The versatile Toyota Venza is a unique vehicle, combining the design of a sport sedan with the capabilities of a crossover; it also used to be unique among Toyota products in being offered only with option packages—not configured into different trim levels, like the rest of the automaker’s lineup. And while nothing has changed with Venza’s customer-satisfying combination of good looks and adaptable design, Toyota has—to further satisfy customers—now aligned the 2012 Venza models to better match shoppers’ expectations. In other words, the Venza is now being offered in LE, XLE and Limited “grades” for the new model year.

Available with either a four- or six-cylinder engine, and front- or rear-wheel-drive, the Venza LE introduces consumers to the family with a starting price that begins at $27,185. That affordable MSRP brings standard interior features like a dual-zone automatic climate control with an air filter and second-row seat vents, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 3.5-inch multi-information display, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio controls, overhead console with map lights, adjustable “personal reading lamps” for second-row passengers, and three 12-volt power outlets. Also in the mix: A standard six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA/SAT sound system with Bluetooth music streaming, USB port, auxiliary input jack, and automatic sound leveling.

Offering a more luxurious, high-content cabin is the Venza XLE, which benefits from wholesale upgrades that include leather seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-trimmed shift knob; four-way power-adjustable front-passenger’s seat; multi-stage heated front seats; satin mahogany wood grain-style accents; anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer; Toyota’s “Smart Key System,” which enables pushbutton start and keyless entry; power rear liftgate; rearview camera system; and a customizable multi-information display with adjustable font size and tri-lingual (English, French and Spanish) voice commands for navigation. The Venza XLE opens at $30,655 and also is available in both engine and drive configurations.

The range-topping Venza Limited is a V6-only affair that lives up to its position in the model hierarchy by adding standard content such as a JBL navigation system, panoramic glass roof with power front moonroof, and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps with automatic high beams. The latter can automatically turn down the candlepower of the Venza’s high-beams if the setup detects oncoming traffic. The starting MSRP of the Venza Limited is $36,925.

And notably, while the cost of the 2012 Venza LE represents a minor increase of just $240 as compared to a similarly equipped 2011 model, the pricing on the Venza XLE and Limited decreases and reflects customer savings of between $460 and $880.

For more information on the 2012 Venza, venture into a local Toyota dealership today.

Leveraging a recent investment of $147 million that also created some 240 new jobs here in the U.S., the latest addition to Toyota’s engine facility in Huntsville, Ala., is now operational. Notably, the start of this expanded production came in the same year in which Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (TMMAL) is celebrating a decade of manufacturing success.

“Toyota has been a reliable and dedicated partner in strengthening relationships with the Alabama communities where their associates live and work,” said Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. “Now, ten years later, TMMAL has made a major economic impact in this region. TMMAL is an enduring, reliable and dedicated partner in building healthy communities in Alabama which can, in turn, strengthen our nation and our world.”

The added jobs and investment at TMMAL are being used to build the fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines used in American-made vehicles like the Toyota Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Sienna and Venza. In addition, the plant also builds V6 and V8 engines for the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma pickups, along with the Toyota Sequoia SUV. Which makes the plant the only Toyota facility in the world currently building all three engines.

“TMMAL’s team members’ focus on quality, safety and outstanding commitment to continuous improvement and team work is second-to-none,” said Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President and Representative Director Atsushi Niimi. “Engines now produced in Huntsville will go into eight Toyota models assembled in North America, furthering our commitment to localizing production. And by adding four-cylinder engines to TMMAL’s mix, we will be better prepared to react to changes in market demand.”

While Toyota’s lineup continues to offer an assortment of crossovers and SUVs, the Venza still delivers a unique combination of sportiness and versatility. According to Toyota Dealer Maryland, for 2012, the Venza will also get a new three-model grade line to give customers even more to choose from.

