Toyota Camry

Kaye Leery asked:


Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest automaker and the biggest overseas carmaker in China has started selling Magotan sedans in the country and in the process challenging Toyota Motor Corp.’s Camry which is equipped with high quality Toyota thermostat.

The Magotan sedans are equipped with 1.8-liter or 2-liter engine and have a base price starting 192,800 yuan or $25,000 basing in an email coming from Volkswagen. On the other hand Toyota’s China-made Camry has a price that starts at 197,800 yuan more expensive than the Magotan by 5,000 yuan.

The Wolfsburg-based automaker plans to add as many as 14 new models in China by the end of 2009 in an effort to maintain its market lead. Likewise, the automaker’s Santana and Jetta sedans has claimed the top two spots in the first-half sales rankings in the country and comparing that with Camry which went on sale last year and was only able to obtain the fourth rank.

According to Tiecheng, President of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. one of Volkswagen’s China ventures, “The Magotan helps to diversify FAW-Volkswagen’s product structure, allowing us to be more competitive in the market.”

Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen has about 19 percent of China’s car market accomplished in the first half of the year after boosting sales by a quarter to 431,369. The FAW-Volkswagen which is a venture with China FAW Group Corp. will make the Magotan which is offered as the Passat in Europe. Volkswagen also has a venture with Shanghai Automotive Co. the listed unit of SAIC Motor Corp.

In other news, Jim Press, the President of Toyota North America has made a rather bold statement saying that “eventually, everything will be a hybrid.” And aside from that he has shown his confidence in Toyota’s ability and so proud of their product line that he goes as far as saying that the ground-breaking Toyota Prius hybrid is just like Ford’s Model T.

It should be noted that the Ford Model T has often been considered as the first of its kind and a car which was made accessible to the masses. It was somewhat advance for its time and has helped in shaping the automotive industry into what it is today. Mr. Press is also saying that the Prius just like the Model T is equally revolutionary.

The everything-will-become-hybrid speech of Mr. Jim Press has aroused various reactions and of course there are those that contradict Mr. Press’ statement saying that not everything will be hybrid. But with the present trend in the auto industry maybe who knows we might all end up driving hybrids.



Cecil

John Bourne asked:


The 2008 Toyota Camry Solara is both tech-savvy and reliable, accommodating new features that provide safety and convenience. Impressive new features include this model’s Vehicle Stability Control with Brake Assist, which combined with traction control helps to reduce tire slippage due to sudden steering or change in road conditions.

The 2008 Camry Solara offers several standard safety features, including front, side and rear curtain airbags. Its Tire Pressure Monitoring adds to safety, letting the driver know when the tires are getting low. The Camry Solara, even with its striking appearance, is family-oriented with its rear-seat child restraint system and LATCH, a safety feature that drops tether brackets and anchors for children.

Halogen headlamps and LED taillights, and a power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade contribute to the sleek body style and a power-retractable fabric convertible top is available on the soft-top model.

Interior comfort is provided by a defroster-linked air conditioning and climate control with air filtration, and a 60/40 fold-flat bench seat with adjustable headrests. The Camry Solara also comes standard with a digital quartz clock, an AM/FM CD 6-disc in-dash changer with WMA/MP3 playback and satellite radio capabilities and in-glass antenna, or body-mounted antenna for the convertible. Bluetooth capabilities and wireless technology also is available on the Camry Solara.

Toyota includes an information display with average speed, instant and average fuel economy, distance to empty and elapsed time functions. The Camry Solara comes at two power levels, including 155-horse power, 4-cylinder engine or a 210-horse power, V6 engine.

Toyota’s 2008 Camry Solara is a car that combines safety, style and affordability, making it one of this year’s most attractive new models.



Julia

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


Edmunds.com, the leading online source for auto information, recently tested three hybrid sedans to find out which tops the field. The comparison test was done between the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Nissan Altima Hybrid, and the Saturn Aura Green Line, the latter being the hybrid version of the reigning North American Car of the Year.

Each of the three hybrid sedans has each own positive and negative feedbacks but in the end, Edmunds judged the Camry Hybrid as the best of the lot. Normally, the test would have included the Accord Hybrid, but earlier this year, Honda announced that they will no longer produce Accord Hybrids. Second to the Camry Hybrid is the Altima Hybrid and number three on the ranking is the Saturn Aura Green Line.

