The 2011 Tacoma truck utility vehicle will receive several new package options/upgrades from Toyota in order to widen the range of its consumer appeal. The vehicle will now be available with the T/X, T/X Pro, and Off Road packages, include Toyota Racing Development accessories when purchased from your Kansas City Toyota Dealer. These different options include a different grille styling, 4-cylinder models, and several performance enhancements that will fit nicely for any hardcore or casual Toyota truck fan. Toyota, on which they highlight the new features (can be found HERE), is really putting the emphasis on durability, comfort, and reliability when it comes to the Tacoma.

According to the article,

“The 2011 Tacoma line offers two engines: a 2.7-liter Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) four-cylinder that produces 159 horsepower with 180 lb-ft. of torque and a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 that outputs 236 horsepower with 266 lb-ft. of torque. In both engines, variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) provides strong low-end and mid-range torque.”

These two options are in place to provide the consumer with two options that best fit his/her financial situation and automotive needs.

Another big option that is being added to the Tacoma lineup is the change in the exterior and interior design of the truck depending on the Cab model. Access Cab vehicles will include an upgrade audio system with the option of multiple speakers/subwoofer. The SR5 Package bundles “styling and comfort features, including color-keyed overfenders and front bumper, chrome grille surround and chrome rear bumper, intermittent wipers and upgraded interior features and trim, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and automatic transmission shift lever.”

Not only has the Tacoma received raving reviews from all over the automotive-review world (iguida.com, Edmunds.com, automobile.com) because of its cast and diverse configurations, but also it is part of a generation of Toyota vehicles making a new standard for safety, customer satisfaction, and commercial responsibility that is redefining the way companies manufacture vehicles.

For more information on available parts and accessories, visit the Toyota Truck Parts website.

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Toyota today announced a voluntary recall on approximately 1.13 million 2005-8 model year Corolla/Corolla Matrix vehicles due to cracks that would appear in the solder points in the vehicles electronic component “used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM’s circuit board.” According to the press release on Toyota’s new and improved online pressroom,

“If a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.”

This recall leads Toyota into its 15^th straight month of recalls. Starting with the infamous unintended acceleration this saga has led some major changes in Toyota. Not only is the company reacting quicker than ever to manufacturing issues, Toyota Motor Corp. is now devoting itself to constantly assuring their vehicles are among the safest on the road, and if that means corporate executives have to swallow their pride and issue yet another recall, well, that’s what it’s going to take.

From the press release:

     “Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America, said, ‘This recall is an example of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers. Our goal is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles.”  

     ”As part of the recall, the ECM on involved vehicles will be replaced at no charge to the owner. Beginning in mid-September 2010, Toyota will mail an interim notification to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete the repairs. Owners who have previously paid for replacement of the ECM to address this specific condition should refer to the owner letter for reimbursement consideration instructions.”

For more information on if your vehicle qualifies for this recall, visit your nearest Kansas City Toyota Dealer and speak with a sales representative or any Olathe Toyota team member.

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When the every day consumer thinks “Toyota“, what usually comes to mind? Is it the world renowned customer service? Or maybe they think of the reliable Toyota parts and the vehicles they are found in; from the Lexus to the Prius, Toyota vehicles have been known for their reliability and fuel efficiency.

But, it seems like before the Prius and the Lexus line became the staple of the Japanese auto company, there was the humble, but ever influential Camry. With its 2010 model housing a four cylinder 169 horsepower engine that gives it that extra boost, and a price that just cant be beat, the Camry is really the perfect car for any driver, but it didn’t get to where it is overnight.

The first ever Toyota vehicle to come out under the Camry name as we know now met showroom floors In the year 1980. This was the decade of Toyota, where the company in Japan was began smashing all expectations and sales figures, and was just beginning to insert itself in the US market. It came as a mid-sized sedan, shared many characteristics with the Toyota Carina, and was released as the Celica Camry.

Two years later, in 1982, the Camry line officially separated from the Celica and came into existence with first the V10 then V20 models in Japan. The States and other worldwide markets would not receive the Camry line until the V30, or as it was known in the states, the Camry XV10. From there the line bloomed, spreading to all corners of the road, and diverging to wide-body models as the years went on.

Today, we have come to adore and love the 2010 Camry. No other automobile manufacturer in the world can wave a finger at it’s reliability, it’s quality, and it’s customer satisfaction. For more information, or to purchase your own 2010 Camry, go to your local Kansas City Toyota Dealer.

