First Drive: 2016 Nissan Titan XD Gas – Just Like a Tundra?
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to drive the new gas XD version of the 2016 Nissan Titan with its 5.6L V8 Endurance engine through the hilly terrain of Tennessee. After thinking over the drive, it is pretty clear to me this Titan could be the best Tundra competitor yet. Here’s why.
Could the Nissan Titan’s 5.6L V8 be just as good as the Toyota Tundra’s 5.7L V8?
June 2016 Truck Sales – Tacoma Holds Strong, Tundra Drops
Stop me if you have heard this one before. For another month, the Tacoma has outsold the Tundra with the latter losing even more market share to the competition. The June 2016 sales results are another repeat of just about every other month this year.
Another month in the books for 2016 and it is the same story – the Tacoma holds strong while the Tundra falters.
Toyota Camry Retains Most American Made Title From Cars.com
While critics love to bash on the Toyota Camry for being too bland or boring, there are two indisputable facts about the Camry that you can’t ignore. First, it is the best-selling car in America and second, it is the most American-made car according to Cars.com with 75 percent of its content sourced in the U.S. Basically, consumers love it and when they buy it, they put money into the pockets of fellow Americans and their local communities. How about the Toyota Camry now?
If you want an American-made car, then you want a Toyota Camry.
Ford Surpasses 1 Million EcoBoost Trucks Sold – Tundra Lagging Behind?
Ford announced today it has reached another milestone with its line of turbo-charged EcoBoost engines. Since 2011, Ford has now sold more than 1 million trucks with this engine and the 3.5L along with the 2.7L EcoBoost engines now represent more than 60 percent of their truck sales. While we have picked on the engine at times over maintenance on the turbochargers, shuddering problems as well as the 2.7L size being odd for a truck engine, it is pretty clear consumers are clamoring for this setup. It is simply past time for Toyota to introduce a fuel efficient powertrain to complement the 5.7L V8.
Ford has now sold more than 1 million EcoBoost powered F-150 trucks. It is past time for Toyota to offer a fuel efficient engine to complement the 5.7L V8.
Toyota/Lexus News For June 17, 2016
Toyota’s New Plano Campus Drafts Impressive Energy & Environmental Line Up
Toyota is hitting multiple shots-on-goal to reduce energy usage and environmental impacts at their new Plano headquarters campus. The player bench is stacked with energy partners and programs to help achieve the goal of Platinum LEED Certification at the state-of-the-art campus.
https://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/toyota-energy-environment-lineup-plano-campus.htm
Classic Toyota Corolla Debuts in the Coast-to-the-Heartland 2016 Great Race
An iconic first-generation 1970 Toyota Corolla sedan will be joining more than 130 vintage cars in the Great Race, a long-distance endurance competition. Starting in Northern California and ending in Moline, Ill., Toyota’s participation is part of the Corolla’s 50th anniversary celebration. Toyota’s first-ever entry in the collector-car endurance road rally, the vintage Corolla will be driven by Jamie Bestwick, 13-time X Games gold medal winner in BMX Vert and SCORE Baja 1000 veteran.
https://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/classic-toyota-corolla-coast-to-heartland-great-race.htm
Toyota Connected CEO Zack Hicks Details the New Company
In April, Toyota Connected was announced. The new company, according to the press release, is intended to “significantly expand…capabilities in the fields of data management and data services development.” While it’s clear that Toyota Connected will collect data and find ways to improve the customer experience in myriad ways, that description itself brings up a few questions. Toyota Connected CEO Zack Hicks explains how he wants to contextualize connected cars and give customers an escape from what he calls the “tyranny of technology.”
https://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/toyota-connected-ceo-zack-hicks-talk.htm
Lexus Tees Up for the U.S. Open Championship
Golf’s most anticipated event is here. Lexus returns as the official vehicle of the U.S. Open Championship in partnership with the United States Golf Association (USGA) for the 10th consecutive year. In addition to providing new on-site interactive experiences for golf fans, Lexus will also provide over 300 courtesy vehicles to players and USGA staff throughout the Championship. Bringing together the world’s greatest players to compete in golf’s ultimate test, the Championship takes place June 16–19 at the renowned Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, for a record ninth time.
https://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/lexus-us-open-championship-2016.htm
Also worth noting…
- Toyota is Most Valuable Car Brand – Toyota is the highest ranked car brand and 28th overall in the 2016 BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking. The annual report, now in its 11th year, provides great insight on the value of global brands across 14 categories.https://www.millwardbrown.com/brandz/top-global-brands/2016
- Lexus and Toyota Achieve Top Overall Scores in Dealer Sentiment Survey – Lexus ranked No. 1 overall among automotive brands in a recent survey that measured dealer sentiment of franchise value, automaker policies and automaker field staff. Toyota was second. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Dealer Attitude Survey, which is conducted twice a year, conveys timely dealer sentiment with the goal of encouraging automakers to regularly engage in constructive and beneficial exchanges with their dealers. https://www.nada.org/NADA-Dealer-Attitude-Survey-Winter-2016/
- Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Announces Changes to Board Members – TMC announced the appointment of new members of the Board of Directors. In addition, changes were made to board members’ areas of responsibility, and to personnel at the sub-executive managerial level.https://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/12435893/
- Second Row Start for Toyota GAZOO Racing at Le Mans – Toyota GAZOO Racing will start the 84th Le Mans 24 Hours from the second row of the grid.https://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/12465727/
