NEW YORK -

On the heels of June wrapping up with the new-vehicle SAAR rising over 14 million, AOL Autos and Toyota said Monday they are tapping into the sales surge with the launch of a new online search tool for shoppers.

The two companies contend that the new tool helps “consumers find the perfect car for their lifestyle.”

ChooseControl allows a potential car buyer to search for units based on social demographics, and it also “incorporates dynamic and customized video into the experience to help the car buyer visualize how the vehicle matches their unique lifestyle,” officials noted.

Toyota will serve as the product’s initial sponsor and launch partner.

“For the first time since the U.S. recession, consumers are headed back to automotive dealerships in droves,” said David Kiley, editor-in-chief of AOL Autos.

“As they consider their first new-car purchase in years, consumers need help navigating the explosion of new options and technologies that greet them. ChooseControl goes well beyond traditional auto search parameters to help consumers select an automobile perfectly tailored to their unique needs — before they even visit a car lot to take a test drive,” he continued.

How it Works

Further explaining how the new tool works, officials noted that ChooseControl will also include search results from every major car manufacturer in the industry, “ensuring that consumers have the most extensive range of options available to meet their needs.”

Specifically, the tool breaks search options down that include lifestyle parameters. The companies offered the following examples:

—About You (single male or female, small or large family)

—Work (executive, hard worker, long commute)

—Play (outdoors, gardening/home, music, shopping, travel, tech/tnfo)

—Live (big & tall, eco-friendly, inclement weather, pets)

On top of these parameters, the tool will create a personalized video of how the car will accommodate a specific shoppers’ lifestyle

“For example, an avid skier may see a video of how his skis will load onto the roof rack of the specific car that has been recommended,” officials explained.

So, where are these videos coming from?

The companies noted that more than 600,000 video combinations were created by StudioNow, part of AOL’s Advertising.com Group, “which enables companies to create, manage and syndicate high-quality online videos by tapping into our network of nearly 5,000 videographers around the world.”

Moreover, AOL Autos will integrate ChooseControl into its Facebook page. 

“This is truly the smartest car configurator available on the Web,” said Tim Armstrong, chairman and chief executive officer of AOL. “ChooseControl marries AOL’s technical vision and deep understanding of consumer online behavior with Toyota’s expertise around consumer car buying preferences to put an incredible amount of information and decision-making power at consumers’ fingertips.”

Chiming in, Dionne Colvin, national media marketing manager, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, also expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership: “The vast array of options available to automotive buyers today can make the purchase experience overwhelming for consumers, particularly those who have been out of the market for a while.

"We are thrilled to partner with AOL to bring consumers a new tool that will change the way people shop for cars, making it a more personal and efficient experience,” Colvin added.

To try out the new tool, see here.