Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Cause Could Benefit Nonprofits in Central Mass.

Toyota is in the thick of its 100 Cars for Good campaign, a national philanthropic program focused on donating 100 cars to 100 nonprofit organizations across the country over the course of a consecutive 100 days. Westboro Toyota wants you to know this could be tremendous opportunity for local Westboro and other Central Massachusetts-area nonprofits!

How 100 Cars for Good Works

Every day five nonprofits are profiled on the 100 Cars for Good’s Facebook page. Registered Facebook users can vote once daily for the nonprofit they believe can do the most good with a new set of Toyota wheels. The organization with the most votes at the end of the day wins a brand-new Toyota, and four runners-up receive a $1,000 cash grant—not to shabby!

“Toyota created the 100 Cars for Good program as a way to give to a variety of organizations across the country and to do so with the help and support of the American public. It’s the public vote that decides which organizations will receive a new Toyota vehicle and we are thrilled to see the outpouring of support for the program with thousands of votes,” said Jim Lentz, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

Right now, 100 Cars for Good is about 75-percent complete, so there’s still time for nonprofits in Central Massachusetts and Metrowest to get in on the generous action. Westboro Toyota encourages all local nonprofits that could benefit from a new Toyota to check out the campaign and launch a social-media campaign to get their Facebook friends and fans voting for them. The pay off could be huge—and at the very least—urging your supporters to vote for your nonprofit directs positive attention to your important cause.

Recent winners operate a number of nonprofits across a wide variety of sectors, such as animal welfare, education, health & safety, and human services to children, adults and the disabled. So far, Carlisle, Massachusetts’ nonprofit All Hands Volunteer has reaped the reward of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good campaign, being named one of 25 winners during phase-two of the program, which wrapped up in early July.

Come on Westboro nonprofits! Westboro Toyota wants to see you enjoy the benefit of a brand-new Toyota to help you accomplish the important and rewarding work you do for our community. Get going on garnering votes for your organization today at 100 Cars for Good. Follow the campaign on Facebook and look for #100cars on Twitter.

Public voting goes until Aug. 21, 2012, so there’s still time to get in the running on a new Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v Hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty also will be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

Want to see the vehicles you could win? Stop by Westboro Toyota’s showroom. We’ve got the latest Toyotas in stock. And, with our Sound of Summer Savings Event going on now, you could save big on purchasing a brand-new Toyota.

Get ready for the 2013 Toyota Avalon 2013—Hybrid Model Expected to Get 40 MPG!

Westboro Toyota has got great news! The all-new 2013 Toyota Avalon, which will be available for sale later this year at our Route 9 West showroom in Westboro, gives you the option to choose between a powerful V6 gasoline powertrain and Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. This is the first full-hybrid being offered in the premium mid-size segment, and the Toyota Avalon’s new hybrid model is expected to deliver excellent fuel economy with an EPA-rating of 40 mpg combined. 

To add to the buzz that’s been brewing here at Westboro Toyota over the 2013 model, the new Avalon features a stunning design and improved dynamic performance. There’s even more refinement for 2013, and we think you’ll especially fall in love with it for its comfort and spaciousness. Plus, it’s equipped with many amenities of convenience you’ve come to crave in your luxury vehicle!

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle that’s great on gas and is environmentally friendly, the 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid may be the car for you!

The Avalon Hybrid features a 2.5-liter, Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine, a 244.8-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack, and a pair of electric motor/generators within the transaxle. The electric-motor power application and regenerative braking is seamless, thanks to the engine compartment’s power-control unit, which houses an inverter, a DC-DC converter, a step-up converter (raises voltage to a maximum of 650 volts) and the hybrid-drive ECU.

With 200 horsepower, the Avalon Hybrid operates in three modes: EV (operates solely on electric propulsion under certain conditions), ECO (gas motor engaged with reduced throttle response to improve efficiency) and SPORT (alters the throttles response and enhances the feel of the steering). The EV mode can be engaged for up to one mile at speeds up to 25 mph, providing an all-electric option that’s convenient for when you’re driving in residential areas or around parking garages. 


Another great thing about the Avalon hybrid is that the battery pack, comprised of 204 cells, is smartly housed behind the rear seats in the trunk so there’s still ample cargo space there.

For those of you seeking a traditional engine, the 2013 Toyota Avalon’s proven 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission, delivers responsive and efficient performance, too. How does zero to 60 mph in under seven seconds sound?!

Plus, the new 2013 Toyota Avalon’s powertrain programming has been updated with ECO (prioritizes fuel efficiency by reducing the power application at lower speeds while cutting back on energy consumed by the A/C system), NORMAL, and SPORT (increases the acceleration responses though altered engine control unit (ECU) programming and gives a more direct and responsive steering feel) modes. The result: The 2013 V6 gasoline powertrain model of the Toyota Avalon achieves an EPA-rated 25 mpg combined!

If you have questions about the 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, stop by Westboro Toyota. And don't forget to visit us online often—we’ll be sure to update you once we’ve got these beauties in stock for you to test drive! 

Also, check out our live pricing on 2012 Toyota Avalons! Right now, we've got a beautiful, brand-new 2012 Avalon in stock for just $34,047 (Model#3554, Stk# 36246)—that's about $5,000 off the MSPR. Plus, you get two years of complimentary maintenance on any new Toyota you purchase! 

Westboro Toyota’s Tips for Keeping Children Safe in Their Car Seats and Seat Belts

Westboro Toyota wants to make sure your kids are safe in their booster seats, car seats and seat belts. Sadly, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which says, too, that many of these deaths are preventable. “Placing children in age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half,” it states on its website.

In 2009, more than 1,300 children ages 14 years old and younger died in motor vehicle crashes. Another 179,000 children across the United States were injured. Those statistics are according to the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Perhaps a key contributor to the fatalities and deaths is the fact that child-restraint systems are often incorrectly used. According to another NHTSA study, 72 percent of nearly 3,500 car and booster seats were misused in a manner that was expected to increase a child’s risk of injury in the event of a collision.

While these are frightening statistics, they are a call to action for parents and caregivers. Thankfully, there are many resources—starting with the Westborough Fire Department (W.F.D.)—that offer potentially life-saving guidance.

The W.F.D. offers free inspections of children’s car seats to make sure they are properly installed. All you need to do is call (508) 366-3040 to schedule an appointment with one of the W.F.D’s trained technicians. 

Westboro Toyota urges everyone to take advantage of the W.F.D.’s expertise—The W.F.D. has gained much recognition over the years for being one of the most active and reliable check points here in Central Massachusetts!

Also, in the meantime, keep in mind these potentially life-saving tips from the CDC:

•            Always wear a seat belt and make sure the kids are buckled up, too. By setting a good example now for children, their good safety habits are more likely to stick with them into adulthood.

•            Ensure that children are properly buckled in their seat belts or booster or car seats at all times, based on their age, height, and weight.

This means following the CDC’s guidelines, which state that:

•            birth through age two—children should be positioned and buckled into rear-facing child-safety seats;

•            between ages two to four or until the child reaches 40 pounds—buckled into a forward-facing car seat in the back seat;

•            between ages four to eight or until the child is four feet nine inches tall—buckled into a booster seat positioned in the back seat; and

•            after age eight and/or four feet nine inches tall—children should always be buckled into their seatbelts, and kids should still use a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits them properly (this means that the lap belt lays across the upper thighs—not the stomach—and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (not the neck), the CDC explains. 

The CDC also recommends that kids under 13 years old should always ride in the back seat because air bags can kill small children riding in the front seat. Also, the middle of the backseat is the safest spot, so it’s recommended that they ride there wherever possible.

Also, for more information visit Buckle Up for Life, a one-of-a-kind national campaign, co-sponsored by Toyota, that brings hospital safety curriculum to Hispanic and African American church congregations and offers ways to integrate safety lessons for drivers and passengers of all ages into sermons and Sunday school classes. According to a recent Toyota press release, black and Hispanic children are disproportionately at a higher risk in motor vehicle crashes.

The program also provides free child car safety seats and car seat inspections. After participating in the Buckle Up for Life program in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, the number of Hispanic adults and children using seat belts and car seats more than doubled, which is great news!

So, buckle up everyone, and don’t forget to book an appointment with the W.F.D. to have your car seat(s) inspected. 

And, if you’re in the market for a family vehicle that gets high marks, check out the Toyota Prius, Camry and Sienna, which were all recently named best family cars for 2012 by Parents magazine and Edmunds.com!

Plus, right now, Westboro Toyota’s Sounds of Summer Savings Event is going on, which means we’re offering $0 down leases on new Toyotas starting at just $219 per month or 0% financing for 60 months on a new 2012 Avalon, Highlander, Sienna, Rav 4, Tundra or Venza with approved credit. Plus, you can save up to $6,035 off the MSRP on new Toyotas starting at the low price of $15,426. This offer expires July 31, 2012, so stop by our showroom today!

Happy Belated Birthday to the United States—Westboro Toyota’s Thoughts on Made in America

Coming off of the Fourth of July 2012, Westboro Toyota thinks it’s apt to talk about Cars.com’s American-Made Index, which rates vehicles built and bought here in America. The index factors in vehicle sales, where the vehicle’s parts come from and whether it’s assembled here in the States. If a vehicle has a domestic parts content rating below 75 percent, it’s disqualified from the chance to make the annual index.

Recently, the Toyota Camry, which is made at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Ky., and the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Layfette, Ind., topped Cars.com’s American-Made Index. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Toyota Camry claimed the index’s top spot.

Right now, Westboro Toyota has brand-new 2012 Toyota Camry LEs in stock for lease for as little as $179 a month with just $1,999 due at signing (stk# 36163, 36200 and 36270), or $239 a month with $0 down, or purchase any one of the available Toyota Camry LEs for as little as $21,086.

All this talk about American-made products got Westboro Toyota thinking about what home-grown products have been made right here in beautiful Westborough, Massachusetts over the years. We did some digging, and you may be interested to know that with the laying of the railroad that wound its way from Boston to Worcester way back in the 1800s ushered in a new era for the town.  Once the railroad was complete, Westborough’s factories shipped straw hats, shoes and boots, sleighs, textiles and bicycles across the vast and expanding United States.

Perhaps the most famous made-in-America “product” tied to Westborough can be traced back to the parents of Eli Whitney, Jr., Westborough’s most famous native who went on to invent the cotton gin—a device that revolutionized the United States’ cotton industry.

What else has been made here in Westborough or in any of the surrounding towns, like Northborough, Southborough, Ashland, Hopkinton, Marlborough and Grafton? Chime in on Westboro Toyota’s Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you!