Okay, I guess ya'll need an Alaskan to help out on this subject

Remote start could easily be a dealer added option. There's an aftermarket installer up here on every other street corner. I'm sure a dealer system would be substantially more integrated, and given the SS/SE system might be as simple as a software feature "enabled" by dealers. That being said, I've read aftermarket systems are even possible on the Prius.

They work by turning the car "on" - then whatever you had the climate control set to, whether auto, heat, or A/C, will cause either the ICE to kick in to generate heat, cool the prius, or use the electric A/C compressor to cool the Camry.

By the way, quite a few of the new GM cars (like Impala) are coming with this feature as well, built into the key fob. These are really good because they'll kick heat or cool up to MAX automatically, then when you get in and insert the key, they'll revert to your own settings.

Aftermarket systems also have two-way paging features, to tell you the status of your car while you're inside the office. They also have have modes to automatically start the car if the temperature drops below a certain point. I've heard in national media like "Car Talk" where people call in saying their car starts automatically, and the host doesn't beleive them and can't figure it out. It's usually due to a car that's migrated south, and the new owner's don't have the fob or know anything about the system. Pretty funny, unless the car's parked in a garage!