2013 Toyota Corolla TV Commercial - "Giving Up Lifestyle"

Wallpaper Wednesday: Toyota Land Cruiser!

We're halfway to the weekend fans! In honor of Wallpaper Wednesday, today we'd like to share this Toyota Land Cruiser and its beautiful background! How would you like to watch the sunset in this sweet ride?

Toyota's Teen Safe Driving Program

Toyota continues to offer its free-of-charge safe driving skills program, Toyota Driving Expectations, and comprehensive online resources with the goal of reducing motor vehicle crashes, the leading cause of death among teens. Upcoming behind-the-wheel safety events will be held in Torrance, Calif., Denver and San Antonio for newly licensed or permitted teens and their parents to learn about defensive driving skills, crash avoidance techniques and the dangers of distracted driving during the 2.5-hour program. 

Moving into its 10^th year, Toyota Driving Expectations supplements standard driver’s education to prepare inexperienced drivers for the challenges they’ll face on the road. In recognizing the importance of parents’ involvement to help their teens develop responsible driving habits, the program requires a parent or guardian to accompany their teen.

Kicking-off in Torrance, Calif., professional instructors in the Toyota Driving Expectations “On The Road” program tour lead teens through driving courses and in-classroom discussions, while encouraging continued learning at home and demonstrating safe driving habits. This year’s events will be held at:

• Torrance, Calif.on May 4-5 at Toyota headquarters. Registration now open at www.toyotadrivingexpectations.com
• Denver, Colo. on May 18-19 at Bass Pro Shops. Registration opens April 18.
• San Antonio, Texason June 8–9 at Toyota Texas Plant. Registration opens May 9.

 
“Safer drivers lead to safer roads, so Toyota is committed to helping educate and empower teens and parents around smart driving choices,” said Michael Rouse, Toyota’s vice president of diversity, philanthropy and community affairs. “Through our safe driving programs, partnerships and online resources, we hope more young drivers will absorb the sobering lessons of distracted driving and learn key skills to keep themselves safe behind the wheel.”

To further the connection with teens in local communities, Toyota Driving Expectations has launched teen driving assemblies in high schools and dealerships across the country. Free Toyota Driving Expectations safety clinics at select Toyota dealerships will be led this summer by professional drivers who address vehicle safety features, defensive driving, distracted driving and vehicle maintenance.

Making Safe Driving Information and Resources Available
Toyota also offers free online safety resources for teens, parents and educators through its partnership with Discovery Education at ToyotaTeenDriver.com.  The Toyota Teen Driver also has annual contests for teens and educators, including the current Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge, whose top ten videos are open for public voting now through April 16^th.  The winning teen will receive $15,000.  

Last fall, Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) announced preliminary findings from a major, national study that analyzed the critical role parents play in shaping teen driving habits. The UMTRI/Toyota Teen Driver Distraction Study found a significant correlation between parent and teen behaviors behind the wheel, suggesting parents can be influential role models for young drivers. Startling study findings showed that 61 percent of parents and 54 percent of teens report that they use a hand-held cellphone while driving, emphasizing the importance of including parents in the Toyota Driving Expectations program. 

While helping parents talk to their teens about safety can be challenging, Toyota is dedicated to furthering this important conversation. Earlier this month, the company partnered with Teen Vogue to launch “Arrive in Style”, a safe driving campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving among teenage girls and inspire them to make a mutual commitment with their mothers to drive safely.  The campaign features monthly advertorials with tips and advice from Toyota on different safe driving topics, as well as stories and online videos of Teen Vogue readers and their mothers about their commitment to driving safely.  A microsite (arriveinstyle.teenvogue.com) will feature Toyota’s Mutual Driving Agreement that mothers and daughters can e-sign and share via Facebook for a chance to win monthly prizes. In addition to signing the Agreement, teens can upload a photo on the microsite of them and their mom “air driving” for a chance to win a trip to New York City to be featured in the February 2014 issue of Teen Vogue.

