Ready Adventure THE ALL-NEW 2019 RAV4 DAZZLES AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW - Toyota Today
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march/april2018
THE MAGAZINE FOR TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS
Ready for
Adventure
THE ALL-NEW 2019 RAV4 DAZZLES
AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
march/april2018
2019 TRD Pro Tacoma
2 Dealer Doings
Toyota dealers across the nation make a meaningful
9 2019 TRD Pro Series
These off-road specialty versions of the 2019 Tundra,
impact in their communities. Tacoma and 4Runner love to get dirty.
5 Make a Stand
A team works together to develop a stand-up
11 Hatch is Back
The all-new 2019 Corolla Hatchback proves really cool
wheelchair for Kenny Kent Toyota technician things can come in small packages.
Austin Frazier.
13 More, More, More RAV4
7 Vehicle Exchange Program
Chuck Patterson Toyota is catering to customers who’d
The all-new 2019 RAV4 makes a commotion at the
New York International Auto Show.
like to transition to a new Toyota sooner rather than later.
E D I T O R I A L S T A F F toyotatoday.com
Sr. Manager Scott DeYager Published six times per year for Toyota dealers and dealership personnel
by the Corporate Communications Division of Toyota Motor North America.
Manager Lisa Yamada Copyright ©2018 by Toyota Motor North America.
Contents may be reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
Editor Kristen Orsborn Address magazine inquiries to:
Kristen Orsborn
Writers Dan Miller TEL: 469.344.8427 eMAIL: toyota_today@toyota.com
Dan Nied For customer inquiries, please contact
the Toyota Customer Experience Center:
Design AkinsParker
TEL: 800.331.4331
For product and company information:
WEB: toyota.com TEL: 800.GO.TOYOTA
DEALER DOINGS:
Frontier Toyota
Cyclist Passionate about AIDS/LifeCycle Ride
by Kerry Curry
march/april2018
Family Support
Juan Gomez with his wife, Carmen (center) and daughter, Dorian.
2
toyotatoday
When Juan Gomez’s uncle, Jose Zatarain, died of AIDS This year, both of his uncle’s children will ride with him.
in 1993, it was a shock to the family — as few close family The seven-day, 545-mile ride takes participants from
members knew of his diagnosis until he was close to death. San Francisco to Los Angeles through some of the state’s
“My most favorite uncle in the world started losing a lot most picturesque countryside. This marks the fourth
of weight,” says Gomez, a sales and leasing sales consultant consecutive year that Toyota has has supported the event.
at Frontier Toyota in Valencia, California. “It came to our “I’m humbled by the amount of love and compassion
attention, eventually, that he had AIDS. He declined in front
for humanity that is expressed on this ride,” Gomez says.
of our eyes, and everyone was denying what was happening.”
Frontier Toyota’s employees and owners have been among
When a fellow cyclist told Gomez about the AIDS/
his most ardent supporters, even though he’s been at the
LifeCycle ride, he knew it would be a meaningful way to
dealership fewer than two years. And, Toyota’s corporate
remember his uncle.
office last year matched his personal donation.
“I felt a sense of relief that I could do something to help
other people; and I felt I could make amends with the gay Toyota will have a team for the first time in 2018. Teams
community for my past — for my young, naïve and dumb connect for training and help one another with fundraising
prejudices,” he says. before the ride. Once the ride begins, they wear team jerseys
On June 3–9, Gomez will participate in his fifth AIDS/ to connect, socialize and commiserate with one another.
LifeCycle ride, which raises funds for AIDS-related services. For more information about AIDS/LifeCycle visit:
Over the years, Gomez’s daughter and wife have joined him. www.tofighthiv.org/goto/TOYOTA
DEALER DOINGS:
Mike Shaw Toyota
Gulf Coast Dealership Gives Away Turkeys to Residents Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
by Dan Miller
Giving someone in need a turkey for the holidays is certainly nonstop until 4:30 p.m., at one point backing up for four miles.
a very nice gesture. But when Mike Shaw Toyota replicated Shaw personally greeted each family, shook their hands and
that act some 4,000 times in November and December for helped load the turkeys into their vehicles until 8 p.m.
people still struggling to recover from the devastation of “We bought 1,000 turkeys to start, but ended up giving
Hurricane Harvey, it became something far more. away 2,200,” says Shaw. “We received so many nice letters.
“This thing was a real zinger for us,” says Shaw, owner Their underlying message: ‘Thanks for remembering us.’
of Mike Shaw Toyota in Corpus Christi, Texas. “My philosophy That’s especially true of the Vietnam vets, many of whom
in business is to always give back. But this turned out to be have felt forgotten.”
the biggest thing we’ve ever done.” Shaw repeated the process in December for residents
The 71-year-old Shaw, a veteran of the Vietnam War, of nearby Rockport and Aransas Pass where neighborhoods
came up with the idea to do “Turkeys for Troops” in the run once filled with homes had been replaced by giant
up to Thanksgiving to show his support for members of the incinerators brought in to dispose of the debris.
military who call the surrounding Gulf Coast communities Shaw ended up giving away some 900 turkeys at each
home. Many were impacted by Harvey. The dealership’s of those two locations.
march/april2018
marketing agency took it from there, partnering with Wal- “We’ve already decided to make this an annual event
Mart — which delivered the turkeys to the dealership in a the Friday before Thanksgiving,” says Shaw. “Being able to
freezer truck — and with KRIS-TV — which helped spread help so many men and women, especially service members
3 the word and provided live coverage the day of the event.
Cars started showing up at 6:30 a.m. and continued
who have given so much of themselves to this country, is just
something that needs to be done.”
toyotatoday
From One Vet
to Another
Mike Shaw (right),
owner of Mike Shaw
Toyota, thanks a
fellow military veteran
for his service during
the Corpus Christi
dealership’s “Turkeys
for Troops” outreach
in November.
DEALER DOINGS:
Toyota of Slidell
Memories of Katrina Spur Dealership to Help in Hurricane Harvey Recovery
by Kerry Curry
Joint Effort
Team members from Toyota of Slidell pose in front of a trailer sent by Kinsel Toyota in Beaumont, Texas. Toyota of
Slidell employees filled the trailer with supplies for Hurricane Harvey victims and sent it back to Beaumont.
march/april2018
More than 12 years have passed since Hurricane Katrina Besides the Facebook ad, a local television crew reported
bore down on Louisiana, causing one of the most catastrophic on the effort. The response was overwhelming. “In less than a 4
natural disasters in American history. week, we literally filled our showroom,” Munster says.
toyotatoday
The hurricane — and its aftermath — remains a vivid The dealership hadn’t really thought through how it would
memory for Rusty Munster, general manager of Toyota get the supplies to those who needed them. Then memories of
of Slidell. Eleven feet of water inundated the dealership, Katrina flooded back in, and Munster knew whom to call.
located about 30 miles northeast of New Orleans. All 400 He picked up the phone and reached out to Gulf States
Toyota. “GST worked nonstop to help us after Katrina,”
vehicles on the lot were destroyed. The dealership was
Munster says.
displaced for 16 months, first operating from circus tents.
GST connected Munster to Jay Richards III, general
Later, they upgraded to trailers.
manager of Kinsel Toyota in Beaumont, Texas.
Last August, when Munster heard about Hurricane Harvey
Kinsel Toyota sent a large trailer to collect the goods
and the dire predictions about its likely impact, he knew he
and used its Facebook page to keep its followers updated on
had to act.
the relief effort. It spearheaded the distribution of the goods
“We had so many people reach out to help us after
to first-responders in Beaumont whose homes were hit by
Katrina that we just wanted to do something,” Munster says. the storm.
Sales Manager Ryan Denmark had the idea of making While this was the first time Toyota of Slidell helped in
the dealership a drop-off point for supplies to donate to a hurricane recovery effort, Munster says they “absolutely”
Harvey victims after the storm, and the wheels were set in will do it again if the need arises.
motion. The dealership ran a Facebook ad reaching out to its “Our customers who had experienced Katrina really
customers, friends and the Slidell market. They asked for a understood what we were doing and responded,” he says
wide range of donations: Cleaning supplies, clothes, diapers, of the relief effort, “and we got a big thank you from all the
toiletries, and water among them. folks in Beaumont.”
A New
View
Stand-up wheelchair
gives Kenny Kent
Toyota technician
the tools he needs
to work at his
dream job
by Karen Nielsen
Austin Frazier always enjoyed tinkering on his 2002 behind a desk. He wanted to be out there getting
Camry, and always dreamed of working at Toyota. his hands dirty.”
But he wasn’t sure that would ever be possible. Adds Frazier: “When Joe walked into my class
Frazier has spina bifida, a birth defect where the and asked me if I wanted a job, my jaw dropped.
spinal cord fails to develop properly. Because He said he’d never met anyone like me. I take
he’s unable to walk long distances without the challenges and try to overcome them.”
use of crutches, Frazier knew that a career as an
automotive technician would be difficult. Perfect Storm
Shortly before graduating with an associate’s Frazier knew he’d need to use his manual
degree from Ivy Tech Community College, Frazier wheelchair to cover the long distances between
was offered a summer internship as a lube and tire the parts department and the express maintenance
technician at Kenny Kent Toyota in Evansville, service bay, which operates like a well-orchestrated
Indiana. Fixed Operations Director Joe Fredrich pit crew.
says he was impressed with Frazier right from It wasn’t long before Jonathan Walker, an Ivy
the start and met with Butch Hancock, senior Tech instructor, told Frazier about a YouTube video
managing partner of the Kenny Kent operations, where a paralyzed welder created a standing chair so
on the process to onboard Austin. he could continue to work. Walker, who had limited
“Austin is real comfortable with his disability,” mobility for six months after a motorcycle accident,
Fredrich says. “He told me he didn’t want to be said he wanted to build one for Frazier.
“It was the perfect storm of having all these
people with unique perspectives and skill sets who
could make it happen,” Fredrich says.
“We couldn’t have done it without the support
of John Durbin (welding program chair) and Donna
Zimmerman (robotics program chair) at Ivy Tech,”
says Fredrich. Toyota’s Indiana manufacturing plant,
which is located about 15 miles away, also got involved
by donating some of the parts.
Two semesters later, thanks to nearly three
dozen robotics, welding and automotive students,
and countless others, Frazier had his new motorized
standing chair. He’s even named it Charlene, after
his grandmother who believed “you can be what
you want to be.”
“This was truly a service learning project
and a great team effort by everybody,” says Chris
Kaufman, automotive program chair for Ivy Tech’s
Evansville campus.
march/april2018
Game Changer
Now Frazier’s changing tires, loosening lug nuts,
replacing O2 sensors and working alongside his team
members.
“I’m much faster now,” he says. “At TXM
6
toyotatoday
(Toyota Express Maintenance) we have to get cars
in and out, and it’s easier for me to use the standing
chair to carry custom tires. It’s also way easier for my
comrades because they can set the lift at a height that
makes it easier for them to walk around the vehicle.”
Fredrich says Frazier has good upper body
strength, but it was difficult to capitalize on that in
a seated position.
“The standing chair has absolutely been a game
changer for Austin,” he says. “His dedication is an
inspiration to us all.”
The chair continues to be a work in progress as
issues like short battery life and new prototypes are
developed. There may even be a patent in the works.
At the end of the day, “Frazier’s dedication and
can-do attitude reflects the spirit of the shop, with
the teams of technicians striving to provide award-
winning service to every customer,” says Hancock.
“I’m hoping to work my way up and be the best
I can be.”
PT
U NI
DISR
G
•
E
CL
•
HE C Y
T
Chuck Patterson Toyota’s Vehicle Exchange
Program is enticing customers to trade their
Toyota for a new one, sooner rather than later
march/april2018
by Dan Miller
7
When market analysts refer to companies as
toyotatoday
with no intention of buying a car, come back and
“disruptors” of various business sectors, talk of high- say, ‘I didn’t realize we could do that.’ We’re simply
tech innovators like Google, Apple, Amazon and catering to what customers want but didn’t know
Uber invariably follows. Car dealerships? Not so much. was possible.”
But if Chuck Patterson Toyota keeps making
waves with its breakthrough Vehicle Exchange Here’s How It Works
The vehicle exchange manager identifies
Program, they just might need to be included
customers with low-mile/high-value vehicles that
in that conversation.
will likely fetch top dollar on the used car lot. These
At the heart of this program is a stand-alone
customers are contacted the day before they’re
vehicle exchange team that’s taken up residence
scheduled to come in for service, letting them
along the Chico, California, dealership’s service
know that an agent will conduct an obligation-free
drive. Its mission? To tap into what NADA and J.D.
evaluation of their vehicle while they wait.
Power surveys have revealed: Most customers would The proposal includes a trade-in appraisal and
prefer to trade for a new vehicle every 24 months, a deal sheet that lists various options for getting a
even if the average buying cycle is 41 months and new Toyota. Often, customers can buy a new car
the typical financing term is 63 months. with no money down and lower monthly payments.
“We are disrupting the buying cycle,” says The customer receives the packet at check out and
General Manager Mike Patterson. “It’s amazing has the option of adding in the cost of the service
how many customers, who come in for service visit, yet another benefit.
If the customer returns and asks to take the next Bottom line: The program is generating 40 trade-
step, their vehicle exchange agent introduces them to in vehicles and 35 new-car sales per month. It’s one of
a salesperson who completes the sale and the delivery. the big reasons Chuck Patterson Toyota is No. 1 total
When it’s all said and done: gross, No. 1 in gross per vehicle, No. 1 in used-car net
• The customer drives off in a new Toyota, profit and No. 4 in customer retention in the San
loaded with the latest technology and safety Francisco Region.
features. “It stands to reason that if our customers shorten
• The vehicle exchange agent receives the time they keep their cars, we’re going to sell them
compensation for presenting the offer and for more cars,” he adds. “Our exchange department has a
initiating the sale. manager and three agents now and we’re ready to add
• The salesperson gets his or her full a fourth. It’s only going to continue to grow.
commission.
• The dealership gains a highly desirable used
car that will appeal to another customer.
• Both customers are encouraged to bring their
vehicles back for service, ensuring they’re
well taken care of by trained technicians who
use genuine Toyota parts.
Talk about your win-win-win-win-win.
Four Years in the Making
Though the program is humming along now,
it didn’t start out that way.
“It took us a couple of years to figure this
thing out,” says Ryan Dietz, business development
and internet manager. “The big ‘aha moment’ was
when we put a dedicated manager in the exchange
department, rather than have the agents work with
the sales manager on the showroom floor. That
eliminated a huge bottleneck, where the sales
manager also had to continue to manage the flow
with the frontline salespeople.
“Besides, vehicle exchange requires a different
mindset,” he adds. “It’s more about advising the
customer on their options than selling them on a
product. So, it made sense to run that department
with a dedicated manager.”
The team also experimented with pay plans.
“At first, we only gave the salespeople half credit
for the deals they completed,” Patterson says. “It
wasn’t until we changed it to full commission that
they really got onboard. That does mean paying two
people to sell one car, which costs more. But we
more than make up for it when we sell the trade-in
as a used car. I used to go to the auction every week. Catering to Customers
General Manager Mike Patterson saw a way to sell more cars
Now, I don’t need to. I literally have a used-car by disrupting the buying cycle. “We’re simply catering to what
factory 30 feet away from my desk.” customers want but didn’t know was possible,” he says.
GO
LET’S
FARTHER
Toyota introduces the latest iteration of its TRD Pro Series lineup
by Dan Miller
at the Chicago Auto Show
Winter may have cast a chill outside the Chicago Building on that firm foundation, each TRD
Auto Show, but inside, Toyota turned up the heat Pro Series model comes equipped with additional
with its 2019 lineup of TRD Pro Series trucks and features that further set them apart from their
SUVs. standard configuration siblings.
First unveiled in 2014, TRD Pro vehicles boast
specialty performance equipment designed and TACOMA TRD PRO
tuned by Toyota Racing Development (TRD) to The big news here is the Tacoma’s available
help boost the Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner’s TRD Desert Air Intake. This new component shifts
off-road credentials. This new generation advances the pickup truck’s intake from the wheel well —
the concept, giving Toyota owners the ability to go where the air is more likely to be contaminated by
silt and dirt — to above the windshield. Cleaner
even more places when they run out of pavement.
intake air can help the engine perform its best in
It all starts with the suspension. The standard
dusty environments and also help extend the life of
setup for all three TRD Pro Series vehicles is
the 3.5-liter V6 engine’s air filter.
augmented with 2.5-inch TRD Pro-exclusive Fox
Other standout features include:
Internal Bypass shocks at all four wheels. These
• Larger front sway bar
aluminum-bodied components — modified by
• TRD Pro front skid plate
TRD engineers specifically for each vehicle — • TRD cat-back exhaust accented with black
offer impressive performance and supreme damping chrome tip
from high-speed desert running to slow-speed • TRD Pro-branded exterior badges, floor mats
rock crawling to daily commute cruising. This is and headrests
due in large part to multiple bypass zones, cleverly • Taillights and projector-beam headlights with
contained within each shock, that cushion the ride black bezels
over smooth surfaces but get progressively stiffer • LED Daytime Running Lights
when the going gets rougher. • Rigid Industries LED fog lights
The Fox shocks are paired with TRD-tuned • Black Toyota grille
springs, contributing to a more refined ride. • TRD Pro 16-inch black alloy wheelsTUNDRA TRD PRO
In addition to the beefier suspension, this version
of Toyota’s full-sized pickup gets:
• TRD Pro front skid plate
• New hood scoop
• Rigid Industries LED fog lights
• LED headlights with LED accent lights and
a unique black treatment
• Black Toyota grille
• 18-inch BBBS forged-aluminum five-spoke
satin black wheels
• TRD dual exhaust with black chrome tip
• TRD Pro stamping on the bed’s rear quarter
panel
• TRD Pro-branded driver and front passenger
seats
• TRD Pro-branded center-console emblem,
4RUNNER TRD PRO
shift knobs, floor mats
Unique to Toyota’s iconic SUV is a new TRD-
designed roof rack for stashing gear best left outside
march/april2018
of the cabin.
