[ READ MORE: Other Toyota Technology Concepts ]

“This new advanced safety research vehicle is the first autonomous testing platform developed entirely by TRI, and reflects the rapid progress of our autonomous driving program.”

– Gill Pratt, CEO, Toyota Research Institute

The new test vehicle will be utilized in researching, testing and exploring a very wide range of different self-driving technologies and features, in the hopes that it will ultimately lead to the first self-driving car. But for now, Toyota is focusing on the Chauffeur and Guardian systems.

Chauffeur

Chauffeur is the name given to the fully-autonomous, self-driving technology that TRI is working on. It is the less-developed of the two, but will hopefully help Toyota make that highly sought-after self-driving car.

Guardian

Guardian, on the other hand, is a high-level safety system filled with driver-assistive features. The system is always monitoring the environment both in and outside of the vehicle so that it might be able to warn the driver of any danger, and ultimately step in if assistance is needed.

“Basically, it is a smart vehicle designed to get smarter over time. It will learn individual driver habits and abilities and will benefit from shared intelligence from other cars as data gathering, sharing and connectivity technologies advance. We believe Guardian can probably be deployed sooner and more widely than Chauffeur, providing high-level driver-assist features capable of helping mitigate collisions and save lives, sooner rather than later.” – Pratt

We’ll keep you posted as more information about these two technologies and any others continue to surface from the Toyota Research Institute camp, so keep checking back if you’re interested in autonomy and self-driving cars. Perhaps one day soon, we’ll see a Toyota Camry without anyone in the driver’s seat.

The post First Look at Toyota Research Institute Self-Driving Car appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

Today we’re going to look at a technology that certainly comes in handy, and while it might seem obvious how it works some people might not know. So, for this week’s How’s This Work, we’re taking a look at the Hands-free Liftgate. But we won’t just focus on the hands-free part, we’ll take a look at everything Toyota’s foot-activated power liftgate is capable of to give you a better idea of just how incredible it is.

[ LAST WEEK: How does HD Radio work? ]

What is the Hands-free Liftgate capable of?

Obviously, the hands-free liftgate can open and close without the use of your hands. That’s probably the coolest thing that it’s capable of, and the one that comes the most in handy. If you’re ever approaching your vehicle with arms full of grocery bags or gym equipment, then all you have to do is wave your foot underneath the center of the rear bumper, and the liftgate will open up on its own.

Likewise, once you get home and park in your garage or wherever it is you park, and you want to get everything in the house on one go, you can fill up your arms again and close the door with another wave of your foot.

Another cool thing that you can do with the hands-free liftgate is program its height, as the liftgate is height adjustable. Whether you’re not quite tall enough to reach it at its full extent, or you have to park in a cramped space, you can program the height to stop wherever you want, and that’s where it will stop no matter how you open it up.

If you’re interested in finding out which vehicles have the hands-free liftgate available, give us a call.

The post How’s This Work? Hands-free Liftgate appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

[ READ MORE: 2018 Toyota C-HR Canadian Release Date ]

“The Toyota C-HR is already generating buzz for its avant-garde physique, its modern yet comfortable cabin, and its bold, outgoing performance. And with a suggested price that’s impressive for a vehicle so well equipped, we expect the new C-HR to find a home in many Canadian driveways when it goes on sale this spring.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

Pricing

When it comes to the manufacturer’s suggest retail price, the standard 2018 Toyota C-HR XLE will start out at $24,690. That price includes tons of great features like Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, dual-zone automatic climate control, 17” alloy wheels and much more. Obviously the price will go up if you get premium add-ons or packages. For instance, adding the Premium Package itself will raise the MSRP to $26,290. The Premium Package adds things like larger wheels, the Toyota Smart Key System, and power folding mirrors.

Fuel Efficiency

Perhaps the most important specification of any vehicle on the market today: fuel efficiency. Toyota’s new subcompact crossover will be powered by a nice 2.0L four-cylinder engine, and we’ve finally got the fuel efficiency specifications. When driving through city streets, the C-HR will utilize just 8.7 litres of fuel to go 100 kilometres. Hop on the highway, and that improves to just 7.5 l/100km.

If you think you might be interested in the upcoming 2018 Toyota C-HR, be sure to keep checking back for more information on when it will officially become available, or give us a call to reserve yours today.

The post 2018 Toyota C-HR Pricing & Fuel Efficiency appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

For this week’s Used Car Spotlight, we thought we’d look at an incredible luxury car that is still quite fresh to the market, by shining the spotlight on a used 2016 BMW 320i that’s currently for sale right here in Edmonton AB. Having only been on the road for about two years, you can rest assured that this BMW will be residing in your garage for many years to come if you so choose.

[ SHOP NOW: Wheaton Toyota on the Trail Used Inventory ]

This used 2016 BMW 320i is currently available for $36,988, which includes a nice discount of $912. With 35,001 kilometres on the odometer, it’s been used a little more than the national average over the two years it has been on the road. However, that is still quite low in terms of mileage, leaving it with plenty of life left on the road ahead of it with you behind the wheel. But to give you a better idea of what life in the driver’s seat of a BMW is like, we thought we’d dive into some of the 320i’s specs & features.

’16 BMW 320i Specs & Features

The BMW 320i in question has a beautiful Alpine White exterior paintjob, and is equipped with xDrive – which is BMW’s permanent all-wheel drive system. Powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, this puppy is able to generate 180 horsepower while still achieving roughly 6.9 l/100km on the highway. Throw in its 8-speed automatic transmission, and you’ve got a luxury sedan that is a blast to drive.

