Friday, February 26, 2010

Fiat 500C Abarth: 2010 Geneva Auto Show




TURIN, Italy — Fiat's Abarth brand will display performance editions of the 500C and the Punto Evo at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

Abarth has kitted out the 500C in a choice of two-tone exterior paint schemes, loud graphics and 17-inch diamond-finish alloy wheels.

Under the hood is an Abarth-tuned 1.4-liter four-cylinder Turbo T-Jet gas engine that makes 140 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a six-speed Abarth Competizione automated manual gearbox with paddle shifters, the engine provides 0-60-mph acceleration in less than 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 127 mph, while returning impressive average fuel economy of 36 mpg in the European combined driving cycle....More
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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid: 2010 Geneva Auto Show


HETHEL, England — Lotus Engineering has created what the U.K. firm calls a "high-performance technology demonstrator" in the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid. The Lotus shares elements of its plug-in series hybrid drivetrain with a Giugiaro-designed concept from Lotus' Malaysian parent, Proton. Both will be at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show...More
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Metro Detroit Toyota suppliers raided

The FBI raided the Detroit-area offices of three key Toyota Motor Corp. suppliers Tuesday night, officials said Wednesday.---...More
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Spyker finalises purchase of Saab from GM


STOCKHOLM (AFP) – After months of negotiations and setbacks that left Saab's fate in limbo, Dutch sportscar maker Spyker said Tuesday it had finalised the purchase of the iconic Swedish brand from General Motors.
Spyker's CEO Victor Muller told reporters in Stockholm it was hard to imagine that the process his company, a minnow in the car industry, had started three months ago to acquire Saab was finally over.....More
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Sudden acceleration fix still an issue, Toyota says


Toyota Motor Corp. raised more questions about the safety of its vehicles than it answered Tuesday during a congressional hearing filled with dramatic moments and harsh exchanges....More
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Expert Says He Found Flaw in Toyota Electronics System


Dr. David Gilbert, an associate professor of automotive technology at Southern Illinois University, told a congressional hearing that he has found a flaw in the electronics system of a Toyota that "would allow abnormalities to occur."...More
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

GM to add third shift at Ohio plant


General Motors Co. is expected to announce today that it is adding a third shift of production at its Lordstown assembly plant in Ohio to produce the new compact Chevrolet Cruze, according to a source familiar with the plan....More
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2011 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition: 2010 Geneva Auto Show


MODENA, Italy — Maserati will unveil a special Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition at the upcoming 2010 Geneva Auto Show. It will reach U.S. dealers in the second half of 2010 as a 2011 model....More
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Monday, February 22, 2010

Tennessee couple to testify at Toyota hearing


Washington -- The first witnesses at Tuesday's House hearing into Toyota Motor Corp.'s sudden acceleration woes will be a Tennessee couple who reported a serious incident in 2006.---...More
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Toyota Bragged of Savings From Limiting Recall


A Toyota document — one of thousands the company has turned over to members of two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives — brags that the effort to limit recalls saved the automaker $100 million.---...More
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Friday, February 19, 2010

Toyota Recall Update #29: Corolla, Matrix Targeted in NHTSA Investigation


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday launched a formal investigation into consumer complaints about unresponsive steering in the 2009-'10 Toyota Corolla and Matrix....more
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Toyoda will appear before Congress


Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda will testify before Congress next week -- a dramatic move as the company seeks to stem the fallout from a series of massive recalls....More
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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Toyota Recall News:President Akio Toyoda Will Not Face The American People


With the mounting troubles at Toyota/Lexus they may never be able to recover. They are having steering problems, accelerator issues, floor mats sticking, brakes not working and deaths that maybe directly caused by these defects.

Now they are being summons in front of Congress to explain Toyota's inaction and the possibility of a cover up of these issues.

A telling tale of their down fall is the no show by Toyota's President Akio Toyoda. He will not face the American people and testify in front of Congress.

It is a slap in the face to all of the Toyota supporters when the President can not answer for his companies defects. These are not little defects like a bad door fit or a dome light that stays on. These are major defects, with poor engineering and poor design.

