Tag Archives: toyota

2011 State Fair of Texas Media Reveals

Posted on by
2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor at the State Fair of Texas
2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor at the State Fair of Texas

Unfortunately we were not able to make it out to the State Fair of Texas Media event this year, but we still have lots of news to share!

Ford:

[SinglePic not found] Ford brought, what else, but the biggest, baddest truck to be revealed at the Texas State Fair. First from Ford at the State Fair this year was the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. If you remember we test-drove the 2011 Raptor a few months back and it’s one capable machine. For 2012, Ford expands on its off-roading abilities. New to the Raptor for 2012 is a Torsen front differential that is said to increase grip significantly on the front end of the truck and improve its capabilities in handling obstacles, steep grades, and altogether slippery conditions. Another great new feature is a front camera system. Ford claims this to be a “class-exclusive, patent-pending” technology, but it seems to be more like what Range Rover has been using for a few years now. Basically, it gives you better visibility when you need to carefully navigate around obstacles off-road. The new 2012 Raptor also adds a little in the styling side as well. New wheel design, upgraded interior packages with aluminum accents, and unique bodyside graphics round out the list. After driving the 2011 Raptor, it was hard to see what Ford could really do to make this more capable, but it doesn’t hurt to try. We can’t wait to get our hands on one of these and see how it measures up. Continue reading →

Quick Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna Mini-Van

Posted on by
2011 Toyota Sienna Mini-Van

2011 Toyota Sienna Mini-Van

The mini-van is a vital part of American culture, and although we Texans love our SUVs, we also realize that the mini-van is just as roomy, if not more, and more fuel efficient. The Sienna was the only van we took the time to hop in at the Auto Roundup, although we really wanted to drive the new Grand Caravan R/T.

The impressive part about the Sienna wasn’t really the way it drove, although it was good. It wasn’t really the room offered by the mini-van, although it was good as well. The real impressive part was the comfort and luxury offered by the Sienna. The middle two seats reminded me of seats in a private jet. They had a full leg rest and tilted back for maximum comfort. The rear entertainment system had a huge and wide screen that could display a full widescreen or split the display into two separate screens. Continue reading →

Texas Auto Writers Name Truck of Texas

Posted on by
2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn

2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn

Not a big surprise here, but the TAWA has named their 2011 Truck and Truck Line of Texas. Brining in the top award is Ford, with the F-Series of trucks named the Truck Line of Texas. The TAWA pointed out the forever loved Raptor and the all new Eco-Boost V6 in the F-150 as reasons for the superb win by Ford.

The Truck of Texas, however, was awarded to the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn Edition. This is a bit of an upset to Ford as the F-150 is usually in this top spot as well. The new Ram Laramie Longhorn Edition wins on longest name-plate for sure, but it also packs great “Texan” looks and tons of power.

The Full-Size Pickup of Texas is the 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4×4. The Mid-Size Truck of Texas is the great, and one of the only lasting, 2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4×2 Texas Edition. The Luxury Pickup of Texas is the 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Edition, also robbed from the F-150 King Ranch. Lastly, they named the 2011 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4×4 as the Heavy Duty Truck of Texas. The Outstanding Truck Feature of Texas was named to Ford for the MyFord Touch.

Continue reading →

2011 Toyota Highlander

Posted on by

2011 Toyota Highlander

2011 Toyota Highlander

Last year, we brought you coverage of the first time reveal of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner at the State Fair of Texas. Then we brought you the review to show you how the new 4Runner handled the Texas off roads, with a bonus video. This year Toyota will be doing it again, only this time with the all new 2011 Toyota Highlander. This year, unfortunately, due to scheduling restraints we won’t be making it to the live reveal of the Toyota Highlander. We will bring you as much information and pictures as we can get though, and be looking for that “txGarage” style review later this year!

So what do we expect to see this year? Well the 2011 Highlander will also debut beside a Highlander Hybrid. You will see a restyled body, to fit more in line with the Toyota portfolio we see today, and distinct differences between the Hybrid and gas models. Also look for new features added to the interior of both models.

Toyota will also be showing off the all new Texas Edition Tundra and the all new TX Edition Tacoma at the State Fair of Texas. If you’re in the area, head out to the State Fair and check out the Toyota display and the rest of the great cars at the auto show!

