University Toyota May Specials!

Come check out our May Specials! If you haven't seen them yet, they're great. This month at University Toyota, you can own a new Corolla with just 0.9% APR for 60 months. Or maybe you'd rather have a new 2012 Rav4 with a $1000 rebate or 60 months of 0% APR. These deals are great, and you know they won't be around for long. You can shop online here, or give us a call at 304-296-4401. Come in today and let us put you in the perfect vehicle!

Voting for Toyota's 100 Cars for Good Opened This Morning

At 10:00 am ET/7:00 am PT today (Monday), Toyota opened voting for the second year of 100 Cars for Good, a national philanthropic program that will award 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 consecutive days. Winners will be selected each day through public voting on Facebook at www.100carsforgood.com .

Five nonprofit organizations will be profiled each day. Registered Facebook users will be able to vote once daily for the nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle. The organization with the most votes at the end of the day will win a new vehicle. The four runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

100 Cars for Good voting will be open every day from 10:00 am ET/7:00 am PT to 12:00 am ET/9:00 pm PT. Voting will continue through Tuesday, August 21.

"At Toyota, we appreciate what a big difference a new car or truck can make for organizations working to improve lives and strengthen communities across America," said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Sales. "Over the past 20 years, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits throughout the U.S. 100 Cars for Good allows us to build on that commitment in new ways, putting the public in the 'driver's seat' as we work to help community organizations make an even bigger impact. We wish all of this year's finalists the best of luck."

The 500 finalists for 100 Cars for Good represent all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Profiles of all of this year's finalists can be found at www.100carsforgood.com .

Winning nonprofits will be able to choose from one of six Toyota models: Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

To help participating nonprofits with their 100 Cars for Good campaigns - and to help them develop lasting digital marketing and social media skills that are critical to today's nonprofits - Toyota has provided each finalist with a toolkit that includes a digital video camera, training materials and free online advertising credits. The company is providing social media training support online to the finalists as well.

Follow 100 Cars for Good on Facebook at www.100carsforgood.com and on Twitter at #100cars.

Scion FR-S convertible coming by early 2014

With an epic chassis and the lowest center of gravity in the business, there's plenty for enthusiast to love about the Scion FR-S. Except, that is, for those who prefer to take their nimble, affordable sports cars with the roof down. Their choices are rather limited in this price category to the Mazda MX-5 and Ford Mustang, but if the latest reports prove accurate, the FR-S – which is, of course, virtually identical to the Subaru BRZ and sold overseas as the Toyota GT 86 – is preparing to throw its hat in the ring, as well.

Long rumored, a convertible version of the jointly-developed "Toyobaru" coupe could stand to boost sales figures and help the bean-counters justify the expenditure on the new platform. However while the speedster concept recently showcased at Long Beach lost its rear seats (along with most of its windshield), Car and Driver predicts that the FR-S convertible will keep the auxiliary pair in the back – though the addition of a folding roof mechanism would likely mean that would come at the expense of most of the trunk room.

We're told to expect the FR-S convertible to arrive sometime late in 2013 or early in 2014, with a price tag that would tack a few grand onto the coupe's $25,000 MSRP. Look for the same 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower boxer four to carry over with a choice of six-speed transmissions in either manual or automatic configurations. Beyond that, Toyota may be considering basing a larger four-door sedan and coupe off the new platform, which could stand to make the money men back at headquarters – to say nothing of the enthusiasts – even more happy.

 

Courtesy of AutoBlog.com

Google’s Self-Driving Toyota Prius Gets its Nevada Driver’s License

Nevada became the first state in the union to grant licenses to autonomous cars for testing, and now the state has granted its first autonomous car license to a Toyota Prius operated by search engine/technology giant Google.

Last year, the Nevada Assembly passed legislation that paved the way for the state to be the first in the nation to formally license autonomous vehicles (as opposed to just licensing a vehicle) within the state’s borders. This month, the state debuted a new type of license plate for autonomous cars — a red plate with an infinity symbol on the left side of it and the first two digits spelling AU — and gave the AU-001 plate to Google and its Toyota Prius.

Google’s autonomous Toyota Prius (along with a handful of other self-driving cars) has been testing for some time now, but Nevada statutes now formally recognize autonomous cars and regulate where and when they can be tested. While the cars drive themselves, Nevada law stipulates that they must have two passengers — one in the driver’s seat and able to take over the controls, and another in any other part of the car. The car’s licensed driver is also liable for any citations or fines that the car may incur while driving itself, and all accidents must be quickly reported to the DMV.

