Toyota, Paccar, and hydrogen trucks

An ongoing trend in the automotive industry is the use of alternate fuel types and methods of powering vehicles that are more environmentally conscious. Air pollution is an ongoing issue that affects environments and people and needs to be mitigated to improve the health of ecosystems and people at large. While many companies are engineering more efficient electric Orlando Toyota vehicles, Toyota has been developing hydrogen-based fuel technology in addition to more hybrid options for existing vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is currently in use in the Toyota Mirai and is now being extended to be used in use with hydrogen trucks. This prototype concept is a partnership venture between Toyota and Paccar and was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas recently. Toyota of Orlando has the latest details on these hydrogen trucks.

The ins and outs of hydrogen trucks and hydrogen technology

Toyota and Paccar (one of the largest manufacturers of medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles) have recently partnered to bring new hydrogen trucks to the twin ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. These two regions currently suffer an endemic of air pollution due to 16,000 diesel-fueled vehicles servicing there. Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers a clean alternative that produces no harmful emissions.

Using hydrogen trucks also provides several advantages over using gasoline and even battery powered engines. Filling a hydrogen fuel tank on a vehicle like the Orlando Toyota Mirai only takes about five minutes and provides a range of around 300 miles. While filling a fuel cell tank in a class 8 sized hydrogen truck would take significantly more time, it’s still shorter compared to the time it takes to recharge a truck with a large battery. Hydrogen trucks and Orlando Toyota vehicles are much quieter than vehicles with gasoline powered engines and would use a four-speed transmission rather than an 18-gear transmission typically used in Orlando Toyota class 8 trucks.

These trucks will maintain the same payload capacity of a typical diesel Orlando Toyota cargo truck and a similar fuel-efficiency metric compared to their internal combustion counterparts. The vehicles would achieve around 5 – 7 mpg (in terms of hydrogen consumption) and only produce a byproduct of water vapor.

However, there are a few issues with using hydrogen-based technology to power Orlando Toyota vehicles. The distribution networks for hydrogen don’t exist like they do for gasoline and diesel fuel. Because of this hydrogen fuel is only available in a few select areas of California and it’s uncertain whether or not this technology will make its way to the rest of the United States. Hydrogen is also not in most plentiful supply and needs to be harvested by either splitting water into its composition elements (two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen) or harvesting it from natural gas. Both of these processes are energy intensive and require specialized equipment and could result in carbon dioxide emission.

Shop hybrid vehicles today at Toyota of Orlando

While it will be some time before hydrogen-based fuel vehicles make their way to the dealership, you can still shop more energy-conscious vehicles today at Toyota of Orlando! Check out our inventory anytime online or visit us at 3575 Vineland Road seven days a week.

What to do with a cracked windshield

The great thing about driving around in Orlando is the excessive amount of road construction that’s always going on. While the roadways are definitely in need of work, it creates a lot of road debris which can fly up and unexpectedly leave you with a cracked windshield. While it’s unavoidable and happens to nearly every driver on the road, you don’t have to drive around with a cracked windshield on your Orlando Toyota car forever. There are several ways to go about fixing your damaged windshield, whether you have a small ding or a large spider-web like crack. Toyota of Orlando is here with a guide on how to go about fixing your cracked windshield.

How to replace or repair your windshield

While many Orlando Toyota drivers aren’t too fond of having to pay for their car insurance every month, it does come with some benefit, especially in cases like this. In Florida, having a cracked windshield could actually earn you a ticket! According to Florida statute 316.610, you can be pulled over and ticketed, and even your vehicle towed, if it’s deemed unsafe to operate or endangers other drivers. While this sounds more like a “your taillight’s out” type of situation, this includes having a cracked or broken windshield.

Not only is it illegal to drive around with a damaged windshield, it’s also very unsafe for you as a driver. Additional cracks or excess pressure in a particular place on the glass can lead to a total shattering of the windshield and put you at risk. Luckily, because having a broken windshield is deemed illegal, there’s a second statue (627.7288) in place that Orlando auto insurance companies must repair and/or replace cracked windshields with zero deductible, in other words for free!

Both cracked windshield repairs and replacements are covered under insurance for your Orlando Toyota vehicle. As long as your vehicle maintains insurance in Florida, you can repair/replacement your windshield free of charge. Whether your windshield needs to be replaced or just repaired depends on the extent of damage caused by road debris and this is typically inspected by your chosen repair service. Our Orlando Toyota body shop recommends doing an inspection to determine whether or not you’ll need to replace or repair your cracked windshield. If the crack or ding fits under the width and length of a dollar bill, you’ll likely be able to get away with just repairing the damage. But if there are three or more dings/cracks or if they’re near the corners of the windshield then you’ll likely need to replace the glass.

Repair your windshield at Toyota of Orlando’s body shop

Luckily, if you have auto insurance in Florida, your cracked windshield repair is covered at no cost to you! If your windshield is in need of repair and you’re looking for a reliable repair shop to get the job done, look no further than Toyota of Orlando! Our auto repair shop can get your windshield repaired in a flash so you can get back on the road safely. Give us a call at (407) 298 – 4500 with any questions.

