Report: GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota

Even with the impending launch of the Volt later in the Fall, the Chevrolet Cruze may be the biggest vehicle General Motors will launch in the U.S. this year. The reason is money. The Cruze should make some of it, while the Volt and its pricey development and battery packs likely won’t for a long time.

The Cruze looks pretty good to us, but we know that the new sedan will only be successful if it is properly launched and marketed. So how do you best show off a refined interior, 10 standard airbags and more hip- and shoulder-room than the top sellers in the class? Automotive News reports that The General will ask its 3,000 dealers to purchase a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Civic so Bowtie shoppers can compare and contrast the newest Chevrolet against the C-Segment stalwarts from Japan.

Since the Cruze is all-new in the U.S. market and both the Civic and Corolla are a bit long-in-the-tooth, we’re thinking the Chevy will win more than its fair share of buyers, but we’d like to see Chevy stores step up to the challenge of the Mazda3, as well. Perhaps the bigger challenge, though, will be to get customers who would traditionally buy a Honda or Toyota to shop at a Chevy store in the first place. GM plans to officially launch the Cruze in late September.

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: Toyota Verso-S gets an iQ-inspired makeover

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Toyota

Small MPVs might not be the hottest commodities here in the United States, but these little functional wonders sell like hotcakes in other markets, especially Europe. To keep up with the growing segment, Toyota has given its Verso hatch a rather substantial makeover, and we’ll see the all-new Verso-S debut at the Paris Motor Show in just a few weeks.

Upon its launch in the UK in early 2011, the Verso-S will be the shortest B-segment MPV in Europe – the car is less than four meters (157 inches) long. It’s a sharp little hatch, too, looking like the lovechild of a Honda Fit and a Toyota iQ, the latter of which supplies many of the visual cues seen here on the new Verso-S.

Toyota is still keeping quiet about the full specifications, but expect the floodgates to open at the end of September closer to the little MPV’s official debut. Read more in Toyota’s press release, after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Toyota Verso-S gets an iQ-inspired makeover

Paris Preview: Toyota Verso-S gets an iQ-inspired makeover originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Toyota Avalon

Filed under: Sedan, Toyota, Reviews, Luxury

Sexagenarians Rejoice! Your Ride Has Arrived

Have you seen the TV commercials for the 2011 Toyota Avalon? One particular 30-second spot sticks out. It’s shot through a 1960’s filter and features an old-fashioned voiceover, cheesy elevator music and an airline pilot driving the big Toyota sedan on a cloud with a pretty flight attendant in the passenger seat. It’s like something the Mad Men crew would create, minus the misogyny.

That Toyota’s marketing team produced such a commercial proves they know exactly who buys the Avalon: people who were alive and watching television 50 years ago. Since a “jet-smooth ride” and “quiet cabin” don’t set an enthusiast’s soul ablaze, we’re taking Toyota’s hint and getting in the mood for our review of the updated Avalon by donning a cardigan, ordering a scotch and soda and developing a one-sided friendship with Alex Trebec. So let’s phrase it in the form of a question: How good is the 2011 Toyota Avalon? Follow the jump to find out.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Toyota Avalon

Review: 2011 Toyota Avalon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Toyota recalling 1.1M Corolla and Matrix models over stalling fears *UPDATE

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

Toyota has been in the hot seat this year for its high-volume safety recalls, has issued yet another action that covers its 2005-2008 model year Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks. Approximately 1.13 million vehicles are affected by a problem which could cause the 1ZZ-FE 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine to stall. Three accidents have been reported thus far, though Toyota hasn’t confirmed that these incidents were indeed caused by this engine stalling issue.

To fix this problem, Toyota will replace the engine control modules on the recalled vehicles starting in mid-September. Owners will be notified by mail in the coming weeks and the service will be provided at no charge.

This is not the first time this year that the Corolla and Matrix have been the subject of safety issues. In early 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated almost 750,000 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles for a potential steering issue, and Toyota provided a free fix for customers. An official recall was not issued, though, as Toyota maintains that this problem is not a safety concern.

Follow the jump to read Toyota’s official press release.

*UPDATE: We mustn’t forget that the Pontiac Vibe is built on the same architecture as the Corolla/Matrix, and General Motors has just issued a press release (available after the jump) stating that certain 2005-2008 model year Vibes are being recalled for this same issue.

[Sources: Toyota, AOL Autos, General Motors]

Continue reading Official: Toyota recalling 1.1M Corolla and Matrix models over stalling fears *UPDATE

Official: Toyota recalling 1.1M Corolla and Matrix models over stalling fears *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Toyota, Reviews

Family Vacation Tests This Minivan’s Mettle

My wife and I? Not minivan people. It isn’t for lack of appreciation. After all, we have three kids, so we’re acutely aware of the advantages gained from lots of interior space. We get our three rows in a different form factor; one that’s admittedly less practical but doesn’t make us feel like we’re flying the white flag of suburban surrender in the garage.