The Nevada DMV said in a statement that the licensing occurred after DMV officials rode along in the Google Toyota Prius as it drove through a variety of different areas and terrains, including neighborhoods, highways, freeways, and even the Las Vegas Strip.

While autonomous vehicles can only be licensed for testing and only to businesses or research organizations, Nevada law is also paving the way to add green AU plates to the mix, which would signify that an autonomous car is owned and will be driven by private citizens.

A Google spokesman said the company is “ excited to receive the first testing license for self-driving vehicles in Nevada,” adding it “believes the state’s framework — the first of its kind — will help speed up the delivery of technology that will make driving safer and more enjoyable.”

Courtesy of MotorTrend.com

We Hear: New Toyota Supra in Pipeline, Coming with 400-HP Hybrid Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/we-hear-new-toyota-supra-in-pipeline-coming-with-400-hp-hybrid-145159.html#ixzz1uDsZR5tl

Japan Peter Lyon, Toyota R&D is working on a Supra successor that is being tested with a 3.5-liter V-6 hybrid system generating over 400 hp. Rumored to be wearing a design close to the FT-HS concept’s body (pictured below) revealed at the 2007 Detroit show, the rear-drive coupe is expected to target the Nissan GT-R in terms of performance and price.

But our insider tells us that Toyota bean counters “are not too pushing to get this car out quickly,” and are waiting to see how the GT86 goes. If it gets the go-ahead, we won’t see it until 2015.

In contrast, Toyota engineers ARE putting more effort into readying a test mule of the MR-S based 4WD GRMN coupe boasting the same Lexus GS sourced 3.5-liter hybrid system. If this project gets the green light, we can expect to see it in showrooms by late 2014.

 

Courtesy of MotorTrend.com

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Scion FR-S Debuts in Las Vegas

We’ve finally had a chance to drive the brand new Scion FR-S. There probably hasn’t been a more eagerly awaited car in the Toyota family in a long time, and getting behind the wheel of this new affordable sports car brought with it a touch of anticipation.

Since Toyota focused its line on family cars and utility vehicles – while Lexus specializes in more expensive luxury and performance rides – the tradition of the fast, little Japanese sports coupe that most people can afford fell to Scion. Now, the two-door FR-S is in line to inherit the proud lineage of the 2000 GT, the Sports 800 and the 80-86 Hachiroku.

After making an appearance as a concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Scion first teased the arrival of the FR-S during sneak preview party at Milk Studios on the outskirts of Hollywood last winter. To establish the clear lineage, the ramp the FR-S slowly cruised down was lined on either side with those very same sports cars of the past (such as the Toyota Supra, the MR2, etc.).

That night, before introducing the FR-S, Scion Vice President Jack Hollis honored Toyota museum pieces – promising that this new sporty ride from Scion would both inspire memories of those cars while surpassing them in performance. After getting a chance to drive the car under multiple conditions, I can report the new kid fits in well with the family.

This fifth car in the Scion family (with the new iQ, the xD, the xB and the sporty little tC) the FR-S will arrive in showrooms with rear-wheel-drive, a four-cylinder, 2.0 liter boxer engine from Subaru and a D4-S direct fuel injection system from parent company Toyota.

As I reported when I originally saw the FR-S at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the exterior is clearly influenced by the old Supra and the current tC with modest, curved lines and a frame that rides very low to the ground. Unlike the MR2 and its ilk, there are no gaudy flares like clumsy rear spoilers or air vents. And I still see a bit of a Lexus influence to the grill.

Car writers met up at the Red Rock Resort northwest of the Las Vegas Strip and drove a small fleet of FR-S models (pretty much the entire completed collection at this time, according to Hollis). The cars headed about 60 miles outside of Vegas to the lonely desert town of Pahrump – home to the Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club.

Spring Mountain resembles a private golf resort, but you can take away the 18 green holes and replace them with a set of race tracks to test different cars. Owners and visitors can park their track day car in a private garage and enjoy their condo suites in between laps on the hot pavement.

That day, the auto writers had a chance to drive the FR-S on a wet drifting course, a dry rally setup and a full-size track for timed laps. On each course, the FR-S proved itself to be a quick, stable and urgent little car with excellent balance and adequate punch.

I’m glad to report it’s the kind of car that lets you feel the road – allowing you to drive by instinct and touch without excessive technological interference. It’s a driver’s car.

If I get to make such a prediction, I think the FR-S will be a major success for Scion and the kind of ride that sticks in the memory of car enthusiasts. It may not be the most powerful or the most luxuriously appointed sporty machine on the market. But, you’d be hard pressed to have more fun and enjoy a better drive out of a car set to sell for around $25,000.

 

Courtesy of Crave Online