Consumer Reports Top Spot goes to 2012 Toyota Camry

The 2012 Toyota Camry is being recommended by Consumer Reports, after reviewers were impressed by many of the new features the car offers.

The new 2012 Toyota Camry has earned top marks according to Consumer Reports. Among family sedans the 2012 Camry has out shown its competition with an improved interior, crisp handling, and better gas mileage.

Consumer Reports reviewers tested all three versions of the 2012 Camry. Based on the testing of the reviewers the four-cylinder and hybrid versions of the Camry earned the coveted “recommended” label from Consumer Reports.

There were several improvements and features that reviewers cited as to why they gave the Camry the “recommended” label. The 2012 Camry looks better than ever with its angular design and it has one of the nicest interiors ever fitted to a Japanese car. The Camry is also very good at being a family saloon, meaning that it offers plenty of room inside the cabin and plenty of cargo space. Additionally, the improved gas mileage of 38 mpg in the hybrid and 27 mpg in the four-cylinder rival that of its top competitors.

The midsize Camry has led car sales in 13 of the last 14 years, but in 2011 sales fell behind competitors. Reasons for the Camry’s struggles in 2011 were largely out of Toyota’s control as the effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan disrupted their parts supplies significantly. However, Toyota is optimistic that the prestigious rankings from Consumer Reports will help boost their sales in 2012 to once again regain the top position.

Earning a “recommended” label from Consumer Reports is a great statement to the quality and convenience of the 2012 Toyota Camry. Consumer Reports is a non-biased and non-affiliated group of shoppers and technical experts whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers.

SuperBowl Commercials Cost BIG Car Companies BIG Money

Commercial spots for the 2012 SuperBowl sold out around Thanksgiving, and auto companies are leading the list of this year’s buyers.

It’s that time of year again, holiday decorations are being put back into storage and New Year’s resolutions have been set. College Football Bowl games are wrapping up and the NFL playoffs are set to begin…which can only mean one thing…..SuperBowl commercials are only a couple of weeks away.

Companies large and small are putting the final touches on their SuperBowl commercials that run a cool $3.5 million for 30 seconds of ad space. NBC has stated that the ad space for commercials during the 2012 SuperBowl sold out around Thanksgiving.

As usual there are a wide variety of companies showing their stuff during the game, but the auto industry has bought up more time and space in the 2012 SuperBowl than any other industry. Major auto companies that will be airing commercials during the 2012 SuperBowl include; Volkswagen, Kia, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Toyota, and Hyundai.

Volkswagen will try to repeat the success of their award winning “Force” commercial from the 2011 SuperBowl. According to Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer at Volkswagen, they have purchased a 60-second spot in the 3^rd quarter for a commercial that will feature the 2012 Beetle.

GM is also going to be making a big splash in the 2012 SuperBowl, the company has purchased 5 spots for ads. They will be running 1 Cadillac ad and 4 Chevy ads, and have talked with other SuperBowl advertisers to get product placement in their commercials. Additionally, Chevrolet has been running a contest where internet users can vote for 1 ad that will air during the 2012 SuperBowl with their route66 campaign.

Auto companies know how to market their product and there is no bigger marketing stage than the SuperBowl. Car companies are preparing funny, happy, and emotional commercials to make you fall in love with their car brands.

NASA Launches into Auto Industry

Automakers are always looking for new, innovative ways to improve the quality and performance of the vehicles that they make. Now they may receive that technology from an agency that is out of this world.

NASA will be pitching nearly 40 different space-age technologies to automakers and their suppliers on October 27^th at an event at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The event will show off newer technologies that could be implemented into automobiles to improve quality, performance, and cost.

Over 100 companies have already signed up to attend the event including Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Toyota and Honda will also be attending the event along with several suppliers from around the country.

Some of the technology that will be on display will include sensors and controls that could help hybrid or electric cars become more efficient; solid oxide fuel cells to power vehicles; new materials that can be used to contain pressurized natural gas; and green polymers that put out only water instead of noxious gases when they are used.

This event should prove to be beneficial for both the auto industry as well as NASA. Automakers can use the latest and greatest technology and materials to improve their cars and NASA brings in more business to help itself.

Not only are automakers excited for the event, but manufacturers are also interested in the event. The event is being co-sponsored by the Center for Automotive Research at Ohio State University and the manufacturing advocacy and consulting group Magnet, which is based in Cleveland.

The auto industry is quite excited to see what type of NASA technologies can be implemented into their vehicles. This event could prove to be the start of a new partnership that revolutionizes how automobiles are manufactured around the world.

10-minute Car Charger Developed by Nissan

One of the biggest complaints about the electric cars that are being developed is that it takes too long for the cars to be recharged. Nissan has been working to develop a new charger that will significantly reduce that time.

Nissan, whose Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars on the market, has the necessary technology to create an electric car charger that can fully charge an electric car in about 10 minutes. This would be a significant improvement over the current eight hours it takes to charge most electric car batteries.

