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Electric vehicles are growing in demand each year, and creating more and more buzz as the technology continues to become better and more efficient. At Mount Airy Toyota, we’re interested not only in the overall automotive shift away from fossil fuels, but also in what that means for our dealership, our city, and way of life in Mount Airy. We wanted to know more about where Toyota fits into the electric vehicle market, when we might be seeing a full electric car release from Toyota, and what it means for Mount Airy Toyota in the future. Electric cars are the future; it's a statement we have heard before, that we have seen come into reality, and seems to become more and more standard, albeit at a slow pace, every year. With every global climate report delivering the same message about limited fossil fuels and negative climate impact, electric cars are gaining more traction and popularity. If you’re 35 or younger, it’s inevitable that you will be driving an electric car in your lifetime. The face of the automotive industry is rapidly producing new technologies to fill the needs of an electric driven economy. What is an electric vehicle? Electric vehicles are battery charged, and run at least partially on electricity. There are a variety of options to consider when you think about electric cars. Electric vehicles can range from plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles that use plug-in rechargeable batteries, and there are pure electric vehicles. How do they work? Instead of vehicles running on gasoline like in internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles run either partially or completely on electricity stored in a battery. Thus, electric vehicles don’t produce tailpipe pollution. They also minimize wasted energy by turning the car off when stopped and by charging the battery when braking. Electric vehicles are more energy- efficient than gasoline or diesel powered engines, which explains why they are in such high demand. Are electric vehicles clean? Producing electricity isn’t necessarily clean; electricity can produce heat-trapping gases, pollution at the source of the electricity generation, or in the extraction of fossil fuels. It’s definitely worth noting though that battery electric cars charged off of the dirtiest coal grid still produce lower pollution than their gasoline-powered counterparts. If electric vehicles are charged by wind or solar energy sources, they are virtually emission free! How do they charge? As mentioned before, they can charge when braking as you drive, but mainly they are charged at home. With a 240-volt outlet (a power similar to what it takes to run clothes in the dryer), most electric vehicles can charge fully overnight. Once fully charged, electric vehicles can typically drive between 70 to 100 miles per day (which is within the average range of what most Americans drive daily). Fast-charging stations can provide 60 to 80 miles of range for every 20 minutes of charging. Battery technologies will change, as we realize things such as the fact silicon batteries provide 30% more range, and as we find less expensive batteries. Battery technology is progressing so quickly, and it’s only going to get better. Between 2008 and 2014, the price of batteries dropped more than 70 percent. The development of larger and more powerful batteries means that batteries will also require larger charging systems and longer time requirements. Manufacturers are now willing to put the money forward to develop more electric vehicles. But, the main issue manufacturers face is the cost-curve of having electric vehicles more competitive in the market place, versus demand actually pulling them out of the manufacturers. EV’s are less than 2% of vehicle sales in America. In 2017, electric cars reached a global sales record with 1 million cars sold. What or who do you think of when you hear about electric vehicles? Elon Musk probably comes to mind, and for good reason. As recently as January 2019, the American-made company, Tesla, released their goal to have 400,000 new electric vehicles on the road. In March 2016, the Tesla Model 3 was released, and has, since then, reigned as the electric car to turn the electric vehicle market mainstream. Starting at $35,000, the Tesla Model 3 is reasonably affordable, and comes in with 220 miles of range and all the equipment to drive autonomously. With software updates that increase the mileage and efficiency of the vehicle without taking a trip to the dealership, the Model 3 has ruled in the electric vehicle domain, and we can see why. Tesla has put more electric cars on the road than any other company, but across the automotive industry, everyone has electric cars in the works for the coming years. What are the hurdles automotive industries are facing with electric vehicles? As battery-electric vehicles and hybrids become more popular, infrastructure everywhere will have to adapt. Beyond city hubs in California, and select other cities, the reality is that of fall 2018, there were an estimated 22,000 public charging stations between the US and Canada. Therefore, before most consumers can consider, or much less, commit to an electric car, they would have to consider the distances they want to drive in their electric vehicle, and if there are charging stations within reasonable distances. Of course, automotive manufacturers have to be concerned about the charging stations as well. Automakers can either build their own charging networks or rely on third-party networks. Tesla has 1,344 Supercharger stations worldwide, with around 580 of those in the US. While they have discussed the possibility of opening their network to other automakers, the stations only currently serves Tesla. Volkswagen plans to install 2,800 charging stations in 17 US cities by June 2019. Other automakers rely on third-party companies, which can be cheaper, but more uncertain with a lack of consistency for coverage. For example, Electrify America is installing charging stations at more than 100 Walmarts in 34 states. ChargePoint is increasing their charging stations 50-fold by 2025, building up from 53,000 charging stations. Building electric charging stations can be a bureaucratic situation with lots of red tape in the way, whether that’s finding real estate to build the station, or to negotiate with local utility companies. But the demand for charging stations is increasing, as more apartment and condo complexes are providing charging opportunities, and bus and trucking industries are also shifting towards electric power. Fun fact: Just as a comparison, there are about seven times more gas stations than charging stations in the US and Canada—about 168,000! What are the cons of owning or leasing an electric vehicle? It is not a surprise to the average American that electric vehicles are more expensive than the average car. The average price of an electric vehicle is about $30,000-$35000. But, the savings in gasoline can average about $1400 on gas, costing about $540 a year to charge an electric car, in comparison. To break even and offset the fuel savings, you would have to keep the car for around 11 years, which is actually the average time that most US drivers keep a car before trading in or selling. What are the pros? Although there is not a lot of data on what the exact savings are on electric car maintenance, there is a lesser chance of breaking down, the service packages are cheaper, and the vehicles themselves are much better than gasoline alternatives at converting energy to movement from a standing start. They don’t require oil changes or experience as much wear and tear on the brakes. Electric and hybrid vehicles can also enjoy discounts of up to 10% on car insurance, because they tend to be safer and less likely to break down. Some electric vehicles also receive tax breaks! How do they drive? For automotive enthusiasts, there’s something about the control over the vehicle, the roar of the engine, the power behind the wheel… and it’s enough to never consider making the switch to an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles do lack manual shifting, they are extremely quiet, and of course, there won’t really be a reason to stop at a gas station unless you’re needing snacks. Any electric car you sit behind the wheel of is a totally different drive than any other car. They are quiet, smooth, and refined. They are high-quality and are equipped with the latest technology. Why has Toyota not been seen in the electric car market yet? Toyota does not offer any full-electric vehicle in the United States. Moreover, Toyota has almost conspicuously not been producing or teasing any line-up of full battery-electric cars to come, and the reason might surprise you. Basically, it comes down to Toyota believing that hybrids are a better option between internal-combustion vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell-vehicles. There is a serious question about the range and capability of the electric car and what redesigns it will have to face in order to get adopted by the average American. Those challenges are being addressed with better batteries, larger range capabilities, and the implementation of charging stations. In the mean time, Toyota has an astounding line up of hybrid options, and they’re available at Mount Airy Toyota. Ranging from full-size sedans to sporty crossovers, these Toyota vehicles are all incredibly fuel efficient, cool, and provide ample battery capacity. Corolla Hybrid $22,950 starting msrp 53/52 est. mpg Pruis $27,770 starting msrp 54/50 est. mpg Prius c $21,530 starting msrp 48/43 mpg Prius Prime $27,350 starting msrp 54/133 est. mpg Camry Hyrbid $28,250 starting msrp 51/53 est. mpg Avalon Hybrid $36,550 starting msrp 43/44 est. mpg RAV4 Hybrid $27,700 starting msrp 41/38 est. mpg Highlander Hybrid $37.320 starting msrp 30/28 est. mpg What’s to come for Toyota? Currently, Toyota is able to produce enough batteries for 28,000 electric vehicles each year, which equates to 1.5 million hybrid cars. The amount of gas-electric hybrid cars Toyota sells currently impacts the environment more positively than it would by selling far fewer electric vehicles due to the market. Toyota has been more interested in hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but as the market slowly evolves in the U.S., Toyota is opening some of its patents to help hybrid car production. In total, Toyota has sold more than 13 million hybrids, globally dominating more than 80% of the market for hybrid vehicles. Mount Airy Toyota: The Future is Here Due to economic feasibility, battery efficiency, and the increase of Americans finding fossil fuel alternatives, electric cars are here to stay. Mount Airy Toyota has some of the leading hybrid vehicles on our lot. If you have never driven an electric vehicle before, we encourage you to come test drive and experience the difference. Give us a call today at (336) 786-2118, visit us online at mountairytoyota.com, or stop by and see us at 508 N Andy Griffith Parkway in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Learn more: Charlotte Talks: WFAE with Mike Collins If you’re interested in hearing more about this topic, check out the local broadcast, Charlotte Talks on WFAE with Mike Collins, where last month they discussed the future of electric cars with Brian Jenkins, Ezra Dyer, and Matt DeLorenzo.

