The crossover vehicle category continues to grow in numbers and expand in definition. While the 2009 Toyota Venza might seem like a Camry wagon at first glance, Toyota contends that it is not. We at autoMedia took the all-new Venza for well-rounded test drive and—came up with some conclusions of our own. So just what is the new Venza? Sitting on the Camry’s 109. 3-in. -wheelbase platform, it is slightly shorter but 3. 3 in. wider and 5. 5 in. taller. Its 70. 1 cu. ft. of EPA-spec cargo volume and 108 cu. ft. of total passenger volume are far greater than the Camry’s yet far small of the more utilitarian Highlander’s 95. 4 and 145. 7 cu. ft. Its closest competitor is probably Nissan’s stylish Murano. The exterior starts with a bold face led by a distinctive grille, headlamps and standard fog lamps. The body shape is aerodynamic, with small overhangs, forward-sweeping A-pillars, crisp character lines and a low roofline. The rear is dominated by an angled rear hatch and capped by a functional spoiler and wide wraparound taillamps that connect with the hatch door. Flared fenders, large wheel openings and standard 19-in. wheels and tires (20-in. on V-6 models) provide an aggressive, sure-footed look. Inside, Venza’s standard “Optitron” speedometer and tachometer and multi-color instrument panel can be decorated with available satin mahogany faux wood trim. The standard dual-zone automatic climate system’s controls are centrally located on the upper console for simple access. Cargo utility is enhanced by standard fold-down 60/40 rear seats, with one-touch levers and a tonneau cover. Venza is offered in a single grade with a choice of front- and all-wheel drive and eight option packages—Tow Prep, Security, Convenience, Lighting, Leather, Comfort and two Premium packages—and just four stand-alone options. Those are JBL premium audio, navigation, a power tilt/slide Panoramic Glass Roof with a separate fixed glass panel over the rear seats, and rear-seat DVD entertainment with a nine-inch show, JBL Synthesis surround sound, two wireless headphones, a remote, an auxiliary mini-jack, a 120-volt outlet and RCA mini-jacks. One industry first is a multi-information show with adjustable font size and content, and the nav system is fluent in English, Spanish and French. The standard six speaker audio system includes a six-disc in-dash CD changer, satellite radio and MP3/WMA playback capability. The optional 13-speaker JBL Synthesis surround sound system adds hands-free Bluetooth wireless phone capability with or without the voice-activated, touch-screen DVD navigation, which adds music streaming and XM NavTraffic. Among the Venza’s key standard features are privacy glass, roof-mounted XM Satellite Radio antenna, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel with integrated audio controls and Hill-Start Help Control (HAC), which temporarily applies the brakes on uphill slopes to ensure simple starting with no rollback. The adjustable center console has a sliding cover and armrest, three MP3 player holders with wire concealment features and a large storage compartment, and the rear hatch has an simple-close (or available power cinch) function. Venza is Toyota’s first “car” with standard Star Safety System, which includes ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC) with a cutoff switch and Brake Help, which supplements braking power in emergencies. Also included are seven airbags—front, front-seat side, roll-sensing side curtains and a driver’s knee bag—and front active headrests. The standard engine, a new 182-hp DOHC 16-valve 2. 7-liter four with dual VVT-i (intelligent variable valve timing), delivers more than acceptable performance at light loads and an estimated 21 mpg city and 29 highway with front-wheel drive (FWD), one mpg less with AWD. For towing (up to 3,500 lb. ), heavier loading and/or satisfying uphill performance, you might want to opt for the much stronger 268-hp DOHC 24-valve 3. 5-liter V6, which is excellent for 19 mpg EPA city and 26 highway with FWD, or a mpg less with AWD. Both drive through a six-speed sequential-shift electronically-controlled automatic transmission that matches gear selection to conditions and gives moderate engine braking on downhill slopes. The available AWD’s Active Torque Control optimizes torque distribution between the front and rear wheels. Venza is everything excellent about a Camry, but with even more room and visibility. It’s suspension—MacPherson struts with front and rear stabilizer bars—conveys a quality, comfortable ride, while its electronic power steering makes handling nearly effortless. The 2009 Toyota Venza takes the best of most vehicle categories and amplifies their best qualities in one smart package.

