Redesigned 2015 Toyota Yaris: Sharper for the Eyes, Smoother for the Body

• Bold new exterior cheats the wind
• Soft-touch interior is roomier, quieter
• Nine-airbag array includes front seat cushion airbags
• Segment-exclusive: 3- and 5-door models
• Yaris Entune Audio standard; navigation available

2015 Toyota Yaris Product Information
2015 Toyota Yaris Walkaround

A bold new look with a distinct European flavor. A new, quieter interior, crafted from improved materials.  And a new attitude. The redesigned 2015 Toyota Yaris checks all the boxes for small-car shoppers. And then it adds and checks two more boxes for fun and value. In 3-door or 5-door liftback models, the 2015 Yaris makes every day driving less every day.

The 2015 Yaris, like the previous-generations design, comes in 3-door and 5-door liftback configurations, but the style is all-new, and functionality is improved. The new design comes from Toyota’s ED2 design studio located in the South of France, where they know “Hot Hatches.”  The new Yaris is also assembled in France, where they have been manufacturing Yaris since 1999 for the European market.  The new Yaris gets an aggressive new look with a horizontal chrome grille treatment that appears to continue right into the headlamp.  The large grille opening gives this fun-to-drive car just the right touch of “mean” in its look.

Yaris drivers love the cars’ easy maneuverability, and the 2015 model keeps that intact with a class-leading 31.5-ft. turning circle (three-door model). In some situations, that’s small enough to turn a “K” into a “U” for turns.

Newness permeates the Yaris cabin. Sitting in the more premium seat, the Yaris driver faces a sporty new dashboard design and touches new, softer materials throughout.

A retuned suspension, a more rigid body structure, additional sound insulation and attention to aerodynamic details all help to give the 2015 Yaris a smoother, quieter ride. With safety always at the forefront, the Yaris comes equipped with nine standard SRS airbags, including curtain side airbags and front seat cushion airbags.

Altogether, that’s a lot of new packed into an easy-driving small car with big fuel economy numbers and the brand’s penchant for high QDR (Quality, Dependability and Reliability).
 
Sizing Up Without Upsizing
The 2015 Yaris keeps the tidy size owners prefer, inching it up just a bit with an increase in overall length of two inches.  A lower windshield angle, short overhangs and wheels pushed out to the corners give the new Yaris a sporty, road-hugging stance.

Those smallish changes translate to a transformative look. The more aerodynamic 2015 Yaris slips through the air more cleanly with underbody components and new side mirrors cutting drag and wind noise. The Yaris becomes especially sporty looking with the SE grade that adds a black front grille with piano black accent, rear spoiler, black exterior trim, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
 
A Clear Outlook
The 2015 Yaris is all new inside, and the first thing you notice is that you notice more.  And, on the SE grade other drivers see you more easily thanks to new LED daytime running lights that also give the Yaris an advanced and sporty look.

The wide-sweeping single windshield wiper design uses an innovative wet-arm washer system that sprays washer fluid from the base of the wiper arm directly into the blade’s path for improved cleaning. All models come with a standard rear window wiper.
 
Frugal Fun
Fun, functionality and frugality come together in the 2015 Yaris. The smooth-revving 1.5-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder DOHC engine equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) produces 106 hp at 6,000 rpm and 103 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. The broad torque curve makes those numbers seem even bigger when you’re driving the Yaris, which offers snappy response with either transmission.

A smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission, made smoother by an improved hydraulic clutch, is standard. An available four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features a compact, lightweight design and low friction for high fuel efficiency.

A more rigid body structure does its part to reduce noise and sharpen handling response, while taking 44 pounds out of the already svelte Yaris.

The more rigid body structure, together with retuned suspension, provide for a smoother, more confident ride. The Yaris rides on front MacPherson-strut and rear torsion-beam suspension systems. Not only does sport-tuned electric power steering help make the Yaris nimble and easy to park on crowded city streets, but there’s no hydraulic fluid to check or replace.

The Yaris L rides on 15-inch steel wheels and the LE comes with 15-inch alloy wheels as standard, while the SE rolls on 16-inch machined alloy wheels with 195/50R16 tires.

Sporty Yaris SE
The SE turns the Yaris into an urban-cool sporty ride, with black headlight trim and special gloss black with machined spoke 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/50R16 tires. Behind the wheels are four-wheel disc brakes. A rear diffuser rounds out the package.

Inside, the leather-trimmed tilt three-spoke steering wheel includes audio controls and standard cruise control.
 
Nine Airbags 
The Yaris packs big safety into a small package.  Like all Toyota vehicles, the 2015 Yaris features the Star Safety System™, which includes:

• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC),
• Traction Control (TRAC),
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS),
• Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist,
• and Smart Stop Technology (Toyota’s brake-override system).

Protection in a collision starts with an impact-absorbing body structure that makes wide use of high-tensile strength steel to effectively absorb and distribute collision forces. The 2015 Yaris has nine airbags, including:  

• Driver and front-passenger dual-stage airbags (SRS),
• front seat side airbags,
• front seat cushion airbags,
• side curtain shield airbags
• and a driver’s knee airbag.

The Advanced Whiplash Injury-Lessening (WIL) front-seat structure helps to ensure that the region from the head to the lower back are equally supported, helping to reduce whiplash-type injuries during certain types of rear end collisions.

Soft Where It Counts 
The previous Yaris had raised the bar for small car cabin design and quality, and the 2015 Yaris moves the benchmark higher still. The new cabin design clearly defines the driver and front passenger spaces, and a new instrument gauge cluster conveys a sporty intent.

Below the large speedometer, an LCD multi-information display includes functions for odometer, twin trip meters, clock, outside temperature, fuel economy, average speed and an Eco-Driving indicator.
 
Everybody needs a soft place to land, and the 2015 Toyota Yaris offers one with a redesigned cabin featuring soft-touch trim for the instrument panel and front doors. A leather-like grain gives the surfaces a high-quality look and feel.   The LE grade features bright trim around the instrument gauges and shifter bezel The sporty SE adds piano black interior trim accents and leather-trimmed shift lever.

A highlight of the 2015 Yaris cabin has to be the improved interior design and improved noise, vibration and hashness. High-quality fabrics and greater surface area, along with raising the front of the cushion, make them more comfortable on longer drives. The side bolsters are a bit higher, too, for a more body-hugging feel, and the driver’s seat height adjustment adds range.

What driver doesn’t carry more “everything” these days? The 2015 Yaris provides larger storage compartments around the cabin, including numerous small pockets around the driver’s seat. 
 
The Sounds of Less Sound
Once on the road, you’ll notice something missing from the 2015 Yaris – noise. A comprehensive approach to reducing noise resulted in using acoustic glass for the windshield and placing sound-absorbing and sound-insulating materials in additional locations throughout the car.

Rocker panel protectors, asphalt sheets for the floor panel and silencers for the floor tunnel help cut road noise, while new under-hood insulators block engine noise from the cabin. Foam-type sound-insulation material is injected into hollow structural spaces to block outside noise. Even the air conditioner ducts, which flow 50-percent more air for 2015, are quieter.
 
Toyota Value Through and Through 
The Yaris comes in L, LE and SE grades, each a mono-spec trim that eliminates option packages. Standard features include air conditioning, sport-tuned electric power steering, 3-spoke tilt steering wheel, power door locks with illuminated entry, cargo area cover and lamp, power windows with driver’s side auto up/down, and color-keyed folding outside mirrors. The Yaris LE adds the convenience of power mirrors, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, and a remote keyless entry system with engine immobilizer.

All models get the Yaris Entune Audio that includes a 6.1-inch touch screen, an AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers, HD Radio™ with iTunes® Tagging, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod® connectivity and control, hands-free phone capability, voice recognition, and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology.

For the first time in a Yaris, a navigation system is an available port, or dealer-installed, option.
Toyota imbued the Yaris with a feeling of solidity and quality throughout. That feeling carries through to even small details that make the ownership experience that much more pleasant. The glovebox damper, for example, lets the compartment open with a smoothness seen on luxury models. Dual extendable sun visors with vanity mirrors are a convenience some entry cars leave out.

And, who hasn't left a dome light on overnight only to find a dead battery in the morning? That won’t happen in the Yaris. An automatic cut-off system will turn off any interior lights after 20 minutes if the ignition is switched off.

Toyota Quality, Warranty and Care
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-car warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation.

The Yaris also comes standard with Toyota Care, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Toyota Takes Home the UW Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognized for donating $875,000 over eight years

Toyota was honored on Sept. 18 as the recipient of UW Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the company’s commitment to supporting Harborview Medical Center, one of UW Medicine’s world-class teaching hospitals. Over the past eight years, Toyota has donated $875,000 to UW Medicine to assist Harborview in their mission to provide a superior level of care to their patients.

“We’re extremely humbled by this honor and proud of our partnership with UW Medicine,” said Mike O’Brien, president of the Western Washington Toyota Dealers. “Toyota is committed to supporting organizations that make a difference in the community and raise the bar for the quality of life in Western Washington. UW Medicine’s Harborview Medical Center provides excellent care through its Mission of Caring, helping to make our community healthier and happier.”

The award was presented at UW Medicine Turner Society’s annual Tomorrow Today celebration, which showcases breakthroughs in research, patient care and education. UW Medicine’s Turner Society, founded in 1988, consists of donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually to UW Medicine, helping the school continue to pursue excellence in healthcare.  

“Toyota has a long history of supporting Harborview Medical Center, one of UW Medicine’s teaching hospitals,” said Paul G. Ramsey, M.D., CEO of UW Medicine, executive vice president for medical affairs and dean of the UW School of Medicine. “Over the course of the past decade, the dealers have contributed nearly $1 million to Harborview’s mission of caring through a golf tournament and a gala, all to benefit Harborview’s patients. We’re proud of this partnership, and we are delighted to present Toyota with UW Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Toyota’s contributions to Harborview Medical Center have supported hundreds of patients over the years, ensuring that those who can’t pay for the excellent care the medical center provides get the very same care as those who can.

A Family Van Affair: 2015 Toyota Sienna Makes Room for Eight … and Is the Only Van In Its Segment Available with All-Wheel Drive

• Upgraded interior styling with premium materials
• More expressive exterior styling brings back the swagger
• Seven standard airbags on all grades
• New parent-friendly Driver Easy Speak system
• Entune® multimedia now standard
• Blu-Ray Dual View Entertainment Center keeps the peace in the back seat

The family van is alive and thriving, especially when it’s the 2015 Toyota Sienna debuting refreshed exterior styling packed with added safety, convenience and multi-media features. The 2015 Sienna, the only family van to offer an all-wheel drive option, is the ideal choice for hauling a large family, or loading up all your stuff for a weekend getaway.  Inside, Sienna really shines with an array of upgraded interior appointments and new convenience features allow the family hauler to remain kid-friendly, but in a parents rule environment.

After the new and enhanced safety features, the one new Sienna feature for 2015 that will have parents talking is the new Driver Easy Speak option. If you’ve ever had the urge to use a bullhorn to carry your voice to back seat passengers, Driver Easy Speak is your dream come true. Using the microphone from the Sienna’s voice-command multi-media system, Driver Easy Speak conveys your voice through the audio system’s rear speakers.

Combined with a standard conversation mirror integrated into the overhead console, Driver Easy Speak is the next best thing to having a hallway monitor in the van.
 
Subtle exterior styling refinements give the Sienna a more upscale look, with a revised front grille, and new slimmer headlight units with an advanced design for the SE and Limited grades. New LED daytime running lamps (DRLs), standard for the SE and Limited, give the Sienna a more aggressive appearance. All grades except the SE get redesigned taillight clusters, too.  It’s not all about appearance.  A stiffer platform, with 142 additional spot welds, translates to a driving experience unexpected from a minivan.

The Sienna is powered exclusively by a silky-smooth 266-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. This combination gives the Sienna confident power for urban trekking or highway merging while using fuel efficiently. Combined with the standard Tow Prep Package, the V6 gives the Sienna a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and a wide stance help deliver a solid, direct on-road feel. Aerodynamic under-body elements also contribute to Sienna’s dynamic performance.
 
More Safety Features
Toyota values the trust that customers put in the Sienna, and for 2015, the van’s safety roster gains numerous enhancements. For securing child seats, there’s an additional LATCH location available in the third row seat, for a total of four locations. Toyota increased the side curtain airbag coverage area by 30 percent, helping to improve protection in a collision.

A new front passenger seat cushion airbag enhances restraint performance during a collision. The front passenger airbag features a twin-lobe airbag, which simulates a twin-chamber design, with a depression in the center, to help reduce impact forces. The front passenger seat has a new selectable force-limiting seatbelt to help enhance safety for a greater variety of physiques. Airbag control in the 2015 Sienna has been modified to better match needs for vehicle rollover and small overlap collisions.
 
Unexpected Luxury and Style
Family van drivers deserve a little more style and comfort. In the 2015 Sienna, a new center console and dash design elegantly groups the air conditioning, shifter and multimedia controls into a single unified panel. Controls fall within easy reach. New soft upper door trim, dashboard graining, and new blue illumination, help make every drive just a bit more serene. A new Tri-Sync switch for the air conditioning lets the driver more easily control the three climate zones.

Sienna’s new three-spoke heated steering wheel, available trimmed in leather or premium leather, ups the luxury ante. 

Not all arms are created equal, which is why the new available pushbutton driver’s seat center armrest in the 2015 Sienna can be adjusted to many positions. It even remembers the last position after the armrest has been stowed.

Getting vehicle information at a glance just got easier in the 2015 Sienna. All models come with a new multi-information display in the instrument panel, directly ahead of the driver. There’s a base 3.5-inch dot-matrix LCD version or a 4.2-inch color TFT (thin film transistor) display on up-level models. With either, you can toggle to audio controls using the four-way switch on the steering wheel. The TFT version is linked to the multi-media system and can also display navigation information. This version can even show all-wheel drive operation on AWD models.
 
New Standard Entune™ Multimedia 
The 2015 Sienna brings the sound of music more conveniently through the newly upgraded Display Audio Entune™ multimedia system with subscription-free App Suite on most grades. Just pair a compatible smartphone to access popular mobile applications and data services. You can do so using Bluetooth wireless or a USB cable. Then, use the Sienna’s controls to operate the apps. For some services, you can use the voice recognition. The Entune App Suite includes mobile apps for Bing™, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable®, and Pandora®. Entune data services include a fuel price guide, sports scores, stocks, traffic and weather.
 
You can launch Entune apps by pressing a switch on the steering wheel and speaking the name of the app, then using voice commands to operate it.  The audio unit can download new Entune apps as they’re developed, including the necessary voice recognition components.

Three Entune Audio systems are available:

• Entune Audio Plus,
• Entune Premium Audio with navigation and App Suite and
• Entune JBL Premium Audio with navigation and App Suite

Each are equipped with SiriusXM Radio (with three-month complimentary trial), HD radio, HD traffic and weather in major metro areas, and integrated backup camera display.
 