Mount Airy Toyota is pleased to announce our participation with local community partners in upcoming fundraiser events around the Charlotte and Mount Airy regions. Check out the golf fundraisers that we are playing in and learn more about what special programs we are supporting around our community. 11 th Annual Pfc. Adam Lee Marion Memorial Golf Tournament On Thursday, April 25 th, Mount Airy Toyota is participating in the 11 th Annual Pfc. Adam Lee Marion Memorial Golf Tournament. This golf tournament has been held eleven years in a row in honor of Private First Class Adam Lee Marion. Private First Class Adam Lee Marion was killed in Iraq on April 28, 2008 while serving in the military.  Adam was 26 years old when a rocket attack outside of Sadr City, Iraq claimed his life. He was deployed as part of a North Carolina National Guard unit tasked with performing route-clearance missions. Family friends of the Marion’s, John Lawson and Ralph Holt organized the golf benefit in Adam Marion’s names and had the idea to put the proceeds towards supporting the Children’s Center. The original mission was to raise about $10,000 a year for the center; this amount has gone above and beyond their expectations, growing each year. 4 th Annual Destiny Lives On Golf Tournament On Friday, May 10th, you can find us out at the Cramer Mountain Club participating in the 4 th Annual Destiny Lives On Golf Tournament. This event includes a day of golf (the tournament will be a Captain’s Choice format), followed by lunch and an awards ceremony with prizes and raffles. The proceeds from the tournament go towards the Destiny Lives On Foundation. The tournament itself aims to honor and support families that have given or received an organ donation, and supports efforts to promote and educate people about the importance of organ donation. Space to participate is limited, and we recommend that you register early to guarantee your spot. It costs $520 per foursome team, and this includes green fees, cart, swag bag, breakfast/lunch/beverages, and 4 mulligan packets per team. Cash prizes are awarded to the winning team. Player registration opens April 10 th, 2019. You can mail a donation or a sponsor payment to: Destiny Lives On Foundation 4033 Avery Pl. Gastonia, NC 28056 Or if you’re interested in learning more about the event or have any questions, you can contact Kelly Stafford at (704) 913-4270 or at destinyliveson@hotmail.com. Check out their website at https://destinyliveson.org/. Spring Golf Classic 2019 Matthews Chamber of Commerce The Chamber hosts a golf tournament each year as a way for members and guests to promote their businesses, get to know their peers, raise money for the Chamber, and donate funds to a designated local non-profit. The title sponsor this year is Harris Teeter. The Matthew Chamber Golf Classic is on Tuesday, May 14 th at the Pine Lake Country Club at 5504 Lebanon Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227. The check-in begins at 11:00am, with a shotgun tee-off at 12:00pm. Lunch, dinner, beverages, and cart fee are all included. There will be lots of fun, giveaways, raffles, contests, and prizes, and dinner following the tournament. The event ends at 7:00pm. This year, the non-profit receiving the funds from the tournament is Bright Blessings. Bright Blessings serves over 13,000 children every year in partnerships with local school systems and dozens of shelters, housing facilities and community support agencies across a five-county area. The mission of Bright Blessings is to bring joy, care, and hope to homeless and impoverished children by mobilizing volunteers of all ages. You can learn more about Bright Blessings on their website at: https://www.brightblessingsusa.org/ Registration is now open; you can click here to register. Each player receives 18 holes of golf, golf cart, range balls, beverages, lunch from Chic-fil-A, and dinner from Beantown Tavern. The $20 Mulligan package is optional. Individual Player: $100 (fun golf attire encouraged!) Foursome: $400 You can also take part in the sponsor opportunities: Hole/Tee Sponsor: $150 Putting Green Sponsor: $500 Driving Range Sponsor: $250 Scorecard Sponsor: $250 Dinner/Awards Presentation: $20 If you are interested in learning more about any of these upcoming events around the Charlotte area, whether you want to donate, participate, or attend, feel free to come by Mount Airy Toyota and we would be happy to share more information. We hope to see you out at some of these events in April and May, and we encourage you to give back to your greater Charlotte community this spring!

Here at Mount Airy Toyota, 2019 has been the year of delivering more reliable, interesting, and fun vehicles than ever before. We are more than excited over the latest technology, delivery, and design of Toyota’s innovative vehicles. With many of these new releases on the lot, there has never been a better time to visit Mount Airy Toyota to check out and test-drive your future vehicle. Speaking of future vehicles, you might remember the dream sports car of the 80’s—but the wait is over. Toyota’s design efforts have all lead up to the long anticipated return of the 2020 Supra in the U.S. this year. Check out some of Toyota’s latest and greatest advances, and learn about how Toyota is changing the face of dealerships like our own Mount Airy Toyota dealership, as well as, the American motor economy. The 2019 Toyota Corolla: Proof that you can have it all The Corolla is a reliable classic that comes in a sedan or hatchback, and has been revamped for 2019. Not only does it deliver a modern look and a composed ride, it also comes available with a rev-matching manual transmission. Check out some of the top new features worth noting about the 2019 Toyota Corolla. New TNGA Suspension The Toyota New Global Architecture, or TNGA is a modular unibody design found under a lot of Toyota’s new cars and SUVS. With the ability to easily accommodate different size vehicles and front, rear, and all-wheel drive powertrains, this suspension platform delivers. On the 2019 Corolla, the TNGA is configured with front wheel drive, with struts under the nose of the vehicle, and the multi-link independent suspension that supports the tail. The Future is Here with TNGA: According to Toyota, the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) will build better-than-ever vehicles on common platforms with common parts, making the manufacturing plants more flexible and responsible to the marketplace, and leading to overall cost savings that can be reinvested into future technologies at Toyota. Quick facts on the TNGA: The first TNGA-inspired vehicle assembled in North America was the 2018 Camry at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky. Toyota’s first North American manufacturing plant built with TNGA capabilities started production in 2019 at Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato. By 2020, approximately half of all new Toyota vehicles worldwide will benefit from TNGA. With the 2019 Corolla, the TNGA makes the convention powertrain of the Corolla more powerful, fuel efficient, and reduces the overall weight of the vehicle from the adoption of materials like high strength steel and aluminum. Dynamic Shift-CVT The CVTs, or continuously variable transmissions, are paired with the new suspension system to really deliver a thrill of a ride. This means that the CVT has the advantage of being more fuel efficient, and making you feel more connected to drive. So if you are at an intersection and the light turns green, as your foot moves from the brake to the gas pedal, the fixed first gear will engage. This gives the engine a more direct connection to the front-drive wheels, making the pedal feel more responsive while improving acceleration and drivetrain durability. Refreshed Exterior Design From modern LED headlights, a sleek grille, and 16-inch steel wheels, the distinctive design of the Corolla is ready to go in any situation. Choose joy this 2019 While there are so many great sedans on the market, the 2019 Toyota Yaris is a highly competitive choice. Why not choose a driving experience that always delivers joy? Efficient, responsive performance The handling of this Yaris sedan is extremely responsive and fun, and truly delivers on its drivability. Whether you are cruising through the city, travelling on the highway, or taking a joy ride, the 1.5-liter engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission happily provides efficient performance with tons of pep. You will be getting an incredible 40-MPG on the highway and 32 MPT in the city. The MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension offers a smooth ride, and agile handling for an exciting ride. When you are ready for a sportier trip, the Yaris lets you opt in to the 6-speed automatic Sport Mode with just the flip of a switch. Smart, stylish, and sporty Technology is more important than ever, and we expect seamless, integrated, and accessible features in our vehicles. The 2019 Toyota Yaris comes standard with a 7-in. touch-screen multimedia system. You can interact directly with the screen, use the control knob between the front seats, or speak to the system which features voice recognition and Bluetooth. The LE and XLE trims come standard with the Smart Key System, allowing you to lock and unlock your doors just by touching the handle, alongside the Push Button Start to engage the ignition just with the key fob close-by in your pocket or bag. Advanced technology One of the coolest features on the 2019 Yaris is the rain-sensing windshield wiper blades. These come standard on the Yaris XLE; the windshield wipers automatically adjust to match the intensity of the rain and speed of the car. Automatic LED headlights not only shine brighter, but also use less energy. You will be able to let the Yaris do the thinking, meaning turning the headlights to auto will save you the time of remembering to turn off and on your headlights. When it comes to safety, the 2019 Yaris comes standard with the Low-Speed Pre-Collision System, which scans the road for potential collisions, and if it detects a potential frontal collision, the vehicle provides an audio/visual alert and braking assistance is automatically activated. Move forward with clean power in 2019 The 2019 Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen-fueled, zero-emissions vehicle, and the first fuel-cell vehicle for sale. This vehicle runs solely on hydrogen and only emits water. You will feel better as a driver knowing you’re making life better for the environment and those around you. Here are five more reasons you should love the direction the Mirai takes Toyota: 1. Aspirational, aerodynamic design Mirai: In Japanese, the word “mirai” means “future.” The Toyota Mirai is definitely the future of eco-friendly, efficient vehicles. The interior of the vehicle is functional, practical, and comfortable. The speedometer and driving displays are further up on the dash, keeping your eyes on the critical vehicle functions instead. The Mirai also seats four. 2. Refueling will take no time at all Refueling the Mirai only takes 5 minutes! What is even more incredible is that the range of one tank is around 300 miles. Right now, fuel is completely included for the first three years of ownership. 3. Your drive will not disappoint This car is quiet, subdued, and provides a nicely tuned suspension for responsive steering. While perhaps not for the power enthusiast, the Mirai can keep up with the other cars on the highway. It can reach 60 MPH in 9.4 seconds and 80 MPH in a quarter-mile, and stop from 70 MPH in 194 feet. This is also impressive considering that it delivers 152 horsepower and weights less than two tons. 4. From California to across the world Currently, the Mirai is only sold or leased in California, where they have the infrastructure for hydrogen fueling. In 2018, there were only 35 public hydrogen-fueling stations in the United States, all of which were located in California. California announced their plan to boost this number by 50% by the end of 2019. So while you cannot get this vehicle in Mount Airy, it is still exciting to see the future of eco-friendly vehicles getting better and better each year in the U.S. 5. A milestone in vehicle development After 23 years of development and 5,680 patents, Toyota has invested a great deal into the Mirai and the future of fuel cell vehicles. The Toyota Mirai comes with an eight-year powertrain or 100,000 mile warranty. This also explains the price tag of such an innovative vehicle, starting with a base price of $58,325. Witness the return of a legendary sports car this summer The Toyota Supra is back. The revival of this 1980s and early 1990s classic, two decades after it was discontinued, was unveiled at the 2019 Detroit auto show. It will feature the classic long-hood, sleek, low-riding, two-door design, and short-deck proportion. Younger generations might be excited if they are fans of the Fast and Furious franchise, where the car was featured and gained a new reputation among the millennial audience. This powerhouse is being co-developed with BMW and will share its architecture with the upcoming Z4. This means the 3.0-liter turbocharged engine is shared with the Z4. It will boast a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower, 365-lb-ft of torque, and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This means going from 0-60 miles per hour in an estimated 4.1 seconds, and a top speed of 155 with a curb weight of 3397 pounds. And this new model will, of course, come decked out with LED headlights, a 6.5” infotainment screen, forward-collision warning, automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a sports mode. The Supra will be available in three trim levels: 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and the Launch Edition, which will only be made available in 1,500 units. The base price for this vehicle is $45,000; the 3.0 starts at $50,920, and the Launch Edition will start at $55,520. The higher trims up the infotainment screen to 8.8-inches, heated seats, and a 12-speaker JBL audio system. The Launch edition will include 19-inch wheels, and a red leather interior. The Supra plans to enter the market in mid-2019. Toyota: Supporting the American Economy Recently, Toyota announced its plan to invest an additional $3 billion in U.S. manufacturing plants, bolstering its North American production presence. According to USA Today, “…the company specific plans to invest $749 million and hire 568 new workers at existing operations in Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee an West Virginia. That includes adding the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Lexus E3 300H hybrid to its sprawling factory in Georgetown, Kentucky.” Toyota vehicles have always been some of America’s favorite cars, and knowing that you are supporting the American economy both nationwide from manufacturing and locally from supporting local dealerships, while reaping the benefits of Japanese design, makes buying Toyota all the better. In fact, did you know that Americans buy more Toyotas than in Japan? Toyota’s reach is pretty incredible! Innovation, Technology and Luxury: All Available at Mount Airy Toyota Whether you are interested in checking out one of the vehicles we talked about, are eager to chat with like-minded enthusiasts about the upcoming release of the Supra, or are searching for new 2019 Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVS for sale in the Mount Airy area, then look no further! Mount Airy Toyota offers a large selection of new Toyota models in Mount Airy. Our New Vehicle Inventory features all of the latest Toyota models, and allows you to browse our inventory online to see what we have in stock. If you find a Toyota vehicle that interests you, contact us to schedule a test drive or learn more about its features. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to assist you and help to answer any questions you might have. Visit Mount Airy Toyota today to experience our awe-inspiring lineup of new Toyota vehicles for sale in Mount

