The Toyota Family Tree

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Are you a fan of infographics? Those flashy images you constantly see people share that make learning about statistics, history, or scientific data more interesting? I can't seem to get enough of them, and even made a simple family tree one below showing some of the different vehicles Toyota has released over the years. A lot of this information came from two sources: Google (of course- I'd be lying if I didn't mention them!) but also the fully interactive "75 Years of Toyota" website that was recently launched by Toyota's global site. 

"75 Years of Toyota" is a complete history of nearly every Toyota vehicle ever made. I spent close to two hours browsing through it, reading about first editions of various cars, and still feel like I've only scratched the surface!

Whether you're a Toyota fan, curious about the vehicles that eventually turned into the ones we know today, or simply looking for a distraction, it's definitely worth checking out. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can also get more of a slideshow view of Toyota's history, without having to browse through tons and tons of vehicle data. Using that link, you can see some of the more quirky stuff Toyota has put time and energy into, such as in 2004, when they developed "partner robots".

Was there anything within the infographic or slideshow history that surprised you? Leave a comment below with your favorite! 

Making every second count with Scion

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Should a car brand be "one size fits all", or is it better to find your audience and focus on relating to them? You want to be able to please everyone, but realistically, it doesn't always happen. For Scion, the answer has been clear- ever since their inception in 2002, the brand has been the sportier and edgier offshoot of Toyota, aimed toward those who enjoy being a bit more experimental and adventurous with their choice in vehicles (and lifestyle). Look no further than the micro sized iQ to see their philosophy in action.

To better convey this notion, Scion decided to create a series of short documentaries focusing on five different entrepreneurs and the lives they lead. They were each given a video camera and a Scion vehicle for two weeks, and told to just film everything. The finished result features a three minute glimpse into the thoughts of a chef, a music promoter, a bicycling advocate, a filmmaker/web personality, and a food truck owner. They were all directed by Doug Pray, and I have to say, he did a great job telling everyone's story in such a short window of time.

You can check out the videos below-

Chef and food activist Bryant Terry talks sustainability and the iQ

Music promoter Travis Hayes Busse in the tC

Cycling enthusiast and bike shop owner Danny Farahirad drives the xB 

 Filmmaker Levi Maestro drives the FR-S and talks about how he turned passion into career

Food truck owner Lisa Nativo on the xD and following her dreams

Which video is your favorite? Do you think Scion resonates with a certain kind of person? Or do you have a Scion vehicle of your own that you've customized? Share us your thoughts!

How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

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If more data on the internet came in the form of infographics, I think we'd all be a lot more entertained when learning about something new. This is especially true if the infographic is interactive, where you can click on things. Or, as they called it in the 90's when I was growing up, "infotainment" (which, despite the cheesiness, I still love to say).

That being said, I recently stumbled across an automotive related one from the people at GOOD, all about hybrid vehicles and how they work. If you've ever wondered yourself, the data they've put together is pretty interesting. There are basic pointers on how hybrid vehicles run, to what happens when you're driving, braking, and stopping. Be sure to click on the section that talks about the benefits of owning a hybrid, where you can get a nice picture of how much gas they save compared to conventional cars. Most of us tend to know about MPG and how cars compare, but when you can get an actual visual of hybrids vs conventional vehicles, it's pretty eye opening (and just might convince you to consider a Prius after all).

The site uses flash to deliver the content, so just a heads up!

Do you have any favorite infographics? Whether they're car related, social media, or anything you find interesting, leave a comment and share them below with me!