Why Your Kids Will Want a 2014 Toyota Highlander

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Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Absorbent and yellow...with a new Highlander key?

One of the announcements that came from the New York Auto Show was that the 2014 Toyota Highlander SUV is being built with customer feedback in mind. Specifically, one with Spongebob Squarepants to help better showcase the Highlander as the perfect family vehicle! Toyota group vice president Bill Fay made the statement, saying that a marketing deal will be announced later this year.

While we don't know much yet about how the beloved Nickelodeon character will be involved (a commercial with the Highlander cruising underwater in a bubble? Spongebob jamming out to some "Best Day Ever" and showing kids the Entune entertainment system?) we do know that Toyota is going for a "bigger is better" theme with their new SUV. They've upped the cargo space behind the third row of seating by 34%, added three extra inches to the overall length of the vehicle, and increased seating in the vehicle from seven passengers to eight, thanks to additional seat space in the third row. The automaker also announced that the rear-quarter windows were slightly increased in size, which should help to improve visibility.

The 2014 Highlander will be powered by either a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine. Those who opt for the V6 will get an upgrade from the old five-speed transmission (seen in the 2013 model) to a new six-speed, that is said to improve acceleration and overall fuel economy.

One of the things that most customers might not know about this new car, which I personally think is a great selling point, is the fact that it's now being built exclusively here in the United States, over in Indiana. Those who might have previously overlooked the car for fear of "not buying American" can finally put that argument to rest.

Are you excited for the 2014 Highlander? What do you think a commercial with Spongebob will be like?

The First Car to Get a Blu-Ray Player Is...

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There's certainly been a change in the past year at the features offered in our rides. As we get excited for the newest iPhones, tablets, and apps, we overlook the fact that cars are staying just as savvy to keep up with our desire to have the latest and greatest things.

You may remember my recent blog post on the importance of music and how drivers, especially millennials, want to have more than just a cassette or CD player in their car nowadays. Toyota answered by offering the MP3 input standard on all future versions of the Corolla, and now they want to keep the tech innovations rolling with the 2013 Sequoia, their full sized, eight-seater sport utility vehicle. What's going to change?

For starters, 2013 will mark the first full year that you'll be able to get Entune, Toyota's entertainment and navigation system that has apps like Bing, iHeartRadio, and more. If you haven't seen it in action, you definitely need to ask a friend with select models of the 2012 Camry or Prius, or visit the dealership to try it out for yourself. However, the big news that has got us excited is that the Sequoia will have an industry first Blu-Ray player built into the backseat.

If your kids (or passengers) have a collection of Blu-Rays they're dying to watch, it's a definite upgrade from the DVD players of yesteryear, considering the only other Blu-Ray player that has been available was a 3rd party one that had to be installed separately.

Some other changes will include a power boost, upping the Sequoia's old 310-hp 4.6-liter engine to a 381-hp 5.7-liter V8 that will come standard on all available models. A blind spot monitor has also been added to assist in changing lanes on the road.

An official release date hasn't been made but we'll be sure to update as soon as we get more information. You can read the official press release and all the changes to the Sequoia at the Toyota pressroom site.

What features are you most excited about?