The Toyota Camry, Danville drivers who own one might agree, has so many nice features and a wide range of trim options.  It is a sedan that’s not only fun to drive, especially if you opt for a sport package, but it’s size and functionality makes it a wise choice amongst drivers who need to transport just themselves, or maybe even a small family.  Toyota recognizes how significant of a vehicle the Camry is for the U.S. market, so they are excited about the 2012 Camry that will roll out to dealerships soon.

Advertising the model

To get consumers excited about the updated line up, the automaker recently held some media events in Los Angeles, Detroit, and New York where viewers were able to see video footage of Toyota’s president driving a brand new 2012 Camry off an assembly line at a U.S. plant.

The vehicle, which is set to arrive your Urbana Toyota dealership, O’Brien Toyota of Urbana, this fall, will be heavily advertised starting in October through the Super Bowl, where it will have a big presence.  Even more exciting is the announcement a few weeks ago that the Camry will serve as the official pace car at the Daytona 500 in February 2012.  This is a big event both here in the U.S. and around the world, so it’s great that the Camry will be in the spotlight to help attract new drivers who have never had the pleasure of test driving or owning one. 

What to Expect with the 2012 models

We’ll bring you some more in depth information on what the 2012 Camry will offer, but there are many updates and changes that drivers will find, both inside and outside the vehicle.  There will be notable changes in the technology offered, performance and much more.  Stay tuned for more information!

What the country needs now is plenty of aid to help bring residents back to some sense of normalcy. This is a large task and will take many years, and every little bit of monetary donations will be put to various uses.  This is an area where Toyota is stepping up and doing its part.

Recent figures are reporting that Toyota’s contributions toward relief in Japan have reached the $8.6 million mark.  This is truly amazing and shows that the staff and other individuals associated with the company are willing to help others who are in extreme need during this stressful time.  Let’s see where many of these contributions have come from within the Toyota divisions.

• $3.86 million has come from Toyota of North America- including contributions from team members, suppliers, dealers, business partners, friends, and more.
• Toyota Motor Corporation has brought to the table another $3.75 million
• Lastly, Toyota Industries Corporation has come through with $1.2 million

Other Toyota affiliates such as TMS, TFS, TMA and TEMA are fortunate enough to have employees that have pledged $498,000 and each of these companies will be matching the donations of their staff.

In addition, staff from Toyota dealerships all over the country, including your Champaign Toyota dealer, have been making donations as well.  Even drivers of Toyota models can visit the “Hope for Japan” website and make a donation to the Red Cross relief efforts, in addition to adding a message of hope.

It is a great feeling to be able to give back to those suffering after a catastrophe.  If you would like to donate, or have questions about Toyota’s role in the relief efforts, contact the staff here at your favorite stop for Urbana used cars and more!

Highlights of this model

The Prius C is still considered a concept car, but it already has drawn up buzz, especially amongst those who saw it on display at the Detroit International Auto Show last month.  It will offer some of these known features:

1. For the non-plug in hybrid class, it will be the most fuel efficient car. 
2. It will be lighter weight than the current Toyota Prius Gibson City commuters can find today at O’Brien Toyota of Urbana.
3. More modern and eye-catching exterior styling, such as distinctively styled headlights, to hopefully attract this new group of drivers anxious to get their first car.
4. Described as a city car, it may make traveling and parking around Urbana-Champaign much easier.
5. It will offer some of the most up to date technology features that Generation Y relies heavily on each day.  These will be announced in detail closer to production date.

Current Prius Models

If you are curious about driving a Prius now, stop by our store to take a test drive and find out more information.  We have a large selection of both new 2010 and 2011 models that would look great parked in your driveway.  Most of you know that the Prius gets unbeatable gas mileage of around 48 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway.  If you need something new or want a Champaign used car with the Prius name, and want to save money on gas, this car may just be what you need.

The Prius comes in several trims and exciting colors such as Barcelona Red Metallic, Classic Silver, and Winter Gray, to name a few.  You’ll also get the chance to enjoy a long list of convenience features, along with the assurance of a safe ride thanks to many safety features.

