Groove Toyota

CHICAGO, Ill., January 31, 2011 - With the start of the Chicago Auto Show a little more than one week away, Toyota is close to completing the largest exhibit the automaker has ever built for an auto show in the United States.  The record-breaking 45,070-square-foot exhibit will highlight new and existing vehicles, as well as the technologies and safety systems that have enabled Toyota to become one of the most revered companies in the auto industry.
 
At the heart of the exhibit will be the "Prius Zone," an area that demonstrates the iconic hybrid's rise as one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in history.  This area will feature the growing Prius "family," including: the contemporary, third-generation Prius; a Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV), which will go on sale in 2012; and the recently-unveiled Prius v mid-sized vehicle and diminutive Prius c concept car.
 
The Prius v is slightly larger than the current Prius, with nearly 60 percent more cargo space.  The versatile vehicle goes on sale this summer in the U.S.  The Prius c concept has urban appeal for young singles and couples who want an eco-sensitive, high-mileage, fun-to-drive Prius.  The concept vehicle is the inspiration for a future Prius family member that will come to market in the first half of 2012, as the most value-oriented hybrid with the highest mileage of any "cordless" hybrid.
 
Among the 51 cars, trucks and SUVs on display in the exhibit will be the RAV4 EV demonstration vehicle, an all-electric SUV with a range of approximately 100 miles.  The vehicle is a collaborative project of Toyota and Tesla, with a production version scheduled to go on sale in 2012.
 
The exhibit will also include a "Safety Zone," which features the elements of Toyota's Star Safety System.  Toyota's standard safety equipment can be experienced interactively via a contestant-focused Safety Game Show.
 
Racing fans will enjoy Toyota's NASCAR area that will feature a Kyle Busch No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry race car, along with a NASCAR Edition Camry modified by RK Motors of Charlotte, N.C.  Toyota will also be televising the Daytona 500 on its large video wall on Sunday, February 20, so show goers can keep up with the race.
 
Other notable attractions include a Tundra Fire & Safety vehicle and a Highlander Hybrid wrapped in graphics of Chicago's historic Shedd Aquarium. Toyota serves as the presenting sponsor for all of the Shedd Aquarium's world-class aquatic shows. For aftermarket enthusiasts, Toyota will be bringing the ultimate "Swagger Wagon," a Sienna minivan modified specifically for the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The 2011 Sienna has been stretched an additional four feet for additional length and its interior customized with all the comforts of home.
 
Guests during Public Days can also star in their own Toyota TV commercial, with CDs provided after filming is completed.  Chicagoans will also have an opportunity to cast votes in the ongoing "Prius Goes Plural" campaign, which will help Toyota determine the true plural for Prius, in light of the growing Prius family. The plural nomenclature, as determined by popular vote, will be announced on February 20, the last day of the Chicago Auto Show.
 
Tech-savvy visitors will also find they can get Toyota vehicle information with just the click of a smart phone camera.  The automaker has teamed with SpyderLink whose SnapTag technology allows consumers with smart phones to snap and send a picture of a car logo in order to gain vehicle information, a cost quote and specifics about the Toyota Care program.
 
In conjunction with its exhibit, Toyota will also be operating the "Toyota Drive Center," a 50,000-square-foot experiential ride course located in McCormick Center's South Hall.  The course will feature an array of Toyota trucks and SUVs navigating a series of rugged outdoors-like conditions.
 
"This year's exhibit has elements geared toward the entire family," said Ruslan Polinovsky, Auto Show Engagement Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "With a larger exhibit, we have additional space for interactive elements such as simulators, kiosks, and cutaway vehicles. Our aim is to not only showcase our world-class vehicles but offer a fun, memorable experience."

Nearly $1.1 Million in Funding from Audubon and Toyota's Conservation Initiative to Support Local, Solutions-based Environmental Projects Nationwide

New York, December 9, 2010 ? Restoration of a wildlife sanctuary damaged by the Gulf oil spill, conservation internships for urban teenagers, and promotion of sustainable ranching are only three of the 43 projects in 27 states that will receive a total of nearly $1.1 million in the latest round of TogetherGreen Innovation Grants. This will mark the third year of TogetherGreen funding to facilitate people-powered conservation action in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Projects are selected for innovation, potential gains in habitat, water, and energy conservation, and opportunities to engage new audiences in helping the environment. TogetherGreen is funded by a $20 million grant from Toyota over five years.
 
TogetherGreen Innovation Grants provide seed money for projects that use innovative approaches and technologies to engage new and diverse audiences in conservation and tackle pressing conservation problems. Innovation Grants enable awardees and their partner organizations to inspire, equip, and engage people to tackle environmental concerns and improve the health of their communities.
 
"The conservation solutions pioneered by TogetherGreen Innovation Grant winners are inspiring models of both ingenuity and conservation commitment," said Audubon President David Yarnold. "Each project represents an investment in our shared environment and future ? and an opportunity for many of our nation's most creative and dedicated individuals and communities to transform their dreams into effective conservation action. As our alliance with Toyota shows, when organizations work together, they can magnify conservation results."
 
