2013 Toyota Avalon

            The all-new Toyota Avalon was designed to help bridge the gap between Toyota and their luxury brand, Lexus.  The Avalon received the best score from Car and Driver in a comparison test between the 2014 Chevy Impala, 2013 Chrysler 300S, 2013 Dodge Charger, 2013 Hyundai Azera and the 2014 Kia Cadenza. 

            The Avalon is offered with the 3.5L V-6 or the 2.5L gas/electric hybrid.  The V-6 makes 268hp at 6200RPM and 248 ft-lbs or torque at 4700RPM.  The 2.5L hybrid makes 200 hybrid system net hp.  Both engines come with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

            The base Avalon XLE comes standard with leather heated front seats, push button start and ten airbags.  An upgrade to the XLE premium provides the same leather seats, but also a backup camera and a tilt/slide power moonroof.  The top of the line Limited edition has heated and cooled front seats, power moonroof, blindspot monitors, rear heated seats and rear climate control.

            At Handy Toyota, the Toyota Avalon starts at $36,000 with the XLE Touring edition.  Prices also go up to $41,000 with the Avalon Limited.  Come take a test drive today and see why Car and Driver liked it so much.

Matthew Colan

Handy Toyota

2013 Toyota Highlander Limited

     The 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited is one of Toyota’s higher end crossover SUVs that are currently offered. The Highlander was first unveiled at the 2000 New York Auto Show and began showing up on showroom floors later that year.  The car has gone through a couple model year changes, the first being in 2004, and then a new generation in 2007 with an update in 2010.  The 3^rd generation Highlander will reach dealerships in 2014, which will be slightly longer and wider than the current generation.

            The Highlander Limited comes with a 270hp 3.5L V6 engine with variable valve timing.  With that engine package and a 5 speed automatic transmission gives a competitive fuel economy of 22mpg highway. 

            One of the added luxuries for the Highlander Limited is a rear seat DVD player comes as an option.  It is a single screen unit that folds down from the roofline of the car.  The rear of the car also has an independently operating air conditioning dials, so the people in the back can have the fan blow a faster speed or colder temperature if they want to.  There is also a fold-down 3^rd row in the rear of the car.  The Highlander Limited also comes with leather seats and heated seats in the front. 

           

            Other options featured in the Highlander are two wireless headphones, mudguards, wheel locks and a roof rack with cross bars.  Come take a test drive in the 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited and be impressed with the car’s handling and features today at Handy Toyota.

Matthew Colan

Handy Toyota

St. Albans, VT

Toyota Designs Robot heading for the International Space Station

                Contrary to popular belief, but the Toyota Corporation is much more than just an automaker. The Toyota Company invests itself into many research pursuits, as well as motor vehicles. One of which, will be place in the international space station soon. Meet Kirobo, the space robot:

                The idea behind this radical project was to make a robot capable of human to robot conversation. The robot will have conversations with a commander Wakata in space.  The robot will leave this August, and will meet up with the commander at the International Space Station. The two are scheduled to meet by December. Commander Wakata will return to Earth the following summer, leaving the robot to remain at the international space station. 

A clone of Kirobo called Mirata was made to leave with ground control. The question will remain though, what is next for Toyota and their robot research? Well if their research in robotics has been as innovative as their research in the Auto Industry, then we will have much to look forward too. 

Tyler Barnier

Handy Toyota

2014 Toyota Highlander

                As we roll out the remaining 2013 Toyota Highlanders, we prepare to make way for the next model generation, the 2014 Highlander. The Highlander has been a game changer since 2000 when it comes to how we know the crossover. While the previous short lived generation introduced the Highlander to a standard of style for crossovers, the 2014 has design to rival even the range rover, for a fraction of the price!

                The next generation Highlander will offer two engine classes as well as a hybrid variant: a 2.7L i-4 engine or the 3.5L V6, each with the 6 speed automatic transmission. The hybrid variant will contain the 3.5L V6, except coupled with Toyota’s Signature CVT transmission. The 2014 Highlander will be 3 inches longer and half an inch wider, and as you can see will features molded plastic for the wheel arches.

