of automotive analysts. The projections are based on current vehicle data, sales data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition within vehicle segments, expectations of the future economy and the combined experience of Kelley Blue Book’s residual analysts. The awards honor vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their original list price after five years of ownership.

 

Courtesy of Toyota

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Prius Plugs into the Needs of Urban Drivers with Latest Green Award

Ready to offer city drivers up to 15 miles of all-electric driving—and hundreds of more at an expected EPA rating of 49 mpg—the new 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in was recently named Urban Green Vehicle of the Year by Decisive magazine. The honor is part of the annual Urban Wheel Awards, given out each January in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. 

“This is the Prius everyone has been waiting for,” said Lyndon Conrad Bell, editor-in-chief of Decisive magazine. “Endowing the world’s favorite hybrid with the ability to run purely on electric power for significant distances and recharge itself from an AC outlet remade an exceptional urban green car into the ideal urban green car.”

A key to that transformation: The Prius Plug-in’s advanced 4.4-kW lithium-ion battery pack, which can be fully recharged in just 2.5 to 3.0 hours using a standard 120-volt outlet or as little as 1.5 hours with a 240-volt quick-charge unit. Either way, the result is a significant no-emissions driving range at the equivalent of 87 miles per gallon. And it’s all wrapped up in the same versatile packaging that has made the traditional Prius such a success: Toyota has sold more than 1 million Prius models in this country since it first went on sale 10 years ago, and the car remains by far the most popular hybrid vehicle in both the U.S. and the world.

“We are pleased with the recognition of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in as a well-designed, smart and attainable vehicle, especially in an urban environment,” said Jim Colon, vice president of Toyota product communications at Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. “We’re confident that the Prius Plug-in’s extended electric range, selectable EV mode, expected 87 MPGe and quick home charging are among the features that helped Toyota secure this distinction.”

The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in is slated to go on sale in the spring of next year.

 

Courtesy of Toyota In the News

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Toyota Prius c Provides a Subcompact Entry Point to Prius Family of Hybrid Vehicles

Among the Most Advanced Vehicles in its Class Will Debut at 2012 NAIAS

TORRANCE (Nov. 15, 2011) –Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., will offer a fuel-efficient hybrid at a more accessible price when the Prius c joins the Prius Family of vehicles in the spring of 2012.  The U.S. debut of the Prius c will be next January at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

This highly anticipated subcompact member of the Prius Family will bring Toyota’s renowned Hybrid Synergy Drive^® technology to a new segment of buyers when it joins the third-generation Prius Liftback hybrid vehicle, the versatile new Prius v midsize hybrid vehicle and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid model, which will also debut next spring.  Positioned as an entry into the Prius Family appealing to youthful shoppers seeking fuel efficiency, technology, and spirited driving dynamics in the subcompact segment, the Prius c will offer:

• Expected class-leading fuel economy better than 50 mpg in the city, which is the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle.
• Proven hybrid technology, with 14 years of heritage, available at a more accessible price.
• A high degree of convenience features and premium in-car electronics, uncommon in a five-door configuration, creating a less compromised compact-car experience

As with other Prius models, Prius c combines its revolutionary Hybrid Synergy Drive^® with excellent aerodynamics to achieve outstanding fuel efficiency.  The new Prius c is unique in the Prius Family with a more youthful expression and a sportier dynamic character that offers a more fun-to-drive experience. The vehicle’s five-door format and flexible packaging will adapt to a broad range of owners’ needs.

The Prius c offers an unexpected level of convenience, capability and technology in a compact hybrid-electric at an attractive price. Bluetooth^® hands-free phone connectivity, steering-wheel audio controls, and nine airbags will be among the standard features on the 2012 Prius c.

In addition,owners will enjoy a new dimension of connectivity courtesy of the available Toyota Entune™ multimedia system.  Entune™ leverages the mobile smartphone to provide a richer in-vehicle infotainment experience with fully integrated access to navigation, entertainment, and information services.  It allows users to connect with popular apps such as Bing™, OpenTable.com, and movietickets.com.  Entune™ also provides access to real-time information services, such as live weather, traffic, fuel information (location and price), stocks, and sports. The Prius c also offers voice recognition, music streaming, and email/text to speech capabilities.

