The Easy Way to Improve Toyota Car Performance

Yes, we know. We’ve seen the same headlines promising “one weird trick” to do anything from removing wrinkles to losing weight. But when you want your Toyota car to perform better, there really is one simple thing you can do the next time you’re close to your Toyota dealership near Scottsdale, AZ.

You don’t need to spend thousands on a higher-horsepower engine, performance tuning, a custom exhaust system, or any other high-ticket doodads. If you want better acceleration and more stopping power, it’s as simple as stopping by Bell Road Toyota for the proper tires for your Toyota Tacoma or your old Toyota Corolla.

It makes intuitive sense. After all, you wouldn’t train for months for a marathon, eating right, running, and taking supplements, only to wear flip-flops on the day of the big race. Your car is no different. You can do anything else you’d like — parts, fuel treatment, performance upgrades — but if you don’t have the right tires, it’s like running with a pebble in your shoe.

It’s not just us saying so. Tests have proven time and again that tires with good tread give you better traction, better acceleration, and more stopping power at a shorter distance. That translates to better fuel economy, more safety, and a lot more fun behind the wheel. You’ll literally feel the difference.

When it comes to proper maintenance, we hope you’re already paying attention to fundamentals like your hoses, fluids, belts, and brakes. But for all that effort, don’t overlook where the rubber meets the road. If you live in the area around Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Peoria, there’s no excuse not to stop by Bell Road Toyota to make sure your tires aren’t worn, that they’re properly mounted and balanced, and that your alignment’s up to snuff.

Service questions? Stop by our Phoenix Toyota service center today. We’re located at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ. 

Toyota FT-4X Concept: First Look

Last week, Bell Road Toyota covered two major production model debuts that were on tap for the New York International Auto Show. This week, we take a closer look at the Toyota FT-4X, a promising “casualcore” concept vehicle targeted at millennials. In its first public appearance, it evidences the DNA of old and new Toyota SUVs.

The size is similar to the upcoming 2018 Toyota C-HR. This makes sense, since both vehicles share the same TNGA platform, and could — in theory — share the same four-cylinder engine and CVT. But the Toyota FT-4X is bulkier all around, and trades the futuristic curvature of the Toyota C-HR for a more muscular look that’s clearly inspired by the discontinued (and sorely missed) Toyota FJ Cruiser.

The differences continue inside, with lots of hard plastic surfaces that are meant to be easier to load and unload, and easier to clean after your weekend adventures. There’s a profusion of USB ports, storage cubbies, heated and cooled storage areas, and even a detachable radio that can be used for tunes around the campfire.

We don’t know yet if the Toyota FT-4X will come to Bell Road Toyota. Concept vehicles often pack every idea that a designer thought would be fun, from the really good ones to the good but far-fetched ones. If it does become available to Phoenix Toyota dealerships, we’d expect a similar exterior but an interior that’s decidedly more conventional, designed to appeal to a wider range of drivers.

If you want to go off-road in the meantime, you’ve got some great options at our 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ showroom. Try the 2017 Toyota RAV4 or the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser on for size!

Toyota Cars at New York International Auto Show

The 2017 New York International Auto Show promises to be a good one for those looking forward to 2018 Toyota models. Even though Phoenix is a long way away, we’re still watching with plenty of interest. Not only will many of the 2017 models available now at Bell Road Toyota be on display, but two new models — the 2018 Toyota Sienna and 2018 Toyota Yaris — will take a bow as well.

2018 Toyota Sienna

The 2018 Toyota Sienna comes with a refreshed sense of style. Already boasting a five-star NHTSA safety rating for 2017, the 2018 model promises to be even safer thanks to the TSS-P version of Toyota Safety Sense. That means pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, pre-collision system.

Many other new tech features are also on offer. One of our favorites is the upgraded Toyota Entune 3.0 infotainment system, featuring App Suite Connect, navigation, and some nifty optional features (like WiFi Connect). Upgrades are available on the higher trims, allowing drivers to add a premium JBL Audio sound system.

2018 Toyota Yaris

At the other end of the size spectrum, the subcompact 2018 Toyota Yaris also gets an update. Already good-looking, it gets an updated front fascia on both the three-door L and LE trims, and the five-door SE trim. The SE also gets 16-inch alloy wheels, and dark accents on the wheels and grille.

Multiple upgrades await inside, with different trims getting upgrades to the steering wheel, instrument panel, and audio systems. Entune finally comes to the Toyota Yaris, with the SE receiving Entune Audio Plus and the Connected Navigation application.

2017 — the calendar year, and the model year — have been good to us at Bell Road Toyota, but 2018 is shaping up to be even better still. The new Toyota models above won’t arrive for a little while yet. But if you have questions, or would like to browse our inventory of new and used Toyota vehicles, stop by our showroom at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ today!

Toyota Research Institute Exploring New ZEV Technology

Just a few short weeks after the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) rolled out its new Advanced Active Safety Research Vehicle (AASRV), it’s released another major announcement. The TRI, in conjunction with a number of academic and tech partners, is undertaking a $35 million initiative to improve electric vehicle batteries. That news should be as welcome to Phoenix car shoppers as it is for the Bell Road Toyota staff.

Why is this initiative important? There are a few reasons. Let’s start with the vehicles themselves. A ZEV (Zero Emissions Vehicle) like the Toyota Mirai is so called because it produces no CO2 emissions. A PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) like the 2017 Toyota Prius produces no emissions when it’s run as an electric vehicle, producing CO2 emissions only when the gas engine is engaged. With fuel economy and emissions standards tightening worldwide even as some are moving to loosen them here at home, thinking ahead makes good business sense.

There’s another important reason as well: even though Toyota hybrid cars have only been on the market for about twenty years, the battery technology in them stretches back farther. Even though it’s been improved and refined, it’s essentially forty-year-old tech. New materials and designs should allow for lower weight, higher capacity, and longer endurance.

The Toyota Motor Corporation isn’t going it alone. In addition to existing TRI partners Stanford and MIT, R&D assistance is coming from SUNY Buffalo, the University of Michigan, the University of Connecticut, and Ilika, a UK-based material science company.

This is yet another reminder that Toyota cars — from the new Toyota Mirai to old standbys like the 2017 Toyota Corolla — don’t just change from year to year; they evolve. To see the latest evolution of new Toyota cars, visit Bell Road Toyota at 2020 West Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ.