With possibly just enough parts available to build two-thirds of its popular Prius hybrid, on Tuesday Toyota resumed production of that car, plus the Lexus HS250h, and CT 200h hybrids. The assembly lines had been shut down following the Mar. 11 Japan earthquake, and resulting tsunami that is still causing trouble for the industry. A...
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The latest Harris poll results are out and Ford has taken the top spot in the “Full line automotive” sector, while Mercedes-Benz takes the win in the “Luxury” sector. The winners scored the highest in terms of customer connection, commitment, equity and trust. Ford beat out rivals such as Chevrolet and Honda, while previous category...
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While we won’t have final March sales numbers until Thursday evening, but for the first time since February of 2010, Ford looks set to beat GM in sales figures, with 210,000 units sold. GM won’t fare so badly, with a projected 208,000 cars and trucks moved in March. GM’s slump – and Ford’s success –...
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After unveiling the FT-86 II Concept at the Geneva Auto Show at the start of the month, Toyota has just released an extensive selection of photos, and even a video, from a “behind the scenes” photo shoot with the car. The photos give a better look at the rear-drive sports car, with the usually poor...
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The latest hiccup deriving from Japan’s earthquake may cause global automotive production to fall by as much as 30 percent, as parts suppliers remain crippled by the quake and subsequent tsunami that devastated Japan. “We could lose up to 5 million vehicles in a worst-case scenario,” said Michael Robinet of IHS, in an interview with Bloomberg. “This...
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Not only do they package up stories in handy digest form, they also do brand research. Reader’s Digest has asked Canadians what automaker they trust the most, and they voted Toyota as one of their 2011 “Most Trusted Brands.” This is the third consecutive year Toyota has scooped the “Most Trusted Passenger Car Brand,” as...
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Toyota has warned that production of vehicles in the US and Canada could be affected because supplies of some parts from Japan are running low.
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Lawyers for a group of plaintiffs in the Toyota unintended acceleration case are challenging a NASA report that found the automaker was not at fault for the alleged issues that led to a massive recall of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The plaintiffs lawyers filed papers in a California court last week stating they intend to disprove the...
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The March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan has had a devastating effect on its people. Not only have many people lost their homes and loved ones, many companies are out of work as they struggle to get their businesses up and running. Japan’s major car companies have also been badly hit due to...
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Every year over in Houston, Texas, Toyota Supras from all over the nation gather at the Lonestar Motorsports Park for a weekend of motorsports festivities. It begins with a Dyno Day then a weekend of test-n-tune and drag racing. Over the years, every big player in the Supra industry has shown up with Florida heavyweights...
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From the “Entirely Too Predictable” files, the ongoing crisis in Japan has spooked dealers wary of car shortages to raise their prices. Instead of the time-honored car buying traditions of haggling and deep discounts, buyers are paying sticker price on cars that may suffer from delayed shipments from Japan, such as the Toyota Prius, Yaris,...
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Given the current state of gasoline, the Toyota Prius has been hotter than Justin Bieber tickets. Unfortunately, there’s a nationwide shortage of the popular hybrid across the American market: Cars.com lists just 9,014 available. Chalk it up to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, but the Prius has been selling fast for months now...
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In the auto-industry it’s all about moving forward, building cars with more safety, fuel economy, features and space. In other words: more value for your money. Never one to shy away from having an objective opinion on cars, Consumer Reports has earned a reputation for reviews you can count on, so when the outlet announces...
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Japanese auto makers have been scrambling to assess the impact of the recent natural disasters on their supply chains, as North American production facilities face potential harm, as Japanese factories have begun suspending production in the face of a series of catastrophic events. Toyota has suspended overtime production at their North American facilities, while Subaru...
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Japan’s three largest automakers announced that they will donate $3.75 million each for earthquake relief. Honda says it will donate 1,000 power generators (a product made by the company) as well as 5,000 gas canisters, while Nissan is considering the donation of vehicles, provisions and medical supplies. Toyota also said that it is investigating such...
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Pied Piper’s study uses a patent pending process to tie ‘mystery shopping’ measurement and scoring to actual sales success.
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TrueCar.com released their rankings of the Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient vehicles in both the hybrid and non-hybrid category, an important distinction according to TrueCar, because “Hybrids offer great fuel economy but most don’t provide the value consumers are seeking.” The hybrid list is predictably topped by the Toyota Prius, followed by the Lexus CT200h...
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With the recent earthquakes and tsunamis devestating Japan, automakers in the country are announcing a series of plant closures. Toyota, Mazda, Honda and Nissan have all announced plans to close various factories through the middle of March, although the plants could remain shuttered beyond that timeframe. Toyota led the pack by announcing that their plants...
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Toyota‘s plus-sized Prius, the Prius V, has began production, and will start at $28,600 in Japan, roughly $3,700 more than the standard Prius. Many feel that the price will be closer to $27,000 in the United States, although the American-spec Prius V will lack the third row seat. Toyota claims that this feature would not...
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When Toyota announced its new Global Vision last week the company’s two main product goals seemed rather divergent. First, Toyota announced it would build exciting cars. Then it reiterated a commitment to sustainable mobility – hybrids in particular. Those two seemingly incongruous goals may come together for the first time in the upcoming FT-86 Sports...
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While many have expressed their displeasure with Toyota‘s re-design of the FT-86 sports car, fans can rest easier knowing that the changes were made in the name of function rather than form. According to Autocar, the biggest change comes from the A-pillars, which have been moved back a few inches to create a flatter windscreen....
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After the global economic collapse, compounded by a spate of major recalls and a general lack of new product, Toyota Motor Corporation has today announced a new Global Vision that puts the focus on developing the brand in emerging markets, while injecting more passion into its cars. Toyota also intends to continue to grow its...
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The population of hybrids is on the rise globally, and Toyota/Lexus seems to be leading the pack. While it might not be the only company that manufactures and sells hybrids, their models are by far the most popular. According to Toyota/Lexus, they have sold just over 3.03-million hybrid vehicles as of February 28, 2011. Since...
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As with many of these recalls, NHTSA believes the problem could lead to drivers piloting their vehicles with under inflated tires, potential causing blowouts and accidents.
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