Heyward Allen Toyota

Knowing how long it takes to get a car from clean-sheet to showroom, we have a tough time believing that automakers can simply turn new car programs on and off seemingly every quarter. The rumor is back, at least in Autocar, that Toyota is working on a new MR2 and a hybrid Supra.

The latest evidence is that with hybrid sales on the upswing, the idea of a V6 hybrid sports car makes sense. Again. However, it's being developed alongside the FT-86, a car that appears to be resurrected only so that it can be delayed. The most recent date for seeing either car is 2013.

It's suggested that the MR2 will get a 1.5-liter hybrid, following the template of the popular-in-Japan Honda CRZ. According to the report, though, the MR2 "is the pet project of Hiromu Naruse, Toyota's chief test driver." Sadly, Naruse died this week while testing another one of his pet projects, the Lexus LFA. Being only in the stage of a "pet project" and having lost its leader, the only truth about a new MR2 might be that it's on hold again. Or maybe not - stay tuned...

It's that time once again for Cars.com to release its annual American Made Index. What constitutes an American-made car, however, is just as debatable now as it ever has been. That being the case, there are a number of notable changes since the last time the crew released its list.

First and foremost, the Toyota Camry is still at the top of the American Made Index. But second place is a bit of a surprise, with the Honda Accord making a debut appearance in the runner-up position. Notably, it takes the place of the Ford F-150, which falls off the list entirely.

Why the sudden change? It seems the Accord now boasts a 75-percent American parts percentage (which is the minimum allowable to make this list) as it is now being assembled in two separate plants based in the United States. Ford's F-150, however, saw its American parts percentage fall from 80 percent down to just 55 percent - a scenario Ford calls "pretty common."

Ford does make a good presence on the AMI list, though, with both the Escape (third place) and Focus (fourth place) making a comeback after a brief disappearance the last time around. General Motors earns fifth place with the Chevrolet Malibu, which is GM's only vehicle on the latest AMI edition. Chrysler nabs number seven with the Dodge Ram 1500 and nine with the Jeep Wrangler.
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Toyota has dropped the goods on next year's Tacoma, and the company will be giving the people what they want by offering more automatic transmissions as standard equipment. For 2011, the Japanese automaker is nixing three manual gearbox models and adding five new automatic versions of the truck. Prices for the trucks will start at $16,365 for a base, manual-transmission, two-wheel drive regular cab and top out at $27,525 for a V6-equipped four-wheel drive with an automatic gearbox and a double cab long-bed.

Buyers will continue to be able to opt between a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower or a more potent 4.0-liter V6 with 236 horsepower. Those power figures have stayed on from last year, so we're betting fuel economy from both will stay on par with 2010 models as well. That means that the base truck will hit close to 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway while the topped out version will land closer to 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Hit the jump for the full press release.

In any form of motorsport, manufacturers come and go, but the sport continues to be shaped by the teams and the major players that lead them. So when Subaru packed up and left the World Rally Championship, you knew it was only a matter of time before David Richards and his company Prodrive would be back on stage. Now it looks like that opportunity could come from Toyota.

Richards has made no secret of his desire to bring Prodrive back to the WRC, but rather than re-enter as a privateer, he's indicated that the new outfit will be fielded under the auspices of a major manufacturer. Given the ties which Richards has fostered with Toyota - particularly over the Cygnet/iQ deal which be brokered with the Japanese auto giant in his capacity as chairman of Aston Martin - and the reported presence of Toyota scouts at several rallies recently, the signs are pointing towards Toyota's involvement.

It's been over a decade since the Japanese automaker has competed in the WRC, but recently trimmed a significant drain on its motorsport budget by withdrawing from Formula One. A top-tier rally team is tipped to cost around 8% of what Toyota had been pouring into its over-funded F1 program. And speaking of F1, Richards has for the time being abandoned aspirations to return to grand prix racing, having run both the Benetton and BAR-Honda teams in the past. But he leaves F1 with an intriguing suggestion to replace the current qualifying system with a computerized grid that would rotate the starting order with each race, thereby mixing up the outcome of each race. Interesting, but the Toyota reports seem more plausible.

The unemployed of Mississippi received some encouraging news this morning as Toyota announced that it plans to restart construction at its Tupelo-area plant, bringing over 2,000 jobs to the state. Automotive News reports that Toyota plans to use the plant to build the perennially hot-selling Corolla late next year.


The decision to build the Corolla in Mississippi means that nearly 90 percent of the hot-selling compact will be built in North America. Toyota previously shifted 150,000 units of Corolla production to Japan when it shuttered the NUMMI plant in California earlier in the year.

In lieu of recent events, Toyota has recommitted itself to focus on safety first and building the safest vehicles on the road today. To that end, Toyota announced recently that it would be equipping all new Toyota vehicles from here on out with it's Star Safety System.

What is the Star Safety System? It's a comprehensive series of driver aids designed to help the driver avoid a potential incident. Included with the Star Safety System are Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.

Toyota is the first full-line manufacturer to offer these safety features on all of it's vehicles. Hit the jump to see a more detailed explanation of how the system works...

http://www.heywardallentoyota.com/toyota-star-safety-system.htm

It's been awhile since we've heard anything on the tasty little Toyota FT-86 Concept, but it looks like we may finally have an idea of what the car will be called when it hits showrooms. If the rumors buzzing around the Toyobaru forums are to be believed, the Japanese manufacturer won't resurrect any of its fabled names from the company's past. Instead, it's possible that the sportscar may carry an FR-S badge. Toyota just filed a trademark application for the name, so there's a good chance that this particular internet whisper may have some meat to it.

We haven't completely decided where we stand on the FR-S name, partly because we had become so accustomed to calling the front-engine, rear-wheel drive heathen the FT-86. In the end, though, we don't really care what's on the car's badges so long as it makes it to production as an affordable, strong-performing coupe. Toyota could use something with a pulse in a big way, and a spiritual successor to the AE-86 Corolla would be just the ticket.

The National Safety Council and Toyota today launched Teen Driving Safety Week (June 7-13) during National Safety Month. Both organizations are committed to educating parents and teens about the most common dangers teens face behind the wheel. Included in the Council's offerings for the week is free enrollment in its "Alive at 25 Parent Program," a two-hour online course that educates parents about the risks teen drivers face. The engaging, science-based course teaches parents how to reinforce basic driving skills and good decision-making to help teens become safe, responsible drivers. The free course is made possible by Professional Development Associates.

NSC and Toyota continue to work together to reduce the number of teen crashes on the nation's roadways by providing parents with information on how to talk to teens about safe driving habits.

NSC also is offering a free download of its Teen Driver: A Family Guide to Teen Driver Safety throughout June. The guide assists parents in managing their children's journey from beginners to independent drivers. The guide provides a written parent/teen driving agreement to help define driving restrictions, rules and consequences.

To learn more about National Safety Month and download free materials, visit nsc.org/nsm.

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

SOURCE National Safety Council

If you're like me, you probably have a box full of assorted power adapters for your vehicle that you've collected for your phones, MP3 players and navigation units. Thankfully, in the last couple of years many device manufacturers have started migrating to standardized mini or micro-USB charging connectors, allowing you to plug in nearly all your devices into your computer to charge.

But we still need to charge devices when we're on the road and if you don't have a newer car with a built in USB port you're back to adapters. Fortunately, the good people at Instructables have come to the rescue with a step by step guide to adding a USB power port to your car. You'll need a $1.16 USB charger from which to scavenge the port, and we highly recommend Monoprice.com for all your ultra-cheap cable and charger needs. Even if your car already has a port for an iPod interface, you may want to add one or two extras just for charging other devices. So that's your weekend project. Get started!

Step 1. Finding a location for the USB power plug
In the 2010 Prius III there is an unused outlet next to the 12volt aux power in the front center console. Disassemble the center console and remove the plastic housing of the blank outlet and the 12volt aux.

Step 2. The USB 12 volt car adapter
Disassemble a Dynex USB power adapter and remove the circuit board from the plastic housing, then remove the 12 volt supply wires. The supply wires were springs and such, and too bulky to reuse.

Step 3. Preparing the blank cover
To fit the USB power circuit in it, a lot of the plastic needs to be cut out. Using an Exacto knife, and a box cutter, clear the inside of the cover.

Step 4. Fitting the USB circuit board
Use a Dremel tool with a grinding attachment to slim down the USB's circuit board until it slides into the hollowed out cover. Once the fit is right, make the hole on the face to access the USB plug.

Step 5. Making the hole for the USB power
Approximate the center of the USB plug and drill a tiny hole through the face of the blank accessory plug.

Step 6. Wiring
Once you trim the opening, wire the 12 volt power to the USB adapter. Since the 12 volt accessory is right next to it,  solder the ground from the USB board to the cigarette adapter, and attach the positive end to a nut on the back.

Step 7. Fixing the LED
The USB board has a 2 color LED to indicate power and charging. You may  want the light to shine behind the USB plug, so de-solder the LED and reposition it to face forward. You may have to add some wire to the board to attach the LED, but it shouldn't be hard, and could be done by a beginner.

Step 8. Securing the USB board
After making sure the 12 volt accessory and USB power are  working, the package needs to be glued into place to prevent it falling back into the center console. Use a general auto glue that holds tight, but remains slightly flexible.

Step 9. Final install
Let the glue cure overnight. After testing the power out one more time,  slip the plastic housing back into place. Nice!

Attention Ladies! During the next couple weeks, Heyward Allen Toyota would like to recognize our female customers with special Service offers, on any Wednesday. We hope to see you soon! Please feel free to share any or all of the coupons that you don't need at this time with a family member or friend.

5% off any 5,000 mile value service

10% off any 15,000 mile value service

15% off any 30,000 mile value service