Nissan has been working with Japan's Kansai University on the creation of this new development. The batteries that were charged in the early testing of the new charger showed no significant effect on storage capacity or voltage.

This breakthrough not only would make it more efficient to charge an electric car, but it could also improve the sale of electric cars across the world. If consumers has the available technology to charge their cars in 10 minutes, it would make the purchase of an electric car more appealing to them.

This technology could take up to ten years to fully develop and commercialize here in the United States. However, Nissan is set to begin setting up similar chargers in Japan this November. This charger would be compatible with all of Nissan's electric vehicles as well as other vehicles produced by companies like Honda or Toyota.

While it may take a great amount of time before we see this type on technology in the United States, it is still refreshing to know that developments and progress are being made today.

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.

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.

Aston Martin Goes To the City

With the vast majority of automakers expending energy on green technology and environmentally friendly vehicles, it is no surprise that even luxury car companies want to be a part of this growing trend. Following in the footsteps of Volkswagen’s Audi which introduced the A1 subcompact last year, Aston Martin is launching their version of a compact city car this month.

Known as the Cygnet, this city car is meant to be a solution for urban drivers who face the problem of tight parking spaces as well as the answer to demands for more eco-friendly vehicles. Emitting only 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, the Cygnet is a much greener option than other Aston Martin models such as the One-77 which emits 572 grams per kilometer. As Peter Schmidt, editor of Automotive Industry Data asserts, “The attitude of the super-rich has changed…They really do want to be seen to be green.”

In order to reduce cost and production time, Aston Martin enacted a supply deal with Toyota Motor Corporation. Under the deal, Toyota produced the engine, transmission, and frame of the Cygnet, using the Toyota iQ, a similar subcompact car, as their template. Aston Martin needed the partnership to expand the appeal of the Cygnet and ensure a speedy turnaround to increase demand.

While the Cygnet shares several components of the iQ, it remains a characteristically ultra-luxury car. Boasting a hand-stitched leather interior with 3 million possible combinations of trim and color choices, six types of alloy wheels, a navigation system, a six-speaker stereo, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the Cygnet is worthy of its Aston Martin badge.

However, the green, subcompact car does sacrifice some of the speed characteristic of Aston Martin. The acceleration rate from 0 to 62 mph is only 11.6 seconds, a slug compared to the One-77 which races to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The price tag on the Cygnet could also be a cause for concern. Buyers will be paying $50,500 for the Cygnet as opposed to the iQ which only costs about half of that price.

But Aston Martin believes the increase in urban populations as well as the pressure for green technologies will persuade luxury car buyers to opt for the Cygnet. Indeed, Aston Martin hopes it will be its second-best selling car, planning to sell 1,500 models a year. While the Cygnet might not live up to typical sports car standards, it certainly will be a car to talk about.

"Toyota Friend" Reminds You to Take Care of Your Car

Your cell phone vibrates. Is that a text message, a phone call? No, it’s just a message from your Toyota Prius plug-in, reminding you it needs a charge.

That’s right, Toyota Motor Corporation is developing a social networking service exclusively for Toyota drivers called Toyota Friend. Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, hopes that Toyota Friend will offer a way to create a friendship between car and driver. Just as people use Facebook and Twitter to connect with friends, Toyota Friend is meant to link Toyota drivers to their cars, dealerships, and fellow Toyota owners. Indeed, users can message each other, browse for charging stations, find vehicle tips, and even post their findings to other popular social networking sites.

While Toyota Friend has not been launched yet, it is set to premiere in 2012 in Japan. Toyota is working on the project with both Microsoft and San Francisco-based Salesforce.com, making it likely that Toyota Friend will be introduced in the U.S. and worldwide later in the year.

More than just a networking service, Toyota Friend has the potential to take the guess work out of car maintenance. It has the capability to notify users when their car needs an inspection and will automatically make an appointment with a Toyota dealership. And it doesn’t matter where you are when your car is in need: Toyota Friend’s alerts can be viewed via cell phone, computer, and even the car’s interior display.

The next time you are driving in your Toyota Prius, talking to it about its low battery or asking if something is wrong with the engine, consider that in the future your car just might talk back.

Sienna Proves Toyota’s Dedication to Safety

It’s not easy to be named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a point which was made evident in the minivan category when only one vehicle was awarded the title. The Toyota Sienna blew the other revamped minivans away, and was the only one to receive the highest marks possible in front, side, rear, and rollover crash evaluations, and offer electronic stability control.

Other safety features of the redesigned Sienna that helped wow the IIHS include Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes traction control, vehicle stability control, anti-lock brakes, brake-force distribution, and brake assist, as well as seven airbags throughout the car. All of these features come standard on the vehicle.

In total, eight Toyota vehicles were named Top Safety Picks. The other vehicles that were recognized for their commitment to passenger safety are: the Toyota Corolla, Venza, Highlander, and Avalon, the Lexus RX, and the Scion tC and xB.

Toyota Offers 0% Financing on Select Models

February is a month for sweethearts, and Toyota is offering up their own sweet deal. For the whole month of February Toyota is offering 0% interest rate loans for up to 60 months on select vehicles as well as no money down lease incentives.

