- Total of 11 Toyota and Lexus vehicles also
recognized with individual 2013 Vincentric Best Value in Canada
awards
- Toyota continues hybrid leadership with four of
five Vincentric hybrid awards won
TORONTO, ON., (September 12, 2013) – When Vincentric
presented its inaugural Best Value in Canada awards last year, Toyota claimed
the brand award for passenger cars while also being recognized with best value
awards for 10 individual vehicles.
For
2013, the results have been equally impressive, with Toyota earning a second
consecutive Best Passenger Car Brand Award along with eight vehicles being
recognized individually. The total of nine awards is more than any other
automotive brand. In addition, Lexus came away with three awards, bringing
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI)’s overall total to 12.
“We take great pride that our brand and so many of our vehicles have
been recognized by Vincentric for the value we deliver to Canadian drivers,”
said Larry Hutchinson, Vice President, Sales, Toyota Canada Inc. “We are
particularly pleased to see Toyota and Lexus leadership in the hybrid awards
category, an important segment of the market.”
The following 11 Toyota and Lexus vehicles won Vincentric’s 2013 Best
Value in Canada Awards:
- Toyota Prius (compact hybrid)
- Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (electric/plug-in
hybrid)
- Toyota Camry Hybrid (mid-size sedan, hybrid)
- Toyota Avalon (large sedan)
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid (crossover, hybrid)
- Toyota 4Runner (mid-size SUV)
- Toyota Sequoia (large SUV)
- Toyota Tacoma (compact pickup)
- Lexus ES 350 (premium mid-size sedan)
- Lexus ES 300h (premium mid-size sedan,
hybrid)
- Lexus IS C Series (premium
convertible)
To determine the 2013 Vincentric Best Value in Canada
awards, Vincentric analyzed over 1,800 vehicle configurations measuring
cost-of-ownership using eight different cost factors: depreciation, fees &
taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs.
Using a statistical model, the company identified the Vincentric Best Value in
Canada winners by measuring which vehicles had lower than expected ownership
costs given their market segment and price. Each vehicle was evaluated in all
ten provinces plus the Northwest Territories using a range of annual kilometre
intervals and insurance profiles.
Tokyo, Japan, September 5, 2013 - Dentsu Inc. (Dentsu),
the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
(RCAST), Robo Garage Co., Ltd. (Robo Garage) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC)
announce today that the robot astronaut Kirobo has become the first robot to
speak in outer space. Kirobo’s words reflected the importance of its mission:
“On August 21, 2013, a robot took one small step toward a brighter future for
all.”
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut
Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station
(ISS), is expected to arrive at his post in November or December this year. He
will then take part in the world’s first conversation held between a person and
a robot in outer space, an initiative designed to explore the possibilities of
humans coexisting with robots in the future. The conversation will take place in
the ISS’s Kibo Japanese Experiment Module. Kibo means hope in
Japanese.
Kirobo was transported to the
ISS aboard the Kounotori 4 cargo transfer vehicle atop H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.
4, launched early in the morning of August 4 from the Tanegashima Space Center
in Japan. Kirobo arrived at the station six days later. Along with its ground
crew counterpart Mirata, Kirobo is one of two humanoid communication robots
developed under the Kibo Robot Project, a joint research project carried out
between Dentsu, RCAST, Robo Garage and TMC. JAXA also provided extensive
assistance.
Article and picture from Toyota Motor Corporation
