2011 Toyota Price Adjustments

The price increases on Toyota models range from $200 for the Yaris Liftback to $900 for both the Land Cruiser and Sequoia large sport utility vehicles (SUV). The model-by-model adjustments reflect individual percentage increases ranging from 1.2 to 2.2 percent. A complete list of model-by-model price adjustments is attached below.

The new prices for North American-produced vehicles will become effective with May 2011 production. For models sourced from Japan, updated pricing will be effective for vehicles with scheduled May arrivals. Japan-sourced vehicles include 4Runner, Corolla, FJ Cruiser, Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Yaris Liftback and Scion xD.

Toyota MSRPs do not include a delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $760 for Toyota passenger cars, $810 for Toyota small/medium trucks, and $975 for large trucks (Sequoia and Tundra only). The DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

2011 Scion Price Adjustments

The 2011 Scion xD five-door urban sub-compact receives an MSRP increase of $65 or 0.4 percent.

Scion MSRPs do not include a delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $720. The DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

2011 Lexus Price Adjustments

The Lexus price adjustments range from $600 for the GX 460 luxury utility vehicle to $900 for the IS F high-performance sedan, LS flagship luxury sedans, GS 450h hybrid luxury sport sedan and LX 570 premium luxury utility vehicle. The model-by-model adjustment reflects individual percentage increases ranging from 0.8 to 2.1 percent.

The new prices will become effective for vehicles with scheduled May arrivals for all Lexus vehicles except North American-built RX units which will have its pricing change effective with May production. A complete list of model-by-model price adjustments is below.

Lexus MSRPs do not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875.

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The automotive editors of Consumer Guide have recognized Toyota and Lexus with five prestigious “Best Buy” honors in their 2010 “Best Buy and Recommended Awards.”  The Toyota Prius mid-size hybrid, Avalon full-size sedan and Tacoma pickup took “Best Buy” honors in their respective segments, while the Lexus LS premium luxury sedan and RX premium mid-size SUV also captured top prizes.

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Last week, we gave you an update regarding Subaru’s progress with its half of the Toyobaru project, complete with a sketch-tastic rendering from the UK’s Autocar. Fast forward to today, and although we can’t be sure if this Nürburgring-circling, cobbled-together prototype is a Subaru effort or a Toyota joint, it appears to be a development of the FT-86 that we know is headed for production.

As shot here by our friends at KGP Photography, the little coupe is well disguised, but it looks like a Fuji Heavy project to us, as it shares some Subaru design hallmarks. Up front, the masked prototype takes on the basic shape of the WRX, with bold, bulging curves and a snub nose. There is no trademark Subaru hood scoop, but the big hood has a very aggressive appearance. Out back, the car’s rump is also Impreza hatch-like, with a massive rear wing disguised by some heavy camo. It isn’t at all clear that what’s seen here is in any way, shape or form production bodywork, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Scooby crew adopt a chunkier aesthetic than their compatriots at Toyota.

The basic layout of the vehicle also appears to favor motivation via the rear wheels, as the 2+2 cabin is pushed back over the rear axle. The Subaru will likely sport the same direct injection 2.0-liter boxer engine currently sitting under the hood of the Toyota concept. If the little boxer can indeed produce nearly 200 horsepower as has been rumored, we’re thinking it will be solid punch for the Subaru, as the Toyota FT-86 is nearly a foot shorter than an Impreza and the spy photos show what appears to be a very small form factor. Add turbocharging down the line and we suspect you’ve got a tuner’s delight capable of taking on the big boys.

Word on the street is that Subaru isn’t quite sold on the idea of the Toyota-designed rear-wheel drive platform, which may or may not be able to accommodate Subaru’s signature all-wheel drive setup. We’re not sure that theory makes much sense if the two are collaborating on concept versions of the vehicle, and it would be difficult to understand how Subaru could enter such an agreement without first knowing whether it could add its trademark drivetrain, but we’ve heard this word ourselves from Subie folks as well, so perhaps Toyota is throwing some of its weight around.

Check out the high-res gallery below and our spy shooter’s thoughts after the jump.

Gallery: Toyobaru Testing on the ‘Ring

source

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The call ended with someone telling people in the car to hold on and pray, followed by a woman’s scream.

The high-speed crash near San Diego in August, involving an out-of-control Lexus ES 350 that killed four members of a family, led Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday to issue its largest-ever U.S. recall, involving 3.8 million vehicles.

The recall is intended to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash.

Toyota and the government warned owners Tuesday to remove the mats from their vehicles until the Japanese automaker could find a way to fix the potential safety hazard. The recall will involve popular models such as the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid.