                The interior of the all new Highlander has been re-vamped as well. The 2014 Toyota Highlander will be able to comfortably seat eight passengers. Toyota has also worked to improve the ambiance inside the Highlander, by adding lights around the dash and the doors. The material has also been up-graded to be softer to the touch.  The 2014 Highlander will also feature new standard safety features such as blind spot monitor, lane-departing warning and a rear cross traffic alert.

                You can expect the 2014 Toyota Highlander is planned to be launched this fall. Be sure to periodically check in at HandyToyota.com to see when the 2014 Highlander is added to our inventory. 

Tyler Barnier

Handy Toyota

Toyota Hits Sales Milestones with Prius and Camry

            In recent weeks, Toyota has hit several sales milestones with two of their vehicles, the Camry and the Prius. In the Camry’s 30^th year of production, Toyota sold their 10 millionth Camry in the United States.  The first year the Camry was introduced to the United States was in 1983.  That year, they only sold 52,651 Camry’s in the US.  Since then, it has gone on to become the best-selling car in the United States for 11 years.

            Toyota says that there are still nearly 800 first generation Camry’s from 1983 still in operation today.  The first Camry production factory opened in Kentucky in 1988, which was Toyota’s first factory in North America.

            Toyota states that “virtually all Camrys sold in the US are produced in the US.” They also go on to say that nearly 75% of the car is domestically sourced within the United States.

            First introduced in 1997, the Toyota Prius hit the market as the world’s first mass produced hybrid car.  The 2^nd generation Prius hit auto markets in 2003 and the 3^rd generation followed in 2009.  In less than 20 years, Toyota has sold over 3,000,000 Prius’ worldwide.  With this kind of success, the Prius is starting to become what Coke is to soda as the car is to hybrid technology.

            How many more years will it take before Toyota sells another 10,000,000 Camry’s and 3,000,000 Priuses? It might take only half the time, especially with the constantly improving hybrid and electric 

technology, with Toyota at the forefront of it.

Matthew Colan

Handy Toyota

Toyota Prius Technology

            Many people know that the Toyota Prius has set the gold standard for hybrid technology all over the world.  The name is so common now that it is starting to become what Coke is to soda.  Not many people know just the amount of technology that goes into today’s Prius and what makes them as efficient as they are today.

           The secret to today’s Toyota Prius hybrid is the Hybrid Synergy Drive.  The system uses a blend of gasoline or electric motor to provide optimum efficiency for how the driver is using the car.  Sometimes it will use only the electric motor for something such as city driving during stop and go traffic.  Once you begin picking up speed the car will begin transferring use to the gasoline engine to provide extra power and give a longer range.

            The Prius also has three drive modes.  There is EV, ECO, and POWER.  The EV mode will run on battery power alone, but only for up to one mile.  ECO mode improves fuel economy by the car adjusting throttle and climate control for

getting optimum economy while still staying comfortable in the car.  The reason why climate control is adjusted is because if the air conditioner is in use, the compressor puts out drag, which reduces engine efficiency and performance, which reduces fuel economy.  The POWER driving mode has the car go all out and provide the best, most exciting driving experience the Prius can provide.

            Another great piece of technology in the Toyota Prius that not many other cars possess is the solar roof.  The solar roof provides power to a fan that circulates air throughout the interior of the car.  This cools the interior so when you go to get back in the car, you won’t need to turn the air conditioner on, which reduces engine drag and then increases your fuel economy.  You can also turn on the air conditioner within three minutes of you entering your Prius.  The compressor will run on the hybrid battery power system so you can enter into a nice and refreshing temperature.

            With industry leading technology such as the solar roof, and the forerunner of hybrid technology, the Prius will continue to be a leader of the pack for hybrid technology and fuel economy.

Matthew Colan

Handy Toyota

St. Albans, VT