Toyota Launches Production Of All-New 2014 Corolla & Redesigned 2014 Tundra

Plants in Mississippi and Canada begin building 11th generation of Corolla; redesigned 3rd generation Tundra pick-up built exclusively in San Antonio, Texas
 
Toronto, ON., (August 2, 2013) ? Consumers have a lot to look forward to this fall as production of the all-new 2014 Corolla has begun at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC). The start of production for the redesigned 2014 Tundra also began this week at Toyota’s Texas plant.
 
With nearly 40 million units sold, the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car nameplate in the world, and this year marks its 47th year on the market. The 2014 Corolla will be available for sale in September.
 
The Mississippi plant initially began production of Corolla in November 2011 further advancing the company’s efforts to design, develop and build vehicles where they are sold. TMMMS has the annual capacity to produce 160,000 vehicles and employs nearly 2,000.
 
Building the Corolla is truly an effort by Toyota team members all across North America. Corolla engines are built in Buffalo, W. Va., engine plant. Cylinder heads and blocks for those engines are produced at both of Toyota’s Bodine Aluminum castings plants, located in Troy, Mo., and Jackson, Tenn.
 
The Mississippi plant will mark the start of production with a Team Mississippi Appreciation Day for team members, supplier team members and their families on September 7 at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Miss.
 
Toyota’s Cambridge, Ontario plant has produced Corolla for 25 years – since 1988. TMMC also builds Lexus RX350, RAV4, RAV4 EV, and produces Matrix for the Canadian market. Annual capacity for the plant is 470,000 vehicles and it employs approximately 7,000.
 
2014 Tundra production underway
The start of production for the 2014 Tundra was celebrated this week by team members at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX).
 
The 2014 Tundra was redesigned, inside and out, representing the first major change since the launch of the current generation for the 2007 model year. The Tundra was completely engineered by Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and designed by Calty Design Research centers in Newport Beach, Calif., and Ann Arbor. The Toyota Tundra is built exclusively in San Antonio, Texas with 75 percent North American content. The 2014 Tundra will be available for sale in September.
 
Tundra production at Toyota’s Texas plant initially began in November 2006. The plant also builds the Tacoma and has the annual capacity to produce 200,000 trucks. More than 2,800 team members are employed at TMMTX.
 
Toyota’s Huntsville, Ala., engine plant is supplying all engines for Tundra production. Cylinder heads and blocks for those engines are produced at both of Toyota’s Bodine Aluminum castings plants, located in Troy, Mo., and Jackson, Tenn.
 
This September, the Texas plant will mark its 1 millionth vehicle built and then in October, will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the plant’s groundbreaking.
 
Toyota has announced 10 North American production increases in the past 20 months including manufacturing plants in Princeton, Indiana; Huntsville, Ala.; Buffalo,
W. Va.; Georgetown, Ky., and Ontario, Canada. Cumulative investment total is approximately $2 billion, adding more than 4,000 jobs.
 

The 2014 Lexus IS performed

On July 28th, OpenRoad Lexus Richmond held a 2014 Lexus IS performance event in Richmond, BC. Always looking for a fresh and fun way to showcase the latest from Lexus, OpenRoad teamed up with 4 performance driving instructors to put the 2014 IS250 and IS350 through their paces. And the performance was amazing!
 

Over 160 guests attended and rode shotgun in the passenger seat as the professional drivers raced around a technical course at a secret track location in Richmond. The course was 3-4 minutes in length and was driven at high speeds. The cars and passengers were put through slalom, high speed corners, fast straight-aways and emergency braking situations.

Each guest had the opportunity to ride in the RWD and AWD IS250 and 350 models. For comparison the 2013 IS250 was also taken out on the track. From the 2013 to 2014 model year, Lexus has made some major improvements to the exterior design styling, ride handling, seat comfort, interior legroom and cargo space, and a very well-executed interior cabin design.

Thanks to everyone for coming out, and we hope to see you all in the driver’s seat at for a test drive at OpenRoad Lexus Richmond.

If you have any photos or videos from the event please share them on our Lexus Richmond Facebook page – thanks!

Photos from Lexus IS Performance Day

Top 100 BC's Biggest Companies ranking – OpenRoad Auto Group climbs higher

 

OpenRoad Auto Group climbed 18 spots in the Top 100 ranking of BC’s Biggest Companies by Revenue 2013. It is the second-highest ranking increase on the chart this year.

The addition of BMW Langley, newly-opened OpenRoad Infiniti, and strong individual dealership growth contributed to the increased ranking. ORAG also credits its growing number of associates.

ORAG looks to further its rapid growth by introducing a new OpenRoad Mazda Port Moody store towards the end of 2013 and a flagship facility for OpenRoad Audi Vancouver in 2014. There are big plans for 2014 with the opening of new Porsche, Jaguar and Land Rover stores in Langley and Volkswagen in Burnaby.

Toyota named Reader's Digest Most Trusted Brand in Canada for fifth consecutive year

Toyota also chosen again by Canadians as most trusted hybrid car manufacturer.

TORONTO, ON., (June 18, 2013) For the past 5  years, when Reader’s Digest has asked Canadians which passenger car manufacturer they trust the most, the answer has been the same. Thanks to superior quality, innovation and excellent value ? the response has been Toyota.
 
Toyota was also voted as the most trusted hybrid car manufacturer in 2013, the third straight year of winning that accolade in the annual Reader’s Digest survey.
 
“It is an honour to receive these awards, which reflect how we consistently deliver the high-quality, safe, affordable, and fun-to-drive cars that Canadians demand,” said Seiji Ichii, President and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc. “We’re particularly proud that more than 80% of Toyotas sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today, and that four out of every five hybrids on Canadian streets come from Toyota.”
 
These latest awards are among many accolades collected during 2013 that demonstrate the brand leadership of Toyota Canada. Toyota has also been recognized this year with a variety of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick” awards, two ecoENERGY awards for fuel efficiency, and a number of Canadian Black Book Retained Value Awards and ALG Residual Value Awards.
 

Featured Vehicle: Rocket Bunny Scion FR-S

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2013 Rocket Bunny Scion FR-S

OpenRoad Auto Group brings you Canada’s very first Rocket Bunny Scion FR-S. Wide-body fender flares, a new front lip, side skirts, a rear diffuser, and a signature GT wing complete the Rocket Bunny transformation. Seibon parts have also been installed in a new carbon-fiber hood and fog light covers. Other features on this incredible creation include carbon-fiber side mirrors, bespoke smoked headlight housings, candy red taillight surroundings, an Invidia catback exhaust system, a set of fully adjustable BC Racing coilovers, and 18-inch “Winning Blue” Rays Gram Lights 57 Extreme wheels.

Exterior
Rocket Bunny Wide Body Fender Flares
Rocket Bunny Front Lip
Rocket Bunny Side Skirts
Rocket Bunny Rear Diffuser
Rocket Bunny Rear GT Wing
APR Carbon Fiber Side Mirrors
Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood
Seibon Carbon Fiber Fog Light Covers
Bespoke Smoked Headlight Housings
Candy Red Tail light Surroundings

Suspension
BC Racing Coilovers

Performance
Invidia Catback Exhaust System

Wheels
Rays Gram Lights 57 Extreme, 18×9.5, 18×10.5 | Winning Blue

Toyota Tops Annual Ranking of Best Global Green Brands Again

TORONTO, ON [Jun 13, 2013] For the second consecutive year, Toyota is No. 1 on the annual ranking of the 50 global brands with the most environmental appeal. The 2013 Best Green Global Brands ranking combines Interbrand’s measuring of the public’s environmental perception of 100 global brands and Deloitte’s analysis of those companies’ actual environmental performance.

“Toyota’s outstanding performance on all levels proves that sustainability isn’t just about winning hearts and moving product ? it’s a winning way of doing business,” said a statement accompanying the rankings.

To read more of this statement, click on the link below and then click on the “plus” sign in Toyota’s row in the rankings. http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2012-Report/BestGlobalGreenBrandsTable-2012.aspx

To learn more about Toyota’s environmental efforts, please visit the following sites:
http://www.toyota-global.com/sustainability/
http://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/environment/canadian-initiatives

Toyota Corolla: Celebrating 25 years of made-in-Canada success

Eleventh generation of iconic vehicle to roll off TMMC’s Cambridge assembly line

TORONTO, ON., (June 7, 2013) ? In 1988, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) opened a manufacturing plant in Cambridge and produced its first car a four-door Corolla sedan.
 
Twenty-five years and more than three million manufactured Corollas later, TMMC remains as busy as ever producing the world’s number-one selling vehicle of all time, with more than 1.3 million Corollas sold in Canada.
 
This great Canadian success story continues with the start of production on the eleventh generation of the Corolla, and sales of this new 2014 model at Toyota dealerships from coast to coast.
 
“The Corolla has been redesigned and reengineered, with a striking new design, a high-quality finish inside and out, new technology that’s almost unheard of in the compact sedan segment, and dynamic driving performance,” said Seiji Ichii, President and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc. “But one thing has not changed this vehicle will carry on the Corolla’s longstanding tradition of unsurpassed quality, durability, reliability and lasting value. Of all the Corollas we have sold in Canada over the past 20 years, more than 80 per cent of them are still on the road today.”
 
The Corolla has been at the heart of TMMC’s operation year after year since 1988. To date, TMMC has produced more than five million vehicles. The milestones of the two millionth (2004), three millionth (2007), and four millionth (2010) vehicles assembled at TMMC were all Corollas.
 
“Twenty-five years ago, TMMC started in Cambridge with about 1,000 people. Today we are a proud company of more than 7,000, but we still think of ourselves as a small community of passionate and dedicated team members who take great pride in the exceptional vehicles we manufacture,” said Brian Krinock, President, TMMC. “With the new Corolla, we will continue to assemble this vehicle to ensure it delivers Corolla’s reputation for quality and value.”
 
