2012 Toyota Camry Gets More Features

New and exciting changes for the 2012 Camry!

Toyota has officially revealed its updated family sedan this week, showing off its aggressive new lines and exciting new features. Best of all, the 2012 Toyota Camry doesn’t go up in price despite major improvements.

The all-new Camry has been refined and updated to maintain its sales lead over popular midsize sedans from Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia. Toyota promises it’s more sophisticated than the outgoing model, and says it even delivers a quieter ride than before.

“The all-new 2012 Camry blends an evolution of the car’s values – such as comfort, efficiency, reliability and safety – with a more appealing design and engaging driving experience,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager.  “Competition in the midsize sedan segment is the strongest it’s ever been, and the all-new Camry is designed to maintain its long-standing leadership while also broadening its appeal.”

Buyers such as those who are looking for a Toyota Camry in Milwaukee will be able to choose between three powertrain options including a revised 178 horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that will help the Camry achieve 25 mpg in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway. There’s also a powerful 268 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 that features better fuel economy than the current V6 — projected EPA-estimated ratings of 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway. Lastly, the all-new Camry Hybrid boasts a revised Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, including a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2012 Camry Hybrid LE, with EPA-estimated 43 mpg city/39 mpg highway/41 mpg combined, yields a more-than-30 percent boost in fuel economy in the EPA city and combined driving cycles, compared to the previous generation.

Safety is also one of the 2012 Camry’s strengths. The sedan features 10 standard airbags, along with 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) and Brake Assist. Another available safety system, Safety Connect, can access a call center with a live operator who can dispatch police and emergency vehicles.

Toyota has long dominated the midsize sedan segment, so it truly needed a home run. The 2012 Camry’s bevy of improvements certainly should help it continue to lead this highly competitive segment.

Read more: http://www.toyotainthenews.com/2012-toyota-camry/

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Toyota To Add A Hybrid Option On All Models

Awesome news for all of you that are interested in buying a Hybrid.  There will be more options than ever in the 2020s when choosing one!

Toyota is preparing to introduce a new plug-in Prius as part of its expanding Prius hybrid lineup. With more hybrids becoming available, it could be only a matter of time before every Toyota model is equipped with a hybrid powertain option.

Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system is already offered on large vehicles, like the Highlander, as well as small vehicles, like the Prius. In both applications, the system improves fuel economy. Other automakers have followed suit, offering the technology on full-size pickup trucks and subcompacts, and everything in between.

The only hindrance to the widespread application of hybrid tech is cost. It’s an expensive program if only 10 percent of consumers order a hybrid vehicle. But automakers are investing in the technology anyway, perhaps as way earn bragging rights. Also, the technology has become increasingly mainstream and is no longer a marvel that’s available on just a few models industry-wide.

As more automakers rollout hybrid models, Toyota doesn’t want rest on its laurels as the hybrid leader. That’s why more hybrids are expected to arrive sooner rather than later.

“We’ve been saying for quite a while that we’re going to hybridize the entire line, and that’s still our intention — by sometime in the 2020s,” said Toyota spokesman John Hanson. “We’ll have hybrid drivetrains either as standard or an option on all our products.”

Not only will Toyota’s lineup boast more hybrids in the near future, but the automaker’s luxury arm, Lexus, is also expected to have more electrified options soon.

Read more: http://www.toyotainthenews.com/toyota-to-add-a-hybrid-option-on-all-models/#more-1943

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Toyota To Introduce Active Steering

Safety is a top priority at Toyota. The automaker’s Star Safety System — a bundle of numerous safety features — is already standard on every vehicle it sells. Now, the automaker is preparing its  latest safety innovation: active steering.

Some cars feature technology that applies the brakes when a danger is identified in the vehicle’s path. This technology is helpful to avoid collisions with other vehicles or even pedestrians (when it works properly), but Toyota’s active steering system goes a step further and actually steers your car away from danger.

The new system uses cameras and radar in the front of the vehicle, to detect a potential collision with a pedestrian. If it detects a pedestrian, the system will steer the car out of the way automatically, essentially overriding input from the driver.

“We must learn from accidents and keep making improvements in safety features,” said chief safety technology officer Moritaka Yoshida.

Toyota has not announced the model that’s going to receive this technology first, but emphasized it will be available to consumers soon.

While fatalities have been declining in auto accidents, deaths among pedestrians in traffic accidents haven’t gone down in Japan. Toyota’s pre-collision tech is intended to provide a new level of protection for pedestrians.

Read more: http://www.toyotainthenews.com/toyotas-crash-avoidance-system-takes-control-of-the-wheel/#more-1910

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Vote For The Westmoreland County Food Bank Today!

The Westmoreland County Food Bank is in the running to win a new Toyota as part of Toyota's 100 Cars for Good. Today is the day to vote! Please visit http://apps.facebook.com/carsf​orgood/ to cast your vote!

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Tips On How To Properly Wash and Wax Your Car

Check out the tips below on how to properly wash and wax your car.

More than one-third of car owners use damaging non-automotive products when washing their cars-products that could contain harmful detergents, abrasives and additives. And almost half of motorists don't ever wax their vehicles.

"Waxing at least twice a year is recommended for maximum protection, yet surveys show that 48 percent of motorists don't wax their vehicles at all," said Jeffrey Webb, director of retail marketing at Turtle Wax, Inc.

Motorists should avoid dish detergent, which contains harsh chemicals that, intended to cut through grease, will strip away the wax finish on your car. Some are hard to rinse off and leave streaks. For best results, a formulated automotive wash is recommended, one that gently lifts the dirt and grime while protecting the finish.

Washing an automobile on a regular basis protects it from the natural elements that harm the finish. The Car Care Council recommends the following dos and don'ts when it comes to a do-it-yourself car wash:

• Don't wash cars in direct sunlight. Do wash cars in shade or in cooler temperatures in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Don't use dish detergent. Do use a formulated car wash.
• Do fill your bucket with warm water.
• Do use a soft terrycloth towel or washing mitt.
• Do spray the car often with water.
• Don't scrub the car all at once. Do complete one section at a time, rinsing repeatedly to prevent the soap from drying on the paint.
• Do use soft terrycloth towels or scratch-free fabric to dry the vehicle.
• Don't neglect waxing the vehicle. Do prep the car for waxing using cleaner/polish to remove contaminants.

"The myth of not having to wax your car because you have a clear-coat finish is just that, a myth," Webb said. "Clear-coat finish is only as thick as a piece of paper and can become damaged from the effects of sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution."

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