Stone Mountain Toyota

 At the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the world got its first look at Toyota's FT-EV, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) concept. You may be asking, why are we showing this advanced-technology vehicle now, just as we are debuting the all-new Prius? Well, the answer at Toyota is simple: Right place, right time, right vehicle.

We believe there is no single solution to our future mobility challenges. What is the right vehicle for Tokyo right now might not be the best product for Kansas City today or Madrid next year. One thing is certain: Even in this difficult time for our industry, we must continue to look to the future. We are maintaining our pace for developing advanced technologies and exploring many technology options for future mobility.

We see the FT-EV concept as a great vehicle for the urban commuter. It is ideal for someone who drives fewer than 50 miles a day, mostly on flat surface streets, and has easy access to recharging options, such as a personal garage or a recharging station on a city street. While this vehicle will be perfect for the urban setting, it might not be the best solution for the rural dweller. This is why we continue to look at various technologies, such as the compressed natural gas Camry Hybrid concept that was shown at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The FT-EV shares the platform of the Toyota iQ, a lightweight, four-passenger microcar that is on sale in Japan and Europe. This version is white with gold and silver design accents and a flared front and rear. With its lithium-ion battery, it will reach a top speed of 70 mph.

Look for more information in the future on the launch of an urban-commuter BEV coming to market in 2012.

Photo credit: Corporate Communications, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Concept vehicle shown.

Last spring, Toyota and Audubon announced a comprehensive five-year program called TogetherGreen. There were three main goals of TogetherGreen: offering volunteer and individual-action opportunities that significantly benefit the environment, funding conservation projects by established environmental groups and training the environmental leaders of tomorrow.

We're proud to say that things are moving along extremely well with TogetherGreen, and we
wanted to give you an update and let you know how you can get involved.

Volunteer Projects
Let's start with the volunteer events. Last fall, dozens of volunteer events took place at Audubon centers and other sites across the United States. Volunteers pitched in to clean up parks, nature preserves and shorelines; remove invasive species; build and repair much-needed outdoor structures and shelters; and create safer habitats for local wildlife.

In fact, more than 22,000 volunteer hours have been logged so far! If you would like to get involved in one of the many upcoming volunteer events across the country -- from Orlando, Florida, to Tacoma, Washington -- please click the "More information" link at the end of the article.

Innovation Grants
After the volunteer events got up and running, Audubon announced the TogetherGreen Conservation Innovation Grants -- programs that will make a difference today. There were a total of 41 grantees in 24 states. Winners were selected for their innovative approaches to engaging people to tackle environmental problems and take advantage of opportunities in their communities. Many projects target inner-city and non-English-speaking audiences previously underserved by the environmental community.

Projects that received funding:

• Helping low-income students in middle schools design and implement energy-saving plans (Denver, Colorado).
• Constructing gardens to stem storm-water overflows, keeping pollutants and disease-laden sewage out of homes and waterways (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
• Involving the public in hands-on strategies for restoring vanishing wetlands vital to flood control (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
• Reducing bird fatalities caused by their attraction to the lights in high-rise buildings (Minneapolis, Minnesota).

The Leaders of Tomorrow
At Toyota, we always try to think of the future -- and the greenest technologies to take us there. Audubon shares our forward-thinking philosophy, so a key element of the TogetherGreen initiative will be finding the environmental leaders of tomorrow and helping them grow their vision.

In November, the first 40 TogetherGreen Fellowships were selected. Fellows were chosen for their leadership potential and commitment to engaging communities in conservation action. Each receives a stipend and assistance in launching local projects to educate their community and engage them in efforts to conserve land, water and energy.  

The fellows are receiving invaluable training for the future while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects. 

Here's one of the TogetherGreen fellows:

Christine Hannen of Damascus, Virginia, will lead a wide-reaching rainwater-harvesting program, helping solve a water-shortage problem and, in turn, helping the larger community and the environment. Rainwater harvesting, which is the capturing and storing of rainwater runoff from rooftops for irrigation and household chores, can make a big difference to landowners and the environment.

For example, one inch of rainfall on a 1000-square-foot roof will yield approximately 600 gallons of water. In order to make rainwater harvesting an option for everyone in the community, Hannen will offer a series of three-hour educational workshops to help people make their own 55-gallon rain barrels, as well as learn how to use them.

Toyota's grant for TogetherGreen will support five years of programs, but our funding will plant the seeds for a generation of environmental leaders. The three components of Audubon's TogetherGreen initiative are innovative and sustainable, and we are proud to support Audubon's long-term vision.

