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Friday, May 10, 2013
Toyota Brand Leads Industry in IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’ with New RAV4 Award
Toyota Brand Leads Industry in IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’ with New RAV4 ... http://p.ost.im/p/d4YRfX
Toyota Brand Leads Industry in IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’ with New RAV4 Award
With 13 segment award recipients, the Toyota brand has more 2013 Top Safety Picks than any other automotive brand. Both Lexus and Scion each have four TSP winners on the list.
To qualify for the Top Safety Pick, vehicles must have good ratings for occupant protection in the moderate overlap frontal test, side impact, rollover and rear tests, regardless of their small overlap rating. The award recognizes vehicles that perform best in these tests administered by the IIHS, which the IIHS believes predict good performance in protecting people in front, side, rollover and rear crashes.
Toyota RAV4
 | 2013 Toyota RAV4 |
 | Moderate overlap front test results
Technical measurements (driver-side occupant compartment intrusion and driver injury) for small SUVs |
 | Small overlap front test results
|
 | Side impact test results
Technical measurements (structure, driver injury, and passenger injury) for small SUVs |
 | Roof strength test results
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 | Rear crash protection/head restraint ratings See results for all Toyota models |
Compare this vehicle with other current small SUV designs
Toyota Brand Leads Industry in IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’ with New RAV4 Award
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
New 2014 4Runner Features Rugged Exterior Design to Match Its Authentic Off-Road Heritage
New 2014 4Runner Features Rugged Exterior Design to Match Its Authentic ... http://p.ost.im/p/dXwrBT
New 2014 4Runner Features Rugged Exterior Design to Match Its Authentic Off-Road Heritage
The 4Runner combines rugged body-on-frame construction with comprehensive suspension technology that yields optimal off-road capability with a smooth ride and comfort more often associated with crossovers. The 2014 4Runner is available in three grades: a well-equipped, value-driven SR5; top-of-the-line Limited, and a Trail grade for those who want maximum off-road capability. Optional third-row seats on SR5 and Limited allow for up to seven-person capacity.
4Runner owners will have the choice of a rear wheel 4×2, part-time 4×4 or a full-time multi-mode 4×4 with a locking center differential. All models are equipped with a powerful 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6 teamed to a five-speed ECT-i automatic transmission and one of the few vehicles that continues offer a transfer case.
4Runner’s Rugged Exterior Design Projects Its Off-Road Heritage With a Premium Refinement
The refreshed 4Runner features a redesigned front fascia that conveys a more rugged and aggressive appearance. This includes a muscular front grille, and edgier smoked headlamps for a more forceful look. The SR5 and Trail grades feature a color-keyed grille insert and front bumper that is surrounded by fog lamps set in sharply cut inlays that extend from the headlamps down to the bumper.
The Trail grade features new color-keyed bumpers and overfenders, and it continues to be distinguished by an aggressive hood scoop and silver painted front and rear bumper accents. All grades are now standard with a roof rack.
In addition to the distinctive new grille, the premium Limited’s front design stands apart with a chrome-plated grille insert and chrome front bumper that extends to the fog-lamp bezels. The side molding, roof rack and rear bumper are also chrome trimmed. The headlamps have also changed from halogen to projector beam, with both the headlamps and redesigned rear combination lamps on all 4Runner grades now featuring LED lamps.
Both the SR5 and Trail grades will ride on 17-inch alloy wheels with a new wheel-design for both, while the Limited continues to ride on 20-inch alloy wheels, which are now painted black prior to machining to add contrast. All grades continue to come standard with a full-size spare.
The 2014 4Runner will be available in eight exterior colors that include new additions: Super White; Attitude Black Metallic; Barcelona Red Metallic; and Nautical Blue Metallic. They will join carryover colors that include: Blizzard Pearl; Classic Silver Metallic; Magnetic Gray Metallic; and Black.
New Interior Styling Has a refined style with the Comfort expected of a Mid-size SUV
The 4Runner exterior updates are complemented by touches of refinement on the inside. Both the SR5 and Trail grade add standard Soft Touch door trim, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather shift knob provide a premium feel and atmosphere.