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Toyota officials announced on the 11^th this week that Iran since June has not been receiving exports from Toyota Motor Corp due to growing international tensions aimed towards the country. This move was largely motivated by the scrutiny other companies dealing with Iran have come under by the United States Government, and the last thing Toyota needs while recovering from the recall saga is more bad publicity in the States.

In an interview of a Toyota Spokeswoman by Reuters, Shiori Hashimoto stated “We made the decision after taking into account the international situation including sanctions by the U.S. and the U.N. on Iran,” She did not, however, say anything about any scrutiny the company was currently under because of its former relations with Iran.

In the past, Toyota vehicles and Toyota Parts have not had very significant business in Iran, only shipping some 246 vehicles there last year, so this move seems to be more of a political and public image move instead of a business one. It would appear that the biggest thing on Toyota’s mind is recovering its image of a reliable and trustworthy automotive company.

Their total exports this year, according to Reuters, “reached 222 by the end of May” before the company shut down its export program to Iran.

Iran has been under political pressure for some time now from the United States due to their nuclear program, which, according the U.S., is being used to develop nuclear weapons of mass destruction that could alter the political and socio-economical structure of the world.

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One million: it’s a pretty big number. 2.86 million, now that’s an even bigger number. Think of it this way: if everyone within driving distance from the Kansas City Toyota Dealer in the year 2009 owned two Toyota hybrids, then our area would represent the amount of Toyota hybrids sold in Japan last year, and more than twice that amount would be how many were sold in the world so far. Taking their giant PR disaster that plagued last year’s sales numbers, this milestone is monumental in the history of Toyota Motor Company. From the humble automatic looms company founded by Sakichi Toyoda, to the multi-million dollar automotive giant it is now, this point largely defines the attitude and atmosphere of global success Toyota is aiming for.

Toyota hybrids have without a doubt changed the game of automotive manufacturing. First with the Japanese Sport 800 hybrid car, Toyota set the stakes high for the future of vehicles. From then on, the most successful would be the most green and environmentally sound, and the one that did this while making the cars affordable for the common man, and so far, the leader in both those category’s have been without a doubt Toyota. With the Prius selling 139.7 thousand models, it is by far the most common hybrid on the road and is more widely regarded as the hybrid vehicle to drive.

Using the combined sales pitches of the Prius, Camry, and Highlander, along with several hybrid Lexus models, Toyota has found a clever little niche in the world automotive market. Even after the damaging recalls of the 2009 3^rd and 4^th quarters, Toyota is still known as an incredibly sound and reliable company. Their quality control operations have spent millions of dollars on improving its procedures, making their responses to quality issues that much faster and more effective.

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Starting this week, more than 400,000 Lexus and Avalon models released in the last ten years will be recalled because of faulty steering-shafts. Toyota discovered the shafts in the recalled vehicles would crack under certain degrees of pressure, which would cause, in one situation reported so far, the column to disengage completely. The recall of the vehicles in question, 39,000 2003-2007 Model Year LX 470 and 373,000 2000-2004 Model Year Toyota Avalons sold in the United States, will be a completely voluntary recall, and one in which anyone can participate.

In the recall press releases for the Avalon and Lexus vehicles, Toyota stated:

 “Because of improper casting of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system, there is a possibility that a minute crack may develop on the surface. Such a crack may expand over a long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar could break. If this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary.”

In total, approximately 8.5 million vehicles have been recalled over the last year, and most came after the initial slew, and many believe the larger amount of recalls has come from an improvement of quality control on Toyota’s part. In pair with the drastic sales opportunities available to the new and old Toyota customers, it is clear there are many changes going through the company’s ranks.

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So here’s the situation: Toyota is now in its third generation of the most successful hybrid vehicle in the history of automobiles. While several of its vehicles, including the Prius, suffered from recalls, their lead hybrid sold a total of 10,998 vehicles last month, and the number’s are continuously rising. Seems like they have a pretty good thing here, right? Surprise, Toyota, you must have made some faulty research, and it might cost you a pretty penny.

Alex Severinsky is a Soviet engineer, with experience designing tanks and other military vehicles. He holds several different patents and one for a design allowing two power sources, an electric and gasoline motor, to seamlessly merge their differing energies. Nearly six years ago, he came forward in the United States patent courts and filed a patent-infringement case against Toyota Motor in regards to their Hybrid Synergy Drive that powers Toyota’s hybrid vehicles. Until now, the two parties have been fighting it out, but, announced Monday, Toyota reached a settlement with the company Severinsky started, Piace Hyperdrive Systems, that will end the six year bout.