Toyota may have to go the way of Datsun(Nissan) and drop their name to sell in the United States in the future.
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Daimler Mercedes-Benz scraps dividend after 2009 loss


STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - German carmaker Daimler (DAIGn.DE) scrapped its dividend for the first time in 14 years after it swung to a worse-than-expected 2009 net loss, sending shares down to their lowest level in five months....More
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to shut down production


Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp. plans to shut down production again at two U.S. plants as it copes with the fallout from safety recalls....More
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Chrysler Helps Alfa Romeo Return To America


Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Group LLC chief executive, gave his clearest indication yet yesterday that the Alfa Romeo brand may make a return to the North American market as the Detroit automaker continues to look for ways to integrate its new partner, Fiat SpA....More
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2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible: 2010 Geneva Auto Show


CREWE, England — The new 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible will debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show as a companion to last year's Continental Supersports coupe. Bentley claims its new model is the world's fastest four-seat convertible and the fastest Bentley drop top ever. The car goes on sale worldwide mid-summer.
The performance specs would appear to back up that claim...More
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Toyota probes Corolla steering as its chief says he won't attend U.S. hearing


Tokyo -- Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems -- another blow to the world's largest automaker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety problems...More
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Saturday, February 13, 2010

Chrysler-Fiat make a Huge $3.3 billion deal with a Russian vehicle builder


When Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Group and Chrysler Group, signed off on a $3.3 billion deal with a Russian vehicle builder, he emphasized technology from Jeep was critical to the new alliance.

Fiat is putting up half the $3.3 billion for the deal, and Sollers, Fiat’s Russian partner, is putting up the other half with the help of the Russian government....More
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Toyota recalls Toyota Tacoma pickups


Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 8,000 Toyota Tacoma pickups vehicles over concerns that a faulty propeller shaft may have cracks.---...More
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Friday, February 12, 2010

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 ups horsepower, fuel economy


The 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 will get even more horsepower and better fuel economy, which could make it the first modern Shelby GT500 to dodge the gas guzzler tax, the company said today.
The Shelby GT500 — which was to be shown to the media today in Allen Park — will get a new 5.4-liter, supercharged V8 engine with 550 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque....More
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Dodge Ram wins 2010 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award


Auburn Hills, Michigan – MotorWeek TV today announced that the Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks have won the show’s 2010 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Pickup Truck.

This is the second year in a row that MotorWeek has chosen Ram trucks for the award.
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2011 Hyundai Azera Gets Horsepower Boost: 2010 Chicago Auto Show


The 2011 Hyundai Azera, unveiled at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, gets a horsepower boost and a new six-speed automatic transmission....More
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Toyota Turns Down Award for Prius in Japan


Accepting kudos for the just-recalled 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid is inappropriate, Toyota said...More
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Thursday, February 11, 2010

2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible


FRANKLIN, Tennessee — Nissan said the 2010 G37 Convertible, on sale now, will be priced from $44,350 for the seven-speed automatic version, up $500 from last year. The G37 Convertible Sport with six-speed manual gets new standard equipment, with a starting price of $46,950, up $3,050 from last year.
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Honda Recalls 378,758 Vehicles for Defective Air Bag Inflator


TORRANCE, California — Honda announced late Tuesday that it is expanding a recall to replace a defective air bag inflator in an additional 378,758 vehicles in the U.S. This latest action adds to the mounting recall woes of Honda, which last month announced a separate recall of 646,000 2007-08 Fit, City and Jazz models worldwide for a fire hazard involving a power window switch. It is the latest in a string of global recalls for Toyota and Honda, two Japanese auto giants that for years were considered the quality benchmarks....More
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Toyota loses its way

Five years ago, Yoshi Inaba, then president of Toyota Motor Corp.'s U.S. sales operations, disclosed his biggest fear. It was that someday, some flaw in Toyota vehicles might go undetected and cause injuries, or worse, to the companys customers.---...More
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

State Farm says it warned NHTSA on Toyota in 2007 (AP)

AP - The nation's largest auto insurer said Tuesday it alerted federal safety regulators in late 2007 about a rise in reports of unexpected acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the latest warning sign to emerge about the massive recall---...More
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2010 Dodge Challenger Furious Fuchsia Editions Unleashed


It's a far cry from the girlie Dodge La Femme of the Eisenhower era, but as close as the automaker is going to come to a pink Challenger. The 2010 Dodge Challenger Furious Fuchsia models were unveiled on Monday ahead of the 2010 Chicago Auto Show and will hit the street in May....More
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Fiat 500 Production Starts Soon


TOLUCA, Mexico, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Mexico could produce up to 130,000 Fiat 500s a year, seen as key to the recovery of Chrysler in the United States, with a $550 million investment, Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Monday.

