Toyota Motor Co. has requested that the judge in a California class-action lawsuit drop the charges of alleged defective parts causing unintended acceleration on the grounds that no electronic throttle defects have ever been identified.

Toyota states that while claims have been made on behalf of all Toyota owners with electronic throttle control systems, “only a tiny fraction of the vehicles in question” have accelerated out of control.
Out of thousands of mechanical/technical examinations of Toyota vehicles that allegedly sped out of control, Toyota Motor Co. engineers and federal regulators have been unable to find any evidence of electronic defects that could possibly be the primary cause of unintended acceleration.

More than a year after filing their first complaint, plaintiffs have not identified a defect and are grasping at straws to make their case,” Toyota lawyer Cari Dawson said in a    statement.

An amended class-action complaint filed last week in federal court in Santa Ana, Calif., cited internal company records documenting instances in which Toyota technicians or service managers re-created acceleration problems like those reported by customers.

Toyota maintains its stance that there have been no replications of sudden acceleration   and that the company did purchase vehicles from customers but only to do “further engineering analysis.”

The Camry at this year’s SEMA was not your ordinary sedan by any means, the special two door Toyota Camry NASCAR Edition was produced by RKC in collaboration with the Toyota Racing Development Division (TRD).

The owner of RK Collection and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing is Rob Kauffman has teamed up with Toyota Racing development to produce a street-legal, NASCAR-inspired high-performance Camry.

According to a recent press release; “the parts list for the RK Collection Toyota Camry NASCAR Edition reads like the shopping list for a potential dream car.” “It’s as if Rob Kauffman was reading our dreams and then built the most exciting Camry on the planet.”

The team set out to create a high performance street legal Camry with a NASCAR engine.

Under the hood is a TRD NASCAR V8 engine that delivers 680 hp at 8500 RPM with a Tremic T-56 Magnum 6 speed manual transmission with Ram dual disc street clutch.

The special Camry has a custom exterior shell with a body kit designed especially for this years’ Camry concept race car. Wheels are fitted with 245/35/20 Michelin Pilot tires in the front and 285/20/30 in the rear.

The cabin features custom leather covered panels and power leather seats, SPEK gauges, and an upgraded audio system, and a 4 point roll cage.

In order to get optimal handling, the race car has been upgraded with Camry modified Macpherson struts as well as a Venza modified multi link independent rear suspension.

After today’s premier at the SEMA auto show, Toyota will debut the RK Collection Camry NASCAR Edition at the Phoenix International Raceway on November 12^th.

Tesla Motors is preparing to partner up with the Japanese technology giant-Panasonic. Automotive News stated today that Panasonic, which is already working with Tesla to provide lithium-ion cells for the Model S, is planning to invest in the California automaker. Citing the Nikkei business daily, Reuters reported that Panasonic “aims to work with Tesla to develop battery systems for next-generation EVs.”

There’s a third cog in the wheel of this picture; Toyota Motor Co. has also been working on development of an electric powered vehicle in partnership with Panasonic.

Panasonic and Toyota initially formed a partnership in December 1996 with the Panasonic EV Energy joint venture which played a role in the introduction of the Prius.

Panasonic’s stake in Tesla will be smaller than the $50 million that Toyota invested in the company in May.

Panasonic Corp. reported late Wednesday that it invested $30 million in the U.S. electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc. in order to collaborate in a project to develop green technology for powertrains.

Panasonic, Toyota, and Daimler AG all three now have a stake in Tesla’s start-up electric vehicle company owned by Elon Musk.  Panasonic now owns a 2% stake in the California EV automaker.

Tesla already utilizes Panasonic battery cells in its battery packs and is planning to redesign, market, and sell the next generation of power packs in collaboration with Panasonic.

Toyota Motor Co. has already invested $50 million in Tesla and plans to pay another $60 million in order to partner with Tesla in designing the RAV4 all electric model.

Panasonic has a joint venture with Toyota called Primearth EV Energy Co. to make lithium Ion batteries.  The company has set a goal to position itself as a top producer of batteries for the next generation all electric or hybrid powertrain vehicles.

As another gesture of improving and supporting green efforts, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. donated $25,000 to the Nature Conservancy in Kentucky. Although it is not an automotive based organization, their efforts are respected and noteworthy of support from Toyota.

“From building to selling vehicles, Toyota strives to be an environmental leader in the auto industry, primarily through supporting the communities where we do business,” says Wil James, President of TMMK. “The Conservancy’s land management initiatives fit well with Toyota’s environmental mission, especially through their inclusion of local volunteers in vital land and water stewardship activities.”

The organization receiving the donation has several initiatives in the making. One initiative includes increasing the amount of volunteer preserve days and corporate preserve workdays. Each initiative has a goal of increasing community awareness and empowering the community through knowledge.

“While our nature preserves have been spared from development, many of them require specific management activities to abate threats including exotic species invasions, all-terrain vehicle use and the halt of naturally-occurring fires on the landscape,” said Terry Cook, state director for The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky. “Toyota’s support helps us implement the proper management needed to ensure these preserves continue to benefit rare, threatened or declining plant and animal species, and where appropriate, meet the recreation, education and research needs of local communities, schools and universities.”

The obvious first step to restoring it to looking like new is to, simply wash your car. Use a good car wash and dry it thoroughly. This will get all of the surface dirt off and make it much easier to work with the other products.

Begin the detailing process by cleaning the door jambs of the vehicle. They tend to quickly collect dirt. Use a spray cleaner designed for detailing vehicles, and a soft cloth. You will be astonished at how nice they will look after this quick step in the process. Take great care in treating the trim along the doors and windows, also. The seal is usually black in color and made of rubber. There is also a special cleaner made for treating this portion of your vehicle. Don’t use just any product, using the right product is the only way you will get the results you’re after.

Polish the exterior of your vehicle. This will take some time and may seem like meticulous work. If done correctly it will pay off in dividends. Follow the polishing process by waxing your Toyota. This will quickly restore shine and make your car sparkle like it did its first day in the showroom.

You have several options when it comes to replacing or duplicating your car key. You may be able to simply take your key into any store that makes keys and have the key duplicated. However for newer model vehicles, you may not be able to do this. The key you received from the dealer may have a special chip in it and would not be able to be easily duplicated at a store. The replacement key would have to include the same type of chip, and be accurately programmed, in order to properly work for your vehicle.

Your best bet may to be to revisit the Toyota dealer in which you purchased your vehicle. They can duplicate your Toyota key. Whether or not it contains the chip will not matter. If the key does, in fact, require that a chip be programmed, they have the capabilities to do this on site. Some dealers will even be able to duplicate a key without having the original. They simply draw from the information they already have on file.

The 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser has a 5.7 liter DOHC V8 engine. It produces a total of 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. At 3,600 rpm it delivers 401 pound feet of torque. More impressive is that is peak torque is achieved at just 2,200 rpm. The V8 also offers advanced dual independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, also known as VVT-i. This system optimizes power and performance while achieving the utmost in fuel economy. The six speed automatic transmission version is no slouch either. It effortlessly handles high level torque with luxurious smoothness.

The body and frame of the Land Cruiser has been improved upon through each generation. It has the ability to handle the most rugged terrain with grace and ease. Alternate road conditions pose no threat to the Land Cruiser as well. The front of the Land Cruiser’s frame has a three stage crush structure. In the case of a frontal collision that impact is more isolated to the front of the vehicle, while other frame damage is kept to a minimum. To add to the safety of this vehicle Toyota is available with the Toyota STAR Safety System. This system is available in all Toyota vehicles and has proven safety success.

“The old petroleum-centric labels just aren’t good enough anymore,” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief David Strickland said at the new label’s introduction on Monday, August 30.

The reason for the labels comes from a need to better compare vehicles with the growing hybrid industry. These hybrid models are using less fuel than ever, therefore it requires a need to change the way we calculate and measure fuel economy. There will be a trial period for the stickers. During that time the EPA will be collecting consumer feedback in order to better the final label.

“We are asking the American people to tell us what they need to make the best economic and environmental decisions when buying a new car,” EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson said in a press release. “New fuel economy labels will keep pace with the new generation of fuel-efficient cars and trucks rolling off the line, and provide simple, straightforward updates to inform consumers about their choices in a rapidly changing market. We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump.”

Toyota was meticulous at choosing the qualities they wanted the Venza to encompass. They were striving for a perfect blend between sedan and SUV and they achieved just that. The Toyota Venza has a refined interior with classic styling. However the functionality of the interior is what stands out the most. It has foldable rear seats, a higher driver sightline, a large cargo area, and the ability to tow up to 3,500 pounds. All of these characteristics were pulled from similar SUV styling.

The most important sedan characteristic the Venza has is its fuel economy. Even though it has several characteristics similar to that of an SUV it still has the ability to gain excellent fuel economy without compromising power and performance. In addition the Venza was manufactured to have a much lower center of gravity than an SUV. As a result it has much better handling. The electric power steering contributes much to its impeccable handling.

You can find the 2011 Toyota Venza at your local Spirit Toyota dealer. They are conveniently located in St. Louis Missouri and are easily accessible from all St. Louis area communities as well as those across the river in Illinois. If you would prefer you can visit them online at www.spirittoyota.com and schedule a test drive today.

Oftentimes, current Toyota owners choose to take advantage of the Toyota Rent a Car program while their current vehicle is being serviced. This allows for the owner to go on with their daily activities as normal, without having to sit and wait for their vehicle to be serviced. In addition, the Toyota Rent a Car program is an excellent way to get to know a vehicle before purchasing. It takes the test drive a step further and allows you to take your time when becoming acquainted with the latest Toyota model.

The Toyota Rent a Car program is unlike any other car rental establishment. The rentals are Toyota dealer based; meaning you will get the same courtesy and service as those purchasing a Toyota model. Every Toyota Rent a Car rental comes with 24-hour Roadside Assistance. This will cover any mechanical breakdown, fluid delivery, tire changes, jump starts, lockout service and towing during the duration of the rental period. The program is a simple extension of the Toyota service that many have come to expect from the auto maker.