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The "29th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2012. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness & generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Make sure you take part in this great event! For more information, click here.

All major vehicle manufacturers spend millions of dollars on the development of safety essentials for their vehicles. And, not surprisingly, quite a bit of attention is paid to the innovation and testing of seat belts. The basic task of seat belts is to keep passengers from hitting objects within the car on a sudden stop or collision, or, even worse, from being ejected. By now, we have all heard the phrase “Click it or Ticket”, but have you truly taken to heart the importance of your seat belt? Even the very best seat belt design could still require your attention. First and foremost, it’s vital that all your seat belts are in working order. Take note: Do they bind when you try to put them on? Do they take a few tries to get a good click? Is the harness material frayed? If your seat belts need some work or replacement, take your vehicle to your dealer. They will have all the proper parts that your particular make and model needs. One major function of your car is to keep you safe while you travel, so be sure that your seat belts are in good shape!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized eight Toyota manufacturing sites in North America for achieving a ten percent reduction in energy intensity through its ENERGY STAR Challenge For Industry program. Collectively, these eight sites have reduced energy intensity by nearly 24 percent from baseline. Energy intensity is measured relative to efficiency improvements in process and equipment. The ENERGY STAR Challenge For Industry program is only awarded to individual industrial sites. To gain recognition, the site’s company must be an ENERGY STAR partner. Earlier this year, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA) received its eighth consecutive ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency and management. “Thanks to the efforts of our team members, Toyota has reduced our total energy use per vehicle over the last five years as we achieved greater energy efficiency across North America,” said TEMA Executive Vice President Steve St. Angelo. “This demonstrates that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen as we continuously identify new opportunities to reduce energy consumption while improving our processes.” The eight Toyota facilities recognized by the EPA include: Bodine Aluminum (Jackson, Tenn., and St. Louis, Mo.); Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama (Huntsville); Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (Cambridge and Woodstock, Ont.); Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Princeton); Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (San Antonio); and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia (Buffalo). Several examples of reduction in energy intensity include: Plant Kaizen (Improvement) Example Description Benefits Industry Challenge Energy Reduction (From Baseline) Lighting efficiency (Bodine Aluminum, Jackson, Tenn.) Replacement of lighting in several plant areas with energy efficient florescent lights with sensors • Reduce CO2 emissions • Cost savings • Reduce energy usage 13.8% Innovative lighting technology (Toyota Motor Mfg., Alabama) Installation of Ultra Constant Discharge lighting in the plant’s parking lot • Reduce CO2 emissions • Cost savings • Reduce energy usage 24.1% Hot water boiler linkage (Toyota Motor Mfg. Canada) Installation of new controls allowing proper mixture without numerous adjustments • Reduce CO2 emissions • Reduce water usage 28.5% • Reduce energy usage • Less complexity Paint booth HVAC system (Toyota Motor Mfg., Indiana) Elimination of using outside air to cool/heat paint booth; current air intake is taken directly from plant, making temperature consistent • Reduce CO2 emissions • Reduce energy usage • Less use of HVAC system, natural gas and electricity during peak times 36% Since 2006, Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing operations have received 18 Energy Star Plant Awards from the U.S. EPA, recognizing each plant’s energy performance over the past year and scoring in the top 25 percent of its industry. http://bit.ly/MJ2xY7

Driving the SE proved comfortable enough, although ergonomics would be improved by providing the telescoping steering wheel found in most competitors. Instruments and controls were readily accessible, and the seats were supportive. Click Here for the full Story.

