Before	After

With all the signs pointing to an upturn in the automotive world for 2010, it still can be slow going for car dealers. But the smart ones, like Joseph's Toyota of Cincinnati, know a few things about the car world, especially nowadays: Buyers are focusing on value and fuel economy, but they still want a vehicle that has a few nicer appointments inside and out that personalize it to them and make it different than the stock one that came off the assembly line.

And this Ohio dealer knows where to go to get that personalized touch: Automotive Concepts of Cincinnati, an expediter that truly understands its clients’ needs.

“During these difficult times in the auto industry, car dealers can use accessories now more than ever to sell more cars and increase gross profits,” says Wayne Maupin, Automotive Concepts’ general manager. “Our dealers do an excellent job showcasing these cars, offering the customer something they may or may not find at another dealer across town.”

So Maupin picked up one of the dealer’s 2010 Toyota Corolla Sport models. Back at the shop he took a look at it and his keenly experienced eye gave him just the right ideas that would make a great package to help the dealer close a sale.

“All of these products are high-quality items that come with extensive warranties,” he says. “This allows the dealership to offer these products with confidence to their customers.”

Inside the shop, Maupin’s team began with the plain, cloth seating — take it out and replace it with a Katzkin leather interior: two-tone with perforated inserts and contrast double-stitch. The driver and front passenger seats also would get heaters, great for the cold, wet Ohio River valley winters. Global Accessories provided the seat heat with its dual high/low, illuminated switch. Ahhh.

And to dress up the front of the Corolla, to put the “sporty” back in the Sport edition, the Automotive Concepts team replaced the bare, matte-black factory grille with an eye-catching E&G Classics "Black Ice" mesh grille, upper and lower.

Maupin also suggests that “another popular item to add to this vehicle would be a full-feature power sunroof.” He says he’d likely use one from Inalfa Sunroofs for this 2010 Corolla Sport.