The SR5 receives a new bright and highly visible Optitron instrument panel that houses speedometer, tachometer, voltage, fuel and coolant temperature gauges, plus a multi-information display that offers multiple functions. An Eco-Driving feedback system allows the driver to monitor fuel consumption in real time. On 4Runner Trail, an overhead console within easy reach organizes the off-road control switches into one location. A compass indicator and outside temperature display add functionality. A manually controlled air conditioning system is standard on SR5 and Trail grades; the Limited features an automatic dual-zone climate-control system.
For second-row passengers, a sculpted front seat-back shape provides additional knee space. The second-row seats, which include a center armrest, individually recline up to 16 degrees in four steps for relaxing passenger comfort. The 40/20/40 second-row seat configuration also has a one-touch walk-in function, making access to the third row easier. Third-row seating is available on SR5 and Limited grades and features a roomy, supportive seating area.
The SR5 and Trail grade come standard with comfortable fabric-trimmed seating available in Sand Beige, Graphite or Black. Available SofTex seats offer a soft, rich feel. New for 2014, the SR5 adds a standard eight-way power driver seat.
The Limited comes standard with a leather-trimmed interior with new ventilated driver and front passenger seats in Sand Beige, Black and a new Redwood color. Front seats are also heated with eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support and four-way power-adjustable passenger seat. Both front seats are now standard with memory settings.
Powerful 4.0-liter V6 Helps Take 4Runner Anyplace, Anytime
The 4Runner 4.0-liter V6 generates 270 horsepower and 278 lb.-ft. of torque. Dual independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) optimizes torque across the engine’s operating range. Fuel economy ratings rival some crossover SUVs with an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for 4×2 models, and 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for 4×4. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds and all vehicles feature an integrated tow-hitch receiver and wiring harness as standard equipment.
4Runner Balances Full Off-Road Capability with Smooth Around-town Handling
A double-wishbone independent front suspension, combined with a variable-flow rack-and-pinion steering, help give the 4Runner precise control on demanding roads. Coil springs over gas shocks are used at all four wheels for a comfortable ride and controlled handling. The four-link rear suspension maximizes off-road axle articulation, whileproviding a smooth ride for rear-seat passengers on and off pavement.
The Limited grade comes standard with an X-REAS suspension system that further improves performance, comfort and control. With X-REAS, 4Runner corners flatter, smoother, and handles choppy pavement more easily. X-REAS automatically adjusts the damping force of shocks when driving over bumpy surfaces or when cornering. The system uses a center control absorber to cross-link shocks on opposite corners of the vehicle, substantially reducing pitch and yaw by offsetting opposing inputs.
The 4Runner SR5 and Trail 4×4 models have a two-speed, part-time four-wheel-drive system with neutral position, maximizing fuel efficiency when a 4×4 configuration isn’t needed. The 4Runner Limited is equipped with a full-time, four-wheel-drive system with a locking center differential and a three-mode, center console-mounted switch.
The A-TRAC traction control system is standard equipment on all 4×4 models. The system can distribute driving force to any one wheel in contact with the ground, making terrain irregularities and slippery patches virtually transparent to the driver. An electronic-locking rear differential is standard on the Trail grade.
The Trail grade is designed to maximize off-road performance with superior approach and departure angles, high ground clearance, and an array of functional upgrades for the most demanding active outdoor enthusiast. The Trail grade offers an optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). KDSS significantly improves terrain-following ability by dynamically disconnecting stabilizer bars to allow for more axle travel, and better suspension articulation in slow, difficult terrain.
Toyota’s Crawl Control (CRAWL) feature is standard on the Trail grade. The system helps maintain an appropriate speed to keep the vehicle under control and minimizes the load on drivetrain and suspension components.
With the transfer case shifted into low range, CRAWL regulates engine speed and output (along with braking force), to propel the vehicle forward or in reverse at one of the five driver-selectable low-speed settings. This allows the driver to maintain focus on steering over rough level ground or steep grades without having to also modulate the throttle or brake pedal.
The Trail grade also features a Multi-Terrain Select system that dials in wheel-slip control to match the terrain. In loose terrain such as mud and sand, more-than-normal wheel slip is permitted, allowing wheel-spin to work in the vehicle’s favor. On bumpy moguls, or solid rock, wheel slip is minimized and the system acts more like a limited slip differential. The Mogul setting is for any extremely uneven terrain, such as V-ditches, slopes, and ridges, uphill or down.
