toyota blog
New articles:
On the Road : 2006 Toyota RAV4
Feds Probe Toyota Pickup, SUV Suspension Failures
Toyota Doubles Hybrid Production
Past articles:
Honda Ridgeline Named Truck of the Year 
30.11.1999.
Toyota Boosts Prius Price, Cancels Fleet Sales 30.11.1999.
Toyota Recalls Scion tC to Fix Wind Deflector 30.11.1999.
2005 Toyota Avalon - Nearly Perfect Near Luxury
Toyota Avalon (Touring) Options: moonroof, carpet/floor mats, auto-dim mirror w/compass, homelink Price: $30,779 I really like the redesign of Toyota's consummate ?Buick fighter.? Originally designed to appeal to an older demographic (readsenior citizens), Avalon?s median age has dropped a decade?at least?with this new version. Okay, perhaps it?s because I just hit my forties, but a lot of things in this car appeal to me. The sedan has a clean, crisp yet inviting interior. I like the silver and metallic-wood tones and cascading panels that cover the stereo and HVAC controls. Clean. There?s lots of storage inside, too: deep door pockets, and wells in the armrest and below it in the center console. The ride is much sportier and responsive than the previous version, helped by the 3.5-liter 280-horsepower DOHC VVT-I engine. The suspension is tighter but the ridedoes not get too harsh. The rear-seat vents look a bit cheapy?will they survive kicks from the grandkids? But there?s a nice locking pass-through in the rear seat forskis. The exterior lines and gray color exude stealth. Why buy a Lexus when you can have an Avalon for less money? There are noticeable elements on the new Avalon that Toyota added in hopes of bringing the buyer demographic down a few ticks: twin tailpipes, for example. The new Avalon has a cavernous trunk and enclosed hinges so suitcases don?t get crunched?to point this out makes me feel old. The 1/8-inch masonite trunk floor above the spare tire leaves a lot to be desired. Even the Kia Sportage has a plastic trunk floor. That said, Avalon?s full-size spare with matching wheel is a nice surprise?no driving around with that clown-car tire announcing to the world, ?Guess what: I had a flat!? The Michelin Energy MXV4 rubber provides a smooth, comfortable ride. Other complaints: Plastic door handles (a pet peeve of mine). $200 for floor mats? No standard seat heaters, except on the Limited trim (am I getting old?). To combat this: reclining rear seats. Very limousine-like. (Okay, drive me to the Shady Rest Home now.) To mention this makes me feel even older: The hood has hydraulic lifts instead of a prop rod. When closing it there is no slamming?just let it go and it closes itself. (I know you don?t open and close your car hood every day, but when you do have the occasion to crack the lid andgaze atwhat goes on between your steering wheel and the front bumper, the easy-operating hood is a nice surprise.) I?d say that sums up the redesigned Avalon?a pleasant surprise for geezers like me. --Eric Bellscheidt
Toyota markets to China...
A recent interview with a senior executive from Toyota?s biggest joint venture in China provided some interesting insights about flogging cars into what is still the relatively young mainland market. So far, they seem to be doing things right....
GM and Toyota pull back on fuel cells
GM and Toyota aren't saying a great deal on the matter, but reports in Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper yesterday claim the two automakers will stop working together to develop fuel cells. The pair, which will carry on researching other new...
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30.11.1999.
