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Toyota VENZA: Sketchpad to the Streets

With the Toyota Venza arriving here at Kinsel Toyota later this year, we thought it would be cool to do a post dedicated to this all-new product. With that in mind, Toyota asked Venza exterior designer Ian Cartabiano, from Toyota’s Calty Design Research studio in Newport Beach, Calif., to take us through the early sketch process. The video below is the result....



It’s always interesting to see how a product goes from the sketch pad to the streets. For comparison, we’ve included a few photos of the 2009 Toyota Venza on Flickr. Please note that the vehicle in the photos is a prototype with optional equipment. Production models may vary.

Source: Toyota Website

Three Toyotas are "Stingy"

Being stingy might not be the most admirable of human traits, but when your car is stingy with fuel, well, that’s very admirable indeed.

So we’re pleased to note that Car and Driver recently named three Toyota vehicles to a list it calls, "Stingiest Sippers: 10 most fuel-efficient vehicles in the US."

The stingiest car of all, according to Car and Driver? It’s the same car that gets top mpg honors from the EPA – the Prius. Car and Driver calls it "the gold standard for fuel economy," and says that the Prius is notable not only for EPA fuel economy numbers of 48/city, 45/highway and 46/combined, but for what the magazine calls, "the impressively low price, and the unique, futuristic lines that house a large amount of usable space."

Also included in the "10 Stingiest" list is the Camry Hybrid. Car and Driver says, "The Toyota Camry Hybrid is good at moving passengers economically and without drama." And it adds, "Hybridization did nothing to impact the virtues that make the Camry an award-winning, family-hauling appliance: laudable road manners, quiet and comfortable operation and a highly competent overall experience. Stepping up to the hybrid also begets stability control and the top-of-the-line XLE interior package, minus leather seats."

The Camry Hybrid comes by its "stingy" label honestly. The EPA rates its mpg as 33/city, 34/highway and 34/combined.

The third Toyota to make the Car and Driver "stingy" list is the Yaris. As the magazine’s writers say, "It’s a happy day for consumers when one of the most-fuel-efficient vehicles sold is also one of the cheapest." And they add, "Despite a short wheelbase, the Yaris can transport deceptively large quantities of cargo."

The EPA rates the Yaris’ mpg at 29/city, 36/highway, 32/combined.

Oh, and about the Yaris being "one of the cheapest?" Its base MSRP, including transportation, is $12,210.