For our annual summer vacation, we decided to see how more sensible people roll. Our ride for the week was the latest monument to family-friendly practicality: the 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited (stickering at a significant $44,919 as tested). Its mission: schlep the author, his wife, our seven-year-old daughter, four-year-old son, 11-month-old son and the rather daunting pile of related detritus up to Cape Cod for a five-day getaway. Would everything fit easily? Would it actually be pleasant to drive? Would we be beset with secret minivan jealousy forever after? All those answers and more after the jump.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited

Review: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota subpoenas Camry in Lee acquittal case

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Government/Legal, Toyota

Koua Fong Lee can’t seem to catch a break. Lee was convicted of killing three people in 2006 when his Toyota Camry struck a vehicle at a stoplight, but he was later freed after prosecutors discovered that Lee may have been a victim of unintended acceleration. He served two and a half years in prison while the justice system ground along, and now Toyota has subpoenaed his 1996 Camry. The manufacturer wants Lee to turn the car over for an examination on the quick. Unfortunately, Lee no longer has the car. It’s been locked up in the custody of the St. Paul Police Department since the 2006 accident.

With Lee’s name clear, a total of four federal lawsuits have been filed against Toyota by the family members of those killed in the accident. Each claims that Toyota knew of the unintended acceleration issue well before the Lee accident and failed to follow up on those reports in any substantial way. Meanwhile, Toyota claims that the accident wasn’t due to unintended acceleration. You can see the conundrum here. If Toyota proves that the accident wasn’t the result of unintended acceleration, then it may be the case that Lee was at fault.

Lee’s lawyer has expressed obvious concern over allowing Toyota to examine the vehicle unsupervised. So for now, it remains in St. Paul PD custody.

[Source: The Pioneer Press | Image: Ben Garvin, AP Photo/Pioneer Press]

Report: Toyota subpoenas Camry in Lee acquittal case originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota launches production of Tacoma at San Antonio plant

Filed under: Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Production of the Toyota Tacoma resumed in July after tooling was moved from its former home at NUMMI in Fremont, California to San Antonio, Texas. The Texas factory is also home to the full-size Tundra which has not lived up to sales expectations, leaving lots of extra capacity.

Adding Tacoma production in Texas cost Toyota $100 million and brought 1,000 new jobs to the facility. Toyota spent about $1.3 billion on the San Antonio plant and tooled it up for 300,000 units a year. However, the Tundra has never even hit half that mark. With all of Toyota’s North American pickup production now consolidated at San Antonio, the plant could finally come close to its capacity.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota launches production of Tacoma at San Antonio plant

Toyota launches production of Tacoma at San Antonio plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota cuts 600 contract workers in Japan as production slows

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

A recent report out of Japan had Toyota preparing to cut domestic vehicle production by up to 20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Why? Sales of hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles are expected to drop following the expiration of tax incentives on those vehicles. Now comes word that Toyota has eliminated 600 jobs at its Japanese plants in preparation for the production slow down.

Toyota has not veered from its traditional policy of not laying off regular employees. The latest cuts are coming from the ranks of the temporary contract workers that it employs for terms of less than three years. At the end of its last fiscal year, Toyota had 2,400 contract workers in Japan. Contract employees are occasionally promoted to full-time status, but that seems rather unlikely in this case given the production cuts.

[Source: Japan Today]

Toyota cuts 600 contract workers in Japan as production slows originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2nd Philippine International Motor Show 2008 – TOYOTA (by tsikot)

Visit our forums for more details tsikot.yehey.com The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), an organization of local carmakers and distributors, is staging the country’s “ultimate motoring event” at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on August 21 to 24. Tsikot.com is an official E-Media Partner of PIMS 2008 Direct Link Car Insurance Booth will be the Official Tambayan of Tsikot.com Watch Tsikot Videos at a clearer resolution in our very own video site (Tsikot Tv) www.tsikot.tv CONTACT US Feel free to contact us for event sponsorship opportunities, web ad placements, online marketing and others needs TSIKOT E-MEDIA, INC. (OFFICE) Hotline: 0905-333-8-777 Tel #: 866-1496 Email: tsikot@gmail.com Yahoo Messenger: xdanzx@yahoo.com Website: www.tsikotemedia.com http – Join the Largest Automotive Community in the Philippines. Tsikot.com or tsikot.yehey.com is the Largest Automotive Community in the Philippines with 50000 registered members and growing. Check our forums and register for more updates about cars. tsikot.yehey.com For Buyers and Sellers. tsikot.yehey.com Add our growing Friendster & Multiply Network to your list! Friendster Account profiles.friendster.com Multiply Account tsikoteers.multiply.com

Toyota responds to concerned owners with ‘Why is my car doing this?’

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Toyota

If you didn’t think that Toyota has been getting a lot of ‘unintended acceleration‘ questions from concerned customers, this might change your mind. The Japanese automaker has posted a short release on the company’s media website called “Why is my car doing this?” that explains how technology in cars today can “cause engine rpm to increase slightly without warning.” The informative little missive explains how cold start idle-up, transmission shift, catalytic converter protection, air conditioning idle-up and power steering idle up can raise the pulse of your engine.

We were hoping that the rest of the world already knew that, for example, jamming the A/C when it is hot will cause the engine to rev a bit higher, or that starting your vehicle when it’s cold outside will cause the engine to race for a few minutes. Guess not. Our favorite example is for protection of the catalytic converter. Toyota tells us that, on manual transmission models, the engine control computer will “keep the engine rpm above idle as the driver shifts between fifth and sixth gear at high speeds” to prolong the life of the emissions component.

While the list of reasons your engine may idle may sound incredibly obvious, it suggests that some customers are a bit skittish every time they turn on their Toyota, and that can’t be good. Hit the jump to read for yourself.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota responds to concerned owners with ‘Why is my car doing this?’

Toyota responds to concerned owners with ‘Why is my car doing this?’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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