Buy a Toyota Car and Buy American

Phoenix car buyers have plenty of choices, and many of you already know that Bell Road Toyota caters to their needs like no other. Whatever you need, and whatever your reasons for buying a new car, we’re confident you’ll find something you like here. One consideration for many customers is buying something that’s made in America. Did you know that your Phoenix Toyota dealership is a great place to start? 

When most of us think about American cars, we typically start by thinking of American brands. However, it’s not quite that simple. All manufacturers source parts and assemblies from a variety of locations, and lots of those components come from overseas. US News and World Report recently examined companies’ manufacturing and supply chains. The results of their analysis might surprise you. The most American car, in terms of where it was built and where the parts came from, was the 2017 Toyota Camry.

That doesn’t surprise the Bell Road Toyota staff. After all, Toyota Motor North America is the Plano, TX-based subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corporation. Between dealerships, suppliers, factories, and regional offices, Toyota Motor North America has a nationwide presence.

Another study, conducted by the Center for Automotive Research*, takes a closer look at the impact of that presence. The company’s initiatives in manufacturing, R&D, sales, and service has a deep impact. They directly employ thousands, indirectly employing thousands more. Payroll taxes, sales taxes, and other economic contributions ensure that  the Toyota Motor Corporation makes its presence felt from coast to coast.

So if you want to buy American, visit your Phoenix Toyota dealership and take a close look at the American-made 2017 Toyota Camry and 2017 Toyota Avalon. Bell Road Toyota is located at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ. Stop by today!

*"Contribution of Toyota Motor North America to the Economies of Nineteen States and the United States in 2015"

TRI Introduces Next-Gen Research Vehicle

When a Toyota model like the Toyota Prius enters a new generation, we take notice. After all, it means improvements to design, amenities, and especially technology. Thank to the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), a more obscure car just entered its second generation. You won't find it at Bell Road Toyota, but it could be the most important new Toyota vehicle in years. 

In its first generation, it was called the Advanced Active Safety Research Vehicle (AASRV). The AASRV was unveiled just ahead of the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show and signaled how serious the Toyota Motor Corporation was about autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. Using HD cameras, LIDAR, and a host of proprietary tech, it was intended to put the company on track toward a self-driving car by 2021.

In the interim, the company spent more than a billion dollars to inaugurate the TRI. A year after it lauched, TRI's first major project is out. The second-generation AASRV, built on a Lexus LS 600hL from the company's luxury car division, refines the first-generation technology, making it modular and putting it in a smaller package.

The research now follows two streams, called Guardian and Chauffer. The former is a set of semi-autonomous driver assist aids that build on advancements in current Toyota cars and SUVs (like lane departure warning and emergency braking). The latter continues the company's ongoing work in developing fully-autonomous vehicles.

All of this might seem a bit arcane. It's not. Your Toyota Corolla may not be driving itself yet, but if you buy a new Toyota car, you're already seeing the benefits of the TRI's work. Those active safety features that have won many Toyota cars IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus awards? Thank the TRI and their AASRV.

The future is closer than you think. To see more of the best cars and most advanced technology on offer, come to your Phoenix Toyota dealership. Bell Road Toyota is conveniently located at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ.

2018 Toyota C-HR: First Impressions

The first time anyone heard of the Toyota C-HR was as a concept at the 2014 Frankfurt Auto Show. Rumors circulated that the compact SUV would be built, but then it was shelved, only to reappear at auto shows again in 2016, this time confirmed as a production model. After multiple delays and ample anticipation, it looks like it's getting much closer to Bell Road Toyota and the drivers we serve in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ. 

The "Coupe High Rider" lives up to its name. It has a coupe shape combined with the ride height of a crossover. Its design won't be to everyone's tastes. It's not as conservative as the Toyota Highlander or Toyota RAV4 (which might be due, in part, to the fact that it was originally slated for the now-defunct Scion division). Unusually for a crossover, no AWD version is in the works right now. As with the other Scion-derived models (the Toyota Corolla iM and the Toyota Yaris iA), its trims will be limited (XLE and XLE Premium, in this case), and each will be what are called "monospec" models. In other words, what you see is what you get.

Luckily, what you get is fully loaded. We're expecting a active safety features on at least the XLE Premium trim, alongside driver assist features, AM/FM/HD radio, and Toyota Entune infotainment system. The driving experience should be fun, thanks to the stiff body, low center of gravity, and a powertrain underpinned by a 144 horsepower engine.

No release date has been set, but we're anticipating the first models to arrive at the Bell Road Toyota showroom some time this summer as a 2018 model. Given its unique looks, a robust feature set, and the usual reliability you'd get from a new Toyota SUV, we expect to see a lot of the 2018 Toyota C-HR in the years ahead, here in Phoenix and across the country. To find out more, visit us today at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix.

Toyota Cars Awarded by KBB

When the time comes to buy a new car in Phoenix, AZ, that means it's time for research. If that's what you're doing right now, you're probably up to your eyeballs in makes and models, specifications, trim levels, and finance information. We're about to put one more item into the mix that you might have overlooked, and it's an important one: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). It's one thing we wish more of our customers understood when they came to Bell Road Toyota, because it's just one more metric that proves how good Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs are. 

TCO is usually calculated on a five-year basis. During that time, you're not just looking at the vehicle's sticker price. You're also taking into account all of the other costs incurred when you buy or lease a Toyota car. That means the costs for fuel, fees, insurance, and the ever-important repairs and maintenance.

Each year, Kelley Blue Book evaluates brands' cars for their five-year total cost of ownership. This year the Toyota brand took top honors in four categories. The 2017 Toyota Corolla won for Compact Car, the 2017 Toyota 86 won the Sports Car category, and the Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car and Electric Vehicle categories were topped by the 2017 Toyota Prius and 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, respectively. The presence of the new Toyota 86 and Toyota Prius Prime atop their respective categories speaks to the degree to which reputation helps; given the long record of reliability for Toyota cars, KBB extrapolated a lower TCO than they might have for a less-established brand.

What's the lesson here? First, if you're buying a new car, look beyond the sticker price. Second, if you're buying a new Toyota car in particular, look for a Toyota dealership that takes care of you for the whole life cycle of your car. That's what you'll get at Bell Road Toyota. To find out more, visit us at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ today.