About TMMC
 
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. has been building quality vehicles in Canada for more than 25 years.  TMMC produces the Toyota Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and RAV4 EV vehicles and the Lexus RX model in assembly plants located in Cambridge, ON and Woodstock, ON.  The TMMC Lexus plant has received top J.D. Power and Associates plant quality awards for three consecutive years. For more information about Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, visit www.tmmc.ca
 
 

Toyota is the world's most valuable automotive brand

Toronto, ON., (May 22, 2013) Toyota reclaimed the top spot as the most valuable automotive brand in the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for 2013. Toyota’s brand value surged by 12% to $24.5 billion USD over the past year, one of the biggest movers in the automotive sector.

In the eight years since the BrandZ report was first published in 2006, Toyota was crowned brand value leader in the automotive sector six times, and second on two separate occasions.

According to the report, although automotive sales improved in some regions, they remained below pre-recession levels in others, adversely impacting overall brand values. In contrast, global sales for Toyota Motor Corporation (1) in 2012 increased by 22.6% to 9.75 million units which positively contributed towards the company’s brand valuation in this year’s report.

BrandZ also suggests that brand value developments in the sector were shaped in part by the growth of customer affinity towards hybrid vehicles.

Since Toyota pioneered the world’s first mass produced full hybrid vehicle in 1997 ? Toyota Prius ? sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have exceeded 5 million globally. Customers in Canada can choose between 11 Toyota and Lexus hybrid models, including: Toyota Prius, Prius c, Prius PHV, Prius v, Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, and Lexus CT 200h, ES 300h, GS 450h, RX 450h, LS 600h L.

Lexus retains its 10th position in the Top 10 list for the most valuable automotive brands with a brand value of $3.5 billion USD.

The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report, commissioned by WPP and conducted by Millward Brown Optimor, surveys some two million consumers in over 30 countries.

More information about BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013:
http://www.wpp.com/wpp/marketing/brandz/brandz-2013/
 
(1) Sales result for Toyota Motor Corporation includes Toyota, Lexus Hino and Daihatsu.

Now Available: 2014 Infiniti Q50 Preview

RECEIVE A $300 ACCESSORY COUPON WITH PURCHASE

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 is on the ground and is ready for sale at OpenRoad Infiniti Langley.  

The Infiniti Q50 launches with all-new high-tech features, refined style, and improved driving performance.

Infiniti has put much emphasis on its brand-new Q50, a refresh from the now discontinued G37. Formula One champion, Sebastian Vettel, consulted Infiniti during the development and refinement stages for supreme performance.

The Q50’s design comes in sitting longer, lower, and wider than its G37 predecessor. The fluid body lines flow from the front double-arch grille back through the sides of the body.

Technology is a big part of the Q50 with Torque Response, Direct Adaptive Steering, Adaptive Driver Position, Active Trace Control, and more.

Visit the OpenRoad Infiniti Langley store today to be one of the first people to test drive the Infiniti Q50!  To schedule a viewing today, please call Roger Bhajan at 604-227-3881.

2014 Lexus IS

2014 Lexus IS

The 2014 Lexus IS is now available at OpenRoad Lexus Richmond’s showroom with a new design, enhanced performance and vast list of upgrades and technology.

The redesigned exterior styling of the car features the signature Lexus spindle grille found across most current Lexus models. Standard on the 2014 IS are HID headlights and an aggressive separate L-shaped LED daytime running lights.

The new IS will be offered in two formats: the IS 250 with a 2.5L V6 and the IS350 with a 3.5L V6 with each variant available in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. The rear-wheel-drive IS350 comes with the same 8-speed automatic transmission found in the high performance IS-F. The 2014 IS also borrows technology from the Lexus GS with the same multilink rear suspension and electric power steering system. The F-Sport package is available for all models providing the added benefits of recalibrated steering, retuned suspension and a special instrument cluster inspired by none other than the Lexus LFA supercar.

Beyond the fresh new design and performance dynamics, the new IS features a fully updated cockpit. The wheelbase has been extended by 3 inches, providing greater cabin space for rear passengers. This new interior boasts luxury cues from the new GS and LS models while adding a hint of sport. As an industry first, every model of the new IS features a multimedia system with complimentary real-time traffic and weather information.

To schedule a test drive today, please call Chris or Darrell (Sales Managers)  at 604-901-4713.

Reviews:

“…with the all-new 2014 Lexus IS sedans, the Germans should be looking over their shoulders.” – Costa Mouzouris, The Car Guide

“The new IS is noticeably more precise in its response to steering inputs and handles transitional change much better that the others [Mercedes C350 and BMW 335i] – and the outgoing version.” – Matt Bubbers, Sympatico Autos

“Studies show that eye contact must be held for about 8.2 seconds for that “love at first sight” feeling to occur. When initially looking into the redesigned LED headlights of the IS sedan, I can honestly say that my lust for it occurred a little sooner.” – Alexandra Straub, Auto123.com