Toyota Entune™ brings one of the largest selections of music options available to a vehicle, including iheartradio’s 750+ stations and Pandora® internet radio’s personalized music. In addition, the driver’s personal songs from portable media players and iPods (via USB or Bluetooth® audio streaming), and more than 170 stations from SiriusXM™ satellite radio are also available.

Making premium technology available to compact-car shoppers, the Prius c offers superior fuel economy in a stylish, user-friendly package.

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Prius Family Specifications

	Prius c	Prius	Prius v	Prius Plug-in
Length (in.)	157.3	176.4	181.7	176.4
Width (in.	66.7	68.7	69.9	68.7
Height (in.)	56.9	58.7	62	58.7
Wheelbase (in.)	100.4	106.3	109.4	106.3
Gasoline Engine	1.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder, 16–valve with VVT-i	1.8-liter DOHC, four cylinder, 16-valve with VVT-i	1.8-liter DOHC, four-cylinder, 16-valve with VVT-i	1.8-liter DOHC, four-cylinder , 16-valve with VVT-i
Emission Certification	SULEV	SULEV with AT-PZEV	SULEV	SULEV with

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The Toyota 100 Cars For Good Program Helps Fill the Need for Mobility Vehicles

Providence TrinityKids Care, the only children’s hospice program serving Los Angeles and Orange counties, will today receive a Toyota Sienna minivan, courtesy of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which awarded 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving non-profit organizations. The Sienna minivan for Providence is one of 16 donated vehicles that have been specially built by Toyota to better assist those who are mobility-impaired, whether due to illness, age or disability. The delivery took place at Toyota’s Torrance campus.

Providence TrinityKids Care is a pediatric hospice service for critically ill children and their families, whose team of medical experts provide their expertise to help keep children comfortable at home. The organization is the only dedicated in-home children’s hospice and palliative care program in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The organization plans to use its Toyota Sienna to develop its Transportation Program, which will help families get to and from medical appointments. 

Toyota introduced the U.S. auto industry’s first factory-installed, power rotating lift-up seat in the Sienna, which is the minivan selected by Providence TrinityKids Care. Toyota calls this feature Auto Access Seat, a lift-up seat designed to assist passengers to get in and out of the vehicle with ease and safety. Ten other winning organizations will also receive a Toyota Sienna with this equipment. Five of the winners will receive a Toyota Sienna Rampvan®, a lowered-floor minivan with a power ramp for wheelchair access. These five Sienna minivans were converted by BraunAbility, a Toyota business partner, and the largest manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vans and wheelchair lifts worldwide.

 

**Courtesy of Toyota Newsroom.com

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Toyota and Discovery Education Invite Students to Celebrate Safe Driving With All-New Video Challenge

High School Students Asked to Create Safe Driving Video for a Chance to Win $20,000

 Silver Spring, Md. (November 2, 2011) – Toyota and Discovery Education today announced the launch of the all-new Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge – a competition that asks high school students across the country to create a unique two-minute video describing how they would encourage safe driving among their peers. The challenge is just one part of Toyota and Discovery Education’s joint program, Toyota Teen Driver, which is a comprehensive online destination offering educators, students and parents a variety of powerful tools and materials designed to help teens avoid distractions and stay safe behind the wheel.

 

The new Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge encourages students to creatively address responsible driving behavior among their peers. Judged on the creativity expressed in their video and uniqueness of their content, entries will be narrowed down to ten finalists by curriculum experts from Discovery Education. The ten finalists’ videos will then appear on the Toyota Teen Driver website and corresponding Facebook page during a “fan voting” period where the public will be invited to vote to determine the grand prize winner. The grand prize winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize and the remaining nine finalists will each receive $1,500 in cash. Students in grades 9-12 can submit their two-minute videos on the Toyota Teen Driver web site through February 16, 2012.

 

“Toyota is dedicated to building awareness among teens about the dangers of distracted driving and encouraging people of all ages to adopt safe driving habits,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor North America. “We’re excited to launch the new Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge and empower young people to be advocates for responsible driving within their own peer groups and schools.”