The Peacemaker: Upgraded Dual View Entertainment Center
Toyota brings versatility, peace and harmony to rear seat entertainment with the Dual View Entertainment Center, which uses two viewable displays within a seamless 16.4-inch widescreen image. New for 2015 are Blu-Ray capability, an HDMI input, and an SDXC card reader that can play 10 different audio and video formats.  The system plays from one or two separate sources. Used as a single screen, it can be easily seen from the third row, and it can be operated from any seat via remote control.  The system also includes a pair of wireless headphones, allowing passengers to enjoy viewing their respective screens without a fuss.

Models 
The 2015 Sienna is available in five grades: L, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. All-wheel-drive is available on LE, XLE and Limited models. The L grade includes a long list of value features families have come to expect.  With all its additional content, the Sienna LE could be mistaken for a top-of-the-line model -- but there are still three more grades above it.  The XLE adds even more standard features while the ultimate family van, the Sienna Limited, is packed from sliding door to sliding door with luxury.*

Sporty SE
Never let it be said that moving into a family van means giving up style and driving pleasure – not with the Toyota Sienna SE. Looking like a sport sedan that morphed into a family van, the Sienna SE drives sporty, too, thanks to a lowered, sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels, for sharper handling agility. The side skirt body elements and smoke-look sport trim help make the Sienna SE look even lower, while new, lower-profile headlights with LED daytime running lamps (DRL) complement the muscular style.

Inside, exclusive instrumentation and unique black leather-trimmed heated and powered seats with white stitching complete this comprehensive transformation.   
 
Space Shuttle
With family vans, you can never have enough space. The Toyota Sienna offers a choice between seven- and eight-passenger configurations and comes chock full of versatile features for shuttling passengers comfortably or hauling lots of whatever you’ve got. With the third-row seat stowed and the second-row seat removed, it passes the plywood test with room for cargo eight feet long and four feet wide, providing up to 150 cubic feet of available space.

Sienna is super-easy to load, thanks to a wide tailgate and wide side doors, low floor height and tip up and slide second-row seats. You’ll find numerous storage bins, spaces and cupholders throughout the cabin.

No matter where you sit in a Sienna, the outward view is airy. In seven-seat cabins, the second row captain chairs slide 23 inches rearward to create legroom for the tallest passengers and easier ingress and egress. Or, the seats can be moved forward closer to the front seats to make it easy to reach a child passenger, while also allowing easy access to the third-row.

A sliding center console on the FWD Limited grade can be shared between the front seats and second row passengers. The illuminated console slides into the second row area to provide convenient access for both rows.
 
For even greater passenger comfort, the Limited FWD grade’s standard second-row Lounge Seating includes leg and foot support. Second-row captain chairs have dual armrests, and an easy release mechanism facilitates seat removal.

On eight-passenger models, the second row center seat can be removed and stowed in the left side of the rear-storage area, leaving a cupholder and storage tray between the two remaining seats. The Tip Up and Long Slide feature lets you slide the seats forward and back on extended rails, adjusting room as needed for passengers or cargo. Sliding the second-row seats all the way to the rear creates a walk-in aisle, making it easier to enter, exit, install a child seat, or place a child in a seat. Regardless of cabin configuration, all second-row seats provide easy access to the third-row.

The third-row seat is not short of surprises, either. The 60/40 Split and Stow third-row seat folds flat with one motion, with the Limited FWD model receiving a power seat-lowering feature. Even with the third-row seat in use, there’s enough storage room for five golf bags or four large suitcases. Handy grocery hooks in both rows add storage convenience.
 
The Toyota Safety Standard
The standard Toyota Star Safety System™ equips the 2015 Toyota Sienna with Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

The addition of the front passenger seat cushion airbag brings total airbags to eight in the 2015 Sienna, including dual-stage front airbags and seat-mounted side airbags for the driver and front passenger, plus a driver’s side knee airbag. The side curtain airbags -- now with 30 percent greater coverage area for 2015 -- cover the length of the cabin, from the front seats to the third row. Active headrests in both front seats help to reduce the possibility of whiplash in certain types of collisions.

The available Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert on SE, XLE and Limited grades uses sub-millimeter wave radar designed to detect vehicles that are in the driver’s blind spots. When the system detects a vehicle in the adjacent lane, it alerts the driver using indicators on the side mirrors. If the turn signal is on when there is a vehicle in the blind spot of the driver’s intended lane, the indicator on the corresponding mirror will flash. Rear Cross Traffic Alert can be especially helpful when backing out of a driveway or parking slot.

A Pre-Collision System (PCS) is available on the Limited grade, as is Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). The VDIM system coordinates brake control with engine output and steering inputs. Unlike reactive traction systems, VDIM operates proactively. During normal driving, the system works smoothly to enhance control even before the vehicle reaches its limits.
 
Connected for Safety
For additional safety assurance, the Safety Connect™ telematics system comes standard on the Sienna Limited. Its one-year complimentary trial subscription covers four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance.

Designed specifically for the North American market, the current-generation Sienna was primarily designed by Toyota’s Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, Calif., developed in part at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana.
 
Limited Warranty
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation.

