Is This the Face of the New Toyota Prius Line?

The Toyota FT-Bh Concept is not designed to be the face of the new Prius c, but it does have several features that The Fast Lane Car believes will be on the next generation Prius family vehicles. The FT-Bh concept uses compressed natural gas (CNG), which definitely won't be making it into showrooms soon, but since it has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any burnable fuel, let's hope it happens in the near future!

The Toyota FT-Bh Concept, a plug-in hybrid Toyota, can get up to 134.5 mpg, weighing in at just 1,733 lbs. The interior in the photo looks like a concept interior, but The Fast Lane Car believes that the center console, steering wheel and center display look production ready for the next batch of Prii.

What do you think? Yay or nay? If you're a bigger fan of the original Prius Hybrid, Prius c or Prius Plug-In Hybrid, click any of the model names to view our online inventory!


All information and images via The Fast Lane Car

New Toyota Fuel Cell Powers Building

Even though Toyota will not be selling fuel cell vehicles in the US for a few years, it's already using the technology to power its Torrance facility. Toyota activated a 1.1-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell generator, which will supply roughly half of the electricity for six headquarters buildings while producing zero emissions. This will also save them roughly $130,000 annually in utility costs.

It is the largest stationary fuel cell of its kind in operation, according to Toyota.

Toyota plans to begin selling its first fuel cell vehicle in the US by 2015, but hasn't released any information about the vehicle, including price or model type.

“Supporting alternative energy sources like hydrogen supports Toyota’s overarching commitment to lessen our impact on the environment and drive forward innovative technology,” said Toyota Motor Sales USA Senior Vice President Bob Daly. “Not only will this new hydrogen fuel cell generator reduce the environmental footprint of our headquarters campus, but it showcases the power and potential of hydrogen as a fuel source.”

Our new building at 802 Toyota is not fuel-cell powered, but it is environmentally friendly and self sufficient - so we're in the right direction ;)

For more information, please visit the article by the Los Angeles Times here.


All info and image via the Los Angeles Times

Stuff-A-Truck Day Two at 802 Toyota Scion & Twin City Subaru

It's the second day of the 11th Annual Stuff-A-Truck event being held outside of 802 Toyota's nearly-completed new building. Frank FM's TJ Michaels, Froggy's JD Green and numerous supporters have been outside with the truck, doing what they can to help Central Vermonters in need.

"I've been doing this for 11 years," said TJ. "We do this for the Salvation Army mostly because I think each of us has a story to tell."

TJ reflects on his past; remembering his early days as a disc jockey, coming home and looking into the fridge to find a bottle of ketchup and some baking soda. That was a time when the Salvation Army was helping him, and now he's giving back.

This year's event is more important than ever - the Salvation Army Food Shelf has seen an increase in need for food by Vermont families by 155 percent over the last two years. Last year they broke records; raising over 18 tons of food and $12,000, but it was also the first time the Food Shelf's supply didn't last the whole year.

TJ tells us that 1 in 6 Vermonters struggle for food, and even though you may think you don't know someone who is struggling like that, 10 percent of Vermonters use the Food Shelf at one point or another. It hits us close to home here, and we have to help.

Vermont has pulled together strongly, especially after Irene. TJ says that we've encompassed the Vermont Strong theme, and to them it really means taking care of each other. This year they hope to fill more than just one truck in order to be able to feed all those in need through the whole year.

If you haven't stopped by the Stuff-A-Truck drive yet, please do! All donations, small and large really make a difference. Let's be Vermont Strong - and let's stuff two trucks! Stop by 802 Toyota on the Berlin Mall Road in Berlin, Vt. any time now through November 18.

802 Toyota Scion and Twin City Subaru Create Guaranteed Used Car Program

Here is our most recent press release that features our amazing new Guaranteed Used Car program, check it out!

Berlin, Vt. -- 802 Toyota Scion and Twin City Subaru have created a new “Guaranteed Used Car” program, effective Nov. 1, 2012. Guaranteed Used Cars purchased from either dealership include all required maintenance, mechanical repairs and all original equipment through the first 12 months after purchase or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Look for this frame on our website!

Guaranteed Used Cars are marked on both the 802 Toyota Scion and Twin City Subaru websites by a yellow frame surrounding the picture of the vehicle, as opposed to the standard blue frame on the majority of their inventory.

Our Guaranteed Used Cars that don't have pictures yet will look like this.

“All manufacturers required maintenance will be performed at no cost to the consumer at the appropriate mileage for 12 months or 12,000 miles from date of purchase. This includes (but is not limited to) oil and filter changes, spark plug replacement, 30,000, 60,000, or other major services and all required maintenance per the Owner’s manual. We will also include a complimentary Vermont State Inspection if required. All work must be performed at the dealership purchased from (Twin City Subaru or 802 Toyota),” according to the VT Cars website.

Also included are all Original Equipment from Manufacturer (OEM), which includes wear items such as brakes, windshield wiper blades and tires. These items too must be repaired at the dealership the vehicle is purchased at, either 802 Toyota Scion or Twin City Subaru.

The only items not included are physical damage, acts of God or cosmetic damage, according to their website. This includes damage to the rims and tires from potholes, curbs or other impacts; broken windshields, vandalism, scratches, dents or rust.

For more information, please view the Guaranteed Used Car page here.

Toyota Donates $1 Million to Support Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Toyota recently announced a $1 million contribution to the American Red Cross, alongside other nonprofit organizations to support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Toyota has also vowed to match employee contributions to the American Red Cross and the other nonprofits involved.

"On behalf of Toyota, we express our sincere condolences to the families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Since we have operations and many dealerships in the affected regions, we felt a special responsibility to lend a hand," said Shigeki Terashi, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Toyota has also made it possible for people in affected areas to take advantage of payment relief options if their car was rendered unusable due to the storm. For more information, view the press release here.


All information via the Toyota USA Newsroom

802 Toyota Scion and Twin City Subaru to Host 11th Annual Stuff-A-Truck Event

Hello fans! Here is our newly-released Press Release for the 11th Annual Stuff-A-Truck event, check it out:

From Nov. 15-Nov. 17, 802 Toyota will host Frank’s 11th Annual Stuff-A-Truck Food and Funds Drive to benefit the Central Vermont Salvation Army Emergency Food Shelf. Frank FM’s TJ Marshall and Froggy’s JD Green invite Vermonters to come and “Stuff the Truck” with canned foods, non perishables and monetary donations to help fellow Central Vermonters in need.

802 Toyota Scion and Twin City Subaru have been a part of the annual Stuff-A-Truck event for years, and continue their support by hosting this year’s event outside of 802 Toyota’s brand-new building.

With the tagline “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”, the Stuff-A-Truck event has helped feed Vermont families; raising 18 tons of food and thousands of dollars last year alone. According to Marshall and Green, however, we still need to do more.

“…due to rising unemployment and tougher economic conditions, the Salvation Army is helping and feeding more and more Vermont families. The food raised last year only made it to the end of July this year,” they wrote in their official Donation Location Collection Kit.

The Salvation Army has seen a 155 percent increase in the number of families requesting assistance over the past two years, according to Michaels. Despite breaking their own record of food raised last year, they ran out earlier than in previous years. Now, they say, the public’s help is needed more than ever.

The drive goes on for 24 hours a day, which Michaels and Green have pledged to stay outside for until the truck is filled.

“We don’t go home and we go on an emotional roller coaster ride. Along with all the outpouring of support and goodwill, we hear very touching stories from the people who donate who either know someone who was helped or at one time in their lives was helped by the Salvation Army,” Green said in an earlier press release about the event.

Both 802 Toyota and Twin City Subaru will be holding their own food drive of sorts leading up to the event. Twin City Subaru will have a Subaru Forester set up to act as their “stuffing truck”, and 802 Toyota Scion will have a Scion iQ in their own showroom, both in the hopes that visitors and customers can help participate in the days leading up to the actual Stuff-A-Truck drive.

Both General Manager at 802 Toyota Scion Todd Mobley and Twin City Subaru General Sales Mananger Chris Davis have high hopes for the event.

"Contributing to our community is at the very core of who we are as businesses. We are very proud to serve our community and hope to achieve our goal of keeping families in our community fed through all of 2013. It is a lofty goal, but we believe together we can make a difference,” Mobley said.

For more information please visit 802 Toyota's Stuff-A-Truck event page.

802 Toyota and the Central Vermont Humane Society Celebrate Win of New Toyota Sienna

We just published a press release about the CVHS Van Party last weekend and thought our dedicated fans would love to have a look; so here it is!:

East Montpelier, Vt. -- On Nov. 3, 2012, fans and supporters of the Central Vermont Humane Society joined CVHS and 802 Toyota Scion by coming to the shelter to donate items from the shelter’s wish list, including but not limited to cat litter, toys for the animals, paper towels and detergent in honor of the CVHS “Van Party”. The Van Party was a celebration of CVHS’s win of a brand-new Toyota Sienna van, courtesy of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program.

Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good is a national program where the automaker awards 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. During the voting phase, the 100 Cars for Good program profiles five finalists on their website. Winners were selected via public Facebook votes each day; beating out their competitors, CVHS took the win. Winners may choose between a variety of Toyota vehicles, and CVHS has accepted a Toyota Sienna to replace their current van.

CVHS was in dire need of a new van. Theirs had been acting up frequently and wasn’t as reliable as they needed it to be.

“About 90 percent of the 1,100 animals CVHS cares for every year are in need of at least one vehicle trip during their stay. With this new Sienna van, we can spend more time helping animals and less time having to arrange reliable transportation,” said Mary Taylor, CVHS executive director.

"Thank you supporters for making this ride possible!"

802 Toyota Scion assisted CVHS with the program by spreading the word at the dealership and heavily utilizing their social media outlets. They also have contributed financially to CVHS in conjunction with their Van Party; a recent Facebook campaign raised $1,500 for the shelter, followed by another $165 that 802 donated, which was equated by giving $5 for every donator at the Van Party.

“We’re overjoyed to have been able to join CVHS in celebrating the win of their brand-new Toyota Sienna! We’re so happy to be closely knit with such a wonderful organization and look forward to our partnership with them in the future,” wrote 802 Toyota Scion on their Facebook page alongside photos of the event.
CVHS is overjoyed by the response and support from the community.

As written on their website, “A huge thank you to Toyota, and of course, to the community who voted to make this all possible for the animals. We’re grateful for this incredible gift that enables us to transport pets more efficiently and safely. Our old van really had a run through its nine lives!”

"Toyota Prius c Takes Efficiency and Value to the Max"

The Fast Lane Car posted an extremely positive review of the Prius c, so I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you!

Boasting 53 MPG, the Prius c has the best fuel economy in the United States without having an electric plug. The exterior has a unique design, with an aggressive front, optional fog lamps and tall, vertical lights in the rear - people take notice of the Prius c on top of its competitors.

On the inside, the Prius c has a more standard gear lever (as opposed to the rest of the Prius family), being floor-mounted in the center as opposed to up on the center dash. The Fast Lane Car's writer says that his 6'2 frame fit nicely in the front with his kids in the back. There is ample storage in the back with the seats folded down, but not so much with them up.

"Although there is a great variety of small cars on the market today, most of them make due with small, 4-cylinder engines and combined EPA ratings in the mid 30s MPG. Very few even approach the stellar efficiency of the Prius c, and none can match the value. The Prius c is in a class of its own," according to their post.

Want to check it out? Click to view our Prius c inventory here.


All info and image via The Fast Lane Car aka TFLCar