All models come standard with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), which provides additional control for off-road driving by helping to hold the vehicle stationary before starting on a steep incline or slippery surface. All 4Runner 4×4 models feature standard Downhill Assist Control (DAC). This feature augments the low-speed ascending ability of low-range by helping to hold the vehicle, allowing time for the driver to a target speed with no driver intervention.
Versatility and Convenience Provide Comfort and Utility
An array of convenience features and versatile seating configurations provide the 2014 4Runner with ample passenger comfort and utility. Fold-flat second-row seats provide a level load floor in the 4Runner, and it is not necessary to remove the headrests to fold the seats flat. The available third-row seat is split 50/50 and folds flat. The seats can be folded from the side or at the rear, using separate one-touch levers. With this arrangement, more cargo space is available without removing seats, and longer items can be conveniently carried.
A Smart Key system featuring keyless entry with push-button start is standard on the Limited grade. The system allows the driver to unlock or start the vehicle by carrying the keyless remote. The cargo door window has jam control, like the moonroof and power side windows.
An available pull-out cargo deck is capable of carrying up to 440 pounds to make loading and unloading heavy items easier and to provide seating for tailgating and campsite relaxation.
All 4Runner models come standard with a 120V outlet and two additional 12V outlets.
A front and rear clearance sonar system is standard on Limited models, and a rear-view backup camera is now standard on all 4Runner models. The system displays in the audio screen, increasing visibility at the rear of the vehicle.
New Audio Systems Include Standard Entune™ Multimedia System
New for 2014 on SR5 and Trail grade 4Runner models is Entune™ Audio Plus, which includes Toyota’s Entune multimedia system, an AM/FM/MP3 CD player with eight speakers, integrated SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio (includes 90-day trial subscription), USB port with iPod connectivity, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone capability and music streaming.
Standard on the Limited grade is the new Entune Premium JBL Audio system, which incorporates today’s most in-demand connectivity features. It includes the Entune multimedia system, a JBL® premium sound system with navigation, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with a 90-day trial subscription), HD Radio with iTunes® tagging and 15 speakers. The navigation system includes a large seven-inch monitor.
Entune is a collection of popular mobile applications and data services, with three years of complimentary access. Once a smart phone is connected to the vehicle using Bluetooth wireless technology or a USB cable, Entune’s features are operated using the vehicle’s controls or, for some services, by voice recognition. Entune offers mobile apps for Bing™, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable®, and Pandora®. Entune data services include a fuel price guide, sports scores, stocks, traffic and weather.
Standard on all audio systems is a unique “party mode” audio setting that is ideal for tailgating, raises bass response and shifts sound balance to the rear of the vehicle. Party mode is in addition bolstered by rear liftgate-mounted speakers, which function with or without party mode selected. The pole antenna has been dropped in favor of a new in-glass antenna.
Toyota’s Exclusive Star Safety System, Eight Standard Airbags, Safety Connect
The 4Runner features Toyota’s standard Star Safety System™ that includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control (TRAC), an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Smart Stop Technology (SST) brake-override system. VSC helps the driver to ensure control by compensating for front and rear wheel slip. The system uses selective braking and modulated engine output to help keep the vehicle in line with the driver’s steering inputs. On 4×2 vehicles, the Auto LSD (Limited Slip Differential) system allows for better traction on slippery sections of roadway. The four-wheel ABS with EBD provides the 4Runner with optimal brake proportioning, regardless of vehicle load.
Eight standard airbags includes front, side-mounted and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, and side-curtain airbags for the second and third rows. All 2014 4Runners have active headrests for driver and passenger, and three-point seat belts for all seats.
The 2014 4Runner Limited offers the Safety Connect™ telematics system. Available by subscription, with or without the optional navigation system, Safety Connect offers four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance. When Safety Connect is ordered, it includes a one-year trial subscription.
In case of either airbag deployment or severe rear-end collision, an Automatic Collision Notification system is designed to automatically call a dedicated response center. If a response agent cannot communicate with the occupants, the agent can contact the nearest emergency-services provider to dispatch assistance.