A Chrysler plant outside Mexico City will begin assembling the 500 by December for sale in U.S. and Latin American showrooms, said Marchionne, the head of Fiat SpA (FIA.MI), who also heads Chrysler....More
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Monday, February 8, 2010

Ford Making Fix to 2010 Mustang Shelby GT500 Tire Information


DEARBORN, Michigan — Ford is making a fix to 243 of its 2010 Mustang Shelby GT500 cars because the rear tire size information was incorrectly marked on the label.

The recall affects 2010 Shelby GT500s built between October 28 and December 3, 2009. Ford will deal with the problem by sending owners the correct tire label, as well as instructions on how to attach it, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site. The safety campaign is slated to start on or around February 8. In the meantime, owners can contact Ford at (866) 436-7332 or NHTSA at (888) 327-4236
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Ford: Braking Glitch in 2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids Will Be Remedied


DEARBORN, Michigan — Ford said Thursday it will update the software of the regenerative braking system on some 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrids that are already in customers' hands. Ford's action comes on the heels of a similar issue with the 2010 Toyota Prius that is expected to prompt a recall.

"We have received reports that some drivers have experienced a different brake feel when the hybrid's unique regenerative brakes switch to conventional hydraulic braking," said Ford in a statement regarding the two hybrid vehicles. "While the vehicles maintain full braking capability, customers may initially perceive the condition as loss of brakes....More
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Dodge Charger Super Bowl Ad - Man's Last Stand


The Super Bowl 2010 had some fun ads and One of the fan favorites was the Dodge commercial with Dexter Star Michael C. Hall voice over. "Man's Last Stand"
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Sunday, February 7, 2010

GM China sales nearly doubled in January


General Motors Co., which has long looked to China as a growth market, nearly doubled its sales there in January, a record for the month...More
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Nissan 40th Anniversary Z: 2010 Chicago Auto Show


LONDON — Nissan in April will begin delivering the first of a limited run of cars to mark the 40th anniversary of the Z-car. In the U.S., the car will be called the 40th Anniversary Z, and it will debut at next week's 2010 Chicago Auto Show.

In Europe, the car will be dubbed Nissan 370Z Black Edition, and only 370 copies of the coupe will be produced for the European market, priced from $52,800 for the manual and $55,000 for the automatic.

The Anniversary Z is being offered in two metallic shades, black and quartz, both of which use Nissan's new Scratch Shield technology that self-repairs stone-chip damage...More
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Recall:Toyota to announce action soon for Prius hybrids

TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota said Sunday that it will soon announce plans to deal with braking problems in its prized Prius hybrid amid reports it has decided to issue a recall for the latest model in Japan, a possible new embarrassment for the world's biggest automaker---...More
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Friday, February 5, 2010

Tesla Launches RHD Roadster


LONDON — Tesla Motors said a right-hand-drive version of the Roadster is going into production for the U.K. and other markets, with test drives available at the company's exclusive showroom in Knightsbridge. The projected price is $137,850.

Tesla said the 2010 model gets a number of improvements, including an upgraded audio system and better noise-reduction materials.

Tesla points out that U.K. companies that purchase a Roadster can deduct the price of the car from pretax profits. Other benefits including free parking and free charging at various locations around the city, as well as exemption from the London congestion charge and the upcoming showroom tax....More
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Toyota Recall Update #21: NHTSA Opens Prius Brake Probe


WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday joined Japan's Ministry of Transport in opening a formal defect investigation into brake problems on the 2010 Toyota Prius.

The U.S. investigation, to be conducted by DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was announced shortly after Toyota startled media and industry watchers early Thursday with the acknowledgement that it had been aware of Prius brake issues for months and that it had already implemented a fix to some cars, without notifying Prius owners or the general public.

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) said it has received 124 reports from Prius owners "alleging a momentary reduction in braking performance while traveling over an uneven road surface, a pothole or a bump."....More
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Seat Ibiza ST: 2010 Geneva Auto Show

The sport tourer from VW's Spanish subsidiary is the third entry in the Ibiza range.---...More
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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Geneva auto show: Kia Sportage set for reveal


The world premiere of the all-new Kia Sportage is set for the Geneva motor show in March. The Sportage sports a dramatic makeover that helps should bolster the Korean brand's image.....More
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Toyota conducted fix of Prius brakes but didn't notify drivers


Toyota Motor Corp., under fire from fresh quality complaints about its popular Prius hybrid, says it conducted a software fix to address reports of slipping brakes.

But the world's biggest carmaker didn't notify customers at the time of the change. And it says it is still uncertain how to handle the thousands of Prius vehicles that were sold before the fix...More
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Shanghai GM Sales Way Up


SHANGHAI, China — General Motors' Shanghai GM Chinese venture reported that its sales more than doubled in January over the same period in 2009, with 90,202 units sold.

GM's flagship venture attributed the robust sales in part to its new generation of mid-to-high-class sedans, the Buick LaCrosse and Regal, which had combined sales of 17,011 units.

The venture also sold about 17,030 Chevrolet Cruze models in January and 20,585 Buick Excelle cars. Shanghai GM launched a new Chevrolet Sail and Buick Excelle XT in January as it aims to boost full-year sales to 850,000 units, General Manager Ding Lei said.....More
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Imports Expected To Climb 20 Percent in China

SHANGHAI, China — Imports of vehicles into China are expected to climb 20 percent to 420,000 units this year, an industry insider has said. Of the sectors, sport-utility vehicles contributed the most to the growth. Last year, SUV imports rose 37 percent and accounted for 54.8 percent of total imported vehicles.

Auto imports began to rebound in the second half of last year, thanks to a recovering Chinese economy and higher demand in second- and third-tier cities, said Ding Hongxiang, chairman of China Automobile Trading Co.

"We have seen notable sales growth in Shaanxi, Hebei and Inner Mongolia," Ding said. "The rising economic strength in smaller cities has generated consumption power, which will bring significant growth to the overall imported vehicle market."....More
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Toyota says Prius had brake problems

Toyota acknowledged design problems with the brakes in its prized Prius, adding to the catalog of woes for the Japanese automaker as it reels from massive gas-pedal recalls in the U.S---...More
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Toyota Pedal Recall Update #17: Electronic Throttle System Under Microscope

U.S. Department of Transportation is considering whether electronic system is the reason Toyotas are plagued with unintended-acceleration problems
---...More
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Toyota Prius Brakes Latest Focus of Safety Investigation

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is one of many Prius owners to say they've experienced the acceleration problem with the hybrid cars
---...More
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Toyota Pedal Recall Update #18: Recall Expands to Mexico

Following Toyota's massive recall of vehicles in the United States, Europe and China, the company is now extending repairs to Mexico
---...More
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Toyota probe deepens amid confusion over risk (AP)

AP - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Toyota owners Wednesday they should stop driving their vehicles, then quickly took back his words, adding to confusion over the safety of millions of recalled cars. Toyota, for its part, tried to reassure drivers that sticky gas pedals have been rare ? and the cars can be stopped in any event by firmly stepping on the brakes.---...More
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Toyota's reputation takes a costly hit

Damage to name may top millions for repairs, analysts say

The cost of Toyota Motor Corp.'s two high-profile recalls totaling 9 million vehicles may run as high as $2 billion, analysts say.

But the final tab for Toyota's sudden fall from grace in the United States, its most lucrative market, may be even higher.

"It's definitely in the billions, and it includes the cost of fixing the problems and the additional incentives that Toyota will have to offer at least the rest of this year," said Jesse Toprak, an analyst with auto pricing firm TrueCar.com....More







From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100203/AUTO01/2030328/1148/rss25#ixzz0eV82PZH7
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LaHood says he misspoke on advice to Toyota owners

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood now says he misspoke when telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving then.
Instead, LaHood says take them to dealerships to get them repaired.
LaHood told reporters it was "obviously a misstatement" when he told a House panel earlier Wednesday that he would advise owners not to drive recalled vehicles. The remark came during testimony to the Appropriations subcommittee on transportation.


















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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood now says he misspoke when telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving then.



Instead, LaHood says take them to dealerships to get them repaired.



LaHood told reporters it was "obviously a misstatement" when he told a House panel earlier Wednesday that he would advise owners not to drive recalled vehicles. The remark came during testimony to the Appropriations subcommittee on transportation.
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