First Drive: the All New Scion tC

Posted on by
2011 Scion tC

2011 Scion tC

At txGarage, we get offered to attend car events and cover new car reveals all the time. We love the opportunity to go out when we have the free time. Unfortunately, because of time restraints and other issues, we don’t always get to attend these events. When it came to the Scion reveal though, I thought it was really worth making the time to check out a brand that devotes itself to younger enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Scion has been in the US since 2002, introduced as a sub-brand to Toyota aimed at younger buyers. Lots of companies try to target the youth with marketing schemes and clever advertising, and most of the time they fail. Younger Americans know a thing or two about marketing and advertising as they have been pursued since they were in dipers watching Big Bird. The younger generation knows when someone is being real and when it’s an older person pushing marketing onto them. Scion, though, has managed to really stick to their unconventional ways and keeping up with the young enthusiast drivers. In fact, Scion is the “youngest” brand in the industry selling most of it’s vehicles to 18-24 year old men. With over 800,000 vehicles sold in its 7 years in the U.S., Scion is making it’s mark.
The new tC then couldn’t just be an updated body or a lousy attempt at marketing with no real delivery. Scion knows that the tC really has to be a hit and really has to reach out to it’s audience. They have done just that. Focused on making the exterior more masculine, as men make up the largest number of buyers, the new tC has bolder lines. The front has a wider open mouth and a more sharp and pointed nose. The B-pillers are made to blend in with the windows to give you a more cockpit like feel. The C-piller is beefier and more masculine with flared arches over the rear wheel and a swooping hatchback. Don’t forget about that all glass roof, a signature of the tC. All of this is made to be more appealing to the young enthusiast, and putting it beside a Kia Forte or Honda Civic, the car really stands out. Continue reading →

Review: 2010 Toyota Venza

Posted on by

2010 Toyota Venza

2010 Toyota Venza

Sometimes you just don’t have a good day. Something happens in the morning that puts you behind schedule, or someone makes a comment that bugs you all day. Sometimes your bad day can turn into a bad week and sometimes your bad week can turn into a bad month. You never really know what the future brings. All you do know is that you want all these bad things to just stop so your life can start over again. This is how Toyota must be feeling. Toyota is just not having a good year so far. As far as I can tell here, they have had to issue at least 4 recalls in the past few months and have had to terminate selling certain vehicles all together. When they are in the news, it’s most certainly bad news and now when you think of the brand you no longer think superior quality. We are keeping all of this out of consideration while testing our new Toyota vehicles in the garage this month. To us, Toyota is still synonymous with “beige excellence” and this 2010 Toyota Venza is no different. Continue reading →

Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

Posted on by
2010 Toyota Prius

2010 Toyota Prius

This week on txGarage we are testing the all new 2010 Toyota Prius. In all honesty, I’ll have to say none of us were too thrilled about driving the Prius for the week, Hybrid cars just are not our style. Let’s start out with our preconceived notions about the Prius itself. Although I have never driven the 1st gen or 2nd gen Prius, I’ve always heard the same; they are slow, they are heavy and handle horribly, and they cost too much to make up the benefit of the gas savings. Not to mention that it’s not much of a looker. So, why buy a Prius then? Continue reading →

The 2010 Texas Truck Rodeo

Posted on by
2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

The Texas Auto Writers Association gathered together last weekend for their annual truck event known as the Texas Truck Rodeo. This year it was held in San Antonio where the trucks and SUV’s would be put through the test at the Knibbe Ranch.
Every year, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) names the Truck of Texas after this event and for the past six years that truck has been the Ford F-150. This year was no different with the new Ford F-150 taking the big prize yet again. For 2010, the F-150 didn’t just get a new look, it got an all around new package. The interior is a nice place to be whether you are roaring down a highway or driving through an open field. The powertrain has been tweaked giving the new F-150 a boost in fuel economy by as much as 12% over the prior year model. The title for Truck of the Year seems to be well deserved for Ford’s hard work on the F-150 year after year.

Screen shot 2009-10-22 at 9.11.52 PMScreen shot 2009-10-22 at 9.11.36 PMScreen shot 2009-10-22 at 9.12.30 PMScreen shot 2009-10-22 at 9.12.43 PM

Continue reading →

The Toyota FT-86 Concept

Posted on by
Toyota FT-86 Concept

Toyota FT-86 Concept

Today, in anticipation of the Tokyo Auto Show next month, Toyota has released the first images of the new FT-86 concept. This would be the Toyota/Subaru machine meant to bring a rear wheel drive setup back to Toyota and using a boxer-four power plant from Subaru in both cars, at around $20K sticker price. This has been a hot issue for a long time and has been rumored to have been killed, then back on, then killed again, but with the new pictures being released from Toyota we have no doubt that we’ll be seeing this tie-up on the streets soon. Continue reading →