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A funny thing happens when you change the world: People start to notice. As Toyota readies the Mirai – the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle – for its launch in California next month, the revolutionary car is gaining a reputation as a product that may propel the world into a new era of alternative fuel. Today, Toyota earned even more praise for the Mirai, coming in at No. 3 on Fortune Magazine’s Change the World list, which recognizes 51 companies “that have made significant progress in addressing major social problems as a part of their core business strategy.” In the accompanying article, after praising Toyota’s success with the Prius, Fortune lauds the Mirai. “In September, Toyota speeds into the unknown once again as it launches the Toyota Mirai, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle,” the magazine writes. “Powered by hydrogen and emitting nothing but drops of water, it could be even more eco-friendly than its electric vehicle peers.” To assemble the list, Fortune asked for recommendations from dozens of business, academic, and nonprofit experts around the world. Toyota ranks highest of just three automakers on the list. Ford was No. 42, while Chinese automaker BYD came in at No. 15. The only companies ranking ahead of Toyota are Vodafone and Safaricom at No. 1 and Google at No. 2. To see the entire list, just click here. You won’t have to scroll down too far to find Toyota’s entry.

Max Paul’s Ardmore Toyota & Central City Toyota were awarded the prestigious Toyota President’s Award by Toyota Motor Sales, USA! The President’s Award recognizes a select few Toyota Dealerships who excel in all facets of their operations. It is recognition for dealerships that continue to go above and beyond each customer touch point and represent the best of the best. In addition, Ardmore Toyota & Central City Toyota were recognized as one of only 50 Toyota dealers in the USA for Parts, Service & Customer Excellence with the annual Consumer First Advisory Board recognition. Ardmore Toyota & Central City Toyota thank all of their customers, guests and friends for helping them achieve the Prestigious Toyota President’s Award and Customer First Advisory Board.

The June 2015 Consumer Reports listed the Top 10 vehicles that will most likely last 200,000 miles and more. Toyota has 5 out of 10 vehicles on the list. Consumer Reports says the choices are based on results of its annual research survey, which encompasses responses on 1.1-million vehicles. Which car would you want to drive? Toyota Prius Toyota Camry (4 cyl) Toyota Corolla Toyota Sienna Toyota Highlander Read the full article here in USA Today!

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is the best overall value for the automotive dollar, according to Consumer Reports’ annual new-car value rankings. Consumer Reports calculated that the Camry Hybrid earned the highest value score of 2.01, which indicates consumer dollars go about twice as far with this car than they do with the average-value car. The Camry Hybrid (tested price $29,000) is affordable for the impressive fuel economy, roominess, comfort, and all-around functionality it delivers. The Camry Hybrid costs a very reasonable 52 cents per mile to operate and has a predicted reliability score of “excellent.” Prius Liftback also makes the list as best overall Compact! Highlander is best overall Midsize SUV. Click here to read the full story: http://goo.gl/q9eRUC

It was excitement at Max Paul’s Ardmore Toyota when we learned that Toyota has unveiled the all-new 2014 Corolla. The unveiling took place in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 6 th, 2013. Here are some highlights on the new 11 th generation 2014 Corolla which has been around for 47 successful years. Toyota believes the 2014 Toyota Corolla will change consumer perceptions of the iconic compact. •           a modern cabin with premium materials •           a longer wheelbase for enhanced ride quality and interior roominess •           improved efficiency with an available 7-speed continuously variable transmission •           an available Corolla LE Eco trim level that is targeted to receive a highway rating of over 40 mpg Want to read more and see photos on the new 2014 Toyota Corolla? Click here. Max Paul’s Ardmore Toyota is excited to get the new Corolla in soon!

Lexus LS and Toyota Camry won their segments in the 2013 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) and the LS again posted the best score of any model in the study.  The study measures problems per hundred (pph) reported by consumers surveyed after 90 days of new-vehicle ownership. The study found: -Camry, the best-selling passenger car in the United States for the past 11 years, improved its IQS ranking from 4th last year to 1st this year with a score of 70 pph. -The Toyota brand improved two places to 6th overall, its best overall ranking in the IQS since 2008, and ranked 3rd among non-premium brands. Three manufacturing plants where Toyota and Lexus products are assembled also earned awards. To read more, click here.

Five Toyota and Lexus models won their segments in Edmunds.com’s third annual “Best Retained Value Awards,” more than any other automobile manufacturer, autoremarketing.com reported today. The four winning Toyota models are the Tacoma, Prius, 4Runner and Venza.  The winning Lexus model is the LX 570.   The Toyota brand tied with Ford for the most model wins by a brand in the 22 segments. The Best Retained Value Awards are projections of the residual value of new models after five years based on their average True Market Value price when sold new. To read more, click here.

Toyota sharpened its focus when it developed the all-new 2013 RAV4 crossover SUV. The new five-passenger RAV4 aims for the bull's-eye in the middle of the crossover SUV market. The RAV4 competes with five-seat crossovers such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan. It's hard to get attention in that crowded segment. The RAV4 makes its pitch with good fuel economy, a roomy interior and excellent voice recognition for phone calls and navigation. Click Here for the Full Story.

On May 23rd, 2013, Toyota announced a $250,000 donation to support relief and rebuilding efforts for victims of the tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma and the greater Oklahoma City area on May 20.  Funds will be allocated to immediate response and for mid-to-long term needs in the areas of food, small business revitalization and home rebuilding.  Toyota will also match employee contributions. “On behalf of Toyota, we express our sincere condolences to everyone impacted by this devastating tornado. Our thoughts are with the affected families as they work to rebuild their lives,” said Latondra Newton, group vice president of philanthropy and chief diversity officer.

Kelley Blue Book has released its Top 10 list of Best Family Cars and the Toyota Prius v and Avalon made the 2013 list.  Prius v ranks third, while Avalon came in sixth place for scoring high in areas like safety, roominess, comfort and value. KBB.com editors selected the Prius v because it comes “jam-packed with all the Prius-ness you crave while also offering roughly 50 percent more cargo space.” Editors thought the fully redesigned Toyota Avalon can now add “high style” to its list of highlights.  KBB said, “In addition, laudable fuel economy coupled with an exemplary reputation for reliability and quality make the 2013 Avalon a smart buy for today’s value-conscious family.” To see the full list and editorial commentary for the 10 Best Family Cars, please click here.

According to the 2013 Automotive Executive Survey from KPMG, Toyota is the fourth fastest growing car company in the world.  A story on Forbes.com says Toyota will remain a dominant force around the world with 68 percent of KPMG survey respondents saying it will increase market share.  Just 7 percent think Toyota could lose market share in the next five years. Of the top 27 companies on the KPMG survey list, GM and Ford were ranked No. 14.  Forbes said the Detroit automakers will find it harder to build market share among increasing competition from Asian automakers, some of which they already partner with in China in particular.  Survey respondents (44 percent) think GM and Ford will increase their market share, and 23 percent think their market share will decrease by 2018. The Forbes report can be found here.

It received little more than passing mention in the Lavishly Expensive Roadster Edition of Wheelies, but something significant happened a couple of weekends ago. It wasn’t earth shattering, but it was noteworthy: RM Auctions sold a 1967 Toyota 2000 GT for nearly $1.2 million. It ended up being one of the higher priced cars in a batch that included Ferraris, Porsches and one-off concept cars like a 1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special that sold for $616,000. According to the figures David Kinney – publisher of Hagerty’s Price Guide – came up with, the yellow ’67 is not only the most expensive production Toyota in history, but also the highest-priced Asian production car ever. But 2000 GTs were never cheap cars. An article in the February 2009 issue of Automobile magazine puts the list price of one when new at $7,230, which is more than $50,000 in today’s dollars. By comparison, a Chevrolet Corvette sold for $4,663 and a Jaguar E-Type for $5,559. Even a Porsche 911 was only $6,190. The 2000 GT saw only limited production. Although the exact number of cars built varies from source to source, RM Auctions claims Toyota built 351 of the curvaceous little sports cars from 1967 to 1970. Although the 2000 GT was a short-lived nameplate, it left a lasting legacy. It was the car that showed Japanese car manufacturers that they were capable of building more than just stodgy family cars that many considered knock-offs of European designs. Toyota, and later other Japanese automakers, knew they could do sporty, and they knew they could do beautiful. For full Story in the New York Times, Click Here.