To learn more about TogetherGreen, click the "More information" link below. The interactive Web site is full of great information, including volunteer opportunities; tips on being green at home, at work, in the community and when you travel; inspiring videos and photos; true stories about individuals making a real difference; and updates on results from the TogetherGreen initiative.

More information

The wait is over, finally, and the much-anticipated 2010 Toyota Prius was officially revealed to the public at the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 12, 2009. The new Prius goes beyond its predecessors in terms of technology and design; it's an intelligent vehicle that uses forward-thinking features and embodies the idea of what a hybrid vehicle should be in the future.

The Detroit Auto Show provided a brief glimpse of new features, including an available solar-panel roof, which uses the sun's energy to cool the vehicle's interior while it's parked. Other standout features include Touch-Tracer, an enhanced multi-information display, available Pre-Collision System and LED headlamps, and three selectable driving modes: eco, power and EV. And the exterior design makes an obvious statement: Efficiency can most certainly be beautiful.

To find out more about the third-generation Prius, check out the reveal site at toyota.com/newprius. If you would like to receive updates about the third-generation Prius, please click the "More information" link below.

more information

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., (TMS) announced in January that starting this year its all-new telematics system, Safety Connect, will help lend a new peace of mind to its motorists. This subscription-based on-board safety and security service will become available on select models. Via cellular technology and embedded GPS, drivers can be in touch with Toyota's designated call center, where operators are standing by 24/7 to lend a helping hand.

"When developing our telematics systems, we ramped up our R&D efforts, intent on creating a system that reflects the voice of our customers and their clearly expressed strong desires for safety and security features on their next vehicle purchase," said Jon Bucci, TMS vice president, Advanced Technology Department. "While a portion of the industry appears to be migrating to reliance upon wireless handheld devices to deliver in-vehicle safety, we've followed our engineering insights and Toyota's G-Book and G-Link roots in Japan. Based on our experience and research, our core safety and security technology is embedded in the vehicle to help ensure reliability and responsiveness."

Safety Connect will include these bundled services:

• Automatic Collision Notification (ACN)
• Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL)
• Emergency Assistance Button (SOS)
• Roadside Assistance

Here's a closer look at what each Safety Connect feature provides.

Automatic Collision Notification

This feature helps drivers to receive the necessary response from emergency teams in the event of either an airbag deployment or a severe rear-end collision. Under either of these circumstances, the response center is automatically notified and the answering agent receives critical information from the vehicle. The agent is able to communicate with the driver to determine the level and type of emergency they're experiencing. If the driver is unable to respond, the operator will automatically treat the call as an emergency. The response center agent uses the vehicle's GPS location to identify the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) available to provide emergency support and will stay on the line until emergency assistance arrives.

Stolen Vehicle Location

This feature provides owners an extra level of security in the event that their vehicle is stolen. If there is a theft, Safety Connect can assist in tracking the location of the stolen vehicle using the vehicle's GPS system. Once the owner files a police report and contacts the Safety Connect call center, call center agents will assist local authorities to help recover the vehicle -- keeping the owner apprised of the progress.

Emergency Assistance Button

All Safety Connect–enabled vehicles come equipped with an SOS button, with the call center's 24-hour emergency assistance only a press away. When an emergency situation develops, subscribed customers can quickly reach an operator to get help with any emergency. Again using embedded cellular and GPS technology, the agent will assess the situation and dispatch the necessary assistance based on the type of emergency.

Roadside Assistance

When a driver encounters problems on the road, the Safety Connect response center is available for roadside assistance 24 hours a day via the SOS button. A representative can help drivers receive aid for a wide range of commonplace needs, such as towing, jump start, flat tire, fuel delivery, etc. With this service, drivers don't have to rely on additional membership organizations for roadside coverage to help them get back on the road.

"Our customers' voice is loud and clear, and we've responded. Safety Connect was created to deliver the core telematics services that our discerning drivers want," said Bucci. "We're confident that our offerings will help our drivers feel more confident and secure on the road -- a quality we can all appreciate."

More details will be announced closer to launch in late summer 2009.

Toyota and MySpace Music have joined forces to bring you the hottest (and occasionally free) music, plus videos and all the latest news on artists, shows and tickets.

MySpace Music recently partnered with Universal Music Group, Sony BMG and Warner Music Group. For all you Toyota fans, that means the Toyota MySpace Music page offers just about all the music you love from major, indie and even unsigned artists. Also, MySpace Music will offer free music and streaming videos.

On the Toyota MySpace Music page, users will be able to build personal playlists and search for the hottest new music. Users can even share playlists with friends. The Toyota MySpace Music page offers a pop-out music player for on-the-go music listening, and it also allows you to listen to your music while surfing the Web.

And now for the good stuff, like Toyota Tuesday downloads. Mark your calendars because Toyota will be providing a free song download every Tuesday through September 2009. Past free downloads have come from popular artists such as Maroon 5, MSTRKRFT, Christina Milian and Darius Rucker.

To check out the latest updates, streaming videos, events in your area and the Toyota Tuesday download of the week, click the "More information" link below. And don't forget to add Toyota as a friend!

What if going to the grocery store or dinner with friends helped you earn points to redeem toward maintenance, parts and accessories for your Toyota? The time for wondering is over because the new Toyota Rewards Visa® is here!

With the Toyota Rewards Visa, you'll get:

• 2,500 Bonus Toyota Rewards Points upon first purchase.¹
• 5 Points for every $1 spent at participating Toyota dealerships.
• 1 Point for every $1 spent everywhere else that Visa is accepted.
• No Limit to points earned and No Annual Fee.

The more you use it for everyday purchases, the more the points add up. Your Toyota rewards points can even be redeemed toward your next eligible Toyota purchase or lease at participating Toyota dealerships.

Whether you're shopping, vacationing or just getting your morning coffee, every swipe gets you closer to Toyota rewards.

To start earning your Toyota rewards points, please click here for more information or call 866-614-8845

August 7, 2008 - Torrance, CA - Toyota and Lexus models have earned 11 segment awards out of a possible 19 in the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS), more than any other manufacturer for the third consecutive year. The VDS is one of many vehicle surveys which continue to consistently rank Toyota and Lexus at the top of their respective studies.

The VDS study tracks the number and type of problems owners have had with their vehicles over a three-year period, with this year's study focusing on the 2005 model year. Lexus was the top nameplate for the 14th consecutive year, with 120 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). In the study, Lexus received six segment awards and Toyota earned five awards.

"Of the numerous independent studies conducted throughout the year, VDS continues to reflect real-world, long-term vehicle quality and dependability," said Jim Lentz, TMS president. "In today's economic climate, consumers are considering durability more than ever as a key component to their vehicle purchase decision."

For the 14th consecutive year, the Lexus LS premium luxury sedan was the top-performing model in the industry while leading the Large Premium Car segment. With a score of 72 PP100, it was the first time ever that a vehicle achieved a score less than 80 PP100 in the VDS study. The previous low score was in 2006, with the LS 430 earning a score of 88 PP100.

The top three performing models in the VDS were all Lexus passenger cars (LS 430, SC 430 and ES 330). The Lexus LX 470 topped the Large Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) segment with a score of 124 PP100; it was the fewest PP100 of any truck or SUV in the study.

Other Lexus models to lead their respective segments include the ES 330 with a score of 101 PP100, which was followed by the GS 300/GS 430 (124 PP100) in the Midsize Premium Car segment. The IS 300 led the Entry Premium Car segment with a score of 122 PP100, while the SC 430 (89 PP100) topped the Premium Sporty segment. The GX 470 (130 PP100) prevailed in the Midsize Premium MAV segment, and the RX 330 was second with a score of 144 PP100. Overall, every Lexus passenger car or luxury utility vehicle either led its segment or finished second to another Lexus.

For the past 19 years (since 1990), the Toyota nameplate has consistently ranked among the top five non-luxury brands. For 2008, the Toyota nameplate placed fourth overall with 159 PP100, an improvement of 19 PP100 from 2007.

Prius, the world's best-selling gas-electric hybrid, led the Compact Car segment with 141 PP100. Prius continues to prove that a gas-electric hybrid vehicle with many cutting-edge technology features can also set a standard for long-term durability.

Other top-performing models include the Tundra, for the third consecutive year, in the Large Pickup segment with 159 PP100; RAV4 in the Compact MAV segment with 166 PP100; Highlander in Midsize MAV with 138 PP100; and Sequoia in the Large MAV segment with 198 PP100.

J.D. Power and Associate's VDS finds the number of problems an owner experiences affects their repurchase intent, vehicle recommendation, and impacts their vehicle's retained value.

2008 J.D.POWER AND ASSOCIATES VVEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY TOYOTA/LEXUS SEGMENT AWARD WINNERS

VEHICLE				SEGMENT

Toyota Prius			Compact Car
Toyota Highlander		Midsize MAV
Toyota Sequoia			Large MAV
Toyota Tundra			Large Pickup
Toyota RAV4			Compact MAV
Lexus IS 300/IS 300 SportCross	Entry Premium Car
Lexus ES 300			Midsize Premium Car
Lexus GX 470			Midsize Premium MAV
Lexus SC 430			Premium Sporty
Lexus LS 430			Large Premium Car
Lexus LX 470			Large Premium MAV

 




Lexus Leads Nameplate Rankings for 14 Years in a Row.