 

In addition to the new student challenge, the Toyota Teen Driver Educators' Challenge is also open for its second year of entries. This year, educators will be charged with developing an action plan on how they would improve safe teen driving at their school and/or in their community. The first place winner will receive a free Toyota Driving Expectations event for their community, a program designed by Toyota to help young drivers develop safe driving habits through a unique combination of interactive hands-on sessions and behind the wheel defensive driving exercises. The first place winner will also receive a virtual driving simulator for their school to keep and a $5,000 grant to help implement their action plan at their school. The second place winner will be awarded with a virtual driving simulator for their school to keep and a $1,500 grant. The winners’ submissions will also be incorporated into the Toyota Teen Driver website as a resource for other educators to use. Entries must be submitted on the Toyota Teen Driver web site by February 16, 2012.

 

The web site also features "Heads Up!" an exciting interactive road driving challenge demonstrating the perils of distracted driving, which has been updated to include vehicle customization and Facebook integration. Other free resources include lesson plans, activities and discussion starters for teachers, students and parents.

 

“Discovery Education is proud to work with Toyota as we fulfill our commitment to finding creative and engaging ways to captivate students’ attention on current and relevant topics that span beyond the classroom,” said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education vice president of education partnerships. “The digital learning resources available from Toyota Teen Driver combined with the ability for teens to educate each other on safe driving are critical in creating a safe driving experience on the road.”

Courtesy of Toyota News

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2011 SEMA Show: Toyota Tacoma TRD T/X Baja Series Limited Edition Pickup

Toyota, the U.S. sales leader in compact pickups, will display a pre-production Tacoma Toyota Racing Development (TRD) T|X (Tacoma Extreme) limited edition pickup truck at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.   Inspired by Toyota’s Baja racing heritage, the truck reveals bold graphics with its concept name “Baja Series.” The truck will elevate the capability of Tacoma’s TRD Off-Road pickup to a new level of fun and function.

All Tacoma T|X Baja Series models will be built exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX) in San Antonio and are scheduled for launch in late spring 2012.

“The Tacoma has long been the sales leader by a wide margin in the compact pickup segment thanks to its well-earned reputation for stellar quality, durability, reliability and off-road capability,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division.   “The limited edition TRD T|X Baja Series adds another chapter to Toyota’s truck legacy by offering a new level of capability for off-road enthusiasts.”

Toyota has a rich Baja racing truck heritage that dates back nearly three decades and includes numerous titles at the legendary Baja 500 and 1000. Toyota’s desert racing program has inspired the development of numerous TRD off-road focused products and packages over the years including the Tacoma PreRunner and TRD Off-Road packages for both Tacoma and Tundra. Last year, Tacoma’s Off-Road Package was enhanced with the launch of the TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages. TRD now takes Tacoma off-roading to the next level with the development of the T|X Baja Series. 

The T|X Baja Series is currently undergoing final testing for application on both the Tacoma Access and Double Cab 4x4 models equipped with the TRD Off-Road Package. Expansion to include PreRunner models is also being considered. The Tacoma T|X Baja Series is equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine with either six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions. In addition to an electronically-controlled locking rear differential, Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) currently equipped on the TRD Off-Road package, the limited edition T|X Baja Series adds BF Goodrich T/A KO tires (LT265/70R16) and bead-lock style off-road wheels with an exclusive Gun-Metal Gray finish, TRD Cat-back Exhaust, increased front ride height of nearly two inches and unique Baja Series graphics. 

The front suspension has been upgraded to include 60mm piston Bilstein race shocks with TRD coil springs that feature a protective zinc plated body and a one inch increase in wheel travel. The rear suspension is equipped with 50mm piston Bilstein race shocks with a remote reservoir to increase shock oil capacity for greater heat dissipation and damping sensitivity. The rear shocks also include a zinc-plated body and a 1.5-inch increase in wheel travel. Additional information about the Baja Series, including pricing and ordering information will be available in early 2012. 

The T|X Baja Series will be part of a 2012 Tacoma line that is updated with a restyled front end and a refreshed interior in all models. Exterior changes include a redesigned hood, grille, headlamps and front bumper, among other changes. Inside, Tacoma has a new center-instrument panel design with a revised gauge cluster, along with a new steering wheel. A redesigned center stack adds new air conditioner/heater controls and power point locations. 

The 2012 Tacoma interior also gets a new look with a black high-contrast center console, switch plate covers, dash and upper door trim, while the SR5 grade features a new seat fabric design. Tacoma offers new heavy-duty all-weather flooring option for 2012 on Tacoma Access and Double Cab models equipped with a V6 engine. The more specialized TRD Sport and Off-Road packages also feature new water-resistant fabric protection seats.