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2016 Toyota TACOMA Goes Back to the Future + Previews Diesel Powertrain for USA

A few cool things going on with this 80s-chic 2016 Tacoma that Toyota created in partnership with Universal Pictures and the Back to the Future crew.  The 2016 update references Marty McFly’s date-night ride from Back to the Future II — with shockingly accurate results. The new Tacoma in custom 1985 flat black plus a variety of off-road goodies? A strong look, even what feels like 100 years on from the original Hilux. Celebrating BTTF day is fun and all, but there is a future-previewing Easter egg in the new Tacoma concept. And it lives in quite an auspicious place: …

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2015 Toyota C-HR Concept Updated as 4-Door, Production Model En Route for 2017

Toyota’s baby SUV is almost ready for primetime! The second variant on the C-HR theme since Geneva in March of 2015, this new version is a rich metallic silver with production-intent proportions. Versus the original purple C-HR, this latest concept adds a pair of rear doors versus being a soft-road coupe. Mind you, the doors are well-hidden behind an interesting upward bulge of metal in the side surfaces. Other big tweaks to the shape of the body take the C-HR design from completely one-off to production-ready. We saw a similar evolution of the Lexus NX via various concepts, eventually leading …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry XSE 2.5L – Sportier Handling + Surprising Four-Cylinder Pace

2015 Toyota Camry XSE 2.5L Review America’s sweetheart is heavily redesigned inside and out for 2015, so you are forgiven for missing a few trim-level additions for this year: an XSE four-cylinder and even an SE Hybrid. What’s the rationale behind Toyota’s move to bring flagship style and handling upgrades to all powertrains? — pretty low take rate for the V6 dramatically limited the previous V6 SE’s possible market share. This also cut the number of people who benefited from its crisper steering, handling and design outside — the new XSE upgrades outside, in the suspension/tire setup and cabin are …

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MEGA Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid

2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid Review At the new Camry’s launch event in Florida last Fall, we were very surprised to hear the best-seller’s recent powertrain sales mix. With such a gem of a 3.5-liter V6 available and pushing sprint times to the low 6’s, that would be our choice Monday through Sunday. And such a smooth and effortless hybrid available too, with almost no downsides except a very-slightly smaller trunk? These two premium powertrains have recently each pulled just 10-percent of overall sales each, with the base four-cylinder hoovering up 80-percent of the overall mix. Surprising to us as …

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2015 Toyota Camry and Corolla Special Editions + Revised Avalon Set For Chicago Launch

Toyota is really on the pulse of culture and style like never before: the best-selling Camry and Corolla have been tweaked for added coolness just ahead of the Chicago Auto Show. There is also a revised 2016 Avalon on the agenda: with tweaked LED designs, updated chassis tuning and a bit of cabin sprucing all likely. Sporty and enthusiast preferences are reflected in the new Camry and Corolla Special Editions – creating the trendy and chic style that guys and gals like us have used to aftermarket to achieve. But as ever, buying a Camry or Corolla can be done …

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Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD – By Ken Glassman

  2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review   By Ken Glassman Last year the Toyota Highlander underwent its third major makeover, and not much has changed for this year. While the Highlander is technically a crossover vehicle, based upon a car platform, it looks and feels very much more truck-like, and seems more akin to the Toyota 4Runner than a Camry. It is a large vehicle, which seats 7 or 8 depending upon the interior choices, and has more cargo space than the last generation. It is also better looking, with a bold front end and brawny, bulging fenders. The base …

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Refreshed 2015 Toyota Prius V Pricing, Release Date and Upgrades Detailed

Are we noticing a theme in 2015 updates? This is the year of revised infotainment, enhanced ride comfort/quietness, and new LED lighting everywhere you look. All the cool cars are getting these tweaks to their existing packages, and the 2015 Prius V 5 trim goes one further with LED low and high-beams along with a dapper LED DRL line across the top of the new lamp design. It is fresh and clean, with tweaks in the grille designs and bumpers rounding out the changes to the style outside. Pricing is very similar to the 2014, with base price of about …

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HD Road Test Review – 2015 Toyota Camry XSE Is FAST and QUIET!

  Fast and Quiet? Yep. A variation on Fast ‘n’ Loud is what most sedan shoppers actually prefer in their daily drivers, and the Camry XSE nails these benchmarks better than any other mid-size sedan. INTRO Can you imagine how tough the Camry is on competing cars like the Accord and Fusion? As far as we see it, the Camry gets better and better every year — without one slot in the armor of this best-seller to sneak an arrow through? The only area where the previous Camry let its competition get some ideas was with the overall exterior design, …

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