The Car That Put Hybrids on the Map

The second generation 2004-09 Toyota Prius is the car that really put hybrid vehicles on the map, paving the way for today’s “family” of Prius automobiles.

Worldwide, Prius sales climbed from 125,700 in 2004 to 404,200 in 2009. It was offered in only one body style, then – a four-door hatchback with seating for five. The second generation Prius with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive was more fuel efficient than the first, with even cleaner tailpipe emissions. In 2006, Prius got a mild facelift with a revised grille and new taillights. A new third generation Prius went on sale as a 2010 model.

 Consumer Reports rates Prius reliability as much better than average. In fact, in making the 2007 Prius a “Recommended” pick, the magazine said “reliability is outstanding.” The 2004-09 Prius was consistently the most fuel efficient vehicle sold in Canada. The International Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave all second generation Prius models its best rating of “good” in front impact crash tests. Prius was voted North American Car of the Year in 2004 and European Car of the Year in 2005. In 2007, the Swiss government named Prius the world’s greenest car, and it was J.D. Power & Associates’ Most Dependable Compact Car in 2008 and 2009.

 Although they sold well in Canada, the used car market is not flooded with second gen Prius models, indicating that happy owners keep these cars for a long time. Perhaps the best bet when shopping for a Prius of this vintage is to buy one from a dealership which offers the peace of mind of Toyota Canada’s Certified Used Hybrid program. You get 12-month/ 20,000 km powertrain coverage, the balance of the 8-year/ 160,000 km hybrid components warranty, 12 months of roadside assistance, a 134-point Quality Assurance Inspection and a CarProof vehicle history report.


2004-2009 Toyota Prius| By Glen Woodcock

Toyota tops Consumer Reports survey

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DETROIT—And the winner is ... Japan.

Japanese brands took seven of the top 10 spots in Consumer Reports’ annual reliability rankings, pushing aside their U.S. and European rivals. Toyota Motor Co.’s Scion, Lexus and Toyota brands took the top three spots and the Toyota Prius C, a subcompact hybrid, got the best overall score. Mazda, Subaru and Honda were close behind.

The rankings, released Monday, predict the reliability of 2013 model-year vehicles based on surveys of Consumer Reports’ readers. This year, 800,000 people submitted information on 1.2 million vehicles from the 2010 to 2012 model years. The rankings are critical for auto companies, since Americans frequently cite Consumer Reports as a main source of car-buying advice.

Ford and Lincoln, once top performers, plummeted to the bottom of this year’s rankings because of persistent problems with glitchy touch screens and bumpy transmissions. Ford was also hurt because three normally reliable models — the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ — are all new for 2013, so Consumer Reports couldn’t predict their reliability.

Also near the bottom were Chrysler Group’s Chrysler, Dodge and Ram brands, which have been getting a fast makeover since partnering with Italy’s Fiat three years ago. Consumer Reports says models with more features and more powerful engines, like the V-8 versions of the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee — had the most issues.

The best-performing U.S. brand was Cadillac, from General Motors Co.

Volkswagen AG’s luxury Audi brand made the biggest strides in this year’s survey, climbing 18 spots to No. 8. It was the best-performing European brand. Glitch-free new models like the A7 sedan got high marks from Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing.

“They’re out-BMWing BMW, easily, in terms of the driving dynamics,” he said.
Electric cars also got impressive results. The all-electric Nissan Leaf was Nissan’s best performer, partly because its electric motor has fewer parts than a gasoline engine, Fisher said. But the Chevrolet Volt — an extended-range electric car that has both an electric system and a conventional engine and transmission — also got the highest score of any GM vehicle.

“GM took a lot of painstaking time to develop that car,” Fisher said.

The Volt was recalled earlier this year because vehicles crash-tested by the government showed a risk of fire when coolant leaked from the battery. But Consumer Reports’ rankings don’t reflect that, since the magazine only asks respondents to note issues that have happened on their own vehicles. Only vehicles with 100 or more responses are included. Among 2012 models, the magazine got the most responses for the Honda CR-V, with nearly 3,000.

Fisher said the magazine is getting about the same number of complaints as it did five years ago. But issues with electronics, audio and touch-screen systems have increased while complaints about mechanical problems are down.

Article by Dee-Ann Durbin Associated Press

Fun to drive, epic reliability

 

Photo by N49photo.com

Fun to drive, epic reliability and surprising in-cabin spaciousness: The 2013 Toyota Yaris Hatchback is everything a subcompact should be

(TORONTO, ON – October 23, 2012) The Toyota Yaris Hatchback proves that big ideas come in small packages.

