Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Toyota Named Best Resale Value Brand for 2013 by Kelley Blue Book

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Toyota has earned Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com Best Resale Value Brand Award for the 2013 model year.  This is the second year in a row that Toyota has received the Best Resale Value Brand Award from KBB.com, and it has received this top honor in three of the last four years.

In achieving the award for the top brand, Toyota earned six Best Resale Value Awards for specific 2013 model year vehicle categories   In addition, four Toyota models (FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Tacoma and 4Runner) earned spots on KBB.com’s 2013 Best Resale Value: Top 10 Cars list.
 
“We are thrilled that KBB.com has selected Toyota for its Best Resale Value Brand award, and we appreciate Kelley Blue Book’s efforts to help increase consumer awareness as to the importance of resale value when purchasing a car“, said Bill Fay, Group Vice President and General Manager of Toyota division.

2013 KELLY BLUE BOOK BEST RESALE VALUE BY VEHICLE CATEGORY:
FULL-SIZE CAR:                         Toyota Avalon
MID-SIZE SUV/CROSSOVER:     Toyota FJ Cruiser
FULL-SIZE SUV/CROSSOVER:   Toyota Sequoia
MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK:          Toyota Tacoma
FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK:        Toyota Tundra
MINIVAN/VAN:                            Toyota Sienna
 
Since vehicle depreciation (or loss of value) is typically a car buyer’s primary expense during ownership, these awards, like all of KBB.com’s new and used vehicle information, are designed to help consumers make more informed car-buying decisions.
 
Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book® Official Residual Value Guide, determined by a skilled staff of automotive analysts.  These prestigious awards honor vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) after five years of ownership.  Low-volume vehicles and vehicles with a MSRP of more than $60,000 are excluded from award consideration, except in the luxury and high-performance categories.

Courtesy of Toyota USA Newsroom

Monday, November 26, 2012

Good afternoon, everyone! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday and weekend! Now that the weekend is over it's time for us to check in with another Monday Maintenance Tip for you all! Today's tip: Spark plugs do need changing.

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The advent of electronic ignition and on-board computers has eliminated the need for regular tune-ups, but you still need to change your spark plugs. Many manufacturers recommend changing plugs every 30,000 or 40,000 miles (48,000 or 64,000 km) to ensure good fuel mileage and engine performance. Some new cars come with long-life plugs (sometimes called double platinum plugs) that can last for 100,000 miles (160,000 km). If your car isn’t so equipped, make the switch after 30,000 miles. The extra cost is only a few dollars per spark plug. While you’re at it, change your spark plug wires as well. Their typical life is 50,000 miles (80,000 km). Deteriorated wires can cause those high-tech new spark plugs to foul.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Good afternoon everyone, just checking in with another Monday Maintenance Tip for you. Today's tip: Don’t Forget the PCV Valve

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The PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve is an emissions control device on older cars — check your service manual to see if your car has one.The valve recirculates partially burned gases from the engine’s crankcase to the combustion chamber. Important to a properly functioning engine, the valve should be changed every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or as specified in your owner’s manual. In addition to helping you get the most from a tank of gasoline, it helps to prevent the buildup of harmful sludge and corrosion.When replacing your PCV valve, be sure you use the correct one or you may damage your engine.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

TMC Develops Collision Avoidance Assist System Effective at High Speeds

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Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that it has developed a Pre-collision System (PCS) with collision avoidance assist that is effective in helping mitigate even high-speed[1] collisions.
 
The newly developed PCS uses millimeter-wave radar to detect the risk of a rear-end collision with a preceding vehicle, with the system warning the driver via sound and display alerts to prompt braking when such a risk is detected. When the driver applies the brakes, PCS enables deceleration of up to 60 km/h[2] by greatly increasing the braking force up to twice[3] that of the average force applied by drivers. If the brakes are not applied, automatic deceleration[4] of 15 km/h to approximately 30 km/h[5] is possible[6].
 
More than 90 percent of rear-end collisions occur when the difference in speed between the preceding and following vehicle is within 60 km/h[7]. TMC aimed to develop a system based on real-world collision data, and has, with its newly developed system, achieved rear-end-collision reducing-effects at the highest level in the industry. The new PCS was developed to be used in a wide variety of models, and is to be rolled out starting with soon-to-be-launched models.
 
To contribute to the elimination of traffic accident fatalities and injuries—the ultimate goal of a society that values mobility—TMC is conducting research and development on individual onboard safety devices and systems based on its Integrated Safety Management Concept[8], an approach that gives direction to safety technology and vehicle development. TMC is pressing forward with the development of safer vehicles and technologies and is intensifying its wide-ranging traffic-safety initiatives by participating in the development of traffic environments and conducting educational traffic-safety activities.

Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom

Monday, November 5, 2012

Welcome back fans! Here is a Monday Maintenance Tip for you.

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Maintain Your Car’s Battery

Maybe the manufacturer says your battery is maintenance free, but don’t you believe it! Check your battery regularly to extend its life and avoid the hassle of being stranded with a dead battery.

  • Begin with the simple: keeping your battery clean. A dirty case can actually cause current to drain. Wipe with a damp rag. Use a mild detergent if necessary.
  • Next, clean the battery posts or terminals. Loosen and remove the negative cable (black or minus sign) first, then the red positive cable. Use a brass wire battery brush dipped in a paste made from a few tablespoons of baking soda and a little water.
  • Inspect the battery case for damage, such as cracks or bulges — signs that a battery needs to be replaced.
  • Reinstall the cables, positive first, and coat the terminals and clamps with a thin coating of grease to prevent new corrosion.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Toyota Donates $1 Million to Support Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

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Toyota today announced a $1 million contribution to the American Red Cross and other nonprofit organizations to support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy in the regions worst-hit by the storm. In addition, Toyota will match employee contributions to the American Red Cross and other non-profits doing relief and recovery work in affected communities.

Commenting on the donation, Shigeki Terashi, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, Inc., said, “On behalf of Toyota, we express our sincere condolences to the families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Since we have operations and many dealerships in the affected regions, we felt a special responsibility to lend a hand. In addition to this contribution, many Toyota employees are already involved in volunteer activities to support those in need. We very much appreciate their support.”

Beginning Nov. 1, Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and Lexus Financial Services (LFS) will launch a “Customer Outreach” calling campaign to lease and retail customers who are delinquent, or become delinquent, due to circumstances related to the storm and who reside in the 13 states directly impacted by the hurricane (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT and WV) and in the District of Columbia. This campaign will determine if these customers may be eligible to take advantage of payment relief options, some of which include:

• extensions and lease deferred payments;
• redirecting billing statements;
• and arranging phone or on-line payments.

Toyota Financial customers with questions about their account should call (800) 874-8822. Lexus Financial customers with questions about their account should call (800) 874-7050. Qualified residents residing in FEMA-designated areas (of the above-mentioned states and the District) needing to purchase a vehicle may also take advantage of a 90 Day Deferred First Payment Program designed to assist customers with their transportation needs as they work through the recovery process. This program is for a limited time and only available through participating Toyota and Lexus dealers and TFS/LFS.

Toyota Operations
Toyota continues to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to its operations on the East Coast and reports no known injuries to associates, family members and dealer employees. The storm had the biggest impact on company operations and dealerships in the New Jersey area. Some regional/branch offices, as well as Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships, were affected by flooding and power outages. Toyota Logistics Services operations at the Port of Newark (N.J.) sustained water damage to its buildings and a number of vehicles.

Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom