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Toyota's Trade In, Trade Up promotion

Toyota has launched a new customer promotion for March called Trade Up, Trade In.

The promotion allows customers a trade in allowance of up to €3,000 towards any new Toyota for the month of March at their Toyota Dealer.

The promotion applies to all passenger vehicles in the Toyota range.

Toyota launches Upgrade.ie comparison site

Aygo

Toyota Ireland has launched Upgrade.ie, a new comparison site where people can calculate the savings they would make by upgrading to a new Toyota from their current vehicle.

The new site calculates the total cost of ownership of a particular model by assessing the key variables which affect annual running costs, including depreciation, road tax, NCT costs, servicing costs, fuel consumption and insurance ratings.

The site calculates the annual running costs of a vehicle, as well as calculating how much the owner could save by switching to a comparable new Toyota model and comparing the cost of running the Toyota model versus similar competitor models.

Is Marai the FC future that never comes?

With Toyota rolling out its production Mirai fuel cell car this year — the name is Japanese for 'Future' — are we seeing the real start to a long promised 'car of the future' finally arriving?, writes Brian Byrne.

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it's still a 'sometime' thing. The truth is, part of the reason for the Mirai's rollout is auto-political. It will initially only be available in California, which has 'zero tailpipe emissions' legislation that penalises any carmaker who doesn't have at least one model available with no emissions. Toyota hasn't gone the pure EV route, so this is its 'zero' candidate. That it costs some $30,000 more than an equivalent gasoline powered sedan doesn't really matter.

But the Mirai's arrival is a pointer to the ongoing search for a real alternative to petrol or diesel as the energy source for our car travelling. And prompts me to look again at the situation in Ireland.

Toyota scores highest in NCT

Toyota cars had the highest pass rating for first time NCT tests in 2013, writes Brian Byrne.

Of the vehicles registered in 2007, Toyota models Auris, Corolla and Yaris scored highest with pass rates of 82%, 81.1% and 81% respectively, versus an average pass rate of 69%. Similarly, in 2005 the average pass rate was 55%, a percentage beaten by a considerable margin by Corolla (70.4%), Yaris (70.3%) and RAV4 (69.6%).

1.17 million vehicles were tested at NCT centres across Ireland in 2013.

1,500 home orders for Toyota's fuel cell saloon

Toyota's Fuel Cell Vehicle concept

In just one month since its launch to the home market in Japan, some 1,500 orders have been received for Toyota's 'Mirai' fuel cell saloon. The Japanese carmaker was taken by surprise by the order bank as it had planned to sell 400 units by the end of 2015!

Orders have come in from government offices and corporate fleets, with the remaining 40 percent from individual consumers.

The Mirai is based on the Toyota FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) concept car (pictured) which was similar in size to the Toyota Camry. It can seat four occupants. The fuel cell system has an output power density of 3.0 kW/L, which is twice as high as that of its previous fuel cell concept.

The Mirai's motor is powered by electricity generated through a chemical reaction between airborne oxygen and hydrogen within an onboard fuel cell. With its combination of environmental friendliness and fun-to-drive performance, the Mirai has the potential to help create a hydrogen society of the future.

Mirai is the Japanese for 'future'.

Toyota offer reduced APRs til 31 March 2015

As part of its Personal Contract Plan (PCP) known as Toyota Flex, Toyota Ireland has announced new special reduced APR rates until 31 March 2015.

The specific new rates include Aygo - 4.49%; Yaris, Auris - 5.9%; RAV4, Avensis, Verso, Corolla and Prius - 6.45%.

The Flex plan can be completely tailored to the customer, starting with a 7 percent deposit and going up to 36 percent. In addition, customers can also unlock the value in their used car by using it as a deposit towards a new Toyota, a concept known as 'key for key'.

Toyota will also provide a guaranteed future value on all new Toyotas purchased through Flex, enabling customers to reduce their monthly repayments over a three-year period. At the end of three years they can *upgrade their Toyota to a new Toyota on similar monthly repayments; *return the car with nothing more to pay; *keep the car and pay the guaranteed future value.

Customers can work out repayments using the calculator at www.finance.toyota.ie.

Toyota has sold 7m hybrids

The number of hybrid vehicles sold by Toyota exceeded 7m at the end of September, writes Brian Byrne.

The company now has 28 different hybrid models on sale across 90 markets around the world. Another 15 are scheduled be added in the 2014-2015 period.

Toyota started the production hybrid car segment in 1997, with a bus and the first Prius. The Prius reached Europe in 2000, and in each of the last two years global sales achieved in excess of 1.2m units.

Katie Taylor and Paul O'Connell in What Drives You video

Toyota has released the first in a series of videos featuring exclusive footage of Ireland's leading sports personalities and Toyota ambassadors exploring what drives them, writes Trish Whelan.

The first installment can be viewed at toyota.ie and Toyota Ireland's youtube channel youtube.com/toyotaireland and offers the viewer an intimate glimpse into a day with
Olympic boxer Katie Taylor and Ireland rugby captain Paul O'Connell.

The two sporting legends try to spend a day in each other's boots, with Paul sparring with some promising young boxers from Katie's gym, and Katie learning how to kick and pass on the pitch with Paul and a team of talented young rugby players. The pair ask each other searching questions about their respective disciplines, their training regimes and about what drives them.

The series of web videos are themed around personal and professional drive and the pursuit of excellence and feature Katie, Paul, Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton and Dublin GAA captain Stephen Cluxton.

The next installment of the video series will feature Ireland's Jonny Sexton and Stephen Cluxton testing out each other's kicking skills and will be launched in November.

New crossover from Toyota teased

This teaser shot from Toyota previews a new crossover concept to be shown at Paris for a crossover/SUV version of the Auris, writes Brian Byrne.

The production car will be called the Auris Cross, and will fit under the RAV 4.

The outline suggests a smoother and more sport car than the Urban Cruiser, which never made much headway in Europe.

Toyota signs up with Ray D'Arcy show

Toyota Ireland has secured exclusive title sponsorship of the Ray D'Arcy show on Today FM.

The Japanese carmaker will have title sponsorship of the show for a 16-month period.

The show airs between 9am-12.30pm, Monday to Friday and averages 218,000 listeners daily.

Toyota uses sun to power engine production

Toyota UK will today switch on almost 13,000 solar panels to power the car manufacturer's Deeside factory in North Wales, writes Trish Whelan.

The solar panels will provide up to 10 percent of all the electricity required for manufacturing at the site, which makes petrol and hybrid engines for the Toyota Avensis and Auris models sold throughout Europe.

The solar array, commissioned as a multi-million-pound project and delivered by British Gas, can produce up to 3,475,000 kWh a year which is enough electricity to build up to 22,500 engines. The solar panels have the potential to save over 1,800 tonnes of C02 emissions a year, a figure matching the combined weight of over 1,260 Auris hatchbacks.

It took three months to install the panels, supplied by Tata Power Solar, which cover an area the equivalent of almost eight football pitches.

Latest Yaris goes on sale

The 2014 Toyota Yaris has gone on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €14,995, writes Brian Byrne.

Featuring the same X-front design as the new generation Aygo, the latest Yaris is available with 1.0 and 1.33 petrol engines, and a 1.4 diesel. There are also two grades of the hybrid variant.

CO2 emissions range from 75g-114g/km, and the new Yaris comes in Terra, Aura, Luna and Sol grades as well as the hybrids.

The Yaris model was first launched here in 1999, and over 60,000 units of the nameplate have been sold here.

Toyota upgrades its virtual supercar

OK, just because it's Friday, here are some pix of Toyota's FT-1 sports coupe concept, updated since the original appeared at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, writes Brian Byrne.

And no, you're not going to be able to get behind the wheel of it anytime as far as we know, except virtually in the Gran Turismo Playstation computer game.

The original concept is already available in Gran Turismo 6, and this variant with a more sporty paint job and interior will be on the game from September.

Friday is the start of weekend dreamtime ...

Toyota European award for Cummins Car Centre, Ennis

Irish retailer Cummins Car Centre, Ennis was awarded with the top honour at Toyota's 'Ichiban' European Customer Satisfaction Award during a recent ceremony in Cannes, France, writes Trish Whelan.

Cummins Car Centre was recognised for their exceptional performance in customer satisfaction in both Sales and After Sales areas. The award was presented to the winner Jason Cummins, Dealer Principal of Cummins Car Centre by David Shannon, Managing Director, Toyota Ireland.

Over 2,300 European retailers were evaluated on their results during a continuous performance monitoring, which is included in the company's standards. Only 41 Retailers achieved this distinct recognition by Toyota in Europe.

'Ichiban' is a Japanese word borrowed from 'Okyajusama Ichiban' which means 'Customer First', with 'Ichiban' meaning 'first' or 'number one'.

Dave Shannon of Toyota Ireland, is pictured presenting Jason Cummins of Cummins Car Centre with his award watched by special guests, Davy Fitzgerald, Clare senior hurling manager, and Clare hurler Shane O Donnell at the dealership in Ballymaley Business Park, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare.

Dave Shannon to retire as MD of Toyota Ireland

Dave Shannon, who has been Managing Director of Toyota Ireland since 1994, has announced that he will retire from the position on 31 December, 2014.

Steve Tormey, currently Deputy Managing Director, will become Managing Director from January 2015.

Mr Shannon (pictured) has spent his entire business career in the motor industry. Having initially joined Toyota Ireland in 1976, he then moved on to become Managing Director of Daihatsu Ireland in 1992, which was then part of the Inchcape Group, before returning to the position of Managing Director of Toyota Ireland in 1994, at the invitation of Dr Tim Mahony.

Commenting on his decision to retire, Mr Shannon said "I am fortunate to be able to say that I have had a truly fulfilled career in the Irish Motor Industry over the past almost 40 years. I have enjoyed some wonderful successes with the Toyota Ireland brand but, above all, I cherish the opportunity I was given to meet truly extraordinary people right across the industry and to make lifelong friendships within Toyota and throughout our dealer network."

Donal O'Callaghan, Chief Executive, Killeen Group Holdings, owners of the Toyota and Lexus franchises in Ireland, added "Dave Shannon has made an enormous contribution to the success of Toyota Ireland over the years. He is a major figure in the Irish motor industry and will be missed by all for his vast knowledge of the business but above all for his intuitive understanding of the business and his ability to make sound business decisions and seize business opportunities.

"We wish Dave every success and a full and rewarding retirement following his many years of dedication to this company and the motor industry as a whole.

Mr Shannon will continue as an advisor to Toyota Ireland following on his retirement at year end.

Toyota will sell FCV fuel cell car starting next year

Toyota said it plans to begin European and US sales of its FCV hydrogen fuel cell vehicle by the summer of 2015, writes Trish Whelan.

Toyota says the car will first go on sale in markets where the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is developed. It will debut in the Japanese market by next April priced at the equivalent of $69,348.

The Japanese carmaker has today unveiled the production version's exterior design in Tokyo, showing an electric blue vehicle with only subtly toned-down styling from the dramatically curved concept with gaping front air intakes shown at the Tokyo auto show last Autumn.

The four-seat FCV is built on an all-new dedicated fuel cell platform. Its two high-pressure hydrogen tanks give it a rage of 700 kilometres (435 miles).

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles hold great promise for reducing carbon dioxide emissions because they combine hydrogen and air in chemical process that produces electricity, with water vapour being the only 'exhaust'.

Toyota is prioritising fuel cell vehicles over battery-powered electric vehicles because it says they are better suited to long-range driving.

Going beyond already too much

This writer has been getting steadily more uneasy about the proliferation of distractions in and around the dashboard and controls of our cars, writes Brian Byrne.

Well, folks, it's not going to get better. Now, Toyota and Panasonic are showcasing a prototype system by which you'll not just be managing your car from the driver's seat, but also your home.

The idea is that if you've forgotten to turn on the washing machine, or not turned off the cooker or the heating, you can fix things up remotely by buttons (more buttons) on your steering wheel or centre screen.

It's a cloud-based telematics service that the companies claim 'will make life easier and less stressful' by letting people keep tabs on and operate their home appliances from the wheel of their car.

Look, I think already it's gone beyond 'whoa' time. Now we need to emergency crash this wholesale idiocy into a safety barrier before it all starts crashing into other cars and people.

All for the sake of having a bit more technology in your offering than the competitor has. Look, it's really simple. When you get behind the wheel of a car, your job is to drive that car, safely and with full attention.

Wondering about which channel to set the TV to record on, from the middle of moving traffic, is not concentrating on the car, the road, and all the other things that are part of getting your journey done safely.

Call me a crank, if you like. But, crankily or not, it just isn't right.

Toyota ups Auris options

A new to Ireland grade of Toyota's Auris and Auris Touring Sports offers buyers a higher level of spec, at prices starting from €22,100, writes Brian Byrne.

Heated driver and passenger seats, power lumbar support and a smarter trim underpins the Sol grade of the cars, which come with 1.33 petrol and 1.4 diesel engines.

The Toyota Touch 2 multimedia and MirrorLink Bluetooth mobile hands-free system are part of the package, which tops out at €25,080 for the 90hp diesel Touring Sports.

Toyota revises Yaris

A substantially revised Toyota Yaris due in the summer comes with style and powertrain changes and better fuel economy, writes Brian Byrne.

The 3-cylinder 1.0 petrol engine has now been tweaked now has rated CO2 emissions below 100g/km and there have been improvements to the Yaris Hybrid engine which bring emissions down to 75g/km.

Ride and handling improvements are also claimed in the initial information from the company.

The style changes include a front end look first shown in the latest Aygo, with new headlights and bumper.

Yaris is Toyota's best selling model in Europe.