Toyotaâ??s Tiny Car Films Street Views That Google Missed

Google isnâ??t the all-powerful Internet god we once thought it was. While taking street view pictures and videos all over the world, they encountered a small problem. Their street view cars couldnâ??t fit in many of the narrow streets of Belgium and other European nations. The solution to this small problem? A tiny car, the Toyota iQ, is getting geared up with a 360° camera, computers, and endless amounts of cables to finish Googleâ??s street views of Belgium and hopefully all over Europe.

Developed by a company out of Belgium called Happiness Brussels, a communications and advertising agency, the car is called The Brick. The car functions much like the popular Smart Cars. Patrick Glorieux, the idea provider for Happiness Brussels, says they thought of the project after noticing that a huge selection of Belgiumâ??s streets didnâ??t have a street view option on Google Maps.

The search engine king started recording Belgian streets last year. Google started experimenting with the street view project in 2007 and it quickly became a permanent feature of Google Maps. The Google cars are still working their way around the globe.

Once Happiness Brussels got Googleâ??s blessing to work on their project, Glorieux says they had to find the perfect street view guy after contacting suppliers of street view cameras from Spain, Germany, and Holland. It was important to find the right equipment and people to run the project so the images come out with the same high quality Google produces. Then they designed and outfitted The Brick in Belgium and the programming features were done in a Vietman-based company called Bliss Interactive.

The next step was to collect a list of all streets in Belgium that havenâ??t been filmed yet. They employed a new form of Internet collaboration called Crowdsourcing in which users could help them locate each and every missed street. Using their website, iQStreetView.be, anyone can go in and tag streets or roadways that are missing from Google. So far users have tagged around 250 streets.

Glorieux wants Belgian residents to continue tagging any and all streets they find that are missing on Street Views. He says the most exciting part of this project is that they have no idea how many streets are still missing so they donâ??t know where the data will stop. Once all data is collected, Glorieux is going to provide this information to Google so they can see how to use it. Though the project isnâ??t affiliated with or being sponsored by the Internet giant, Google has acknowledged the creative prowess of the project and Glorieux says they insisted on finding the best crew in Europe since theyâ??re handing over all their data to Google.

The Brick wonâ??t retire to one of its tiny carports until the end of year at the soonest and the agency has encouraged citizens to continue locating missing streets. Happiness Brussels will continue compiling the data on their servers until they see no more new streets getting tagged.

To learn more about the Scion iQ series of cars please visit us at http://carlockscion.com/Saltillo-MS/Dealer/New/Scion/iQ/

 

http://www.cars-10.com/2012/07/toyotas-tiny-car-films-street-views-that-google-missed/

Toyota Sales Increase More Than 60 Percent in June 2012

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ORRANCE, Calif. (July 3, 2012) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported June 2012 sales results of 177,795 units, an increase of 54.3 percent compared to the same period last year on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw volume basis, unadjusted for 27 selling days in June 2012 compared to 26 selling days in June 2011, TMS sales were up 60.3 percent from the year-ago month.

The Toyota Division posted June total sales of 157,773 units, an increase of 51.7 percent on a DSR basis from June 2011. On a raw volume basis, Toyota Division sales were up 57.5 percent from the year-ago month.

For the first half of the year, TMS reported sales of 1,046,096 units. With 154 selling days in the first half of 2012, compared to 152 selling days during the first half of 2011, sales were up 27.0 percent on a DSR basis from the same period last year. On a raw volume basis, unadjusted for two extra selling days in 2012, sales were up 28.7 percent during the first half of the year.

June and first-half year sales were driven by consumer interest in our new models including the Prius c, the newest member of the Prius family, and the Camry, the best-selling car in America, said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. We expect to see continued stability in the automotive market during the second half of 2012 thanks to pent-up demand, low interest rates and a continued influx of new products.

