Toyota Going High-Tech With Its Interiors

According to trademark applications filed by Toyota, customers may soon enjoy a touch-sensitive dashboard and inductive charging for mobile devices, which could potentially increase the Japanese automaker’s appeal among tech-savvy new car shoppers.

Touch sensitive displays are nothing new, as Ford has embraced them in the MyFord Touch system since 2010 or so. Cadillac has taken the concept to the next level with its CUE system, but Car and Driver thinks Toyota may go one step farther and build a full touch sensitive dashboard for future models.

It’s filed for a trademark on something called “Intellitouch,” which will likely be used in conjunction with similar Toyota patent filings, including one called a “Reconfigurable Tactile Control System Display,” which could give drivers multiple options for dash display setup. Knobs and buttons may soon vanish entirely from the center stack landscape.

Another Toyota trademark filing was for “EBIN,” which Toyota describes as storage containers for mobile devices with built-in inductive charging capabilities. Since the tech behind this is relatively mature, implementing this as part of a future interior design shouldn’t pose problems. In fact, both Chrysler and GM have plans for similar systems, too.

There’s no word yet on when Toyota plans to roll out these technologies, or which models will see them first.

Courtesy of MotorAuthority.com

New-To-You Tuesday :: 2008 Saturn Aura

"I want a new car but I don't want a new car payment." Is that you? Have you thought about a New-To-You vehicle? We have a 2008 Saturn Aura that you should look at! It's an attractive car with great gas mileage and J.D. Power and Associates gave the 2008 Aura 4 out of 5 Power Circles for Overall Initial Quality Design.

Welcome to the work week fans! Here is a Monday Maintenance Tip for you!

Octane Overdose

"If some is good, more is better" thinking does not apply to octane. Here the rule is to supply whatever octane the engine is rated for and call it done. Higher-than-required octane does not yield more power or mileage, only oil company profits.

Some engines are rated for premium 91 octane fuel but can burn 87 octane regular, thanks to the magic of knock sensors. In that case, run regular gas if puttering around surface streets, and premium fuel if full-throttle driving is part of your daily repertoire.

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Toyota factories recognized by EPA for improved environmental performance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized eight Toyota manufacturing sites in North America for achieving a 10 percent reduction in energy intensity through its Energy Star Challenge for Industry program.

Collectively, these eight facilities — including the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc. plant in San Antonio — have reduced energy intensity by nearly 24 percent.

Energy intensity is measured relative to efficiency improvements in process and equipment. The Energy Star Challenge for Industry recognition is only granted to individual industrial sites. To gain recognition, the site’s company must be an Energy Star partner.

“Thanks to the efforts of our team members, Toyota has reduced our total energy use per vehicle over the last five years as we achieved greater energy efficiency across North America,” says Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. Executive Vice President Steve St. Angelo. “This demonstrates that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen as we continuously identify new opportunities to reduce energy consumption while improving our processes.”

The eight Toyota facilities recognized by the EPA include:

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (San Antonio);

• Bodine Aluminum (Jackson, Tenn., and St. Louis, Mo.);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (Huntsville);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (Princeton);

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (Buffalo).

Courest of The San Antonio Business Journal

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Available navigation on the go, another reason you can always count on the Toyota Corolla!

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Toyota Camry beats Ford F-150 as most 'American made'

Once again,Cars.com has come to the counter-intuitive conclusion that the Toyota Camry is the most American of all cars -- more U.S. sourced parts, U.S. production and U.S. sales.

It was the fourth-straight year that the Camry came in tops in the "American-made" survey. This year, the Ford F-150, the nation's best-selling vehicle, almost beat it. But in the end, Toyota, Honda and General Motors combined for eight of the 10 vehicles on the list.

"When people think about buying an 'American' car, they might just think automatically of the Detroit Three," said Patrick Olsen, editor in chief at Cars.com. "In reality, this classification isn't as cut and dry as it used to be."

He points out that Italy's Fiat owns a majority stake in Chrysler, despite its status as a Big 3 Detroit maker. More foreign makers are building their vehicle in the U.S. as a way to hedge against a strong dollar.

"U.S. sales are a component of our index for a number of reasons," said Olsen. "For one thing, it's safe to say that the more a vehicle sells, the more U.S. workers are involved in production and delivery of the vehicle and the more U.S. dealers are profiting. Additionally, we think it's valid to give credit for how American buyers embrace a vehicle."

Here are the 10 most American vehicles and where they're made:

1. Toyota Camry, Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind.
2. Ford F-150, Dearborn, Mich., and Claycomo, Mo.
3. Honda Accord, Marysville, Ohio
4. Toyota Sienna, Princeton, Ind.
5. Honda Pilot, Lincoln, Ala.
6. Chevrolet Traverse, Lansing, Mich.
7. Toyota Tundra, San Antonio
8. Jeep Liberty, Toledo, Ohio
9. GMC Acadia, Lansing
10. Buick Enclave, Lansing

Coutesy of USA Today

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Welcome back to the work week fans! Here is a cost-effective maintenance tip for you!

Touching up paint flaws early can save a heap of money down the road. You can touch up small scratches and chips with touch-up paint, available for a few dollars at your car dealership and at some auto-parts stores. Make sure you get an exact color match. Touch-up paint usually comes in a small bottle with an applicator brush in the lid.

