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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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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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
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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
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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
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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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