Arkansas High student wins free car for perfect attendance
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – It pays to have perfect attendance.
'I mean, that's where our future leaders are coming from: in school right now, ' said Susan Robbins, owner and Operator of Robbins Toyota.
During their 3rd annual Attend and Win Giveaway, Robbins Toyota gave away a brand new 2025 Corolla to a student who had perfect attendance for their entire senior year.
'Not everybody is going to have the best score or be the best student in the class, and you don't have to be, you just have to show up, and like I said, to get to where you need to go, half of the battle is showing up,' said Robbins.
More Texarkana News
Samantha Lopez Castro was the lucky winner out of a dozen other students in the Texarkana area who qualified.
'I feel like all the effort I put into school this year has been worth it, after all. Even through the moments that I thought to give up and just not go to school, I knew this would be for me, and it means a lot,' said Samantha.
Samantha's family and the members of Arkansas High who came out to support her said it was nice to see her get recognition of this magnitude.
'She is an amazing student and she is so very deserving of this award and this honor, and that car, it's just all the hard work paying off,' said Arkansas High Senior Principal, Lekia Jones.
There were also drawings for a MacBook and an iPad, and every student who had perfect attendance received a $100 gift card. Samantha plans to use her car to attend UAHT and major in either art or psychology.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Toyota future models 2025-2035 (part 1)
Having the largest model array of any brand means that Toyota is also planning and spending on a grand scale. Its range of vehicles available in the Japanese, US, Chinese and European markets is vast. This first of two reports looks at highlights of the global line-up and what should replace them, along with certain potential additions. A tiny player in teeny cars, Toyota competes in Japan's Kei segment with the aged Pixis series plus the Copen GR Sport. Volume is so small that it would not be surprising if Daihatsu has no plans to supply new equivalents when it replaces the originals. Even smaller than the Japanese market minis is a future rival for the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks and Fiat Topolino. Previewed by the FT-Me at a special event in Toyota Motor Europe's HQ city of Brussels three months ago, the prototype was 2.5 m long. Production numbers would not be large. As for where it would be manufactured, TME is not saying (Stellantis builds its triplets in low-cost Morocco). A longer nose for the Aygo X: bigger engine coming One size up, namely the European A segment, could not be more of a contrast. The Aygo X is a big deal and plays a major part in keeping its maker the regional number two brand. The little hatchback is to be facelifted later this year, while the base 1.0-litre engine will be replaced by a hybrid powertrain. A successor should arrive in 2028 and again built at the Kolin factory in the Czech Republic. Big in Japan and again, Europe too, the Yaris and Yaris Cross are huge sellers. The first of these two was revealed in 2019 so the replacement will debut by 2026. Edgy styling has worked well for the hatchback and that will surely also feature next time around. The Cross should therefore gain a radical look when it is rebodied in 2027. Corolla & Camry: still big in the PRC and the USA Why the current E210 series Corolla has reached seven years of production is perplexing. Certainly the car sells incredibly well, especially in the USA though China and Europe are other major markets. TMC has gambled that it could extend the life of E210 and this has (so far) paid off but a new model cannot now be far away. Facelifted for the 2025 model year in April 2024, the Camry remains a big seller in North America. There is a lot of demand for sedans of this size in the USA, as Kia, for example, has been discovering. The K5 has gone from just over 9,000 sales during the first five months of 2024 to just shy of 29,000 in 2025 (quite the contrast to what's happening with its EV6 and EV9). Sedans of this size also do incredibly well in China; the Camry and Accord especially. Many were stunned by TMC's decision to break with the tradition of introducing a new model every five to six years, the XV80 series car being merely a restyle of XV70 which debuted in 2017. For this reason, a truly fresh Camry might appear as soon as 2026 or 2027, possibly bringing with it an EV option for the first time. Gazoo Racing: MR-2 and Celica returning? A revival of the Celica is also planned for next year or 2027, the car differing greatly from what Honda is planning for its Prelude reprise. Several generations of these models were once competitors. Whereas the latter is to be a hybrid, the Toyota should