Toyota exploring Ford based affiliated - car system

Smartphone in-car infotainment operation technology aimed at flawless user experience

Enthusiasm is obvious! Two motor corporations, Toyota and Ford are ready to work together on a connected – car infotainment system. They have reached an agreement to explore collaboration with Livio. Livio is a Ford secondary in implementation of SmartDeviceLink (SDL) technology in future Toyota vehicles as well as Lexus.

“We continue to investigate new technologies that both enhance and safeguard the driving experience of Toyota and Lexus owners,” said Shigeki Terashi, Senior Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation. “The in-car app market is quickly evolving. Developing robust, flexible, safe and user-friendly connected services is a priority for us, and one that we believe is shared by Ford, Livio and other contributors to SDL technology.”

Toyota's connected cars are currently using a system called Entune. Japanese company is thinking very seriously of adopting SDL, or the SmartDeviceLink platform, which is the open-source iteration of the AppLink system of Ford.

This kind of software provides app developers with access to controls within the vehicle such as the display screens and the voice recognition system, with the capacity for voice commands seen as a vital component in assuring that drivers keep both hands on the steering wheel.

Another advantage of SDL technology involves the ability for planner to design an app only one time. This saves planner time and allows apps to be introduced more quickly to the extensive audience.

In August 2011, Toyota and Ford agreed to work together on establishing next generation for in-car telematics all in order to make safer, more secure and appropriate driving experience. This announcement was built on earlier cooperation. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Honored Toyota Sienna

Earlier RAV4 Wins Previously Owned Vehicle Award at Technology Conference

                                                                                                                 

With huge cargo space up to 150 cubic feet, the Sienna has so much space for storage. The 2015 Toyota Sienna earned the best in Class Minivan Award, in New England at the fifth annual Motor press Association (NEMPA) technology Conference. The organizers were Massachusetts Institute of technology and NEMPA.

Toyota had already brought in awards from the NEMPA conference, including TV Previously Owned Vehicle award for the 2006-2012 RAV4, among the ten finalists. RAV4 was redesigned in 2013, having a history of supplying their owners comfort above all which is associated with Toyota vehicles. It remains the leader in class of small SUVs.

The conference concentrated on green vehicle technology and included a panel of experts in fuel economy, emissions reduction and innovation in green vehicle technologies, beyond tax allowance, legislation’s and pressure of high oil and gas prices. Robert Wimmer, Director of Energy & Environmental Research at Toyota Manufacturing North America, shared details about Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology.

The 2015 Sienna holds true to its “wager Wagon” references. Interior is much more stylish, more comfortable, the cockpit area entertaining and cargo space more practical. Front framework is refreshed and restyled, headlights as well as taillights. This vehicle is the only minivan in its class offering all-wheel-drive.

Sienna will get you where-ever you want or need to go even before you ask “Are we there yet?”

Toyota Awarding Academic Greatness

Granted Scholarships for 22 Asian Pacific Islander (API) Students

Toyota awarded scholarships to 22 Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) students from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics majors to support and help them in seeking higher education. The donation will be great help to those students in achieving their academic and career goals. Awards for 22 students were donated at its fourth annual awards dinner and reception at the Toyota Automotive Museum on May 14, 2015.

Ranging from aerospace engineering to microbiology and chosen from the University of California, Irvine to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, scholarship recipients received $5,000 towards a degree in a STEM field for their first two years of college. There were also students from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, India, and Korea, who were also acknowledged for their accomplishments by the local government officials.

“This scholarship will play such a large part in helping me get one step closer to becoming a successful mechanical engineer,” says scholarship recipient Pamela Nguyen from North Torrance High School.  “I hope to influence my community for the better through my future creations.”  Pamela plans to study mechanical engineering at California State University Long Beach.

Executives in Toyota Karen Ideno, Doug Murtha, Julia Wada, and millennial Toyota team members Shawn Kumar and Kelsey Yu took part in a panel discussion on the topic, “What has inspired you in your personal and professional development?". This discussion brought different insight and direction on how the scholars can successfully transition into the professional work field.

In addition to Toyota's corporate contribution, the Toyota Giving Circles, a program that allows team members to donate to their preferred charity, TAAP (Toyota Asian American powered by associates) and NFTA (Network of Filipino Toyota Associates) contributed with two of the scholarships in partnership with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.
 

Toyota i-Road R&D Project in Tokyo

The next step for Toyota will be the launch of the Open Road Project with the i-Road ultra-compact EV concept in July in Tokyo. To boost the practical, convenient and fun use of the i-Road on city streets, Toyota will seek creative advice and response from the specialist companies and members of the public focusing on two key areas: finding appropriate parking and encouraging customization.

Appropriate parking

The i-Road has its two key elements, its compact size and its capability to be charged from a standard 100V electric outlet. By working with parking area operators and commercial property owners in central Tokyo, Toyota will benefit by identifying unused spaces with access to plug sockets that could be used for i-Road parking and charging. Feedback will be used for analysis on how to expand the parking and charging network.

Encouraging customization

Making the i-Road a really unique and personal experience through the use of custom parts is Toyota's goal. In this project the participants will be able to express themselves by 3D-printing body parts with colors and surface designs of their choosing.

100 participants will be involved, from ordinary members of the public to experts and trendsetters, to which Toyota will provide 10 i-Road vehicles for about a month each. Overall, the project will run for approximately a year.

Partners in this project will provide feedback to help Toyota better the practicality and usability of the i-Road. This will include opinions on how the vehicle might be modified or made more viable for further production.
 

The award for Toyota Sienna as the Best 3-Row Vehicle for Families

The newest award from the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA)

The 2015 Sienna was named the Best 3-Row Family Vehicle by GAAMA at the association’s annual Family Choice Challenge.

GAAMA conducted evaluations on the vehicles for over two days of at Lake Lanier Islands in Georgia. The Sienna was one of seven 3-row vehicles studied.

The Toyota 2015 Sienna minivan makes its second appearance on the list of Best Family Cars.

It is newly refreshed by improving interior comfort and redesigning the exterior and styling as well. The Toyota Sienna has eight seats for eight passengers. No matter how you set up your Sienna's seats, long seat travel assures your second-row passengers will have plenty of legroom, especially if there's nobody sitting in the third row. This car has something for everyone, for each member of the family. For example kids enjoy Sienna’s Blu-Ray Dual View Entertainment Center, as long as parents communicate with them through Toyota’s Driver Easy Speak system, which makes it easier for third-row passengers to hear what the driver says.

“Our experts considered factors like styling, safety, comfort and efficiency, and the results reflect the best in both innovation and execution,” said GAAMA President Jim Tucker. “The overall winner and each of our category winners are must-drive models for anyone shopping for a new family car.”

Adding to this award from the Southeast automotive press, the 2015 Sienna has also been designated out by safety testing organization IIHS for being the only van in its class with the highest safety rating. The Texas Autowriters named the Sienna the Family cars of Texas.

Kelly Blue book singled out the Sienna for having the top resale value of any van.

Engineers at work in town

Toyota Sponsors Society of Automotive Engineers Competition at Michigan International Speedway

You need to have great engineers to build great cars. So, Toyota is in search for them.

Each spring, the Formula SAE competition is held at Michigan International Speedway. Toyota is the sponsor for a consecutive year. The reason is obvious, to find the next crop of engineers and to harvest them. Hence, 120 engineering teams from colleges and universities across the U.S. and the globe are occupying one of NASCAR's fastest tracks taking part in competitions that test their abilities in real-world automotive design and engineering. This is not just an ordinary event, it means a lot to the students since they are able to get more familiar with Toyota.

“This event gives us a great opportunity to interact with engineering students,” says Toyota Engineering Recruiter Isamu Wagner. “We get to show tomorrow’s engineers that Toyota doesn’t just engineer great cars; we’re also great place to be an engineer.”

Toyota will organize a recruiting tent in the paddock, having one-on-one discussions with interested students. The Toyota Technical Center Rally Team will also be available, demonstrating their cars and sharing their experiences as Toyota engineers and rally drivers.