Toyota to Debut All New RAV4 EV at EVS 26

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., will debut the all new RAV4 EV at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles. Toyota’s news conference will be held on Monday, May 7 at noon in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Credentialed media can receive complimentary EVS26 registration by visiting www.evs26.org.

 

Courtesy of ToyotaNewsroom

Toyota Named One of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Toyota has been named one of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity, finishing 41st overall in the publication's 12th annual survey. Toyota’s 2012 inclusion marks the sixth consecutive year the company has been recognized by DiversityInc and an improvement from the 2011 survey, where it ranked 46th 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 ToyotaNewsroom

Toyota Announces 100 Cars for Good Finalists

Toyota today announced the 500 nonprofit organizations selected as finalists in its 100 Cars for Good program, a national philanthropic program in which the automaker will give away 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. Winners will be selected each day by the public through voting on Facebook. A complete list of finalists is available at www.100carsforgood.com.

This is the second consecutive year for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, which is the first Toyota initiative to enlist the public’s help in determining how the company’s charitable contributions are awarded. The 500 finalists, selected from an extremely competitive pool, were certified by an independent panel of experts in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The finalists, which come from all 50 states and Washington, DC, represent nonprofits serving a broad range of community needs, including animal welfare, arts, education, environment, health, veterans’ affairs and safety.

“Toyota congratulates all of this year’s finalists,” said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Sales. “We are grateful for the enormous impact that these nonprofits have each day, and we hope that 100 Cars for Good will play an important role in raising awareness of their work and helping these vital community organizations make an even bigger difference. We wish each of the finalists the best of luck and thank all of the nonprofit groups that participated in the application process.”

100 Cars for Good voting will begin May 14 and continue through August 21. Each day, five organizations will be profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page at www.100carsforgood.com. Individuals will be able to vote once each day for the nonprofit they think is most deserving of a new car. The organization with the most votes at the end of the day will win the vehicle. The four runners-up each day will receive a $1,000 grant from Toyota.

Winning organizations can choose from the following vehicles: Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

Toyota will be providing all 500 finalists with a digital video camera, training toolkit and free online advertising credits to support their 100 Cars for Good campaigns and to help them create or expand their presence in social media and other digital platforms. Each finalist will be asked to create a video showing how the organization plans to use a new vehicle to make an even bigger impact in the local community. Each video will be featured at www.100carsforgood.com.

Courtesy of ToyotaNewroom

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Toyota Announces Pricing for Limited Edition Tacoma Pickup TRD T/X Baja Series Package

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc., announced prices today for the TRD T|X Baja Series Package. Inspired by Toyota’s Baja racing heritage, the truck reveals bold graphics with its name “Baja Series” and enhanced suspension, elevating the capability of Tacoma’s TRD Off-Road pickup to a new level of fun and function. The special limited edition package will be available on select Tacoma 4x4 pickup trucks. 
The TRD T|X Baja Series Package provides the customer with a great value and high level of capability that is backed by Toyota’s standard vehicle warranty. The TRD T|X Baja Series Package is offered at an MSRP of $5,015 less a $650 Factory Credit. There is an additional savings because the package the Baja Series is built on top of, TRD Off-Road Package for the Baja Series, is priced below the regular TRD Off-Road Package.

Toyota has a rich Baja racing 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 will be available on both the Tacoma Access and Double Cab 4x4 models equipped with the TRD Off-Road Package. 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 Ø66mm 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 Ø50mm 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.
 
The T|X Baja Series will be part of a Tacoma line that was updated for 2012 with a restyled front end and a refreshed interior in all models. Exterior changes included a redesigned hood, grille, headlamps and front bumper, among other changes. Inside, Tacoma received a new center-instrument panel design with a revised gauge cluster, along with a new steering wheel. A redesigned center stack added new air conditioner/heater controls and power point locations.
 
The 2012 Tacoma interior also received a new look with a black high-contrast center console, switch plate covers, dash and upper door trim, while the SR5 grade featured 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.
 
