Toyota and Ford to Collaborate on Hybrid Trucks

The Ford and Toyota Motor companies, usually stiff rivals have decided to join forces in an effort to bring a more fuel efficient, hybrid truck to the market. Ford having superior sales on its truck models, and Toyota with the best selling hybrid on the market seems to be the best combination for the job.

The two companies believe that if they work together, they will be able to bring consumers a more affordable technology sooner. The Collaboration will help both Ford and Toyota meet proposed government fuel standards that will require automakers’ fleets to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Ford and Toyota signed an agreement to split development costs for hybrid systems, as well as telematics technology to improve information and entertainment systems.

The agreement was prompted by a chance meeting of the Ford CEO and Toyotas President. The next step for the two companies is a study to determine which technologies they will invest in and which vehicles will get them.

It is expected that the partnerships first hybrid trucks will be on the road later in this decade. Candidates include the Ford F-150, Ford Expedition, Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sequoia.

Although the two companies have stated they will only be joining forces with the hybrid technology and will remain competitors, this partnership is a milestone in the industry. It allows for new technology to be released into the market at a faster rate than would be possible if either of the companies would go at it alone.

Nissan Offers Interactive Shopping for Smartphone Users with the Quick Response Code

They have become hottest craze in a society dominated by smart phones: The Quick Response Codes. You scan them in the same way you would at the grocery store. They have been used for coupons, contests, and now, for information on the new line of Nissan Cars.

By using the Quick Response (QR) code, Nissan will give consumers an enhanced interactive customer shopping experience. There will be a sticker on individual car windows that will put information at shopper’s fingertips, as well as help sales personnel make a more effective presentation.

Some of the information that is available through the QR codes include: Specific vehicle information, video based product overviews, image galleries, dealer inventory, and even a request for a quote.

The QR also provides consumers with a “silent salesperson if they are on the lot after hours. It is a mass marketing effort by Nissan who has pledged to bring innovation to every aspect of the vehicle design, buying, and ownership experience.

Initial testing was done on the early 2012 Nissan Altima and the results are extremely encouraging all future 2012 releases will be equipped with the QR code.

In a world where Smartphone’s are quickly becoming the norm, it should come as no surprise that the automotive industry is jumping on the bandwagon. The Quick Response code has proven to be a beneficial tool for Nissan. The real question remains: What’s next?

Who Needs a Convertible? Buyers Opting for Sunroofs Instead

There is nothing like riding in a convertible: the wind blowing through your hair, the sun warming your skin. However, recent data shows that consumers are shying away from convertibles and instead investing in a close alternative.

Ford Motor Company reports that while convertible sales are dropping, panoramic sunroofs are on the rise. Of those buying the Ford Explorer and Ford Edge, about half have opted for the sunroof. As for Ford Flex owners, a third added the sunroof. Ford reports that this option costs consumers about $1,600, but it seems to be a price buyers are willing to pay.

Part of the reason sunroofs are becoming more and more popular is because they are just more practical than convertibles. They offer energizing natural sunlight while still securing fuel efficiency; the glass roof is also more architecturally appealing and stylish.

Ford models offer either a panoramic sunroof which consists of one long pane of
glass or a vista roof which comes with two glass panels: one in the front that can be opened and one stationary panel in the back. The glass used on both of these options filters out infrared as well as ultraviolet rays, keeping passengers cool and free of sun burn.

You may not get the wind-blown hair style or adrenaline rush that comes from driving a convertible, but the sunroof does offer some of the same perks in a more practical way. Looks like fuel efficiency and UV protection can be cool after all.

The Accent Gets Top Pick for Back-To-School Travel

It’s getting to be that of year again, back-to-school season. For some parents it’s a whole new adventure, sending their kids off to college. Along with the decisions of which meal plan to purchase or what color scheme for the new dorm room, a vehicle choice can weight heavy on some. Kelley Blue Book has taken some of the guess work out of this for parents. They have compiled a list of the top ten back-to-school cars; the Accent comes out on top.

For this year, Kelley Blue Book chose 5 new cars, and 5 used cars to make up the top 10. The Hyundai Accent took the number one spot in the new car category, beating out its competitors the Honda Fit, Ford Focus, Fiat 500 and Chevrolet Cruze.

