We hope you all have a very Happy Easter this weekend! What's your best caption for this weaselly little Easter Bunny?

We hope you all have a very Happy Easter this weekend! What's your best caption for this weaselly little Easter Bunny?

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 has outstanding features

Wallpaper Wednesday: What outdoor activities does your Toyota help you do?

Toyota Recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with Its Ninth Consecutive Energy Star Partner of the Year Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA) with its ninth consecutive ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency.

Toyota’s ninth Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award is the most among any automaker that assembles vehicles in the United States and represents all of Toyota’s 13 manufacturing facilities in the region.  During the past decade, cumulative cost savings at these 13 North American vehicle, engine and parts plants totaled more than $370 million and energy use has been reduced by 15 percent per vehicle produced, enough energy to power 27,000 average households for 10 years.

“Toyota is honored to be recognized with our ninth ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellent Award,” said Robin Haugen, general manager of production engineering - Plant and Environmental Engineering at Toyota.  “It gives us greater motivation to identify ways to minimize our impact on the environment while helping our bottom line.  Our team members’ commitment to reducing energy and water consumption across our operations demonstrates that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen.”

Demonstrating its environmental leadership, last summer eight Toyota manufacturing sites in North America were recognized by the EPA for achieving a 10 percent reduction in energy intensity through its ENERGY STAR Challenge For Industry program, awarded to individual industrial sites.  Collectively, the eight sites reduced energy intensity by nearly 24 percent from baseline (energy intensity is measured relative to efficiency improvements in process and equipment).

Examples of energy improvements at Toyota’s manufacturing facilities include:
 

• All North American plants: 

Lighting retrofits resulted in annual savings of 17 million kilowatt hours, enough to power 1,500 average households while eliminating 10,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.  Total cost savings topped $1.2 million.

• Bodine Aluminum: 

Replaced a 20 year old oxidizer (used for odor control) with a new, more energy efficient oxidizer, improving energy efficiency by nearly 14 percent and cost savings of $75,000 annually.

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada: 

Its Woodstock plant installed a cooling system using outside air to chill water during the cold season, reducing energy use by nearly two percent, resulting in saving of more than $100,000 annually.  Its Cambridge plant installed linkage-less boiler burner controls, improving boiler efficiency by more than 15 percent, resulting in saving of more than $112,000 annually.

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana:

Installed an adiabatic humidification system in the paint booth improving energy efficiency by 35 percent and saving more than $1.1 million annually.  An adiabatic system uses atomized high pressure water instead of steam to control humidity & temperature. 

The plant also reduced paint booth downdrafts by an average of 15 percent in all manual zones saving more than $600,000 annual with zero investment. 

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky:

Installed an adiabatic humidification system in the paint shop that cut steam consumption by more than 65 percent and cut total energy use by 12 percent, resulting in saving of more than $1.4 million annually.

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi: 

As Toyota’s Model Sustainable Plant for the North American region, Mississippi has used innovative design and best practice techniques from other Toyota facilities to become the most energy efficient Toyota plant in the region. For example its paint shop utilizes a unique system that eliminates the need for a paint oven and installed a low pressure adiabatic humidification system.

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas: 

Installed modified burner controls on a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO), resulting in energy efficiency improvement by more than 16 percent and savings of $25,000 annually.  An RTO is an industrial process for the treatment of exhaust air to destroy air pollutants emitted from the process.

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia: 

Installed a compressed air metering system that cut energy use by four percent, resulting in saving of more than $300,000 annually.

Additionally, Toyota has collaborated with more than 180 suppliers across North America to share energy saving ideas and best practices.  Ten of Toyota’s North American manufacturing plants are zero landfill.

The 2013 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors. Award winners are selected from the nearly 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

Courtesy of Toyota USA Newsroom

Toyota Announces 2013 Corolla LE and S Special Edition Models

Toyota Motor Sales has announced two 2013 Corolla Special Editions that will offer consumers appealing equipment at an attainable price point. 

The 2013 Special Edition Corollas will offer unique standard features in two grade levels, LE and S. The LE Special Edition offers equipment targeted at consumers who value comfort and convenient entertainment, including 16-inch alloy wheels, Display Audio with Navigation and Entune™ (three-year subscription), Power and heated Beige leather-trimmed seats, Special Edition floor mats and exterior badging, and a unique Black Currant Metallic exterior color.

