Chicago Auto Show Visitors Can Drive from the Snow to the Beach Without Ever Leaving McCormick Place
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW VISITORS CAN DRIVE FROM THE SNOW TO THE BEACH WITHOUT EVER LEAVING MCCORMICK PLACE
The Toyota RAV4 'Blizzard to Beach' indoor drive course features off-road maneuvers for testing vehicle capabilities
CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2016 - It's winter in Chicago, which sparks dreams of warm weather and the beach. Visitors to this year's Chicago Auto Show can take a road trip from a blizzard to "fun in the sun" without ever leaving McCormick Place.
Toyota is putting a unique spin on the legendary Chicago Auto Show indoor test tracks with its RAV4 Blizzard to Beach drive. The drive course showcases the RAV4 as a no compromise vehicle for active young couples who desire high fuel economy, utility, style, versatility and capability.
The RAV4 Blizzard to Beach drive starts on the snowy streets of Chicago. Drivers will traverse a simulated ice crossing before scaling a snow bank that tilts the vehicle on its side. After vehicles pass over a teeter-totter that allows them to climb and then slowly drop down after reaching the midway point, the course demonstrates the RAV4's new birds-eye view technology. This Toyota-first technology employs four cameras that are mounted on the front, the side mirrors and rear of the vehicle to project a panoramic view of the vehicle's surroundings on the central seven-inch touch display. The experience continues with a log walk and sand path as drivers make their way to the warmth of the coast with palm trees and beach volleyball.
The RAV4 Hybrid is all-new for 2016, which the eighth hybrid in Toyota's vehicle lineup and part of a refreshed 2016 RAV4 line with a new exterior look and a technologically enhanced interior. Available driving vehicles will feature a mix of hybrid and gasoline RAV4 models.
The RAV4 Blizzard to Beach drive takes place next to the Toyota exhibit in the McCormick Place South Hall. It operates during public show hours from Feb. 13-21.
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About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 30 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 42,000 people (more than 33,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.67 million cars and trucks (more than 2.35 million in the U.S.) in 2014 - and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Contact:
Rick Bourgoise
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Tel: (313) 259-2004; E-mail: richard_bourgoise@toyota.com
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