The 2011 Toyota Camry and 2011 Tundra can both be purchased with no interest financing for 60-months. A purchase of the Toyota Camry also includes $500 cash back. A 39-month lease can be signed with no down payment and $249 monthly payments. The lease incentive also comes with $500 cash back.

The 2011 Toyota Prius, 2011 Toyota Corolla and 2011 Highlander are all available for lease incentives with a 39-month lease. The Prius offers $189 monthly payments with $2,188 due at signing. The 2011 Corolla is a $149 monthly payment with $2,148 due at signing and the Toyota Highlander requires a $2,278 down payment for $279 monthly payments. These three models are also available for purchase with 0% financing for 39 months.

Find your new Toyota at CarLocate.com and you could be driving off the lot with a pretty sweet deal.

Popular Cars by Region

What determines which type of car you drive? Most people would say style, individual needs, and budget are the three main factors that influence their purchase decision when buying a new car. However, where you live is apparently a major factor too.

This makes sense, when you consider that people who live in different areas of the country generally live different lifestyles, and therefore have different wants and needs. A recent study has confirmed this, by naming the top five best selling cars in each of the four major regions of the United States (Northeast, Midwest, South, and Western regions).

So, what are people driving in your part of the country? Do you fit the list, or do you break the mold?

Northeast Region
1. Nissan Rogue
2. Mercedes E-Class Sedan
3. Honda CR-V
4. Chevrolet Malibu
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Midwest/Central Region
1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2. Ford F-150
3. Cadillac SRX
4. Toyota Camry
5. Chevrolet Impala

Southern Region
1. Chevrolet Camaro
2. Ford F-150
3. Toyota Tundra
4. Lexus ES350
5. Dodge Ram 1500

Western Region
1. Toyota Prius
2. Lexus IS Sedan
3. Honda Fit
4. Audi A4/S4
5. BMW 3 Series Sedan

Parking Disasters

Best Resale Value: 2011 Models

There are many factors to think about when purchasing a new car. Price, size, brand, and safety are all major considerations. Another factor consumers should think about when making this decision is the resale value of a vehicle. This is an important issue, as it not only estimates how much you can expect to get for the automobile if you decide to trade it in, but it is also an indicator of a high quality vehicle that is built to retain its value. Kelley Blue Book recently named the 2011 vehicles with the best resale value for each major category. And the winners are:

- Subcompact car: Honda Fit
- Compact Car: MINI Cooper
- Mid-Size Sedan: Honda Accord
- Full-Size Sedan: Ford Taurus
- Wagon: Subaru Outback
- Sports Car: Subaru Impreza WRX
- High-Performance Car: Ford Mustang GT
- Hybrid/Alt. Energy Car: Volkswagen Golf TDI
- Compact Utility Vehicle: Honda CR-V
- Mid-Size Utility Vehicle: Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Full-Size Utility Vehicle: GMC Acadia
- Van: Toyota Sienna
- Near-Luxury Car: Lexus IS
- Luxury Car: Audi A5
- Full-Size Pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty
- Luxury Utility Vehicle: BMW X5
- Hybrid/Alt. Energy Vehicle: BMW X5 xDrive 35d
- Mid-Size Pickup: Toyota Tacoma

Why So Many Recalls?

It seems like lately every time you turn on the news everyday there are more car manufacturers recalling at least one of their vehicles. With the continuing release of more and more recalls the question has to be asked; why are cars that are supposed to be safer seeming to be more dangerous? Though the cars do have problems; consumer knowledge and world-wide spread news are some of the biggest factors in creating recalls. Consumers today have higher expectations and are much more aware of potential safety issues. Problems in cars are more likely to be reported and in order to avoid any problems or accusations of trying to hide something car manufacturers have found it’s safer to simply recall the “problematic” vehicles. After Toyota was accused of “dragging its feet” with reference to all of its recent recalls other manufacturers are willingly recalling any vehicle that may cause problems. The government’s legal system “encourages companies to recall products proactively instead of waiting for something to go wrong.”

What do all of these recalls mean for the automotive industry? Absolutely nothing. The automotive industry is not going to suffer from all of the recent recalls. Today’s cars are still safer than any in the past and most manufacturers are just being cautious. Quality standards in the industry have improved as well as industry regulation. The reality is that recalls are normal; according to the Consumer Union; “virtually every car has at least one recall.” This is due to the components and systems in newer cars that change with age; and since vehicles are lasting longer than ever it is only natural that they component could potentially cause problems in the future. But manufacturers cannot wait 10 or 15 years to introduce a new system into the market simply to see how it ages. Chances are taken and occasionally there are problems. But today’s cars are still the safest on the road.

If you have a car on the recall list take it to the dealer, let them fix the problem and then be on your way.Once manufacturers find a problem they are quick to find the solution. There are many current Toyota owners who remain loyal to Toyota despite all of its recalls. Ultimately what is most important is how the manufacturer handles the problem for the consumer