The sporty Corolla S Special Edition will provide youthful styling along with 17-inch alloy wheels, Display Audio with Navigation and Entune™, Sport fabric seats coordinated with a unique Hot Lava exterior color, and Special Edition floor mats and exterior badging.

A total of 7,500 Corolla special edition vehicles (2,250 LE and 5,250 S) will be manufactured during a two-month period beginning in April at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC).  Each Corolla Special Edition model will be offered at the MSRP $20,550 (pricing excludes the Delivery, Processing, and Handling (DPH) fee of $795). The Corolla Special Editions arrive at dealerships in late April.

Courtesy of Toyota USA Newsroom

Young Entrepreneurs Win Scion "Motivate" Program

Scion announced today the 10 talented and passionate young entrepreneurs who each won a Scion vehicle, Scion accessories, $10,000 and career mentoring as part of the Motivate program. The winners include a nonprofit music program leader, documentary filmmaker and a graphic designer, reflecting the competitive program's focus on the creative arts community.

Launched in October, the Motivate program drew applications from all over the country that described individuals' variety of entrepreneurial goals and efforts around art, fashion, music and film. A panel selected 50 semi-finalists to participate in a three-day workshop last week in Santa Monica, Calif. with leading entrepreneurs covering topics such as growing sales, establishing a physical space and online development. The participants incorporated new insights learned into their Motivate entries and final winners were chosen. The 10 winners are:

    Jahmal C. of Chicago, an author and publisher
    Jeff P. of Denver, a backpack manufacturer
    Kate B. of Portland, Ore., a co-owner of a touring theater company
    Lily S. of Dallas, an owner of a graphic design and letterpress company   
    Peter K. of Villa Park, Ill., a digital music magazine publisher
    Philip G. of Nashville, Tenn., a nonprofit music program leader
    Reed G. of Annapolis, Md., an artist and import retail store owner
    Roseli I. of Oakland, Calif., an import accessories business owner
    Tobi A. of San Francisco, a custom wood product designer
    William T. of Chicago, a documentary filmmaker

 
All winners will be individually paired with a relevant business mentor for future career-building and had their choice of any Scion vehicle. The remaining semi-finalists each received a $1,000 grant and left the workshop with helpful industry knowledge that they can apply to their business moving forward.

“We've learned so much and winning the prize, it means the world to me and my business,” said Kate B. “I won the Scion xB and that will make a huge difference for my company. It’s a touring theater company, and we'll be able to tour safely and fit everything we need to in our car.”

Reed G. also chose the xB for her fair trade accessories boutique.

“My business now revolves a lot around being transient, so I go to festivals, I vend, so to have a very reliable car and one that has a lot of space to carry my inventory is pretty amazing,” she said. “Even if I hadn’t won this amazing prize, I still just felt like it was so beneficial for me as a business owner to be involved in this amazing workshop.”

Other winners planned to use the new vehicles as part of their marketing efforts by wrapping them with custom designs. Winners already had plans for how they would invest the prize money back into their businesses, including new equipment and increasing their online presences.

“The Motivate winners live and breathe the passion Scion hoped to find and elevate through this first-ever program for young entrepreneurs,” said Scion Vice President Doug Murtha. “These individuals’ continued success is what we wish for all of our customers, who continue to show us they relate to forging their own paths and creative expression. In its 10 years, that passion remains part of the Scion story.”

Courtesy of Scion USA Newsroom

TOYOTA i-ROAD Unveiled at 2013 Geneva Motor Show

• World Premiere of the TOYOTA i-ROAD, a new form of transportation

• Compact, all-electric, three-wheel Personal Mobility Vehicle with comfortable, enclosed two-seater cabin

• New 'Active Lean' technology for automatic leaning during cornering

• 850 mm width no greater than conventional two-wheeler, for motorcycle-like manoeuvrability

• Zero-emission, near-silent EV powertrain with 50 km range

Brussels, Belgium -
The TOYOTA i-ROAD Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV) –a new form of transportation offering greater flexibility in the urban environment- makes its World Premiere at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Offering a comfortable, enclosed environment for two occupants seated in tandem, the compact TOYOTA i-ROAD Electric Vehicle (EV) features unique, 'Active Lean' technology to provide a safe, intuitive and enjoyable, helmet-free driving experience over a range of up to 50 km* on a single charge.

Committed to reducing energy consumption and the environmental burden attached to transportation, Toyota has been researching and implementing environmentally-friendly mobility solutions for over 40 years in the quest for the ultimate range of eco cars, designed to suit every user profile.

