The Toyota Prius family could grow even larger as the automakers studies additional versions of the three row Prius. The Japanese automaker wants to sell 1 million hybrids a year and in early 2012, Toyota will launch two more Prius family members. The members will include the Prius C compact hybrid and the Prius plug-in...
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r Since the fall of 2009, Toyota has recalled more than 20 million vehicles. According to an advisory panel appointed by the company, Toyota has not adopted enough change to address the slew of safety problems that have arisen over the past decade. This issue lies within Toyota’s centralized decision-making that remains based in Japan, and a 60...
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The U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed its investigation into the power steering system in the 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla with no defects found. Furthermore, the NHTSA also said Toyota’s electronic throttles were not to blame for the 2009-2010 recall fiasco. However, Toyota is still dealing with major setbacks with the parts shortage caused...
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Mazda and Chinese joint venture partner Chang’an are reportedly developing a new sub-brand for the Chinese market, with their first offering based on the outdated but still excellent 1st generation Mazda3. Mazda still sells the older Mazda3 in China, while importing the current Mazda3 hatchback. The current car will be joined by a Chinese made...
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Honda has scheduled the June 16 release of its all new Fit Shuttle. The new station-wagon-like variant of the popular Fit subcompact will be offered with both a regular 4-cylinder engine or a hybrid version, the Nikkei business daily reported. Increased production at the Suzuka factory in Mie Prefecture began in early May and has progressed enough...
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If you’ve never witnessed the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb, you’re truly missing out in an unbelievable experience. The locale itself is a sight to behold and watching high-horsepower machines blast their way up the mountainside is just icing on the cake. That being said, it’s easy to understand why any automaker would want to...
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This Fall Mazda will introduce the 2012 Mazda3, sporting the first use of the automaker’s new SkyActiv technologies in North America. Full details about the engine aren’t yet available, but it is a 1.6-liter and uses direct injection. That car won’t, however, be the first ever model to receive a new SkyActiv engine, with Mazda...
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BMW‘s little urban runabout is almost ready for the limelight, and some tantalizing details have been released: when it goes on sale, uh, eventually, it will be priced at $35,000, or around the price of a 3-Series Coupe. And what does that $35k get you? Well, 150-horsepower, for starters—a lot for its size, and good...
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In their ongoing quest to assuage the guilt of the fabulously wealthy, Aston Martin will be electrifying their ugly-duckling née-Toyota Cygnet—in case wealthy city-living socialites still think Cameron Diaz has a thing for environmentally caring men. Aston Martin’s EV Cygnet will reduce its corporate emissions levels, allowing the British luxe automaker to keep building the Vantage and...
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General Motors is pumping $109 million into its Ecotec program in Michigan, in order to support ongoing production of the 1.4-liter engine shared by three Chevrolet models as well as keeping/adding 96 jobs in Michigan. $84 million of that money goes to GM’s engine plant in Flint to increase production capacity, while the rest is...
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One of the rising stars of the automotive industry has got to be Kia. The Korean automaker’s beautiful designs combined with good powertrains and affordable pricing has got the attention of many customers and hence their sales numbers are continually climbing. While their current line-up has sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, crossovers and even a sporty little...
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When Volkswagen first introduced its new 2011 Jetta model to America, easily one of the biggest selling points was the $15,995 base price – almost $2,000 below what the previous Jetta retailed for. That price even became the crux of the brand’s marketing efforts. Fast forward 12 months and you won’t find a sub $16K...
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Russians and world leaders alike know not to mess with shirtless, crossbow-wielding, bear-hunting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. But when a Lada Granta crosses the Wrath of Putin, there’s nothing to do but to make cheesy “in Soviet Russia” jokes. And run. Putin, promoting the glory of Mother Russia and the trappings of the proletariat, paraded a...
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Perhaps the industry’s worst-kept secret (other than Sergio Marchionne’s grandfatherly enthusiasm for v-neck sweaters) is the Ford Focus ST—the hyped-up, hi-po hot hatch we Americans finally get our hands on since the death of the SVT Focus in 2004. European RS and American SVT teams are currently putting 60 camouflaged prototypes through their paces, from...
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South Korean car firm Kia has been enjoying a lot of praise given to the styling of their new cars, especially the Optima sedan. Now the Optima Hybrid version is about to hit the market and we have learned it’s prices will start at $26,500. That’s not all, because that price-tag does not include the...
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Dubbed Square Style, the tuners over at Vilner has transformed Smart’s ForTwo to interesting new heights. Originally commissioned for a Bulgarian businessman for advertising purposes, Vilner is now willing to offer this transformation to all those interested in making their Smart ForTwo more stylish and flashy. No performance modifications were done, but it’s evident that...
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Honda currently sells a natural-gas Civic in four states: California, New York, Oklahoma and Utah. But for the millions of Americans that live elsewhere, take heart—by fall of this year, you’ll be able to fuel your Civic with CNG. The Civic GX has racked up awards for its environmental credentials, including top honors from the...
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The Volo Auto Museum will be hosting one of the most comprehensive Hollywood car auctions ever on June 8th. Based out of Illinois, the auction will feature plenty of Hollywood’s most famous rides including the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and Herbie, from Lindsey Lohan’s 2005 feature film. And the coolest part of the auction? No...
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President Barrack Obama’s initiative for government fleet vehicles to be able to run on alternative fuels like E85 ethanol, could result in higher gas consumption, rather than reducing it. That means, this project could end up doing the opposite of what it was set out to achieve. Only 1-percent of gas stations offer E85 in...
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Famed Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus, has continued to expand their Smart ForTwo portfolio, this time with a modified cabrio. Called the Brabus La Bleue, the modified Smart ForTwo will be available only in Italy with a limited production of just 60 units. On the outside, the special edition vehicle will sport a dark blue metallic paint...
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Lincoln may show an updated version of its Concept C small car at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, as automakers of all stripes begin rolling out their new smaller, fuel efficient cars that feature much of the same equipment as more upscale models. The first Concept C, which debuted in 2009, was attractive but...
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Hyundai‘s Veloster sports coupe will have its North American introduction delayed by two months due to a labor dispute involving a union at its South Korean factory. A labor dispute involving changes to the shift structure at the Veloster’s plant in Ulsan caused a production slowdown, which saw the plant operate at 33 percent capacity....
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Volkswagen is looking to add an entry-level brand for the Chinese market as a means of stabilizing its lead in the Chinese marketplace. “We are currently evaluating with our partner First Auto Works whether we need to add a domestic brand to enter the low-cost portion of the Chinese market,” Soh Weiming, executive VP for Volkswagen’s...
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With Volkswagen now having launched the new Jetta and Passat on our shores, the automaker has pretty much run out of cars to Americanize and so it will soon look to deliver some all-new models designed to appeal to our less sophisticated tastes and larger beltlines. One of the first will be a three row...
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