James Raia

Articles by James Raia

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Toyota Hearings: Akio Toyoda, 'Our customers feel uncertain' (part 1)

“I am Akio Toyoda of Toyota Motor Corporation. I would first like to state that I love cars as much as anyone, and I love Toyota as much as anyone. I take the utmost pleasure in offering vehicles that our customers love, and I know that Toyota‘s 200,000 team members, dealers, and suppliers across America feel the same way.” “However, in the past few months, our customers have started to feel uncertain about the safety of Toyota‘s vehicles, and I take full responsibility for that. Today, I would like to explain to the American people, as well as our customers in the U.S. and around the world, how seriously Toyota takes the quality and safety of its vehicles.” “I would

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Honda Odyssey, 2011: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (video)

Power for the new Odyssey will come from Honda’s 3.5 liter V6 and expect 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. Take a look at the video below to see if you agree that Honda has built a (dare we say it) sleek and sexy minivan. To view more of Roman Mica’s new car reviews and videos, visit: www.tflcar.com. Facts & Figures: 2011 Honda Odyssey Specification Details Engine 6-cylinder, 3.5L Transmission Automatic 5-spd Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive Fuel Economy 18 city / 27 hwy / 21 combined mpg Fuel Type Regular Gasoline James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The

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Toyota Camry, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (video)

Here is Mica’s synopsis and video: “The Toyota Camry is typically a pretty sedate family sedan. But what happens when you add a silky smooth V6, sports tuned suspension and big Toyota Racing Development wheels? Perhaps the best word to describe the car’s performance and handling is athletic. You can actually feel what the wheels are doing and (get this) the steering is lively and precise in a way that’s more accomplished weekend worrier than couch potato. 2010 Toyota Camry SE V6 Price as Tested: $33,485.00; Engine, Transmission: 3.5 L V6 with 6 speed sequential shift; Horsepower: 268; PocketDyno Test Data: 1/4 Mile: 15.19 seconds at 100 mph; 0-60 mph: 6.95 seconds; 60 mph-0: 118 ft; Max Acceleration: 0.63 g’s;

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Honda Fit, Toyota Prius get top value honors, Lexus best overall in Consumer Reports annual auto issue

The Honda Fit and the Toyota Prius each earned a value score of 2.08 and provided the best overall value despite being very different cars. Scores are expressed in relation to the value of the average vehicle (designated 1.00). A score of 2.00 represents twice the value of the average model. In total points, based on the magazine’s average road test scores and predicted reliability scores, Honda and Subaru tied for first with an overall score of 77 out of 100 points in Consumer Reports’ ranking. Toyota and Hyundai finished second and third while Nissan and Volkswagen tied for fourth. The ratings were calculated despite the recent recall issues for the Prius and Fit. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car

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Toyota adds Tacoma, Sequoia, Venza to brake override repair list

Models added to the list: the 2005-2010 Tacoma pickup, 2008-2010 Sequoia and 2009-2010 Venza. Toyota says the override feature is not part of previously issued recalls for accelerator pedal repairs. Nonetheless, the models have been added to give Toyota customers an additional measure of confidence in their vehicles. The “smart throttle” will be installed on Venza and Tacoma models when the vehicles are brought in for the pedal recall. Sequoia owners will be notified separately. While investigation continues into possible causes for Toyota unintended acceleration issues, this override should help drivers control the vehicle during acceleration incidents, providing an intuitive throttle override. Toyota previously announced it would install the override feature in other models including the 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry,

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Toyota recall hearings: Akio Toyoda testimony key to carmaker's future

According to a report on AOL Autos, what is expected to occur is that Toyoda will be asked four primary questions about the Toyota recall. 1. Why didn’t Toyota‘s quality-control measures prevent the problems that now affect millions of cars?; 2. How quickly will the automaker be able to bring in and fix those cars?; 3. Why was Toyota so slow to make the decisions to recall them?; 4. Did Toyota cover up any early knowledge about the defects, or put its finger on the scales of research meant to find problems with its vehicles? Toyota U.S. Chief Operating Officer Jim Lentz, who will also appear before the House committee, has said the issues that caused many of the recalls

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Abu Dhabi status: Ferrari means nothing unless it has a multi-million dollar license plate

In all, 72 specialized plates were sold in the auction for a total of 50 million dirhams ($13 million). According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most expensive plate with the digit 1 was sold to Emirati businessman Said Khouri in 2008 for 52.2 million dirhams ($14.2 million). The second most expensive plate “5” was also sold in Abu Dhabi for 25.2 million dirhams, ($6.86 million) during a special number-plate auction organized by the Emirates Auction Company in 2007. “I think it’s a matter of recognition,” said Muhammad Kashif, owner of the UAE Number Plates Company. “Just having a Ferrari isn’t much these days. People want a nice number to go with the car. It makes them just that

