Tag Archives: featured
Nathan Ghar-jun Adrian - Bay Area Olympic Winner

Bay Area Athletes In The 2012 Olympics

In the exciting spirit of the upcoming 2012 Olympics, we were so proud to know that some of the very talented participants came from the Bay Area all of them are already Olympic gold medalist. Meet three of our local winners, Natalie Coughlin, Kerri Walsh and Nathan Ghar-jun Adrian.

Natalie Coughlin - Bay Area Olympic Winner

Natalie Coughlin – Bay Area Olympic Winner

Natalie Coughlin, who was born, raised, and still continues to train in the Bay Area. One of the most decorated female athlete at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. 11-time Olympic medalist for USA Swimming (3 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze)… Also an avid home cook, urban farmer, amateur photographer, sports fan, food lover & DWTS Alum.

“Six-feet of Sunshine,” Kerri Walsh, grew up in Saratoga, Calif., is on her way to becoming the best female beach volleyball player of all time (along with her partner Misty) after only playing professionally for seven years.

2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist. Aspiring for #3 in London 2012!

Kerri is a two-time AVP MVP (2003, 2004) and part of the Tour’s Team of the Year for the past five seasons. She has also been named AVP Best Offensive Player in 2003. For the third straight season, she was chosen as the FIVB’s Best Hitter, Best Blocker and Sportsperson in addition to collecting the 2007 Best Offensive and Most Outstanding Player awards.

Nathan Ghar-jun Adrian - Bay Area Olympic Winner

Nathan Ghar-jun Adrian (born December 7, 1988) is an American international swimmer and Olympic gold medalist who currently holds the American record in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle (short course) events. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Adrian swam in the heats of the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and earned a gold medal when the U.S. team won in the final. He has won a total of twelve medals in major international competition, ten gold, one silver, and one bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships. He is a member of the 2012 United States Olympic team and will compete in the 100-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter freestyle relay events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

We are very excited to see these local Bay Area athletes perform in the 2012 Olympic competition, San Francisco Toyota salutes all of the American athletes and hope for the best.

Questions about a vehicle? Contact us here. We serve San Francisco and it’s surrounding area for all your Toyota needs.

BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer and Toyota president Akio Toyoda

BMW And Toyota Collaborating On New Products And Technologies

When it comes to car making, it’s known that German and Japan are two of the top countries that produces some of the best, most innovative  vehicles. Well, what happens when the two top car maker such as BMW and Toyota partners up for future? Read below.

BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer and Toyota president Akio Toyoda took to the stage today in the German automaker’s hometown to announce a strategic partnership between the two car companies, with plans to jointly develop fuel cell technology, electric vehicle architectures and an all-new sports car.

To the casual observer, this may come across as one of the most unlikely automotive tie-ups in years, but scratch beneath the surface and the BMW/Toyota alliance makes more sense than you’d think.

This past March, the initial seed was planted, with BMW agreeing to supply 1.6- and 2.0-liter diesel engines for Toyota’s European offerings, along with the two automakers collaborating on the development of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells.

Today, that alliance has been taken two steps further, with BMW and Toyota agreeing to work on a fuel cell system – something both automakers have toyed with in the past with varying levels of success – and the continued expansion of both automakers’ lightweight technology initiatives.

More intriguing is the announcement that BMW and Toyota are partnering up to develop a new sports car, although details on exactly what form it will take (and what badge will be mounted on the boot) are still cloaked in a shroud of mystery.

The partnership is very much in line with what president Toyoda has intimated in the past.

Toyoda’s focus on upping the excitement quotient at the Japanese automaker has been well documented, despite Toyota continuing to sell the automotive equivalents of dishwashers and clothes dryers. But the recent introduction of the Toyota FT86 – imported to the States as the Scion FR-S – aims to change that, and it’s the product of another joint venture Toyota entered into with Subaru.

The FR-S, combined with the Lexus LFA, which Toyoda raced at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, is further proof that Toyoda is intent on bringing more enthusiast-oriented products to market, and this latest partnership with BMW takes that stance even further.

On the EV front, BMW is well on its way to bringing a fully electric vehicle to market in the form of the i3, due out late next year. But Toyota’s electric initiatives – partially bolstered by its partnership with Tesla on the RAV4 EV – have been much more conservative, despite the success of its range of Prius hybrid vehicles.

Collaborating on both lithium-ion batteries and lightweight vehicle platforms is a clear indication that Toyota is getting ready to bring a spate of electrically powered products to market, and with BMW having a hand in development, there’s a solid chance that Toyota won’t just bring another electric appliance into the world – it could be developing an EV that stirs the enthusiasts’ souls while playing to their eco-consciousness.

Article from http://www.Wired.com

Here at San Francisco Toyota, we’re very excited to follow the future development of this partnership and we can’t wait for new, exciting products that will be produced from this collaborations.

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Scion FR-S Pricing, Are You Ready?

Scion FR-S Pricing, Available Soon At SF Toyota

Scion FR-S, Available Soon At SF Toyota

Scion Announces Pricing for its 2013 FR-S Sports Car

  • Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car starts at $24,200
  • Low center of gravity and lightweight design achieves a “Pure Balance”
  • World’s first boxer engine to utilize Toyota’s D-4S direct and port injection system
  • FR-S comes standard with complimentary Scion Service Boost

TORRANCE, Calif., March 22, 2012 – Scion today announced pricing for its 2013 FR-S compact rear-wheel drive sports car.  The FR-S starts with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $24,200 when equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, and $25,300 when equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission that features paddle shifters and rev-match technology.  The high-performance coupe is the fifth model to join the Scion family and will go on sale this spring.

“Scion’s goal was to create an affordable sports car that true driving enthusiasts could enjoy,” said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president.  “We accomplished that goal with the FR-S starting under $25,000…a total home run!  Add in Scion’s complimentary Scion Service Boost, our no-haggle no-hassle Pure Price, and Scion’s network of about 1,000 dealers, and the FR-S is a grand slam.”

Pure Balance

The FR-S, which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport; is Scion’s definition of an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with exceptionally balanced performance and handling, compelling style, flexible utility and surprising fuel efficiency.

The FR-S is a true “scion,” born into a lengthy history of Toyota performance cars and motorsports.  During planning and development, it was most inspired by the AE86 generation of the Corolla, better known as the Hachi-Roku, meaning “8-6” in Japanese.  The AE86 was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe that was lightweight and well balanced, making it a solid choice for driving enthusiasts.

Inspired by the AE86, the FR-S is designed around the core goal of achieving “Pure Balance.”  The balance begins with the strategic use of the world’s only flat boxer engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration.  The engine’s compact size and flat shape allow it to be mounted mid-ship and extremely low, giving the car a dynamically favorable front-to-rear weight ratio of 53:47 and a low center of gravity comparable to some exotic supercars.

The FR-S’s 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine is the result of a joint development between Toyota and Subaru.  The partnership begins by combining Subaru’s newly developed, horizontally opposed engine and Toyota’s cutting edge D-4S injection system

that incorporates both direct and port injection.  The D-4S system, partnered with a high 12.5:1 compression ratio, results in an impressive 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.

The flat-four mates with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.  The manual offers quick, precise shifts with a short-throw; while the automatic  features aggressive up shifts and sporty rev-matched down shifts that are initiated by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.  Power is transferred to the pavement via a standard Torsen® limited-slip differential.

The idea of “Pure Balance” is further realized by the FR-S’s lightweight design and compact size.  The combination allows the car to be quick and nimble into and out of corners, with dynamic maneuverability and confident handling.  The coupe’s weight is kept to a minimum by utilizing a lightweight aluminum hood, a solid roof, and by featuring a trunk design instead of a hatchback.

The FR-S’s low weight is matched with a dynamically tuned suspension setup consisting of MacPherson struts up front and a double wishbone system in the rear.  Lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels and ventilated disc brakes are standard on all four corners.

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Powerful Exterior Design

The fierce exterior of the FR-S is a solid reflection of its inner power.  The profile, inspired by the Toyota 2000GT, reveals a hood and roof-line that is remarkably sleek and low, giving it an aerodynamic shape that channels air cleanly over to the top.  The low stance continues to exaggerate the coupe’s menacing face, which is made up of sharp lines, a wide mouth and angular headlights that house the projector-beam halogen lamps.  The aggressive front fenders protrude upward and boast the iconic ‘86’ piston emblem, which highlights the car’s AE86 heritage as well as its unique new boxer engine.  The rear fascia sits low and wide, with aerodynamic lower treatments that surround the sporty dual exhaust system.  LEDs illuminate the edgy taillights, while center-mounted backup lights finish the muscular design.

The FR-S will be available in seven colors including Raven, Asphalt, Hot Lava, Argento, Ultramarine, Firestorm and Whiteout.


Performance-focused Interior

The FR-S’s interior includes a 2+2 seating configuration that is designed with both form and function in mind.  The front seats feature deep bolsters and are mounted extremely low and are comfortable yet assertive, while the rear seat folds down flat, creating flexible space.  The car will come standard with FR-S badged floor mats. The large center-mounted tachometer is the focus of the three-gauge cluster and features a programmable shift-indicator, informing the driver of the engine’s vitals.  Speed is monitored by both digital and analog gauges.  The FR-S features a sporty leather-trimmed steering wheel that has both tilt and telescopic adjustment.

 The FR-S will come standard with an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD/USB 300-watt maximum output Pioneer™ audio system. Standard features also include HD Radio™ technology and Bluetooth® connectivity that allows both hands-free phone connection as well as streaming audio capability.


Sports Car Performance with Excellent Safety Features

FR-S comes standard with six airbags, including dual-stage advanced driver- and front-passenger airbags, front-seat-mounted airbags and side-curtain airbags.

Like all Scions, FR-S features the Star Safety System that includes Traction Control (TRAC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Brake Assist (BA), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $730 and is not included in the MSRP.  DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warranty and Complimentary Scion Service Boost

Like all Scion models, the FR-S is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile comprehensive warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.  The FR-S will come standard with Scion Service Boost, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and two years of 24-hour roadside assistance.

