James Raia

Articles by James Raia

Honda recall: Nearly 400,000 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and Acura TL models may have faulty airbags

The newest recalls applies to 2001 and 2002 model-year Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, and 2002 Acura TL vehicles. The move expands a recall first announced in November 2008 for less than 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans due to faulty airbag inflators. The initial recall was expanded in July 2009 to cover an additional 440,000 vehicles. The company said it was not aware of any new incidents after the airbag recall was first broadened in July 2009. “However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed,” a Honda spokesperson said in a statement. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist

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Toyota's rise to recall crisis: Reuters details carmaker's woes in timeline

Reuters was the first to report the recall of the top-selling Prius this week and the news service has been on the competitive edge of the ever-fluctuating automotive industry story since 2000. With Toyota‘s recall now of nine of its vehicles, Camry to Corolla, Lexus to Prius, Reuters has posted a piece its calling: “Timeline: Toyota‘s rise and run-up to its recall crisis.” It begins in 2000 when it reports Toyota launched program known as “Construction of Cost Competitiveness for the 21st Century.” Its aim was to cut costs of 180 key car parts by 30 percent, saving nearly $10 billion by 2005. The dateline is current with the latest in the series of Toyota recalls. Here’s the link: Toyota

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Audi 'Green Police' video chosen best Super Bowl car commercial by Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog

It’s obviously a subjective list, but Cars.com, and its perfectly named blog, Kicking Tires, just picked its top-10 cars commercials from the Super Bowl. The Audi Green Police commercial was picked as Cars.com’s favorite. The WeeklyDriver.com gave the top commercial nod to 10 Years Strong, the commercial featuring Brett Favre. We found the Green Police video annoying. The WeeklyDriver.com a difference of opinion with other commercials on Cars.com’s but we like the site’s succinct way of presenting its list. So, here it is: Nevertheless, here’s the Cars.com list, with a synopsis of its top pick. 1. Audi: Green Police The whole premise of overanxious greenies policing our bad environmental habits was exceptionally well done. Showing off the Audi A3 TDI

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Toyota update: 436,000 Prius, Lexus, other models in global recall

The international news agency has obtained a document that details 223,068 cars in Japan across four hybrid models — the newest Prius model, the Prius PHV (plug-in hybrid), the SAI and the Lexus HS250h — will be recalled for the braking problems first reported last week. The Prius, the world’s largest selling hybrid, accounts for 199,666 vehicles recalled. Toyota will also recall about 213,000 other hybrid cars, including about 150,000 in North America, according to the document. Reuters is also reporting Japan’s transport ministry said Toyota President Akio Toyoda has a pending meeting with Minister Seiji Maehara when he’s expected to apologize for a series of recalls spanning the globe. Mr. Toyoda, grandson of the company founder, has also written

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Super Bowl commercials: Audi A3 TDI 'Green Police' funny or gratuitous violence?

It’s all about the Green Police, tracking down “violators” and arresting them for eco rules mistakes. The commercial’s controversial nature, including gratuitous violence, will likely get a lot more attention. But it may also join the fraternity of commercials that get remembered more for the nature of the commercial rather than the product it’s touting. For more new car reviews, videos and other automotive content, visit: dev.theweeklydriver.com. 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

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Ferrari initiates two-year certified used car Power Warranty

So, in an attempt to help ease the fear of owners of some of its older models, Ferrari has announced a new 24-month warranty program. The 24-month Power Warranty will only apply on certified used cars purchased through the official Ferrari dealer network. To qualify for the program, the vehicle must pass a 190-point inspection at an official Ferrari dealer or approved service center. The inspection includes a service history check to make sure the car has had its annual inspection and has been properly maintained. The warranty remains with the vehicle and has a duration of 24 months from the date of purchase provided that the vehicle is correctly maintained (including the annual inspection) at an official dealer or

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Toyota informs Japan dealerships 300,000 Prius models worldwide will be recalled

