Toyota is launching its “100 Cars for Good” program, where the company will donate 100 cars to various non-profit groups. Facebook users will choose which groups will receive the vehicles via a voting process. The winning organizations will get to choose from a selection of vehicles, including the Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna or Sienna Mobility. The...
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Contrary to earlier reports, Mazda will not be ending production of its Mazda6 midsize sedan. Earlier reports suggested that the slow-selling model would be axed after reports emerged that production of the vehicle at Mazda’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant may cease. While Mazda confirmed that the Mazda6 would remain in the lineup for some time...
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If there’s anything Toyota execs can be happy about for the most recent quarter, it’s that for them it’s Q4, marking an end to what has been a troubling 12 months for the Japanese auto giant. Just released data shows Toyota Q4 profit fell off a cliff, dropping 77 percent to “just” $314 million. The...
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Two separate Japanese automakers are planning similar fates for their underperforming vehicles, with both the Subaru Tribeca and Mazda6 set to be discontinued in the near future. Both models are nearing the end of their production cycles, (or have arguably exceeded them), and neither will live to see a second generation reports the Nikkan Kogyo...
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Toyota is denying a report that the automaker plans to switch all of its Prius models over to a plug-in hybrid setup by 2014. With the Plug-in Prius about to go on sale, a report from the Nikkei business daily indicated that the Japanese automaker is set to then make all future Prius models use...
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JDM fanboys and Honda lovers everywhere are sure to wince at the above photo, showing yet another side to the devastating Japanese tsunami. Were it not for info provided by Ichishima-san of Spoon Sports, we might not be able to guess that this blue and yellow liveried heap was once an RSX Type R race...
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According to the BrandZ Top 100 annual ranking of the worl’s most valuable brands, Toyota’s brand value has jumped 11% to $24.2 billion. Toyota has surpassed BMW, which was number 1 last year in the automotive category. Despite Toyota’s massive recall campaign and the March 11 earthquake, the car maker has regained its position as the worlds...
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Land Rover South Africa has taken the brand’s iconic Defender off-roader and converted one to run on fully electric power, with an 80 horsepower motor good for 63 miles of silent, emissions free driving at speeds of up to 37 mph. The Defender EV also retains a full four-wheel drive system despite its electric drivetrain....
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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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With the Nissan Leaf beginning to outsell the Chevrolet Volt, the competition between the two is heating up, and General Motors North America President Mark Reuss had some not-so-nice things to say about the car when asked for his thoughts. Reuss said that the Leaf was “…has a finite range and requires infrastructure and charging...
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Toyota Canada has cut its sales projections by a third and warned dealers that the supply of new vehicles is starting to be choked off as the company feels the effects of the March 11th earthquake that rocked northern Japan. While Toyota sent two memos to dealers regarding the revised sales forecast, the company refused...
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Before most automakers had any interest in the compact premium segment, Acura launched the Integra, and then the RSX. A car that was perhaps ahead of its time, the RSX is set to make a comeback. A Motor Trend reports cites sources claiming the next-gen RSX will get the new 201-hp 2.4-liter Civic Si engine,...
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Overall, auto sales have been on an upward trajectory for several months, however cash incentives are not the reason for the success. Incentive spending was at a five- year low in April, according to Automotive News, down 14 percent to an average of $2,320 per vehicle. Toyota had the lowest incentives among the top six...
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Lexus has dominated the U.S luxury market for several years, however the company recently lost ground with American consumers. BMW sits in first place ahead of Mercedes- Benz by a very slim margin of 29 sales. Supply problems stemming from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan is cited as the reason for...
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Nearly two months after the devastating earthquake in Japan, Honda is still reeling from the effects—and forcing to juggle production schedules in America and back home. Honda is suspending orders of its vehicles built in Japan for the months of June and July. Production of the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, Fit, and Acuras TSX and RL are being suspended...
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Even with skyrocketing fuel prices, subcompacts are selling less than their compact counterparts. The Ford Fiesta was the overall leader in the subcompact department, 9,147 sales but still trailed the larger Focus’ 17,265 total sales. Honda Civic sales rose 7% to 26,777 which is more than triple the Fit’s total of 8,116 units in April. Furthermore,...
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The Nissan Leaf outsold the Chevrolet Volt in April, reversing March’s sales numbers where the Volt handily outsold the Leaf. Nissan moved 573 Leaf EVs in April, while 493 Volts found a home amongst buyers. Whie the Volt has been leading in total sales with (2,029 sold, compared to 1,044 for the Leaf), if April’s...
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The city of New York has chosen Nissan as the supplier for the next generation of taxi cabs. This decision will give Nissan an exclusive 10-year contract for the city’s massive fleet totaling 13,200 taxis. The Nissan design was chosen over the Ford Transit Connect van as well as a design from Turkish builder Karzan....
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Honda will delay the launch of their next generation CR-V crossover due to continued production delays, and supplies of their 2012 Civic will also be delayed as Honda’s North American production continues to run at well below capacity amid the after effects of Japan’s natural disasters. In a letter to Honda’s dealers, U.S. executive vice-president...
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Honda’s recent airbag recall in North America is a growing problem for the auto maker. The recall, which affect 2001 to 2003 model Honda and Acura vehicles, is related to a faulty airbag module that might have been replaced by a defected service part, when the original driver’s airbag was changed. This latest recall notice...
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Nissan Brazil continues to make headlines and generate plenty of controversy with its commercials. In March Ford of Brazil announced it was suing Nissan in the country after the Japanese automaker ran an wherein Ford engineers are portrayed as rappers, living high on the riches generated by overcharging customers. Oh, and there were also some...
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With a recent warning from its dealers about stale products, Lexus is poised to roll out a list of all-new model as it looks to re-assert itself in the luxury sphere. The news comes from Lexus of Australia where top exec Tony Cramb has indicated new models will be a big part of the Lexus...
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Every time a new version of a car is introduced sales are expected to spike. That, however, is not the case with the all-new 2012 Honda Civic with American Honda Motor Co. sales boss John Mendel warning dealers in a memo that supply will be “severely restricted, with limited availability of certain models.” Due to...
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The president of Mitsubishi, Osamu Masuko, is “very interested” in producing electric Formula 1 cars, with an eye to mutually compatible technology with their road cars. The governing body of Formula 1, the Federation Internationale de lÀutomobile, announced this month that it is working with representatives of the European Commission to develop a racing series for...
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