Pushing the in-vehicle “SOS” button allows drivers to reach the response center to request help in an emergency as well as for a wide range of roadside assistance needs. If a 4Runner equipped with Safety Connect is stolen, agents can work with local authorities to help locate and recover the vehicle.
4Runner Includes Toyota Care Complimentary Maintenance
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. The 4Runner will also come standard with Toyota Careä, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.
New 2014 4Runner Features Rugged Exterior Design to Match Its Authentic Off-Road Heritage
Monday, May 6, 2013
Prius Plug-In and Avalon Among Kelley Blue Book’s ‘10 Best Green Cars of 2013’
Prius Plug-In and Avalon Among Kelley Blue Book’s ‘10 Best Green Ca ... http://p.ost.im/p/d4krVx
Prius Plug-In and Avalon Among Kelley Blue Book’s ‘10 Best Green Cars of 2013’
The Prius Plug-in adds up to11 miles of all-electric driving to the combined EPA rating of 50 mpg for the Prius and qualifies it for solo-occupant carpool lane access in some states, KBB.com editors noted.
The full 10 Best Green Cars list can be found at http://bit.ly/11Cd4f7.
Prius Plug-In and Avalon Among Kelley Blue Book’s ‘10 Best Green Cars of 2013’
Friday, May 3, 2013
Daytime visibility just as important as nighttime visibility
Daytime visibility just as important as nighttime visibility Continue r ... http://p.ost.im/p/dCUcrB
Daytime visibility just as important as nighttime visibility
Though many drivers feel more comfortable during daylight hours, pedestrians and oncoming traffic are not always easy to see, especially when weather and road conditions are unfavorable. Fortunately, there are easy ways for drivers to improve their daytime visibility.
- Install LED daytime running lights. Being seen while driving in the daytime is just as essential for a driver’s safety as being able to see when driving at night. Daytime running lights, or DRLs, are an effective way of improving visibility because they make the vehicle more detectable during daylight hours and dusk, when a motorist’s visibility is reduced. Studies have shown that DRLs reduce multiple-vehicle daytime accidents by as much as 11 percent, effectively preventing daytime head-on and front-corner collisions by making it easier to see a vehicle, particularly as it approaches from far away.
Some cars have daytime running lights based off their headlamps. These are not very bright and can ultimately cause the lamps to wear out prematurely. Philips LED DayLight DRLs are equipped with high-powered LUXEON® LEDs that project a powerful, bright white light and a wide beam, making a vehicle more visible to fellow motorists as well as pedestrians. In addition, thePhilips LED DRLs allow drivers to switch from using their standard headlights to an LED light source during the daytime, extending the life of the headlights while drawing less power from the vehicle.
- Routinely check windshield washer fluid. Some vehicles have just one reservoir for windshield washer fluid, while others equipped with a rear wiper typically have two. Locate these reservoirs and make sure there is an adequate amount of fluid in each. If the reservoir is empty, but you are out of windshield washer fluid, do not use water as a replacement, as water can freeze and cause damage to the reservoir and hoses.
- Inspect wipers and replace the blades if they are sacrificing visibility. Old or worn out wiper blades can also negatively impact visibility. Ford Motor Company recommends drivers inspect their vehicle’s wiper blades at least once every six months or as soon as they fail to clear your windshield completely or leave streaks. Older vehicles with pitting on the windshield tend to be harder on wiper blades, so drivers who have cars with some extra years under their belt should inspect their blades more frequently.
More information is available at www.daylight-led.com or from Philips at 1-800-257-6054.
Daytime visibility just as important as nighttime visibility
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Car sharing proves lucrative, but worrying
Car sharing proves lucrative, but worrying Continue reading ... http://p.ost.im/p/dXfcu8
Car sharing proves lucrative, but worrying
by: Susan Carpenter, The Orange County RegisterI had agreed to let Laura take my Nissan Leaf for three hours. In exchange, she paid me $14.40.
