2021 Toyota Sienna 2021 Wins Family Green Car of the Year™

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is now the Family Green Car of the Year thanks to winning that category in the 2021 Green Car Awards™.  With a standard hybrid powertrain across all trims and an array of new tech and amenities, the 2021 Toyota Sienna raises the bar for style, safety, comfort, versatility and fuel efficiency in its segment.

“The fuel efficiency of this all-new 2021 Sienna makes it a cut above the rest,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Motor North America’s (TMNA) executive vice president of sales. “This award just further highlights our dedication to hybrids in North America and we’re humbly honored to have the new Sienna be recognized as the Family Green Car of the Year for 2021.”

The fourth-gen Sienna, designed by the combined effort of CALTY’s Newport Beach, CA and Ann Arbor, MI studios, delivers a combination of room, comfort, convenience, fuel efficiency and versatility. The 2021 Sienna’s Toyota Hybrid System II delivers 245 total horsepower and an EPA-estimated 36 combined MPG fuel economy, the latter setting a benchmark for the segment, all while operating seamlessly and transparently.

The 2021 Green Car of the Year® award winners were selected by a highly-respected jury comprised of energy and environmental leaders including Mindy Lubber, president of CERES; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Dr. Alan Lloyd, president emeritus of the International Council on Clean Transportation and senior research fellow at the Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin; Clay Nesler, interim president of the Alliance to Save Energy; and Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and advisory board chair of Climate Mayors. Celebrity auto enthusiast Jay Leno and Green Car Journal editors rounded out the Green Car of the Year® jury. 

Holiday 2020: Top Safety Tips for Vehicle Travel During Pandemic

Toyota partners with health, safety and other community groups to help make road trips safer this holiday season.

In a year full of unknowns and uncertainties, what’s normally the busiest travel season of the year will certainly slow down. People will decide what makes most sense for them when it comes to family gatherings and trips. For those who choose to travel this holiday season, their family’s health and safety is a top priority, more so than ever.

Celebrating the holidays virtually to avoid large gatherings would be the safest option, but those who are planning to see family members should plan to quarantine ahead of time to decrease the risk of exposure. That said, many see traveling by car as a way to have more control over potential exposure to COVID-19. In fact, a recent survey conducted on behalf of Toyota shows more than half of Americans see their vehicle as a “safe haven” from the coronavirus.

Despite the pandemic, the survey also found:

• 42% of U.S. adults are likely to go on vacation or travel by year-end
• 56% said they were less likely to venture outside their home state
• 72% said they would take a vehicle versus flying

“Safety is one of our top priorities, but it reaches well beyond making our Toyota vehicles among the safest on the road,” says Mike Goss, general manager, social innovation. “Our mission extends to making the roads safer for everyone who travels by car. Starting with the safety of infants and children, to teens behind the wheel, and graduating up to safe driving for seniors — it is an all-encompassing safety commitment.”

Regarding infants, a startling 75% of child safety seats are not used correctly. Beyond installing the seat in the car, do you know which way your child should face? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children remain in rear-facing seats until age 2, or until they exceed the height and weight limit for the seat. And don’t forget to remove your child’s winter coat before you buckle them into their car seat. Puffy coats and excess clothing can prevent straps from tightening enough to properly restrain your child if an accident occurs.

Buckle Up for Life, a national child passenger safety program created by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Toyota, teaches parents how to help keep their children safe. Here are the top safety tips provided by Buckle Up for Life and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for traveling during the pandemic:

