2013 Toyota Tacoma Pricing Released

As we noted earlier, for 2013 the Toyota Tacoma compact pickup will get a standard audio display (with a larger 6.1-inch screen) and daytime running lights on all models.

The 2013 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 and PreRunner with the automatic transmission will be offered with a new Limited Package that includes heated seats; sliding privacy rear glass; display audio with the Entune multimedia system and JBL audio; EC HomeLink rearview mirror; 18-inch chrome wheels with P265/60R18 tires; Limited badge; and chrome fog lamp housings, door handles and outside mirrors.

The 2013 Tacoma will start at $17,520 for the 4x2 Regular Cab with a four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission and go up to $28,090 for the 4x4 Double Cab V-6 long bed with a five-speed automatic. Destination charges have also climbed an additional $35, moving from $810 for the Tacoma to $845 for all 2013 models. Tundra destination charges will climb from just $10. 

The MSRPs reflect an average overall increase (on all models) of $150 (or 0.6 percent) per model. Price changes range from $0 to $400 as seen in the chart below. The TRD Sport upgrade package has been discontinued.

Toyota to exhibit new hybrid vehicle in Jilin

Toyota Motor Corp. will display its new hybrid concept car, Yundong Shuangqing, at the upcoming Changchun auto show from July 13-22 in northeast China's Jilin province.

The concept vehicle is equipped with a system of multiple power sources designed by Toyota's Chinese research and development centre in Changshu, Jiangsu province, sources with the company said Tuesday.

The vehicle is an outcome of Toyota's Cloud Action plan initiated on March 1 in Beijing to promote environmentally friendly products in China, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the plan, a production version of Yundong Shuangqing, literally meaning Cloud Action Dual-Engine, will be available in 2015.

The vehicle made its debut at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in April this year.

China became the first country outside Japan to produce Toyota's Prius hybrid when Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. started making the third-generation model in 2005.

In 2010, GAC Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. in south China's Guangdong province began creating the Camry hybrid, the second hybrid vehicle manufactured by Toyota in China.

Scion tC Release Series 8.0 in Absolutely Red

The new Scion tC Release Series 8.0 is here! Features include 18" gloss black alloy wheels, a five-piece body kit and spoiler inspired by Troy Sumitomo of Five Axis Design, paddle shifters on automatic models, TRD lowering springs, center-mounted TRD exhaust, red interior stitching, and exclusive individually numbered RS badge on the steering wheel. Only 2000 of these one-of-a-kind tC's will be available.

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Gets Royal Treatment in Europe

The first production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid in Europe was delivered to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, as the Japanese automaker employs some royal cachet to market the car.

The prince will use the Prius Plug-in Hybrid for "private purposes," said Toyota in a statement. The prince has a two-month loan on the car from Toyota, which notes that he currently has a standard Prius in his automotive stable.

Prince Albert may be Toyota's best unofficial salesman in Europe. A one-off Landaulet edition of the Lexus LS 600h hybrid took center stage at his 2011 wedding to Charlene Wittstock.

Of course, with the handover of the keys to the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Monaco also gets to strengthen its position as one of the green leaders in Europe. Even though the principality is just 48 acres with a population of 35,000, it is also home to 424 free charging stations.

The link between European royalty and cars is a strong one. Witness the media frenzy that ensued after England's Prince William and commoner Kate Middleton celebrated their nuptials last year with a joyride in an Aston Martin DB6 Volante.

Second Group Of 25 Winners Announced In Toyota 100 Cars For Good Program

Toyota today announced the second group of winners of the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program, a national philanthropic program that is awarding 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 consecutive days. Winners will be selected each day through public voting on Facebook at 100carsforgood.com.

Starting May 14 and running through August 21, each day five nonprofit organizations are profiled on the 100 Cars for Good Facebook page. Registered Facebook users are able to vote once daily for the nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle. The organization with the most votes at the end of the day will win a new Toyota vehicle. The four runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

"With this announcement of the next 25 winners, we mark the half-way point of the 2012 Toyota 100 Cars for Good program," said Jim Lentz, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Toyota created the 100 Cars for Good program as a way to give to a variety of organizations across the country and to do so with the help and support of the American public. It's the public vote that decides which organizations will receive a new Toyota vehicle and we are thrilled to see the outpouring of support for the program with thousands of votes."

The majority of the second group of 25 winners (the first 25 winners were announced in June) provide services in a variety of areas including animal welfare, education, health & safety, and human services to children, adults and the disabled.

Winners 1- 50 in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program are:

DC  Scores                                     Washington, DC                May 14, 2012 Cincinnati Zoo                                 Cincinnati, Ohio              May 15, 2012 Lehmi County Humane Society                    Salmon, Idaho                 May 16, 2012 Pibbles & More Animal Rescue                   Ridgewood, New York           May 17, 2012 Recycled Doggies, Inc.                         Cincinnati, Ohio              May 18, 2012 Hope for Paws Animal Rescue                    Los Angeles, California       May 19, 2012 The Dream Center                               Los Angeles, California       May 20, 2012 SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups    New York, New York            May 21, 2012 Petfinder Foundation                           Tucson, Arizona               May 22, 2012 Together We Rise                               Chino, California             May 23, 2012 The Children's Lunchbox                        Anchorage, Alaska             May 24, 2012 All Hands Volunteers                           Carlisle, Massachusetts       May 25, 2012 Detroit Dog Rescue                             Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan May 26, 2012 Fences for Fido                                Portland, Oregon              May 27, 2012 Central Vermont Humane Society                 East Montpelier, Vermont      May 28, 2012 Operation Blankets of Love                     Granada Hills, California     May 29, 2012 Kristie's Foundation                           Anaheim, California           May 30, 2012 K9 Services German Shepherd Rescue, Inc.       Middleburg, Florida           May 31, 2012 Animal Aid, Inc.                               Oakland Park, Florida         June 1, 2012 Clark County Community Services                Winchester, Kentucky          June 2, 2012 Shore Hearts Golden Retriever                  Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey     June 3, 2012 Special Olympics Illinois                      Normal, Illinois              June 4, 2012 Last Chance Ranch                              Quakertown, Pennsylvania      June 5, 2012 Rikki's Refuge                                 Rapidan, Virginia             June 6, 2012 Feed My Sheep                                  Gulfport, MS                  June 7, 2012 Life 4 Paws Animal Rescue                      Winnekta, CA                  June 8, 2012 Humane Society of Fargo-Moorhead               Fargo, ND                     June 9, 2012 Humane Society of Marion County                Ocala, FL                     June 10, 2012 A Child's Place                                Charlotte, NC                 June 11, 2012 Motley Zoo Animal Rescue                       Redmond, WA                   June 12, 2012 1st Priority & Search Recovery                 Plantersville, TX             June 13, 2012 Girl Scouts of Kentucky's WRC                  Lexington, KY                 June 14, 2012 Haven House St. Louis                          St. Louis, MO                 June 15, 2012 Young at Heart Pet Rescue                      Lake Zurich, IL               June 16, 2012 4K Cancer                                      Baltimore, MD                 June 17, 2012 C.H.A.I.N.E.D. Inc.                            Riverview, MI                 June 18, 2012 STAR Center, Inc.                              Jackson, TN                   June 19, 2012 Central Aroostook Humane Society               Presque, ME                   June 20, 2012 Ronald McDonald House of SNJ                   Camden, NJ                    June 21, 2012 Muttville Senior Dog Rescue                    San Francisco, CA             June 22, 2012 Animal Aid Vermillion Area                     Abbeville, LA                 June 23, 2012 The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri Columbia, MO                  June 24, 2012 Ozark Family Resource Agency (Ripley County)   Doniphan, MO                  June 25, 2012 Canine Partners for Life                       Cochranville, PA              June 26, 2012 Franklin County Humane Society                 Frankfort, KY                 June 27, 2012 One More Generation                            Fayetteville, GA              June 28, 2012 Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Camp                  Amery, WI                     June 29, 2012 Pelican Harbor Seabird Station                 Miami, FL                     June 30, 2012 Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia        Brunswick, GA                 July 1, 2012 Pets Without Parents Columbus                  Columbus, OH                  July 2, 2012

Public voting for the 100 Cars for Good program will continue through August 21. Voters may place one vote per day, each day, over the course of the program. Each day, the previous day's winner will be announced and five new nonprofit organizations will be featured for voting. Winning organizations can choose from the following vehicles: Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v Hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

The 500 finalists, from which the 100 winners are ultimately selected, were certified by an independent panel of judges who are experts in the fields of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.

Follow 100 Cars for Good on Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/ and on Twitter at #100cars.

About ToyotaToyota TM -2.21% established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs over 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed over half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the U.S.

The Scion $1000 Military Rebate

Scion thanks the men and women of the U.S. Military for their service and dedication to defending our country. If you are a member of the U.S. Military with current active duty status or an inactive reservist, you may qualify for a $1,000 rebate towards the purchase or lease of a new Scion when financed or leased through a participating Scion dealer and Toyota Financial Services.

Toyota 4Runner still drives after being crushed by tree [w/video]

Disaster can strike just about anywhere, but the likelihood – and severity – often increases the further you are from civilization. That's what one couple in Washington State found out when they went camping with their Toyota 4Runner along the Barlow Pass in the northern Cascade mountains.

When a storm approached they sought shelter, but fortunately didn't hide inside their Toyota. A hundred-foot-tall hickory tree fell on it, crushing the back portion of the SUV. With emergency and park services apparently refusing to help, it took them a while to get a few friends out their with chainsaws to cut the tree away from the Toyota. But once they did, they were astonished to find the truck not only started, but drove them back into town where they were able to call for a tow.

Of course, the truck was virtually irreparable, but the very fact that it got them to safety after being crushed by a giant tree has the owners looking at another 4Runner – and with good reason. Are we surprised by the Toyota's fortitude? After that now-legendary Top Gear Hilux abusefest, nothing surprises us.

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