According to Edmunds, the criteria they have used to determine the winner of the comparison tests is based on the concerns of hybrid auto buyers. Fuel efficiency is the foremost concern. After all, hybrids are becoming more and more popular due to the increasing price of gasoline. Performance is also considered but only to a minor degree. The prices of the vehicles are also considered.

The Camry, according to Edmunds, topped the list in terms of fuel efficiency. In a road test conducted by Edmunds, the Camry posted a combined highway and city gas mileage of 43.2 mpg. On city driving though, the Altima Hybrid is the leader. While the Camry returned 44.5 mpg on city driving, the Altima posted a 47.3 mpg. The Saturn Aura Green Line cannot come up with gas mileage rating even close to that of the Altima and Camry Hybrids.

The reason for this is that Saturn’s hybrid powertrain is a ‘mild’ hybrid. This means that while it has an electric motor which provides additional power to its internal combustion engine, it cannot power the car alone. In contrast, the Camry Hybrid’s powertrain allows its electric motor and battery pack to power the sedan on low power operations like deceleration.

Edmunds’ Inside Line Senior Road Test Editor, Josh Jacquot, has this to say about the Camry: “It’s the Camry’s abundant features, comfortable ride and fuel-sipping efficiency that takes it to the top of the podium in this test. The simple fact about the Camry Hybrid is that, like the standard Camry, you get a lot of car for your money.”

Meanwhile, the Nissan Altima hybrid also pleased Edmunds with its roomy interior and power output. The Altima Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle marketed by Nissan. Its powertrain technology is the same as that used in the Camry Hybrid and the popular Prius. Edmunds’ consumer advice editor Philip Reed has this to say about the Altima Hybrid: “The Nissan Altima Hybrid has basically flown below the radar. If you drive it right the Altima can get 37 miles per gallon in urban driving. To achieve that in a car that is roomy and has a pleasing amount of power is amazing…the Altima was my top pick of the three hybrids.”

The Saturn Aura Green Line also impressed Edmunds with its redesigned interior. This is the product of the automaker’s partnership with German automaker Opel. With its wide array of standard features and other Saturn accessories, the Aura Green Line is still the lowest priced of the three. In the end, consumers will have the last say as to whether they will buy a Camry Hybrid, an Altima Hybrid, or an Aura Green Line.



Audrey

Thomas Jones asked:


In the midst of universal trepidation of crude oil shortage and at the same time cost of fuel soaring high, several companies have conceptualized and even some initiated ways to play a part to global quest to lessen emission of carbon monoxide and to lessen the continuous increase of gasoline demand. One these companies is the Toyota Motor Corporation, the company who introduced Toyota Camry Hybrid. In bringing the Toyota Camry Hybrid into the market in 2006, the company aims to uphold the mission to support the environment with its cost and energy efficiency features.

The phenomenal success of Toyota Camry Hybrid stretched as far from across the Pacific, namely the countries of Australia and New Zealand, not to mention the company’s home market, Japan and the United States as well. The concept and use of Hybrid vehicles due to its fuel efficiency is now very much popular in every part of the world. The achievement of Toyota Camry Hybrid in terms of sales has been every car maker’s key for them to develop and modify the specification their own hybrid vehicles.

Due to its popularity and high demand in North America, the production is licensed by Toyota’s regional unit Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, where a plant site is situated in Georgetown, Kentucky. Meanwhile, another regional unit in Australia will be conducting a massive research to develop and produce the next generation model of the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which they aim to design and distribute to the Asia-Pacific market hopefully by 2011.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid surpasses the overall rating of its features because apart from encompassing the basic features of the regular and Camry sedan, the combination of gasoline - electric timely power train feature makes this Camry Hybrid model above distinction. More and more consumers find this model’s high efficiency, which makes it very popular throughout the market. In short, the model of this kind makes a unique combination of the specification and feature of any normal Toyota cars and the Camry Sedan making its hybrid specification as the bonus part.

Bearing this information in mind, it leads us to only one conclusion, Toyota Camry Hybrid is a full-pledged hybrid and anyone who plans to purchase this version can do so without batting an eyelash. You will appreciate that the model’s dependability in terms of fuel efficiency, ecological benefits, its cost effectiveness and over all excellence in its specification, makes the Toyota Camry Hybrid an A - lister for most consumers. So if you happen to decide to take this model, kudos to you and enjoy your time driving.



Arnold

Kaye Leery asked:


An automotive sales index online has identified the Toyota Tundra as one of the best-selling vehicles built in America and its partly attributed to the new Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc. plant in San Antonio.

And for the first time, the Tundra which was built at the facilities in Princeton, Ind., and San Antonio with parts made like the Toyota control arm bushing kits primarily in American factories has finally made it into Cars.com’s American Made Index.

Every year the American Made Index identifies the top 10 models of vehicles that are in essence American and that pertains to where parts are produced and also with regards to the vehicles popularity among cars.com buyers.

So far the top produced “American” vehicle according to the index is the Ford F-150 which is primarily assembled in Claycomo, Mo., and Dearborn, Mich. The Toyota Camry on the other hand which is assembled in Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind., ranked second only.

The Fort Wayne Ind., and Pontiac, Mich.-built Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ranked third while the Lordstown, Ohio-built Chevrolet Cobalt ranked fourth and the Wayne, Mich.-built Ford Focus ranked fifth.

Toyota’s Tundra came in at 10th place on the list. The Chicago-based cars.com works with more than 200 newspapers, television stations and their Web sites to buy and sell new and used vehicles.

Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures LLC which is a company owned by media conglomerates Belo Corp., Gannett Co. Inc., The McClatchy Co., Tribune Co., and The Washington Post Co.

About Toyota

Toyota is a Japanese multinational corporation and the world’s largest automaker by sales revenue as of 2007 toppling General Motors in the position. Together with its half-owned subsidiary Daihatsu, the company was the second largest auto company by revenue of $179 billion and total vehicle production, making it as one of the most profitable automaker with net income of around $11 billion. Toyota was also the world’s eight largest company by revenue last 2006.

Toyota owns and operates Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and parts of Daihatsu brands, divisions, and companies. The company includes 522 subsidiaries.



Cody

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


Why is the Toyota Prius much-loved? One answer may be that Prius shoppers want everyone to know that they are driving a hybrid. But there are numerous reasons to add to the list.

Only a third of Prius owners cited that reason just three years ago, according to CNW, which tracks auto shopping trends. “I really want people to know that I care about the environment,” said Joy Feasley of Philadelphia, the owner of a green 2006 Prius. “I like that people stop and ask me how I like my car.” Dan Becker, the head of the global warming program at the Sierra Club added, “The Prius allowed you to make a green statement with a car for the first time ever.”

This spring, over half of the Prius owners surveyed by CNW Marketing Research of Bandon, Ore., said that the main reason they bought their car was that it makes a statement about them.

Mary Gatch of Charleston, S.C., picked the car over a hybrid version of the Toyota Camry after trading in a Lexus sedan. “I felt like the Camry Hybrid was too subtle for the message I wanted to put out there,” Gatch said. “I wanted to have the biggest impact that I could, and the Prius puts out a clearer message.”

Unlike the original Prius buyers, who wanted to be first with its innovative technology, the latest owners are far more conscious of foreign oil dependence and global warming, said Doug Coleman, Toyota’s product manager for Prius. “Consumer knowledge and consumer awareness is changing,” Coleman said.

Prius sales for the first six months of the year increased 93.7 percent from last year, to 94,503, and the Japanese automaker has already sold close to as many Prius cars as it did in all of 2006.

The Toyota Prius was first embraced by famous celebrities and remains in trend long after most cars have lost their hum. Owners have included Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Billy Joel, and Larry David. David has bought three, including one for his role in the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Now Prius drivers are typically found in cities on the East and West Coasts, and in college towns like Ann Arbor, Mich., and State College, Pa. “You can’t drive across town without seeing half a dozen of them,” said Peter Darnell, a software engineer and Prius owner in Westford, Mass., north of Boston. Darnell admits to feeling smug this year when gasoline prices spiked above $3 a gallon. But that was not the main reason he purchased a Prius. “I have to admit that I’m a granola-crunching liberal, and I really liked the idea of minimizing the impact on the environment,” Darnell said.

Corey Confer, the general sales manager at Joel Confer Toyota in State College, said that he had received calls from as far away as Key West, Fla., from buyers looking for a Prius. His dealership advertises an $800 discount on each vehicle. A number of dealers in the West are adding $2,000 premiums.

Nationwide, Prius sales increased dramatically in May, when gasoline prices rose over $3 a gallon. Worldwide, Toyota has sold over one million Prius cars. Toyota was alarmed to see Prius sales even out last year. But before gas prices hit record levels, Prius sales were climbing again.

Toyota executives have said that they plan to offer a hybrid version of everything the company sells worldwide, perhaps as soon as 2010. That fact could make a fanatic forget about the most fascinating Volkswagen Touareg part. Japanese press reports said that the Japanese automaker may even build Prius into a separate brand, with basic and sporty Prius models.



Dora

Lauren Woods asked:


General Motors may be sitting at the top for the moment but the surging Toyota is closing the gap between them fast. There are experts in the auto industry who pointed out that Toyota may overtake General Motors by the end of the year. And if one looks at the sales figure for the past two months, it is easy to see why they see that happening.

Toyota has posted record breaking sales for the month of January and February. While General Motors posted an improvement for the month of February, they still have to counter Toyota’s skyrocketing rise of popularity among American car buyers. And recently, Toyota announced that they will be expanding their reach into the East Coast after making the West Coast their hotbed.

According to the new report from the AIADA, Toyota will be focusing on the Northwest, the Eastern Seaboard, the Rocky Mountains, and some big cities in Southeast states like Florida, North and South Carolina, and Mississippi. According to Jim Lentz, the Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc, “those areas have the highest opportunity for growth”.

The markets in the aforementioned regions are expected to grow at a fast rate just like Toyota’s market in California did. This shows that the Asian brand is intent in its goal to become the largest car manufacturer in the world. With California serving as their main market, the emergence of these new markets will greatly increase the number of vehicles that Toyota will sell in the near future.

It can be remembered that Toyota announced that they expect to grow as much as seven percent every year. This means that the expansion of their market in the East Coast is an effort to achieve their goal. While Toyota is aiming to expand their market, the company maintained that they will not be adding any more dealerships. Instead, the company is giving incentives to existing dealerships across the country. The incentive comes in the form of additional units of Toyota’s more famous models like the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry - both of which was proven to be fast sellers.

This incentive scheme is under Toyota’s Image USA II architectural plan. The plan is centered on dealerships to undergo renovation by the year 2010. The plan is to improve the showroom of their dealerships and those who have undertaken the proposed renovations will be given an increased allocation of fast selling Toyota models.

Recently, the division reported that they have polled 100 dealers which have undergone the proposed renovation. The poll showed that the dealerships which have upgraded their showroom improved their sales by an average of 26 percent compared to the 14 percent improvement average of all Toyota dealerships in the U.S.

With the ongoing expansion, Toyota is poised to dethrone General Motors as sure as it has beaten Geo vehicles with its Geo cold air intake in terms of sale.



Leo

RyanThomas asked:


Toyota is expanding their scope of production in the US and the location for their next facility was hotly contested. But the results are in and Toyota has finally announced that their eighth plant in North America will be built in Blue Springs, Mississippi.

The assembly plant will be operational by the year 2010 and it promises to employ 2,000 workers from in and around the area. This is aside from the thousands of jobs that will be created indirectly by the plant. The plant will be located in a 1,700-acre site just outside Tupelo and once it is fully operational, the facility can produce 150,000 vehicles every year. The particular vehicle that will be produced in the upcoming assembly plant is the company’s sport utility vehicle Highlander.

Toyota announced the good news to the public along with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, and Congressman Roger Wicker. For Toyota, Executive Vice Presidents Gary Convis and Ray Tanguay were present at the announcement.

Governor Barbour said that: “We in Mississippi and especially North Mississippi are excited to have been chosen by Toyota as its partner. Toyota is the world’s premiere auto manufacturer and our state will be the best partner the company has.” Senator Trent Lott even added that: “We’re honored that Toyota has chosen to invest in our state and grow with Mississippians. This is a partnership between one of the world’s best companies, and a state which has already proven itself capable of attracting the world’s top defense, automotive, and aerospace jobs.”

