Today I did my first twitter interview with PR manager of Toyota GB, Scott Brownlee. I was a bit excited as it was my first live twitter interview, my previous interview always recorded and uploaded to YouTube later. However, this time what I wrote was going to be seen my hundreds of people.
During the interview with Scott Brownlee; we talked about Toyota Prius Hybrid, indestructible SUV Land Cruiser, new sports car GT86 and future of social media. Also, he reminded the rally version of Toyota Prius from year 2002.
I totally forgot, Scott mentioned why Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the best SUVs on market.
You can read the rest of the interview here or check it from twitter by #toyotainterview hashtag.
My first twitter interview is with a #mipaa member #toyotapr, you can follow the conversation with #toyotainterview hashtag
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
Today I am with Scott Brownlee @toyotapr for my first twitter interview #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
Thank you very much @toyotapr for the interview #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Good afternoon. Happy to be involved. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR This is my first twitter interview and I hope it will go well #toyotainterview :))
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR Before we start, could you tell us about your background? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I studied mechanical engineering at Strathclyde University. I wanted to be a race car designer. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr After graduation I applied to just one car company and was lucky enough to get the job. It was Austin Rover in 1984 #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR It seems like you are very close to your dream. Did you ever have chance to race? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr There is joined a mysterious department called PR. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR For how long do you work for #toyota ? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Only in karts. I did get the drive the 6R4 Group B rally car. It was also driven by Senna #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR Sounds amazing! I think that’s a great chance to race with Senna’s car #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I joined Toyota GB 16 years ago this month. I came from Cosworth, BMW before that. #toyota #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr “My” car. ;-) #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr I didn’t compete in it, just drove it at a test track. No pictures, sadly. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR You had opportunity to work in different car companies. Sad to here that no photos :( #toyotainterview Now a bit #ft86
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR It seems like #Toyota is going to back rear-wheel drive segment with #ft86. Last rear-wheel drive one was Supra #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR sorry it is #gt86 #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Yes, although don’t forget the MR2. It was fun. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr The benefit of rear wheel drive is the fun you can have with the balance of the car in corners. #gt86 #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR You are definitely right #mr2 is also rear-wheel drive #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr The GT86 gets back to the basics of a good sports car. #gt86 #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr We are all excited to have a sports car again and it seems a hit with media and owners too #gt86 #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR Does it mean #toyota will reveal more sports car in future ? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I can’t talk about specific future plans, but Akio Toyoda has already said there will be more. #toyota #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR that sounds great!! #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR And my next topic is #hybrid. If there is a conversation about #Toyota, we cannot skip the hybrid #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR Correct me if I am wrong, #Toyota is the first company introduced the mass-production #hybrid cars with #Prius #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr To be fair, Honda were slight ahead with the original Insight, but Prius was a much bigger seller. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr I remember the meeting where an engineer described this new technology to us. Amazing to think millions now sold #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR Millions of #toyota #hybrid are driven. That’s a very big number and great achievement #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR especially in terms of #toyota reliability #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr We have a couple of original Prius here, one standard and one a rally car. Very proud of that project. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR I know about the #prius #hybrid #rally car. Many people may not know it. Could you tell about it a bit? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Sure. We were approached by a journalist, Nik Berg, with the idea which we thought was a good one…. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr The rally was 5000 miles from Sweden Jordan. It became the world’s first hybrid to finish an FIA sanctioned event. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR 5000 miles is a real a long journey even for a non-hybrid car! Well done to #toyota #prius #hybrid #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR Lastly and my favourite, #Toyota #LandCruiser. For me, it is the best of the best four-wheel drive #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Here’s a link to the press release isued at the time. http://bit.ly/IGarzF #prius #hybrid #rally #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR Nothing in the world runs like #Toyota #LandCruiser and they never broke down #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR Can you tell about a bit about #Toyota #LandCruiser? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Thank you. They are renowned for their go anywhere ability. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr Almost everywhere in the world apart from the UK Land Cruiser is the 4×4 of choice. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr There is an apocryphal story about a road in Australian outback which has a sign reading… #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr …”Land Cruisers Only Beyond This Point” because you breakdown out there you risk death. #Toyota #LandCruiser #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr There is funny TV commercial on a similar theme http://youtu.be/isC32ev4Lw4 #Toyota #LandCruiser #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR I guess this road sign explain everything about #toyota #landcruiser #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR And why we don’t see many #toyota #landcruiser in UK? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr In the UK we are in Land Rover’s home market so we understand it is different. #toyota #landcruiser #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr I like to think UK Land Cruiser customers buy for a purpose, not posing ;-) #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR That’s why I love #toyota #landcruiser #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR And I have noticed something with #Toyota #LandCruiser. It is the most common security vehicles for politicians #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR We always see Toyota Land Cruiser in the convoys regardless of country. Why #LandCruiser? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I think it is a sixty plus year reputation for reliability in many countries, especially Middle East and Africa #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr Combined with Hilux, our other indestructible 4×4, the Land Cruiser is very common when the going is tough #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR that explains everything about #toyota #landcruiser and #hilux #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR And #socialmedia. What do you think about the future of #socialmedia in #automotive industry? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Big! #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr The great thing about social media is interacting directly with owners and fans. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR a note, I met with you from twitter before #mipaa event #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR I totally agree with you. And this makes #socialmedia dynamic and creates its own path for #marketing and #pr #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr We have a social team here at @ToyotaGB. Our greatest advocates are our owners and potential owners… #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr ….like to “speak” to them so social is the perfect way to do it. It will only get bigger and more influential #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR that’s a great explanation of #socialmedia, bigger and bigger #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR And how @ToyotaGB perceive the bloggers? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I have to say those that I’ve met, and we try to meet up as much as possible, are great enthusiast for cars. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR That sounds great for us, #bloggers #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@ToyotaPR and lastly, what car do you drive? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I see people willing to put in time and effort to publish. As such I see a close similarity to traditional media #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR that’s exactly what we are doing #bloggers, and great to hear from a such big company #toyota #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I am very lucky. Not only do I get to drive all the Toyota and Lexus range, we borrow competitors cars too. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr This week we have something of both at once – an Aston Martin Cygnet. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@uygarr But my usual car is a Prius. I also had the tartan iQ for a while, but it has been sold now (sadly) #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR Did you like the Aston Martin Cygnet? #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr I haven’t driven it yet, but I am sure I will. I imagine buying an old (i.e. afordable) Cygnet for when I retire. #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR And that’s the end of the #toyotainterview. Thank you very much for joining and apologise for any typo :)
Uygar Kilic @uygarr
@uygarr Thank you!. It was fun (for us anyway). #toyotainterview
Scott Brownlee @ToyotaPR
@ToyotaPR The interview will be available tonight http://www.CarAndLife.net and greetings to everyone in @ToyotaGB #toyotainterview
Uygar Kilic @uygarr