A16 TUESDAY, February 19, 2013
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AUTO MARKET
Toyota took a simple-is-better approach with the interior of the 2013 RAV4, and it shows. Soft-touch materials are used throughout and it comes in three colours — including a terra-cotta red.
IT’S PLAYTIME By Jim Robinson METROLAND MEDIA wheelstalk.com
T
OYOTA THINKS YOU need more time to play in your life and they believe the 2013 RAV4 is the best way to do it. In fact, “Let’s Play” is the key line to a huge advertising campaign just being launched this month to herald the arrival of the fourth generation RAV4 in Canadian Toyota stores. Along with Camry and Corolla, RAV4 is one of the three core models in the Toyota lineup. In fact, RAV4 is second only to Corolla in overall Canadian sales. But, in terms of crossover utility vehicle (CUVs) sales, RAV4 is third behind top seller Honda CRV and Hyundai Tucson. Toyota wants the top spot and it thinks a host of new features, plus a price drop of between $1,000 and $1,300 across the board compared the 2012 models, should help convince more than a few minds. However, re-designing the 2013 RAV4 is not a task to be taken lightly. Made in Canada at Toyota’s Woodstock, Ont., assembly plant, the next-generation RAV4 doesn’t stray far from the winning formula that has made it one of the top selling compact CUVs in this country. Making sure not to tamper too much with its overall size and
Congratulations from everyone at River City Nissan to
Toyota RAV4 2013 at a glance Body style: Five-passenger, five-door compact CUV Drive method: Front-engine, front/all-wheel drive Engine: 2.5-litre DOHC inline four-cylinder (176 hp, 172 lb/ft) Fuel economy: FWD 8.7/6.4/7.7L/100 km; AWD 9.1/6.8/8.1L/100 km Tow rating: Up to 1,500 pounds Price: FWD LE $23,790; FWD XLE $27,000; AWD LE $25,990; AWD XLE $29,200; AWD Limited $31,700 Website: toyota.ca
Jim Wilson on achieving top
SALESPERSON of the MONTH for the month of January.
SEAN TURNER Owner/General Manager
SHANE JOLICOEUR Sales Manager
CRAIG GALLANT
manual shift mode. The engine/ transmission mapping has three modes — Normal, Eco and Sport. In Normal, the torque split is front/rear 100/0, but it can go up to 50/50, depending on conditions. It can also be locked up to 50/50 for sand and show. In Sport, the torque split is 90/10. Toyota invited Canadian auto writers to the plant in Woodstock that builds Corolla, Matrix, Lexus RS350 and the RAV4. When I was there four years ago, it was literally a green field and is now a massive facility that, along with the assembly plant in Cambridge, gives Toyota a huge presence on the Ontario and Canadian economy. X See FOCUS A17
Sales
DEREK DENEEF
Internet Manager/ Finance Manager Sales
RIVER CITY NISSAN shape, the 2013 RAV4 features a new transmission, optional dynamic torque control and a bevy of upgrades to improve performance and handling, along with improved cargo capacity and premium look and feel interior. The new RAV4 is powered by a 2.5-litre, inline four-cylinder engine with 176 horse power and 172 pound-feet of torque, with a choice of front- or all-wheeldrive. Acceleration time from 0-100 km/h is 8.9 seconds — faster than the 10.2 seconds of the 2012 model. Fuel-consumption numbers for the FWD model are 8.7/6.4/7.7L/100 km city/ highway/combined and 9.1/6.8/8.1L/100 km. The transmission is a sixspeed automatic with sequential
JIM WILSON
RYAN PREECE
KEN ROBERTSON
DEVON BEYER
Sales
Sales
Sales
2405 East Trans Canada Hwy, Kamloops On the Kamloops Auto Mall in Valleyview
Phone: (250) 377-3800 www.rivercitynissan.com • sales@rivercitynissan.com
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