Standard Toyota Care is a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Sweeping Redesign Keeps 2015 Toyota Camry at the Top of Its Class

• New design, from bumper to bumper
• Boldest looking Camry ever is also the quietest ever
• New sporty XSE and Hybrid SE grades rev up driving enjoyment
• New multi-media features
• Created by more than 7,000 American team members

The best-selling car in America for the last 12 years just got better!  When redesigning the Camry for 2015, Toyota went bumper to bumper and floor to roof, changing or re-engineering nearly 2,000 parts. Only the roof remains unchanged, and it caps off the boldest Camry body ever.

That provides an idea of the scope of the transformation that also endows the new Camry with a stiffer body structure, enhanced aerodynamics and its quietest ride ever. The redesigned, upscale interior, and advanced instrumentation with intuitive controls help keep the driver safely focused on the road.

The redesigned interior looks and feels much more upscale, featuring premium, soft-touch materials throughout.
 
Getting Sporty, Getting Younger
The 2015 model is easily the best-handling and most comfortable-riding Camry ever. Beneath the bolder body lines the Camry’s body structure has been bolstered with additional spot welds to enhance rigidity. Retuned suspension systems in all models put an edge on handling agility while taking the edge off bumps.

And, for the 45 percent of Camry customers who have been choosing the sporty SE model (and who are, on average, 12 years younger than other Camry customers), there’s even bigger news. The SE is joined by an even sharper-handling XSE grade, with 18-inch wheels, suspension tuning and added luxury. Like the premium XLE grade, each of those sporty models is available with the choice of a 178-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or the 268-hp 3.5-liter V6. The Camry Hybrid returns, as well, available in LE, XLE and the eco-fun SE grades.
 
Expressive. Athletic. Exciting. Yes, It’s a Camry.
An aggressive looking front bumper and grille, pronounced side character lines and low-profile LED headlamps give the new Camry a far more expressive style.

It’s a sleeker look that’s also slightly longer (1.8 inches / 45 mm) and features a widened track (0.4 inches / 10 mm) that communicates a dynamic stance and presence. In profile, a pronounced body line starts from the Camry’s muscular front fender and spans across the doors and rear quarter panel, conveying a sense of motion.

Sleek new headlamps are the eyes in a new Camry face you won’t forget. The 2015 Camry offers available LED low- and high beams with auto static leveling, and front turn signal indicators and LED DRL’s are integrated for an elegant appearance. Tail lamps wrap around into the tapered rear quarters for a more sophisticated appearance. The 2015 Camry is available in 10 colors, including the all-new Celestial Silver Metallic and Ruby Flare Pearl.  Additional colors new for Camry include Blizzard Pearl; Predawn Gray Mica; and Blue Crush Metallic

Plush, Hushed Cabin
Drivers will love the 2015 Camry interior, and so will passengers. Everywhere you look and touch, the Camry presents premium materials, an overall roomier feel and enhanced amenities. Varying by model, seat cover textures range from premium fabric up to genuine leather trim and Ultrasuede with durable, high contrast French-stitching. Detailed stitching and satin chrome trim give the new Camry cabin a sophisticated appearance and luxurious feel.

The new center stack shows off a high-tech, upscale look that more smoothly integrates with the console. The center console plays a larger role than ever in modern cars, accommodating all manner of personal items as well as presenting multi-media functions. The Camry’s console tray offers more storage and a convenient power source in the storage box. The new enclosed bin in front of the shifter offers a 12v power port, USB port and a segment-first, available wireless charging system for select smart phones.

Toyota uses new electronics in the 2015 Camry to help reduce driver distraction, not add to it. The best example of that approach might be the new 4.2-inch TFT screen nestled between the three-dimensional Optitron gauges, standard on all grades except the Camry LE gas model.  The screen’s color animation displays a wide range of vehicle functions and coordinates with the multimedia system to display audio, navigation, warnings and communications. It’s also networked with the direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System so you can even see at a glance the pressure in each tire.

Toyota did delete something from the 2015 Camry’s interior: noise. With the powertrains already exceptionally quiet, the engineers focused especially on reducing wind and road noise. Among numerous changes throughout the car, window and door seals were improved to keep outside noise out. Even the side mirrors were redesigned to better control airflow-reducing turbulence and noise. Beneath your feet, the carpet uses 30 percent more noise-insulating material.  
 
Advanced Safety Features
The 2015 Camry offers in-demand advanced safety features including Pre-Collision System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Auto High Beam Lane Departure Alert, and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. That is, of course, in addition to the 10 standard airbags that include dual-stage advanced SRS front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbag.

Like all current Toyota vehicles, the 2015 Camry comes standard with the STAR Safety System, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. It also features the Smart Stop Technology brake-override system.

For the maximum in customer assurance, the XLE grade offers the Safety Connect™ telematics system (with a one-year complimentary trial subscription), which covers four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance.
 
Dialing Up Driving Fun
Sharpening the agility in a car the right way starts with a stiffer structure. Toyota added additional spot welds to the Camry’s door opening flanges to increase rigidity, which in turn enabled the suspension tuning needed to enable more spirited handling. The combination of MacPherson struts up front, a multi-link configuration at the rear and a stiffer body structure allows for unique suspension tuning across trim levels.