Graduations from college are right around the corner, and that means gifts! And did someone say cold hard cash? How about a new car? Luckily, Mount Airy Toyota has managed a way to help you hang on to some of your savings this graduation season. Just how do we plan to save you money? Rebates, that’s how. Southeast Toyota Finance has rolled out a College Graduate Rebate program for recent or upcoming graduates. That means money off your next purchase of a Toyota—$500 off, to be precise! Toyota knows the pressures for recent college grads: find a new job, think about budgeting, rent an apartment, even possibly move to a new city. So what better way to celebrate the next stage in a graduate’s life than to put oneself behind the wheel of a new car, and at an affordable price? Americans have always loved their cars because we see them as indicators for successes in life. Life events like a new job, new marriage, new children, usually help us see the need for a new car. Or the way we celebrate a milestone is to buy ourselves a new car, as a way of saying “it’s a whole new me!” Toyota believes in celebrating those moments with you, especially for college grads who are just starting their own journey in life. So, if in the past two years you’ve recently graduated from an accredited four-year college or university—or if you will graduate in the next six months!—there’s a $500 rebate with your name on it. What about if you’re in an accredited two-year college or registered nursing degree program; or you are enrolled in (or a recent graduate of) graduate school? Yep, there is definitely a $500 rebate awaiting you. We want to celebrate all diplomas and degrees, because we believe in the value of an education as much as you do! In addition to that $500 rebate, you may have little to no down payment due at purchase, or there may be no security deposit owed when you sign a lease. And what’s more, monthly payments may be deferred up to three months for retail installment loans, so you can drive off the lot today and think about your first car payment a good 90 days later. And we are committed to getting you into the lowest interest rate financing we can find for you. And to top it all off, we offer ToyotaCare on all our vehicles, which means no cost maintenance in the first two years or 25,000 miles of your car’s life. So come on in to Mount Airy Toyota today, and let’s get started on finding the best Toyota that suits you. And that $500 rebate? Yeah, that’s yours too. Think broadly. Dream big. Invest in a Toyota.

You’re driving down I-74, heading back from a weekend at the coast, when suddenly your dashboard lights start chiming at you and light up. What’s happening? Are they telling you of an impending disaster, or are they just gentle reminders and nudges for car maintenance? The trouble is, once you’ve been driving for years, you forget the importance of indicator lights, or what they could mean. Or you buy this car, then that, then another, and you forget that certain brands have different icons or symbols from the previous vehicles you owned. So, it seems a good idea to us, here at Mount Airy Toyota, to review some of the basics as well as look at a few indicator symbols that are unique to particular vehicles we have on our lot. Dashboard indicator lights—maybe not the most exciting things about your vehicle, but they are actually rather essential to the overall function of it. And the indicator lights aren’t just about functions your vehicle performs. They also help you make decisions about maintenance needs, they give you information so that you can make the best decisions (your speedometer and gas gauge both do this) and, of course, they also warn you of critical issues you need to deal with. Let’s look at some key indicator lights on Toyota’s line of vehicles, which uses many of the shared symbols across the industry, and consider their importance. Standard Indicator Lights ABS:  The anti-lock braking system’s indicator light tells you there is a malfunction with either the ABS system or with the Brake Assist system (if equipped). This should be considered an indication of a critical issue that needs to be attended to straight away. If your ABS indicator comes on, be sure you safely navigate it to the nearest mechanic or, better still, call a tow truck—you don’t want your braking system to give out, and end up causing an accident! Charging System: This indicator light will notify you of a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system. But what does that mean? Obviously, since it looks like a battery, it can imply that your vehicle’s battery isn’t recharging properly, whilst you drive. It can also indicate an electrical issue with your car, which could mean a short in the wiring or could spell damage for things like your alternator or other system motors (windows, windshield wipers, etc.). Obviously check the battery charge, if you have a reader for that, but definitely take your vehicle in for service. Cruise Control Indicator: This one is straight forward: your cruise control is on. Though that seems a no-brainer, if you are ever out on the highway and have turned it on, then stepped on the gas to pass someone, it’s important to check your dashboard to see if the cruise control system is still engaged. Most, but not all vehicles (especially older ones), will disengage the cruise control features if you step on the brakes; but if you step on the gas, it may only let you speed up and then default the car’s speed to the cruise control settings previously established. It’s always safer to check and ensure whether or not the system is still engaged, after manually controlling the gas pedal. Electric Power Steering: This one certainly ranges among the most important indicators, because if you have a malfunction with your Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, you could quite obviously end up in a car accident. It’s so important to visit your dealer straight away if this indicator comes on. Headlight: This indicator informs you when you have the headlights, parking lights, taillights, license plate, or instrumental panel lights on. Pretty straight forward, right? Well, this is also the light you need to look for on the dashboard when shutting off your car and putting your keys away, because no one wants to come back to a car that has a dead battery as a result of leaving the headlights on. (Also, this light won’t illuminate if only the Daytime Running Lights are on.) High-beam Headlight Indicator: Driving from a woodsy, country house and getting on the main highway? Suddenly car after car flashes their high-beams at you, and you start to get annoyed until you look down at your dashboard. There’s that indicator light on, for your high beams, and you realize you had them on when navigating dark country roads—that’s fine, there. But turn them off in well-lit places or on highways, because those lights can be blinding at night (that’s part of the point, so that you can see in very dark areas). The other drivers will thank you. Malfunction Indicator (Engine): This is, of course, the big one! If this turns on, there is some malfunction in the engine control system, the throttle control system (for manual transmission vehicles), or the automatic transmission control system (for automatic transmission vehicles). Go directly to the dealer; do not pass “GO!” and do not collect $200. If you don’t go directly to your dealer when this light pops on, you might really damage your engine and pay far more than $200 to restore it. Low Fuel Level Warning Light (with buzzer): How many times do you look at the gas gauge and promise yourself as it hovers at half a tank, then slips just below, and then flirts with a quarter of a tank, that you will stop and get gas? And still you forget—until this light pops on and beeps at you. Now, you only have a range of 20-30 miles left (depending on the make and model of your vehicle) to locate a gas station and avert the walk of driver’s shame: gas can in hand, slogging it one mile to the next Citgo. Best advice: whenever you flirt with a one-quarter tank, just go and fill up. It’s all-around the smartest way to avoid a totally preventable, highly-irritating scenario! Tire Pressure Warning Light: How many times have you ignored this one? Following the same train of thought with the low fuel level light, we tend to keep telling ourselves that we will put air in the front right tire, the left rear tire, this upcoming Saturday morning when we have more time, or next Tuesday when we pop by Costco. But every time we drive on a tire with lowered pressure, we are making our tires work harder to keep us on the road (there’s a reason they have grooves in the tires—to create grip) and we are speeding up the time when they will finally go bald. These sort of lights seem easily dismissed, because they don’t strike panic like the “check engine” light can, but low tire pressure means replacing costly tires all the sooner and it means poor gas mileage performance. Just get yourself in the habit of filling up your tires when low (and checking their pressure regularly with a cheap pressure gauge, hung from a key fob). It’s just the smarter way to go! Brake System Warning Light (with buzzer): If this comes on, pull over safely, bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and call your dealer immediately. (Don’t forget you have a parking brake if you are in a situation where you’ve lost your brakes. If so, stop accelerating and try to drive off to the shoulder of the road and make use of your auxiliary braking systems.) Do not ignore this light, ever! This is a life or death light, and indicates either low brake fluid (more easily corrected by simply adding more) or a malfunction in the brake system (which your dealer needs to fix). “Smart” Indicator Lights (on newer vehicles): Lane Departure Alert (LDA) Indicator: As cars get smarter, we will see new indicator lights added to our dashboards, like the LDA indicator light. This is a good thing, such new additions, but it means we need to learn what they mean. So, the LDA indicator light tells the drive when she might depart from a lane. If you are on a highway or freeway, with white and yellow lines, the LDA system recognizes these lines with camera sensors; if you begin to float or stray from your lane, the system will beep at you. This sort of system, with its indicator light, is the wave of the future and promises us far smarter driving. That’s a good thing! BSM Outside Rearview Mirror Indicator: The Blind Sport Monitor (BSM) system provides two services to you, the driver: It can assist the driver in making a decision when to change lanes and, paired with the Rear Cross-Traffic Altert (RCTA) function, it can alert a driver when it’s safe (or not) to back up. This feature can be turned on and off in many of the vehicles that come equipped with it, and it uses the cameras positioned around the body of the vehicle to read and sense the other cars and objects around it. Safer driving, in future, will mean smarter driving, and the BSM and RCTA functions are part of the wave of future “smart” driving. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: Using more cameras and sensors, this system will automatically adjust acceleration and deceleration, as well as, stop the vehicle, when you have the car in cruise control mode. That means your car will read and respond to the speeds and behaviors of cars around it, on the road. Such a feature means we have redundancy built into our driving: sure, we can manually adjust all of these things, but if we have a system that can act as a back up, so we have a safer buffer in our driving decisions, what’s not to like? Again, safer driving in the future will come from smarter features like the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control function. Smarter driving is safer driving, and at Mount Airy Toyota, safety is always our number one concern. Here at Mount Airy, we are excited about the future in driving. Prototypes and innovative designs in the car’s dashboard mean we will see more and more digital dashboards with numerous smart features. The infotainment screens we are getting used to will be child’s play, compared to the rich, digital LED screens that will be virtual cockpits in cars of the future. Your future dashboard will have apps, connect seamlessly to your smartphones, be attached to satellite GPS and interface with GPS systems like Waze, providing dynamic feedback and real-time adjustments—all on your digital dashboard. The more car companies can put into our dashboard, so that we aren’t relying on our phones’ little screens for navigation and information, the better! And it will the digital dashboard, enriched with numerous functions, that will be the future driver’s main interface for interacting with autonomous-driving vehicles. Sure, there will still be a steering wheel in the car, but the main way to master your car will be through touchscreens and voice commands. We are on the verge of a revolution in vehicles and driving habits, and Mount Airy will be there for you in future, as such cars roll off the line and onto salesfloors.