All Tacoma TRD T|X Baja Series models will be built exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX) in San Antonio and will reach dealer showrooms in May 2012. Prices for the Baja Series Tacoma do not include delivery, processing and handling fees (DPH), which are $810. The DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.nounces Pricing for Limited Edition Tacoma Pickup TRD T/X Baja Series

Courtesy of ToyotaNewsroom

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Green Car Diaries Part 1: Toyota's Hybrids In The Driver's Seat

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Green cars are the next big thing for major automobile companies. With oil prices shooting higher and concerns of exorbitant gas prices at the pump, almost all major automotive companies have started rolling out their versions of electric cars.

The U.S. electric auto industry is also heating up and sales are currently on an all time highs. According to a recent report, electric-vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in and pure battery models have grown at the fastest clip in the U.S. auto market in the first quarter. Sales of these models rose 49 percent to 117,182 vehicles in the first quarter, from 78,527 a year earlier.

It seems that in the next 15 years, any car manufacturer without a line of electric vehicles will be left behind in the fight for market share. Therefore, most car manufacturers have started taking concrete steps towards building and marketing their portfolio of green cars that employ innovative concepts developed by these companies. In this series, dubbed Green Car Diaries, we take a look at the portfolio of major global car manufacturers in this field and how they are approaching this market. We take a look at their products, their positioning in the market, the prospects of the success of their strategy and the impact on the market price. We pick up one company in each article and this time it’s Toyota, the Asian giant.

Toyota’s offerings in the electric cars segment

Toyota has been slightly slow in taking to electric vehicles but now seems to be working at it with a vengeance. The company has been taking its expertise to hybrid cars and is applying it to new concepts of electric cars that are expected to start production in the next three years.

Toyota’s hybrid car, the Prius, has perhaps been the biggest success story in the hybrid car segment. The Prius initially debuted as a compact sedan globally in 2001 and has since then sold over 2.5 million cars. It is now into its fourth generation and has been converted into a mid size hatchback. It was also the third best-selling U.S. car line last month.

Toyota plans to launch its first electric vehicle by the end of this year. It will be a four-seater with a range of 65 miles (100 km). Toyota is also planning to launch a smaller Prius version called Prius C which will have a 1,500 cc gas-engine along with Hybrid Synergy Drive components of original Prius, in a smaller, lighter, more aerodynamic vehicle at a substantially lower price. A plug-in Prius has already been on the cards for quite some time now.

Toyota has been looking to offer the green factor in its cars without comprising on performance. This has resulted in the company focusing more on hybrid cars, and it has established itself solidly in this field. The company’s hybrid products are the most sought after in the market and will continue to drive market share for Toyota in the coming years.

However, from a long term perspective, Toyota might miss out on the experience and expertise in electric cars by not focusing on them now. We feel that, in the short term, Toyota’s efforts in the hybrid space should continue to drive the bottom line and spell out good returns for its stock holders, but longer term it will need to prove itself in the electric vehicle segment.

Toyota competes in the U.S. market with North American automotive majors like GM, Ford, Chrysler apart from the Asian car manufacturers. We currently have a $93 price estimate for Toyota’s stock is about 5% above the current market price.

Courtesy of ForbesMagazine

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Prius c: Toyota’s New 'Gateway’ to Hybrid Efficiency

Touted as the “gateway to the Prius family,” Toyota introduces its new 2012 Prius c subcompact with a $18,960 starting price. This compares to the standard Prius Liftback’s $24,000 base MSRP.

Four grades — labeled One, Two, Three and Four — are offered with the top-line model having a $23,230 starting price. The Prius c, with “c” representing “city,” is designed to be an urban-friendly vehicle that will appeal to younger consumers.

It’s smaller than the midsize Prius Liftback — 19.1 inches shorter and 542 pounds lighter. Toyota boasts the Prius c has the “highest-rated fuel economy estimate of any vehicle without a plug.” Its estimated fuel-economy rating is 53 miles per gallon city, 46 mpg highway and 50 mpg combined. These figures fit real-world conditions, with the test vehicle, driven roughly 70 percent on the highway, getting between 49-51 mpg.

Like its larger sibling, the Prius c is propelled by Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system, basically consisting of a gasoline engine, electric motor with continuously variable transaxle and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The gas engine is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 73 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque. Teamed with the electric motor, total hybrid system output is 99 horsepower.

Acceleration is respectable, with hard throttle coaxing a soft whirring sound. Steering is responsive and ride quality is good, albeit on the firm side.

