Eiji Toyoda, Dies at 100

Eiji Toyoda, the longest serving president in the history of Toyota and the founder of Lexus, died on September 17th 2013 at age 100. His career lasted for 57 years.

In 1994. he stepped down, but by that period company already started assembling Corollas in the U. S. and had started with the Lexus luxury brand, also new project was on the way to be developed. One of the world’s most efficient and successful gas-electric vehicle, the Prius.

“He played an important role in leading Toyota’s expansion into North America, and in developing the car maker into a global company,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said at a press conference in Tokyo. “He was someone who was indispensable to the nation’s entire industry.“

Eiji Toyoda was a cousin of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of the company. There were six presidents coming from the family.

He had been working 69 years for the company situated in central Japan’s Toyota City. They were assembling its cars from the parts made by GM. Toyoda considered that the best way is to learn from big ones, like GM and Ford about mass production of automobiles.

He became a president of Toyota Motor. Co. in 1967. and served for 15 years. Toyota Motor and Toyota Motor Sales Co. merged and formed Toyota Motor Corporation. Eiji Toyoda became a chairman of that merged company. After he retired he was made honorary chairman of the company, and also honorary adviser.

During his leadership they opened 10 new car factories,began exporting to dozen of countries. The reputation was built. By that time the Corolla was the best selling car.

Nevertheless his greatest achievement was establishing company overseas, and venture in the U. S. started in 1983. The year later he passed the presidency to his cousin, Shoichiro.

They started in partnership with GM in 1984, and production started in Fremont, California. Toyota’s principles showed that they can be applied in different cultures, Kentucky, Canada, England, France.

In 1994. Toyoda was inducted in Automotive Hall of fame in the U.S. “As a member of the automotive industry, this is indeed a great moment for me“, he said in a statement upon his introduction. “Ever since Toyota’s establishment in 1937. I have been involved in this wonderful business, and as long as my engine keeps running, I intend to give back as much as I can for the industry’s further development.”

Eiji Toyoda was born on Sept. 12, 1913. near Nagoya and was the second son of Heikichi and Nao. He spent his childhood in Nagoya inside her father’s mill. From the early ages he was thought in machines and business. In 1936 he graduated in mechanical engineering and joined Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Ltd. Working for his uncle Sakichi Toyoda. He had three sons and a daughter with his wife Kazuko.

New Generation Prius to Strive Past Already Impressive MPG!

The Toyota Prius is a great car with tremendous value given its fuel efficiency. And, Toyota has plans to make the next generation Prius even better! 

Recently, Bob Carter, Toyota’s senior vice president of sales, challenged the industry to put the pedal to the metal on the commitment to hybrids as a core technology. “I would like to see us—as an industry—accomplish  … 5 million hybrids, cumulatively, in the U.S. by close of business 2016.  That results in 3 billion gallons of gasoline saved, which is more than enough gas for the entire population of the United States to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a Prius. It’s do-able. And I think we will do it,” he said.

Toyota noted, too, it is striving to ensure that the next generation Prius will have an even better hybrid powertrain. “Between now and the end of 2015, Toyota plans to introduce 15 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles globally,” a recent press release stated. What’s the practical impact of this development? Well, the new hybrid powertrain will mean improved fuel economy with a more compact package that’s lighter and lower in cost. Plus, Toyota’s got its eye on further improving its battery, gas, and electric motor technologies, too.

Currently, with each of the three generations of Prius fuel economy has been improved by about 10 percent. Going forward, the plan is to beat this already stellar record. In addition to offering better fuel economy, the Toyota Prius will likely have higher energy density, which could help further electrify the vehicle. In addition to ramping up research and development of nickel hydribe and lithium-ion batteries, the company is developing new technologies involving solid state and lithium air.

With a smaller motor and a supped up battery, Westboro Toyota predicts that the next generation Prius will increase the thermal efficiency of the gasoline engine, too—currently the Prius is at 38.5 percent in that department; going forward we’ll likely see a level of more than 40 percent!

In addition, the next generation Prius will use “Toyota New Global Architecture,” which features a lower center of gravity to improve driving dynamics. These aerodynamics will lead to an all-new exterior design, too. And, the interior will likely get a facelift, as well, with a roomier cabin. Bonus!! 

We can’t wait for the day when the next generation Prius hits our showroom floor. In the meantime, we’ve got plenty of gas-sipping all-new 2013 Toyota Priuses in stock. Choose from Prius and Pruis Plug In models.

Plus, our Nationwide Clearance Event is still going strong through Sept. 3, 2013. We’ve got leases on new Toyotas starting at $79/month, with $0 Maintenance, 0.0% financing up to 60 months with approved credit on new 2013 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, Prius Plug In, Sienna, Venza and Tundra. And, you can save up to $4,257 off the MSRP on new Toyota purchases (new vehicles start at just $18,157)!

Toyota Avalon Hybrid Earns Top ‘Ideal Vehicle Awards’ Spot

Westboro Toyota understands that buying a luxury hybrid/EV can be a big decision. That’s why we’ve put together a list below of the must-have features a hybrid/EV vehicle should have, so you can compare apples to apples when shopping for a new luxury hybrid vehicle.

First up, a luxury hybrid/EV should pack a horsepower punch! Let’s say 200 horsepower, for example.

Second, a luxury hybrid/EV should get great city/highway mileage—how does a combined 40 mpg sound?

Third, a luxury hybrid/EV should combine elegance with athletic styling, along with the interior comfort and refinement you’ve come to expect from a high-end vehicle.

Keep in mind that the points listed above aren’t some unattainable hybrid/EV wish list—far from it, in fact. These points perfectly describe the Toyota Avalon Hybrid flagship model, which has been named the 2013 top Hybrid/EV by AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA)! AutoPacific ranks vehicles based on how they “meet their owner’s expectations and desires about their automotive purchases,” Toyota reported recently.

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid, which launched in 2013, represents the fourth-generation Avalon, and the Auto Pacific IVA ranked it in the top spot based on 15 key attributes, exterior styling, exterior size, passenger roominess, cargo space, driver’s seat comfort, driver’s seat visibility, info/entertainment technology, interior lighting, power and acceleration, ease of getting in and out, interior storage compartments, ride, handling, safety features and tires and wheels.

Check out the Toyota Avalon Hybrid, like the thousands of vehicle owners who participated in AutoPacific’s IVA survey. We think you’ll be mighty impressed with all this hybrid/EV vehicle has to offer. 

Plus, right now, Westboro Toyota’s Nationwide Clearance Event is going strong, through Sept. 3, 2013. We’ve got leases starting at just $79 a month, $0 maintenance, 0% 60-month financing for qualified buyers on the new 2013 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, Prius Plug In, Sienna, Venza and Tundra with approved credit. Plus, you could save up to $4,257 off the MSPR on a new Toyota! 

Newly Redesigned 2014 Toyota Tundra with Five Grades to Choose From Will Soon Hit the Showroom Floor!

Westboro Toyota is super stoked that the 2014 Toyota Tundra will soon be rolling into our Route 9 West showroom! We’re also extremely pleased with the number of cab styles that are available in the 2014 Toyota Tundra model—you’ll be able to choose from the regular two-door regular cab, the four-door double cab and the four-door Crew Max models, which are all available in 2x4 and 4x4, in five grades: SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum and the new 1794 Edition!

Of course, each 2014 Toyota Tundra grade comes packed with many must-have features you’ve come to love, but with five grades to choose from, you’ll have even more opportunity to select the unique styling and equipment options you crave.

Plus, the 2014 Toyota Tundra comes with many standard features like its back-up camera—it’s the only truck in the full-size pickup segment to include this feature standard!—Bluetooth^® hands-free phone and audio streaming on all grades. Here are some other standard features you can expect no matter which of the five grades you choose:

•            Windshield wiper de-icer

•            Front and rear mudguards

•            Power window and door locks

•            Heated, power, outside mirrors

•            Toyota Star Safety System,™ which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Smart Stop (SST) brake override technology

•            Safety features, such as manual headlamp leveling, trailer sway control and a tire press monitoring system (also, LED Daytime Running Lights are standard on the on Platinum and 1794 Editions).

•            Tow hitch (standard on models equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine).

And, here are even more standard features you can expect based on the grade of 2014 Toyota Tundra you select:

•            Air conditioning—standard on all SR and SR5 grade models.

•            Duel-zone air conditioning with individual temperature settings for the driver and front-seat passenger—standard on the Limited, Platinum and 1794 Edition models.

•            Auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink® universal transceiver—standard on the Limited, Platinum and 1794 Edition grades.

•            Leather-trimmed seats, a 10-way power driver seat, chrome door handles and outer mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels, a deck rail system, and Entune Premium Audio with Navigation and App Suite—standard on the Limited grade.

•            12-way power driver’s seat with memory and a six-way power passenger’s seat, both with heat and ventilation, power moonroof, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, front and rear parking sonar, and Entune Premium JBL Audio with Navigation and App Suite—standard with the Platinum and 1794 Edition grades.

•            Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert—standard on the Limited, Crew Max, Platinum and 1794 Editions—once again, the Tundra is the only full-size pickup on the market currently with this.

When the 2014 Toyota Tundra hits the Westboro Toyota showroom, we hope you’ll stop by to check it out. This beauty has been newly designed, inside and out, representing a major change since the 2007 model year!  Want a sneak-peek visual: Consider that the 2014 Toyota Tundra features a chiseled hood and grill area that punctuates the character of this powerful beast and that the wheel wells and fenders are squared-off for a wide, sturdy stance. Plus, you’ll have plenty of rugged exterior colors to choose from, including three new ones: Attitude Black Metallic, Sunset Bronze Mica, and Blue Ribbon Metallic.  And, you won’t be disappointed when you see the all-new, redesigned 2014 Toyota Tundra in popular options like Radiant Red, Super White, Silver Sky Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Black and Barcelona Red.

Don’t forget, too, that right now Westboro Toyota’s Nationwide Clearance Event is going strong, which means you can save when buying and leasing a new Toyota!
 
 

Newly redesigned Toyota Corolla and Toyota Tundra Going Into Production!

Westboro Toyota has got super exciting news about the 2014 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Tundra. Both are heading into production as we speak, and that means it will only be a short while before the 11th generation of the beloved Corolla and the third generation rugged Tundra roll into our showroom!

And, while we're awaiting the 2014 Corolla’s arrival here in Westboro, here’s a little tidbit to chew on: The Toyota Corolla is the “best-selling car nameplate in the world,” and it’s been around for 47—yup, count ’em—47 big years!  We can’t wait for the 2014 Corolla to roll on in so we can show you first hand how the newly redesigned model will continue Corolla’s longstanding reputation for reliability and quality!

And, it may be hot in the August sun but we’re awaiting the arrival of one cool—and extremely powerful—set of wheels coming soon. The 2014 Toyota Tundra is getting its first major redesign, both inside and out, since the current generation launched with the 2007 model year.

Definitely keep an eye to your website and if you’re in the Route 9 West area of Westboro in the coming months stop by to see the newly redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Tundra. We’ll keep you posted on the arrival of these highly anticipated beauties as soon as they come in. Be sure, too, to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter—those are just two of the ways we bring news of amazing live pricing deals on brand-new Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs available for purchase or lease here at Westboro Toyota!

Why It’s So Important to Realize Dangers of Texting While Driving

According to a recent study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 30 percent of teenagers across the country polled said they read a text or email every time they’re behind the wheel. Researchers for the Toyota’s Teen Driver Distraction Study also learned, through phone interviews with teenagers in major metropolitan areas across the country, that 24 percent of them had responded to texts while driving.

Parents here in Central Massachusetts should take these findings very seriously. The good news is that the majority of teens surveys don’t text while driving, here at Westboro Toyota we think it bears an important reminder to talk to your teenagers about safe driving habits.

First up, under Massachusetts’ Safe Driving Law, texting while driving is against the law for everyone, regardless of age. It’s important for everyone to abide by this rule designed to reduce the liklihood of injuries and fatalities on the roadways.

Second, young people should be reminded that here in Massachusetts it’s against the law for a junior operator under the age of 18 to use a cell phone in any capacity while driving.

Third, lead by example. Invest in a hand-free device to free up your hands so they stay on the wheel at all times. Right now Massachusetts is considering legislation that would require the use of a hands-free device for calling. Also, another bill proposes banning any cell phone use by a driver, regardless of age. The legislative landscape may be uncertain, but with similar laws going into effect across the country, it’s likely we could see changes here in the Bay State soon.

Fourth, reward your teenagers’ good behavior! If your teen has demonstrated a commitment to driver and passenger safety, why not consider buying him or her a stylish new or certified pre-owned vehicle? Here at Westboro Toyota, we offer a tremendous inventory on some top-selling favorites, including the 2013 Toyota Corolla, Rav4, Prius and more. Plus, right now, during our Summer Savings Event is still going strong—but hurry deep deals on new Toyota purchases and $0 down leases ends Aug. 5, 2013. 

And, we’ve got a great deal especially for you if you've recently graduated college! If you have obtained your degree within the last two years, Toyota’s College Graduate Rebate program delivers a $750 rebate toward the lease or purchase of select new Toyotas through Toyota Financial Services (TFS).

Stop by Westboro Toyota today to learn more about our Summer Savings Event deals and this great Toyota college graduate rebate.

Vote in Support of Local Non-Profits During Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Campaign!

Each year, Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program invites the public to select worthy non-profit organizations to receive a brand-new Toyota vehicle. The 2013 program recently accelerated into high gear, and Toyota is urging 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to apply online right now explaining how a new vehicle would support their work. Based on individuals’ votes received later this year, Toyota will give away two cars per day for 50 days to selected organizations!

Westboro Toyota thinks this is a great way for Westborough residents and those of our surrounding cities and towns to let their favorite non-profit organizations know they’ve got your support!

Up to 2,500 applications from non-profit organizations across the country are being accepted through Aug. 5. On Aug. 19, Toyota will select 250 finalist organizations, which will receive promotional materials to help raise awareness for their organizations during the voting period and in their work beyond. Then, on Oct. 1, voting will begin and continue for 50 days straight on Toyota’s Facebook page—and you’ll get two votes per day to select two separate winning organizations.

“Each day, the two winners will be eligible to choose a Highlander, Prius, Sienna, Sienna Mobility or Tundra, which will also come with a six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty from Toyota Financial Services. The remaining three runners-up every day will earn a grant of $1,000 from Toyota to recognize their efforts and encourage further good work,” Toyota explained.

Since 2011, Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good has helped organizations during good in their local communities, such as those that transport disabled adults and help restore homes following catastrophic disasters like Superstorm Sandy, Toyota explained.

Westboro Toyota urges any local non-profits that are interested in applying for a new vehicle to post photos highlighting your work in the community. This can help raise your social profile and garner additional support for your cause!

One Massachusetts-based charity, All Hands Volunteer, has already benefited from this philanthropic initiative—it got a new Toyota Tundra that came in mighty handy with clean-up efforts following Superstorm Sandy, which hit the Northeast hard. “Within 48 hours…, our volunteers were in the new truck driving south toward Staten Island to help affected families,” said David Campbell, executive director of the organization, which used its vehicle to help clear homes after the devastating storm. “By establishing 100 Cars for Good, Toyota helps identify groups like ours with huge needs for vehicles. It makes so much more possible.”

So, what are you waiting for: Nonprofits, apply for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program today! And local residents, cheer on your favorite charity by voting once the polls open on Oct. 1.

Are you in the market for any of the vehicles showcased in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good campaign? Stop by right now during our Summer Savings Event, which draws to a close on Aug. 5, for a great deal on a brand-new Highlander, Prius, Sienna or Tundra!