Toyota has teamed up with Discovery Education to launch a website where parents, teens, and educators can work together to keep teens driving with all the safety tools in mind.  The website has some very valuable resources that members of these groups can download and/ or read on line and work on together.  For example, there is a Mutual Driving Agreement that parents and their child(ren) can create to make sure everyone stays safe and responsible behind the wheel.  There’s even a space for parents to write out the amount of car related costs the teen will need to contribute to while driving their Gibson City Toyota Prius, for example.  These include cost of gas, registering the vehicle, any tickets, etc.

If it is time for your child to begin their hopefully long “career” of operating a vehicle, this is where we at O’Brien Toyota of Urbana come into play.  We have a large inventory of new and used Toyota models we are sure will make parents and teens very happy.  For example, 2011 Toyota models now come standard with the company’s Five Point Star Safety System that includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist as standard features on all models.  As a parent or guardian, having these features in your child’s auto will give you the peace of mind you need when handing them the keys, especially the first few times.

There are plenty of models featured at your Champaign used car dealer for Toyota models that would be perfect solutions for a family full of drivers!  Come in and check out our inventory today.

The world keeps getting easier and easier thanks to technology and better ways to use it. The iPhone started it all with their apps that did all sorts of neat stuff. Proven to be more than just a fad and now in reality a life changing move forward, the apps have become the way things are done. Toyota has seen this and has had a vision of their own. Why not have an app that makes buying your next Toyota easier? Brilliant!

The mLots app is expected to help with specific VIN numbers in regards to choosing the right model and options without having to put too much effort into the process that early. Toyota has literally made an app for that. Every car maker website has a “build a car” function on it, but now you can browse actual models that have already been produced and are available for purchase.

If you’re looking for a car in Urbana, used car dealers in the Toyota family will have their inventory at your touch screen finger tips ready for you to browse without having to lift a finger. Well, to be fair, that is all you really have to do, don’t get lazy on me, stay with me a little longer. The next time you’re in Champaign, used car dealership catches your eye, you don’t have to spin the car round because you thought you saw the perfect car. With the mLot app, you can jump on, describe your perfect car, and your smart phone will tell you not only if your perfect car was at that dealership, it’ll even tell you if your perfect car exists. Are you in the market for a new Toyota? Yep, there’s an app for that.

Nominees for the Environmental Media Awards included the films, Avatar and the Fantastic Mr. Fox. Television programs such as Castle, 30 Rock, Handy Manny, Biggest Loser, and the Simpsons were also nominated. Special recognition was giving to Ted Turner, media mogul, and Jeff Skoll, founder, chairman, and owner of Participant Media. Toyota hopes that the actions of these nominees are able to inspire many to follow in their footsteps and help our environment.

Also featured at the Environmental Media Awards was Toyota and Lexus’ lineups of environmentally conscious vehicles. Attendees were able to preview the 2011 Lexus CT 200h, the world’s first premium luxury compact hybrid. This model will be available for purchase early next year. To mark their ten year anniversary of United States sales, Toyota featured their 3rd generation Prius. New and used Prius models are available for purchase at Champaign used car dealership, O’Brien Toyota. Also featured was Toyota’s Prius Plug-In Program.

Congratulations to all the award nominees and recipients. It is wonderful to know that there are so many efforts taking place to help our environment. Whether it is through supporting entertainment or through their lineup of hybrid vehicles, Toyota is glad to be taking action. If you would also like to take action, stop by Champaign used car dealership, O’Brien Toyota, to test drive one of their hybrid vehicle today.

The recalls prove Toyota’s dedication to improving both driver safety and setting higher standards for their vehicles. 3 major recalls were responded to this year. The first, was performed on vehicles with sticking accelerator pedals. Over 1.8 million have been repaired, and Toyota has since estimated that sticking accelerators have been reduced by up to 80%. Another 3.1 million vehicles have had their loose or interfering floor mats repaired or replaced. A final 128,000 Prius and Lexus models have had their anti-lock brake system software updated as well. This attention to detail is an example of how they are taking an offensive approach to customer service.

Toyota is taking their dedication to providing safer vehicles a step further in 2011. Every 2011 Toyota vehicle will come standard with the “Smart Stop” brake system, essentially it’s a sort of brake override protection. Your Danville Toyota dealer, O’Brien Urbana Toyota, can tell you more information on how the “Smart Stop” system can be a valuable asset on the road. Wherever you are, be that Nashville or Danville, Toyota Corollas have high safety ratings and the “Smart Stop” is only going to help that rating improve.

