With Christmas only a few days away, many people in Omaha and Lincoln will be hitting the roads to head to Grandma’s house to celebrate the holidays. While this chilly time of the year brings to mind images of Christmas trees, hot chocolate and all things cozy and warm, driving during this winter season can be not only a nuisance but dangerous as well. To get you safe to Grandma’s house this year, here are some tips from Performance Auto:

• Do a double check of your car before leaving: If you’re going on a road trip, make sure your headlights are working and tires are properly inflated. Don’t forget to have your battery tested too. You don’t want to be stranded in cold weather with a dead car battery.
• Don’t drive with a dirty windshield: Dirt and salt buildup on your windshield can impair your vision and could lead to an accident. Clean your windshield before you leave home and replace old windshield wipers. Don’t forget to keep an ice scraper in your car too. Lastly, make sure you windshield washer fluid is topped off.
• Check road conditions prior to leaving: Check out the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s road closures and detours prior to leaving. If there are any changes to your route you can plan them out now before you leave rather than navigating unfamiliar roads.
• Don’t tailgate: Tailgating often leads to accidents, especially during winter. The rule of thumb is to leave one car length for every 10 mph you’re driving. It will take you longer to slow down the car in icy or snowy weather conditions, so stay far enough behind to avoid getting into a fender-bender.
• Store a winter travel safety kit in the car: Just in case you would get into an accident or have winter weather delay your arrival, keep some basics in the car with you. Include some water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, hats and mittens in the back seat because you never know when you might need it.
• Last but not least, take your time when driving in Nebraska. Lots of different weather can cause a delay in driving. Slow down on the roads during times of ice, snow, rain, wind and hail. While you’re anxious to get to your destination, take your time so you get there safely.

Remember also, if the weather gets worse while you’re driving and you think it’s too bad to continue driving, find a safe spot to pull over and wait awhile. Don’t feel bad if you make the smart decision to stay home when weather conditions are bad. You’d rather be tardy to the party and arrive in one piece then end up in an accident.

For information on how to avoid winter weather driving dangers check out about driving in ice and snow.

The Performance Auto Group wishes you a safe and happy holiday season!

The Performance Toyota dealership in Lincoln, Neb. was bustling today with camera shutter clicks and the murmur of humble “thank yous.”

Three Nebraska-based non-profit organizations – Arbor Day Farms, the Food Bank of Lincoln and Lighthouse – were presented with well-deserved new Toyota vehicles, courtesy of the 100 Cars for Good contest which wrapped up August 17th. The significance of the occasion was made evident with the presence of Toyota Product Communications vice president James Colon, who presented each organization with keys to their new rides.

Colon, who is responsible for creating, gathering and managing information and promotional campaigns for Toyota vehicles, flew in for the ceremony. He was just as surprised as anyone that three of the 100 winners hail from the same Nebraska hub. “Three cars in one area…in such close proximity. That’s amazing!” he said as we small talked about this special event. An all-around amicable and outgoing gentleman, I was curious to see how Colon weighs in on subjects ranging from social media to Husker football.

James Colon (second from left) congratulated each representative alongside Performance Toyota of Lincoln's General Manager Tom Ballard (center).

Since 1957, Toyota has donated over half a billion dollars to non-profits in the U.S. – clearly it’s a brand that focuses on giving back to the community. “We’re a company that sees just beyond selling cars and trucks,” Colon said. The 100 Cars for Good program is one of the larger, more publicly promoted events that was able to get this point across.  Not only does Toyota care for consumers, but also for dealers involved in the process -“The real success of this program is the engagement between our dealer partners and organizations in the communities where they do business,” Colon said.

In terms of engagement, it’s not a new concept for Toyota to use social outlets to promote their products, and Colon understands first hand that social media is where a great deal of business-to-consumer interaction is taking place. Voting for the contest occurred solely online through Facebook, and it looks like there will be similar campaigns in the future. “We’re going to use social media in a variety of ways to interact with our consumers,” Colon said. “It’s really where that activity is going right now.”

