By Bennett Oghifo
The 2017 Toyota Prius is the prime reveal at the 2016 New York International Auto Show, the Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Bill Fay has said.
Fay stated this at the beginning of the 2016 New York Auto Show, recently, adding that, “About two months ago, we started to transition the Scion brand over to Toyota, bringing with it, over 13 years of knowledge on how to attract and engage young customers. As part of the brand transition, remaining Scion vehicles will join the Toyota brand lineup…and I’m happy to introduce the first to join the family…the 2017 Toyota 86.
“We’re really excited to have a bona fide sports car back in the Toyota lineup. The name 86 is shared globally, and is passed down from the car that inspires it, the Corolla GT-S, known by its true fans as the AE86 or “hachi-roku,” which means 8-6 in Japanese.”
The AE86, Fay said did not rely on brute horsepower, but instead a remarkable combination of a lightweight design, responsive power and perfect balance…much like the 86 of today.
“As you can see, the name isn’t the only thing that has changed. We’re investing in the 86 to make it better than ever, with styling updates, new wheels and more premium materials throughout.
“We’ve increased performance with: superior shock and spring tuning; and for you manual transmission enthusiasts…a 5 horsepower bump…combined with a change in the differential ratio…results in improved acceleration. He said the new 86 will go on sale at all Toyota dealerships this fall.”
He said another exciting vehicle that will soon enter the Toyota lineup is the C-HR, stating that “the timing couldn’t be better, as the small SUV segment has increased 20 per cent in the last year to become the largest segment in the industry…and half of that growth is coming from entry level models.
“If you haven’t yet seen this concept in person, I encourage you to visit the Toyota display today and have a look. We’ll have more news on a production version later this year.
“So we’ve got the youth and entry level market covered…Now let’s turn our attention to the hottest part of the market….trucks and SUVs.”
Fay said in 2015, light trucks dominated, accounting for 58% of the total market. “With historically low gas prices and favorable interest rates, we don’t see a cool down in the near future…and we have great news to share.
“Just three years ago right here at the NY auto show, we introduced an all-new third generation Highlander…and it has been a huge success. “
We’re selling them as fast as we can make them at our factory in Princeton, Indiana.
“But in the spirit of “ever better cars”, we found ways to make it even better for our customers. Ladies and gentlemen, the 2017 Toyota Highlander.”
Available for the first time on Highlander, this new SE grade features an aggressive attitude, complete with: new front fascia, with darker accents on its front grille, headlamp housings and roof rails unique 19-inch wheels; a sporty interior with black leather seats; and of course, a performance-tuned suspension to back it all up.
“Sure the new Highlander looks fantastic…but it’s the upgrades that you can’t see that are the most significant. For 17, all V6 Highlanders will feature a new, more powerful and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter engine with D-4S direct injection and Stop and Start technology. We also paired it with an all-new Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission.”
He said the 2017 Highlander Hybrid would also benefit from this new V6, further enhancing its already impressive driving performance and fuel economy. The hybrid model will also be available in two additional grades, LE and XLE, making hybrid technology more accessible to a wider variety of customers.
The new Highlander also raises the bar on safety…with the class-leading Toyota Safety Sense package available on all grades. The 2017 Highlander will begin arriving in dealerships this fall.