Did you know over 90% of car owners admit to singing behind the wheel? I think the other 10% are lying… What are some songs you're guilty of singing in your vehicle?

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Toyota exhibits motorsport activities at its Delhi NCR dealerships to promote Etios Motor Racing

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), a successful Joint Venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Kirloskar Group, showcased concept models of its Etios Motor Racing (EMR) Series from 7^th to 9^th July, 2012. Besides, the car maker also started its exhilarating motorsport activities at Grace Toyota and Galaxy Toyota. The endeavour is in-line with the company’s global terminology of establishing 'Waku Doki', which in Japanese stands for 'excitement, joy and fun.'

The all-new sporty model of Etios was exhibited at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, organised earlier this year. New Etios will accentuate the car maker’s efforts in targeting the younger class of buyers. The auto maker has devoted its complete year towards promoting the EMR brand throughout its 24 dealerships in 14 cities. The company will organise races, road shows and many other activities prior to the series next year.

As per Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, “Motorsports is gaining popularity in India, commanding a growing audience among the young, educated and dynamic - the demographic that the Etios Brand also reaches out to. We aim to exceed our customers' expectations, and create many more happy customers. We want to take this opportunity to promote motorsports in India through EMR and capitalise on our global motorsport heritage.”

Courtesy of CarTrade.com

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Hey fans, here is a Monday car care tip!

Did you know power steering fluid should be changed every three years or 50,000 miles. If you have a power steering fluid reservoir, check the level visually; otherwise, follow the dipstick method. Low power steering fluid may indicate a leak, so have your mechanic take a look.

Samuel Arnett of Stanford University won a 2012 Corolla for his old school rap about the Toyota College Rebate Program. Follow the link below to watch the awesome rap!

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Clint Collects First Win In A Camry

In Sunday afternoon’s Toyota Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at the road course in Sonoma, Calif., Camry driver Clint Bowyer collected his first victory as a member of Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR), as well as his inaugural victory driving a Toyota.

Bowyer, who joined MWR at the beginning of the 2012 season to drive a Camry, dominated the race at the 1.99-mile, 11 turn road course. He led the field three times for a race-high 71 laps (of 112) in the MWR No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry.

Bowyer started sixth and moved into first-place for the first time on lap 25 -- leading the field for nine circuits. The Emporia, Kansas-native then led again for 23 laps (48 to 70), before being at the front of the field for the final 39 laps (74 to 112) -- including a green-white-checkered finish -- en route to victory lane.

Rather than drive his Camry into the Sonoma winner’s circle, Bowyer walked into the first-place ceremony after his victory ‘burnout’ left him short of enough fuel to make the drive. It was his only misstep of the day.

“Super excited for everybody involved to be in victory lane with this group so early in the season,” said Bowyer, after the race. “It’s a dream come true. I’m very proud of all our partners, especially everybody at MWR. To switch teams like I did was a huge risk and a chance for me, and it was obviously a chance for me to showcase my talents. I’m proud of everybody back home at the shop -- thank you guys for building us real good race cars. What a wonderful opportunity at this stage in my career to make this jump -- and make it work. I’m proud of everybody -- Brian Pattie (crew chief) and everybody on this 5-hour ENERGY Toyota. This is just awesome.”

Bowyer’s MWR teammates also had strong showings in the first NSCS road race of the season. Brian Vickers registered a fourth-place finish in the No. 55 Camry and Martin Truex Jr. ran among the leaders throughout the race and led the field for 15 laps -- before he ended up 22nd after contact on the track late in the final laps.

“We’re all working together at MWR,” added Bowyer. “That’s something that I’m very proud of. All these guys work together and the crew chiefs and the engineering staff -- and everybody at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) -- that’s what it takes. All of our cars ran good today and it’s because everybody works together.”

The victory also moves Bowyer closer to securing a spot in the Chase championship playoff.

“It’s huge towards the Chase and everything else,” added Bowyer. “This is big for our team’s confidence level. It’s a young organization that’s going to be in this sport a long time and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

It marks the first NSCS win of the 2012 season for Bowyer and the first NSCS victory of the year for MWR. It was also Bowyer’s ninth top-10 finish of 2012.

In addition, Bowyer’s victory was the fifth win for a Camry driver this season. Besides Bowyer picking up the Sonoma first-place trophy, Denny Hamlin has two wins (Phoenix and Kansas), Kyle Busch has one victory (Richmond) and Joey Logano also has one win (Pocono).

Since the start of the 2007 season, Toyota drivers have now accumulated 44 wins and 37 poles.

Logano (10th-place) was the third Camry driver to register a top-10 at Sonoma.

Other Camry drivers in the field included Busch (17th), Bobby Labonte (24th), Landon Cassill (31st), JJ Yeley (33rd), Hamlin (35th), Travis Kvapil (36th), Chris Cook (42nd) and Joe Nemechek (43rd).

In the unofficial NSCS point standings, Bowyer moved into seventh-place -- 67 points behind leader Matt Kenseth. Hamlin (eighth) and Truex are also among the top-10 in the standings.

Courtesy of Toyota Racing