 

“Toyota engineers combined sharp, edgy styling, agile handling and ample interior room in the Yaris Hatchback – the subcompact that offers epic Toyota value in a fun to drive, easy to own package,” noted Tony Wearing, Senior Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc. “With one 3-door and two 5-door models, excellent fuel efficiency and safety, room for five or up to 286 litres of cargo capacity, plus a host of class-up features, there are many ways to love the 2013 Toyota Yaris Hatchback.”

 

With a curb weight of less than 1,050 kg and a 106 peak horsepower 1.5 litre four-cylinder, the Yaris Hatchback is responsive and efficient. Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), Sequential Multiport Electronic Fuel Injection and other engine systems maximize performance and minimize fuel use. Choose a five-speed manual for impressive fuel efficiency of just 6.0 L / 100 KM city/highway combined. Or opt for the convenience of the available four-speed automatic Super ECT with overdrive and an ECO Indicator on the instrument cluster, for a fuel efficiency rating of just 6.2 L / 100 KM city/highway combined.

 

Responsive and efficient electric power steering, a turning radius of just 9.4 meters, and European-tuned suspension featuring front stabilizer bar and rear torsion beam geometry make the Yaris Hatchback a nimble city car while remaining stable and easy driving on the highway.

 

Safety is always standard on a Toyota, and the Yaris Hatchback is best-in-class with nine airbags (dual-stage driver and front passenger, front seat mounted side, front seat cushion, front and rear side curtain and driver’s knee) plus anchor points for child seats and – on five door models – child protector rear door locks. As with every new Toyota since 2011, the 2013 Yaris Hatchback is also standard equipped with the six active safety technologies of the Star Safety System: Antilock Brake System, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and Smart Stop Technology work together to help drivers avoid potential accident situations.

 

Prius bestselling vehicle line in California

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LOS ANGELES — Toyota’s Prius hybrid passed Honda’s Civic and Accord to become the bestselling vehicle line this year in California as higher gasoline prices drove up demand for fuel-efficient cars.

Toyota, the world’s largest seller of gasoline-electric autos, sold 46,380 Prius models to Golden State drivers in the first nine months of the year, the California New Car Dealers Association said in its Auto Outlook report. That vaulted the Prius three levels above last year, when it ranked behind the Civic, Accord and Toyota’s own Camry.

Recovering car and light-truck sales in California, the nation’s largest auto market, are lifting industry-wide sales across the U.S. Registrations through September are up 26 per cent in California, exceeding the 14.5 per cent increase for U.S. light-vehicle sales, according to the report.

“Gas prices are up 80 cents per gallon in California over the national average,” said Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst for Kelley Blue Book in Irvine, Calif. “That’s really driving up the appeal of hybrids, as well as plug-in vehicles in California.”

Drivers in the state bought 1.25 million new cars and trucks this year through September, according to the report. That would be 11 per cent of the U.S. total of 10.9 million. Purchases of Prius models this year in California account for 25 per cent of the 183,340 Prius liftbacks, plug-ins, v wagons and c subcompacts sold in the United States.

Ford’s F-Series pickup trucks are the top-selling vehicle line across the U.S. this year, followed by Camry, according to researcher Autodata Corp. Nationally, Prius is only the 12th bestseller among all vehicle types this year, and seventh by sales volume among car models, according to Autodata figures.

The hybrid, first sold in Japan 1997, hasn’t previously led sales in the state, based on California Auto Outlook reports back through 2006.

Disruptions at California refineries since August pushed gasoline in the state to a record $4.67 a gallon on Oct. 9, according to AAA. While prices in the state have eased, the fuel averaged $4.55 a gallon on Oct. 17, compared with a national average of $3.74, based on data from the largest U.S. motorists’ group.
“Prius is going to stay strong through 2012, and into 2013,” Gutierrez said. “We’re going to get some relief at the pump, but not that much.”

U.S. Prius sales, already at a record this year, may total as many as 230,000, Toyota U.S. Group Vice-President Bill Fay said this month. Honda’s CR-V is California’s bestselling light truck this year, according to the report, prepared by Experian Group Ltd.’s AutoCount unit.

In Japan, Toyota has sold 260,947 units of the Prius this year, and the model is poised to be the nation’s bestselling vehicle for a fourth consecutive year, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

Article by Alan Ohnsman Oct 19/2012

Toyota Tundra Makes History Towing Space Icon

TORONTO (Oct. 15, 2012) – A Toyota Tundra half-ton pickup truck without any special modifications successfully towed the 150,000 pound space shuttle Endeavour across a bridge spanning the America’s busiest freeway on Friday night, Oct. 12. The tow was a result of a 20-year partnership between Toyota and the California Science Center to raise awareness of the space program and continue public education through exhibits and events.