Colon went on to talk about how Toyota understands consumers’ increased desire  to stay connected, and expanded on the technology of their debut infotainment system, Entune, in the 2012 Camry. “It has a robust system using voice activation, allowing you to engage safely while in your car.” He’s especially excited about the Pandora Radio access, which streams live with Entune – “I’m a big fan,” he said.

Moving on to the subject of hybrids and the increased production of plug-in electric vehicles, Colon revealed Toyota’s future plans for the beloved Prius hybrid, which has dominated its vehicle segment for the last nine years. With more electric vehicles popping up in the market, tweaks must be made to match the competition: “In the early part of 2012 we will introduce a Prius plug-in, which allows you to operate your vehicle for about a 15 mile range on electric only, and allows you to charge the vehicle with a regular 110-volt outlet in three hours,” Colon said. He also announced Toyota’s plan to add a fully electric vehicle to their green fleet. “We plan to introduce our first hydrogen fuel-cell [pollution-free electricity generation technology] vehicle in the U.S. in 2015,” he stated.

100 Cars for Good 2011 took place for 100 consecutive days beginning May 9 and ending Aug. 17.

He remains optimistic and confident that Toyota will continue to meet the demands of consumers for years to come, even as government standards become stricter. How will Toyota leverage consumers’ spending with more advanced technology that makes is possible to depend less on gas? “At Toyota we think there are going to be a number of solutions to reduce the reliance on foreign oil,” he stated. “For example, efficiency of engines is getting better and hybrid technology is delivering better gas mileage. Our 2012 Camry mid-sized sedan will average over 40 miles to the gallon.” Colon asks consumers to evaluate their automotive spending in light of increasing gas prices. “Do you want to save a little money driving a more fuel-efficient car, or do you want to spend it at the pump?” With a starting MSRP of around $22,000 and up to 51 mpg city, the affordable 2011 Prius Hybrid is a good indication that Toyota knows how to make that choice easy for consumers.

While Toyota’s the No. 1- selling brand in the nation, Colon’s in the land of corn where Husker football reigns supreme. When asked to provide a score prediction for Saturday’s game against the University of Wisconsin, Colon got a little flustered.  Laughing, he replied “I’m not in the prediction business, but I’m in Nebraska today so I say ‘Go Huskers’!”

Looks like both the Toyota brand and Colon like to play it safe with consumers.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011 three Nebraska-based non-profit organizations were presented with brand new Toyota vehicles after winning the Toyota-sponsored 100 Cars for Good contest: Lighthouse, a community based after-school program for youth in Lincoln, the Food Bank of Lincoln, which provides leadership in community efforts to address hunger in Southeast Nebraska, and Arbor Day Farm, which promotes environmental programs that focus on trees, conservation and environmental stewardship.

Thousands of non-profits from around the nation applied to enter the contest, which makes it extraordinary that Nebraska was home to three of the winners, more than any other state.  Representatives from each organization gathered at the Performance Toyota-Scion dealership in Lincoln Wednesday morning, exchanging handshakes and “congratulations” before being handed giant keys by the vice president of Toyota Product Communications, James Colon. See more about his thoughts on the event in the recap of our exclusive interview.

Pictured from left to right: representatives from the Food Bank of Lincoln, Arbor Day Farm and Lighthouse.

The 100 Cars for Good contest was a program aimed to reward do-gooders from around the nation with new cars for the purpose of furthering and aiding their community efforts, which crossed a broad range of categories. Thousands of entries were reduced to 500 finalists, selected by an independent panel of judges, experts in the fields of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. These 500 finalists resulted in 100 winners, after one vehicle-recipient was chosen each day for 100 consecutive days beginning May 9th.  All voting took place via Facebook.

