The all-new 2018 Toyota Camry earned another award this month, AutoWards best-selling passenger car on its 10 Best Interiors list for 2018. AutoWards called the Camry “delightfully daring” and the jurors lauded the cockpit’s sporty appearance. The editors also universally hailed the Camry’s advanced driver-assistance programs as a “good value” in the mid-size sedan segment.
According to their Senior Editor Steve Finlay, the WardsAuto team admired the Camry’s “eye for detail, onboard technology, high degrees of functionality and artistic approach.” The judges also appreciated the Camry for the craftsmanship and comfort of the seats, compelling signature lines and a bold use of colors, particularly red. One judge said, “Finally, an interior with some color that pops.” Stop into Continental Toyota and see why Wards loved the 2018 Toyota Camry interior or you can click here to view our 2018 Toyota Camry inventory
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Newly Redesigned 2019 RAV4
The 2019 RAV4 recently made its debut at the New York International Auto Show and saying it turned heads is an understatement. This popular SUV has been completely redesigned for the upcoming year and some say this change was brought about by Toyota seeking to expand its RAV4 customer base.
Exterior Style
Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the redesigned exterior style of the 2019 RAV4. With a much bolder and aggressive look, this SUV rapidly got
everyone’s attention. It features more pronounced wheel-arch covers and a big, upright grille. Once again, Toyota will be offering an Adventure trim, which will look slightly different and appeal to outdoorsy types as opposed to a more urban look and feel with the other trims.
As for size, the RAV4 is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform which is a more space-efficient design. Despite being slightly shorter overall, the wheelbase is longer and the car is a little wider, meaning more interior space.
Connectivity and Transmission
The standard equipment levels will include the latest Entune 3.0 infotainment system as well as Amazon Alexa. It will also include Toyota Safety 2.0 which will further enhance safety levels with pedestrian warning, lane departure warning, and pre-collision systems.
In terms of the drivetrain, the previous 6-speed automatic transmission has been replaced by a new 8-speed unit on the gasoline powered models while the hybrid version will keep a CVT transmission.
Engine and Drivetrain
The base engine will remain a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder unit and although we do not have information on horsepower, the previous model produced 176 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. We heard that the new model will produce slightly more power while offering better fuel economy.
As for the drivetrain, AWD is an option in the 2019 RAV4 which will appeal to customers who plan to do more than commute to work and back. To make it even better, the AWD system now features torque vectoring for the first time and to keep the efficiency levels as high as possible, rear-axle disconnect is also a brand new feature.
Modern Interior
The RAV4 remains a 5-seater but the rear row and cargo space have benefited from the new Toyota New Global Architecture platform. Its interior features have been redesigned to include rectangular air vents as opposed to the rotary vents. A large infotainment screen sits atop the center of the dashboard, replacing the smaller integrate unit. Higher trim levels will offer some upgrades but the overall feel from behind the wheel is of a small SUV that is functional yet luxurious.
We’re very excited about the new 2019 Toyota RAV4, and cannot wait to have it at our dealership, but in the meantime feel free to check out our 2018 RAV4 inventory!
Toyota Supra is Coming Back
If you’ve watched the Fast and Furious movies, chances are you’ve heard of the Toyota Supra. You’ve also probably noticed that there hasn’t been a production model since 2002, but that could be changing fairly soon. We’re expecting to see the new production model of the highly-anticipated sports car some time in 2019.
We don’t have much information on the car yet, but from spy shots we can have an idea of what the car is going to look like. There appears to be an updated rear end and up front you’ll notice narrow headlights. As for powertrain information, we only know that the Supra’s chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada, has hinted that the car would receive a turbocharge inline-six-cylinder engine.
Stay tuned for more updates as we receive them, we cannot wait to see the production vehicle.
Photos courtesy of Motor1.
2019 Toyota Avalon
As more and more information is released, our staff is getting so excited to see the new 2019 Toyota Avalon. The all-new redesigned vehicle will be premiering in March, and is packed with features to excite car enthusiasts and drivers alike.
The 2019 Avalon will be lower and wider than previous models, transforming it into an eye-catching shape. The Avalon is already known for its spacious interior, but the 2019 model will bring that to a whole new level. Rear-seat legroom and shoulder room have grown, and the interior now has available Yamaha-sourced wood trim and aluminum accents.
The Entune 3.0 infotainment system features a 9.0-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and integration with smartwatches and Amazon Alexa to enable exciting features like remote starting, door locking and unlocking, and checking the fuel level. A color head-up display is standard on the two upper trim levels, and all models come with wireless device charging and a total of five USB ports, three in front and two in the back. Great news for those with apple devices, this vehicle will come standard with Apple Car-Play. You can count on quality sound when the vehicle comes standard with 14 speakers throughout.
We know that Toyota drivers value safety as a top priority. Toyota did not forget this during the 2019 Avalon remodel, standard features include pedestrian detection, radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high-beams, 10 airbags, stability control, traction control, ABS with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, and a standard backup camera.
