Courtesy Toyota

 

TORRANCE, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2009) - Toyota will make history by entering its 2010 Model Year Fifth Generation 4Runner in the internationally renowned SCORE Baja 1000. With over 672 miles in length and a time limit of 31 hours, the Baja 1000 is one of the toughest desert races in the world. 

 

Over 325 entries are expected from around the world to compete in the 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 - the last desert race of the season scheduled for November 20-21, in Ensenada, Mexico.

 

Toyota will test its newest 4Runner and showcase the SUV's capabilities and durability in the Mexican desert's treacherous terrain. "Historically, only half of the racers finish this incredible test of man and machine, but we're confident the Fifth Generation 4Runner will be a major contender in the stock mini class and can handle the grueling course", said Les Unger, Toyota's national motorsports manager.

 

One of the scheduled drivers will be the legendary Ivan "Ironman" Stewart - 22-time SCORE Baja race winner. Stewart has successfully conquered the toughest obstacles in off-road racing and was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006.  "I'm thrilled to have been chosen to be one of the drivers to once again prove the toughness and durability of Toyota vehicles.  I'm sure the Fifth Generation 4Runner will be tough enough to survive even my Iron foot", said Stewart.  Co-driving the 4Runner will be the teams of Bob Ditner/Zach Zwillinger from the start line to Borrego Junction, Ken Ziesemer/Mark Sasaki throughout the San Felipe loop, Joe Nolan/Paul Williamsen from Borrego to Valle De La Trinidad, and Ivan Stewart/Bob Ditner from Valle De La Trinidad to the finish line.  The 4Runner will run on General Tires and utilize the famous Baja Pits Organization throughout the course.

 

The 2009 Baja 1000 will be a single loop race - starting and finishing in Ensenada on the Pacific Ocean side of the magnificent peninsula and run through Mexican villages -- luring in tens of thousands of spectators.

 

The Fifth Generation 4Runner
The fifth generation 4Runner has an improved V6 engine with better fuel economy and 34 more horse-power than the previous V6. It also adds 17 inch wheels and two additional airbags-for a total of eight, providing buyers more than $1,700 worth of added content. However, the price of the popular four wheel drive V6 SR5 remains unchanged at $30,915. Vehicles will begin arriving at dealerships in late-November.   

 

For Fifth Generation 4Runner specs visit: http://www.toyota.com/4runner/specs.html

Torrance, CA. - October 26, 2009 - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc., along with its advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi LA, today announced The Prius Experience App is available for free from the App Store. The Prius Experience App has four modes to help educate and entertain iPhone? users interested in learning more about the EPA-rated 50 MPG 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid.

 

"The Prius Experience App gives iPhone users a dynamic, in-depth experience of the third-generation Prius in the palm of their hands," said Tim Morrison, corporate manager of marketing communications for TMS.

 

Notably, The Prius Experience App takes advantage of the iPhone's built-in accelerometer to give users a 360-degree interior tour of the Prius. The app has four modes:

 

? Tour - Rotate your iPhone for a 360-degree interior view of the Prius, then explore the features  that make the car so unique.

 

? Interact - Use your iPhone camera to interact with the Prius ads you see in your favorite  magazines.

 

? Draw - Touch the innovative Multi-Touch user interface to draw directly into the environment of  the Prius, then watch it react to your shapes and objects.

 

? Play - Think your way through 10 levels of a force-based game that utilizes the accelerometer.

 

The Prius Experience App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

 

Additionally, iPhone users can see their tree drawings created in "Draw" displayed on the Reuters digital billboard in Times Square October 26 to 28. Street teams will work with participants in Times Square. Remote participants can view the event at http://www.reuters.com/news/us.

 

The app is part of the third-generation Prius "Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine" marketing campaign. In addition to print ads, The Prius Experience App is being promoted on the Prius mobile site at m.toyota.com/prius, the Prius Facebook fan site at www.facebook.com/prius and mobile banners.

 

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

 

About Saatchi & Saatchi LA
Saatchi & Saatchi LA is a full-service agency with both traditional and non-traditional capabilities, including media, creative, strategic planning, 3D asset creation, design and event marketing. The agency was awarded a prestigious Gold Effie for its highly effective launch of the Toyota Tundra full-size truck. Saatchi LA is agency of record for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., and it also serves Toyota Dealer Associations and Toyota Financial Services. The LA office is the third largest in the global network of ideas company Saatchi & Saatchi, part of Publicis Groupe. For more information, go to www.saatchila.com.

 

PRINCETON, Ind. (October 8, 2009) - Production of the Highlander sport utility vehicle, Toyota's 12th North American-built model, began today at the company's plant in Princeton, Indiana.  The $450 million investment is part of the adjustments Toyota began last year in order to better utilize manufacturing capacity.    

 

Production of the Tundra pickup, originally in Indiana, was consolidated last fall in the Tundra plant in Texas.  Since then Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI), which also builds the Sienna and Sequoia, has been preparing for the Highlander. 
 
"Highlander production gives us better use of our capacity and demonstrates our continued commitment to the U.S. and the state of Indiana," said Wil James, TMMI senior vice president.

 

TMMI reacted to several months of slow production by retaining all of its 4,200 team members, who were further trained and improved manufacturing processes. 

 

"The result is long-term sustainability of this factory, which is important to our customers, team members, suppliers and the local community," James said.

 

TMMI now represents a $3.7 billion investment.  The addition of Highlander boosts production at other Toyota plants such as West Virginia, where the 6-cylinder engine is made, and at nearly 250 of Toyota's North American suppliers.

In Indiana alone, Highlander parts and components including items such as steel, brake parts and interior component assemblies will be provided by about 30 Tier 1 suppliers.
 
Since it was introduced in 2000, more than 1 million Highlanders have been sold in the U.S.  The Highlander is available in Base, Sport and Limited grades in both two-wheel and full-time four-wheel-drive models.  Features include: hill assist, Smart Key, flexible second row seating and a separate glass hatch.

 

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 14 manufacturing plants. There are more than 1,800 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2.5 million vehicles in 2008. Toyota directly employs nearly 41,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $23 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals nearly $25 billion.

 

Toyota currently produces 12 vehicles in North America, including the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sienna, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza and the Lexus RX 350.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.