instead be powered by G20E. A high-output 2.0-litre turbo, this engine premiered at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. Motorsports being fundamental to the Gazoo Racing sub-brand, TMC may even return to world championship rallying with the Celica. Meanwhile, G20E should also feature in a new MR-2, the mid-engined sports car being expected to debut in 2028. Will there also be a new 86? Apparently yes, is the surprising answer. While the USA continues to be the present model's number one market, even there, only around 11,000 were sold in 2024. The timing of any follow-up is yet to be confirmed. Given how few of its own variant have been produced, it would be surprising if Subaru was again involved. Yet that raises the question of a production plant, not to mention engine, gearbox and platform. A new Supra: really? As with the Hachi Roku, it seems strange to think that a case could be made for another Supra but it seems that there will indeed be one. Akio Toyoda is especially keen to continue making GR-branded models, linking them to the company's racing activities. Even though Supra production is about to end, a 'V8 Supracar' will be entered in Australia's much-watched V8 Supercars series next year. A full-size model was revealed at the famous Bathurst race last October with a working prototype surely certain to be revealed at this year's event. But what will power it, and what will be the basis of the next production model? A possible future Supra might have a Lexus (or BMW) V8 rather than a BMW straight-six turbo. There are even whispers of TMC potentially tapping Mazda for both platform and engine. It is worth noting however, that no camouflaged cars have been seen testing in Japan or elsewhere. Half the size of BYD in China but still a big player Number four behind BYD, VW and Geely, Toyota remains a major force in China. With more than half a million locally manufactured passenger vehicles delivered year to date, the brand is way ahead of next placed Wuling. Unusually, four models all do a fairly similar amount of sales volume, these being the Camry, Corolla and RAV4, along with the Front Lander, a special vehicle for the PRC. Relatively weak in EVs, Toyota is nonetheless catching up fast: in only its second month on the market, deliveries of the new bZ3X exceeded 6,000 units. This low-priced electric 4.6 m long SUV is a JV with GAC, whereas its bZ3C crossover brother is part of a three-way alliance with FAW and BYD. The life cycles of both models should be six-seven years so a next generation bZ3X would be due in 2031/2032 after a facelift in 2028 or 2029. Will a big electric sedan do better than China's VW ID.7? Another EV in the bZ series is coming in 2026. Developed specifically for China by GAC-Toyota, the bZ7 will be a large sedan. A 5m+ long prototype debuted at Auto Shanghai in April. This model will be positioned above the bZ5, production of which has just commenced in Tianjin. The platform is eTNGA. A six-year lifecycle can be presumed so a facelift is due in mid-2028. FAW-Toyota developed the bZ5, premiering it at Auto Shanghai in April. The 4,780 mm long electric SUV evolved out of the bZ3C and bZ Sport Crossover concept prototypes. It features a 200 kW motor along with (BYD-owned) FinDreams 65 kW and 74 kWh Blade batteries. Sales are off to an especially strong start, helped greatly by pricing which commences below 130,000 yuan or circa 18,000 US dollars. Hydrogen fuel cells & Solid-state batteries TMC refuses to give up on hydrogen. The current Mirai has been greatly admired though for all the usual reasons with fuel cell vehicles, production ticks along fairly slowly. A replacement is coming in 2028, part of a venture with BMW AG. All-Solid-State-Batteries are also another fledgling technology which continues to be worked on quietly. TMC does not see itself selling tens of thousands of ASSB-equipped EVs annually until the 2030s. The company continues to work with Idemitsu Kosan, an oil refiner, in developing such cells packs, initially for the Japanese and Chinese markets. Lexus future models 2025-2035 "Toyota future models 2025-2035 (part 1)" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Motor 1
7 days ago
- Motor 1
‘Why I Hate New Cars': Man Tries to Replace a Headlight Bulb on His 2022 Toyota Corolla. Then He Learns Something Unexpected