The electric power steering on all 2015 Camry models is tuned for better on-center feel, enhanced straightline stability and more direct-feeling steering inputs. Drivers will also experience better feel from the brake system, which now uses a two-stage booster. Where the rubber meets the road, the 2015 Camry shows off new 16-inch wheel covers (LE) and new 17 and 18-inch alloy wheel designs (other grades).

SE and XSE Grades: You’ll Grade Them on A Curve
The Camry SE made it possible to get a charge out of driving the country’s most popular family sedan, and its success inspired Toyota engineers to take the concept even further. The result is the 2015 Camry XSE.

Both the Camry SE and XSE are distinguished by a unique front fascia design with a piano-black mesh grille. The halogen or LED headlamps (standard on V6) on these sporty models get an almost sinister-looking dark chrome coating, in contrast to the clear appearance on the other grades. (The dark headlamps look especially sinister with the Attitude Black Metallic exterior color.)

Behind the wheel, it’s all good clean fun in the XSE thanks to model-specific 18-inch wheels, higher rate coil springs, unique shock absorbers with internal rebound springs, firmer bushings and unique electric power steering tuning. The wheels carry meaty 225/45R18 all season tires. The Camry SE features its own sporty suspension tuning and 17-inch alloy wheels. Both models upgrade to a leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel and sport front seats with more supportive side bolsters.

Whether equipped with the 2.5-liter four or the 3.5-liter V6, these sporty Camry models feature a multi-mode console shifter and steering wheel paddle shifters for the six-speed automatic transmission. Exclusive to the SE and XSE, the transmission features faster shift times when in “S” mode, along with downshift blipping control to heighten the performance driving feel.

Toyota took a bold step in mid-2014 by combining the agility of the SE with the high fuel economy of the Camry Hybrid. It’s now got permanent status in the redesigned 2015 Camry lineup, and it’s more than just a sharper look. Specific suspension tuning, with unique stabilizer bar, absorber valve structure, and control arm bushing components, make this one fun-loving hybrid sedan. Even the vehicle stability control system has been retuned for smoother intervention and a more natural driving feel.  
 
Performance and Efficiency 
The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine produces 178 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque. It’s teamed with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, and the combination offers EPA-estimated 25 MPG city / 35 MPG highway fuel economy.
 
The DOHC 3.5-liter V6, one of the few sixes available in the midsize segment, is available in the XLE and XSE grades and delivers 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,700 rpm. It, too, is teamed to the six-speed automatic. Impressive EPA MPG estimates of 21 city / 31 highway are among the best for a V6. Both Camry gasoline engines employ Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (Dual VVT-i) which controls valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts for optimal performance and efficiency at all engine speeds.


Camry Hybrid: 43 MPG City Rating
Toyota remains the world’s leader in hybrid vehicles, and the choice of seven hybrids for 2015, including the redesigned Camry, shows why. With its Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, the 2015 Camry Hybrid LE offers an EPA estimated 43 mpg city/39 mpg highway/41 mpg combined fuel economy.

The Toyota Hybrid system is still the industry standard for seamless performance. Through its unique transaxle, Hybrid Synergy Drive combines output from the 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine and a small high-torque electric motor. The system produces a combined 200 horsepower and varies power between the gas engine and electric motor, or combines both, as needed. A 7.6-second zero-to-60 acceleration time places the Camry Hybrid’s performance between the four-cylinder and V6 models.

Regenerative braking converts the electric motor to a generator that captures the kinetic energy when the brake is applied, storing it in the hybrid battery pack. Hill-start assist control helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when starting off on an incline when the brake pedal is released.

Driver-selectable modes help the Camry Hybrid to get the most out of every gallon of gasoline. For example, ECO mode optimizes throttle response and air conditioning output to help prioritize fuel economy. You can select EV mode to operate the Camry Hybrid solely on the electric motor for up to 1.6 miles at lower speeds (below approximately 25 mph).   

A Hybrid System Indicator and fuel consumption indicator, located in the 4.2-inch TFT screen, helps the driver to operate the car as economically as possible.
 
Entune™ Multimedia 
New multi-media offerings in the 2015 Camry will be music to customers’ ears. Depending on model grade, the Camry offers a variety of audio and Navigation packages with either 6.1-inch or 7-inch displays. The display serves as a portal for Entune®, Toyota’s innovative multimedia system with access to the subscription-free App Suite. The available HD Radio system includes iTunes®tagging and SiriusXM Satellite Radio™ (with a 90-day complimentary trial).

All 2015 Camry models feature a standard Bluetooth® wireless connection for compatible hands-free phone calls, and a phone book transfer function is available. Steering wheels in all models feature integrated audio and Bluetooth controls. A standard USB port allows playing music and video from portable audio devices, using the vehicle sound system and available in-dash display screen, and includes full iPod® integration.

The top-of-the-line system is equipped with a seven-inch Premium HDD Navigation system with Entune® and JBL GreenEdge™ audio system. The system’s split-screen can simultaneously display navigation and audio information. The GreenEdge™ eight-channel amplifier is lighter and produces higher sound output than conventional amplifiers while consuming less energy.

