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! 

American Vs Foreign Cars: Where Do You Stand?

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Much like politics, people will always be divided when it comes to choosing their vehicle preference. You have the camp that only buys what they consider American-made cars and sticks to brands such as Ford, GM, and Chevy. On the other hand, there are enthusiasts who claim that foreign made cars get better gas mileage, are safer, and so forth.

So who's right?

Well, consider this- Toyota's flagship vehicle, the Camry, is manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky. It has also been honored by Cars.com with the title of "Most American Vehicle" for the past several years. The number two spot is held by the Ford F-150, but #3 and #4? Two more "foreign" vehicles, the Honda Accord and Toyota Sienna.

I asked a few of our staff at Lou Fusz for their thoughts on this topic, and here's what they shared with me: Sue in our F&I department reminded me that we have a manufacturing plant right here in Missouri:  Bodine Aluminum (based out of Troy) that creates parts for Toyota.

Terry Weir, one of our sales consultants, added: "I think there's certainly a stigma for some people when it comes to choosing what they consider a foreign brand over an American one. Will they ever be persuaded to change their ways? Maybe, maybe not. One thing is for sure though- Japanese made cars have helped set a standard of quality for the industry as a whole, to make cars that are safer and that last longer. It really benefits everyone, including other automakers, in the long run."

In an article on CNN Money, Michael Robinet, vice president of vehicle forecasting for industry consultants CSM Automotive, predicts that "We're quickly entering a future where a company's headquarters matters less and less."

How do you feel about American made vs foreign cars? Has the line officially been blurred to where this argument shouldn't matter anymore? Share us your thoughts below!

Prius Plug-In: Saying Adios to Power Outages

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2012 has certainly been the year of the Prius. Celebrating sales of over four million worldwide since 1997, Toyota's flagship hybrid vehicle has a growing family, consisting of the original model, the larger Prius V hatchback, the smaller Prius C, and most recently, the Prius Plug-In, a gas/electric hybrid which will see a wide-scale release in 2013.

To further innovate the brand, Toyota recently announced that they're working on a power system that will allow the Prius Plug-In, or PHV, to charge at home, or be used to provide electricity in the event of a home power failure. "An AC 100V inverter onboard the Prius converts stored power into AC suitable for home use, while power flow is controlled according to communication between vehicle, charging stand and home," according to representatives from Toyota. "With this new method, low-carbon electricity generated from regional or home solar generators, or low-cost late-night electricity, can be stored in a vehicle's drive battery and then used to supply power to the household during peak consumption times."

To that I say: nice! Despite living in such a technologically advanced, digital age, it's funny that something as simple as a rain storm can still cripple our ability to use electricity. With the PHV, Toyota estimates that a fully charged battery and tank of gas can power a Japanese home for about four days. Or in other words: long enough that you won't have to go running for the candles. 

The vehicle to home power system is going to initially be tested in ten Japanese homes at the end of this year. Will the technology eventually hit the United States? I certainly hope so. If all goes well, this could lead to future advances in controlling electricity between intelligent devices. Additionally, the benefit of transferring electricity from a car to a home could be a great asset in the event of a natural disaster. After all, not everyone has a generator handy, but if your car could act as a generator in a pinch, disaster recovery efforts could be greatly improved.

What do you think about Toyota's Vehicle to Home power system? Is this a step in the right direction? Should they be focused on making this technology accessible and affordable?