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BMW named official vehicle for 2012 London Summer Olympics

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) set targets for CO2 emissions – which BMW met with its Olympic fleet of cars, beating the target average CO2 output of 120g/km. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars BMW will showcase electric vehicles with its 2012 fleet, the company already running a number of electric Minis in three countries to collect data on their usage. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be provided, as will BMW bicycles in the Olympic Village. BMW will also use its motorcycle range to support certain events. LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: “Operationally, an automotive deal is vital for any organizing committee and

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Mercury rising: Rachel Veitch and her 600,000-mile love affair with a ’64 Comet Caliente

Veitch, who turned 91 in August 2009, is still driving the car she’s owned for more than 45 years and driven nearly 600,000 miles. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Veitch of Orlando, Fla., who has has been married three times, now largely drives her car to volunteer work. A retired nurse, she’s an expert on Robert’s Rules of Order, which she also still teaches. Veitch’s driving is now limited to daylight driving because of her difficulty with night vision. She last took a driver’s license test in 2003. In the three years since she was “discovered,” Veitch’s story has provided keen feature material for automotive journalists

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Bloom box: Fuel-cell technology's Holy Grail or its Holy Hype?

On 60 Minutes tonight a brand new energy company unveiled what was billed as a potentially revolutionary energy technology called Bloom Boxes. Based on fuel-cell technologies, Stahl unveiled the formerly secret company Bloom Energy thusly: “The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” The Bloom Box is said to be a device that can power approximately 100 houses. According to a press release, the Bloom Box was developed by NASA scientists and can be used in different ranges of temperatures which makes the way it can be used more expansive. Several competitors are also trying to develop similar devices

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Bloom Energy: Could it replace current electric and other alternative fuel cars?

“The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Bloom Energy has operated for the past eight years. According to the 60 Minutes report, it has raised about $400 million from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and its early clients include Google, eBay and Walmart. Additional investors in Bloom Energy are diverse and its business relationships are posted on the company’s web site. But what was conspicuously absent from the 60 Minutes report was if the fuel cells could have a potential application in auto industry. The Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster are auto

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New Hot Wheels for Danica Patrick called Danicar

Patrick is credited as a co-designer of the new Hot Wheels and will be available as part of the basic 1:64 scale rather than on limited edition. Patrick recently crashed out her NASCAR debut early in a 12-car pile up at Daytona International Speedway. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and

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Best dirt cheap collectible cars, BMW to Ford, Buick to Volkswagen

In conjunction with Hagerty Insurance, which specializes in covering collectible cars, here are 10 vehicles presented as “Collectibles: Best of the Dirt Cheap.” The first on the list, with text written by Peter Valdes-Dapen, a CNNMoney.com senior editor, is the V8-powered Ford Mustang. “With demands for fuel economy rising, performance took a back seat in most late 1970s and early 80s cars,” writes Valdes-Dapen. “That made the 205 horsepower Mustang 5.0 HO a particularly desirable model for performance fans. Starting next year, Ford is bringing out a new 5.0-liter displacement V8 for the Mustang, which will bring more attention to the original.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used

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Corvette ZHZ (2008) in auction for Haiti and children's music charity

Proceeds from the sale of the Corvette will benefit two charities: OxFam International and the Music for America Project. OxFam International works in more than 100 countries to overcome poverty and injustice (currently a part of our Heal Haiti Auction). The Music for America Project  provides avenues for children to achieve their musical dreams. Additional details: Estimated value, $45,000; Current bid (increments of $2,500), $27,500.01; Mileage 24,717; Model Year, 2008; Location Orlando, Fla.; Warranty,  Limited for first 60 Days or 2,000 Miles. For additional information or to bid, visit: CharityBuzz/Corvette James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this

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Winter Olympics car commercials: Nissan raking up publicity for the green LEAF

Scheduled for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and Europe, The LEAF, according to Nissan, “ushers in a new era of mobility.” Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales. But Nissan expects the car to be “competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle.” The Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF’s power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF’s regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range

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Florida dealer tells Toyota customers to stop car payments and buy Nissan

General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. announced sales incentives in January aimed at luring Toyota customers to trade in their cars for a GM or Ford vehicle. But in Riviera Beach, Fla., Napleton’s Nissan, according to an article in the Palm Beach Post, is sending Toyota owners an official-looking mailing urging them not to make their next car payment and instead trade in their car. The letters are sent in envelopes marked with “TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE” in red, uppercase block letters, according to the newspaper. “Why spend another day driving a potentially unsafe vehicle while you wait for a correction remedy?” the letter reads, before saying the customer’s car qualifies for the Buyout Program the dealership is offering. The

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