Since 2008, the TogetherGreen Innovation Grants program has awarded over $3.5 million to more than 130 environmental projects nationwide. The 2010 awardees are receiving grants ranging from $5,000 - $66,100. Funds were awarded to partnerships between Audubon groups (local Chapters or programs of Audubon's large national network) and organizations in their communities ? with more than 125 partner organizations involved in Innovation Grant projects in the coming year. Most of the projects involve audiences previously underserved or not engaged in environmental action, from urban youth to rural ranchers.
 
The Innovation Grants program not only supports innovation in communities across the country; it also strives to build the capacity of conservation professionals. In addition to financial support, grantees receive opportunities for professional development, including a multi-day workshop held at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and online trainings. Audubon staff provides further support, including communications assistance, which leads to more public recognition at the local, state, and national level, and grantees are networked with each other so that they can share best practices and learn from others.
 
Audubon's partner groups benefit considerably from Innovation Grants, too. As Teola Brady, Environmental Director for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe, said, "We are pleased to be partners with Audubon Nevada Important Bird Area Program in participating in the Sagebrush Celebration Project. We see this project as an excellent opportunity to help expand the way that tribal families experience, understand and participate in the conservation of sagebrush habitats. It will also expose them to the various ways that the Upper Reese River Valley ? which is right in their backyard ? is important to their lives and the fabric of their local community and culture."
 
2009 Innovation Grantees helped tens of thousands of people take conservation action in their communities, including Los Angeles kids who cultivated and planted native species in degraded coastal habitat, Denver students who assessed and reduced their schools' electricity bills, and Dayton businesses that improved water quality in Ohio's rivers. Grant recipients leveraged their grants by over four million dollars through matching and in-kind support, allowing them to reach more people and deliver even greater conservation results.
 
"Toyota has a long history of utilizing technical innovation to preserve natural resources, reduce waste, and improve sustainability." said Patricia Salas Pineda, Toyota's group vice president of national philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation.  "We are so proud of the TogetherGreen program and the incredible results it has produced in communities across the U.S.  We know this latest group of Innovation Grants will continue to have a tremendous positive impact."

TORRANCE, Calif., July, 29, 2010 - - The Toyota Tacoma, the best-selling compact pickup truck in America, offers two new accessory packages for 2011 based on a concept truck first shown at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show. The T|X and T|X Pro packages, available in conjunction with the Off-Road Package, add Toyota Racing Development (TRD) accessories in a unique combination at a special value price.

 

Toyota developed the Tacoma T|X concept truck to gauge consumer reaction at the 2009 SEMA Show.  The concept featured unique dual custom graphic designs on each side of the truck, and an assortment of aggressive performance features inspired by traditional TRD elements that conveyed the lifestyle of Tacoma owners.  The overwhelmingly positive reaction to the truck was a major inspiration for the development of the two new packages.

 

Available on a limited basis, the new T|X and T|X Pro Packages translate a sporty SEMA concept into a package the customer can add to a Tacoma V6 Access Cab or V6 Double Cab on both 4x2 PreRunner and 4x4 drive types equipped with the TRD Off-Road Package.  The extra dose of performance makes it the most capable off-road Tacoma in the Toyota lineup.

 

The T|X Package gives the Tacoma a sporty and even semi-menacing look with TRD 16-inch black alloy bead-lock wheels and 265/70R16 BF Goodrich Rugged Trail tires.  Black tube side steps, a stainless steel exhaust tip and unique exterior graphics give the T|X the look of a custom truck, but at a special value. The MSRP of the T|X Package is $1,699, a savings of $754 compared to the package items ordered as separate options.

 

The T|X Pro Package is a performance-driven package with a TRD cat-back performance exhaust system to give the V6 a throatier sound and a bit more power. Also equipped with TRD 16-inch black alloy bead-lock wheels and 265/70R16 BF Goodrich Rugged Trail tires, and unique graphics the T|X Pro package carries an MSRP of $1,699, representing a savings of $720 versus the package contents added as separate accessories. Both T|X and T|X Pro packages deliver a superior value to aftermarket accessories, especially considering that they are covered under the three-year/36,000 mile comprehensive vehicle limited warranty.

 

The TRD Off-Road Package underlying both T|X editions provides a carefully tuned balance of off-road performance and on-road handling. Chassis modifications include an electronic locking rear differential, progressive-rate front springs, specially tuned Bilstein shock absorbers, a 28-mm front stabilizer bar and B.F. Goodrich Rugged Trail tires. Fog lamps top off the package for a tough, sporty appearance. Added features on the TRD Off-Road Package include a 400W/115V powerpoint in the bed, sport seats with adjustable lumbar support and unique fabric, plus an overhead console with a compass and outside temperature display.

 

Ordering for the 2011 Tacoma T|X Pro Package will begin in July and the T|X Package will launch two months later in September.

 

For more information go to: www.toyota.com