Kelley Blue Book kbb.com- (February 8th, 2013)

The Best Brand and Best Luxury Brand trophies are the most coveted awards handed out at the Best Resale Value Awards presentation held annually in Los Angeles on the eve of the LA Auto Show.

The award recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in producing vehicles that best retain their value over the first five years (60 months) of new-vehicle ownership. Awards are presented to top vehicles in 22 vehicle categories and to the Overall Top 10 vehicles across all categories. In addition, the luxury and non-luxury brands that demonstrate the best resale value receive coveted Best Brand and Best Luxury Brand awards. Our resale value projections are based on current vehicle data, sales data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition within vehicle segments, expectations of the future economy and the combined experience of Kelley Blue Book's team of market and pricing analysts.

And now let's move on to the Best Resale Value Award winners for 2013, starting with the two prestigious Best Brands Awards.

Best Brand: Toyota

On the strength of 10 individual wins ? six segment winners and four top 10 entries ? this is the third time in four years that Toyota has taken home our Best Resale Value Award for Best Brand. With an unyielding commitment to quality, safety and value, Toyota has become an obvious choice for buyers focused on the practical considerations of car ownership. With that solid foundation in place, Toyota has recently begun increasing the emotional quotient with more expressive styling and richer interiors. If Toyota can make their cars even more appealing to even more people, we foresee many more Best Brand awards in its future.

Best Luxury Brand: Lexus

Lexus took home Kelley Blue Book's first Best Resale Value Award for top luxury brand in 2010, and now it's won the award three of the four years we've presented it. Using the same triple-layer foundation as mainstream sister brand Toyota ? quality, safety and value ? Lexus has built a reputation as the trouble-free choice of luxury buyers. And Lexus, too, has been dialing up the emotional aspect recently, with bolder designs, an increased focus on performance and lusher interiors. The Lexus dealership experience is also part of the appeal, regularly cited as the best in the business and a key reason for second, third and fourth Lexus purchases.

For the complete article visit-
http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-value-awards-2013/





Don't Miss CBS4's New Show Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at 6 p.m.
COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS,
Sponsored by Mountain States Toyota




Denver (Jan. 11, 2013)-CBS4, KCNC-TV, announced today that COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS, a new half hour show sponsored by Mountain States Toyota, will debut at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013.

"We're proud to bring you this special Colorado arts series that tells the stories of some of Denver's most interesting organizations and artists in a fashion modeled after the popular show CBS SUNDAY MORNING," Tim Van Binsbergen , General Manager of Mountain States Toyota said.

Former KYGO radio personality Kelly Ford hosts the show that features local arts and artisans in a series of human interest stories. The inaugural COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS highlights a sampling of local artists and organizations such as the Denver Art Museum, Redline Gallery and the Colorado Symphony. Some of the stories featured include:

For every piece of art you see at the Denver Art Museum, there are dozens more in storage. And sometimes, hidden in a corner of a warehouse, there is hidden treasure. COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS tells the story of a lost painting by Giovanni Antonio Canaletto, recently found and authenticated and takes you behind the scenes to meet the people who do this painstaking work.

Another human interest feature tells the story of Denver's RedLine Gallery which is full of remarkable work by some of Denver's finest artists. But not all of the gallery space is devoted to professionals. Redline's Reach Studio provides space for less traditional artists, giving members of Denver's homeless community an opportunity to move forward with their art and their lives.

COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS also takes a look at Jeff "Maestro" Hughes. He began studying music at age three and has become one of Denver's most recognized and accomplished violinists. By age 10, he was soloing regularly with the Colorado Symphony and appeared as a featured performer at the Symphony's annual Martin Luther King concert.

Then his career took a very different turn. After performing with the Foo Fighters during the 2008 Grammy Awards, Jeff's mix of classical, soul, funk, rock, jazz and hip hop gained notoriety. Now, at age 29, he's returning to the Colorado Symphony's Martin Luther King performance, bringing his unique style to a new audience. Join us as he is reunited with his former teacher, the CSO's Principal Violist Basil Vendryes, and come along as he rocks Boettcher Concert Hall.

"The Colorado Symphony is so pleased to partner with CBS4 and Mountain States Toyota to showcase the abundance of arts and entertainment in our community," Gene Sobczak, President and CEO said. "We look forward to watching COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS!"

