Your Toyota dealer around Conshohocken knows that one of the things that keeps customers coming back again and again is the reliability and the quality of our Toyota hybrid vehicles. Up to this point, however, if you wanted a quality Toyota hybrid that was backed by Toyota you had to buy a new one.

Well, things are about to change. Recently, Toyota announced that it will begin a Certified Pre-Owned program. Toyota has had a certification program previously, known as the “Toyota Certified Used Vehicles” program. This new program, called the “Toyota Certified Used Hybrid” program builds on the success of the former program. It also adds a 14-point inspection on top of the already extensive inspection involved in the certified used program.

Certified used vehicles provide you with the opportunity to get into a used car without some of the stress and anxiety that usually accompanies used car buying. By buying a Certified Used car, you know the vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer and that it meets certain criteria. In addition, the program provides the buyer with additional warranty time, giving you peace of mind.

Published 23 January 2009 - 0 comments   

Toyota has long demonstrated its commitment to the environment. When you see a Toyota Hybrid around Glenside, you know it is there in part because Toyota, as a company, is dedicated to fuel economy and to having less of an impact on the environment.

One of the newest ways that Toyota is helping to reduce your impact on your world is through the use of ecological plastics that are based on plants, rather than on petroleum. It is expected that, within a few years, more than two thirds of the interior components inside a Toyota Prius will be made of plants that are cultivated for plastic use.

This "green" plastic can be used to make a number of components. It can be used in sun visors, seat cushions, door trim and pillar covers. While there are some components of the vehicle that still need to be made from oil-based plastic, this represents progress.

The plants used to make these plastics aren't edible. This means, in part, that Toyota is demonstrating responsibility by utilizing renewable resources that aren't needed as food in less fortunate parts of the world.

Published 21 January 2009 - 0 comments   

As hybrid cars increase in popularity, more and more people are asking about Toyota Hybrids around Glenside. As the market leader in hybrid vehicles, Toyota has done its best to answer questions from consumers. One of the things that comes up again and again is the question of safety.

Consumers want to know that hybrid vehicles are safe. They’re worried, in many cases, about the possible dangers of the high-voltage system in the vehicles. They are worried about what can happen in the event of an accident, such as the battery exploding, leaking or causing a hazard of electrocution.

The good news is that Toyota hybrid vehicles are extremely safe, and aren’t any more or less dangerous than other vehicles. There are plenty of precautions built into the Toyota hybrid. For example, the batteries are sealed inside of a metal case that protects them. They’re also insulated from the vehicle body, and located near the rear axle where they are relatively well protected from a collision.

There are also safety procedures that rescue workers are encouraged to follow. For example, workers are advised to disable a car’s 12-volt system by cutting the battery cables. This procedure is routinely followed in conventional vehicles to keep air bags from deploying inappropriately after an accident has already occurred.

Published 19 January 2009 - 0 comments   

Without a doubt, Fuel efficient Toyota hybrids have been some of the best selling Toyota cars near Doylestown. The flagship Prius, along with all of the rest of the hybrid cars in the Toyota lineup, have helped Toyota earn a reputation of being fuel efficient and concerned with the world around them.

Beginning in 2010, Toyota will see a new hybrid vehicle on the market that will compete in an increasingly popular class. Toyota announced recently that it will release a plug-in hybrid.

The plug-in Toyota hybrid will rely on lithium-ion battery technology. This allows the vehicle to travel short distances on just the battery power, which can then be charged from a common household outlet.

This announcement comes months after Chevrolet announced plans to release the Chevrolet Volt, its plug-in hybrid, in 2010. Toyota's new plug in hybrid will be larger than the Prius.

Toyota also announced other environmentally-friendly advances, such as a hybrid car for the luxury Lexus division, as well as diesel engines for the Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.

Published 16 January 2009 - 0 comments   

For folks that are truly concerned about the impact their actions have on the world around them, just driving a Toyota hybrid vehicle from their Conshohocken area Toyota dealer isn't enough. They want to do all they can in order to help save the planet. This even goes right down to the choices they make for breakfast.

Here are some ways you can make your breakfast more "green," (with apologies to Dr. Seuss):

1. Avoid fast food for breakfast. Factory farming and packing waste are side effects, in addition to the unhealthy side effects you may find in fast food breakfast foods.
2. Eat local foods. If you can, get local meat products that are free of preservatives and don't have to travel as far. By doing so, you reduce your environmental footprint substantially.
3. Consider eating organic foods. Organic foods are grown or raised with less impact on the environment.
4. Reduce the meats you eat. Plant farming is much better for the environment than animal farming.
5. Recycle. Make sure the milk jug goes in the recycling bin instead of the trash can, and that your egg carton does the same.

Published 14 January 2009 - 0 comments   

Today is an exciting day for the fans of the flagship Toyota hybrid, the Prius. In Detroit, the 2010 Prius has made its first appearance and, by all estimates, this third generation of Toyota’s successful hybrid has even more to offer than previous versions.

