Toyota GT 86

The widely anticipated convertible version of the Toyota GT 86 has become a real conversation piece for a lot of folks in the industry. It’s not so much the expectations of following up the popularity of the coupe model as it is the prospective look of the convertible when it has all of its faculties in order.

Recently, Toyota Europe filed renderings of the GT-86 Open Top Concept for patent application and the fine folks over at Car and Driver managed to dig up black and white renderings of the car.

For one, the cloth-top roof is fully closed, revealing what the car would look like in that particular guise. We gotta say, it looks similar, but there’s a noticeable difference to the coupe, particularly on how the cloth roof looks a little more flat than the hard roof of the coupe model.

Perhaps the difference is in the eye of the beholder, something that we freely admit could be the case. But as far as we’re concerned, the convertible looks sexier than the coupe, if these filings do in fact point to the production version of the former.

In any case, separating the two is a matter of aesthetics, considering that the convertible is expected to receive the same 200-horsepower 2.0-liter in-line-four engine that the coupe model already has.

- Courtesy of Top Speed

Refreshed 2014 Toyota 4Runner

When it’s unveiled this weekend at the Stagecoach Festival–country music’s Coachella–the refreshed 2014 Toyota 4Runner will be noteworthy for two reasons: It will be the first time a major automaker has introduced a vehicle at an arts festival, and the 4Runner carries on as one of the last of the rugged, old school midsize SUVs, with the Jeep Grand Cherokee being its only off-road rival.
Originally based on the same Toyota Truck that evolved into two different directions–the Tacoma on our continent and the Hilux for Asia and Europe–the 4Runner had little in the way of refinement. But it could potentially survive a life of sand, mud, extreme temperatures, and whatever ardors life in the wilderness could throw at it. Since its 1984 introduction, Toyota has gone on to sell 1.98 million of them over five generations.
Over the years, it has had both four-cylinder and V-6 engines, hose-out interiors and today’s optionally leather-lined seats. But at its core, the Toyota 4Runner has always been one of the most capable off-roaders out there, cost no object. At one point, Toyota would command six-figure sales numbers for the 4Runner; at one point gas was under $1 per gallon. Now, it’s mostly a niche product for people who still need a go-anywhere, truck-based SUV. Families have since flocked to the Toyota Highlander.
Still, we’re glad–elated–that the 2014 Toyota 4Runner soldiers on as a true off-roader when competitors like the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer have since evolved into crossovers. There’s a market for what Toyota has to offer; thank goodness the company still builds it in the face of stiffening fuel economy legislation.

Courtesy of Toyota

Weekend Adventure

Happy Friday!  Most people have two days off and there is time for a little adventure. What are your plans for the weekend?

Kudos

Congratulations Tri County Team for another rave review!

“it was a good experance rick was very helpful friendly and knowledgeable. The dealership was nice and clean. I would recommend my friends and family go here” – chuck67

If you would like to see this review and others, click here: http://bit.ly/ZAb3fG

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

Here are the highlights from the 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

State Safety Inspection

Take a look at one of our great specials going on right now!  If you would like to see this and other service specials, click here: http://bit.ly/15I1FPy