A second COLORADO REVIEW: MUSIC AND THE ARTS half-hour show is scheduled to air on Sunday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call CBS4, KCNC-TV-Denver at 303-861-4444, or visit www.cbsdenver.com.
CBS4, KCNC-TV-Denver, is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.




Toyota/Lexus Financial Services Kicks Off 2nd Annual 'Go Green' Campaign, and Pledges Up To $100,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of America

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 15, 2013 - Toyota Financial Services (TFS) / Lexus Financial Services (LFS) is continuing to do its part for the environment, all while supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and improving the overall experience of its own customers.
 
TFS/LFS is kicking off its second annual "GoGreen" campaign, encouraging customers to sign up for paperless billing statements; allowing them to receive monthly emails when their bill is due, rather than traditional paper statements sent through the mail.  Between Jan. 15 and March 31, 2013, for every customer that signs up to "GoGreen," TFS/LFS will donate $5 to the BGCA (up to a total of $100,000).
 
Every day, BGCA members across the nation participate in numerous "green" activities, such as recycling projects and community clean-ups.  By choosing to "GoGreen," TFS/LFS customers are not only helping provide much needed funds to BGCA, they are helping to greatly reduce the volume of paper statements that TFS/LFS sends each month.  The "GoGreen" campaign protects the environment, while supporting after-school and life-skills programs that teach young people how to better care for their neighborhoods? and for their planet.
 

"Last year's 'GoGreen' campaign was a great success," says Karen Ideno, vice president of Product & Marketing.  "It took place less than a year after TFS/LFS launched paperless billing, and a record 239,450 customers signed up for the program during this first drive.  The environment-friendly campaign helped the company surpass its targeted goal."




Denver Zoo served record number of people in 2012

DENVER, CO, Jan. 13th,2013- The Denver Zoo served more than 2 million people in 2012, marking the first time it has reached that milestone in its 117-year history, officials announced Friday.

In 2012, the zoo served 2,065,410 people: 1,988,593 visitors and 76,817 participants in the zoo's outreach education programs.

The programs reach people in schools, libraries and community centers throughout Colorado and Wyoming.

The zoo also reached another record for membership: 68,450 member households.

"Certainly the opening of our groundbreaking new exhibit, Toyota Elephant Passage, played a large role in our 2012 success," said zoo president Craig Piper in a released statement. "In addition to maintaining our local audiences, our work with our partners at Visit Denver also helped attract more tourists interested in seeing the new exhibit."

The previous high in the number of visitors was set in 1995, with 1,958,842 ? many to say goodbye to the famous Klondike and Snow polar bears just before they were moved to Florida.

This year, some zoo visitors also had a chance to say goodbye to Mimi, an elephant who had been at the Denver Zoo since 1961 before she was put down when her health declined.

In the statement, Piper thanked supporters of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, which helps fund the zoo programs.

"This outstanding community support helps us in our mission to secure a better world for animals through human understanding here in Colorado and throughout the world," Piper said.



Actress Kaley Cuoco Makes Her Super Bowl Debut in a Toyota Spot

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2013- Kaley Cuoco, star of the award-winning CBS show "The Big Bang Theory," has a busy roster this year, including a debut in Super Bowl XLVII commercial for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.  Sweetening the pot for fans of Kaley and Super Bowl fans alike, the public will be offered a chance to "Get In The Big Game" and have their picture appear in the Toyota spot. From Jan. 4 until Jan. 12, fans can submit photos of themselves to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #wishgranted for a chance for their image to appear in Toyota's Super Bowl commercial on Feb. 3. One photo will be selected and placed in the reveal of the commercial during the first quarter of the game.
 
"Not only are we pumped to have Kaley as part of our Super Bowl commercial, but we're also excited to give fans a chance to have their photo appear in a nationally televised Toyota spot during one of the biggest sporting events of the year," said Jack Hollis, vice president of Toyota Division Marketing at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "We look forward to sharing our commercial with the millions of viewers who tune in to watch the ultimate football showdown."
 
While details about the creative elements of the campaign will not be released until closer to its air date, the humorous nature of the commercial made Cuoco, with her comedic television background, ideal for the role.
 
"When I saw the concept for the commercial, I knew it was something I wanted to do," said Cuoco.  "I've had a great time filming and am excited to see the finished product."
 
For official rules and more information about "Get In The Big Game," visit www.toyota.com/letsgoplaces/get-in-the-big-game.