1. Vehicle safety checks. Before departing, have a service shop check your vehicle’s tire pressure, battery, fuel filter, radiator coolant and brake fluid. Also top off your windshield-washer fluid.
2.  Plan your route. When considering your destination, the CDC suggests asking yourself the following questions:
   • Is COVID-19 spreading in the community or the area you are visiting? If so, you may have a higher chance of becoming infected or infecting others.
   • Will you be able to maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others during travel and at your destination?
   • Does the destination require visitors to quarantine themselves upon arrival?
3. Plan out and reduce stops for food, gas and bathroom breaks. Pack a cooler with food and drinks to limit your time and interactions with other people. Need to make a bottle for baby? Take a thermos of hot water so you can mix it in the car. Make sure you’ve packed hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, sanitizing wipes and disposable gloves for pumping gas.
4. Follow CDC safety precautions when you go inside a gas station or restaurant. Wear a mask. Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet from anyone who is not from your household. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and avoid contact with anyone who is sick. Be aware of frequently touched surfaces, such as doors, gas pumps and bathrooms.
5. Secure holiday “extras” in the car. Make sure all gifts, luggage and other holiday items are tightly secured. These objects could become projectiles in the event of a crash. If you are traveling with pets, make sure they are properly restrained as well.
6. Stay alert! Driving while drowsy results in a four- to six-times higher near-crash/crash risk.1 Toyota safety features such as pre-collision detection, dynamic radar cruise control, auto high beams and blind spot monitoring help look out for your safety, but you still need to stay alert and focused on the road.
7. Take breaks. Long trips can be tough on you and your children. Be sure to pack entertainment for the kids, such as videos, books and games. If you’re traveling with other adults, take turns driving, and don’t forget to take breaks if you’re driving a long distance.
8. Use the “inch and pinch” test. After you’ve buckled your child in, pinch the car seat strap near their shoulders. If you can pinch a wrinkle in the fabric, tighten the strap until it is snug. Then grab the car seat at the bottom where it is attached to the car and tug from side to side and front to back. If the seat moves more than an inch in any direction, tighten it.

“The holidays are a time in which we focus on our loved ones — and for many that means hopping in the car with small children for a visit,” says Gloria Del Castillo, senior specialist of community engagement, Buckle Up for Life. “While the 2020 holiday season may look different than normal, we still need to ensure our most precious cargo — our children — are safely buckled in.”

Over the past 15 years, Buckle Up for Life and Toyota have donated 70,000 car seats to families in need by partnering with local organizations around the country. Parents are educated one on one or can access information online.

For more resources, including animated car seat installation videos, go to buckleupforlife.org.

Before you hit the road, check the CDC website for the latest COVID-19 guidelines for travel during the pandemic. And, remember, stay home if you’re sick.

Pumpkin Pie Free Thanksgiving!

 

While we are usually focused on the big meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, we all know dessert plays just as a big a role. Traditionally, pumpkin pie is one of the big stars…whether anyone eats it or not. Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving (and Christmas) desserts that are NOTpumpkin pie.

Our favorite non-pumpkin pie dessert? There’s so many, but the Samoa Cheesecake is definitely a winner. What are some of your non-pumpkin pie dessert favorites?

2021 Toyota Mirai Hits Dealerships in December with Cutting Edge Technology, Enhanced Safety and Multiple Grades

 

• Elegant 2021 Mirai Goes on Sale in December
• First Time Mirai Will Be Offered with Two Grades – XLE and Limited
• Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ Standard on Every Mirai
• Standard 12.3-Inch Multimedia Touchscreen with 14-Speaker JBL® System
• Hydro Blue, Oxygen White, Supersonic Red, Heavy Metal and Black Exterior Colors
• Seating for Five

The first production hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) offered for sale to retail customers in North America, the Toyota Mirai, rolled onto dealership lots five years ago. This December, the all-new, second-generation 2021 Mirai, which debuted in 2019 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will do the same.

A dramatic change in styling, this Mirai will offer multiple grades for the first time – XLE and Limited – and is based on Toyota’s premium rear-wheel drive platform, debuting a dramatic yet refined coupe-inspired design with improved passenger room and comfort. The new platform allows for a highly rigid body that is lower, longer, and wider, with its bolder stance accentuated by available 20-inch alloy wheels. The design is more aerodynamic, yet also emotionally evocative.