Some of you may question the wisdom of handing over the keys to a $35,000 car for the equivalent of a couple Subway sandwich meals. But consider this: I, like many owners of the country’s 260 million registered vehicles, rarely drive. At most, I use it two hours a day. And if I’m testing a vehicle, my little Leaf just sits. Yet the bills for it keep on coming.
I lease my car for about $200 a month. Add in the costs of fuel (electricity in my case), insurance and AAA coverage in case I crash, and the monthly bloodletting is closer to $450. So last year I signed up for car sharing hoping I could get my Leaf to pay its own way. In December, for the first time, it did. I rented my car to three different drivers for a total of 11 days and took in $216 — more than enough to cover the check to Nissan Motor Finance.
Personal car sharing companies usually operate similarly. Owners list their cars on a website, including the vehicles’ availability and cost. I rent my car for $8 per hour, which includes fuel and 20 miles of driving. Other cars, including an older Honda Civic, rent for as little as $5. RelayRides gets 40 percent of my rate, part of which goes toward liability insurance that covers my car in case of an accident. I get 60 percent, which is paid to me monthly by check.
Through mid-January, I made $278.40. Not bad for doing almost nothing.
The greatest effort I’ve expended so far has been worrying about what might happen to my little buggy after it’s wheeled away from its charger into the big, wide world. I denied one renter whose travel plans seemed suspicious. Almost none of my renters have told me why, exactly, they need my car, leaving me to fret that it will be used in a terrorist plot or to ferry exotic birds from Mexico in its side panels.
RelayRides screens all its renters. If would-be renters hold a valid driver’s license and haven’t driven so poorly to affect their record, then they’re approved. At that point, they can reserve the vehicle online or through an app. When my car is reserved, I receive a text message within seconds, to which I reply “approve” or “deny.” If approved, the renter then picks up the key and drives off, returning the car to my driveway when done. Most even plug it back in.
Last year, RelayRides operated in two cities and had only 200 individuals’ cars available to the 6,000 renters who’d signed up. Since March, when RelayRides went national, the number of personal cars available has expanded 40-fold, and the number of cities in which it operates has ballooned to 1,200, though its main hubs are New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles. Generally speaking, car sharing makes the most sense in dense urban areas where it’s easy to get around without a car and to get to individuals who are willing to loan one to the carless when it’s needed.
When I tell friends and family that I’m renting my car to strangers, their reactions run the gamut, from pity that I’m so desperate for money to shock that I’d take such a risk, to envy that I’d be so bold. To me, it’s a contradictory, if complementary, blend of capitalism and altruism. I’m making money by helping people who either can’t afford or don’t want to own a car. About two-thirds of RelayRides renters do not own a car. Their median age: 32.
I’ve only met about half of the people who have rented my car, and most of them were in their 20s. While they rarely say why, one woman said she wanted a longer-term test drive of an electric vehicle to see if she wanted to buy one. She did, which made me think Nissan should be sending me a check, too.
Nissan rents its Leaf hourly through an Enterprise Rent-a-Car service called WeCar. Ford has also partnered with the car-sharing company Zipcar, which owns a fleet of vehicles and rents them hourly. In fact, many major automakers are getting into the business, including Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW, all of which have launched their own car-sharing services.
General Motors has gone a step further and partnered with RelayRides because it understands “younger buyers’ ability to own cars is quite different than generations before them,” according to spokeswoman Annalisa Bluhm. “Millennials are delaying major life events, including car ownership. To remain part of the conversation, we put our brand at the forefront of the car-sharing experience so when they get to a point in their lives where buying a vehicle makes sense, they’re used to our cars.”
All General Motors vehicles equipped with OnStar can be used in conjunction with RelayRides, allowing the car’s owner to give permission to a renter to unlock it using a smartphone, without the renter and vehicle owner ever having to meet.
The method I use to give my car to strangers is far more primitive. I keep the key wrapped in a bag that, to most people, probably looks like dog poop and leave it on my front step, confident it will remain untouched by anyone other than my renter, who has been clued in.
Read more at http://www.arcamax.com/automotive/automotivenews/s-1272849-p2#B8Zdm9gdhilk576p.99
Read more at http://www.arcamax.com/automotive/automotivenews/s-1272849#j3BVfe39ol85M43H.99
Car sharing proves lucrative, but worrying
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