Recently, Gulf States Toyota announced its plans to build a massive vehicle processing center in the city of Temple, specifically in the Rail Park at Central Pointe.

The 100-acre, more than $50 million center will be employing over 500 people. It will be processing and shipping approximately 100,000 Toyota and Scion vehicles annually through its direct access to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) main rail yard. The Fort Worth-based BNSF (NYSE: BNI) runs second behind Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) as the largest railroad company in the country. The automaker plans to have the processing begin in early 2008. They are expecting the plant to be slated and be running in 2011.

The new processing center will be the second for Gulf States Toyota as an independent distributor of Toyota vehicles equipped with not just quality KN air intake but also sophisticated technologies in the five-state region. The first one is established in Houston and is currently expanding.

According to Gary Cole, director of transformation and integration for Gulf States Toyota, “We are preparing for our future growth with both of these facilities… Our vehicle processing centers are vital to the service and support of all our dealers and ultimately their customers in the region.”

Temple Economic Development Corp. (TEDC) President Lee Peterson said that with the access to the rail yard and I-35 and a skilled workforce, the city’s economic landscape will likely be complementing the needs of the company.

Gary Schmidt, immediate-past chairman of the TEDC board of directors, said, “Gulf States Toyota and TEDC have worked closely together to negotiate a deal that is mutually beneficial… Temple’s location on the North American Trade Corridor provides Gulf States Toyota the best competitive advantage, while the central processing center will have a significant impact on our local economy.”

Well, this project proves that Toyota, as the world’s largest automaker, is really in its rapid phase of growth and expansion.

If we are not in need to combat global warming and meet the 35-mpg standard fuel consumption, larger vehicles would have still mattered a lot to everyone. But, I’m not talking about the Jeep type with good-looking Jeep fender flare or any other large vehicle. What I am pointing at are the full-size SUVs, such as the Toyota Sequoia, the Japanese automaker’s biggest product in the segment, which has been made larger for 2008 model year.

The world’s largest automaker intended to have the Sequoia resemble the Tundra pickup, adapting its B-pillar forward. The 2008 Sequoia has also taken few parts same with the Tundra, such as the control-arm front suspension, an optional 5.7 L V-8 engine, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The difference comes from a stouter, fully boxed frame along with an independent rear suspension with optional air-spring load leveling, and available variable damping.

For 2008 model year, the Sequoia’s wheelbase has been stretched. The rear doors were imporved and made wider to open, improving access to the back seats and at the same time increasing leg and shoulder space. However, the cargo capacity has been quite reduced, considering that the third row can no longer be jettisoned. Both benches and the front passenger seat can be folded flat, adding up the already spacious passenger space.

Toyota also enhanced the Sequoia power, from 273 hp to 381 hp. The new model also comes with a tighter turning circle that improves maneuverability. And due to the tall top gear of the six-speed automatic, the 2008 Sequoia’s highway mileage was improved at 5.7 L by 1 or 2 mpg better than the 4.7 L of last year’s V-8 -powered Sequoia.

Considering the capacity of the Sequoia it seems its practicality extend only to families with eight members. And it could even pass as an alternative to a motorhome.

Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., Toyota’s flagship joint venture in China, has been planning to build a fourth plant. The construction will be part of Toyota Motor Corp.’s intention in expanding its production capacity to meet the fast growing demand in the country being the world’s second largest auto market.

Unfortunately, Tianjin Automotive Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd., China FAW Group Corporation, and their Japanese partner propose different ideas regarding the new plant’s site.

Though Tianjin Automotive Industrial (Group) holds only a less than 10 percent stake in FAW Toyota, it has insisted that the fourth plant should be constructed in Tianjin, a port city near Beijing. Currently, the group is likely weakening Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000927). Since it has gained negative net profit of CNY 15.48 million in the third quarter of 2007 because of the slim growth in mini car business, the group acknowledged the need to seek a momentum from FAW Toyota.

On the other hand, China FAW Group Corporation is hoping to have the new plant built in Changchun, the capital of northeast China’s Jinlin Province. Currently, it is actually where they plan to construct the new plant. In case this initial decision turns to be the final one, FAW Toyota would then highly drive down its cost, considering that they have an engine plant and a completely supporting system in the city.

According to an auto parts supplier, Toyota wanted to build the fourth plant in the Yangtze River Delta. The interest has touched the authorities and auto parts suppliers in the region in the first half of this year. Because of its geographic position, the region was seen to have the advantages in logistics and component procurements.

FAW Toyota currently holds its plan to reach sales goals of 270,000 units for 2007 and over 400,000 units for 2008. As the company seeks sales revenue of CNY 80 billion, they were found significantly struggling to make and sell 500,000 vehicles by 2010.

Last May, the venture has started the operation in its third plant. The plant, as the venture’s biggest one, was designed to hold a production capacity of 200,000 units annually. Both located in Tianjin, the first and second plants are capable of manufacturing 100,000 and 150,000 units respectively. Considering such numbers, FAW Toyota needs expansion of production capacity to meet the increasing sales targets.

As the world’s largest automaker, Toyota basically needs expansion just like other automakers that seek to maximize its capacity in producing BMW grill and other quality products and vehicles to sustain its customers’ needs.

Toyota Motor Corp. will be bringing its Prius hybrid to Korea starting within the first half of 2009 as part of its plan for the model to capture the potential market. The hybrid car is set to combine a battery and a combustion engine to optimize fuel efficiency.

Recently, Toyota Korea has been rumored considering the release of the third-generation Prius not just in Korea, but in Japan and U.S. as well. Schedule of release has been dated from April 2009 simultaneously to those markets.

Toyota Motor Global Sales Vice President Akio Toyoda, the fourth generation heir of the Japanese motor giant, have set a meeting with Toyota Korea executives in Japan to tackle able the most ideal model for the Korean market.

Toyoda said, “Because Lexus is a luxury car targeting the rich, it can’t become that popular in Korea.” “We have to introduce a Toyota brand to benefit a majority of consumers and it should be a model that can be beneficial for both Korean society and consumers,” he explained.

Toyota Korea President Taizo Chigira has mentioned, “We suggested to headquarters the third-generation Prius as a major model for the Korean market, but no decision has been made yet.”

According to Toyota, “We plan to price the new Prius much lower than the second-generation model to promote the advantages of the hybrid car in Korea. If the economical and eco-friendly Prius appeals to the Korean market, it will serve as a stimulation for Korean carmakers.”

The third-generation Prius will be equipped with a bigger engine. It will be up to 1.8 liters from 1.5 liters of the present model. Plus, the fuel efficiency has been enhanced by 40 km per liter.

To boost the interest of the customers to obtain better fuel efficiency, the Finance Ministry plans to provide subsidies or tax breaks for buyers of hybrid cars beginning 2009.

I hope all vehicles will someday offer better fuel efficiency along with lesser emissions in catalytic converters like this American Motor catalytic converter found online.

At the Youth Engineering and Science Expo in Detroit last November 8 (Thursday), Steve St. Angelo, senior vice president of Toyota’s manufacturing operations, announced Toyota Motor Corp.’s $2 million contribution to the Detroit Science Center (a hands-on museum that inspires its visitors to pursue and support careers in engineering, technology and science) to show its commitment to the education programs nationwide. The contribution will be in support for the construction of the Toyota Engineering Theater, as part of the “Engineering the Future” campaign – an initiative to transform the Detroit Science Center into America’s premier engineering-focused museum.

The “Engineering the Future” campaign will be transforming the content of the Detroit Science Center through incorporating 200 unique and interactive exhibits in an enhanced Energy & Matter Gallery and new Transportation, Space and Medical Marvels galleries.