Pro/Celebrity Race

Rutledge Wood was awarded the celebrity pole position after turning the quickest lap during qualifying for the 37th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Wood, co-host of the History channel series “Top Gear USA” and Fox Sports/SPEED racing commentator, drove his 210-horsepower Scion FR-S around the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach with a lap time of 1:46.505.
“Rutledge proved he’s a racer at heart,” said Les Unger, national motorsports manager with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “He returned to the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race this year to improve his performance -- and he succeeded. All the drivers did a great job today and will be ready to put on an impressive show in Saturday’s race.”
Wood named the charity Victory Junction Gang Camp as the designee for a $15,000 donation awarded in conjunction with the 16th annual People Pole Award. “I want to say a big thanks to People for doing this. Big thanks to Toyota. This is going to send a lot of kids to camp in North Carolina at Victory Junction. It’s the happiest place I’ve ever been on earth. It’s an amazing place where every kid can do everything from the ropes course to the pool.”
In odds given by professional handicapper Anthony Curtis, Wood was consistently among the favorites, and proved experience counts now in his second showing in the celebrity event. Curtis has been studying and handicapping the drivers throughout March and April. He offers his insights solely for entertainment purposes on www.lasvegasadvisor.com. (There will be no actual wagering on the outcome of the race.)
Mark Steines, Emmy award-winning journalist and host of Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family,” will start second followed by Michael Trucco from SyFy’s acclaimed series “Battlestar Galactica” as the top-three celebrities in Saturday’s race. The celebrity drivers will get a 30-second advantage over the professional drivers at the start of Saturday’s race.
In the professional category, Tyler Clary scored the fastest driving time in the same session, followed closely by Andy Bell and Adam Carolla (last year’s overall race winner, driving this year in the pro category).

Toyota will donate $5,000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each participant and an additional $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a national nonprofit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Toyota has donated more than $2 million on behalf of the race and its participants to various children’s hospitals since 1991.
Saturday’s race starts at 11:45 a.m. PDT.
To learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, go to www.toyotaracing.com, visit Toyota Racing on Facebook or on Twitter @ToyotaRacing, or join the conversation with the participants using #TPCR.
STARTING GRID
Pos---Class-Name-------------Lap Time
1---Celebrity--Rutledge Wood----1:46.505
2---Celebrity--Mark Steines-----1:46.885
3---Celebrity--Michael Trucco---1:47.027
4---Celebrity--Glen Faber-------1:47.939
5---Celebrity--Brett Davern-----1:47.973
6---Celebrity--Dakota Meyer-----1:48.110
7---Celebrity--Dave Pasant------1:48.306
8---Celebrity--Kate del Castillo1:48.750
9---Celebrity--Jeremy Sisto-----1:49.239
10--Celebrity--Jackson Rathbone-1:49.321
11--Celebrity--Jenna Elfman-----1:51.140
12--Celebrity--Jessica Hardy----1:51.886
13--Celebrity--Carter Lay-------1:52.050
14--Celebrity--Wanda Sykes------2:02.651
15--Pro---Tyler Clary-----------1:45.569
16--Pro---Andy Bell-------------1:45.992
17--Pro---Adam Carolla----------1:46.218
18--Pro---Melanie Troxel--------1:48.597

~Courtesy of Toyota Racing

Best Cars for Families

Toyota’s Prius and Highlander Hybrid Earn U.S. News and World Report’s Best Cars for Families Awards

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TORRANCE, Calif., March 12, 2013 – The Toyota Prius and Highlander Hybrid have garnered category honors as part of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Cars for Families awards. The 2013 Toyota Prius took top honors in the Best Hatchback for Families category, while the 2013 Highlander Hybrid won the Best Hybrid SUV for Families award for the third year in a row.

The Best Cars for Families awards combine quality, size and family-friendly features into a composite score. Quality is measured using a weighted average of scores from the U.S. News rankings at the time the awards are published. The rankings compare cars on the basis of safety, reliability and a consensus of automotive critics’ opinions. Size is based on a vehicle's seating capacity and interior space. For family-friendly features, the U.S. News editors factor in the availability of features deemed to be helpful to families.

-Courtesy of Pressroom Toyota

Kudos

Congratulations Don for your outstanding recognition!

“Don Richards was our sales rep and he was exceptional. He answered every question we had regarding the 2 models we were deciding on which made our decision much easier. Don made the entire experience very pleasant and not a challenge. We are very happy with our new vehicle. We would recommend Tri-County Toyota to everyone for their friendly and experienced sales team, especially Don.” – Ewingacct

If you would like to see this review and others, click here: http://bit.ly/Zi23Bo

 

Flashback Friday

A Dreamer

 

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.”
― John Lennon