If the sticker in your window indicates that it’s time for inspection, it’s time to give your dealer a call and schedule an inspection appointment. Your dealer and their trained technicians know your vehicle inside and out, and will know how to best inspect it to ensure many more years of safe, secure driving. If you’re wondering exactly what your dealer will look at during inspection, review the following list: Tires: Your car will be checked to make sure you have matching tires and enough tread life to allow the car to be driven safely, and if your tires fail, it’s a great time to have them replaced! Windshield and wipers: Even a minute crack or chip in a windshield can be a big distraction possibly compromise safety. Also, your wipers will be checked for operation, and also the condition of the blades will be checked. Brakes:  Your brakes, drums, and rotors will be checked for service life, while hoses and break lines are checked for leaks. Steering mechanisms: Your steering mechanisms will be checked for safety. Any movement or play in steering components could lead to failure, as ball joints and connecting rods become lose, worn, or bent requiring replacement. A simple tire alignment may be suggested to correct the problem and assist in better gas mileage. Lights and signals: Your headlights will not only are checked for operation, but will be reviewed to ensure that they are at the proper illumination level. Also, all other marker lights, emergency flashers, and turn signals will be reviewed for proper operation. Basic safety check: Lastly, your dealer will look for leaks and observe conditions of basic components on your car. Your dealer can alert you to anything noticeable that could affect your safety and the operation of the vehicle. Remember, your dealer will not steer you wrong. Their goal is to keep both you and your car safely on the road for as long as possible.

To enter the Sweepstakes, first like our Facebook page and then click on the Sweepstakes tab to enter. Sweepstakes ends August 31, 2012.

If you think that coupons are just for grocery shopping and the department store, think again. You can find great coupon discounts at your local car dealership, too! Don’t believe me? – a quick visit to your dealer’s website or brief phone call to the service department will easily let you know if they are currently offering any coupons or deals on maintenance or repairs. Find out what papers your dealership advertising in, and check them sporadically for discounts, or ask if they have an email list that you can sign up for. Also, it never hurts to ask if your dealer will honor a competitor’s coupon – and if so, take advantage of it! If you’re able to apply a coupon when your car needs an oil change or a tire rotation, you’ll be amazed at how those saved dollars pile up. Dealers appreciate smart, loyal customers – so ask if they provide loyal user discounts, too! Then, use that saved cash to treat your car to a car wash or some fuzzy dice.

That’s good news for international automakers like Toyota that assemble many of their vehicles in the United States.  Last year, Toyota’s U.S. plants assembled more than 70 percent of the vehicles. Click Here for the full Story.

Responding to disproportionate rates of African American and Hispanic children dying in motor vehicle-related crashes, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Toyota today announced that they are doubling the reach of their groundbreaking safety education program Buckle Up for Life. Buckle Up for Life – or Abróchate a la Vida in Spanish – is the only national program of its kind. Research analyzed by Cincinnati Children’s – a national leader in pediatric and adolescent medicine – shows that African American and Hispanic children are more likely than other children to die in motor vehicle crashes. Research also shows that, due to multiple factors, African American and Hispanic children are significantly less likely than non-African American and non-Hispanic children to be buckled up in seat belts or car seats. Key Facts Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. between the ages of 1 and 12. Three out of every 4 car seats are not used or installed correctly and almost 50% of fatally injured children were unrestrained at the time of a crash. In crashes involving fatalities in children under 14, seat belt use is lower among African Americans than among all other race or ethnic groups. Hispanic children are significantly less likely to be buckled up than Non-Hispanic children across all age groups. The number of children buckled up nearly tripled among the families who participated in one of Buckle Up for Life’s pilot cities. Expansion Doubles the Reach of Buckle Up for Life The new locations for Buckle Up for Life include Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Orange County, Calif. They join programs already in place with local hospital partners in Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and San Antonio. The program’s expansion to Las Vegas is being conducted in conjunction with Children’s Hospital of Nevada at UMC. Hospital partners in Houston, Philadelphia and Orange County will be announced soon. “Years ago, a mother who was involved in a car crash in which her child died said something to me that to this day haunts me but also inspires me, ‘If I only knew,’” said Dr. Victor Garcia, founding director of Trauma Services at Cincinnati Children’s, professor of pediatric surgery and a co-founder of Buckle Up for Life. “The number of African American and Hispanic children dying unnecessarily in motor vehicle-related crashes is alarming, something I see first hand in my work as a trauma surgeon. This is a public health emergency that can be avoided and needs to be addressed. We know that safety education and access to car seats can make a major difference, and working with Toyota, we are glad to have the opportunity to help.” “At Toyota, we are strongly committed to the belief that everyone deserves to be safe,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president of National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation at Toyota Motor North America. “Through our educational outreach, Collaborative Safety Research Center and numerous partnerships with leading hospitals, nonprofits and research universities nationwide, Toyota is engaged extensively in programs that help ensure that drivers and passengers are safe at every stage of life. Buckle Up for Life is a vital commitment for Toyota, and we are proud to be working with the visionary medical staff at Cincinnati Children’s and with local hospital partners across the country to expand its reach.” Toyota’s support for Buckle Up for Life is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to help make local communities safer and stronger. The company has c ontributed more than half-a-billion dollars to nonprofits throughout the U.S. over the past 20 years. Today’s announcement was made at the National Council of La Raza annual conference in Las Vegas. About Buckle Up for Life/Abróchate a la Vida Buckle Up for Life, or Abróchate a la Vida, is a national, community-based injury prevention initiative supporting the African American and Hispanic communities. Working with local hospitals and churches, Buckle Up for Life addresses the economic, cultural and, where appropriate, language barriers to motor vehicle safety. Over a six-week period, the program’s medical experts and trained specialists work closely with participants of all ages to deliver vital safety information in an engaging, culturally sensitive and memorable way.   Participants are eligible to receive free car seats, and they are matched with certified child passenger safety technicians to help install these car seats and ensure that children are properly restrained. Buckle Up for Life, which began in 2004, was developed jointly by trauma specialists at Cincinnati Children’s and vehicle safety experts at Toyota. National expansion of the program has been sponsored by Toyota. Additional information is available at www.buckleupforlife.org.