We would make a significant wager that more people dislike shopping for car insurance than like it. The very premise of insurance is weighing “what if” scenarios versus probability statistics like some kind of mind-boggling word problem in an upper-level math class you never wanted to take in the first place. How do you make sure you’re protected but not overpay for what you don’t need? How do different state laws impact your coverage? What if your needs change? We get it. Whether you’re buying car insurance for the first time, are considering making changes to your policy after buying a new car, or just want to shop around to see what deals are available, we at Mount Airy Toyota have put together a few tips we hope will help you. What is auto insurance? Auto insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company to protect you against financial loss in the event of an accident or theft. You pay a premium, and in exchange the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as outlined in your policy. Auto insurance provides coverage for: Property – such as damage to or theft of your car Liability – your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage Medical – the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation, and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses Policies are generally issued for six-month or one-year timeframes and are renewable. What is a premium? The premium is the amount you pay for an auto insurance policy. Insurance premiums for different types of insurance are determined using a diverse set of statistics and factors, such as age, health, credit rating, field of work, driving history, and geographic location. Your driving record will have the largest impact on your insurance premium. Premiums are paid in regular installments, such as monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually. Car insurance premiums may have discounts if paid in certain ways, such as in a lump sum or via automatic bank draft. Always ask insurance carriers whether they offer any such discounts. Who is covered under an auto insurance policy? An auto insurance policy follows a car — not a driver. For example, if someone borrows your car (whether for a few hours or a few years), that person is using your insurance policy. Laws do vary a bit from state to state. For example, a few states (Kansas, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and Wisconsin) do not allow you to exclude a driver from your policy. So in those states, if your spouse has a string of DUIs, he or she will be factored in to your premium costs. However, maybe you have a young driver in the household who only is allowed to drive one particular car — let’s pretend that car isn’t the new Toyota Supra you’ve got parked in the garage. That young driver could have his or her own policy and not be an insured driver on the adult/family policy thus potentially saving money. If you habitually lend your car to someone, whether that person is a relative or boyfriend, consider adding that person as a covered driver on your policy. And make a point to remember that if that person gets into an accident or has a DUI, it will be reflected in your insurance policy. Be sure to inquire about these kinds of situations with every insurance carrier providing you with a quote. What is the law in North Carolina? North Carolina Motor Vehicle Law requires that Automobile Liability coverage be continuously maintained. The minimum coverage requirements are $30,000 Bodily Injury for each person, $60,000 total Bodily Injury for all persons in an accident, and $25,000 for Property Damage. Motor Vehicle Law also requires Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorists coverage. Auto insurance policies with the minimum Bodily Injury and Property Damage limits are required to include Uninsured Motorists coverage. Policies with limits greater than the minimum must provide combined Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverage. What is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage? Uninsured Motorists (UM) Coverage will provide protection when an uninsured driver, who is at-fault, injures you or another covered individual. It also provides property damage coverage. Underinsured Motorists (UIM) Coverage will provide protection when an underinsured driver, who is at fault, causes injury to a covered individual. An underinsured driver is one whose limits of liability are less than your UIM limits, and not enough to cover the losses of the people the underinsured driver injures in an at-fault accident. What is GAP Insurance? Guaranteed Auto Protection insurance is the difference between the actual cash value of a vehicle and the balance still owed on the financing. For example, let’s say you financed a car for $25,000. Over time you paid off $2,000 of the loan. Then you had an accident. It may be the case that while you still owe $23,000 on your car, its actual cash value is only $19,000 — a $4,000 gap. If you have gap insurance, it can help you cover the $4,000 gap between what you owe on your loan and what your car is worth, after your deductible. GAP insurance only covers damage to your vehicle, not other property or bodily injuries resulting from an accident. A GAP policy will not cover your deductible. It is only used in the event of a total loss from a covered accident, not for mechanical repairs. GAP coverage is mainly used on new and used small vehicles and heavy trucks that are being leased or on which payments are being made. Several insurers sell GAP insurance including Allstate, State Farm, Progressive, and AAA, although it may be called loan/lease gap coverage, or new car replacement coverage. What is the best way to shop for car insurance? Most states have a buyer's guide for auto insurance to get you started. Consider what your needs will most likely be — are you a commuter in work traffic or a Sunday driver? Are you towing farm equipment or carting the family to soccer practice? Consider using the following resources to narrow down which companies you’ll want to ask for a quote: Consumer Reports Car Insurance Buying Guide NC Department of Insurance: A Consumer’s Guide to Automobile Insurance Also consider whether you have access to any discounts through special memberships. Various professional, civic, and recreational organizations offer discounts, such as American Business Women’s Association, Mary Kay, National Federation of Federal Employees, AARP, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. (Remember that there are discounts to be had for multi-car coverage, bundling policies such as homeowners or renters, and various programs such as driver monitoring.) You may also wish to look for a local agent to be your primary point of contact. Independent agents can offer policies from several insurance companies while providing you with personal service. This way no matter if you stick with one insurance carrier for years or make a change whenever your personal situation changes, you have greater continuity in terms of an agent who knows you and your needs. What’s the best way to compare car insurance policies? Comparing the fine print details of policies can get overwhelming fast. Remember that coverage is often sold with a per-person and total-per-loss-maximum amount. For example, 100/300/50 coverage means you have coverage of $100,000 bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 total bodily injury liability insurance per accident, and $50,000 property damage liability per accident. In North Carolina the minimum is 30/60/25. Decide what kind of deductible you want, i.e. $500 or $1,000. Decide whether you want things like towing and labor coverage, or if you don’t need it because you already belong to an organization like AAA. Be clear about what you need covered, whether it’s one car or two cars, or one car and a motorcycle and a golf cart and an RV (bundles bring discounts). Once you can get quotes to be as “apples to apples” as possible, then you can determine which quotes are worth pursuing further. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and have your agent run numbers on a few different configurations, like changing the deductible, paying in a lump sum vs. monthly, or scraping optional add-ons like rental reimbursement coverage. It’s an agent’s job to work with you to find the best options! How do I keep my insurance premiums from going up? Drive safe. In North Carolina speeding 10 mph or less over a speed limit under 55 mph can result in a 30-percent rate increase. Speeding 10 mph or less over the speed limit at 55 mph or higher will increase rates by 45-percent. Passing a stopped school bus can result in an 80-percent increase. Aggressive driving may raise your rates by 195 percent, while a DUI or racing brings a whopping 340-percent rate increase. Also know that certain cars cost more to insure than others. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, a nonprofit research organization funded by auto insurers, collects data on insurance claim frequency and insurance cost per vehicle. In a given year, insurance companies make claim payments of roughly $900 on average per vehicle. Some vehicles get into more accidents, and some have higher payouts for each accident. As it turns out, many of the cars that are most expensive to insure are large or midsize luxury vehicles, while the least expensive to insure are small to midsize SUVs. Published in USA Today in 2018, the data for 575 vehicles of 2014-2016 model years revealed that among the most expensive to insure are the following: 25. Kia Forte 24. Mercedes-Benz C class four-door 2WD 23. Nissan Versa 22. Nissan Sentra 21. Lexus IS 350 four-door 2WD 20. Audi A4 four-door 2WD 19. Land Rover Range Rover Sport four-door 4WD 18. Infiniti Q50 four-door 4WD 17. Dodge Dart 16. Kia Rio 15. Nissan Maxima 14. Scion tC 13. Chrysler 200 2WD 12. Scion iA 11. Ford Mustang two-door 10. Lexus GS 350 four-door 2WD 9. BMW 4 series two-door 2WD 8. Audi A7 four-door 4WD 7. Dodge Challenger 6. Kia Optima hybrid 5. Dodge Charger 2WD 4. Scion FR-S 3. Mitsubishi Lancer 2WD 2. Mercedes-Benz S class four-door LWB 2WD 1. Tesla Model S four-door electric 4WD   Of course there are also the 25 cheapest vehicle models to insure. We weren’t surprised to see Toyota on this list. 25. Toyota Sequoia four-door 4WD 24. Chevrolet Traverse four-door 4WD 23. GMC Acadia four-door 2WD 22. Ford Edge four-door 2WD 21. Ford F-150 SuperCab 4WD 20. Toyota 4Runner four-door 4WD 19. Ford F-250 SuperCab 4WD 18. Subaru XV Crosstrek 4WD with Eyesight 17. Mini Countryman 4WD 16. Honda Odyssey 15. Honda CR-V four-door 4WD 14. Honda Pilot four-door 2WD 13. Nissan Leaf electric 12. Chevrolet Corvette convertible 11. Subaru Legacy 4WD with Eyesight 10. Volvo XC60 four-door 2WD 9. Ford Expedition four-door 2WD 8. Acura MDX four-door 2WD 7. Mazda CX-5 four-door 2WD 6. Jeep Wrangler two-door SWB 4WD 5. Subaru Forester four-door 4WD with Eyesight 4. GMC Canyon crew cab 4WD 3. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD 2. Acura RDX four-door 2WD 1. Subaru Outback 4WD with Eyesight   No matter what kind of car you are considering buying, new or used, Mount Airy Toyota can help find what’s right for you. We know you have several decisions to make, but rest assured that shopping with us is always a good one! Come visit us at 508 N. Andy Griffith Parkway in Mount Airy, N.C. We’re open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Plus you can always find us online at mountairytoyota.com or give us a call to schedule a test drive at 336.786.2118.

