Hey everyone! Don't forget to vote in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program. The next finalists are:
• 7/30/2012 - Appalachian Center for Individual Living- Charleston, WV
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).
Courtesy of Bizjournals website
From flash mobs to lip-dubbing, the bar for marriage proposals keeps being raised higher and higher. The latest evidence comes from a man named Danny, who put together a photo montage of moments with his girlfriend Robin and set them to music, telling the story of their relationship.
The video begins with a photo of Danny jumping next to his Toyota by himself, with a caption below the image reading, "It all began with a lonely, lonely boy..." The image is reminiscent 1990's Toyota commercials, in which the company's tagline was "I love what you do for me, Toyota." The story then continues with Danny meeting Robin and the two taking the big step of posing for pictures together.
Danny described the origins of his proposal idea in a post on the website Ring On The Finger:
“I am a traveling salesman, and I would always take pictures of my self jumping by my Toyota (like the old Toyota commercials). I would set up my tripod and camera and take these pictures alone. Then I started dating Robin and we started taking our own “freeze frames” (as we called them) where we would drive to random places and set the camera and timer up and do silly things," he wrote.
Toward the end of the video, the photos stop and viewers see Danny taking Robin to a scenic overlook. She thinks they're about to take another jumping picture, but instead of landing on two feet, Danny gets down on one knee.
With that, the music changes to "She Said Yes" by Mumford & Sons and the captions get funnier; in one, Danny notes that, in addition to saying yes, Robin's is crying and making "mouse-like noises.")
Courtesy of Huffington Post
Summer’s extreme temperatures can destroy a vehicle’s battery. The Car Care Council advises vehicle owners to have their cars’ batteries tested periodically and replaced, if necessary, to avoid being stranded.
Excessive heat and overcharging shortens the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, which will eventually destroy a battery.
“When most motorists think of dead batteries that cause starting failure, they think of severe winter weather, but summer heat is the real culprit,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Many battery problems start long before the temperatures drop. A few simple steps now can help you avoid the cost and inconvenience of a breakdown later.”
To get the most life out of a battery, the Car Care Council suggests the following:
• Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.
• If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.
• Always replace a battery with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
• Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.
Courtesy of carcare.org
Aside from its shiny new EV counterpart, there hasn't been much happening in the world of the Toyota RAV4. That's set to change, though, as these spy shots indicate that a refreshed model isn't too far down the pipeline.
Just how refreshed will it be? Well, considering the fact that the RAV4's last major redesign took place six years ago, we hope that there are some significant changes under all of that camouflage. We can already see some new design elements, including a front fascia that reminds us of what we see on the new Camry. Arguably, the current RAV4 is a pretty handsome little thing, but with more and more crossovers adding curvy lines, we wouldn't be shocked if this new model gained a dose of rakishness. Well, as much as Toyota can muster, anyway.
Other details remain slim, but expect the interior to get a much-needed update, likely incorporating features like Toyota's Entune infotainment system. Under the hood, four-cylinder engines are likely going to be the driving force, including a rumored hybrid variant, but we won't rule out the inclusion of the automaker's 3.5-liter V6, as well.
The new RAV4 will likely debut later this year in time for the 2013 model year.
Courtesy of autoblog.com
Once again, Cars.com has come to the 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."
Courtesy of USA Today
MONACO — The first production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid in Europe was delivered to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, as the Japanese automaker employs some royal cachet to market the car.
The prince will use the Prius Plug-in Hybrid for "private purposes," said Toyota in a statement. The prince has a two-month loan on the car from Toyota, which notes that he currently has a standard Prius in his automotive stable.
Prince Albert may be Toyota's best unofficial salesman in Europe. A one-off Landaulet edition of the Lexus LS 600h hybrid took center stage at his 2011 wedding to Charlene Wittstock.
Of course, with the handover of the keys to the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Monaco also gets to strengthen its position as one of the green leaders in Europe. Even though the principality is just 48 acres with a population of 35,000, it is also home to 424 free charging stations.
The link between European royalty and cars is a strong one. Witness the media frenzy that ensued after England's Prince William and commoner Kate Middleton celebrated their nuptials last year with a joyride in an Aston Martin DB6 Volante.
Courtesy of Inside Line
Basic car care is the key to a long-lasting vehicle, improving its safety and dependability, says the Car Care Council.
“Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Following a routine maintenance program makes financial sense, extending useful vehicle life and helping avoid costly repairs down the road.”
The Car Care Council recommends 10 basic maintenance procedures to keep your car operating at its best for the long haul:
Courtesy of carcare.org
