New Sienna model will feature easier access
For the first time in North America, Toyota has designed a Auto Access seat that is a rotating, power ascending/descending, lift-up seat that will be installed in the 2011 Sienna minivan. The Auto Access seat will offer a new level of comfort and convenience for anyone that needs assistance getting in and out of a vehicle. The Sienna minivan equipped with the Auto Access Seat will offer a much needed transportation solution for the caregivers of an elderly parent or spouse with a walking disability, a disabled veteran, or for the parents of child with a disability.
The Auto Access Seat features a one-touch operation and benefits from the all-new Sienna’s spacious interior and wide-opening sliding doors. A seat-mounted ingress/egress switch and a wireless remote control allows for easy and flexible seat operation. The seat rotates 90 degrees and can be lowered to within 19 inches of the ground to further facilitate easier passenger transfers at the exact height required.
The Auto Access Seat is equipped with a number of safety attributes, including an audible beep when the seat is in operation, and a park-shift interlock feature that prevents seat operation if the vehicle is not in the “Park” position. A sliding door sensor allows the seat to operate only when the sliding door is completely open. Two audible beeps will warn the user of a partially open sliding-door condition, or if the seat is not fully stowed when the door close button is pressed. A manual retraction function allows the seat to be retracted fully in the event of a vehicle power failure. The Auto Access Seat also features obstruction-detection programming, which notifies the operator with two audible beeps and halts seat operation. The seat will retract when an obstruction is met to facilitate easier removal of the object.
Consumers will benefit from Toyota quality, durability, and reliability with the new Auto Access Seat system. The seat-operating mechanism is link-driven, allowing enhanced durability and a more quiet operation than chain-driven systems. The Auto Access Seat has a lift capacity of up to 330 lbs., making it useful for people of all sizes or those who carry specialized medical equipment. Owners will also enjoy the convenience of having the seat system serviced at their local Toyota dealership, which comes with a comprehensive three-year/36,000 mile factory warranty.
The Auto Access seat is factory designed at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI). This seat offers consumers a seamless purchase-process alternative to the current aftermarket installation method, which requires the consumer to purchase their vehicle and then have it modified by an aftermarket supplier. The will be available on Sienna LE and XLE models. The seat fabric matches the vehicle interior fabric and has a stain- and odor-resistant treatment. The seat is vinyl trimmed on the XLE model to better match the XLE grade interior style and allows for easier passenger transfer.
Also, Toyota will display a new wheelchair-accessible Sienna Rampvan converted by BraunAbility at the Detroit show. With an automatic side-entry ramp, 10-inch-lowered floor, 56-inch-tall side-door opening and removable front seats; wheelchair users can choose to ride in the center of the van, the front-passenger position, or even drive from their chair. This state-of-the-art conversion takes full advantage of the innovative features of the all-new Sienna and will be available in the second quarter of 2010. BraunAbility is the leading manufacturer of accessible wheelchair vans and wheelchair lifts.
The 2011 Toyota Sienna will be available to purchase at Toyota Libertyville dealers in February. You can also check out the 2011 Sienna minivan and all other Toyota’s new car prices in Waukegan. A wide selection of pre-ownedmodels of the Toyota Sienna can be found at Waukegan used cars dealer Classic Toyota as well.
