TORRANCE, Calif., June 9, 2010 - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
(TMS) is highlighting its Star Safety System?, which combines five
safety technologies as standard equipment on all new Toyota models, as
part of a new national advertising campaign.
The campaign features Toyota owners and engineers talking about
safety and quality via television, print, digital (
www.toyota.com/safety), radio
and outdoor advertising platforms.
The Star Safety System includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC),
Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic
Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
"From Yaris to Land Cruiser, Toyota is the first full-line
manufacturer to combine these five key accident-avoidance technologies
as standard equipment on every model," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division
group vice president and general manager. "Toyota customers tell us
they want to know more about the Toyota safety story, and the Star
Safety System is just one of the features that reassure them about the
safety and quality of our vehicles."
All five Star Safety System components feature advanced
accident-avoidance technologies, including the following:
? Vehicle Stability Control (VSC),
which helps prevent wheel slip and loss of traction by reducing engine
power and applying brake force to the wheels that need it. Toyota VSC
monitors steering angle and the direction a vehicle is traveling, and it
senses when the front or rear wheels begin to slip. When VSC senses
this loss of traction or slip, the system reduces engine power and
applies braking to the individual wheels that need it, in order to help
correct the slip and keep the vehicle on its intended path.
? Traction Control (TRAC) helps
maintain traction on wet, icy, loose or uneven surfaces by applying
brake force to the spinning wheel or wheels. TRAC sensors are activated
when one or more wheels start to slip. The system is designed to limit
engine output, applies the brakes to the spinning wheel(s), and
transfers power to the wheels that still have traction.
? The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent brakes from locking up by "pulsing" brake pressure to each
wheel in order to help the driver maintain control in emergency-braking
situations. Without ABS, emergency braking can cause brakes to lock up
and cause a vehicle to skid. Toyota's ABS sensors detect which wheels
are locking up and prevent the lockup by "pulsing" the brakes at each
wheel independently. Pulsing releases brake pressure repeatedly for
fractions of a second - a reaction time not possible for humans. This
keeps the wheels rotating and helps the driver to avoid going into a
skid.
? Electronic Brake-force Distribution
(EBD) is incorporated in Toyota's ABS technology. EBD helps keep a
vehicle more stable and balanced when braking. During an abrupt stop,
momentum can cause a vehicle to tilt forward, reducing the brake force
of the rear tires. EBD responds by redistributing brake force. Wheels
with more braking effectiveness receive more brake force and wheels with
less effectiveness receive less brake force, helping to prevent brake
lockup. EBD is especially helpful when carrying cargo. Sensors
recognize the extra load the cargo puts on the rear axle, so brake
pressure on the rear wheels is increased because the extra weight
improves braking effectiveness.
? Brake Assist is designed to detect
sudden or "panic" braking and add the full pressure needed to help
prevent a collision. If a driver fails to apply enough pressure to the
brake, the Brake Assist sensors will detect this sudden or "panic"
braking and add pressure. This additional pressure can help the driver
avoid hitting the object.
Another feature commonly known as brake-override technology will be
added to all Toyota, Lexus and Scion models by the end of 2010. This
braking-system enhancement will automatically reduce engine power when
the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are applied simultaneously
under certain driving conditions. Many of the vehicles currently at
Toyota dealership already include brake override as standard equipment.
The 2011 models already on sale featuring brake override including
Camry, Sienna, Avalon and Scion xB, in addition to some 2010 models.
Brake-override technology has always been and will continue to be
standard on all Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles as part of the hybrid
system control logic.