To start with, the 2010 Prius gets even better mileage than the previous models. It gets a combined fuel rating of 50 miles per gallon, almost ten percent higher than the previous version. A more powerful engine produces higher torque, which means that the vehicle produces fewer rpm on the highway. Increasing the highway efficiency is always a challenge in the hybrid world, and this new Toyota hybrid is making great strides toward that end.

There are three different modes for driving the 2010 Prius. You can drive it in Power mode, Eco mode, and EV-Drive mode. The Eco mode gives you battery-only operation at low speeds for a short distance. The Eco mode gives you the best possible mileage, and the power mode gives you a sportier feel to your driving.
The new Prius is more aerodynamic, as well. There’s a new rear spoiler, and the overall design has been tweaked to create less drag.

The 2010 Prius should arrive at your Toyota dealer near Glenside this spring.

Published 12 January 2009 - 0 comments   

The world might be in the throes of an economic crisis, but that isn't going to stop Toyota from selling as many Toyota hybrid vehicles as they can. Toyota recently announced that they hope to sell 400,000 Prius vehicles by 2010, maintaining the Toyota Hybrid's dominance of the ecologically friendly, fuel conscious marketplace.

The new Prius, to debut for the 2009 Detroit auto show, will go on sale in both Japan and in the United States in the spring of 2009. Toyota hopes to sell 180,000 Prius units in the United States in the first year alone, which is a lofty goal that will match the Prius' best year ever.

The Toyota hybrid Prius has sold more than 1 million units worldwide since its debut more than a decade ago. The new Prius is expected to get an average of 50 miles per gallon, which will help keep its rating as the most fuel efficient car in mass production. This is 4 miles per gallon better than the current version of the Prius.

If you’re interested in the new Prius or any of Toyota’s other fuel-efficient hybrid cars, come to your Doylestown area Toyota dealer today and see what Toyota has to offer you.

Published 09 January 2009 - 0 comments   

Next week marks the beginning of the North American International Auto Show, and fans of Toyota hybrids and other ecologically friendly cars should be excited to see what automakers have for them.

In addition to the release of the 2010 Prius at the NAIA show in Detroit, there are several other vehicles to see and events to participate in.

For example, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is sponsoring a green ride event. In this event, there will be around a dozen vehicles made available for automotive journalists to drive during the press preview. On public show days, consumers will be able to ride in the cars as well. The indoor track takes up 70,000 feet inside the Cobo Center in Detroit.

In addition, the winner for the 2009 Green Car Vision award will ge announced at the NAIA show. Finalists include the Fisker Karma, the Chevrolet Volt, Honda’s FCX Clarity, the MINI E and the Mitsubishi iMiEV. It is also thought that Toyota will debut its secret battery EV concept car, as well.

If you're going to be in the Detroit area for the festivities, be sure to check out all of the exciting Toyota Hybrid news. If not, the 2010 Prius will be available at your Conshohocken area Toyota dealer this spring.

Published 07 January 2009 - 0 comments   

Toyota has always been on the cutting edge of producing environmentally-friendly and fuel efficient vehicles. It looks like the Toyota Hybrid will someday be surpassed in its efficiency with a Toyota vehicle that is fueled by the sun.

According to a Japanese newspaper late last week, Toyota is now in the process of designing an electric car that will draw a portion of its power via solar cells. The vehicle will be able to be recharged from electricity generated from home solar panels, as well. The hope is that, eventually, Toyota will be able to develop a vehicle that runs entirely on solar power.

Toyota, we know uses solar power at its production plant in Tsutsumi in Japan. In addition, Panasonic, which makes batteries for Toyota hybrids, is buying Sanyo, which is a leader in solar technology. This puts Toyota in a truly unique position to really utilize the latest in solar power technology.

While it will be several years before a solar-powered car is released, this news does bring hope to people concerned with the environment. It may be that, one day, cars will run entirely on the fuel provided to them by the rays of the sun.

Published 05 January 2009 - 0 comments   

While none of the car manufacturers have been immune to the economic woes as of late, Toyota is looking to its ecologically friendly cars, like the Toyota Hybrids, to ease their economic woes. Toyota recently opened a new factory to manufacture the batteries used in Toyota's hybrids a month ahead of schedule.

This is just one example of the way that Toyota is working hard to get the next generation of hybrid cars and electric cars developed and onto the market.

One of the responses Toyota has had to the financial crisis is to set up a special team aimed specifically at cutting the cost of the production of small cars. Small cars like the Yaris, while they generate smaller profits for the company, are ripe for cost cutting measures.

In contrast, Toyota suspended its production of vehicles at its large vehicle plant in Texas for a short time during the month of August, in response to falling markets.

Whatever lies ahead for Toyota, one thing is clear: small, fuel efficient vehicles that are good for the environment will continue to make the top of Toyota’s list of priorities.

Published 01 January 2009 - 0 comments