Toyota said it was still working with officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find a remedy and said owners could be notified about the recall as early as next week. Toyota spokesman Irv Miller said until the company finds a fix, owners should simply take out the removable floor mat on the driver’s side and not replace it.

“A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop a vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death,” Miller said.

The recall will affect 2007-10 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-10 Toyota Avalon, 2004-09 Toyota Prius, 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-10 Toyota Tundra, 2007-10 Lexus ES 350 and 2006-10 Lexus IS 250 and IS 350 vehicles.

Toyota’s previously largest U.S. recall was about 900,000 vehicles in 2005 to fix a steering issue. The company declined to say how many complaints it had received about the accelerator issue.

NHTSA said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes.

“This is an urgent matter,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “For everyone’s sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration.”

Toyota warned owners that if they think their vehicle is accelerating out of control, they should check to see whether their floor mat is under the pedal. If a driver can’t remove the floor mat, Toyota advises drivers to step on the brake pedal with both feet until the vehicle slows and then try to put it into neutral and switch the ignition to accessory power.

For vehicles with engine start/stop buttons, Toyota said the engine can be shut off by holding the button down for three seconds.

In the August incident in Santee, Calif., the fiery crash of the Lexus killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45, and three family members on State Route 125. The vehicle was traveling at more than 120 mph when it launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames.

NHTSA investigators determined that a rubber all-weather floor mat found in the wreckage was slightly longer than the mat that belonged in the vehicle, something that could have snared or covered the accelerator pedal.

Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the final report had not yet been submitted in the California case.

“We don’t know what the actual cause was of that accident other than preliminary reports that have been published so it’s impossible for us to comment on that particular incident,” Hanson said.

In mid-September, Toyota ordered 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers nationwide to ensure that each new, used and loaner vehicle had the proper floor mats and that the mats were properly secured.

In September 2007, Toyota recalled an accessory all-weather floor mat sold for use in some 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry vehicles because of similar problems.

For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration‘s hot line at (888) 327-4236, Toyota at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus at (800) 255-3987.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090930/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_floor_mats" target="_blank">Source

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Wednesday, August 26th 2009, 4:00 AM

When I’m listening to the radio and I happen to hear a song come over the airwaves sung by Ringo Starr as a solo artist, I always say to myself, “He was really an underrated Beatle.”

In other words, he’s much better than he ever got credit for. That’s sort of how I view Scion.

This is a brand that’s not getting its proper notice. It’s the Ringo of the Toyota trio. Everyone knows the star performers — Toyota and its rich sidekick, Lexus. And there’s little Scion, a Johnny-come-lately, strumming away in the background with its three-car lineup.

As I spent time this week in the 2009 Scion xB, with a base price of $16,700, I kept thinking of all the different types of people who would get enjoyment from ownership of this five-door car. Tops on my list are older folks who need a functional utility-type car that is easy on the knees.

The xB is box-shaped like a sport-utility vehicle, yet it is more user-friendly with its low-to-the-ground entry/exit status. The xB has a ground clearance of 5 inches, whereas most SUVs have 8 to 9 inches of ground clearance.

The xB offers a cavernous interior with five-passenger seating capacity. Cargo volume when the second row is folded is nearly 70 cubic feet.

Scion describes its xB interior as lounge-like. The driver has a right-side armrest and the seats recline fully, not only for cargo space but also for a roadside rest. Adding to the flexible functionality is the array of interior storage units.

I wasn’t expecting much in the area of performance, but there I go, underrating the Scion. I stepped on the accelerator and was really pleased with the smooth, linear response from the electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission as it seamlessly and quietly moved through the gears.

Contributing to the smooth ride is the MacPherson suspension system up front.

The xB is quite easy to maneuver with a curb-to-curb turning circle of 35 feet. The xB rides on standard 16-inch steel wheels.

The engine breathes so well, allowing all of its 2.4-liter four-cylinder capability to be enabled. Variable Valve Timing with intelligence is the key to better performance, as well as the lightweight aluminum alloys used in the engine block and head.

The four-cylinder in the 2009 Scion has 55 more horsepower than the previous generation. The new xB has 158 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 162 pounds-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The xB is offered in both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic; and both transmissions get the same EPA estimated fuel consumption of 22 miles per gallon city and 28 mpg highway.

Copyright, Motor Matters

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But with only three vehicles in the Scion range, the 6-year-old brand already is losing its freshness.

The solution, says Toyota’s new U.S. sales chief, is to expand the lineup so that there’s always something new and exciting.