A 2022 Toyota Corolla owner was shocked to discover how expensive and time consuming it is to replace a burnt out headlight on his vehicle. Derek (@wrenchin_derek) posted a TikTok about his experience that's garnered more than 573,000 views so far. All this stress results from a design choice that necessitates not only removing the bumper, but swapping out the car's entire headlight assembly. Normally, Derek states, such a fix would cost $20 and a few minutes. It's engineering like this, he argues, that has many folks reluctant to purchase newer cars. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Headlight Out Derek begins his video standing in front of a red 2022 Toyota Corolla with an open hood. He's already frustrated. 'This is why I hate new cars,' he proclaims before delving into his story. 'Last night, I'm driving home, I pass my parents. They call me say, 'Hey you got a headlight out. You need to replace that before you get pulled over.'' The TikToker assumed that this would be an easy enough procedure. For instance, as a YouTuber demonstrated , in a 2007 Toyota Corolla you just pop the hood, locate the headlight unit, and swap in a new bulb. Derek says replacing the light on his 2022 Corolla wasn't so straightforward. 'This morning I wake up, I come out, to pull the headlight bulb out of this Toyota Corolla. 22' Toyota Corolla. And I come to the discovery that it's a sealed unit.' Changing the light in a sealed unit proves it isn't 2007 anymore. 'The bulb is not serviceable. So in order to replace it you have to replace the whole assembly. Which requires taking this bumper off.' No Bulb For You As if the sealed unit weren't bad enough, Derek's problems compounded when he called a local parts store to purchase a new light. He says he was told the bulbs weren't for sale, meaning he had precious few options for fixing his own headlight. Instead of just purchasing a single bulb, Derek was faced with a new expenditure: an entirely new assembly unit. 'I'm like, 'Yeah I know I gotta buy the whole headlight assembly. How much is that?' And they say, 'You don't want to know.'' When Derek asked if it was 'that bad,' he says a worker replied, 'Oh it's bad. You're looking at anywhere from $1,000 to $1,100 for this driver's side headlight.' Derek was astounded. 'Jesus freaking Christ,' he says in the TikTok. 'Uh, no. For one.' Trending Now 'Smalltima, Talltima, Recalltima:' Man Says All Nissans are 'Altima-Based.' Then He Reveals Why 'Lawyer Up': Woman Drops Off Mercedes At Dealership For Oil Change. Then She's Told It's Totaled, Costs $27K To 'Fix 5 Wires' Other Options Derek then began scouring the internet for better deals. However, this didn't solve his problem of having a burnt out headlight. 'Cheapest one I could find was on Amazon for $120 for this particular model, XSE. But then I'm waiting a few days which means it's not gonna come in before I gotta drive to work in the mornings. Further, there's the process of replacing an entire headlight assembly. This is much more time consuming than simply switching out a bulb. Derek estimates it'll take him an entire afternoon. At this point in the video, Derek directs his lens into the engine bay of the Corolla to demonstrate that the headlight could have been made easily accessible. 'It's not like I have no room to get back there to it. Like I got all kinds of room. I could've had…a bulb that's serviceable.' Toyota Headlight Woes Derek says that bulbs for his other vehicle cost about $60 for two of the 'best.' And changing one would've taken him about 20 minutes. Of the Corolla, he says, 'Freaking waiting a few days for a headlight to come in. And then a few hours to replace it.' He believes these design choices dissuade folks from purchasing new vehicles. 'And people wonder why they don't want to buy new cars. Because they make things so unserviceable and so pricey. Why would you want to?' 'With Enough Glue and Tape It Should Hold' People were universally appalled by the cost and effort to change the headlight in Derek's 2022 Toyota Corolla. One opined that sealed front lamps should have extended shelf lives. 'An unserviceable led headlight should last longer than 3 years,' they said. Another highlighted how such a maneuver produces an inordinate amount of waste, yet 'meanwhile they have us drinking from cardboard/paper straws.' Another TikToker said that such exorbitant pricing would force them to come up with a creative solution. 'Personally, for $1000 I'm drilling and jigsawing the bulb out and wiring up a replacement. With enough glue and tape it should hold.' Another speculated this is part of a concentrated effort from auto manufacturers to fleece its customers. 'They don't want you independently working on cars. They want you under their thumb for everything.' Motor1 has reached out to Toyota via email and Derek via TikTok comment for further information. More From Motor1 The Kia Tasman Pickup Might Spawn a Toyota 4Runner SUV Rival Man Says This is the Real Reason Some Cars Have the Gas Tank on the Driver's Side. Is His Viral Claim True? The Best Performance Cars of 2025 (So Far) The Toyota Corolla Looks Even Better With White Wheels Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Here's Why Toyota's Cheapest Car Is Still A Smart Buy