The Prius c can be operated in three drive modes: Normal, Eco and EV mode. In Eco mode, climate-control operation is minimized and throttle control regulated to boost vehicle efficiency. Selecting EV mode allows the Prius c to be driven via electric power only for just under a mile.　

Keeping tabs on the hybrid system’s energy flow and fuel consumption can be accomplished via a multi-information screen in a display atop the dash. “Training” the driver to operate the vehicle in an eco-efficient manner is an ECO Score display, providing feedback on driving habits. Fuel-consumption history also can be checked on the screen.

Automatic climate control, tilt-telescopic steering wheel and remote keyless entry are among the base model’s standard features. The Prius c Two, base priced at $19,900, provides upgrades such as a six-speaker audio system, 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, center console with armrest and storage compartment, and a hard cargo-area cover.

Technology, featuring improved audio and connectivity, is the advantage with the Prius c Three, which ups the base price to $21,635. Added is a Display Audio System with navigation and Entune that’s linked to a 6.1-inch touchscreen. Also included are Sirius XM Satellite Radio capability; HD Radio with iTunes Tagging; USB port with iPod connectivity and control; vehicle information with customizable settings; and advanced voice recognition. The Display Audio System also provides updates on hybrid system energy flow and trip information.

A visual pop comes with the Prius c Four model, which adds 15-inch, eight-spoke alloy wheels, integrated foglamps and color-keyed heated power outside mirrors. Sixteen-inch, eight-spoke alloy wheels are optional.

In base form the Prius c has a sleek, aerodynamic look and impressive 0.28 coefficient of drag number. Shortly past the stopping point of the steeply raked expansive windshield and A-pillars, the roof takes a steep slant to a body-colored rear roof spoiler. The body widens below the beltline and is muscled-up with sculpted rear fender flares.

Eye-popping colors add to the flair of the spunky-looking hatchback. The test car is painted a bold orange-ish Habanero — one of nine available colors.

Inside, designers created a fresh, stylish two-tone treatment. Black is the basic color and is paired with a contrasting color — mainly gray. The dashboard is clean and modern looking with an interestingly framed center stack and artsy arching lines crisscrossing the facing on the passenger side.

Seats are firm, and front legroom and headroom (even with the optional moonroof) are generous. For a subcompact, rear headroom and legroom also are surprisingly good.

Protecting passengers are nine standard airbags.

Courtesy of SanFranciscoChronicle

DTR Industries and Toyota Donate $15,000 to the Bluffton Exempted Village School District

Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio’s 4th District was on hand as DTR Industries, Inc. and Toyota announced a $15,000 gift to the Bluffton Exempted Village School District at a ceremony today at DTR’s facility on Snider Road. Bluffton Mayor Eric Fulcomer, members of the school’s board and community leaders joined DTR and Toyota associates at the event.

The Bluffton Exempted Village School District will use the funds to purchase new technology for use in their classrooms including projectors, document cameras and desktop computers. Current enrollment at the school’s system is 1,130 students.

“The students of Bluffton are fortunate to have good neighbors in DTR and Toyota, who are investing in their future with their generous donation,” said Congressman Jordan. “I look forward to hearing how the new technology will be used in Bluffton schools.”

“DTR has been a good corporate citizen to Bluffton and its school system and we are grateful for today’s gift with the help of Toyota,” said Greg Denecker, Superintendent of the Bluffton Exempted Village School District. “We are committed to providing students in Bluffton with the best learning environment in Ohio that prepares them for the future. This generous gift will develop our students with the necessary skills to advance their problem-solving skills while deepening their desire for learning.”

Today’s gift is made possible by Toyota’s Community Connection program, a philanthropy program aimed at supporting non-profit organizations in the communities where its suppliers do business. Since its inception, the program has donated nearly $1.2 million at 68 events across 21 states.

DTR has been active in the Bluffton community since it opened its doors in 1998. It has supported various scholarship programs, local colleges, charitable organizations and community programs.

“DTR is thankful for our success and growth and today we have the opportunity to share this success,” said William Yokas, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing of DTR. “This demonstrates our continued commitment to give back to the community where we do business and where our associates live and raise their families.”

“Toyota is proud to partner with DTR and to be a part of today’s event,” said Bob Young, Vice President, Purchasing at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., based in Erlanger, Ky. “One of Toyota’s philosophies is to be a good corporate citizen and we want to support key supplier communities as well.”

