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Toyota wants improved crash scores with midcycle facelifts

The performances of some Toyotas in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) regimen of crash tests leave something to be desired. Consider the small overlap frontal crash test: only six Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles have undergone the new test, yet all but one of them received a poor rating. Osama Nagata, CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc., says midcycle vehicle updates are in the works to address the safety issues brought to light by the IIHS test, Automotive News reports. He confirmed that the RAV4 is getting safety updates following its crash test performance last month, but he didn't name any other models.
All three Toyotas that were tested - 2013 RAV4, 2012-2013 Prius V, 2012-2013 Camry - received poor ratings. The 2007-2012 Lexus ES 350 and 2006-2013 IS 250/350 also received poor ratings. The only other Toyota Motor Corp. vehicle to score better than poor is the 2014 Scion TC. It received an acceptable rating in the small overlap frontal crash test and is the only recent vehicle in Toyota's line-up to get the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating.
The small overlap front crash test measures the safety of a car when its front left corner is strikes an object during an accident, bypassing traditional crumple zones, which deform in a way to protect passengers. In 2009, automakers were alerted to the forthcoming addition of the test, which was first implemented last year, IIHS spokesman Russ Rader says. They responded with differing intensity, he says, pointing out that Subaru and Honda started incorporating design changes early on so their cars would perform well in the tests.

2016 Toyota Avalon gets revised equipment, sportier styling

Toyota has been known to make some sporty models. We're not sure we'd count the Avalon as one of them, but while that's not what the Japanese automaker's largest sedan is about, it has gotten a bit more aggressive – at least in the styling department – over successive generations. The current model introduced just a few years ago took things in a decidedly sportier direction, and the updated model revealed here for the 2016 model year takes it a step further. Debuting today at the Chicago Auto Show, the 2016 Toyota Avalon is an evolution of the model we already know. It features revised styling that's just a touch sportier than the model it replaces, and comes packed with updated equipment. As you can see, the reshaped lower grille gives it an incrementally more planted look, flanked by turning indicators to replace the outgoing model's foglamps. Around back are new LED taillights and a chrome bumper accent, and inside, the cabin has been retrimmed with gray accent stitching on the light gray upholstery. The new Avalon will be offered in five trim levels – XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Limited and Touring – powered by a conventional V6 engine, with Hybrid models dropping the lowest and highest of those trims. The two base models also get new 17-inch alloys, seven-inch dashboard display, new interior trim and tire pressure monitoring system. The XLE Premium gets an upgraded infotainment system with wireless charging, the Limited model gets 18-inch alloys (17 on the hybrid), automatic high beams and added safety systems, while the top-of-the-line Avalon Touring upgrades with larger 18-inch wheels and a revised front fascia as well as LED head- and daytime running lights. The revised Avalon debuts in Chicago alongside the Special Edition models of the Corolla and Camry. FIRST LOOK IN THE "SECOND CITY:" THE REFRESHED 2016 TOYOTA AVALON PREMIUM MID-SIZE SEDAN - Updated Styling - New LED Headlights and Taillights - Retuned Suspension for Enhanced Comfort - Upgraded Convenience Features - 2016 Camry and Corolla Special Editions Also Unveiled CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 - - Call it a trio of firsts in the Second City as the refreshed Toyota Avalon and sporty Camry and Corolla Special Editions made their world debuts at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. The three models rode into Chicago with a head of steam as the Avalon, Camry and Corolla are each the sales leaders in their respective segments, a first for Toyota.

Mystery shoppers love Infiniti, hate Tesla

Infiniti, followed by Lexus tied with Mercedes-Benz took the top two spots for best sales experience according to mystery shoppers from the latest Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index, while EV manufacturer Tesla recorded the lowest overall score. Not surprisingly, premium brands dominated the top ranks. Including the three already mentioned, luxury brands occupied seven of the top ten spots and included Audi, BMW, Porsche, and the only American brand to crack the upper echelon, Cadillac. Toyota, Volkswagen, and Nissan rounded out the first ten positions. The news for domestic automakers isn't good. Aside from Caddy, the only other star-spangled automaker to score above the industry average is Chrysler. The rest of FCA, most of GM, and all of Ford fell below the line. But Pied Piper's mystery shoppers handed Tesla the biggest walloping – the company is ten full points below the next lowest brand, Volvo, and its score of 86 is 17 below the average of 103. It's baffling, considering the company's touted direct-sales model. "Tesla leaves me scratching my head," Fred O'Hagan, Pied Piper's president and CEO, told Wards Auto. "They own all of their stores, so you would think each one would be doing the same thing. But they're not. Tesla is consistent in its inconsistencies." O'Hagan added that there's a "huge variation" in Tesla's store-to-store effectiveness, and that in some cases, shoppers found showroom workers that acted more like "museum curators," Wards Auto reports. It might be popular to call Tesla the Apple of the car world, but based on Pied Piper's work, the brand has a long way to go to emulate the uniform shopping experience of an Apple Store. The news might be bad for Tesla, but even for the brands that scored below average, there's cause for celebration. Only Tesla and Mini lost points in this year's rankings, and only Mercedes and Lincoln held steady. Every other brand, including Infiniti, which topped the index for the first time, gained at least one point. The biggest improvements belong to Porsche, Land Rover, and Mitsubishi, which all jumped five points. Pied Piper's annual Prospect Satisfaction Index uses mystery shoppers – over 6,100 this year – from across the country to assess dealers and generate rankings from over 50 individual factors. News Source: Pied Piper via WardsAuto Green Audi BMW Cadillac Chrysler Infiniti Lexus Mercedes-Benz Nissan Tesla Toyota Car Buying Car Dealers study