Facebook made the perfect platform for this contest, especially for non-profits who seldom have marketing teams to promote themselves and their causes. These organizations are used to relying on word-of-mouth advertising, but with such a grand prize on the line, many of them bumped up their promotional game.  A variety of tactics resulted in these three organizations gaining the votes needed to win.

Lighthouse representatives used their social circles for support, including past fraternity brothers, the adolescents within the program and over 2,200 newsletter recipients. They even convinced board members who were not active members on Facebook to create accounts and spread the word. They will use their new Toyota Highlander hybrid to take kids on outings and field trips with the intent of expanding their ambitions.

The folks at the Food Bank of Lincoln took a team approach, consulting Lighthouse (who had won a couple weeks before) on their strategy, as well as other food banks in the region who also won vehicles. It seems as though like-causes and fellow Lincoln non-profits were willing to lend a hand, and a vote. They will use their new Toyota Sienna to haul loads of Food to and from their headquarters.

Arbor Day Farm, and organization that already receives high praise and recognition from most green initiatives in the region, counted on their established reputation while utilizing employees, guests, family and friends to boost their vote count. Twitter also seems to have served them well. Arbor Day will use their new Toyota Sienna Hybrid, which fits in perfectly with their cause, to take visitors to and from the airport.

Perhaps the high amount of winners in Nebraska speaks to the kind of supportive community we have. This is a great example of how social media can create social good right here in the heartland, where local support and community building are clearly demonstrated.

Just when you thought America’s No. 1 selling sedan couldn’t get any better, the 2012 Toyota Camry (photo courtesy of www.toyota.com) evolves with a fully-equipped multimedia service – Entune. This driver-friendly program provides the ability to sync all your SmartPhone applications with an in-car tech system. This makes finding directions, streaming music, getting minute-by-minute game scores and making dinner reservations on-the-go simpler than ever. Other perks of the “infotainment” service include hands-free communication using Bluetooth technology and seamless connectivity on and off the road. Best of all, the service comes free-of-charge for the first three years.

Besides Entune, there have been other minor tweaks to the classic Camry. As the best-selling car in the U.S. for the last 15 years, you may ask, “Why fix it if it ain’t broke?” Toyota took the core elements of the Camry and built on them. The new model has higher fuel-efficiency, superior safety technology, steadfast Toyota performance and a collection of interior design enhancements increasing comfort and charm. Toyota made huge strides in the functionality of the Camry that together endow this particular model with elements comparable to those of other more expensive luxury sedans.

(Photo courtesy of Toyota.com)

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) awarded the XLE Hybrid Toyota Camry the Vehicle of the Month Award for September 2012, citing overall design, multimedia availability and driving dynamic (which is often sacrificed in many Hybrid vehicles) as features that make it a frontrunner in its class. Contributing factors to the 2012 Camry Hybrid’s high ranking appeal also include:

• Aerodynamic design to lower drag
• Low-rolling-resistance tires
• 33/39 mpg EPA fuel economy rating with a combined average of 41 mpg (an enormous 12 mpg increase in city driving and an impressive gain of 8 mpg for combined driving cycles, compared to the 2011 Camry Hybrid)
• Toyota Synergy Drive: Combines a four-cylinder engine, Small high torque electric motor & Nickel-metal hydride batteries

Aside from the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in the super practical Camry Hybrid, the Camry L (base-grade model), LE, SE, and XLE will have a standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. The SE and XLE models will be available with the 3.5-liter V6. All models come with improved features that make it a leader in the mid-sized sedan category:

• Safety – Rear seat airbags that are completely compatible with child seats, High-strength steel in B-pillar and rocker-panel reinforcements, Smart Stop Technology brake-override system, Toyota Safety Connect, Blind-spot monitoring system (optional)
• Multimedia – New Entune System, Standard USB port, Wireless connection to compatible Bluetooth, Speed-sensitive volume control, 6.1 inch screen and six speakers (not available in L)
• Exterior – Bolder front end with new headlamps and honeycomb grille, Chrome foglight recesses on L, LE and XLE models, Squared-off aero corner trims at the front and rear, Contoured sides with angled character line, 17-inch alloy wheels (on LE, XLE and SE)
• Interior – New curvier dashboard design, Aluminum-color and chrome trim, More inviting and spacious interior, Driver seat with manual adjustable lumbar support, Height-adjustable driver seat, Optional leather-trimmed buckets with high-quality hide, contrasting stitching and perforated faux suede inserts.