The Lexus Division reported total sales of 20,022 units in June 2012, up 79.0 percent from June 2011 on a DSR basis. Volume-wise, Lexus Division sales were up 85.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded combined monthly sales of 90,079 units, up 68.1 percent from June 2011. Passenger car sales were led by Camry and Camry Hybrid with combined sales of 32,107 units, and Corolla reported combined June sales of 26,647 units. The Prius family of vehicles posted June sales of 19,150 units.

Toyota Division light trucks recorded June sales of 67,694 units, an increase of 34.3 percent compared to the same month last year. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact SUV and Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, with monthly sales of 15,129 and 11,864 respectively. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid reported combined sales of 10,379 units, and the Tundra full-size pickup reported sales of 8,693 unit.

Scion posted June sales of 8,400 units, up of 134.1 percent over June 2011. The newly launched FR-S sports car led the way with sales of 2,684. The tC sports coupe reported sales of 2,128 units, flat year-over-year. The xD five-door urban subcompact posted sales of 1,017 units, and the xB urban utility vehicle posted June sales of 1,869 units. The all-new iQ premium micro-subcompact posted monthly sales of 702 units.

Lexus Division
Lexus reported passenger car sales of 10,247 units, up 99.7 percent from June 2011. The ES 350 entry luxury sedan led Lexus passenger car sales with sales of 3,780 units, while the IS luxury sports sedan reported sales of 2,572 units. The CT 200h premium hybrid compact posted 1,387 units.

Lexus luxury utility vehicles recorded sales of 9,775 units, up 61.4 percent over June 2011. Lexus light truck sales were led by the RX and RX Hybrid luxury utility vehicle, which posted combined June sales of 8,641 units. The GX 460 mid-size luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 808 units, while the LX luxury utility vehicle recorded sales of 326 units.

TMS Hybrids
TMS posted June sales of 25,776 hybrid vehicles, an increase of 335.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Toyota Division posted June sales of 23,105 hybrids, while Lexus Division reported sales of 2,671 hybrids for the month.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/toyota+sales+increase+more+60+percent+june+2012.htm

Toyota tops Interbrand Best Global Green Brands second year running

Toyota retains the number one position in the second annual Best Global Green Brands report published by Interbrand this week. The report gauges the gap between public perception of a brandâ??s environmental performance (or green image) compared to actual environmental practices using publicly available data and information.

The companyâ??s success in the annual report, according to Interbrand, is that Toyota has continued to maintain environmental sustainability as part of the companyâ??s core management priority. Interbrand also cites the expansion of the worldâ??s first mass-produced full hybrid model, the Toyota Prius, into a full family range 15 years after the modelâ??s launch as a further success story for the company.

Sales of the companyâ??s full hybrid vehicles have surpassed 4 million units globally since the end of April 2012, including around 430,000 units sold in Europe. Toyota Europe plans to increase the sales share of full hybrid Toyota and Lexus vehicles in 2012 to 14% which currently stands at around 10%.

In South Africa, the quiet revolution gathers momentum with the imminent launch this month of the European-built Toyota Yaris Hybrid. This brings the local Toyota Hybrid family to three: the recently re-positioned Prius is at the top of the environmental chain, followed by the very well received Auris HSD and now the Yaris HSD, which is the first time that Toyota will offer its greenest technology in a B-segment vehicle. On the luxury front, Lexus has a full spectrum hybrid range (CT, RX, GS and LS).

As the company continues to strive to create the ultimate eco-car, Toyota remains committed to its 360° approach in sustainable operations, aiming to reduce carbon emissions throughout the complete manufacturing and sales processes. The company is also working towards conserving natural resources through re-use and recycling of materials.

*About Interbrand
Interbrand is the worldâ??s leading brand consultancy and author of the annual Best Global Brands report. In this yearâ??s report, automotive and technology brands dominate the ranking. Toyota maintains the number one spot for the second year running, continuing to make environmental sustainability a core management priority. The original Prius model - the primary launch pad for Toyotaâ??s green image - has recently been expanded to encompass an entire family of sustainable automobiles, including the companyâ??s first plug-in model. This year, Toyota also achieved near zero-landfill status at all of its North American manufacturing plants, and continues its commitment to build LEED certified buildings and dealerships.