First manufactured in 1997 and introduced worldwide in 2000, the Toyota Prius was a car that appealed to a distinct subset of consumers: green-minded folks open to new car technology who put value on fuel economy and reliability. Once a dowdy little subcompact with a stubby nose and an under bite, the Prius has evolved into something you probably didn’t see coming. That is unless you pay attention to foreign car markets. Four years after being released in Toyota’s home country of Japan, an all-wheel-drive Prius is finally hitting the U.S. this month. The 2019 Prius AWD-e comes as one of the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive-equipped passenger cars available with estimates of 52 miles-per-gallon city / 48 miles per-gallon-highway / 50 mpg combined. The all-new Prius is so impressive, Motor1 had to say something about it: "Even with two decades of hybrid dominance, it finally took an AWD version to make the Prius an interesting drive. And this time it has nothing to do with its looks.” Beyond interesting, early 2019 Prius AWD reviews, like this one from Cnet’s Roadshow, have even tossed around words like fun and drift: To give me an idea of how the AWD-e system works, Toyota set up a small handling course in Kohler, Wisconsin, consisting of a 6 percent grade and a chicane, both of which were covered in fresh snow. There's no drama as the 2019 Prius stops halfway up the grade and accelerates from a standstill — moderate throttle application is met with the whir of the electric motor doing its business, and that's it. No muss, no fuss. On the chicane, however, the AWD Prius feels pretty darn lively. Not knowing when the system will activate the rear motor means the tuchus wiggles arrive suddenly, but not in a way that makes the car feel unstable or anything. It's just a little excitable, and judicious throttle application can, in fact, get a little bit of a drift going on. I'll even go so far as to say it feels fun in the snow. By comparison, the front-wheel-drive Prius feels a little more stable on the chicane. Having all the power go through the front wheels means that the rears will just follow suit all day long, with no ability to move under their own power. I wasn't allowed to take the FWD Prius up the 6 percent grade for comparison, and while I feel confident that a running start will get the car up a hill like this just fine, it's definitely easier to tackle in the AWD variant. On the roads in Sheboygan and Kohler, both Prius variants feel nearly the same. On cold, dry roads, the extra boost from the rear motor doesn't change how the vehicle acts when accelerating from a stop -- and again, it never engages over 43 mph, so both cars drive exactly the same at highway speeds. It's not a system that's supposed to be felt at all times, so in that sense, it works exactly as Toyota's engineers intended, offering extra peace of mind but only when necessary. Toyota’s press release for the 2019 Prius AWD-e doesn’t use the word horsepower even once. Instead they mention the car’s “ultra-low 0.24 coefficient of drag,” “electronically controlled planetary-type continuously variable transmission,” and “ultra-low internal friction and efficient combustion” that “exceeds 40 percent thermal efficiency, which is among the highest in the world for a gasoline engine.” This is the kind of talk you won’t hear about Ram trucks or GMC SUVs. Here are a few undeniable facts on the 2019 Prius AWD-e: The 2019 Prius AWD-e is redesigned with a new consumer in mind: the active adult who wants a bit of cool factor with their hybrid car. The AWD-e will offer available Genuine Toyota Accessory cargo crossbars for roof rack attachments. Think carrying bikes, kayaks, snowboards, or a cargo carrier. Inside there’s 62.7 cu. ft. of carrying space with the standard 60:40 split rear seatbacks lowered, which is more than most full-size sedans and some small SUVs. The standard Entune Audio system for AWD-e models includes the Entune Multimedia Bundle: 6.1 in. touch-screen display, AM/FM CD player, 6 speakers, auxiliary audio jack, one USB 2.0 port with iPod connectivity and two 2.1-amp USB charge ports, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming, Siri Eyes Free, and an integrated backup camera display. The Limited grade comes standard with the Entune Premium JBL Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite, with a large 11.6” HD multimedia display. Note that the 2019 Prius does come as both a FWD and AWD in various trim configurations. On all 2019 Prius models, the driver’s door Smart Key System, and the Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry come standard, as does Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), a comprehensive bundle of active safety features including: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/ PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/ SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). All models have been updated with piano black accents around the shifter, on the steering wheel, and on the center console cover plus two additional 2.1 USB ports, an enlarged Qi wireless phone-charging tray to accommodate larger phones, and a standard heated steering wheel on XLE, XLE AWD-eand Limited models. There also are two new colors for 2019: Supersonic Red and Electric Storm Blue. The 2019 Prius AWD-e is expected to come in around the same as the 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid 's starting MSRP of $28,150. The FWD 2019 Prius has manufacturer-projected fuel economy estimates of 58 mpg city / 53 mpg highway / 56 mpg combined on the L Eco grade, while the LE, XLE and Limited have projected fuel economy ratings of 54 mpg city / 50 mpg highway / 52 mpg combined. The base front-wheel-drive L Eco trim starts under $25,000. AWD LE and XLE models will run closer to $30,000. All-wheel drive is not offered for the Limited trim, which is priced just over $33,000. For comparison, the 2019 Prius C, a hatchback, starts at $21,530. The 2019 Honda Insight LX starts at $22,930. The 2019 Nissan Leaf S starts at $29,990. The 2019 Prius comes with Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty, which applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. A 60-month warranty covers the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation. The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 96 months/100,000 miles. The Prius also comes standard with ToyotaCare, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. For Prius, the complimentary 24-hour roadside assistance is extended to three years (over the standard two years on other models). Overall, Toyota’s lineup for 2019 is extensive. Whether or not a Prius is right for you, there’s several Toyota vehicles from which to choose: 2019 Yaris $15,450 starting 32/40 est MPG 2019 Corolla $18,700 starting 28/36 est MPG 2019 Corolla Hatchback $19,990 starting 30/38 est MPG 2019 Prius C $21,530 starting 48/43 est MPG 2019 Camry $23,845 starting 29/41 est MPG 2019 Camry Hybrid $28,150 starting 51/53 est MPG 2019 Avalon $35,500 starting 22/32 est MPG 2019 Avalon Hybrid $36,500 starting 43/44 est MPG 2019 Mirai $58,500 starting 67/67 est MPG 2019 86 $26,455 starting 21/28 est MPG 2019 Sienna $31,115 starting 19/27 est MPG 2019 Tacoma $25,550 starting 18/22 est MPG 2019 Tundra $31,420 starting 15/19 est MPG 2019 C-HR $20,945 starting 27/31 est MPG 2019 RAV4 $25,500 starting 26/35 est MPG 2019 RAV4 Hybrid To be released spring 2019 2019 Highlander $31,330 starting 21/27 est MPG 2019 Highlander Hybrid $36,970 starting 30/28 est MPG 2019 4Runner $34,910 starting 17/21 est MPG 2019 Sequoia $48,700 starting 13/17 est MPG 2019 Land Cruiser $84,765 starting 13/18 est MPG Also on the horizon at the 2019 Nightshade editions of the Camry and Highlander. The Camry will sport black 18-inch wheels, a black spoiler, black window molding, black mirror caps, a black shark fin, black door handles, and black exterior Toyota emblems. It will comes in Midnight Black Metallic, Celestial Silver, and Super White. The Highlander follows suit with 19-inch black wheels, black lug nuts, and black headlights and fog lamps. The Highlander drops this month in a limited run of 5,000 available in Midnight Black Metallic, Predawn Gray Mica, Salsa Red Pearl, and Blizzard Pearl. The 4Runner Nightshade, available in Midnight black Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic and Blizzard Pearl, is out now. Don’t forget to check out our new vehicle specials available at Mount Airy Toyota, as we are still clearing 2018 stock to welcome these new 2019 models to the lot. You’ll also find great deals in our pre-owned inventory that includes certified Toyotas and other manufacturer trade-ins. We can work with you to value your trade and get you behind the wheel of something new. We invite you to explore our offers and incentives, learn more about our military and college grad. rebates, and schedule a test-drive. Come visit Mount Airy Toyota at 508 N. Andy Griffith Parkway in Mount Airy, NC. We’re open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. You can always find us online at mountairytoyota.com or give us a call at 336.786.2118.