As part of the campaign, the Toyota Engineering Theater will be offering its visitors an impressive multimedia experience. For that, the theater will be the only venue in the state that shall completely focus on engineering careers. The high-tech theater, equipped with active seating and a rotating stage, will be featuring live hosts interfacing with “virtual” 3D presentation of the profile stories of real engineers from across the state. Visitors will be given the privilege to watch the 30-minutes shows that will be showing off the work experience of an engineer, including the academic skills required for an engineering degree and the process how the technologies in the galleries have been developed.

According to Kevin Prihod, president and CEO of the Detroit Science Center, “As Michigan continues to move towards becoming a knowledge-based economy, the enhancements to the Detroit Science Center will help inspire young visitors to pursue careers in engineering and other science-based fields.” Acknowledging the contribution from the world’s largest automaker, he said, “We’re thrilled to have Toyota’s support as we work towards making the Science Center a science museum of national stature.”

Steve St. Angelo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, said, “The Detroit Science Center’s mission to inspire the next generation of Michigan’s engineers is vitally important.” “Toyota is proud to join our industry colleagues in demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the Science Center’s efforts,” he added.

Well… Probably, you are now excited to feel the thrill from the Toyota Engineering Theater as part of wanting to witness Detroit Science Center’s continuous commitment in inspiring the people to pursue and support careers in engineering, technology and science. Unfortunately, it will have to wait until December 2008 for it to open. So, for the meantime, clear your worries on searching for quality online hurst shifters through this link.

Being the luxury vehicle division of Japanese giant automaker Toyota Motor Corporation, Lexus has been building some of the highly desirable performance and luxury cars with premium Lexus floor mats in the world. Two of their models (Lexus IS 250 and IS 250 sport sedans) will be available with a new lineup of performance accessories very soon.

This week, the line of parts for the Lexus IS models will be launched at the 2007 SEMA show. Among the parts included is a wide selection of TRD-developed add-ons. Those add-ons will be covered by the Lexus new vehicle warranty.

F-Sport 19-inch wheels will be offered to the IS models. These new wheels will be provided with a staggered fitment and unique dark graphite finish. They can be installed just outside of a front brake upgrade that has been designed provide enhanced pedal feel and offer better fade resistance. For more efficient performance, the six-piston calipers will have low-dust pads, braided steel lines and drilled rotors, which are mainly provided to optimize crushing and ensure consistent stopping power. There will also be a ceramic brake upgrade available.

For those who want additional sound effects, be thrilled because you can now specify an F-Sport exhaust system through polished mufflers and tips, creating a distinct sound.

There will be a performance lowering spring kit that allows the IS to sit at about an inch closer to the road, improving the vehicle’s handling and stance. The sway bars and shocks were also upgraded.

According to Brian Bolain, Lexus interactive and automotive events manager, “The Lexus IS 250 and IS 350 sport sedans are specifically geared for the performance-minded customer… The F-Sport performance accessory line helps to further realize each owner’s desire to personalize their car’s performance to best match their needs.”

For that, Lexus has proven itself to be a brand that indeed provides luxury through its offered wide variety of choices in personalizing its customers’ Lexus vehicles.

While ethanol-based biofuels are not yet used in New Zealand motorsport, Toyota has taken the initiative to develop local racing series that has adopted the use of such fuel. And, this racing series is a world first in its use of environmentally ethical fuel production.

With the aid of Motorsport New Zealand’s willingness in modifying regulations that will govern permissible rules in the championships, Toyota Racing Series (TRS) was able to make use of the adoption of an E85 ethanol (85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent 95 octane petrol) fuel blend.

The initiative has been followed by months of laboratory and dynamometer testing along with engine performance tuning and a comprehensive re-development of the TRS cars. Those cars were equipped with new fuel system components that enable the cars to use a biofuel.

Though the biofuel initiative is specific to motorsport, it offers a test case for high percentage biofuel use under extreme conditions. The test has proven the fuel’s capacity to consistently burn cooler than petrol as well as deliver lesser emissions. There was even noticeably power and torque improvement after the engine has been re-tuned for the new fuel.

The TRS, New Zealand’s premier open-wheel “wings and slicks” race category, used an Italian-built carbon-composite race chassis. It has been fitted to production Toyota four-cylinder engines that were specifically developed for motorsport.