DTR has been a Toyota supplier since 1988 and produces products for Toyota’s engine and vehicle assembly plants across North America, including the all-new Camry - America’s best-selling passenger car for the past ten years – as well as other popular models like the Corolla, Highlander, RAV4 and Tundra.

Courtesy of ToyotaNewsroom

With the promise of more exciting new vehicles from Toyota around the corner, we want to know what kind of car you would like to see the most!

Toyota Overhauls Its R&D Efforts

Toyota's new research and development structure will aim for quicker decisions and lower costs.

The changes to core engineering and design programs bolster the authority of the company's chief engineers, consolidate research and development into three groups based on geographical regions and limit final design decisions to smaller teams. Toyota, Japan's largest car maker, dubs the effort its new "global architecture."

The revisions come as the auto maker seeks to recover from a series of setbacks during the past several years that have eroded its global market share, forcing it to relinquish its crown as the No. 1 car maker by sales volume.

"We are gradually starting to see the results of our reform efforts," President Akio Toyoda said during a news conference at the company's headquarters in Toyota City, citing as examples the recent launches of the new Prius C hybrid hatchback and remodeled Camry midsize sedan in the U.S. and Japan, and the Etios subcompact in India.

Toyota said the R&D changes are expected to improve the company's' competitiveness vis-à-vis global rivals, as costs are reduced through more parts standardization and sales are increased by improvements to the vehicle lineup's design and functionality.

"In order to build better cars, we are remaking the way we develop them," said Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota's executive vice president in charge of R&D.

Mr. Uchiyamada said a major challenge for Toyota is cutting costs while improving product design, a seeming contradiction that he aims to resolve by using more common parts and working more closely with key suppliers.

"We won't feel we've succeeded until we raise the use of standardized parts to about 50% among similar-size vehicles in our lineup," Mr. Uchiyamada said. He added that it will likely take "several years" to achieve that goal.

Using more standard parts reduces the need for smaller lots of dedicated components that can't be shared among models. Greater volumes of common components help auto-parts suppliers spread out the cost of production.

To spur that drive, Toyota has shrunk the number of regional managers for the Toyota brand to three groups: North America and China; Japan and Europe; and Australia, Russia and emerging markets. Consumers in these geographical categories tend to buy the same type of vehicles, Toyota officials said.

The company said that organizing development according to the three regional groups is likely to promote parts sharing across similar vehicles and help streamline procurement of components from global suppliers. For example, Toyota has worked to cut the variety of radiators it procures from suppliers to just 21 specifications, down from more than 100 previously, said Shinichi Sasaki, another Toyota executive vice president.

The changes, which were implemented starting last year, also allow Toyota's chief engineers to report directly to top product-planning executives instead of intermediary development-center chiefs, as had been the case previously. Toyota said that will eliminate bureaucracy and allow new vehicles to get to market faster than before, though the company didn't detail any specific development time frames.

Final decisions about vehicle styling will be limited to smaller teams of executives and designers newly empowered to approve more ambitious designs, but who also will be held more accountable for flops, Toyota officials said. Mr. Toyoda said that shift will help avoid the pitfalls of a "too democratic process," which he blamed for uninspiring vehicles and an overly lengthy approval system for new cars.

                                          Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal

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

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 ToyotaMediaNewsroom

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2013 Toyota Venza refreshed, Entune optional

Toyota has been teasing us with glimpses of the redesigned 2013 Venza over the last month, and now we get to see its modest makeover just before the vehicle's New York Auto Show debut.

The new, less fussy grille is the first thing you'll notice. Fewer horizontal bars above the bumper and a chrome accent goes some way toward below classing up the crossutilitywagon thing. The headlamps are new, and the fog lights have also been blacked out with chrome accent ring. Finishing off the new light fixtures are reworked door mirrors fitted with the obligatory built-in turn signals.

In back, the taillights have been slightly updated, but everything else seems to be much the same as the 2012 model. Venzas can now be ordered in Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica.

Interior changes also seem to be minimal except for updated steering wheel buttons and the option of adding Toyota's Entune package that integrates your smart phone with the vehicle's dashboard display. The interior is also available in black for 2013.

Engine choices stay the same, with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6 on offer.

Courtesy of AutoBlog

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