Convis also addressed the media at the news conference held to announce the good news. He emphasized on Toyota’s dedication to balance rapid growth and maintaining their company’s reputation for superior quality standards. He also cited the upcoming production of the Toyota Tundra in their San Antonio plant and of the Toyota Camry at the Subaru plant located in Lafayette, Indiana. In connection with their company putting up a plant in the region, he said: “We are excited for the opportunity to do business in Mississippi and are confident the team members here will have a commitment to perform at the highest possible level. Governor Barbour and the regional economic development team were very convincing and unrelenting in their efforts to showcase the area’s advantages”.

It can be remembered that the competition for the location of the new Toyota plant in North America. In the end, the $1.3 billion investment went to Mississippi. Executive Vice President Ray Tanguay cited the reason for the selection of the site in his statement. “On my visits to Northern Mississippi, I have talked with area companies and observe their workforce. What I observed were people who are educated, ethical and friendly with a strong work ethic- a perfect match for the Toyota Way”. Tanguay also stated that what he observed made him think of them as “definitely the best sales people”.

Tanguay added that the effort put into the partnership by the region’s government and private sector played a major role in their choosing of the site as the location of their fifth plant in the United States. “The partnership of all these groups was instrumental to our decision, including the creation of a new rail district to provide competitive rail access for the plant,” he quips.

The site will be prepared for the construction of the plant by spring of this year. When completed, the plant will perform stamping, body welding, plastics, painting, and the assembly of Toyota vehicles. Surely, the plant will be of great help to the economy of the region, just like a Nissan air mass meter is beneficial to an engine.



Theresa

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


Japanese car manufacturers, most prominently Toyota, has almost taken over of the US market. The car manufacturer is now poised to take the place of Ford Motor Company as the country’s largest manufacturer of cars. Helped by a loyal buyer base and the positive acceptance of the American public of the Toyota Prius, the company has increased its sales not only in its Toyota division but also in its luxury division Lexus. Both divisions have just posted their sales figures for last month and both show an increase in the number of units sold.

The Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. has improved its sales by 5.1 percent which better than January of last year. Last month’s sales of 175,850 units marks their best ever January sales performance.

The Toyota division posted their record breaking January sales 153,732 which translate to a 4.7 percent increase over last year’s number of units sold. The luxury division of Toyota, which is Lexus also boasts of strong numbers, is also having their best ever January with 22,118 vehicles sold which is an increase of 8 percent compared to last year.

In the passenger car segment, the company’s best-seller is the Toyota Camry with 31,462 units sold against last year’s 27,440 and this is an increase of 10.1 percent while 2,081 units of its hybrid version were sold last month. While their hybrid electric car that has set a new trend in the car industry, the Toyota Prius also reported its best January sales of 8,299 units sold - an increase of 4.1 percent over last year’s sales figures.

Sales of light trucks are also up by 1.6 percent with another record-breaking January sales figure of 67,050 units. The strong sales number is led by the compact sport utility vehicle that is the Toyota RAV 4 which shows that the majority of the public is not turning their backs on the sports utility vehicle market. The Toyota RAV 4 has compiled a sales record of 11,925 units sold which gives it its best ever January in terms of sales. Other noteworthy vehicles that racked up strong number of units sold are the Toyota Highlander and its hybrid version which posted a combined sales figure of 10,322 units for the month of January and this is a 13.3 percent improvement over last year’s number of units sold.

The luxury division of Toyota also posted strong numbers for January of this year with 13,574 units sold which is an 18.7 percent improvement over last year’s sales figures for January. The Lexus ES 350 luxury sedan has the largest number of units sold at 5,320 units, but the all-new Lexus LS 460 bested its predecessor, the LS 430 with an increase in sales of a whooping 142.5 percent.

The upward surge of Toyota in terms of sales and seems to be taking the Japan-based company to the top of the leader board in the US market following decrease in the sales figures of both General Motors and Ford Motor Company. Toyota indeed looks all poised to wrestle the second spot from Ford and closing the gap between them and General Motors at a very exceptional rate. Their acceleration towards the top is very much akin to a Toyota Camry cruising at full speed and the driver’s mind not even considering applying the brakes.



Jean

KoorBoi asked:


i own 2007 toyota camry LE 4 cylinder. is it worth it to change it to full synthetic 5w-30? i’ve been using just regular 5w-30. what’s the difference? save gas mileage? better for the engine? please reply back. thanks.

Corey