According to Toyota spokesman John Fowke, “We take this responsibility very seriously and see the Toyota Racing Series’ commitment to the E85 ethanol fuel blend as an opportunity to develop and refine innovative biofuel technology in the toughest possible environment.”

TRS manager Barrie Thomlinson pointed out that the off season was used in comprehensively testing and proving the fuel’s suitability for competition. He said, “We are confident about the fuel’s compatibility with racing uses and we are looking forward to the data that we can provide about the use of high percentage fuel blends.” “This is a perfect example of motorsport helping the automotive world to produce cleaner, smarter road cars and giving global brands like Toyota tools that help to actively manage their carbon profile,” he added.

There are concerns involving the trend towards diversion of arable land from food crops to growing new fuel crops. So, Toyota has defended that the ethanol used in the TRS E85 blend is derived from a by-product of the dairy industry and not from grain or root vegetables.

This year, there will be eight rounds where the TRS competitors will contest. The greatest among them is considerably the 35-lap New Zealand Grand Prix, which will be held at Manfeild near Palmerston North.

Globally, Toyota is known as leader in the development and production of innovative low-emission, fuel-efficient hybrid-powered vehicles that are competitive enough to those with premium Honda engine parts. And, that is definitely something to be proud of Toyota. They got the quality that keeps them on top.

Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA) has recently released the figures of the 10 top-selling models for October. Eight among them were Toyota vehicles, proving that the company is indeed, still Japan’s largest automaker.

The Corolla is Toyota’s foremost top-selling model with 13,569 units sold. The model has obtained 4.3 percent better sales compared with last year’s 11,938 units.

Honda Motor Co Ltd (NYSE: HMC), Japan’s second largest seller of autos, move down one step and placed third on the list with its Fit having 8,336 units sold.

Mazda Motor Corp.’s Demio compact car moved down from seventh place to the tenth, with 5,100 units sold.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd (NASDAQ;NSANY), Japan’s third largest automaker, unfortunately, wasn’t able to make it up to the top 10 in October, though it had two models in the list of September.

To make it more precise, here is the list of the 10 best-selling models in Japan for October, courtesy of JADA and based on an article in cnn.com:
1. Toyota Corolla - 13,569 units
2. Toyota Vitz - 11,369 units
3. Honda FIT - 8,336 units
4. Toyota Mark X - 7,929 units
5. Toyota Voxy - 7,885 units
6. Toyota Noah - 7,392 units
7. Toyota Prius - 6,062 units
8. Toyota Passo - 5,924 units
9. Toyota Estimate - 5,414 units
10. Mazda Demio - 5,100 units

For comparison, here is also a list of the 10 top-selling models for September:
1. Toyota Corolla - 11,938 units
2. Honda Fit - 10,745 units
3. Toyota Vitz - 9,741 units
4. Nissan Serena - 8,035 units
5. Toyota Voxy - 7,861 units
6. Toyota Noah - 7,688 units
7. Mazda Demio - 7,661 units
8. Nissan Tiida - 6,630 units
9. Toyota Estimate - 6,501 units
10. Toyota Passo - 6,156 units

Well, that shows that Toyota still reigns supreme in its home turf, fully dominating the top 10 best-selling models in Japan despite the tough competition. And what with the top of the line and popular models it has now, keeping their game may just be as easy as getting BMW brake sensor online.

Probably, most of you would love taking your Volvo with tough Volvo shocks on a wild trek or driving it across a long desert without worrying about the fuel consumption. But, wouldn’t you want such experience with a Toyota? I suppose you do. So, let us talk about a test on the Toyota Prado in the Simpson Desert I found in carsguide.news.com…

Actually, Toyota Prado is known as an urban warrior, considering that it was able to win the Overlander magazine’s “2006 4WD Of The Year” award. But then, it would be nice to have it in a toughness test to prove its power on a longer outback journey.