The FR-S represents a huge departure for Toyota’s Scion brand. For starters, it looks really good. Second, it offers genuinely remarkable performance. At its best, the FR-S harkens back to old-school sports cars with ample — but not absurd — power output, glove-tight steering and a ride that’s very firm but still not too punishing considering all the fun you’re having. That’s if you’re the driver, of course. Your passengers might not be having such a good time. Besides the firm ride, the FR-S’s backseats are awfully snug. This is one of those cars in which the driver’s absolutely got the best seat in the house. (Keep in mind, not all cars in this class even have backseats. At least they’re there in a pinch.) The weight balance is nearly perfect. The center of gravity feels as if it hovers somewhere just over the 6-speed gearshift lever. The small, lightweight car is a blast to throw around curves and corners. Coolest cars under $18,000 The engine is a pleasure to push all the way to its redline and its 200 horsepower output felt like more than enough to play with. My only real complaint was a clutch that engaged too abruptly and too high. It made it hard to shift smoothly, especially in the higher gears, a fact that only added to passenger annoyance. The car I was given to test was a pre-production prototype, though, so this may be something that’s been changed in the final production cars. The FR-S is the fruit of a collaboration between Toyota (TM) and Fuji Heavy Industry (FUJHF)’s Subaru division. (Toyota owns 16.5% of Fuji.) A nearly identical car will be sold as the Subaru BRZ. Toyota did some engineering work on the engine, which retains Subaru’s famous “boxer” shape in which the cylinders go straight out to the sides. Toyota takes credit for most of the car’s very un-Subaru-like exterior design. Subaru engineers did most of the work on the suspension. In the United States, Subaru has long been known for selling only all-wheel drive cars, so this model represents somewhat of an adjustment for that brand, too. Subaru fans may find it an adjustment worth making. -Courtesy of CNN Money

The 2012 Toyota Camry today was named No. 1 in the “American-Made Index” in the United States for the fourth-consecutive year by cars.com in its annual American-Made Index. In addition, Toyota had more vehicles named to the index’s Top 10 than any other brand with Sienna coming in fourth and Tundra placing seventh. To compile the list, cars.com took into consideration use of domestic parts, the final assembly point of vehicles and U.S. sales. “U.S. sales are a component of our index for a number of reasons,” noted Patrick Olsen, editor in chief of cars.com. “For one thing, it’s safe to say that the more a vehicle sales, the more U.S. workers are involved in production and delivery of the vehicle and the more U.S. dealers are profiting.” Click here for the full story

The Construction of our all new facility is going great. We are going to keep you updated on the construction, but Sales, Service and Parts are fully operational. Take a look at these creative t-shirts that everyone is wearing at Central City Toyota. "The Dust is a Must. Central City Toyota...a little chaos leads to BIG REWARDS. Grand Re-opening Nov. 1st, 2012. What do you think of the T-Shirts?