While neither party is officially talking about the settlement, Toyota is still adamant that the Hybrid Synergy Drive came entirely out of their engineer’s minds. They have applied for more than 4000 patents in regards to their hybrid technology, and it seems more a matter of pride than linguistics.

After all that hassle, Toyota decided to just settle everything and agreed to pay and license the patent this week. In separate press releases, said “The parties agree that, although certain Toyota vehicles have been found to be equivalent to a Paice patent, Toyota invented, designed and developed the Prius and Toyota’s hybrid technology independent of any inventions of Dr. Severinsky and Paice as part of Toyota’s long history of innovation.”

When asked about the fiasco, Severinsky told Business Week “Finally people understand the merits of what I invented and give it the proper value,” he said. “Toyota is the leading technology company and finally appreciates the value of the invention.”

While this may seem like a big deal, Toyota has already dealt with a massive amount of patents, as does any innovative company that pumps out the amount of designs Toyota does on a regular basis.

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During the unintended acceleration recall crisis that plagued Toyota those months ago, many specialists believed the software on the vehicle’s computers were to blame, not driver error, when Toyota’s cars accelerated down roadways without their driver’s input, but a recent US department of Transportation report has stated that according to the black boxes located on the vehicles, the drivers were in fact pushing on the gas pedal, instead of the brake. This is a monumental moment in Toyota’s recall situation, and it could change a lot of things when it comes to sales.

Some people, however, have come to disagree. Several authors running blogging sites around the web are refuting the legitimacy of the report, making accusations ranging all over the place, such as  “Toyota ‘Planted’ Driver Error Story” and questioning the legitimacy of the probe.

In the actual report, it talks about the data recieved from various black boxes abord Toyota vehicles that caused or were involved in that explained the driver’s reaction to various situations. According to said report, many and most incidents that were reportedly caused by unintended acceleration, were, after reviewing the data, caused by the driver simply pressing the wrong pedal.

In the end, we must think what we want to think. There have always those who thrive on destroying the reputation of others, but when the day is over, consumers must choose for themselves. Will you, as an educated buyer of Toyota Parts, seceed to the angry doubted, or the company that has given you quality vehicles for generations past, and generations to come?

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        Toyota executive Akio Toyoda came forward with new information this week regarding the relationship between Toyota and Tesla, and many fans and customers of the two companies will find they are both excited and curious about the plans. Akio stated in a Reuters interview that the two companies are currently working on a vehicle that will most likely make use of Tesla’s state-of-the-art batteries and Toyota’s record of efficient vehicles and high quality Toyota Parts. In the past, the two companies have been considered “the next best thing”; both of them have invested cast amounts of money in making efficient and groundbreaking technology. Surely they could come up with something revolutionary, correct? Before this time, no “for sure” answer from either side of the deal has come forth. But, now, this report has revealed the true nature between the two company’s relationships.

        According to Reuters, the actual statement from Akio Toyoda is “We’re at the stage of working toward a prototype and once that’s completed and we’ve reached that milestone, I’d like to announce more about what we’re working on together.”

        Tesla, when engineering automobiles, has a protocol of using general-use lithium ion batteries, which is completely different from Toyota’s custom made batteries. If the batteries can hold up to Toyota’s high quality standards, then the more mass-produced batteries could give them a more steady and cheap flow of batteries.

        Toyota states it will take its customers into account for everything it is considering with Tesla. If the company does decide to follow through with this battery deal, it will only be after communicating with its customers and their needs, especially after their recent recall issues.

The vehicle mentioned that will move farther towards showroom floors will be an electric redesign of the RAV4 series.

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This week, Toyota announced it will be opening many new quality centers in the U.S. to ensure quick response to quality issues, while giving the company yet another all around quality control boost. After these seven are inserted into Toyota’s global infrastructure, their total in the US will grow to 21. They will probably all specialize with a specific aspect of the company, ranging from hybrid vehicles to all terrain heavy-duty trucks.

Bloomberg news reported on this announcement, and they received a statement from Dino Triantafyllos, the vice president of Toyota’s US quality division, saying “These steps are more than fixing past mistakes…It’s also about overall quality improvements.” Unfortunately, he is a tight position. Toyota as a company has already been through a lot with the brake situation during the beginning of the year, and the current situation with the Lexus recall is making PR one of the most important things at Toyota, second of course, only to quality and safety of their Toyota Parts.

These plants will be located all around the country, and will all, collectively, contribute to the safety and  reliability to Toyota vehicles in the United States.

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