“For the Scion business model, product freshness is key,” said Yoshimi Inaba, chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor Sales USA as well as president of Toyota Motor America, on a recent visit to Detroit. With its no-haggle pricing policy, Scion has few other levers to increase sales, which are down 60 percent this year, more than Toyota’s overall 38 percent drop.

“One of my jobs is to revive the Scion spirit in the United States,” said Inaba, who was the driving force behind the brand during his last stint in the nation. One likely addition to the Scion lineup is the iQ, a minicar that Toyota sells in Europe and Japan under the Toyota brand.

Scion exists only in the United States. Earlier this year, Toyota displayed a Scion-badged iQ in New York, but the company has not confirmed plans to market such a car in the United States.

Speculation is rife that Toyota might add a gas-electric hybrid car to the Scion lineup. But company spokesman Irv Miller said Toyota would have to consider the cost of fitting a hybrid powertrain into an inexpensive and already fuel-efficient car. Starting prices for Scion models range from $14,800 to $17,000, although buyers tend to spend more to customize their vehicles.

Toyota is now reviewing all of its vehicle lines in the United States, as well as its operations, after losing money in the region. As it assesses Scion, Toyota must decide whether it is content to sell cars to young people by offering inexpensive models, or whether the brand retains its original mandate, to attract young trendsetters who will dial up Toyota’s coolness factor. If the goal is to attract young, leading-edge buyers, then “you have to, like Inaba’s saying, keep everything fresh,” said Wesley Brown at Los Angeles-based consulting firm Iceology. “But keeping things fresh isn’t as easy as we all think on the outside that it should be,” he said.

It’s particularly tough in the auto industry “because of the gestation period, and the money and risk involved with a new product.” Scion hit the mark in 2003 when it rolled out the first xB, a boxy model from its Japanese lineup that didn’t resemble anything on American roads. But the xB’s success led Toyota to take the safe route when it came time to replace the vehicle.

Toyota produced a bigger, more conservative version of the xB. Brown says Toyota was right to produce that vehicle — but it should have marketed it under the Toyota brand, where it would have attracted more customers. Meanwhile, the space once occupied by the first xB is being filled by edgy new offerings such as the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul. Toyota has many models in its Japanese and European model ranges that could be turned into Scion vehicles at little cost, Brown said. In his view, the hatchback version of the Yaris should have gone into the Scion lineup, with only the staid sedan going to the Toyota range where people expect something solidly

Source

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The program, better know as “Cash for Clunkers,” begins today and will run through Nov. 1, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Consumers can access the program’s official guidelines by going to cars.gov.

All Toyota and Scion passenger cars and most Toyota trucks, vans and SUVs are eligible for government incentives under the program. In addition, some Lexus models also qualify.

Regionally, consumers can apply their CARS rebates toward special 60-month leases on Yaris, Corolla, Camry (non-hybrid), RAV4 SUV and Tacoma pickup. Since rates will vary by region, information is being posted on buyatoyota.com so consumers can learn which lease specials are available in their area. The special leases are only available to customers participating in the CARS program. Consumers not receiving government incentives can take advantage other regional offers, including low APRs and cash rebates.

“We appreciate the effort by the U.S. Congress to pass ‘Cash for Clunkers,’ which

represents a great stimulus for the auto industry and our dealers,” said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “It will help consumers dispose of older high-emissions, less fuel efficient vehicles and replace them with new, more fuel efficient cars and trucks.”

Consumers can see which Toyota (toyota.com), Lexus (lexus.com) and Scion (scion.com) models are eligible by going to http://www.toyota.com/cashforclunkers. The site will also allow visitors to calculate the amount of federal funds they are likely to receive based on the vehicle they turn in and which car, truck, van or SUV from the Toyota family they plan to buy or lease. In addition to government cash, Toyota customers are also eligible for any additional dealer incentives in effect, which vary by region.

Toyota’s 30-second commercials will be seen nationally on CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, TNT, USA, ABC Family, A&E, Discovery, History, Travel and Syfy. Spanish language versions will run on Univision, Telemundo and Telefutura. The spots, which show a car being crushed, identify Toyota as a participant in the CARS program, as well as America’s most dependable and fuel efficient car company. Viewers will also be reminded of available government vouchers up to $4,500, plus any regional incentives Toyota offers.

Toyota CARS-related ads can also be seen on such leading websites as Edmunds.com and cars.com.

In addition to television, regional advertising will include newspapers and radio. Consumers will be told they can use CARS cash to buy or lease select Toyota vehicles.

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