Premium Technology

The Mirai is raising for the bar for standard technology equipped across a model line. Every grade comes standard with a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with 14 JBL® speakers including a subwoofer and amplifier, as well as Android AutoTM, Apple CarPlay® and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Behind the steering wheel, an 8-inch color TFT LCD digital gauge cluster displays the speedometer, drive mode, fuel efficiency, MID and more. A Qi-compatible smartphone wireless charging tray also comes standard on every 2021 Mirai.

The XLE grade includes dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, manual rear seat sunshades and power-folding mirrors with puddle lights.

The Limited grade comes standard with a color Head-Up Display (HUD) with speedometer and navigation, three-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and a rear touchscreen control panel with climate control function, rear sunshade toggle, audio controls. A Bird’s Eye View Camera also comes standard on Limited grades, while available on XLE. The Limited grade also gets standard Intelligent Park Assist and a dual-fixed panoramic moonroof with power sliding shade.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+

Toyota is a pioneering force in the adoption of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) ever since it made the advanced safety features standard across many of its model lineup for 2017, five years ahead of the voluntary commitment by many OEMs with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make it standard on virtually all light vehicles. For 2021, the Mirai is one of three Toyota models to include TSS 2.5+, the next phase in Toyota’s evolution of safety systems. A number of functions that are part of the Toyota Safety Sense have been enhanced.

For starters, the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), features multiple enhancements. By enhancing the system capabilities, it is now possible for the system to help detect not only the vehicle ahead but also a preceding bicyclist in daytime and even a preceding pedestrian in low-light conditions. TSS 2.5+ also enhances the PCS w/PD system with intersection support. At intersections, the system may detect an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian when performing a left-hand turn and may provide audio/visual alerts and automatic braking in certain conditions. Additional PCS functions include emergency steering assist, which is designed to stabilize the driver’s emergency steering maneuvers within their lane while avoiding a preceding pedestrian, bicyclist or vehicle.

Mirai comes equipped with Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which can be activated above 30 mph and is designed to perform vehicle-to-vehicle distance controls down to 0 mph and resume from a stop. DRCC also includes a new feature that allows for smoother overtaking of slower vehicles. If traveling behind a vehicle traveling slower than the preset speed, once the driver engages the turn signal with steering input the system will provide an initial increase in acceleration in preparation for changing lanes; after changing lanes, the vehicle will continue acceleration until it reaches the preset driving speed.

Lane Departure Alert is designed to help notify the driver via audible alert if it senses the vehicle is leaving the lane without engaging a turn signal. When DRCC is set and engaged, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is designed to assist the driver by providing a slight steering force to help center the vehicle in its lane using visible lane markers or a preceding vehicle.

Additional TSS 2.5+ features include Automatic High Beams, which detects preceding or oncoming vehicles and automatically switches between high beam and low beam headlights, and Road Sign Assist (RSA), which is designed to recognize certain road sign information when available, by using a forward-facing camera and display them on the MID.

Electrifying Choices

Accentuating the Mirai’s smoother, more sculptural form is a brand-new Hydro Blue color never before featured on a Toyota which achieves its brightness and deepness through a multiple-layer painting process. This exclusive color will only be available on the Limited grade. Oxygen White, Black, Supersonic Red, and Heavy Metal, the latter of which is also exclusive to Mirai, will be available on both grades.

A 20-inch super chrome-finish aluminum wheel option is available on the Limited grades, while 19-inch black machined-finish aluminum wheels come standard. The XLE will come standard with 19-inch twin-spoke aluminum wheels.

Moving inside the cabin, all XLE grades feature Black SofTex®-trimmed heated seats with Gray stitching on the seats, doors, headliner and steering wheel, as well as Silver accents throughout the dash.

The Limited grades have a choice of Black or White heated and ventilated perforated SofTex®-trimmed seats. Both options can be paired with Gray stitching with Silver accents or Ivory stitching with Copper accents.

