After experiencing a firestorm of bad publicity earlier this year, Toyota Motor Sales is working hard to try to regain the trust of their customers and remind drivers of their renowned reputation for quality. Toyota recently announced that one of the ways they are putting safety first is their plan to feature the five-feature Star Safety System™ standard in all vehicles produced, from the Yaris to the Sienna to the Highlander. The features include:
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) – This feature automatically reduces engine power and applies brake force to the wheels when they lose traction or begin to slip. By sensing the direction of the vehicle and the angle that it is being steered, this feature keeps the vehicle going in the right direction by applying brake force to the appropriate wheels.
- Traction Control (TRAC) – When wheels begin to spin on wet or icy road, this feature applies brake force that helps stop the spinning wheels and then redirects the power to the wheels that still have traction.
- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) – In emergency-braking situations, this feature helps prevent the wheels from locking up and the car from skidding across the road by “pulsing” brake pressure to each wheel.
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) – As part of the Anti-lock Brake System, this feature helps maintain balance in emergency-braking situations by redistributing the brake force depending on the braking effectiveness of the wheels.
- Brake Assist (BA) – This feature helps prevent a collision by sensing sudden braking, and then applying enough pressure to the brake, even when the driver does not, to keep from hitting an object.
Toyota is the first full-line manufacturer to make all of these features standard on all its vehicles. In addition, the automaker is adding a sixth feature – brake-override technology – that is already standard in a few of its models, as standard on all Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles by the end of the year. This feature reduces engine power when the driver presses down on the accelerator and brake pedal at the same time.
Getting the Word Out
Toyota’s new national advertising campaign showcases their Star Safety System and their continuous commitment to customer satisfaction and well-being. To help convey these messages, Toyota uses their own customers as well as their engineers in their various TV, radio, digital, and print ads.
Toyota is investing $1 million per hour on new car safety technology.
For more information on the Star Safety System and other safety efforts, visit the Toyota website.
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