Building on its 10-year relationship with the National Safety Council, Toyota supports the Council’s DriveitHOME initiative, launched in March at www.driveithome.org. Designed by and for parents of newly licensed teen drivers, the online community uses highly visual media to educate parents on the dangers facing teens on the road and ways to coach recently licensed drivers. Like Toyota Driving Expectations, DriveitHOMEencourages the conversation about safe habits to continue long after teens receive a license.

Courtesy of Toyota Press Room

Maintenance Tip Monday

Lights

One indicator or blinker is flashing faster than the other

When you indicate one way and the blinker flashes quicker than when you indicate the other way, it means one of the bulbs has blown. An auto parts store will be able to tell you what sort of bulb you need to replace it with and your manual should show you how to get at the indicator bulbs - they're different on every car.

Don't touch the glass when changing headlight bulbs

Most headlight bulbs now are filled with halogen and have special coatings on the outside of the glass. If you pick the bulb up by the glass with your fingers, you will leave trace amounts of oil and grease on the glass. When the bulb is used, that area of the glass will get hotter than the rest and it will eventually cause the bulb to crack. When changing headlight bulbs, only hold the metal bulb holder at the base, or make sure you're wearing rubber surgical / mechanic's gloves (clean ones) if you're touching the glass. 

Courtesy of Carbibles.com

Fantasy Friday!

It’s Fantasy Friday fans! We’d like to know, what’s in your dream 5-car garage? Share your top picks with us in the comments!

Let's Go Places, with Toyota!

Toyota Motor Sales No. 1 Retail Manufacturer in March 2013

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported March 2013 sales results of 205,342 units, an increase of 4.8 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. Unadjusted for 27 selling days in March 2013 versus 28 in March 2012, TMS sales were up 1.0 percent over the year-ago month. 

For the first quarter, TMS reported sales of 529,444 vehicles, an increase of 10.1 percent over the same period in 2012 on a DSR basis.  With 76 selling days in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 77 selling days in the first quarter of 2012, sales were up 8.7 percent on an unadjusted raw volume basis.

"The auto industry continued its string of impressive monthly results, and at Toyota we had our best month since Cash for Clunkers in August of 2009,” said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.  “A strong first-quarter close and increased consumer confidence continue to position the auto industry as a leader in the economic recovery.”

Toyota Division posted March total sales of 182,152 units, up 3.1 percent year-over-year on a DSR basis.  Volume-wise, Toyota Division sales decreased 0.5 percent over March 2012.

Lexus reported March total sales of 23,190 units, up 19.4 percent on a DSR basis and up 15.1 percent by raw volume compared to the same period last year.

“With our strong new products, Lexus’ March sales were up 19 percent, and year-to-date we are now 17 percent ahead of last year’s sales pace,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “For me, it’s great to be back at Lexus, and I look forward to partnering with our dealers and associates to continue Lexus’ innovation and success.”

Other Highlights:

• Toyota, Lexus and Scion combined were the No. 1 retail manufacturer
• Toyota was the No. 1 retail nameplate
• Avalon sales of 6,982 units, up 109.9 percent
• Corolla sales of 31,423 units, up 11.1 percent
• Toyota Division truck sales of 75,119 units, up 7.3 percent
• RAV4 was the best-selling truck with sales of nearly 16,500 units
• Tacoma and Tundra up 21.2 and 7.9 percent, respectively
• Sienna sales of 12,062 units, up 17.8 percent
• 4Runner sales of 4,609 units, up 13.4 percent
• Lexus passenger car sales up 13.1 percent
• Lexus LS sales up 71.0 percent, with 980 units sold
• Lexus ES sales of 6,798 units, up 116.4 percent
• Lexus RX sales of 9,072 units, up 28.6 percent
• Total Lexus Hybrid sales of 3,617 units, up 7.4 percent on a DSR basis

*Note: Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect unadjusted raw sales volume (compared to the year-ago month).


Courtesy of Toyota News Room