The Star Safety System includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lSpxT8iUHY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCS-uXdNBe8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lSpxT8iUHY

I still can’t believe that auto journalists were most excited about a minivan at the LA Auto Show. Yes, the 2011 Toyota Sienna was the big “wow” at this year’s show.

Why was there so much buzz about this minivan and why should you definitely consider buying one?

When the 2011 Toyota Sienna comes to dealerships in February, this minivan will be one of the coolest vehicles on the road with its rolling second row living room, rather sexy exterior, high quality interior materials and advanced safety technologies.

So, here’s the big deal about the 2011 Toyota Sienna: the second row captain’s chairs have a foot rest that makes the seats like a rolling recliner. Finally! I’ve been asking car companies for a recliner-like chair for years. Plus, Sienna engineers added a wide format flat screen that splits into two screens when desired.

Do reclining seats and a wide format flat screen TV make the 2011 Toyota Sienna truly a rolling living room? YES! (I know my six- and 17-year old daughters will think so!)

Ian Cartabiano, studio design manager at Toyota’s Calty Design Center in Newport Beach, Calif., says the rolling living room was “there from the beginning of the concept.”

Cartabiano says this lounge-type seating is not new. “In Japan, minivans there have had lounge seating for quite some time,” he says. He further explains that, in Japan, there are no negative stigmas regarding vans. In fact, minivans are looked upon as luxury vehicles and not necessarily for families either.

So why hasn’t any vehicle in America been outfitted with lounge seating? Is it a safety concern?

No, says Cartabiano. “These products have existed for a long time in Japan and they have been thoroughly tested,” he says. In fact, they are not called reclining seats in the auto industry, but “long side second row seats.”

Unfortunately, Toyota did not let auto journalists inside the 2011 Toyota Sienna at the LA Auto Show. And, Calty’s Design Research Center, which is located right in my own neighborhood, did not have one for me to check out.

Cartabiano says these long slide second row seats “move pretty far back,” making for a superbly roomy cabin. The center console, so says Cartabiano, also moves back with the seats, making a table between the two second row captain’s chairs.

I can’t wait to road test the 2011 Toyota Sienna to check out the entire interior. Cartabiano says the Sienna was designed with high quality materials such as two-toned leather seating surfaces and “nice” stitch patterns.

From looking inside the Sienna at the LA Auto Show, I noticed the dashboard definitely has more “artistic flair,” as Cartabiano describes. I’m not sure, however, if this artistic approach – such as a long wooden swoosh – works well for the Sienna. “We took the utilitarian uses and added beauty,” says Cartabiano.

And if all of this wasn’t good enough, the 2011 Toyota Sienna was designed, engineered and built (in Indiana) right here in America. “Truly, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is an all-American product that works hard to increase interior space efficiency,” says Cartabiano, “and the driving dynamics feel way more in control and nicely balanced.”

One reason performance has improved on the 2011 Toyota Sienna, says Cartabiano, is the car’s increased aerodynamic efficiency. “We tried hard to wrap a beautiful skin around a big box,” says Cartabiano, who was the Sienna’s head exterior designer. “We focused on getting it more sculptural with more flair.”

After viewing the 2011 Toyota Sienna at the LA Auto Show, I certainly agree. I was blown away by the second row cabin, but the exterior had me wowed too.

The sleek windows and “s” curve onto the rear glass as well as the absence of the usual big ugly sliding door gash makes the 2011 Toyota Sienna a good-looking vehicle.

The front grille, says Cartabiano, is “bold, luxurious and a little controversial.” Does the front grille of the 2011 Toyota Sienna look more high end? I think so.

Now, don’t get me wrong. The 2011 Toyota Sienna still looks like a clunky minivan. However, the exterior is rather special and does masquerade as a large luxury vehicle rather than a boring minivan.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna will be available with two engines: a 3.5-liter 266 hp V-6 or a 2.6-liter 187 hp, four-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates the 2.7-liter Sienna will achieve mileage ratings of 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The V-6 is estimated to deliver 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna comes in five trim levels: Sienna, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. All-wheel drive technology is available only on the V-6 model and in the LE, XLE and Limited models. The Sienna can also be configured with seven or eight passengers.

What about safety? Although not yet tested by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the 2011 Toyota Sienna was built chock full of the latest safety features. Standard safety equipment includes seven air bags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist with traction control and electric power steering.

A pre-collision system and vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) is an available option on the Limited trim level. Toyota says “the VDIM system coordinates brake control with the engine output and steering inputs, allowing all the control and safety systems to cooperate seamlessly.”

And if all that isn’t enough, Toyota added its new Safety Connect™ telematics system (standard on Limited and optional on XLE only). Toyota says its Safety Connect™ system offers four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance. A complimentary one-year trial subscription is included.

Still considering a 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan? I bet you are! BRAVO, TOYOTA!!

It got far more dramatic, though. The California Highway Patrol responded and "To get the runaway car to stop, they actually had to put their patrol car in front of the Prius and step on the brakes." During over 20 harrowing minutes, according to NBC's report, Sikes "did everything he could to try to slow down that Prius." Others said, "Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral."

In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes's story as told to reporters makes no sense. His claim that he'd tried to yank up the accelerator could be falsified, with his help, in half a minute. And now we even have an explanation for why he'd pull such a stunt, beyond the all-American desire to have 15 minutes of fame (recall the "Balloon Boy Hoax" from October) and the aching need to be perceived as a victim.

The lack of skepticism from the beginning was stunning. I combed through haystacks of articles without producing such needles as the words "alleges" or "claims." When Sikes said he brought his car to a Toyota ( TM – news - people ) dealer two weeks earlier, recall notice in hand, and they just turned him away, the media bought that, too. In Sikes We Trust. Then the pundits deluged us with a tsunami of an anti-Toyota sanctimony .

Where to begin?

Well, the patrol car didn't slow down the Prius; the bumpers never touched. The officers used a loudspeaker to tell Sikes to use the brakes and emergency brake together. He did; the car slowed to about 55 mph. Sikes turned off the engine and coasted to a halt. He stopped the car on his own.

Redesigned for the 2011 model year, Toyota’s latest incarnation of the celebrated Sienna minivan promises to bring a whole new level of style, sophistication and enjoyment to the segment. More advanced than any preceding it, the 2011 Sienna is nearly a full model year ahead of its time, and several ahead of its competition.

The 2011 Sienna injects a healthy dose of style into a predominantly vanilla vehicle genre. Designed to strike a balance between sleek sophistication and modern athleticism, the newest iteration of Toyota’s versatile mini is visually striking, and instantly appealing (and not only to expanding families). Toyota’s latest introduces thicker, broader shoulders, more muscular wheel arches and a redesigned face more in line with the company’s groundbreaking Venza crossover.

The boxy, boring styling of the conventional minivan gives way to sporty, aerodynamic lines and features. Up front, the aggressive new face is characterized by a sleek chrome grille and flanking wraparound high-intensity headlamps. A black mesh grille sits beneath the chrome wings of the redesigned nose, as do a pair of available foglamps. The vehicle itself, with simple, fluid lines extending back from the hood, sits on a powerful foundation of optional 19-inch super chrome alloys and culminates in a nicely tailored backend and elegant LED taillamps.

To ensure that the new Sienna is more than athletically styled, Toyota has integrated a pair of impressive engines beneath the unique and beautifully sculpted hood of its newest introduction. A standard 2.7-liter DOHC four-cylinder delivers 187 hp through an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission. Higher models feature the surprising power of a robust 3.5-liter V6 that generates an impressive 266 hp through the company’s new, smooth-shifting six-speed automatic. Cleanliness and efficiency are greatly emphasized on the latest Sienna, as fuel efficiency in the new Toyota touches up to 26 mpg.

An advanced MacPherson strut suspension coupled with a series of intelligent steering systems gives the 2011 Sienna a supremely confident and powerfully capable ride. With everything from stability and traction control to powerful antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (all elements in Toyota’s Star Safety System™), the newest Sienna is designed to respond admirably and handle brilliantly. Its unique setup and available all-wheel drive ensure all-season confidence and capability without sacrificing a sense of driving enjoyment all too often abandoned in the minivan.

With seating for up to eight, Sienna’s cabin is awash with comfort and luxury. Beneath the flooding light of two available moonroofs, the latest Toyota is larger inside than ever before, opening up even more passenger and cargo space. Available heated leather seating is both exceedingly comfortable and exceptionally versatile, as the vehicle’s three rows slide easily and are removable and configurable. Third-row seats fold flat for additional storage while available second-row captains’ chairs feature optional lounge seating with additional leg and foot support.

Like its redesigned exterior, the cabin of the new Sienna features modern styling and enhanced sophistication. Sleek lines, available wood trim on the dash and steering wheel and intuitive controls and storage options give the vehicle’s interior a sense of supreme elegance while available Bluetooth communication, a DVD navigation screen (with backup camera) and a rear-seat dual-view entertainment system make it more technologically advanced than ever before. An available JBL^® premium audio system features 10 speakers and unparalleled interior acoustics.

Beyond the intuitive control and confidence of the Star Safety System™, Toyota’s latest features an impressive list of dynamic and intelligent safety systems. An advanced optional Pre-Collision System and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management setup allow the Sienna to actively prepare itself for a collision, or work to prevent one in the first place. Seven standard airbags and a reinforced body frame add an exceptional level of interior protection, and Toyota’s new Safety Connect™ system provides emergency roadside assistance at the touch of a button.

The new 2011 Toyota Sienna is due to arrive this month.