The Entune® multimedia system with subscription-free App Suite turns a compatible smartphone into a new source of infotainment with access to popular mobile applications and data services. You launch Entune apps by pressing a switch on the steering wheel and speaking the name of the app, then using the audio controls or voice commands to operate it.

The Entune App Suite includes mobile apps for Bing™, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable®, and Pandora®. Entune data services include a fuel price guide, sports scores, stocks, traffic and weather. The audio unit can download new Entune apps as they’re developed, including the necessary voice recognition components.

Every Camry sold in North America is the product of over 7,000 skilled American team members. From design and engineering in Michigan, to assembly in Kentucky, a unique American touch goes into each Camry.

Peace of Mind Warranty Protection
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation. The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

Standard Toyota Care is a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Toyota Posts Best-Ever Sales In August 2014

Toyota is No. 1 retail manufacturer; Toyota SUVs record best sales month ever 

Toyota, Scion and Lexus today reported total August 2014 sales results of 246,100 units, an increase of 10.2 percent over August 2013 on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw-volume basis, unadjusted for 27 selling days in August 2014 versus 28 selling days in August 2013, sales increased 6.3 percent over year-ago month.
 
Toyota division posted August 2014 sales of 213,291 units, up 9.6 percent year-over-year on a DSR basis. Volume-wise, Toyota division sales increased 5.7 percent over August 2013.
 
“The industry had its best August in over a decade with sales topping 1.5 million vehicles," said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager. "Boosted by standout SUV sales and a record-shattering month for RAV4, Toyota was the number 1 retail manufacturer in August."
 
Lexus reported August sales of 32,809 units, a 14.2 percent increase on a DSR basis and a 10.1 percent increase on a raw-volume basis, both year-over-year. 
 
“It was a great market from top to bottom in August,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager.  “Lexus had its second straight record-setting month as both passenger cars and luxury utility vehicles posted solid gains.”
 
Other Highlights:

• Camry posts sales of more than 44,000 units
• All-new Corolla up over 23 percent
• Avalon up nearly 13 percent
• Prius posts sales of nearly 24,000 units
• Toyota SUVs up about 28 percent, posts best month ever
• All-new RAV4 up 51.5 percent, tops the previous best-ever record set just last month
• 4Runner up 67 percent
• All-new Highlander posts sales of 11,489 units
• All-new Tundra up 4 percent for the month
• Tacoma posts sales of over 14,000 units
• All-new Lexus IS increased 20 percent
• Lexus ES posts sales of more than 7,600 units
• Lexus GS up nearly 14 percent
• Lexus luxury utility vehicles up almost 12 percent
• Lexus GX posts triple-digit gains for the tenth month in a row
• Lexus RX about 4 percent

Make Something New with Toyota Urban Utility Concept Car

Toyota’s North American Design Studio Draws Inspiration from Maker Faire, Urban Lifestyle Trends

The do-it-yourself movement is transforming cities with invention-focused Maker Faire events, growing entrepreneurship, and a new Toyota concept to fit these trends. Inspired by a growing innovative spirit in urban areas, Toyota revealed today the Urban Utility concept vehicle – or U2 – at a private panel discussion hosted by Make: magazine in San Francisco. Vehicle elements reflect the lifestyle and needs of an entrepreneurial, urban driver discovered through interviews with Maker Faire participants and internal Toyota market research.

Developed by Toyota’s Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California, the Toyota U2concept features a new open architecture and purposeful materials that redefine urban utility. Designers included the ability to roll back the roof, fold down the tailgate into a ramp and customize the interior on a versatile rail system. The concept car will make its first public appearance at World Maker Faire in New York City on Sept. 20 and 21.

“Toyota saw an opportunity for a new approach to an urban vehicle based on increasing re-urbanization of our cities and urban drivers’ desire for flexibility, fun and maneuverability,” said Kevin Hunter president of Calty, Toyota’s North American design studio. “Calty keeps a number of projects concealed while exploring ideas and products. Revealing a project like the U2 gives people a window into the constant innovation that happens inside Toyota and our Calty studios and one possible future for urban mobility.”

Bringing the concept to a Maker community event allowed Toyota to gain feedback from a key audience.

“As more products are developed expressly to appeal to Makers and their deep appreciation of design esthetic combined with open architecture and practical utility, we expect to see more trusted brands like Toyota take an unconventional approach to not only product development but their marketing and launch strategies,” said Sherry Huss, VP and co-founder of Maker Faire. “Leveraging the growing Maker movement and Makers’ broad sphere of influence can impact the success of consumer brands and future products.”

Customizable Interior

Among the U.S. trends that influenced the Calty design team were a growth in entrepreneurship and Americans’ love of adventure, especially outdoor activities involving gear and equipment. Drawing on these insights, the Toyota U2 concept is a flexible, functional gadget that owners can customize according to individual, on-the-go needs. The retractable utility bar can serve unique uses, such as holding a desk or grocery bag hooks. Side windows flip up for easy access from roadside.

Other key interior highlights include:

• Versatile utility rail system configurable to hold everything from baskets to bike stands
• Ability to fold and remove the front passenger seat
• Fold-up rear seating
• Unique shifter design with intuitive switch for parking, drive and reverse mode
• Choice among a selection of colors and materials to fit needs

Toyota research showed the fast-growing small SUV segment points to a desire for greater utility but a smaller vehicle footprint. The Toyota U2 concept is the size of a compact car with the functionality of a compact truck and the spaciousness of a cargo van. It satisfies other key urban driver priorities including good fuel economy, maneuverability in city environments and easy loading and unloading.

An Exterior for the City

City streets call for a vehicle that can handle bumper-to-bumper traffic, potholes and tight corners. The Toyota U2 concept has an extremely durable underbody and tool-like exterior with a customizable side panel. The iconic, modern design remains playful, with details such as circular door handles and a slightly chunky proportion. The box-like design at the rear emphasizes the storage capabilities.

Highlights of the exterior include:

• Roof panels that retract open
• Rear glass that can slide into the tailgate
• Tailgate that folds down into a ramp
• Protective, replaceable ridges on tailgate

After its public reveal in New York, the Toyota U2 concept will return to the Calty studio in California. For more information about Toyota innovation, visithttp://www.toyota.com/usa/operations/design-research-development.

Toyota Helping to Protect Tomorrow's Drivers Today

With the goal of making tomorrow’s driving safer, Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) announced that it is significantly expanding its mission to advance automotive safety research, with a new focus on the challenges and opportunities that evolving vehicle technologies will present over the next decade.

Thanks to a new $35 million commitment that extends the center’s effort to the 2020s, CSRC will concentrate on supporting a safe transition to the future of mobility, particularly through emerging automated- and connected-vehicle technologies.  As part of this effort, researchers intend to explore the complex relationship between future mobility and broader social trends, such as the growth of networked “Smart Homes” and the so-called “Quantified Self” associated with the rise in wearable devices. 

“At Toyota, we believe in the fundamental principle that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen,” said Osamu Nagata, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), who made the announcement at Toyota’s 2014 Advanced Safety Seminar in Ann Arbor, Mich.  “As new automotive technologies continue to evolve, CSRC is committed to working with its partners across the industry and beyond to help realize a future of mobility that is safer and greener than today.”

“CSRC’s newly expanded mission recognizes that the emergence of advanced technologies is radically reshaping the transportation landscape,” said Chuck Gulash, Director of CSRC. “Thanks to these exciting automated and connected vehicle technologies, drivers and their vehicles are increasingly working together as teammates and sharing more responsibilities on the road.  We hope to help pave the way for the safe introduction of these new systems, not only by refining the technologies, but also by preparing the drivers who will be using them -- with the continued goal of saving lives.”

The only research center of its kind in the industry, CSRC partners with leading institutions across North America to help advance safer and more responsible ways of moving people and sharing the results so everyone can benefit.  Since 2011, the Center has focused its research on active safety, driver distraction and at-risk traffic populations – including children, teens, pedestrians and seniors  – to better understand how to help protect people in crashes and prevent collisions from happening at all.

The Center will continue its work with agencies, policymakers , academics  and industry to identify research gaps and to share findings, research tools and analytic models across the automotive industry and beyond.

Three Years of Safety Advances

Collaborative Safety Research Center to Focus Research on the Transition to Automated Vehicle and Connected Vehicle Technologies

New $35 Million Commitment Extends CSRC to 2020s 

Over the last three years, CSRC has launched 34 research projects with 17 partner institutions.  To date, the Center has completed seven and made significant advances in the areas of human factors, active safety, biomechanics and Big Data – including:

• Developing standardized test procedures for vehicle and pedestrian pre-collision systems, including the worlds-first articulated mannequin that shares the same radar cross-section as a human, enabling regulators and consumers to measure and compare performance across multiple makes and models;  
• Conducting a comprehensive scientific study of the potential safety benefits provided by advanced driving technologies, such as pre-collision (PCS) and lane-departure warning (LDW) systems;
• Building on studies examining the changes in physiology and seatbelt fit with age, taking body-scans of a broad range of age and body types and highlighting the continuous need for public education about the importance of proper seatbelt use;
• Creating a human body finite element models of a child so that engineers can account for differences in child body characteristics when designing vehicle safety systems; and
• Developing high speed tools to organize, process and analyze petabytes  of naturalistic driving data (known as the Strategic Highway Research Program 2, or SHRP2) and making the tools available to all auto manufactures, suppliers, transportation agencies and research universities that share our goal of better understanding how we can prevent crashes in the future.

CSRC’s first phase of research will conclude in 2016. Research under the new mission will focus on:

• developing human/machine interface (HMI) guidelines for next-generation automated and connected vehicle systems;  
• the optimal user skills to operate these technologies safely; and
• the unique challenges posed by a U.S. vehicle fleet that will likely feature automated and connected vehicles, as well as traditional ones, traveling the same roads.

Following today’s announcement, CSRC staff will begin engaging with stakeholders to identify gaps in knowledge and key research priorities as society begins to transition to the future of mobility.