Toyota Greensburg

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Congrats to Kitty Kelly!

Posted by Toyota of Greensburg on 1:10 PM

We want to take a moment to congratulate Kitty Kelly. She was the Grand Prize winner of the United Way of Westmoreland County's Campaign Incentive, and the recipient of a new car! She had her choice of cars from five dealership sponsors including Toyota of Greensburg, where she selected a 2012 Toyota RAV4. To be entered into the drawing held at the Campaign Luncheon, each finalist donated $3 or more each week to the United Way of Westmoreland County.

Congrats Kitty and enjoy your new car!

About United Way of Westmoreland County – The United Way of Westmoreland County is a nonprofit organization that invests its resources in efforts that solve critical community problems with measurable results. Covering Westmoreland and Fayette Counties and a portion of Armstrong County, we serve approximately 100,000 people through partnerships in three targeted areas: Helping children attain Success in Learning and Life; Supporting the Basic Needs and Financial Stability for the community; and, Ensuring Health Access and Independence for our neighbors.

Toyota Develops A Sporty Version of Prius C

Posted by Toyota of Greensburg on 8:29 AM

In Japan, Toyota’s Prius C, which is the subcompact version of the Prius, is called the Aqua. Toyota has developed a more aesthetically sporty conceptual version of it called the Aqua G, with more aggressive styling, an adjusted suspension, and some other things that make it more appealing to young people.

The body kit and new styling include a very large and striking front razor grille, as well as two strips of LEDs in the bottom corners of the grilles. It also has 17 inch black alloy wheels with a red accent, shrouded by 195/45 Bridgestone Potenza rubber, side skirts, and fender vents (these are just ornaments, not real vents). It also has a bumper with a rear diffuser, which is usually used for sports cars.

Interior modifications include the addition of sports seats upholstered with leather and Alcantara, a new sports steering wheel, a gear lever, pedals, and an improved sound system. It certainly is a huge improvement over the stock, boring look of a regular Prius C.

Finally, it was equipped with a sport suspension, and a body reinforcement brace to improve handling. So while this Aqua G may not be any faster, it can at least handle a little better.

Toyota probably realizes that accordant styling is a major factor that impacts sales, even though most people won’t admit that their purchase decision was affected much by aesthetic appeal. Factory bodykits like this are almost pure profit though, and can help drive buzz and enthusiasm for a youth-oriented product like the Prius C.

It now has an angry, bug-like appearance, but it looks more sporty and interesting than the American Prius C. Perhaps Toyota will offer a similar kit stateside?

Courtesy of Gas2.org

Toyota sneak previews self-drive car ahead of tech show

Posted by Toyota of Greensburg on 10:57 AM

Toyota has given a taste of self-drive car safety technology ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The technology includes on-board radar and video cameras to monitor the road, the surroundings, and the driver.

The car can also communicate with other vehicles, according to a Toyota spokesman.

Driver aid

"We're looking at a car that would eliminate crashes," said the spokesman. "Zero-collisions is our ultimate aim."

The "advanced active safety research vehicle" prototype uses ITS and existing Toyota technology to monitor whether the driver is awake, to keep the car on the road, and to stop at traffic signals. The technology is designed to be used in conjunction with a driver, but the car can control itself, said the spokesman.

A series of optical beacons on the roadside can detect the positions of pedestrians and obstacles, and relay information to the prototype about whether a traffic light is red or green, as part of ITS. The car can also independently monitor pedestrians' positions.

"Not the Jetsons yet, but our advanced active safety research car is leading the industry into a new automated era," Toyota said in a Tweet.

Toyota has also developed technology that lets a car communicate with a driver's smartphone to offer augmented reality features. This would let the car know about places by the road letting it, for example. recommend an upcoming restaurant, said the spokesman.

Google was awarded an autonomous car patent in 2011, and secured a Nevada driving licence for its self-drive car in May 2012. In the same month Volvo tested a self-drive convoy on a Spanish motorway.

Self-driving cars could drastically improve road safety, according to Prof Paul Newman, who heads an Oxford University autonomous car project project.

"Computers will be ever vigilant. They don't get distracted," Prof Newman said on Friday.

Car systems can be engineered so that a systems failure will not result in a crash, he added. Prof Newman's Wildcat project aims to use lasers and radar to make a car "sense" its surroundings.

Courtesy of BBC News

Another great testimonial from a satisfied Toyota of Greensburg customer

Posted by Toyota of Greensburg on 7:43 AM

"We purchased a 2009 Tacoma, and are quite happy with our decision. The personnel at your dealership were extremely helpful. We would definitely recommend our family and friends to your dealership; it was well worth the drive." - Mark C.

5 Tips To Extend the Life of Your Car

Posted by Toyota of Greensburg on 10:20 AM

We’ve compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car care tips to prolong the life of your automobile!

1. Be patient during the break-in period

You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

2. Drive with care everyday
Being car considerate shouldn’t stop after the break-in. Drive with care every day and your car will reward you with longer intervals without repair.

Do not race your car’s engine during start-up.This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.
Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive.The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.
Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea.The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.
Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.
Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside. Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.
Extend the life of your tires with careful driving. Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking. And, of course, don’t burn rubber.
When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.
Consolidate your short driving trips. Most of the wear and tear — as well as the pollution your car generates — takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.

3. Buy gas at reputable service stations

Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump and if the station has a policy about changing the pump filters regularly. If you get a song and dance, find another gas station. Some stations don’t have pump filters, making you more vulnerable to dirty gasoline. Other stations may not mix alcohol and fuel properly — or worse, water down their product. Find a station you trust and stick to it.

4. Don’t fill up if you see the tanker

If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back another day or go to a different station. As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment. Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly necessitating repairs.

5. Go easy when you’re stuck

When stuck in mud or snow, don’t make the problem worse by damaging an expensive component. Gently rocking in an attempt to free the car is fine. But if it looks as though you’re really stuck, don’t keep at it. Throwing your car from forward to reverse repeatedly, as well as spinning tires at high speeds, can generate lots of heat and spell trouble for transmissions, clutches, and differentials. It may be cheaper in the long run to call the tow truck rather than risk big repair bills down the road. It’s a good idea to carry a traction aid in the trunk, such as sand, gravel, or cat litter.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest