With many people out there anticipating the arrival of the new Honda CR-Z sports car, I thougt it would be appropriate to post a new video I found with shots from the concept vehicle soon to hit the market at the Tokyo Auto Show. The CR-Z is due to hit dealers here in North America Early 2010 and to be totally honest with you we are very, very excited. The clean lines and mass appeal of this car are going to make it a huge seller in the US! Check out the video and see for yourself. Pre orders for the new CR-Z are going to be taken starting early this year so stay posted for more information on how you can be sure to make one available for yourself as soon as possible!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Toyota News
In an attempt to keep our Blog readers up-to-date with current news from Toyota, I have reviewed relevant new stories from the past month or so, and aim to summarize them for you.
To start, I'm sure the majority of you have heard about the "recall" Toyota put out in regards to the floormats that came about from the tragic accident that happened not too long ago. Through thorough testing done by Toyota, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was concluded that the sole reason of the problem came from faulty floormats. Still, there are skeptics, who believe otherwise. However, what Toyota did, apart from issue the floormat "recall"/warning, was announce that they will be shortening over 4 million gas pedals, in order to reduce the problem of unintended acceleration, that was due to faulty floormats.
In other news, in order to reduce financial losses, save on costs, and keep the company thriving, Toyota has announced two different initiatives. The first being to pull out of Formula One racing, something that seems to be a trend for automakers. Toyota's exit could save them up to $550 million per year, which is more than double the figure than the profits they posted for the third quarter of this year.
The second plan to try and gain back some of the dramatic losses Toyota has incurred for the second straight year, is to cut manager bonuses by 20%. Winter bonuses for 8700 mangers in Japan will be cut by 20%, the second of two bonuses the managers receive, which is supposed to be based on the company's performance. Toyota’s top executives and board members have already given up their bonus pay in an effort to ease the losses incurred. The bonus cuts are not the first time Toyota has to do this, as it is the fourth straight decline in bonuses, with the state that the economy and auto sales is in.
In lighter news, cost cuts and incentive programs help Toyota end a string of losses. Toyota returned a profit in the last quarter thanks to cost cuts, incentives, and government aid to consumers, bringing signs of a start to global economic recovery. Hopefully, 2010 will bring much brighter news to our economy and we can begin to to rebuild what has fallen.
(All of these news story topics can be found at http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/toyota_motor_corporation/index.html)
To start, I'm sure the majority of you have heard about the "recall" Toyota put out in regards to the floormats that came about from the tragic accident that happened not too long ago. Through thorough testing done by Toyota, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was concluded that the sole reason of the problem came from faulty floormats. Still, there are skeptics, who believe otherwise. However, what Toyota did, apart from issue the floormat "recall"/warning, was announce that they will be shortening over 4 million gas pedals, in order to reduce the problem of unintended acceleration, that was due to faulty floormats.
In other news, in order to reduce financial losses, save on costs, and keep the company thriving, Toyota has announced two different initiatives. The first being to pull out of Formula One racing, something that seems to be a trend for automakers. Toyota's exit could save them up to $550 million per year, which is more than double the figure than the profits they posted for the third quarter of this year.
The second plan to try and gain back some of the dramatic losses Toyota has incurred for the second straight year, is to cut manager bonuses by 20%. Winter bonuses for 8700 mangers in Japan will be cut by 20%, the second of two bonuses the managers receive, which is supposed to be based on the company's performance. Toyota’s top executives and board members have already given up their bonus pay in an effort to ease the losses incurred. The bonus cuts are not the first time Toyota has to do this, as it is the fourth straight decline in bonuses, with the state that the economy and auto sales is in.
In lighter news, cost cuts and incentive programs help Toyota end a string of losses. Toyota returned a profit in the last quarter thanks to cost cuts, incentives, and government aid to consumers, bringing signs of a start to global economic recovery. Hopefully, 2010 will bring much brighter news to our economy and we can begin to to rebuild what has fallen.
(All of these news story topics can be found at http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/toyota_motor_corporation/index.html)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Getting to Know You
This week's interview is with my fellow internet coordinator who also happens to be my best friend. You may recognize her from posting her own blogs. Let's learn a little more about Jessica Ramdin...
Me: "Alright Jess, you know the drill. What's your full name?"
JR: "Jessica Indra Ramdin"
Me: "Nicknames?"
JR: "Jess and JRam"
Me: "Birthday?"
JR: "January 28, 1984"
Me: "And your hometown?"
JR: "Canfield, OH"
Me: "How long have you been in the car business?"
JR: "9 months!"
Me: "What is your favorite Toyota and why?"
JR: "The Sequoia, because it’s baller."
Me: "Who are your favorite sports teams?"
JR: "The Cleveland Indians, and anybody who isn't the Yankees or the Steelers."
Me: "If you were given a shopping spree in any store, which store would it be?"
JR: "Nordstrom’s, because I can get a little bit of everything!"
Me: "What was your first car?"
JR: "A four door Cavalier that I totaled!"
Me: "When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
JR: "A singer or an actress."
Me: "What song(s) can you be caught singing in your car?"
JR: "'Bad Romance' by Lady Gaga, 'Whatcha Say' by Jason Derulo, or pretty much anything that’s on the radio!"
Me: "If you could date any celebrity, who would it be?"
JR: "Tiger Woods...haha!"
Me: "What makes you a great internet coordinator?"
JR: "I love to talk! And I’m easy to relate to because I have no idea what I’m talking about!"
Me: "Alright Jess, you know the drill. What's your full name?"
JR: "Jessica Indra Ramdin"
Me: "Nicknames?"
JR: "Jess and JRam"
Me: "Birthday?"
JR: "January 28, 1984"
Me: "And your hometown?"
JR: "Canfield, OH"
Me: "How long have you been in the car business?"
JR: "9 months!"
Me: "What is your favorite Toyota and why?"
JR: "The Sequoia, because it’s baller."
Me: "Who are your favorite sports teams?"
JR: "The Cleveland Indians, and anybody who isn't the Yankees or the Steelers."
Me: "If you were given a shopping spree in any store, which store would it be?"
JR: "Nordstrom’s, because I can get a little bit of everything!"
Me: "What was your first car?"
JR: "A four door Cavalier that I totaled!"
Me: "When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
JR: "A singer or an actress."
Me: "What song(s) can you be caught singing in your car?"
JR: "'Bad Romance' by Lady Gaga, 'Whatcha Say' by Jason Derulo, or pretty much anything that’s on the radio!"
Me: "If you could date any celebrity, who would it be?"
JR: "Tiger Woods...haha!"
Me: "What makes you a great internet coordinator?"
JR: "I love to talk! And I’m easy to relate to because I have no idea what I’m talking about!"
Friday, December 4, 2009
Toyota and Football!
Being a huge football fan, I am always looking forward to Sunday's when I know I can watch football all day long!! Throughout the day, since I am in front of the tv for the most part, I get to see a lot of commercials and some always stand out. The past few weeks, I have been watching half time shows and the news breaks between games and a few Toyota ads have been aired which incorporate football. In my opinion, these ads are pretty funny and have stood out in my mind. Below I have posted a couple of them. Let me know if you think they are funny as well!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Van Man Part II
Alright folks, I know it doesn't seem like I'm really branching out here on topics but the pictures have been just released regarding the 2011 Toyota Sienna. I'll adopt six kids just to utilize the awesomness that is this van.
What is the biggest apprehension in purchasing and driving a minivan?
Answer: Its a minivan.
Toyota utilizes a concept of flow in designing their vehicles while differentiating themselves entirely from competitors. Other car manufacturers are just picking up their pencils while they float in Toyota's wake. At one time The Rav4 and the 4Runner were something they only dreamed of. Toyota didn't invent the minivan, they created the Sienna.
The 2011 Sienna will come in the usual base, LE, XLE, and Limited, along with the newly added sport style SE model with side skirting just in case your husband doesn't want to drive a "minivan." I'm putting the word minivan in quotations from now on just so I can better avoid the stigma surrounding the muddy, tiny, cleated footed passenger bus representation behind it. Soccer mom at the wheel, looking into that rear passenger window and hushing her screaming children. Recline those seats back, turn on the 16.4-inch wide split-screen on, wait 15 seconds and listen...
What is that? Its not the sound of a loud engine but the gentle hum of silence. Enjoy.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Happy Cyber Monday!!
What is Cyber Monday??
Happy Cyber Monday everyone! What is cyber monday you ask? The video above gives a really good description of this new cultural phenomenon that really goes to show how far online shopping has come in the last few years. With black Friday being one of the biggest in store shopping days of the year for retailers, cyber Monday is starting to really gain some steam. Its online retailers way of catering to their more net savvy customers and helping people who can't get out to the stores take advantage of great holiday savings. Plus its a great marketing idea that gets more business for stores online as opposed to just in the store. How does this relate to the car business you ask? Great question? I have to just sit back in awe and wonder why during a time of such great savings and deals that people are very slow to pull the trigger on a new car purchase during this time of year. Incentives are at their peak during this time of the year and the Preston Auto Group has made it easy for our online customers to take advantage of online shopping like never before with our newly redesigned internet department. Let me be the first to introduce you to cyber Monday....and invite you to save on a brand new car as well as your annual christmas shopping! Visit www.prestonauto.com for more information and for previews of great incentives on new and pre owned vehicles!
Happy Cyber Monday everyone! What is cyber monday you ask? The video above gives a really good description of this new cultural phenomenon that really goes to show how far online shopping has come in the last few years. With black Friday being one of the biggest in store shopping days of the year for retailers, cyber Monday is starting to really gain some steam. Its online retailers way of catering to their more net savvy customers and helping people who can't get out to the stores take advantage of great holiday savings. Plus its a great marketing idea that gets more business for stores online as opposed to just in the store. How does this relate to the car business you ask? Great question? I have to just sit back in awe and wonder why during a time of such great savings and deals that people are very slow to pull the trigger on a new car purchase during this time of year. Incentives are at their peak during this time of the year and the Preston Auto Group has made it easy for our online customers to take advantage of online shopping like never before with our newly redesigned internet department. Let me be the first to introduce you to cyber Monday....and invite you to save on a brand new car as well as your annual christmas shopping! Visit www.prestonauto.com for more information and for previews of great incentives on new and pre owned vehicles!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Turkey Day!!!
It has arrived. Today is the eve of, in my opinion, the best holiday of the year, Thanksgiving!! For me there are many reasons why this is my favorite holiday. First lets start off with the obvious, being around all of your family and tons of great food and every kind of pie you could think of. It has been a tradition that my family always hosts Thanksgiving, so lets just say I always wake up to the smell of that giant turkey being cooked. After that, my thanksgiving usually consists of this, eating,watching NFL football games, eating some more, watching some more football, take a siesta, and just relaxing all day!! Being an outdoors man, it is also the start of deer hunting season, where for the past few years I travel up to Tionesta, PA where I stay the whole weekend with friends and a camp. All in all it's definitely my favorite time of the year and as soon as its over you already get to start looking forward to Christmas.
I would imagine everyone has their own little traditions that they do this time of the year and I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!
I would imagine everyone has their own little traditions that they do this time of the year and I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!
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