Toyota, Honda Join 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

Just the Facts:
-The 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's premier tuner show, opens Friday.
-There will be 640 cars on display, with Honda, Toyota and Nissan all taking major stands.
-New tuner CR-Z and "Toyota Miata" are among the highlights.

TOKYO — For Japan's legions of gearheads, all roads lead to the Makuhari Messe this coming weekend when the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon throws open its doors.

As Japan's premier tuner/custom show, the Tokyo auto salon has always been this wild ride of cars, noise and aftermarket excitement and the 2011 show, with more than 600 cars on show and 361 exhibitors, has the makings of another classic.

We gave you a brief preview last week of Nissan's plans. Now, Toyota and Honda have just released a few details on their TAS displays.

Toyota, which put a massive effort into last year's show, promises another GRMN-tuned iQ special and will unveil the TES Concept T-Sports, an intriguing lightweight, compact, rear-drive sports car project — perhaps a precursor to some kind of "Toyota Miata." The new Vitz (Yaris) compact also gets the tuner treatment. No official word, but many hope the "Toyobaru" (a/k/a Toyota's FT-86 sport coupe) gets another airing.

Honda, amazingly, revives the NSX, unveiling a Sports Modulo edition of its classic midengine V6 coupe with genuine aftermarket parts. Honda also has the TS-1X test study model, based on the CR-Z hybrid coupe, but no further data is available on that prior to the show.

With hundreds of other small companies showing all manner of quixotic machinery (1,000-horsepower GT-R", for example), the frenetic 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon is all set for take-off.

Inside Line says: Anyone who thinks Japan has lost its mojo should check out the Tokyo auto salon. Japan's passion for speed, cars and excitement is definitely still alive and well. — Peter Nunn, Correspondent

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/toyota/toyota-honda-join-2011-tokyo-auto-salon.html

Toyota to roll out new software that sends service reminders to customers

Interesting idea, should cut down on mail etc....
Toyota is getting set to roll lout a software program to send service-reminders to customers tailored according to their vehicles mileage and service history. In short, Toyota owners will no longer receive coupons and deals for oil changes 3 weeks after receiving an oil change.

Though developed and overseen by Toyota, the software will be fully controlled by dealers, who will control the frequency and types of promotions sent to customers.

One hurdle in the software is communication parameters for consumers who did not buy their vehicle from the dealership closest o their home. There may be a bit of an issue with duplicate mailing, or ‘conquest’ mailing, but Toyota is looking to minimize that.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/01/05/toyota-to-roll-out-new-software-that-sends-service-reminders-to-customers/

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite vs. 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE Comparison Test

Excellent comparison done by Inside Line, I included the final part of the artical....


Crowning the Ultimate Minivan
Though they have different personalities, the 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite and 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE both offer smart, relevant designs in packages that go a long way toward accommodating every possible desire of the modern family. There isn't another vehicle class that's so singularly focused on the very details that make it perfect for the target customer.

Sure, some say the 2011 Honda Odyssey looks like a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer. Others criticize its beltline hitch and not-so-subtle door-slider track, but whether you're talking about seating configuration or slalom performance, the Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is the ultimate minivan of 2011.

Sienna detractors might say it looks like a hospital gurney with a satin sheet thrown over it, and that it handles like a gurney to boot. However, if you're looking for an extremely low-impact, smooth and quiet minivan (or one with a four-cylinder engine or all-wheel drive), there's good reason to consider a 2011 Toyota Sienna.

The Odyssey Touring Elite is the better overall value, though, as its boatload of features easily offsets its price disadvantage versus the Toyota Sienna XLE. Moreover, the Honda's road manners will win the heart of any car-guy-turned-family-man. Forget crossovers. The 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite is the closest thing there is to an eight-passenger sport sedan.

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/honda/odyssey/2011/2011-honda-odyssey-touring-elite-vs-2011-toyota-sienna-xle-comparison-test.html

Toyota to roll out new software that sends service reminders to customers

Interesting idea, should cut down on mail etc....
Toyota is getting set to roll lout a software program to send service-reminders to customers tailored according to their vehicles mileage and service history. In short, Toyota owners will no longer receive coupons and deals for oil changes 3 weeks after receiving an oil change.

Though developed and overseen by Toyota, the software will be fully controlled by dealers, who will control the frequency and types of promotions sent to customers.

One hurdle in the software is communication parameters for consumers who did not buy their vehicle from the dealership closest o their home. There may be a bit of an issue with duplicate mailing, or ‘conquest’ mailing, but Toyota is looking to minimize that.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/01/05/toyota-to-roll-out-new-software-that-sends-service-reminders-to-customers/