Toyota Prius C: Global Hybrid Could Become Most Important Prius

Courtesy of Motor Trend

Toyota rushed a cut-rate version of its current Prius into development when Honda announced a sub-$20,000 price for the Insight a couple years ago, but the loss-leader never came to production. Turns out the incremental costs involved with adding crank windows and the like to the Prius weren't recoverable, and anyway, there was no need to worry. Insight sales provided no serious competition.

The Prius C, like its bigger brother, is a full Synergy Drive hybrid, not a mild hybrid like the Honda.

If the midsize Prius hatchback is an alterna-Camry, the Prius C is an alterna-Corolla, a good fit for world markets where compacts are more popular. Establishing the Prius worldwide as a hybrid icon first will make it easier to sell the Prius C in Europe and elsewhere. The bottom line: Globally, the C likely will become Toyota's most important Prius.

With a 157.3-inch overall length to the standard Prius' 176.4, on a 5.9-inch-shorter wheelbase with 1.8-inch-lower height, the Prius C combines a 1.5-liter DOHC four with Hybrid Synergy Drive. Toyota expects better than 50-mpg city fuel mileage on the EPA cycle to make it the highest of any non-plug-in model.

Toyota promises lots of kit "at an attractive price," including Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, and nine airbags standard. Toyota's Entune infotainment, with connection to Bing, OpenTable.com, and movietickets.com, will be optional. Entune also offers real-time weather, traffic, gas station prices, stocks and sports, voice recognition, music streaming, and e-mail/text-to-speech capabilities. The ultimate fuel-saver might be sitting in the car and playing with all this connectivity instead of driving it. The Prius C will go on sale in the U.S. in the first half of 2012.

Car Service Tip of the Day!

You will improve your car’s fuel economy by having the air filter replaced regularly. It is recommended that the air filter be replaced at every car service or every other service. Come in to have your air filter changed today and breathe easier tomorrow.

Toyota Secures Sponsorship of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Event in Englishtown, N.J.

Via Toyota Racing

NHRA announced today that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has expanded its participation in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing by becoming the title rights sponsor of the event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. The 43rd annual Toyota NHRA SuperNationals will be held May 31 through June 3.
“Toyota is proud to expand its NHRA involvement with this title sponsorship initiative,” says Les Unger Toyota National Motorsports Manager.
In addition to becoming the sponsor of the Englishtown event, Toyota will have an advertising presence in the ESPN2 broadcasts of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing with commercial inventory, an in-show sponsored feature, and race ticker. Toyota will also increase its national footprint in the sport and expand its on-site display visibility at various races.
“Toyota’s increasing involvement in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing is a clear indicator of the return on investment at both the league and team level,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “Toyota has a proven track record around sponsorship activation and to have their involvement as an event rights sponsor of one of the most prestigious stops on the NHRA Full Throttle Series is very exciting.”
Toyota’s involvement in NHRA began in 2002 with the arrival of the Celica-bodied Funny Car. The manufacturer’s first win came two years later, in February 2004 at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. The program has since risen to new heights; in the past three years Toyota-sponsored cars have earned multiple NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series victories in Top Fuel and Funny Car, as well as the NHRA Top Fuel Full Throttle world championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2008, Cruz Pedregon won the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world championship in a Toyota Camry Solara.
Currently, Toyota sponsors three Top Fuel teams and three Funny Car teams. Al-Anabi Racing, Don Schumacher Racing, and Morgan Lucas Racing will field top fuel dragsters for drivers Khalid alBalooshi, Shawn Langdon, Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein, and Antron Brown. Cruz Pedregon Racing, Tony Pedregon Racing and Kalitta Motorsports participate in the Funny Car class. An all-new 2012 Toyota Camry Funny Car body will feature four drivers including: Cruz Pedregon, Jeff Arend, Tony Pedregon, and 2012 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award candidate Alexis DeJoria.

Congratulations to the 2012 Toyota Tacoma, the winner of PickupTrucks.com's Midsize Shootout.

Courtesy of cars.com

This shootout put seven midsize pickups through head-to-head testing to determine which was the top truck in the segment. The Tacoma took the title because of its refined ride, interior quality and great value. Overall, the Tacoma not only outperformed the other six trucks, but also had the fewest sacrifices or compromises feature-wise.

Quiz Time!

What was the first inflatable tire made out of?

A. rubber

B. latex

C. silicone

D. leather

Two Worlds - Toyota Camry

This driver's story would definitely be an impressive entry to The Camry Effect.  Have you shared your story yet?

Have you shared your Camry story?

Have you shared your Camry story yet? Toyota is planning on announcing some very exciting news regarding The Camry Effect so don't miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this awesome campaign!