With long term goals around fuel efficiency, superior energy use, and the reduction of toxic emissions, the automotive industry has been able to turn such consideration points into areas of environmental leadership. The industry as a whole has launched a competitive range of high-profile alternative fuel vehicles - from electric models to hybrids - and even some with internal combustible engines. Overall, the automotive brandsâ?? investment in developing and marketing fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles is paying off, in terms of both performance and perception.

http://toyotablog.co.za/blog-entry/toyota-tops-interbrand-best-global-green-brands-second-year-running

The Most American Car is.......The Toyota Camry

What does it mean for an automobile to be "American-Made" these days? Historically it usually came with a hood or trunk emblem that was affixed in Detroit. Not so much, anymore.

The Toyota Camry was named the most "American Made" car by cars.com.  The website's annual "American-Made
Index" measures how much of a car's assembly takes place in the United States, and how much a car appeals to Americans.  The Camry has been the number one American-made car four years running. Cars.com based its decision on the Camry's U.S. Sales, where its parts come from, and where it is assembled.

The editors wanted to choose a car that had a significant positive impact on the American economy. That ruled out low-production models like the Corvette, which is made entirely in the U.S. but only accounts for a small number of sales and jobs.

"When people think about buying an "American" car, they might just think automatically of the Detroit Three," said Patrick Olsen, Editor in Chief at Cars.com. "In reality, this classification isn't as cut and dry as it used to be. Today, Fiat owns a majority stake in Chrysler, companies like Toyota are increasing production of their vehicles in the U.S. and parts are coming in from all over the globe. Our index accounts for all of these factors to determine where vehicles rank."

According to Cars.com, at least 75 percent of the U.S.-built Camry's parts come from American suppliers. The vast majority of Camrys sold in the U.S. are assembled here, in Georgetown, Kentucky and Lafayette, Indiana, to be exact.

Toyota has gone to great lengths to tailor the Camry to American tastes. Camry-badged NASCAR racers trade paint with Fords, Chevys, and Dodges most weekends. Even the name is an Americanization of kanmuri, the Japanese word for "crown."

Rounding out the list Toyota had 2 other cars in the top 10. The Toyota Sienna at #4 and the Toyota Tundra at #7.

Check out our current Camry Incentives @ http://www.carlocktoyotaoftupelo.com/showroom/2012/Toyota/Camry/Sedan.htm
Come by and test drive one today.

Happy 4th of July from Everyone here at Carlock Toyota of Tupelo

The United States of America was founded with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. With this document, we claimed our independence from Great Britain. Fifty-six men of simple means inscribed their names on a piece of paper. They were normal men of varying professions, united in a single desire: freedom. By signing that document, those men asserted their independence, and in doing so, gave birth to our country. It did not come easy. At the time, Great Britain was one of the most powerful nations in the world.

We won more than just our freedom, though. America became a model for the rest of the world. We defeated a European empire to establish a republic based on democratic principles. The world would never be the same again. The century that followed saw huge changes in the old order, with monarchies being overthrown and replaced with governments that work under the consent of the governed. America showed them it could be done. And it all started with the Declaration of Independence.

We as Americans should never forget why we have our freedoms, and the great cost our forefathers paid. Today, there are those who are willing to give everything for their country. These brave service men and women remind us that the liberties we often take for granted are valuable and worth defending.

We are not a perfect nation, but the founding principal our country is based on is nothing short of divine: all men are created equal, born with inalienable rights. It's an ideal we're still trying to live up to today. But if there's any greatness to be had, it's in the struggle against our own worst impulses, through the decades and centuries, to live up to that simple, yet profound, maxim.

The Fourth of July is a chance for us as a nation, as a united people, to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy, and the costs others have paid to protect them. This Fourth of July, I hope you will join us in reflecting, remembering, and thanking those American soldiers who came before, and those who continue to defend the freedoms that make our country great.

Happy 236th Birthday, America. May it be just one of many, many more to come.