Today’s automotive electronics engineers are quite actively exploring new worlds when it comes to the exciting world of In-Car Entertainment. High-tech suppliers refer to this new realm as Auto Space, and there can be no doubt that we’ve come a long way from the days when our only consumer entertainment choices were AM/FM radios and 8-track players. It’s not a stretch to imagine that the best entertainment spot in your house may be the four-wheel vehicle parked in your garage. Thanks to improved audio-visual technologies and amazingly sophisticated entertainment tastes, our primary transportation mode has become a mobile concert hall, and if you have kids, they’ve recreated a mobile video arcade or theater in the rear of the vehicle. We live in a technologically advanced time that is witness to the development and invention of many products that would have been hard to fathom only 10 years ago. Today, consumer choices for In-Car Entertainment are growing in quality and sophistication. Whatever your driving habits, passengers, entertainment preferences or budget, there is a growing range of in-car products to turn driving into a vibrant, enveloping entertainment experience. With well loved TV shows dedicated to automobile restoration and customization, In-Car Entertainment systems have received considerable attention. Thanks to reduced costs of devices such as LCD screen/monitors and the cost efficiency to the consumer of the converging media playable technologies (single hardware units are capable of playing CD, MP3, WMA and DVD), In-Car Entertainment is within reach of a larger base of consumers. It was in the 1930s when radios were first placed inside automobiles. It goes without saying that we’ve come a long way. The first car radios have evolved through the years to include FM radio, to a cassette player, to CD players and beyond. New technology has enabled vehicle audiophiles to take advantage of MP3 technology and USB devices. Why just grab a few CDs when nowadays you can bring your entire music collection on the road with a flash drive that plugs into your car audio system via a USB connection. Many in-car audio systems now come with MP3 player connectivity so you can attach and play your music directly from a MP3 player through the car speakers. And speaking of speakers, the technology available in your vehicle is every bit as robust as what you have in your home, but unlike a typical family room, a vehicle provides a fantastic listening environment, with its defined space and fixed seating arrangements. Improving the quality of your in-car audio experience can be as simple or as complex as you choose to make it. One of the more well loved listening experiences is provided by state-of-the-art 5. 1-channel surround format, which includes five full-range channels (left, center, right, left surround, right surround) plus a low-frequency effects (LFE) channel experienced in the cinema, DVDs, digital television (HDTV and SDTV) and games. Or maybe you aren’t interested in driving a four-wheel video arcade or movie theater, and you’d rather that everyone in the car be able to delight in CDs or radio music (FM or satellite) with the richness and fullness of surround sound. Of course, you’ll have full capability to accomplish that objective with the latest and greatest in sound technology available in your automobile. When it comes to video options, many automotive consumers who drive an SUV, crossover or minivan are accompanied by a child or two or three in the rear seats. In this case, a rear-seat entertainment system with a DVD player and/or a game console might be ideal. LCD screens can be placed in the dashboard, in overhead consoles and in the back of headrests. If you’d rather not share the sound of the 18th consecutive showing of the latest children’s DVD, infrared headphones allow families to delight in long journeys where the children can play games and/or watch DVDs in the back of the car while the driver can listen to traditional sounds – radio, CDs or MP3s. Up until now, automakers introduced In-Car Entertainment technologies only after they had been tested and adopted in the consumer market. Not anymore. Today’s customers expect immediate access in their cars to the new features available in home- and portable-entertainment devices. And as the cost of automotive electronics continues to fall, the pervasiveness of additional electronic technologies, such as navigation and advanced telematics, will increase so rapidly that they will soon be standard features in most vehicles. Delphi Corporation is poised to apply its expertise and know-how to provide vehicle manufacturers and consumers with in-vehicle entertainment and connectivity. To learn more about Delphi Corporation, please visit http://www. delphi. com/4connected.