Do you travel with your pet? At Mount Airy Toyota, we love our four-legged companions. Whether you’re headed to the dog park, vet’s office, or further on down the road, check out these great accessories to make the ride more enjoyable for you both. Tailgate Dumpster This trash can-on-the-go is designed with keeping your car’s interior fresh in mind. The silicon holder attaches to the exterior of your car with super strong magnets, so that, in the event there’s not another trash can nearby for your tied-off waste after a walk, you can stash away the mess until you find a more suitable receptacle. Be advised that the magnets are not designed to withstand the buffeting wids from high-speed driving, so unless you want to experience a justified act of road rage, don’t drive down the highway with a can full. Auto Grass Is your dog the worst back seat driver? Keep Fido off the center console with this silicon mat that feels weird to most paws. The soft spikes of grass won’t hurt, and you won’t have to use a traditional horizontal screen to keep all four feet in the back seat. Seatbelt Swivel Tether Use your vehicle’s regular seatbelt buckles to provide a secure harness that prevents Fido from jumping out the door when it’s opened or climbing in the front seat while you’re driving. This click in tether of seatbelt material clicks in and has a rotating carabiner that prevents getting tangled. WeatherTech Mats, Protectors & Barriers Sturdy, custom-fit design makes WeatherTech mats a superb addition to any vehicle — whether you have a pet or not! WeatherTech offers floor mats, trunk mats, seat back protectors, back seat protectors (for first, second, and third row seating), as well as pet barriers for behind second or third row seats, and pet ramps. Chilly Dog Boyfriend Dog Sweater You don’t need a boyfriend for your best friend to put on this classy grey sweater with a dashing red stripe around the collar. Any dog would be proud to wear this sweater that limits the “cute” while also controlling some of all the shedding inside the car. Plus it’s wool, so your hound will stay warm wherever your adventures take you. Molly Mutt Car Seat Covers Don’t be boring! Molly Mutt’s seat covers are versatile and available in a variety of patterns. Machine washable, the covers have adjustable straps and non-skid backing. Plus you can add embroidery to personalize the cover for your pooch in particular. Snagle Paw Accordion Stairs Ramps take up lots of room. Instead get these folding stairs built on a sturdy metal frame that rests on your vehicle’s tailgate. The stairs are easy to unfold and fold back up for quick storage, and they will support dogs up to 100 lbs. Cat Car Freshener Chances are that Fluffy likes car rides much less than Fido. You can still bring along the feline spirit with these funky air fresheners. There are corgi butts and French bulldogs too, or you can get a customized freshener painted to look like your Frenchie, Golden Retriever, Maltese, Pomeranian, Shiba Inu, or shorthaired cat. Cat Car Coaster If you’re the kind who tends to forget a fast food cup about half full of melted ice and watered down soda in the cup holder until the paper cup finally gives way and leaks, you need car coasters. Consider these tribal kitties as your cup companions. Travel Cat Litter Box Headed on a road trip? Pack this collapsible litter box with you, scoop out waste immediately after use, then simply toss the whole thing when the trip is over. Window Bed Perhaps a long ride in a carrier isn’t necessary so long as kitty has some sunshine and a view. This bed suction cups onto any glass — like an RV window — that’s at least 30 inches by 14 inches. If your furry friend is ready to ride in something new, come see us at 508 N. Andy Griffith Parkway in Mount Airy or give us a call at 336.786.2118.

What is Toyotathon? It’s more than just a sale. Inventory levels and factory incentives come together to create the ultimate buying time at Mount Airy Toyota. It is your best chance to drive away in a brand new RAV4, Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Corolla or other Toyota of your dreams. How big of a deal is Toyotathon? We’re not the only ones talking about it: But the fact of the matter is that these Toyotathon deals WON’T last. Our inventory already has been moving fast. Let’s take a look around the lot before you consider throwing away your shot this Toyotathon season. New 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Double Cab 5' Bed V6 4x4 AT 4WD STOCK T1900 VIN 5TFCZ5AN1JX159211 4x4, Back-Up Camera, Satellite Radio, iPod/MP3 Input, Bluetooth, CD Player, Trailer Hitch, Aluminum Wheels, Keyless Start, Dual Zone A/C, Heated Leather Seats, MP3 Player, Privacy Glass, Steering Wheel Controls, Lane Departure Alert, Rear Parking Assist Sonar. Cavalry Blue exterior and Black interior features a V6 Engine with 278 HP at 6000 RPM*. “The Tacoma TRD Pro is almost boundlessly capable. It's also entertaining and presumably reliable, because Tacomas are and always have been, so it's an easy truck to recommend on its merits alone.” — The Drive The TRD Pro more than just an off-road truck. It’s a truck designed to go over, through, and beyond with absolute swagger. It’s a truck that inspires confidence. And this truck looks good coming and going. This truck is one of only two TRD Pro Double Cab 5’ Bed V6 4x4 AT models left in stock! Save $1,002 now at Mount Airy Toyota. $45,949 See our entire new Tacoma inventory. New 2019 Toyota Avalon Touring STOCK T1672 VIN 4T1BZ1FB3KU002684 Navigation, Sunroof, Heated Seats, Back-Up Camera, Premium Sound System, Satellite Radio, iPod/MP3 Input, Onboard Communications System, Aluminum Wheels, Keyless Start, Dual Zone A/C, Rear Spoiler, Steering Wheel Controls, Child Safety Locks, Heated Mirrors, Blind Spot Monitor with Lane Change Assist Brownstone exterior and black interior with touring trim features a V6 Cylinder Engine with 301 HP at 6600 RPM*. “The redesigned 2019 Toyota Avalon bridges the gap between the Camry and its pricier Lexus sibling, the ES 350. This latest fifth-generation model makes all of the expected improvements over its predecessor with more features, stronger performance, added refinement and more efficient engines.” — Edmunds.com Sleek, shiny, sporty, the Avalon Touring is the family car that doesn’t feel like a dud. You’ll enjoy the spacious cabin, large navigation/entertainment display, ample storage, ability to climb mountains and pass with confidence. This Avalon is the only touring model left in stock! $43,164 See our entire new Avalon inventory. New 2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Premium 4WD with Navigation STOCK T1891X VIN JTEBU5JR8J5592223 Heated Seats, CD Player/MP3 Player, Entune Prpemium Audio with Navigation, Sunroof, Onboard Communications System, Alloy Wheels, Tow Hitch, 4x4. Classic Silver Metallic exterior and Black Graphite interior, SR5 Premium trim features a V6 Engine with 270 HP at 5600 RPM*. “The 4Runner’s 270-horsepower V6 is a marvelous engine, delivering ample power for passing, merging and towing... Off-road, Toyota’s 2018 4Runner SUV exhibits amazing capabilities. Its narrow body and up to 9.6 inches of ground clearance make it easy to move through rugged trails.” — Kelley Blue Book Toyota’s motto is “Let’s go places,” and indeed you will in this 4Runner for which “classic” even describes its paint job. Get out there and explore. Don’t just cross intersections — cross streams! The 4Runner is the fun you’ve always wanted with the reliability you need. This is one of only two SR5 Premium 4WD models left in stock. Save $2,210 now at Mount Airy Toyota! $39,395 See our entire new 4Runner inventory. New 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE CVT STOCK T1731 VIN 4T1B21HK4JU507276 Heated Leather Seats, Dual Zone A/C, Keyless Start, Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, Bluetooth, Chrome Wheels, Remote Truck Release, Steering Wheel Controls, Child Safety Locks. Galactic Aqua exterior and Black interior, Hybrid XLE trim, and a 4-Cylinder Engine with 208 HP at 5700 RPM*. “The Camry has received a major overhaul, including a new platform, more aggressive styling, and vastly improved driving dynamics... Inside and out, the new XLE gives off a premium vibe foreign to Camrys of yore. Built on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA), the 2018 Camry rides on a 2.0-inch-longer wheelbase and is about an inch and a half longer, an inch lower, and three-quarters of an inch wider. The resulting proportions and elegantly sloping roofline give it a more substantial, upscale look.” — Car and Driver This is the only Camry Hybrid XLE left in stock! Save $3,740 now at Mount Airy Toyota! $35,085 See our entire new Camry inventory. New 2018 Toyota RAV4 LE FWD STOCK T1910X VIN 2T3ZFREV4JW487232 Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, Bluetooth, CD Player. Rear Spoiler, MP3 Player, Privacy Glass, Keyless Entry, Child Safety Locks, LED illumination package, with Magnetic Gray Metallic exterior and Black interior features a 4-cylinder engine with 176 HP at 6000 RPM*. “The RAV4 is a smart buy for shoppers surveying the highly competitive compact SUV segment. It aligns with Toyota's well-established reputation for reliable, high-value vehicles, and it is a practical and appealing choice for families or adults with an active lifestyle.” — US News & World Report The RAV4 was the best-selling non-pickup vehicle in the US in 2017 — that many people can’t be wrong. Known for its ability to appeal across age ranges, the RAV4 offers SUV capabilities with smaller, crossover-style practicality. This is one of eight LE FWD RAV4 models left in stock! Save $3,426 now at Mount Airy Toyota! $22,977 See our entire new RAV4 inventory. New 2019 Toyota Corolla SE CVT STOCK T1874 VIN 5YFBURHE7KP871486 Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, Bluetooth, CD Player, Aluminum Wheels Rear Spoiler, Remote Trunk Release, Keyless Entry, Child Safety Locks, Steering Wheel Controls with Classic Silver Metallic exterior and Black interior features 4-cyclinder engine with 132 HP at 6000 RPM*. “Toyota’s Corolla built its reputation by offering great value for the money, solid fuel economy and industry-leading quality. It retains these attributes for 2019 while also adding a great package of safety features.” — Kelley Blue Book If you want a car that you can buy now and drive into the ground years and years and hundreds of thousands of miles into the future, a Corolla is incredibly hard to beat. It’s the kind of car that you wouldn’t hesitate to buy for your teenager, college kid, commuter, or grandparents. And while the Corolla used to be rather innocuous, the 2019 has style. This is one of only two Corolla SE CVT models left on the lot! Save $2,437 at Mount Airy Toyota now! $19,471 See our entire new Corolla inventory. Toyotathon specials don’t stop there! There are offers on all Toyotas depending on model and year, which may include special financing and lease options in addition to available college grad and military rebates. A bonus to Toyotathon is that we receive new trade ins that we also want to sell quickly! If you’re looking for a used car, check our inventory daily so you won’t miss out, or — better yet — call us or come in to talk to one of our experiences sales agents so that when what you want comes on the lot, you’ll be among the first to know. Our used car inventory right now includes: Pre-Owned 2013 Ford Taurus 4dr Sdn SEL FWD Oxford White, 77,908 miles, $10,465 Pre-Owned 2011 Toyota RAV4 FWD 4dr 4-cyl 4-Spd AT Ltd Classic Silver Metallic, 120,705 miles, $11,987 Certified Pre-Owned 2016 Toyota Camry 4dr Sdn I4 Auto SE Cosmic Grey Mica, 33,849 miles, $16,578 Certified Pre-Owned 2018 Toyota Camry LE Auto Blue Crush Metallic, 31, 464 miles; $18,683 Pre-Owned 2017 Buick Envision FWD 4dr Essence Chili Red Metallic, 53,000 miles, $21,743 Certified Pre-Owned 2017 Toyota Sienna LE FWD 8-Passenger Predawn Gray Mica, 44,925 miles, $21,745 Pre-Owned 2015 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sport Sdn RWD Black, 44,319 miles, $24,956 Pre-Owned 2010 Ford Super Duty F-450 DRW 4WD Crew Cab 172 Lariat Oxford White, 94,966 miles, $28,941 Certified Pre-Owned 2017 Toyota Tacoma SR5 Double Cab 5' Bed V6 4x2 AT Barcelona Red Metallic, 9,899 miles, $29,487 Pre-Owned 2016 Toyota Highlander AWD 4dr V6 XLE AWD Blizzard Pearl, 56,506 miles, $29,987 Certified Pre-Owned 2016 Toyota Tundra 4WD Double Cab 5.7L FFV V8 6-Spd AT SR5 4WD Radiant Red, 61,464 miles, $31,995 Pre-Owned 2017 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD 4dr 1500 LT 4WD Jet Black, 51,364 miles, $35,984 Pre-Owned 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab 5' Bed V6 4x4 4WD Silver Sky Metallic, 7,897 miles, $35,995 Perhaps you’re looking to trade in your vehicle. Go ahead and get started on the process so that you know more about your buying power. You can value your trade and applying for financing online. We look forward to seeing you at Mount Airy Toyota. Come find us at 508 N Andy Griffith Pkwy., Mount Airy, NC 27030, visit us online at mountairytoyota.com, or call us at 336.786.2118. Our staff and our customers come from parts all around the area. From Winston-Salem to Galax, Boone to Statesville — drivers from across the region come to Mount Airy Toyota to find the service and selection they need. We pride ourselves on earning our customers trust and repeat business. We want you to not only buy your next car from us but all your next cars!  Our sales team is available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and our parts and service departments are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!

You have seen them out on the road, possibly owned one, and very likely have ridden in a Toyota Camry before, whether getting a ride from a family member, friend, or ride-sharing service —want to know how we know this? It is because the Toyota Camry is the best-selling sedan for the past 15 years in the United States. The year of 2018 was no different for the steady Toyota Camry sales, and brought on the redesigned, stunning 2018 Toyota Camry, which reworked the sedan that America knows and loves from bumper to bumper. Here at Mount Airy Toyota, we can assure you that if you’re considering purchasing a 2018 Toyota Camry, you’re making the right choice. Why is it smart to buy a Toyota Camry? The reviews and ravings about the Toyota Camry speak for themselves, but we can cover the highlights. The Toyota Camry is one of the best vehicles in the midsize car class, and for good reason. It’s a blend of practicality and dependability, alongside an edgy, sportier look outside and inside with great, new standard features across the levels. The sportier look blends into the driving experience as well, delivering an athletic, agile drive that will transform all your previous thoughts about the Camry. The Camry still has the best combination of quality and value in its class, which is why US News Car Rankings named it their 2018 Best Midsize Car for the Money. What are the trim levels and features? Ranging from the least expensive, but far from truly basic L trim to the most expensive, all-out XSE trim, you will find the Camry that fits your wants and needs. According to cars.com, the most important features per trim level are as follows: Standard features (L trim level, $24,380 with destination): 203-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine Eight-speed automatic transmission 16-inch wheels Manual air conditioning Backup camera with fixed backup lines Bluetooth Cloth seating Six-way manually adjustable driver's seat; six-way manually adjustable front passenger seat Adaptive cruise control (over 25 mph) Single USB port Tilt/telescoping steering wheel 7-inch touchscreen with Siri Eyes Free, Google voice controls, iPod connectivity and Scout GPS smartphone application compatibility to port navigation from your phone to the touchscreen The LE trim level ($24,885) adds: 17-inch alloy wheels Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat 60/40 split-folding backseat Overhead console with map lights and sunglasses storage Anti-theft alarm The SE trim level ($26,085) adds: Single-zone automatic climate control Sport SofTex-trimmed front seats (faux leather/cloth combination) Leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters 18-inch black alloy wheels Performance-tuned shock absorbers Performance-tuned springs Performance-tuned stabilizer bars Rear spoiler The XLE trim level ($29,335) adds: Standard suspension Regular steering wheel without paddle shifters Dual-zone automatic climate control with backseat vents Blind spot monitoring system Three USB ports Backup camera with dynamic predictive backup lines Seven-inch high-resolution gauge cluster display with vehicle vitals and options Leather-trimmed upholstery Eight-way power passenger seat Heated front seats Adaptive cruise control (all speeds) Eco, Normal and Sport modes Proximity keyless entry with push-button start HomeLink The XSE trim level ($29,885) adds: 19-inch black alloy wheels Performance-tuned shock absorbers Performance-tuned springs Performance-tuned stabilizer bars Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters Smoked headlights and taillights Rear spoiler Dual-exiting exhaust with quad tips The optional 301-hp V-6 engine on the XLE ($35,285) or XSE ($35,835) adds: Panoramic glass roof with power tilt/slide moonroof Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging Head-up display 8-inch touchscreen JBL stereo Efficient. Enjoyable. Excellent. The trim levels of the 2018 Camry deliver different experiences, each that are far from boring. Many argue that the biggest changes to the 2018 Camry happened underneath the hood, with the new structurally enhanced chassis. The new design philosophy delivers architecture that uses ultra-high-tensile steel and unique construction techniques to improve rigidity, meaning that the vehicle is now literally strengthened from the ground-up. You can feel the difference during your driving experience, where handling and steering responsiveness, ride quality, and noise control are all seriously improved. Engine options across all trim levels are new to the Camry, including the base 2.5-liter-four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as the optional 3.5-liter V-6 engine with D-4S direct fuel injection, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Camry Hybrid meets 52-MPG EPA, with 208 total system horsepower from its 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with a single electric motor. This Hybrid model provides a smooth switch between all-electric and batter-assisted driving, especially in Sport mode. The battery pack for the Camry Hybrid improves weight distribution to aid handling, and improves acceleration from boosted electric power, providing a ride equivalent to a traditional transmission with the hybrid efficiency of fuel economy. Depending on the trim level, the LE has a lithium-ion pack, offering an extra six miles per gallon compared to higher trim levels, while the SE and XSE have a nickel-metal hydride that offers higher performance despite a heavier setup. The new rear suspension in the 2018 Camry delivers an overall more composed ride-and-handling mix, particularly over bumpy roads. Not only redesigned, but styled for 2018. What’s new in the Toyota Camry? Well honestly, almost everything. The 2018 brought innovative new design and overhaul, making the most exciting Camry ever made. From outstanding fuel economy, the option of going Hybrid, to standard features, there’s a lot of to love about the 2018 Camry. Upon first glance at the 2018 Camry, there are noticeable changes from previous models. The Camry has undergone a pretty drastic styling makeover. The first aspect that stands out to the observer is the updated color palette with a two-tone black roof and sleeker overall body shape, creating a more attractive and aggressive profile and provides better aerodynamics. The Camry’s body is actually lower, wider, and longer than prior models, and the wheelbase have grown 1.9 inches. The interior matches the exterior, using high-quality materials throughout, with an attractive and functional design. You will find soft touch materials on the dash, console, and door trim, as well as accent stitching on the front and rear seats. Tasteful design and light leather brings the interior together into a modern, airy style. Like previous models, the 2018 Camry seats five people, with roomy and supportive seats and a great, quiet cabin. Drivers over 6 feet tall will find more than enough head, shoulder and leg room in the vehicle, especially in the driver’s seat where there is a great wheel-to-pedals ratio. The intuitive infotainment system is a crowd pleaser, with bright menus and good overall performance. The SE model offers a wireless charging dock, which is a feature you’re also a newer smart phone user. You also cannot forget about the cargo space either; the Camry offers about 15 cubic feet of trunk space, which is plenty for a dozen shopping bags or your luggage as you travel between cities. Talk to me about safety. Safety is a major selling point for those interested in a Camry. The Toyota Camry strikes a perfect balance between safety and cutting edge technology. It is important to note that every trim level of the 2018 Camry includes the Toyota Safety Sense Package. This package includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and high-speed adaptive cruise control. The Camry toggles accordingly between high beams and low beams, detected by a windshield camera during nighttime driving that detects headlights and taillights of preceding vehicles. The 2018 Camry is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ when equipped with LED headlights. Everything aims to improve safety, as well as comfort in this vehicle, such as the re-styled dashboard and lowered beltline to improve outward visibility. The