The Limited grades feature panoramic moonroof panels with power sliding shade. Limited also features a power sunshade for the rear window.

Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road Named Compact SUV of Texas

 Best-Selling SUV wins top honor at the 2020 Texas Truck Rodeo

Toyota’s best-selling vehicle in America was recognized by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) at the annual Texas Truck Rodeo event. The 2021 RAV4 TRD Off-Road was named Compact SUV of Texas for the second consecutive year.

“It’s great the media members of TAWA recognized the RAV4 TRD Off-Road’s ability to help people find their adventures on and off road,” said Cynthia Tenhouse, vice-president, Vehicle Marketing and Communications for Toyota.

One of the newest members of the TRD family, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road offers impressive off-road capability with the comfort, style and safety RAV4 is known for in segment. With the RAV4’s first-ever TRD-stamped stainless-steel front skid-plate, the 2021 model benefits from increased resistance against debris found on or off the road. Other key off-road features of the vehicle include matte-black TRD alloy wheels and TRD-tuned suspension engineered to enhance body control and small-bump isolation. The vehicle’s Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail all-terrain tires use a unique tread pattern and compound developed to TRD technical requirements, and their rugged, square-shoulder design helps protect against punctures.

Additionally, the 2021 RAV4 TRD Off-Road offers drivers the ability to take more adventure equipment along, towing up to 3,500 pounds. The vehicle’s interior offers striking red stitching and red trim to further enhance the TRD Off-Road model’s cabin. As the fifth generation of the best-selling SUV in the U.S., the 2021 RAV4 TRD Off-Road is both a segment leader and segment disruptor.

This year’s Texas Truck Rodeo brought together 27 journalists to evaluate 39 trucks and SUVs on an off-roading course in the Texas Hill Country. Vehicles from the world’s top manufacturers were evaluated on interior, exterior, value, performance and personal appeal. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road ran the rugged course, leaving its competitors trailing in the competition. Additionally, Toyota’s 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, the 2021 Toyota Tundra Trail Special Edition and the 2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail Special Edition were recognized as finalists in each of their categories.

TAWA is a Texas-based nonprofit association for automotive journalists promoting professionalism and quality in journalism for more than two decades. TAWA has grown to become one of the most influential and recognized automotive journalist associates in the U.S. The group produces two annual events – Texas Auto Roundup and Texas Truck Rodeo – that allow members to experience vehicles from various manufacturers in one place, at one time.

Toyota to Achieve its Five-Year U.S. Investment Commitment One Year Early

 

Company achieves its 2017 commitment to deliver nearly $13 billion U.S. investment by 2021 in just four years, adding more than 6,500 new jobs

Toyota ready to meet aggressive content requirements of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

For more than 60 years, Toyota has been growing its presence in the United States, and today the company announced it will reach its January 2017 pledge to invest $13 billion over a five-year period one year earlier than anticipated.

Key investments include:

In addition to the investments previously announced, the company invested $5.9 billion in supplier tooling, general plant upgrades, research & development, and other selling, general administrative costs, as well as a $1 billion investment into the Toyota Research Institute.

“For more than six decades, we have been committed to serving our U.S. customers by investing locally and building cars where we sell them,” said Ted Ogawa, chief executive officer for Toyota Motor North America. “Our commitment to the U.S. market is unwavering, and we are underscoring this point today with the completion of a $13 billion investment and over 6,500 new jobs since 2017 as we focus on advancing electrification and improving mobility for more Americans.”

As the new USMCA takes effect on July 1, Toyota is well-positioned to meet the aggressive new content requirements. Toyota has created a tremendous value chain in the U.S., with more than $28.4 billion direct investment in the U.S., nine manufacturing facilities, 10 including our joint venture with Mazda, nearly 1,500 dealerships and over 184,000 people working across the U.S.