Other items of note include:
• TRD Pro front skid plate
• TRD Pro 17-inch matte-black alloy wheels
10
• Nitto Terra Grappler P265/70R17 A/T tires
toyotatoday
• Rigid Industries LED fog lights
• Projector-beam headlights with smoked trim
• Black Toyota grille
• TRD Pro-branded shift knob, floor mats and
red-stitched Softex seats
Though the TRD Pro Series clearly places an
emphasis on toughness, it doesn’t come at the cost
of safety. All three models come standard with the
Star Safety System, which includes Vehicle Stability
Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Brake System,
Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist and
Smart Stop Technology. And Tundra and Tacoma
are also equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P, which
features Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian
Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Sway Warning
System, Automatic High Beams and high-speed
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
Look for the 2019 TRD Pro Series lineup to
begin arriving at dealerships in the fall.LOOK what just
HATCHED
Toyota reveals all-new 2019 Corolla Hatchback
by Kristen Orsborn
at the New York International Auto Show
The Corolla Hatchback made its North American It’s fun to drive, too. It comes equipped with a
debut at the New York International Auto Show six-speed manual transmission.
recently, proving cool things can come in small “For over 50 years, Corolla has touched the
packages. lives of millions of guests around the world,” said
The Corolla Hatchback may be Toyota’s most Jack Hollis, Group Vice President and General
technologically advanced small car in the world, Manager of the Toyota Division. “It’s synonymous
chock full of updates that will keep you connected with dependability, fuel efficiency, safety, and
immense value.”
no matter where you go. The lengthy list of standard
features includes:
ON THE OUTSIDE
• Entune 3.0 with WiFi Hotspot
But Corolla Hatchback looks great, too.
• Toyota Remote Connect
Muscular. Sophisticated. Sensuous, even.
• Apple CarPlay Designers collaborated to create something
• Amazon Alexa Connectivity distinct, dynamic, and agile. The Hatchback is lower
And you never have to worry about a low and wider than its predecessor — Corolla iM — has
phone battery. The Corolla Hatchback comes wide front and rear tracks, and a longer wheelbase.
with two USB terminals (inside the center console Corolla Hatchback’s compact, lightweight body
and instrument panel) and one AUX port (on lends itself to fuel efficiency. It’s built with aluminum,
instrument panel). high- and ultra-high tensile steel, using a mixture ofadhesives, spot welding, and additional bracing — four-cylinder engine adopts the latest in Toyota
increasing control and fuel efficiency. technology and structural efficacies for gains in
“Corolla has always been the go to for guests power, fuel efficiency, and cleaner emissions.
like budding families or bright freshmen,” said Drivers who prefer a manual transmission will
Hollis. “And as a hatchback, it offers extra versatility, appreciate the all-new six-speed iMT with downshift
technology, and style.” rev-matching control. The Hatchback’s transmission
The Corolla Hatchback is available in SE and is one of the world’s smallest, which means better
XSE grades. Both come with LED headlamps and fuel efficiency. Compared to the existing manual
taillights, chrome rear diffuser, and alloy wheels. transmission, the new gearbox is lighter and shorter.
Physically, the engine is smaller and lighter
than its 1.8-liter four-cylinder predecessor, which
helps to lower Corolla Hatchback’s center of gravity
and benefits its overall balance. The 2.0-liter is also
quieter for improved Noise Vibration Harshness
(NVH) with additions like a more rigid crank case
with integrated stiffener.
SAFETY DANCE
Wanna talk safety? Corolla Hatchback comes
equipped with TSS 2.0, the second generation of
Toyota Safety Sense. That includes:
march/april2018
• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian
Detection
• Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
ON THE INSIDE
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist 12
• Automatic High Beam
toyotatoday
The interior is warm and inviting. Drivers and • Lane Tracing Assist
passengers will feel snug and secure in the supportive • Road Sign Assist
sports seats. A simple and intuitive instrument panel So, all that’s left to do is drive.
sets the tone for the cabin, which includes a high- “As you’ll see, fun and functionality aren’t
resolution 8-inch multimedia touchscreen. mutually exclusive,” said Hollis. “While our
Designers paired high-gloss materials with matte designers made it look amazing, our engineers
elements to give the Corolla Hatchback a premium, made it feel amazing.”
sophisticated feel. Tactility is top of mind too, with The 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback goes on
minimized gaps between buttons and switches. sale this summer.