Besides their vehicles, Toyota is also making an effort to improve their people. This July, Toyota opened the door to its North American Center for Quality Excellence in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The facility will offer Toyota’s North American employees and suppliers training to reinforce the “Toyota Way” and the company’s Customer-First commitment to quality.

The “Toyota Way” is not some spiritual retreat for employees, but rather their commitment to improving employee capabilities, so that they are empowered to work from a Customer-First perspective. You will see that same level of service at your local Danville Toyota dealer, O’Brien Urbana Toyota, not to mention the great selection!

Toyota has always been one of the top automakers and even after the events of last year, Toyota continues to remain at the top. The action Toyota has taken is evidence as to why Toyota customers continue to be loyal the brand. As of 2011 Toyota says that all of their vehicles will be equipped with a “smart stop” system. This system is designed to override the brake system on the vehicle in case of an emergency. Gibson City Toyota dealers confirm many customers are encouraged by the new Toyota safety systems.

This past summer Toyota opened a North American Center for Quality Excellence. This center not only gives Toyota drivers a source for information and a place to voice their concerns in this country, it also educates employees. This center was designed to train employees on the standards of Toyota and to reinforce a commitment to “customer first quality.” Toyota hopes this center will be a place where employees continue to develop new ideas on how to keep Toyota customers satisfied and Toyota vehicles as safe as possible.

Toyota is also taking additional steps to ensure these types of malfunctions will never happen again. Toyota, along with its suppliers, are implementing new manufacturing processes. Toyota parts will be tested and retested continuously. The automaker hopes this kind of testing of key parts will help to catch any issues long before the parts are ever used in Toyota vehicles. This type of testing will also make sure Toyota has the best quality control process possible. Toyota will continue to develop new ways of ensuring Toyota vehicles are the safest vehicles on the road.

The Motorist Choice Awards are a funny thing. You can look at it like the Oscars. My girlfriend has a big party with people who come for the free food and then cheer for their actors and movies like it’s the most important thing in the world. People get incredibly excited for awards.

The bottom line is, it does not matter what some award says or what a group of critics says as long as you’re happy with what you have. Toyota has a stellar record for both sales and retention. In other words, once a consumer gets a Toyota, they keep it a long time.

If you’re looking for something flashy and need to show off and appease the ego a little bit, lucky for you Toyota makes Lexus. Problem solved! For those of you rocking it on a budget, Toyota has a long line of affordable vehicles for any cost or lifestyle.

Things have changed, but for several years now the quality and affordability that we have come to expect from Toyota has not. Toyota has found a welcome home here in the U.S. for their product and with any luck are here to stay. A Champaign Toyota dealer in Central Illinois might not be what you expect to succeed here in the heartland, but Toyota has a great place in these hearts as well.

If you’re looking for a used Corolla, Champaign owners are most likely not going to give up on theirs unless they’re trading up. Models like this are going to go faster than you can imagine, so you’d better be ready.

In the end, the best award a company could ask for is people continuing to buy their product. However, in the shorter scheme, I supposed a bunch of shiny trophies are cool too.

1) You should always be aware when driving your vehicle. Remember to look in your rear-view and side-view mirrors when you are stopped or parked. This can help you to notice approaching persons ahead of time.

2) Avoid stopping at a light or stop sign directly behind another car. Carjackers are waiting for this to happen so you don’t have any room to drive away. They may seize this opportunity to force you out of the car as the light turns green.

3) Alter your priorities. Instead of parking in a spot closest to the door, park in a spot that is well lit. A few extra steps won’t hurt anybody.

4) Make sure that you are constantly looking around as you enter and exit your car. Take notice of your surrounding. Once again, use those mirrors before exiting the car.

5) Always lock your doors. It is important to lock your doors as soon as you enter your car. Also, make sure that your car does not automatically unlock your doors when you park. If it does, you should have this setting turned off. Carjackers are familiar of this feature and will make sure to use it to their advantage. Carjackers may take advantage of child passengers as well. Therefore, it is especially important to have your child’s locks set to child-proof.

So the next time you are driving in your used corolla, Champaign drivers, please remember these tips.