Like other Hyundais, the Accent appeals to a finely-tuned sense of value, with a lot of features into a stylish and roomy cabin. The 138-horsepower engine gives an estimated 30 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway, and makes it a top pick for fuel conscious consumers.

The 2012 Hyundai Accent is tapping into the consumer demand for high-content, fuel efficient cars. It gives great fuel economy without having to pay for a high fuel economy package.

Accent’s class-leading standard fuel economy is yet another example of Hyundai’s dedication to improving fuel efficiency and is the fourth nameplate in Hyundai’s lineup delivering 40 mpg on the highway. It’s no wonder Kelley Blue Book chose it as the number one back-to-school car.

2012 Lexus GS 350 Receives a Boost in Personality

The fourth generation of the Lexus GS model, the 2012 GS 350 has a lot of responsibility on its shoulders. Lexus hopes that the restyled look and more engaging drive of the new GS sedan will pave the way for the rest of the Lexus models. After being called “bland,” this Toyota Motor Corporation luxury brand is hoping for a fresh start.

Firstly, Lexus has restyled the exterior of the GS 350, giving it a more angled and distinctive design. Taking some cues from the LF-Gh concept car introduced by Lexus in April, the GS sedan also flaunts a taller and more open grille that gives the car a look all its own.

In addition to new styling, the 2012 Lexus GS 350 delivers improved driving dynamics which offer a better experience for the driver. The Lexus sedan is no longer engineered to simply get the driver from point A to point B; now this luxury model is actually fun to drive.

Luxury car buyers asked for a more adventurous mid-sized sedan and Lexus listened. The new Lexus GS 350 will be unveiled on August 18th at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California and hopefully those present will not be disappointed. From the sound of it, the 2012 GS 350 should be anything but boring.

New Toyota Technology Will Steer Car Away From an Accident

Toyota views the realization of a society that places utmost importance on traffic safety and mobility as one of its top management priorities and holds it to its core guiding principle of supplying safe products. With this idea in mind, Toyota has introduced some ground breaking technologies.

One of the new features is the Emergency-Response Technology which can detect driver’s health condition from their grip on the steering wheel.

The wheel will be equipped with optical and cardiovascular sensors which monitor the driver’s physical conditions constantly. If it senses something is wrong it will sound a warning and advise the driver to get to a doctor.

Another great feature Toyota is implementing is its millimeter wave radar system that will detect if there is an obstacle on the road to prevent any crashing. It will include a camera to locate the objects in the driving path and regulate automobile’s motion.

When a Toyota is equipped with this technology, the car will detect pedestrians and it will sound an alarm alerting him of a person in its path. If there is no change in the speed, the car takes control and stops. When the car is heading to a stop, the seat belt automatically tightens and brakes are applied.

Currently this system is being tested in Toyota’s luxury line Lexus with other cars to be tested soon.

As one of the companies that always strives to be safe, Toyota is constantly learning from real world crashes and always striving to enhance the quality of products and services it offers. With the addition of these safety technologies it is bound to be a top pick of consumers.

Chevrolet Capitalizes on Solar Energy

These days, alternative energy sources are all the buzz; who uses fossil fuels anymore? The electric car has already begun the process of divorcing gasoline-powered engines. Chevrolet has taken this technology a step further, using solar canopies to reduce the energy consumption of electric cars.

The solar canopies are a part of Chevy’s “Green Zone Initiative” and will use energy from the sun to charge about 12 Chevrolet Volts daily at Chevy dealers across North America. What’s more, the additional energy produced from the solar canopies can be used as an added power source for the dealership.

The canopies are not only eco-friendly; they are also free. And why wouldn’t dealerships jump on this opportunity? The canopies are beneficial for the environment, plus they reduce the number on the dealers’ electric bills. Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy, states that, “Just one of these canopies provides…more than 25 percent of a dealership’s energy consumption.” If that isn’t music to a dealer’s ears, I don’t know what is.

Chevrolet invested $7.5 million into a company called Sunlogics to install these canopies. With its Green Zone Initiative, Chevrolet will be the leader in solar power usage among automotive companies.

Two dealers have already jumped on the bandwagon, one in Modesto, California and one in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Judging by the effectiveness of the solar panels and the desire for more eco-friendly energy sources, it is likely that this sun-powered trend will spread like wildfire.