Since it is quite a crucial test and a long journey, the vehicle, Prado GXL D4D, was equipped with a genuine Toyota cargo barrier, an alloy front bulbar and few safety items. There is also a well-installed RhinoRack rook rack. Supplies, equipment, camping gear and an Engel fridge are all packed safely in the luggage area through the cargo barrier.

The vehicle on test has been installed with a set of Goodyear Wrangler tyres to optimize the tough performance of the outback.

On highway, the Prado was proven comfortable, quiet and relaxed, though some 4WD tyres can be noisy. But, the custom-fitted Goodyears were definitely quiet.

The Prado has a fuel capacity of 18 liters. It allows big distances between stops at over 1500 km. Plus, the vehicle has decent fuel economy at mid-12s, more than the government-tested ADR figures. However, there was an estimated six per cent odo/speedo error with the taller tyres, and the roof rack; with its greate wind resistance; and higher speed saddled to the Prado’s thirst.

In the Desert, the Prado went through sharp, tyre-destroying rocks and challenging soft sand. But, there has been no trace of any wheel spin because of its full-time 4WD system.

The Prado also went well on smooth gravel. That would be worth the thanks to the frailty of the shock absorbers’ long-stroke valving through some creek crossings and jump-ups.

Check out this site for more of the details on the 6592 km journey for you to know that, overall, the Prado was great!

The J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM was released yesterday. It says that Toyota Motor Corp. ranks highest with the new-vehicle sales and delivery process for a second consecutive year.

Now on its fifth year, the study examines satisfaction of new-vehicle buyers based on sales and delivery experience. The overall sales satisfaction is measured by six factors, namely delivery process, delivery timing, salesperson, dealer facility, paperwork and deal.

Setting benchmarks in four (salesperson, dealer facility, paperwork and deal) out of those six factors, Toyota made the lead in rankings. It has been followed by Nissan and Inokom respectively. Nissan got fairly well in delivery process.

According to an article in autospectator.com, “Sales satisfaction has reached a record level in 2007 since the study’s inception in 2003 to 772 index points on a 1,000-point scale.” It covers 20 points increase since 2006. In fact, the increase in overall satisfaction in the national segment, involving Inokom, Naza, Perodua and Proton, has been greater compared to the non-national segment. That is while all nameplates ranked in the study record improvements in the previous year.

The study showed that delivering vehicles if promised and at a convenient time is critical to customer satisfaction. Thus, the satisfaction in the delivery timing measure drops by 267 points, in case customers do not receive their vehicles at the promised and convenient delivery time.

Endina Widartama, country manager at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, Singapore, said, “Keeping promises to customers regarding vehicle delivery is vitally important… In addition, scheduling vehicle delivery for times that are convenient for customers can go along way in improving customer satisfaction.”

The study also found that about nine in 10 Malaysian new-vehicle buyers secure loans to finance their new vehicles. The customer satisfaction declines when the salesperson offers a loan only after the customer asks for it. It further declines when the salesperson fails to offer a loan at all.

Widartama said, “Despite the stringemt requirements that customers must satisfy in order to be approved for a vehicle purchase load, the percentage of new-vehicle buyers in Malaysia who take out loans is considerably higher than in other countries in the region… Therefore, the salesperson may be able to enhance both sales levels and customer satisfaction by proactively offering loans to customers before they ask.”

The study also shows that satisfying customers through exceeding their expectations with the sales process is still vital to raise customer loyalty and advocacy.

Windartama mentioned, “Considering the fact that Malaysian customers still use friends or relatives as their number-one source of information, satisfying customers during their sales experience is the first step in building customer loyalty for both the bran and dealership… For example, Toyota, which ranks highest in SSI, also has a particularly high percentage of customers who say they definitely would recommend their new-vehicle make and dealer.”

The 2007 SSI Study is based on responses from over 3,000 owners of 60 different vehicle models at two to six months of ownership. It has been fielded between April and July this year.


By the way, don’t worry about how to find premium Hyundai oxygen sensor online, because it’s just a click away via this link.