Through the adaption of its Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology for use in Hybrid Vehicles (HV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), Electric Vehicles (EV) and Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV), Toyota is paving the way for several types of eco car to coexist in the future.

Whilst HVs, PHEVs and FCVs are ideal for mainstream use over mid to long distances, Toyota believes in the feasibility of EVs as a primary mode of urban transportation for shorter distances. Toyota has more than 10 years experience in the research and development of PMVs.

PMV users require a vehicle that is more comfortable, more weatherproof and safer than a two-wheeler, yet still offers the benefits of low running costs, and the compact dimensions (most notably width) to facilitate the easy parking and urban manoeuvrability associated with two-wheelers such as scooters and motorcycles.

2,350 mm long, 1,445 mm height and with a wheelbase of 1,700 mm, the ultra-compact, three-wheeled TOYOTA i-ROAD's key dimension is a width of only 850 mm, about the same as that of a conventional two-wheeler. This not only equips the TOYOTA i-ROAD with the latter's ability to manoeuvre freely through even the most congested traffic, but also makes it possible to park four of the new Toyota PMVs in a single car parking bay.

The TOYOTA i-ROAD's zero-emission, all-electric powertrain features a lithium-ion battery providing power to a pair of 2 kW electric motors mounted within the front wheels. Combining brisk acceleration with near-silent running, the new Toyota PMV has a range of some 50 km[1], after which it may be fully recharged from a conventional household power outlet in just three hours.

Key to the higher levels of stability, safety, comfort and enjoyment associated with the TOYOTA i-ROAD driving experience is Toyota's new, entirely intuitive 'Active Lean' technology.

The system features a lean actuator motor and gearing mounted above the front suspension member, linked via a yoke to the right and left front wheels. An ECU calculates the required lean based on steering angle, gyro-sensor and vehicle speed information. And the system automatically moves the wheels up and down in opposite directions, applying lean angle to counteract the centrifugal force of cornering.

Offering a minimum turning circle of just 3.0 metres, the system also operates when the Toyota PMV is being driven straight ahead on a stepped surface, the lean actuator automatically compensating for changes in the road surface to keep the body level.

Requiring no specialised driving skills to operate, the Active Lean system offers a unique driving experience with all the enjoyment of two-wheeler riding and without the need for the driver to stabilise the vehicle himself during slow speed manoeuvres, or when stationary.

Because the Active Lean system obviates the need for the driver to lower his feet to the road surface at any time, the TOYOTA i-ROAD may be equipped with a safer, weatherproof, closed body construction.

This not only means that the new Toyota PMV may be driven without a helmet, but also allows for a more car-like on-board environment with the potential to benefit from such features as lighting, heating, an audio system and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.

Toyota envisages the TOYOTA i-ROAD's all-electric individual mobility concept playing a significant role in the reduction of both congestion and air pollution within the urban environment.

With commuters using either public transport or conventional private vehicles to travel to urban perimeter transportation hubs, they then transfer to the TOYOTA i-ROAD to complete their journeys and move within the city centre.

Its compact dimensions, manoeuvrability, easy parking, rapid charging and availability in either open or enclosed cabin format make the new Toyota PMV an ideal urban transportation solution designed to reduce both inner city congestion and CO2, NOx and particulate emissions without compromising individual freedom of mobility.

Courtesy of Autoblog

Is it just us or do all keys play hide and seek in the morning? Hit 'like' if this has happened to you.

Toyota FT-86 Open Concept would make a mighty fine droptop FR-S

WORLD DEBUT FOR TOYOTA FT-86 OPEN CONCEPT

KEY POINTS

- Toyota to unveil new FT-86 Open at Geneva motor show

- Concept created to gauge reaction to possible development of a cabriolet version of the GT86 sports coupe

- Soft-top design allows 2+2 seating format to be retained, with minimal impact on boot space

- Unique colour scheme created in Milan to reflect the city's world-leading design status

- Toyota will present its new FT-86 Open concept for the first time at the Geneva motor show, a car created to test the water for the possible introduction of a convertible version of its globally acclaimed GT86 sports coupe.

The concept has been designed to deliver the lively, highly engaging and accessible performance and dynamic abilities of the GT86 with the added appeal of top-down motoring.