Plus, as a luxury vehicle, it’s decked out with all the best features on the inside and out. Fog lights, automatic headlights, keyless entry, push-button start, automatic windshield wipers, an advanced sound system and dual-zone automatic climate control are just a few to get you started. If you think that this used 2016 BMW 320i with xDrive is the right vehicle for you, then be sure to schedule a test drive and come hop behind the wheel before it’s too late!

The post Used Car Spotlight: 2016 BMW 320i appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

[ READ MORE: What is kartSTART? ]

“I am beyond thrilled that we are able to provide this program to the youth of Canada for another three years. Toyota Canada has been a fantastic partner in this program from Day 1. It is their vision and leadership that has seen it grow to this level. (Even) the parents also enjoy putting the Toyota vehicles through their paces on our safety track. Toyota’s new Toyota Safety Sense is comprised of some brilliant systems to help keep your family even safer on the road and I am excited to show these off to the families that visit us this summer. ”

– Russ Bond, Owner, kartSTART Presented by Toyota

National Tour Dates Schedule

If you’re interested in sending your kids to kartSTART, be sure to check out their website at www.kartSTART.ca. Whether you sign up for this great program or not, be sure to start teaching your children good habits as early as possible before letting them get behind the wheel of a Toyota vehicle.

The post 2017 kartSTART Presented by Toyota National Tour Schedule appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

[ READ MORE: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure Canadian Release Date ]

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Last year was the last model year for the Scion brand as we’re sure you’re aware, and while many of the brand’s popular models were rebadged and redesigned to fit into the Toyota lineup, true Scion enthusiasts will still prefer the Scion models. So the subject of this week’s Used Car Spotlight is one of the last 2016 Scion FR-S models for sale here in Edmonton AB, and it’s only been gently used.

[ SHOP NOW: Wheaton Toyota on the Trail Used Inventory ]

This used 2016 Scion FR-S is currently available for $27,988, which includes a nice discount of $1,912. Considering the vehicle only has 14,307 kilometres on it across the approximately 2 years it has been on the road, it is well within the national annual average and has plenty of time left on the road ahead of it. We thought we’d highlight some of its most important and exciting specs & features to give you a better idea of just how great an option it makes in the sporty coupe market.

’16 FR-S Specs & Features

The final version of the sporty Scion FR-S was powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine packing a 200-horsepower punch. Even with that powerful punch, it still achieved 6.9 l/100km highway fuel efficiency, which is quite impressive for a sporty car like this. With the ability to hit 96 km/h in just 6 seconds, this 2016 Scion FR-S promises to deliver an enjoyable experience behind the wheel every time you get in the vehicle.

On top of that, it’s outfitted with some pretty awesome features, like front tint, a body kit, a remote starter, alloy wheels, sport seats, an LCD touchscreen display audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and much more. If you think that this used 2016 Scion FR-S is the right vehicle for you, then be sure to schedule a test drive right here on our website or by giving us a call at the sales desk. We look forward to hearing from you.

The post Used Car Spotlight: 2016 Scion FR-S appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

[ READ MORE: Will the Toyota Mirai be available in Canada? ]

“The Toyota Group considers the use of hydrogen to be a powerful source of energy for the future. Toyota has launched the Mirai FCV, while also engaging in the technological and product development of FC busses, fuel cell forklifts, as well as stationary fuel cells for use in homes. Going forward, the group will accelerate developments in a unified manner, so as to contribute to the realization of a hydrogen-based society.”

– From a Toyota press release

Use of FC Busses in Tokyo

The fuel cell busses that Toyota is creating for Tokyo, the first of which was just sold earlier this month, are pretty incredible machines. With the ability to transport 26 seated passengers, 50 standing passengers and 1 driver, each bus will be able to transport quite a few people.  Toyota has stated that they intend to build and sell 100 of these busses to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government prior to the 2020 Olympic Games that are scheduled to be held in Tokyo.

The post How else is Toyota using Fuel Cell technology? appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

[ READ MORE: about other awards Toyota vehicles have won ]

“At the heart of the great product we deliver to Canadians is our commitment to adding value to the overall ownership experience. These awards are deeply meaningful because they speak to the long-term benefits our customers enjoy across our broad line-up of vehicles, including exceptional quality, great fuel economy and lower cost of ownership.”

– Larry Hutchinson, President and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc.

Canadian Black Book Retained Value

ALG Residual Value

If you’re interested in trying out any of these great vehicles, be sure to schedule a test drive by giving us a call or filling out a form here on the website.

The post How many awards did Toyota receive at the CIAS? appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.

Although the test is technically focused on the United States, looking at the results for the 2017 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study can be a helpful research tool when shopping for a new car, even here in Edmonton. The study was performed in the U.S. on U.S. vehicles, but most vehicles are the same between here and there. So when we saw how successful the results were for Toyota, we thought it’d be a great idea to share them with you all!

[ SHOP NOW: Wheaton Toyota on the Trail New Vehicle Inventory ]

Before we dive into the individual segment winners, of which Toyota won 7 out of 18, we’re pleased to say that the Toyota Camry was ranked as the most dependable car in the survey! Furthermore, the Toyota brand in itself was ranked the most dependable of all non-premium brands, and the third-most dependable overall. Those are both extremely pleasing recognitions, only bolstering the 7 individual segments that Toyota vehicles won.

Toyota Segment Results

The study is performed on 2014 model year vehicles, so some of these aren’t being made anymore but are still available used. Whether you’re interested in a new or used Toyota model, if one of these vehicles strikes your fancy be sure to schedule a test drive right here on our website! We look forward to hearing from you.

The post How did Toyota do in the VDS? appeared first on Toyota on the Trail Blog.