We will be taking orders for the 2019 Toyota Avalon. Don’t forget to stop by the 2018 Chicago Auto Show (Feb. 10-19) at McCormick Place to get a closer look and this game-changing vehicle!
Girl Scouts Earn Their Energy Badge
Last Friday January 5th, we had the Girl Scouts Troop #51-856 stop by our dealership to earn their Energy Badge by learning about a hybrid vehicle: the Toyota Prius!
Our Sales Consultant, Nick Guerrero, talked to them about all the features of the Toyota Prius as well as the importance of driving an environmentally friendly vehicle. After that, we were able to present them with the Certificate of Achievement for this learning workshop, as well as gave them some snacks to enjoy!
It was a pleasure hosting the Girl Scouts and teaching them about the Toyota Prius. We are so happy that they can now take this knowledge and share it with all their friends so we can raise awareness of how important it is to take care of the environment!
Community Nurse & Continental Toyota Partnership
On Thursday, November 16th, we had the honor of presenting the 12 car seats we will be giving away to expecting moms through our partnership with Community Nurse.
Although we have been a proud sponsor of Community Nurse for decades, this is the first year of the Car Seat Partnership Program, where our goal is to assist low-income expecting mothers with car seats to ensure their baby is safe. Community Nurse works with these expecting mothers by providing them with all the necessary care during and after the pregnancy. While we were chatting with them, they told us they have about 50 births every year, and they care for each of those mothers by ensuring they attend all necessary appointments and are ready for what is to come.
We are very happy to contribute to our community’s wellbeing by donating these car seats. While safety is of utmost importance, Officer April from the Countryside Police Department will be assisting these moms by showing them how to securely place the car seat in their vehicle.
We look forward to helping both mom and baby stay safe and secure during their car rides!
Compare Toyota Safety Sense vs Honda Sensing
Honestly, we applaud all carmakers who provide active safety technologies to help keep their customers safe and secure. Two of the pioneer safety package are Toyota Safety Sense and Honda Sensing, both containing several important features to help prevent collisions.
Toyota Safety Sense includes these features:
- Automatic High Beams: This feature improves night vision without blinding oncoming traffic. The system works at speeds above 25 mph to recognize lights in front of your vehicle to toggle between high- and low-beams. The system maximizes high-beam usage, which increases your safety.
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: This system maintains your speed until your forward space interval gets smaller – that is, the car ahead of you slows down. DRCC will react by slowing your vehicle in order to maintain your selected interval. If necessary, the system will apply the brakes to avoid a collision. The Full-Speed Range DRCC version works at all speeds up to 110 mph.
- Lane Departure Alert: Sounds the alert when you drift out of your lane. When coupled with Steering Assist, the system will re-center the car via small steering corrections.
- Pre-Collision System: Cameras, lasers and radar combine to alert you to obstacles in your path. If necessary, Brake Assist automatically applies brake power to help prevent or mitigate a collision.
- Pedestrian Detection: In concert with the Pre-Collision System, this system applies the brakes when it detects a pedestrian in your path.
Honda Sensing provides most of the same features, even if the names differ slightly. There is one big difference between the two. Toyota Safety Sense is standard equipment on virtually all new Toyota models. Honda Sensing remains an extra-cost option on the vehicles that offer it.
Both systems are well worth having. Only the Toyota package lets you have it for no extra money. You can pocket the savings or use it to order a higher trim level or optional equipment on your new Toyota vehicle.
R-Tuned Toyota C-HR at SEMA
The SEMA show in Las Vegas is always full of amazing cars that we can only dream about! The Toyota booth this year is featuring a modified C-HR with a lot more power! The production Toyota C-HR became available for sale earlier this year as the perfect compact car for those looking for the qualities of a SUV in a car that can fit practically everywhere!
The production C-HR is offered with 144 horsepower, front-wheel drive, and a continuously variable transmission, which doesn’t exactly equal a speedy combination. This year for SEMA, Toyota partnered with DG Spec to produce a very quick crossover. The 2.4-liter massively turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 600 horsepower, enough for the C-HR to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds. This revamped C-HR also includes a five-speed manual transmission to get the power down to the front wheels and in terms of suspension, it’s got triple adjustable shocks and a three-way adjustable rear sway bar.
If all of this doesn’t make sense, just know that this C-HR turned in quicker lap times at the 2.5-mile “Big Track” at Willow Springs than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, GT-R and McLaren 650S Spyder. Now that’s impressive!
Your Pumpkin Patch Guide
It’s October, and although it doesn’t feel quite like fall yet, you might want to consider spending some time at a pumpkin patch. They’re fun, family-friendly, and have amazing food! Plus, they’re only open until the end of the month so you definitely want to go before it’s too late!
Check out our Top 3 Pumpkin Patches. If you visit any of them, let us know on our Facebook and Twitter pages!
Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center:
35 miles from Chicago you can celebrate with Goebbert’s Fall Festival, which runs until October 31st! Your whole family can enjoy the exotic petting zoo (including the giraffe!), watch a pig race, see their famous Pumpkin Eating Dinosaur, have some lunch and pick out your favorite pumpkin! Plus, don’t forget to stop by and try out their famous Apple Cider Donuts and Pumpkin Cookies!
Visit their website here.
Address: 40 W Higgins Rd, South Barrington, IL 60010
County Line Orchard:
40 miles from Chicago you can pick your own apples, pumpkins, or sunflowers with their U-Pick game! Plus, you can watch the bee yurts, where hundreds of bees work and live, or you can even get lost in a corn maze! And if that’s not enough, you can book your own campfire and have the kids enjoy their time at the kids farm, featuring Peter the Pumpkin Eating Dino!
Visit their website here.
Address: 200 S County Line Rd, Hobart, IN 46342
Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm:
30 miles from Chicago you can find pumpkins, ponies, and hayrides to make this a perfect fall getaway! Make sure to try their apple cider donuts, award-winning barbecue, and funnel cakes. And keep the kids entertained with kiddie rides, pig races, and petting zoo!
Visit their website here.
Address: 13341 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491
My Experience Driving the 2018 Toyota Camry
Alina Czub is the Director of Advertising for the Continental Motors Group. She has been driving the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry for a few weeks and decided to share her experience with us.
For the last seventeen years, I’ve been an SUV girl. I’m a mom of three boys and they play sports. So, room was necessary. Add to that any extras of people or “stuff,” my needs in a vehicle were definitely space and comfort. I drove a lot, 18K-22K miles per year. My boys and I have practically lived in my SUV; we’ve spent so much time between here and there. However, as my kids, three six-foot teenagers have grown, my needs have changed. They are still playing sports, but there are fewer car pools; one has his license, and the second one will be driving on his own in the next several months.
All of this has brought me to think maybe I could drive a sedan. Therein lies my 2018 Toyota Camry LE test drive from Continental Toyota. I’m not going to lie the transition from a larger SUV to a sedan has been an adjustment. However, I welcome the change. Now when I say test drive, I’m fortunate for the opportunity to drive for several weeks and really get a feel for the 2018 Camry.
With all of the miles I put on vehicles, the way a vehicle handles is very important to me. My SUV handled the roads well; it was smooth and had good pick up, and I never felt like it was a truck. Admittedly, I thoroughly enjoy driving this car. Local driving or highway driving, the Camry does not let me down in the way it grabs the road, accelerates, or maneuvers in and out of traffic. Plus, additional safety features like lane departure alert, Toyota Safety Sense pre-collision system with in-vehicle camera and radar, and of course ECO mode to save on gas mileage, all add to the comfort of my driving experience. I’ve switched to the Manual mode when I’ve been on the highway because, well, I started out driving a manual transmission, and it’s fun to go back to without the clutch to worry about.
Since I do still have my boys frequently in the car, their comfort was very important to me. What’s their legroom like? Headroom? And, of course, where are the cup holders positioned because we still end up eating in the car as we rush to our next commitment. The 2018 Camry was perfect! A total thumbs up – in both the back and front seats there is a very open feeling and plenty of room for my growing boys. I’ve rented cars in the past and always felt a little cramped and as though my views were blocked. It was almost as if the curve of the roof impeded the size of the windows, but this is not the case for the 2018 Toyota Camry. As the driver, I feel safe, secure, and can easily adjust the seat to my comfort to drive. The Camry LE comes with a Star Safety System and ten airbags. Not only do I feel safe driving a sedan, Toyota makes certain the vehicle is safe.
Of course, where do I put my coffee? Convenience, while not feeling cramped in a sedan versus an SUV, was a pleasant surprise. This Camry did not disappoint. As I sit to drive, the shifter is comfortably positioned where I can keep my elbow on the armrest and my drink is just to the right. The controls to adjust radio, temperature, and phone, are all right at my fingertips. Overall, this car is very convenient. I’m just waiting for the perfect design to answer; “where do I put my oversized purse?”
Trunk space is equally important when I am carting equipment, groceries, or anything else. Without the convenience of the cargo space and hatchback found in an SUV, I was concerned with transitioning to a sedan. My mom drives a sedan and you can only open the trunk with a remote key, which is not always convenient, but with the 2018 Camry, I get both easy access and great cargo space.
All in all, the new 2018 Toyota Camry LE has been a positive driving experience. It looks great, has sensible conveniences, performs well on the roads, and provides plenty of room for my family. Camry has been a Best Selling vehicle in America for years, and the new 2018 Toyota Camry continues to excel on the roads. Continental Toyota in Hodgkins has been selling Toyotas for more than fifty years, and is a quality choice on where to buy your perfect Toyota Camry in the Chicagoland area.
All photo credit goes to MotorTrend.
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