All you need to know about inline engines

You’ve likely heard of engines like the 4-cylinder, V6, V8, and maybe even a V10 or V12. These engines are commonly found in many Orlando Toyota vehicles like the Toyota Corolla, Camry, 4Runner, you name it.  These engines provide ample power to propel our vehicles forward or give a sporty feel when you press the gas pedal. While shopping for a typical Toyota vehicle, you won’t come across many different engines beyond those above. But, with the return of the Toyota Supra this coming year you’ve likely heard the term “straight-six engine.” While this engine type isn’t common for the typical commuter vehicle, straight or inline engines have been used on several vehicles throughout the ages. Before the new Supra arrives on our lot at Toyota of Orlando, check out this guide on inline engines and know what you’re driving.

The inline engine and the legendary Toyota Supra

It’s been some time since Toyota has used an inline engine in a mass-produced vehicle until the reintroduction of the Orlando Toyota Supra set to release this year. While they haven’t been used in vehicles in quite some time, inline engines are very fuel-efficient and create a good balance for vehicles that use them. But straight engines are larger and require more room in engine compartments which leads to a more expensive sticker price for a car as opposed to one with a more comparable V configured engine.

One Orlando Toyota inline engine that’s been especially legendary was the Toyota 2JZ – GTE engine that was built into the 1991 Toyota Aristo V first and then the Toyota Supra RZ. This engine was specified to have 280 horsepower stock and then 320 in 1993. But the reason why this engine is particularly popular among Orlando Toyota drivers is its ability to obtain over 1,000 horsepower without changing many stock components in the engine.

What makes an inline engine unique is the way the cylinders are aligned. Rather than using a V configuration like many common Orlando Toyota engines, straight engines align their cylinder in a straight line and can be positioned in nearly any orientation in the engine compartment and even be slanted. These engines are inherently balanced and smooth whereas horizontally opposed engines, while more compact and compatible with modern car designs, are largely unbalanced and somewhat less efficient. While the 2020 Toyota Supra comes equipped with a straight six engine, there are also straight four, straight eight, and even straight five engines that have been used on a variety of vehicles. 

Where the modern Toyota Supra comes in

The 2020 Orlando Toyota Supra is set to be released this year and is being engineered with a straight six inline engine to hold true to the origins of the iconic sports car many drivers love. While it won’t match the aftermarket compatibility and capability of the 2JZ – GTE engine, it still packs a powerful 335 horsepower and maintains a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds. The new Toyota Supra will be available in trim levels such as the 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and limited Launch Edition.

If you have more questions on how inline engines work or the new 2020 Toyota Supra, come visit Toyota of Orlando today! We’re located at 3575 Vineland Road and open seven days a week.

What is vehicle depreciation and how does it affect your vehicle?

Whether it’s a house, car, or anything you plan on selling in the future, you’ve probably heard the popular term “depreciation.” While this may sound like a financial mumbo jumbo term, depreciation actually directly affects your resale value. While you’ve probably heard the term tossed around car dealerships time and time again, do you really know what vehicle depreciation is? If you’re wondering what exactly this metric measures and means for your trade in, you’re also in luck! Toyota of Orlando is here to help make sense of all the accounting complexity.

The 411 on vehicle depreciation

At Toyota of Orlando, and other car dealerships, vehicle depreciation plays a big role into how much return you’ll get on your used car when trading it in and how much your new car will be worth after a certain period of time. While it applies to many different things today, the history behind depreciation is very surprising. In the 19^th century, rail road companies created the metric to assign a value for use of an item over a period of time to show more profit for their company.

Essentially, vehicle depreciation details a person’s use of an Orlando Toyota vehicle over time and how that affects its overall return value. There are several ways in which depreciation occurs to Orlando Toyota vehicles including:

Updating technology and new vehicles

When a new model year Orlando Toyota vehicle is released, the amount of vehicle depreciation on older vehicles increases. This happens because modern vehicles become more desirable over older models.

Perception of the Orlando Toyota vehicle

A vehicle’s popularity and desirability can also cause it to have more or less vehicle depreciation. For example, more luxury models, SUVs, and trucks have higher resale value than sedans. Classic and collector vehicles are some that experience an increase in resale value as time progresses rather than experiencing typical depreciation.

The value of your vehicle decreases when you drive off the lot

When it comes to purchasing a new Orlando Toyota vehicle its price includes several things like tax, title, and dealership fees. Essentially, you’re paying more for the vehicle during your purchase and some of that money can’t be returned during your trade in later on. Plus, the value of your car decreases the moment you sign on the dotted line and drive off the lot. This happens because the vehicle gains a new owner, starts to get mileage on its odometer, and becomes worn.

To make sure your vehicle doesn’t endure a large amount of depreciation, make sure to only accumulate 10,000 miles per year on the odometer and stay up to date on regularly scheduled maintenance. If it’s possible, try to purchase a newer vehicle with improved safety technology as these will likely hold value over the first years of ownership.

Leasing a vehicle from Toyota of Orlando is another way to mitigate the effects of vehicle depreciation. If you have questions about depreciation or purchasing a vehicle, give us a call at (407) 298 – 4500 today!