Here's Why Toyota's Cheapest Car Is Still A Smart Buy originally appeared on Autoblog. Toyota has its fair share of models that cost well over $50,000, from the three-row Sequoia to the Tundra pickup and GR Supra sports car. But, the automaker has not forgotten its roots as the ideal car for the everyday commuter who prioritizes good value above all else. For them, Toyota remains one of the go-to automakers in America, but what is the cheapest new Toyota car you can buy, and how does it compare to its chief rival from Honda? View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article For only $22,325, the base Toyota Corolla LE sedan is the most affordable model sold by the brand in the United States. That price excludes any optional extras and the destination charge. Not only is it the cheapest Toyota, but it's one of the most affordable new cars in America, too. The Corolla LE comfortably undercuts its main rival on price, that being the Honda Civic Sedan, which starts at $24,250. You'll also pay less for a Corolla sedan than a Corolla hatch, with the latter beginning at $23,780. Let's take a closer look at what the Corolla LE gets you for your money. The current Corolla sedan isn't as bland as previous iterations of the sedan. In particular, the front fascia is quite aggressive by Corolla standards, featuring wraparound headlight clusters and a substantial opening below the grille. All that being said, Toyota's cheapest car can't conceal its bargain price. It rides on exceedingly plain 16-inch steel wheels with covers, although alloys are available as part of a package. In standard white, it gives off an unavoidable rental car vibe, but at least you can upgrade to some more interesting colors for no charge, such as Blueprint. The only noteworthy standard exterior features are LED headlights and taillights. Then again, much the same is true of its Honda rival. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Inside, the Corolla LE comes with standard cloth seats in a choice of Light Gray, black, or Macadamia/Mocha. Honda limits the base Civic to an all-black interior, so at least the Corolla has a bit more variety here. Traditional analog gauges are fitted, but at least there are no legibility concerns. In the LE, the infotainment setup includes an eight-inch touchscreen, six speakers, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so all the basics are covered. Toyota also includes four USB-C ports (two in front and two at the back), automatic single-zone climate control, and a 60/40 split-folding back seat. Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 suite is smartly included as standard, and includes: Pre-collsion system with pedestrian detection Lane departure alert Automatic high beams Road sign assist Full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control Proactive driving assistance Blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert are optionally available. The base Corolla has more USB ports, a slightly larger touchscreen, and two extra speakers when compared to the pricier Civic. The Civic's main advantage is a more accommodating back seat. Overall, the Corolla LE's interior lacks some desirable items and nicer finishes, but there are no glaring omissions when one considers the car's low price. Besides, you can always upgrade to one of the Corolla's many better-equipped trims. All non-hybrid Corollas use a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. A CVT sends what limited power there is to the front wheels, and customers should be prepared to deal with some undesirable acoustics from the four-pot, together with languid acceleration. The Civic isn't any better in this regard (150 hp), so we suggest the base 191-hp Mazda 3 sedan for anyone in need of better performance; this also happens to be the cheapest Mazda on sale. On a more positive note, the cheapest new Toyota is highly efficient, returning 32/41/35 mpg city/highway/combined. It also rides comfortably and handles proficiently, but the Civic and Mazda 3 are both more involving to drive. It's hard to beat the base Corolla for sheer reliability and low running costs, but the underpowered engine and CVT transmission combination is perhaps the clearest sign that this is a budget car. For just a bit more than the Corolla LE sedan, here are two other cheap Toyota cars worth considering. Much of what we've covered about the base Corolla Sedan also applies to the cheapest Corolla Hatchback, which starts at $23,780. However, the hatchback gets a sportier base trim called the SE, which comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, a color-keyed rear spoiler, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. It sticks with the 169-hp engine, but has a much more youthful look and feel. Also Toyota's cheapest SUV, the base Corolla Cross L starts at just above $24k. It has the same 169-hp engine and a comparable specification to the Corolla LE. Being a crossover does mean a bigger back seat and a larger (24 cubic feet) trunk, though, which are the main reasons to choose this cheap Toyota instead. Here's Why Toyota's Cheapest Car Is Still A Smart Buy first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