Buyers will be able to get the 2012 Toyota Venza in either LE, XLE, or Limited grades. The LE and XLE models are available with all powertrain combinations including four-cylinder, V6, front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The range-topping  Venza Limited comes with the V6 engine only, but offers the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.

What isn’t changing is the Venza’s fresh, modern design, which was the creation of Toyota’s Calty Design studios in Newport Beach, Calif., mad Ann Arbor, Mich. With the same footprint as a midsize sedan, it offers loads of interior space for passengers, while still offering plenty of maneuverability. Additionally, Toyota Santa Fe New Mexico buyers will also appreciate the Venza’s SUV attributes, such as cargo space, towing capability and available all-wheel drive traction.

Powering the base 2012 Venza is a 182 horsepower 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 27 mpg highway for the FWD model. A powerful 3.5-liter 268 horsepower V6 is also available. The latter delivers 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

For more on the 2012 Venza, visit Toyota Dealer KY or your nearest Toyota dealer.

While most car advertisements feature 30-somethings at play, doing hip, athletic things and generally being cool, the current campaign for the Toyota Venza crossover is doing something drastically different. The latest television spots show older folks looking to have some fun.

Developed by agency Saatchi & Saatchi LA, the spots feature aimless twenty-somethings concerned about their parents’ dull, boring lives. However, as the kids are talking, the ads show their parents driving around with friends, mountain-biking, and generally having fun day and night.

“We like this interplay between them, and wanted to speak to both audiences in a way that acknowledges the perceptions each hold of the other,” says Shauna Axton, Saatchi’s strategic planning director. “We wanted to play on the fact, for example, that traditionally the way millennials have been perceived is as a generation of entitlement, that their parents raised them to be ‘special’ and the center of attention, and that they can do whatever they want.”

Axton told MediaPost that it was interoffice conversations that led to the idea for the Venza ads. “All of us [millennials] at Saatchi having conversations about our own parents, and their new sense of freedom now that we have moved out. One of my own experiences is calling my parents, and no one is home, and there’s this role reversal where I’m telling them they really need to tell me when they are going out somewhere.”

Check out the humorous commercials below. For more information on the 2011 Toyota Venza, see your nearest Toyota dealer.

Cars that defy conventional classification often find trouble gaining ground. Perhaps a perfect example of this is the Ford Taurus X, which Ford has recently decided to remove from its lineup. While it may be a setback for ambiguous body styles, Toyota has released the 2009 Venza to significant praise, despite its ambiguous part-crossover, part-station wagon look.

Both the Toyota Venza and the similar Ford Taurus X can be had with powerful 3.5-liter V6 engines, and both can be had with a six-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the Toyota and the Ford are also priced around the same, excluding lucrative incentives currently available at Toyota dealers Olympia and at other showrooms.

In addition to similar pricing and engines, the Toyota Venza offers either front wheel drive, or all-wheel drive – same as the Ford. Even the overall dimensions are similar, although the Ford is about 11 inches longer in overall length.

The Toyota Venza is an interesting vehicle introduction from Toyota, as the Ford Taurus X has been available for a while now, and has faced dismal sales. Even pre-owned Taurus X’s are facing slowing sales among used cars Kansas City dealers. Buyers already have plenty of options when it comes to crossovers, and can even find station wagons, but do Spokane Toyota buyers really want another vehicle that blends the two? With the fusion of the body styles, it seems as though automakers these days are scared to develop station wagons, or at least are scared to refer to vehicles such as the Venza and Taurus X as station wagons.

While the Toyota Venza has been well-received, time will tell whether it will ultimately sell. While Albuquerque Toyota dealers are certainly excited to see fresh new styling, the Ford Taurus X faced dismal sales even despite its distinctiveness. Perhaps the fact that the vehicle blends the benefits of both the Camry and the Highlander will help give the Venza an image that will be much more appealing to that of its short-lived domestic competition. With the Taurus X out of the way, the Venza can now set its sights on the Edge and the Nissan Murano.

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Look for a full Toyota Venza review right here shortly.