New Toyota Information

[Jay Kopycinski <jayk@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I saw this and thought it was kinda interesting.......

[Compton, CA]  Toyota today announced its new Air Ride
suspension system to debut on its 2001 line of trucks
and sport utility vehicles. The Air Ride system is
composed of an inflatable air bag at each corner of the
vehicle. These air bags replace conventional leaf or
coil springs and provide a smoother ride for the
occupants. The system is also adjustable for comfort,
load, and ride height by adding or removing air from
the bags using the on-board air compressor.

Wayne Dleifrib, a spokesman for Toyota USA, commented,
"It’s like riding on a cushion of air. Gone are the
days of buying a truck or sport utility vehicle and
having it ride like a truck. We’re finding more and
more people are just not interested in the utilitarian
use of a 4WD, and we’re ready to sacrifice those
capabilities to please those customers. Most consumers
just want a rugged looking vehicle to haul the kids
around or go to the grocery store. With this new
system, they can have that tough image and a pillowy
ride all in one."

Taking it one step further, the Adventure Step is an
additional option available on higher end models. This
feature automatically lowers the entire vehicle several
inches when the key is turned off to make entry and
exit easier. Rising back to full ride height on command
restores the rugged image of the vehicle while driving.