Its external dimensions match those of the coupe (length 4,240mm, width 1,750mm, height 1,270mm), with the fixed hard-top replaced by a multi-layered fabric roof with a glass rear screen. Inside it has the same 2+2 seating format, with the roof folding down behind the fixed rear seats, with minimal impact on the space available for luggage.

The show car has a special pure bright white and navy blue colour scheme designed by Toyota Boshoku Milan Design (TBMD) to capture the spirit and atmosphere of Milan, one of the world's leading centres for fashion and design. The bodywork is finished in white, contrasting with the blue of the roof. Inside, the perforated white leather upholstery is layered over a navy blue backing, with golden yellow accent stitching and carpets.

The FT-86 Open uses the same platform and powertrain as the GT86. At its heart is the naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed 1,998cc four cylinder "boxer" engine. Equipped with Toyota's D-4S direct injection technology, this compact unit is set low, helping lower the car's overall centre of gravity, and is capable of producing 100bhp per litre. It drives the rear wheels through a short-throw, six-speed manual gear shift or a six-speed automatic – the latter with the world's fastest paddle shift speed, just two tenths of a second.

As with the production GT86, it features MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension to give a direct handling feel, instant response and a high level of control. The electric power steering has a quick 13.1:1 ratio that's on a par with racing models, while large ventilated disc brakes fore and aft deliver excellent pedal feel for car control finesse.

Toyota has pinpointed numerous areas that will need further engineering evaluation to assess the impact of the cabriolet design on performance, vehicle rigidity, balance, weight and aerodynamics. However, with features such as frameless doors, the GT86 was designed with the development of a cabriolet in mind, which means the impact on structural rigidity by converting to an open-top design should not be great. Efficient measures to preserve rigidity are being analysed, such as the use of door lock reinforcements.

GT86 has a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution, helping deliver ideal response to even subtle steering, throttle and brake inputs, and a low, 460mm centre of gravity. While introducing a fabric roof is likely to bring the centre of gravity even lower, further engineering analysis will be needed to match the balance of the coupe.

GT86 tips the scales at only 1257kg, thanks to comprehensive weight-saving measures, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of around 160bhp per tonne This is crucial to performance, given the car uses an engine with a relatively small capacity. Engineering the cabriolet to be "weight-neutral" relative to the coupe will be a key area of study should Toyota decided to progress with the project.

Courtesy of Autoblog

Toyota Unveils New Donations to Aid in Hurricane Sandy Recovery Efforts

Toyota announced Friday a significant vehicle donation equivalent to more than $100,000 to help aid the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Four months after the storm made landfall in the Northeast, the company donated the use of 19 Toyota vehicles to the region’s Red Cross to support relief transportation for one full year. Additionally, Toyota is giving a brand-new 4Runner SUV to Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Bay Head, N.J., to aid in transportation and local cleanup. These contributions are in addition to a $1 million donation made by the company to support Sandy relief efforts last year, as well as five vehicles donated at that time.

The donations were presented to both organizations today at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Bay Head, N.J.

Commenting on the donation, Steve Haag, assistant general manager for Toyota’s New York region, said, “We understand the ongoing need for Hurricane Sandy relief aid and we want to make sure the community knows they are still being supported four months after the disaster.” On deciding which Sandy fund to donate to, Haag shared that “our search quickly led us to the region’s Red Cross and Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, specifically Pastor Scott Bostwick. Both organizations are known throughout the region for their dedicated hard work and we want to honor those making an impact rebuilding their community after the devastation of Sandy.”

Scott Bostwick, Pastor of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, offered praise for Toyota’s donations, saying, “Studies show that national crisis donations taper off after five months. A donation like this from Toyota not only provides us with great relief aid, but also reassures our community that our needs aren’t going unnoticed or unmet.”

“American Red Cross disaster recovery efforts are ongoing across multiple states affected by Superstorm Sandy, including our efforts here in counties from the northern edge to the southern tip of New Jersey,” said Nancy Orlando, regional CEO, American Red Cross South Jersey Region. “We’re thrilled to have this fleet of Toyota vehicles, a generous donation that will enable the Red Cross to move manpower and resources more efficiently throughout affected regions.”

The Toyota donation unveiling event included remarks from Pastor Scott Bostwick and from Steven G. Crawford, M.D., Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross Jersey Coast Chapter. Members of the Red Cross also provided details on how and where others can assist in the relief process. Additional remarks were given by Toyota executives.

Courtesy of Toyota USA Newsroom