The shuttle’s 19 kilometer route over city streets to its new home at the California Science Center includes one passage over the 405 Freeway. The Tundra assisted in the transport of the Endeavour as it journeyed over the Manchester Boulevard Bridge—an area that required a lighter tow mechanism than other portions of the route for weight distribution purposes. Toyota did extensive testing and worked with the Sarens Group, a heavy lifting and engineering transport company, to develop a dolly to move the Endeavour over the bridge.

The model selected was a stock 2012 Tundra CrewMax 4x4 with Toyota’s 5.7-liter iForce V8, producing 381 horsepower. All Tundra trucks are produced exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas in San Antonio. The truck used to tow the Endeavour was purchased from a Southern California Toyota dealer, with no modifications or special equipment added for the tow.

The Tundra was piloted by longtime Toyota professional driver Matt McBride. Riding along was Garrett Reisman, one of the astronauts aboard the orbiter when it traveled to the International Space Station in 2008. From start to finish, it took 5 minutes to cross the bridge.

“I’m honored to be part of the space shuttle Endeavour’s final mission to the California Science Center,” said Garrett Reisman, an engineer and former NASA astronaut. “I appreciate Toyota’s support in helping bring this space icon home to the Southern California community.”

The Science Center has a popular working exhibit utilizing a Tundra that demonstrates the physics of leverage. The Tundra used to tow the shuttle will replace the existing truck when the Endeavour exhibit opens on Oct. 30, 2012.

Toyota Named Top Auto Brand for 9th Year Running

Peace Arch Toyota is pleased to announce that in the just released Best Global Brands report Toyota is named the top auto brand for the 9th year in a row.

Toyota is credited for its customer service, it’s lineup of green cars (including the Prius) and its growing appeal with younger customers. This marks the 9th straight year Toyota has placed first in the automotive category.


Toyota ranks just ahead of Mercedes in 11th spot and BMW in 12th. Rounding out the top five are Honda in 21st and Volkswagen in 39th. Other automakers to make the Top 100 include Ford, Audi, Porsche, Kia, Ferrari and Hyundai.

In the overall listings the IBM ranks third with Apple in second place and Coca Cola first overall.

Toyota named automobile “Brand of the Year”

Second consecutive year Toyota is highest ranked auto brand in Canada 

(TORONTO) - Toyota has been identified as “Brand of the Year” in the automobile category after receiving the highest Equity score among automobile brands included in the 2012 Harris/Decima EquiTrend® study.

The study addressed 956 brands in 24 product categories. Each brand’s Equity score was determined through a composite of three measures: familiarity, perceptions of quality, and consideration for purchase.

Harris/Decima collected the opinions of 13,384 Canadian consumers aged 15 and over during July and August.

It is the second consecutive year Toyota has emerged from the study as the highest ranked automobile brand in Canada.

“We spend a lot of time listening to Canadians and adopting their lifestyle wants and needs across our product lineup,” said Seiji Ichii, President, Toyota Canada Inc. “We value being recognized as Brand of the Year in both 2011 and 2012 as this award speaks directly to Canadians’ appreciation and consideration of the quality, value-added vehicles Toyota offers.”

Apart from Equity, the Harris/Decima EquiTrend® study also includes 14 other measures, covering aspects such as consumer connectedness to a brand, brand performance versus expectations, perceptions of brand momentum and the level of advocacy among consumers.

Harris/Decima is a long-established marketing research firm in Canada and a division of Harris Interactive, one of the largest global marketing research firms.

Toyota Canada establishes September records for sales of trucks, hybrids and luxury vehicles

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TORONTO, ON – October 2, 2012 – Toyota Canada Inc.’s sales momentum continued in September with 16,834 Toyota, Lexus and Scion passenger cars, SUVs and trucks - up 21.9% from the same month in 2011. The Toyota Camry remained #1 in the intermediate segment, several vehicles experienced best September sales ever and TCI’s proven hybrid vehicles continued to set new sales records.

 

 

• TCI hybrids set a September record with 1,480 sold, as hybrid sales accounted for 8.8% of TCI’s total sales for the month and 44.8% of intermediate car sales
• TCI trucks were up 27.3% to an all-time September record of 7,972
• Lexus luxury vehicle sales reached 1,556, an increase of 25.4% over 2011 to establish a new September record
• Sales for Scion’s vehicles were up 15.9% to set an all-time September best