You can pack for any kind of adventure with
Corolla Hatchback. Both SE and XSE come with
an innovative rear luggage rack that covers a lower
cubby, perfect for storing extra items or hiding your
valuables. And there’s extra storage on either side of
the deck, offering plenty of room for cargo.
UNDER THE HOOD
An all-new TNGA-based powertrain is the
heart of Corolla Hatchback’s fun-to-drive identity.
Its 2.0-liter Dynamic-Force direct-injection inlineToyota seizes the perfect opportunity to unveil the all-new RAV4
by Dan Miller
Timing, as they say, is just about everything. It’s Talk about perfect timing.
certainly served the RAV4 well over its 24-year “Over RAV4’s life, we’ve listened to our
existence. customers and to our dealers and focused on what
Back in 1994, when Toyota rolled out this we do best,” says Jack Hollis, group vice president
small SUV, no one had seen anything like it. That and general manager of the Toyota Division.
original RAV4 had four-wheel drive, higher ground “We honed. We improved. And it has worked.”
clearance than a passenger car, a compact body and
large tires. At the time, some people derided it as
THE BENEFITS OF TNGA
an ugly duckling. But it turned out to be a swan.
To keep that momentum going, the 2019 RAV4
Today, small SUVs have emerged as the hottest
takes full advantage of the Toyota New Global
commodity in the automotive marketplace, and
Architecture’s (TNGA) K platform with multi-
RAV4 continues to lead the way. U.S. customers
bought more than 400,000 of them in 2017, link rear suspension. Compared with the current
surpassing the Camry as the best-selling non- iteration, the new RAV4 has shorter overhangs,
pickup truck in the country. a longer wheelbase and a sleeker silhouette. Its
Rather than simply ride that wave, Toyota has unibody is 57 percent more rigid. Its platform
once again set out to create a new one, starting with is wider and has a lower center of gravity, all of
the global debut of the fifth-generation RAV4 at which contribute to a more engaging driving
the New York International Auto Show. The best experience. Yet it has more than half an inch more
RAV4 yet is arriving exactly when demand for such of ground clearance compared to its predecessor,
vehicles is at its highest. boosting its off-road credentials.It also benefits from a choice of two powertrains:
a 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine that’s paired with
an 8-speed direct-shift automatic transmission or the
next generation of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.
RAV4 gas models are expected to achieve more
than a 15 percent increase in horsepower and RAV4
Hybrid models are expected to achieve an even
higher percentage.
XSE Hybrid is an all-new hybrid grade that
makes its debut on the 2019 RAV4. It is the no-
compromise maximum blend of sport and utility.
RAV4 XSE Hybrid comes standard with a black
roof and wheels as well as a sport-tuned suspension.
And, it will boast the fastest 0-60 mph time across
the RAV4 lineup.
SO MANY FIRST-TIME FEATURES
There’s more. Much more.
For example, the all-new RAV4 will be the
first Toyota vehicle to offer a new Dynamic Torque
Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with Rear Driveline
march/april2018
Disconnect. It can send 50 percent of the engine’s
torque to the rear wheels and distribute it left or
right as needed to improve handing. When extra
traction isn’t needed — such as when cruising down 14
the highway — the driveshaft disconnect will help
toyotatoday
optimize fuel economy.
Inside, RAV4’s open cabin has been crafted
around the theme of refinement, as evidenced by
higher-quality materials and impressive layouts. That
will be especially true at the top of the model line,
with such available features as panoramic moonroof,
ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.
Infotainment technology is also seamlessly
integrated, with available Qi wireless smartphone
charging, up to five USB ports and a newly
designed 7-inch Multi-Information Display —
not to mention standard Entune 3.0 with Wi-Fi
Connect Powered by Verizon, Apple CarPlay, and
Amazon Alexa connectivity.
Oh, and every 2019 RAV4 will come standard
with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a bundle of active
safety technologies designed to help protect you
and your passengers from harm.
Look for this all-new RAV4 to go on sale
toward the end of the year.toyota.com/camry Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary. ©2017 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
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