increased chassis, as mentioned previously with the Camry built from the ground-up, and increased body strength has led to improved occupant protection in an offset front of head-on collision. The Toyota Safety Sense Package bundles innovative features designed to protect you and your passengers from harm at no additional cost. Who is the 2018 Camry marketed for? Unlike the a powerful truck or minivan, the Camry is adaptable and does not fit into cookie-cutter market segment. It rides and drives as a shockingly sporty vehicle, with sharp steering and strong brakes, making it fun and exciting to drive. However, the Camry is also enjoyable and functional for its passengers, due to plenty of room in the front and back with both sets of seats engineered for improved ergonomics and increased foot room. The 2018 Camry also has an outstanding reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, meaning this car will last throughout whatever phases of life you need it to. Is it a family car? For years, families have remained loyal to the mid-sized sedan for its commitment to affordable and reliable transportation. While Toyota always follows through on their guarantee for excellence, the 2018 Camry is not simply a reiteration of previous Camry models. The 2018 is a new level of refinement and driving experience According to IIHS vehicle ratings, the 2018 models include 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachments (LATCH), with 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability lower anchors from other seating positions. These anchors are easy to find, not too deep in the seat, and easy to maneuver around, making the Camry easily accessible for travelling with children in car seats. Our customers are our family, here at Mount Airy Toyota, and this is a car we would absolutely feel safe and confident watching our family drive off in. The 2018 Camry is easily one of the most well rounded cars in its class, not to mention that it’s easy to drive, fuel-efficient, loaded with technology, and so customizable between the multiple trim levels. Why buy from us? We, as well as our customers, love to brag on our excellent sales staff. Our staff has been with the dealership for years, and are not only well-versed in their field, but with our Mount Airy locale. Mount Airy Toyota has an award winning service department with excellent Google Rankings. After your purchase, you can rest assured that you have dealership with a service team behind you for any tune-ups your car might need. Why buy now? We know the holiday commercials can seem far off, but the season is upon us! Placing a shiny red bow on your family’s new vehicle is not an impossible dream. In fact, around the holidays, and particularly, at the end of the year is the best time to buy a vehicle! Your timing can actually save you thousands this November! End of the year sales are in full swing, and the holiday season is kicking off this Black Friday with deals you can’t turn down! Outgoing models like the 2018 Camry are hitting especially sweet deals this time of the year, as it’s time to bring the 2019 models into the lot. What about resale value? It’s always smart to be in the know about the long-term value of your car. We all have experienced the feeling of driving off the lot with a new car and knowing it has dropped thousands in value. But, did you know that the 2018 Camry is rated #1 for resale value? Whether in a few years you’re looking to upgrade or ready for a change, the Camry retains its value, carrying on the Camry legacy of reliability, longevity, and popularity for years to come. In fact, check out our pre-owned Camrys available now! Come visit Mount Airy Toyota in Mount Airy, NC, shop online at mountairytoyota.com, or call 336.786.2118.   Com

Michael Brinegar, better known as Mr. B here at Mount Airy Toyota, knows customer service. In fact, he’s written the bible on it — at least when it comes to car sales. He keeps notes to help him remember not just what kind of cars each customer has purchased over the years but their special occasions like birthdays. He emphasizes that he’s there for his customers even long after the sale has closed, always providing his customers with his personal cell phone number and email address. He keeps tabs on himself too, setting personal goals and tracking his success. That success has led to being on top. Michael joined the Mount Airy Toyota team in 2016. In 2017 he was named a “Toyota PRO” (Professional Retail Outstanding Salesperson) — one of the top 10 percent of salespeople in the Southeast Toyota Region who also is Toyota Certified. That year he sold 215 vehicles. That year he sold 215 vehicles. With another month left in 2018, he’s already beaten his own record. “I’m a blessed man,” Michael says. “I’m a blessed man in this business, I have good clientele.” Michael fondly remembers a young boy along with his family buying a car. The boy knew about Michael’s “car bible” and asked what number where they going to be. In their case, they were number 198. Another family has racked up several numbers, purchasing 11 vehicles from Michael. “Be fair, honest, treat people as you want to be treated,” Michael says. “Imagine you are on the other side of the desk.” Michael wasn’t always a salesman. Self-described as an “old country boy,” Michael was born and raised in Sparta, N.C. His previous career was in the music industry. He performed and recorded Southern Gospel music professionally for 14 years. In his free time now, you’ll still find him playing and writing music. He plays the guitar, bass, piano, and drums. He and his wife had four children — one of whom is a Marine — and are now grandparents to four. Four is a bit of a magic number for the couple. They also have four dogs — three Jack Russell Terriers and a French Bulldog. Michael started selling cars in 2015 and has only ever sold Toyotas. It’s a brand in which he believes — he drives a Camry and his wife drives a RAV4. Dealership owner, Scott McCorkle, asked him to join the Mount Airy Toyota team in 2016. “Some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life I’ve met at this dealership,” Michael says. Team members get to know one another, respect one another, and help one another. Their family dynamic carries over to how they treat their clients. Michael enjoys taking the time to find the vehicle that meets a customer’s needs and budget, whether it’s new or used and whether they come in knowing exactly what they want or with no real idea at all. “It does my heart good at night to know I helped someone,” Michael says. “When a repeat or referral customer says, ‘Here’s Michael and I trust him,’ it feels good!” Come meet Michael at Mount Airy Toyota! We’re open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 508 N. Andy Griffith Pkwy in Mount Airy, N.C. You can also reach us online at mountairytoyota.com or call us at 336.786.2118. We look forward to seeing you!

Look on the road these days and you’ll see a lot of one thing and not a lot of another – SUVs vs. sports cars. Buyers have driven away from small, cramped, and low and toward spacious seating with a view from a higher vantage point. At least for the traditional consumer, having room for the family and all their things, or perhaps the crew of friends and all their dogs, has made SUVs more popular than ever before. Toyota's recent release of the C-HR and its upcoming release of the 2019 RAV4 are strong contenders in a crowded market. Toyota has long earned love and loyalty for its RAV4, 4Runner, Highlander, Landcruiser, and Sequoia models. This year brought the introduction of the crossover C-HR, which was designed to fit a particular niche missing from the traditional Toyota lineup: something to bridge the gap between the SUVs, sedans, and compact cars. Edmunds named the C-HR as one of the Best Small SUVs for 2018. Those who remember the Toyota FJ Cruiser will recognize the signature white roof available on the C-HR with a Radiant Green Mica, Ruby Flare Pearl, or Blue Eclipse Metallic body. Its body styling is edgier than typically seen from Toyota, in part because the C-HR carried over from the maker’s now defunct Scion brand. The C-HR’s comes with push-button start, a 7-inch touch screen, 4.2-inch information display for the driver, auto-dimming rear view mirror, electric parking brake, and folding mirrors. Walk up to your C-HR with smart key technology and once you touch the door handle, the mirrors will unfold and display an illuminated logo on the ground. These lights complement the car’s halogen headlines, LED daytime running lights, and sculpted taillights. However, Toyota shoppers will have noticed a lack in connectivity across the line. There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto currently available, but this tech is expected to be added in 2019. What else is coming from Toyota in 2019? The fifth-generation RAV4. The RAV4 was the bestselling non-pickup in the US in 2017. It was last redesigned in 2013. The new model will feature Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with rear Driveline Disconnect, meaning that the engine can not only direct available power to the rear wheel, it can pick the wheel that has the most traction. When all-wheel drive no longer is needed, the system disconnects and reverts to front-wheel drive. Partnered with the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, which Toyota started using 2015 with the Prius, the result is a vehicle built to go further and do more. “The implementation of the TNGA platform allows RAV4 to adopt the charisma of a bolder and tougher SUV, but in a package that is lower and wider,” writes Toyota. “The longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks provide a stable, confident driving platform. For off-road prowess, the shorter front and rear overhangs will aid in RAV4’s ability to overcome rugged terrain.” To be released in winter 2018 (soon!), the RAV4 will come in three versions: the premium Limited, rugged Adventure grade, or stylish XSE Hybrid that will be available spring 2019. On the Limited edition, standard features include a front-row moonroof and 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory and 2-way lumbar support, plus a newly-designed 7-inch Multi-Information Display (MID) and, for the first time in a Toyota vehicle in North America, a Digital Display Rearview Mirror. Options include ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic moonroof, and hands-free liftgate. With the expected arrival of the 2019 RAV4, our specials at Mount Airy Toyota on the 2018 RAV4 are better than ever. From the XLE to the LE to the SE, you’ll find saving of up to $3,799 on select models. In fact, there’s savings to be had on every Toyota model now through the end of the year. Plus our pre-owned vehicles also are marked down. Toyotathon is on at Mount Airy Toyota. Come visit us at 508 N. Andy Griffith Pkwy. in Mount Airy, NC, visit us online at mountairytoyota.com, or give us a call at 336.786.2118.