New Toyota Cars Wallpaper

Toyota car

Toyota car

Toyota car

Toyota car

Toyota car

Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year Ford Edge

Okay, we have to admit that when we first heard of this award, we chuckled a bit to ourselves. Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year, really? No one ever really thinks about the safety of their pets when choosing their vehicle except for maybe Bark Buckle UP’s founder Pet Safety Lady, Christina Selter.

"Most people don’t think about it, but in only a 35 mph accident with a 60-pound pet it becomes a 2,700-pound projectile. This will injure the pet, passengers, driver or the pet may escape the vehicle and cause a second accident or become agitated and bite the first responder that is on scene doing their job," stated Selter.

With this in mind, Selter announced this year’s Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year, the Ford Edge. The award was accepted by Brett Burin, Ford Edge Marketing Manager.

"We look ahead with excitement this summer to the arrival of the new 2011 Edge, which adds even more revolutionary technology and class-leading performance. And with a suite of safety features, flexible seating and nearly 70 cubic feet of cargo space, the Ford Edge is perfect for those traveling with pets," said Brett Burin, Ford Edge Marketing Manager.

We still think it is a little silly, but, hey, if it is grand enough to be done at the 2010 New York Auto Show then it has our attention and little Fido’s attention too.

Press Release

Bark Buckle UP – the recognized leader and experts for pet travel safety – awarded the Pet Safe Choice Vehicle Awards "TOP DOG" today at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. This year, Bark Buckle UP’s founder Pet Safety Lady Christina Selter and her furry friends awarded "TOP DOG" Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice and announced the Pet Safe Hotel, Retailer, and Airline of choice. During the presentation, Greg Kleva, host of Martha Stewart radio show "It’s a Dogs Life," the Pet Safety Lady, and furry friends wearing the Doggie Seat Belt hopped in and out of cars and stole the show with their animal antics and demonstrations of dog and car travel safety.

This year’s Pet Safe winners included the Ford Edge (Vehicle of the Year), BassPro Shops (Retailer of the Year), Sheraton Hotels (Hotel of the Year) and Southwest Airlines (Airline of the Year).

"Most people don’t think about it, but in only a 35 mph accident with a 60-pound pet it becomes a 2,700-pound projectile. This will injure the pet, passengers, driver or the pet may escape the vehicle and cause a second accident or become agitated and bite the first responder that is on scene doing their job," stated Selter.

The registered vehicles are evaluated on a variety of pet-related aspects, including how easily the vehicle accommodates animals and kennels of various sizes, ease of access to pet from within the vehicle, ease of pet entry and exit, ventilation for animals in the rear, as well as whether the vehicle has pet-friendly surfaces, adaptability for third party pet travel or safety gear. Ford received four out of the top ten honors for 2010 Pet Safe Vehicles of Choice List, including the Ford Transit Connect, Edge and Flex and the Lincoln MKT.

"With more than 340,000 vehicles sold since it was originally launched in late 2006, the Ford Edge has been meeting the needs of customers who demand style, technology, performance and capability in a compelling package," said Brett Burin, Ford Edge Marketing Manager. "We look ahead with excitement this summer to the arrival of the new 2011 Edge, which adds even more revolutionary technology and class-leading performance. And with a suite of safety features, flexible seating and nearly 70 cubic feet of cargo space, the Ford Edge is perfect for those traveling with pets."

Doggie Seat Belt is the newest As Seen On TV product to offer real solutions to problems without breaking the bank. "When the weather is nice, you see dog heads hanging out the window all of the time," said Anand "Andy" Khubani, President and CEO of Ideavillage Products Corp. and distributor of the Doggie Seat Belt. "Since we all love our pets and enjoy taking them with us, Doggie Seat Belt was designed to be as easy and convenient as possible to buckle up our pets when they are in the car. This should help to decrease the chance of injury to a dog or passenger in the event of an accident."

The 2010 Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice TOP DOG Ford Edge award was accepted by Burin.

2010 Pet Safe Retailer, Hotel and Airline

 BassPro Shops
 Sheraton Hotels
 Southwest Airlines

Statistics

 35 mph accident with a 60-pound pet unrestrained becomes a 2,700-pound projectile
 98% of dogs do not travel properly restrained in a moving vehicle
 Driver distraction causes more accidents than any other issue
 82% of pets travel on vacation with their owners
 Pet friendly lodging has increased 300% since 2005
 Over 70 million homes in America have a pet

World Car of the Year Volkswagen Polo

The 2010 World Car Awards closed today at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Taking home the prestigious award for 2010 World Car of the Year was the Volkswagen Polo beating out the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Toyota Prius. Volkswagen took the majority vote of the 59 World Car jurors after they test drove the 30 entries from July 2009-January 2010. Walter de Silva, head of design Volkswagen Group, attributes this success to the Polo’s “uncomplicated, unique and timeless design plus its high efficiency”. This is Volkswagen’s second triumph in this category with the success of the Volkswagen Golf as last year’s World Car of the Year.

"We’re honored that the Volkswagen Polo was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors," said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. "After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo. These automobiles have reaped numerous awards, winning well-nigh every prize the automotive industry has to award. This shows Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history."

Follow the jump to see the nominees and winners in the other categories of the 2010 World Car Awards.

World Car Design of the Year

 Chevrolet Camaro WINNER
 Citroën C3 Picasso
 Kia Soul

World Performance Car

 Audi R8 V10 WINNER
 Ferrari California
 Porsche 911 GT3

World Green Car

 Volkswagen BlueMotion (Golf, Passat, Polo) WINNER
 Honda Insight
 Toyota Prius

Press Release

At the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan today the Volkswagen Polo has been declared the 2010 World Car of the Year. Merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal are the criterias for the World Car of the Year. Already in 2009, a Volkswagen model ranked the highest: the Golf. This year the top three contenders for World Car of the Year title were, in alphabetical order, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen Polo.

"We’re honored that the Volkswagen Polo was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors," said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. "After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo. These automobiles have reaped numerous awards, winning well-nigh every prize the automotive industry has to award. This shows Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history."

The award was received in New York City on thursday morning by Walter de Silva, head of design Volkswagen Group. „The new Volkswagen Polo generation fascinates both ways - by its uncomplicated, unique and timeless design plus its high efficiency. Already more than 230,000 customers worldwide placed their orders."

Now in their seventh year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world’s most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind. The majority of the 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries throughout the world chose the Polo from 30 entries. Each juror drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their on-going full-time professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions worldwide.

Automotive Ad of the Year Kia Soul

We are sure we are not the only ones that resort to channel surfing when our favorite TV show becomes the victim of yet another commercial break, but we are also sure that no one was dumb enough to change the channel when the Kia Soul commercial came on the big screen. The commercial opens up in a quiet neighborhood featuring hammers commuting in their ever-revolving hamster wheels. As the run-of-the-mill hamsters truck along aimlessly on their circles of death, a bright red Kia Soul thumping to music by Marz featuring Pack and Mumiez comes rolling along. Inside, the hip, music-loving rodents are bobbing their heads and tapping their paws expressing just how cool they really are. With a quick, cool guy...umm cool hamster nod, the Soul rolls on its way to wherever the young, trendy hamsters are hanging out these days illustrating their “new way to roll”.

It is because of this hilarious commercial that Kia has won the “Automotive Ad of the Year” award from the Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards event at the 2010 New York Auto Show. This is their fourth year doling at such awards and the winners are chosen by a panel of TV viewers who watch the programs and commercials in a non-controlled, natural environment and then answer survey questions about what they have seen.

"Truly effective advertising starts with a great creative idea," said Nielsen Automotive President Lois Miller. "When you combine that idea with a memorable and unique hook that grabs viewers’ attention, you are going to get the results that we saw from Kia this year."

Cadillac CTS – ‘Kate Walsh’

Chevrolet Silverado – ‘Howie Long Truckers Truck’

Press Release

Already a recipient of numerous accolades including a "2010 Automotive Excellence Award" from Popular Mechanics and being recognized as the "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com, the new 2010 Kia Soul was honored yet again today at the Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards event in conjunction with the New York International Auto Show when the TV commercial for the uniquely styled urban passenger vehicle was named "Automotive Ad of the Year."

Created by David&Goliath, the Soul spot depicts city and suburban streets inhabited exclusively by hamsters who are mindlessly running in place inside their exercise wheels until a molten red Kia Soul pulls up to a stoplight and the passenger window rolls down to reveal a trio of paw-tapping, music-loving hamsters who have discovered "A New Way to Roll."

Portraying Soul as a lounge on wheels with its highly specified audio system that includes speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music, the hamsters bob their heads to four different music tracks that appear in slightly different versions of the spot to keep each viewing fresh. Viewers with a sharp eye can identify song and artist information on the hamsters’ iPod screen, and the campaign extended online with each track available for download at www.kiasoul.com.

"The Soul was designed to stand out in a sea of sameness and that same philosophy guided the creative development of the hamster campaign and to position Soul as Kia’s affordable halo vehicle," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, Kia Motors America. "Soul was the first vehicle to emerge from Kia’s design-led transformation, and the hamsters quickly became a viral success and grabbed the attention of young and young-at-heart buyers looking for something with a unique personality and turned Soul into an overnight sales success story for the brand."

The Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards are based on results from Nielsen IAG’s National Ad Effectiveness Study which employs an online panel of TV viewers who have watched programs within a natural viewing environment (as opposed to a clinical research environment) in the past 24 hours. Panelists answer survey questions about the programs they watched and the commercials they were exposed to. Finalists for the 2010 IAG Automotive Advertising Awards are determined based on ad performance results from commercials which were launched in calendar year 2009.

"Truly effective advertising starts with a great creative idea," said Nielsen Automotive President Lois Miller. "When you combine that idea with a memorable and unique hook that grabs viewers’ attention, you are going to get the results that we saw from Kia this year."

Soul offers an immense amount of style and value on top of an extensive list of standard safety features sure to appeal to all consumers looking for a well-equipped vehicle suited to their personalities, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, the five-door hatchback offers an attractive starting price below $14,000(1) as well as unique and utilitarian style. Designed with the young and young-at-heart in mind, Soul presents an immense amount of style, value and function with a relatively small footprint and surprisingly spacious interior. Passengers will find comfort Soul’s roomy cabin, usefulness from Soul’s efficient cargo carrier with 14 storage zones and will benefit from numerous standard convenience features, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities (including a three month complimentary subscription)(2), and USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod®(3) and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls (achieved with an optional Kia accessory cable).

KMA has released three special edition Souls — Denim, Ignition and Shadow Dragon — based on the Soul+ trim, including Denim Soul, Ignition Soul and most recently Shadow Dragon Soul. Offering consumers even more ways to personalize the Soul, each special edition comes with its own unique exterior color and packaging.

Ford and Microsoft Hohm team up Microsoft Hohm energy management

Ford and Microsoft have teamed up to help sustain our global economy by implementing the Microsoft Hohm energy management application for Ford’s electric vehicles. This application will help EV owners determine when and how to recharge their vehicle’s battery. This is definitely a superior plan brought to us from the minds of two superior companies who have tested this application in response to an Accenture survey informing them that 42% of consumers say they will probably buy a hybrid in the next two years. Such a dramatic change in our energy usage will have a phenomenal impact making this energy management application a must for all who drive environmentally-friendly vehicles. Our only question would be how something like this would work. Nothing has been said about the inner workings of such an application so we can only assume that Microsoft knows what they are doing which, quite frankly, it’s obvious they do.

"Ford and Microsoft both share a strong commitment to contributing to a better world. Today, we begin the next major step in our working together and leading the way for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability," said Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company president and CEO. "For Ford, this is a needed step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable."

It’s no surprise that Ford is one of the first automakers to announce the use of Hohm considering they are the largest domestic hybrid seller in the US with four hybrids out currently (Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid) and plans for five new electric vehicles in North America and Europe in the next three years including the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid due to arrive later this year.

Press Release

Today, Ford Motor Company and Microsoft Corp. are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future by announcing a new solution that will make electric vehicle ownership easier and more affordable for consumers.

The two companies are teaming up to implement the Microsoft Hohm energy management application for Ford’s electric vehicles. Ford is the first automaker announcing the use of Hohm, starting with the Focus Electric next year. Hohm will help owners determine when and how to most efficiently and affordably recharge battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. It also should help utility companies manage the added demands of electric vehicles on the electric grid.

"Ford and Microsoft both share a strong commitment to contributing to a better world. Today, we begin the next major step in our working together and leading the way for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability," said Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company president and CEO. "For Ford, this is a needed step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable."

Both companies agree that effective management of the energy ecosystem is critical for electric vehicles to be successful and for consumer interest to grow. In a recent Accenture survey, 42 percent of consumers said they are likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle in the next two years. Increasing numbers of electric vehicles, however, will have a significant impact on energy demand. That is because the addition of an electric vehicle to a household could effectively double home energy consumption while the vehicle is charging.

Ford and Microsoft agree that making energy management easy and affordable for consumers will be key to the success of electric vehicles in the marketplace as well as in creating a positive environmental impact. "Electric vehicles will play an important role in the global effort to improve energy efficiency and address the issues of climate change and sustainability," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. "But as the market for electric vehicles expands, it will have a significant impact on home energy consumption and demand across the nation’s energy grid. With Microsoft Hohm, Ford and Microsoft will deliver a solution that will make it easier for car owners to make smart decisions about the most affordable and efficient ways to recharge electric vehicles, while giving utilities better tools for managing the expected changes in energy demand."

Introducing Hohm to Ford’s electric vehicles supports Ford’s aggressive global electrification plan, which will put five new electrified vehicles on the road in North America and Europe by 2013. In North America, they include the Transit Connect Electric later this year, Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and two next-generation hybrids in 2012.

America’s largest domestic hybrid seller, Ford Motor Company today has four hybrids on the road and another coming this year. They include the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Also coming this fall is the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which is expected to be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America.

Life with electrified vehicles – with full battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles needing to be recharged daily – will require consumers to change how they think about personal transportation and energy use.

Hohm, an Internet-based service, is designed to help customers avoid unnecessary expense by providing insight into their energy usage patterns and suggesting recommendations to increase conservation. With Ford electric vehicles, Hohm also will help drivers to determine the best time to charge their vehicle. Smart recharging habits will help utility companies understand and better manage the increased demands placed upon the electric grid because of electrified vehicles.

Ford and Microsoft’s participation in the Hohm program builds on the success of their decade-long partnership to provide customers with superior in-car experiences. The Ford SYNC communications and infotainment system, built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, has been installed on more than 2 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles since its launch in 2007, helping drivers connect and voice-control their mobile devices while driving. Microsoft Hohm is available today for free to all U.S. residential energy consumers and has multiple partnerships with utilities and other stakeholders already in place. Ford is the first automaker to join in collaboration with Hohm.

Ford and Microsoft also plan to continue to work with utility partners and municipalities to help further develop the energy ecosystem. Ford’s work includes collaboration with a dozen North American energy companies to road-test a fleet of 21 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid vehicles. The research has accumulated more than 160,000 miles of real-world data, which provided important groundwork for the new Hohm application.

"Rechargeable vehicles represent a new frontier. Their commercialization will take broad-based collaboration and systems solutions," said Mulally. "Working together, Ford and Microsoft will provide the systems solutions to help facilitate this exciting future."

Geneva Motor Show: 2010 Toyota RAV-4

Making its European debut at this week's Geneva Motor Show is the facelifted RAV4, or as Toyota prefers to call the latest version of its compact SUV, the "RAV-4 2010" which boasts a new front-end treatment, a refined interior and some minor engineering tweaks that reduce CO2 emissions.

The exterior updates are concentrated up front and include a newly designed bonnet, a wider grille with horizontal bars and chrome accents, new headlights, with projector-type low beam lamps and a reshaped bumper. These changes bring the RV-4 in line with the Toyota's latest models such as the Avensis, Verso and Auris.

Inside, the most significant change on the RAV4 2010 concerns the availability of new leather/Alcantara seat upholstery.

In Europe, the RAV-4 2010 is offered with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 158HP and a 2.2-liter D-4D available with 150HP or 180HP.

Mazda Licenses Prius Hybrid Technology from Toyota

As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them... Not wanting to be left out of the modern craze for all things hybrid, Mazda reached an agreement with Toyota to license the (hybrid) technology used in the Toyota Prius.

The deal, announced on Monday, will allow Mazda to use the key components of the hybrid system found in the top-selling Prius on its own series of models.

The Japanese automaker said that it plans to combine the hybrid system with its next-generation SKY engine(s) that is currently under development, and manufacture a hybrid vehicle in Japan with sales set to commence by 2013.

In the joint statement, Toyota said that it will consider requests from other companies to supply hybrid technology.