In spite of all the new features and refinement that Toyota has added, prices on all 2012 models will be lower than they are today. At $22,500 LE is down $200. Starting at $23,000, SE models are down $1,000. XLE drops $2,000, coming in at $24,725. All models will be available this fall at all three of our Performance Toyota and Legends Toyota dealership locations. Schedule a test drive today!

As football season kicks off, fans are prepping the very best of their tailgating arsenal.  Perhaps the most important element of any memorable pre-game grill out is the centerpiece – your ride.  A tailgate-worthy SUV must be versatile enough to act as both shelter and storage.  Performance Auto offers a full line of SUVs that rise to the occasion, ready to meet fans’ pre-pigskin needs. Below are our top five picks:

2011 Ram 1500

Aside from its enormous storage bed and “game-face” appearance, the Ram 1500 has a few tricks up its sleeve that will surprise even the most experienced tailgater. Its most exciting feature may be the “RamBox” storage management system, providing weatherproof, illuminated, lockable storage compartments integrated into both fender sides. Coolers, grill tools, groceries and blankets will fit easily in these hidden compartments. To top it off, you can customize the interior of the truck with in-floor compartments for even more storage. One thing’s for sure with this truck – it will make your pre-game prep a breeze.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

As the athlete of the auto world, the Jeep Grand Cherokee brings its A-game to any sporting event. Get to the game early with your crew of up to five, who will fit comfortably in the spacious interior seating cabin. Don’t worry about room for your gear – chairs, a grill, coolers and even more can fit easily in the wide-mouthed back hatch, especially with the fold-down rear seat.

If you want to crank up some pre-game music or game coverage, the six-speaker, 506-watt sound system will surely provide crystal clear audio, with two 1-inch A-Pillar mounted tweeters, two front-door 6 x 9-inch full-range speakers and two rear-door 6.5-inch full-range speakers.

2011 Honda Odyssey

There is nothing mini about the presence of this car at any tailgating event. Its roomy interior and removable center console provide ample storage for standard game gear, and the robust sound system makes it a prime option for concert tailgates. Plus, it’s totally family friendly if the little ones want to stay inside the main cabin and watch the 16.2-Inch Honda DVD Ultra Wide Rear Entertainment System. Become submerged in sound as rhythms of the available 12-speaker Premium Audio System fill the cabin in 5.1 surround Sound Theater Mode.

2011 Lexus RX 350

Not every tailgate session has to get wild – for the more tame tailgaters out there, the Lexus RX 350 is a perfect mix of class and function to get you charged up for the event. Catch pre-game announcers or your favorite artist’s greatest hits on the Mark Levinson sound system, and feel free to open up the surprisingly large storage space of the back hatch to present your array of food and drinks. The remote touch navigation system will also come in handy when you try out a new shortcut, trying to beat the crowd home after the show.

2012 Ford Explorer

This multi-purpose party machine was born for parking lot shin digs. Not only can it house seven members of your crew, but all the ways it can transform to accommodate different cargo makes for an event of its own.  A 50/50 split-folding third row, 60/40 second row, and fully adjustable front passenger seat means the possibilities are endless. If your tailgate festivities leave you too exhausted to make it into the stadium, recline and relax inside the Explorer, while the game pumps through the premium HD sound system.

We’ve revealed our starting  line-up, now let us know what vehicle you’re working with this season. Comment below, or visit any of our Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Honda, Ford or Lexus dealerships to get more information on the contenders mentioned in this post.