If you’d like to place a hold on the Scion FR-S and be one of the first ones to test drive this vehicle, contact us here at San Francisco Toyota.  Philip Yue, one of our amazing Sales Specialist will help you Philipy@sftoyota.com or call him directly at (415) 570-1601.

Here At San Francisco Toyota, we also welcome everyone from the surrounding Bay Area locations from Daly City, South City, Pacifica, Milbrae, Burlingame, Marin and more.

AR-301029980

Worry Free With Toyota Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

While driving a hybrid and/or electric vehicles can help carbon footprint, a problem can still occur with the battery that lies within the actual vehicle. What happens when the battery reach the end of its life? Will it all end up in the giant landfill that were currently trying so hard to reduce?

About 1.3 million Toyota Hybrids are currently in use, as the Toyota hybrids becoming more and more popular with more models released, the good news is … Toyota hybrid batteries are all recyclable down to every piece thanks to the help of Toyota’s contractor Kinsbursky Bros., located in Anaheim California.

When a dealership reports a dying battery pack, Toyota sends a reusable shipping container for the pack, which is loaded into the container and sent to Kinsbursky Bros. and since the pack weigh 100-150 lbs, they can be shipped via UPS.

Read full article below…

Nickel-metal hydride battery packs for EVs and hybrids are expected to last seven to 10 years and 150,000 to 300,000 miles depending on how the vehicles are driven, said Gary Smith, Toyota corporate manager of product quality and service support.

The California Air Resources Board requires the packs to last 150,000 miles, “but that’s not a magic number for us,” Smith said.

Few Toyota hybrids are near that mileage, but Smith expects the number to climb soon. About 500 battery packs expire each month. Toyota hybrids became truly popular with the launch of the second-generation Prius in 2003, meaning the rate of Toyota hybrids with high mileage will increase soon. About 1.3 million Toyota hybrids are in use.

When a hybrid battery starts to wane, a light on the vehicle instrument panel is illuminated, and the power to the wheels is reduced, Smith said.

When a dealership reports a dying battery pack, Toyota sends a reusable shipping container for the pack, which is loaded into the container and sent to recycling specialist Kinsbursky Bros. in Anaheim, Calif., Smith said. The packs weigh 100 to 150 pounds, so they can be shipped by UPS.

Kinsbursky breaks down the battery pack, removing the most valuable components — the nickel and a few rare-earth elements. The battery modules are shorted out to remove the electric current, the electrolyte is decanted and the nickel is sent to a smelter outside the tough regulatory climate of California. The resulting smelt typically is turned into stainless steel used to make refrigerator doors. The shells around the pack are recyclable. The plastic housing is shredded and reused.

Kinsbursky can also recycle lithium ion batteries, which are replacing nickel-metal hydride batteries in many EVs and hybrids.

Multiline dealer Mike Sullivan of Santa Monica, Calif., said his Toyota Santa Monica store has repeatedly been the world’s No. 1 store in Prius and total hybrid sales, with his Toyota of Hollywood close behind. In 2010, Toyota Santa Monica sold 1,975 Priuses and 2,100 total hybrids. He said that when the program started a year ago, his dealerships may have had one or two hybrids a month coming in with batteries at the end of their useful lives.

But now, because more hybrids are in use, it’s 10 to 20 over the course of a month. Because batteries fade slowly toward the end and do not abruptly die, owners tend to come into the dealership for advice, Sullivan said.

“We tell them, ‘Here’s what’s going to happen in the next year or two.’ People don’t get mad. They understand it’s a seven- or eight-year life cycle,” he said.

Typically when the hybrid battery nears the end of its life, vehicle owners are ready to get a new car anyway. A new battery pack retails for $2,589, slightly less than the cost of an engine rebuild. And while Toyota is trying to drive down the cost of a new pack, the replacement cost tends to push the decision for a trade-in. As a result, the dealer can install a new battery pack for a used car he can resell.

“The Prius is a good entry-premium car, and when this happens, we can get people to trade up to the next-level hybrid,” Sullivan said. “It’s a good story for us.”

By: Mark Rechtin, Automotive news

Don’t be shy, come visit us here at San Francisco Toyota, we have  2 convenient locations

3800 Geary Blvd @ 2nd Ave

or

1701 Van Ness Ave @ Sacramento

2012 Toyota Yaris

Toyota, Always A Top Safety Pick

When you’re purchasing a vehicle, is safety one of the first thing that comes to your consideration set? If so, why pick a different brand.

Today, December 15th 2011,  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that the 15 vehicles that earned the Top Safety Pick awards for the 2012 model year, more than ANY OTHER auto maker.

The winners are: Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Prius v, Sienna, Tundra Crew Cab, Venza, and Yaris; Lexus CT 200h and RX, and Scion tC, xB, and xD.

These vehicles are recognized for their amazing job in protecting peoplein front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based in IIHS tests.

If you have any other questions or is considering in putting your family in one of these vehicles, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at San Francisco Toyota (415) 750-8300.

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