The move comes in the aftermath of Toyota recently recalling eight million cars around the world because of sticky accelerator pedals. The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported an anti-lock braking system designed to prevent skidding is problematic and is expected to affect 270,000 vehicles in Japan and the United States. The Nikkei business daily said Toyota would also repair about 30,000 vehicles sold in Europe, China, Australia, Middle East and other areas. According to sources not named by Japanese newspapers, “The company will repair the software free of charge in the United States and other countries in a similar manner.” Toyota‘s formal announcement is expected within days. Toyota had originally considered a voluntary repair for the problem, which the company said

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Super Bowl commercials: Squirrel 'goes nuts' for new 2010 Honda Crosstour

The scene is set to the tune of “Funky Stuff” by Kool & The Gang. “Squirrel” is part of an integrated, multiplatform advertising campaign developed by Honda‘s long-standing agency of record, RPA, to support the vehicle launch. For new car reviews, video and other automotive content, visit: dev.theweeklydriver.com. 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

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Super Bowl commercials: Tornados to Bengal Tigers to Cars.com

Timothy Richman will be featured in several commercials for Cars.com during the 2010 Super Bowl. He’ll be the poster boy played by several actors in the spots for the car-buying web site. Richman has special powers from toddler days to adulthood. He extinguishes a grease fire as a baby and he saves a busload of cheerleaders from a tornado as a teenager. But it doesn’t stop there. Richman delivers the cub of a breached Bengal Tiger and helps a young Italian girl on the beach who’s been stung by a jelly fish by applying vinegar — and speaks to her in Italian. But Richman is just like everyone else: When it comes to buying a car, he’s as uncertain as

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Ford reveals Fusion Hybrid, Milan Hybrid join Prius with braking issues

In the aftermath of Toyota’s floor mat and braking issues in nine of its models, including top-selling Camry, Corolla and Prius, Ford has also discovered potential problems with the braking system in the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid. Unlike the Prius, the Fusion and Milan hybrids don’t lose braking power while the driver steps on the brake pedal, bit it can feel that way. The cars have two separate braking systems – a regenerative system that gently slows the car by reversing the spin of its electric motor, which also recharges its batteries, and conventional brakes at the wheels. The brake pedal operates these systems electronically. But if something interferes with the electronics, it presses the

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Toyota CEO emerges from silence, outlines current woes, Prius, Lexus plans

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, speaking for the first time since his embattled company has recalled millions of its vehicles and is considering further recalls with Prius and perhaps Lexus models, has outlined the Japanese manufacturer’s plans. Here are the key points of what Toyoda, the grandson of the Toyota founder, said at a news conference in Nagoya, Japan, late Friday, which was shown at Toyota’s Tokyo office by satellite feed. Also included are other key points of the current Toyota scandal: * Toyota‘s president apologized for the automaker’s global recalls and promised to beef up quality control by setting up a special committee he would head himself. * Toyota is still deciding what to do to fix braking

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Toyota Prius update: Brake complaints continue, U.S. government considers sanctions

The turbulent times for Toyota Motor Corp. now include problems with the most world’s most popular hybrid — the Toyota Prius. Toyota has received more than 100 complaints in the U.S. and Japan about brake problems with the popular Prius hybrid. Less than two weeks ago, the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla, the carmaker’s top-selling vehicles, were among eight Toyota models involved in a recall of more several  millions vehicles with potentially faulty accelerator pedal. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received about 100 complaints involving the brakes of the Prius new model. Two involved crashes resulting in injuries. The new Prius gas-electric hybrid, which went on sale in Japan and the U.S. in May 2009, is not

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Hyundai Genesis Coupe, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Yet the Genesis sedan and Genesis coupe couldn’t be two more different vehicles. Introduced at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, the 2010 coupe shares its sibling’s sedan chassis. And, of course, the two cars have the same name. But that’s where the similarities stop. Are the Genesis sedan and couple actually made by the same manufacturer? They just couldn’t be more different. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Genesis coupe is the manufacturer’s first rear-wheel sports car and it appears Hyundai has gone directly after the strong Infiniti G37 market niche. I would have liked to have taken the car on a longer haul, but maybe it was best my test week ended just prior to a week

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Ferrari red at its brightest: Rare 1963 GTO available in private England auction

In addition to being considered one of the most beautiful cars ever built by Ferrari, the GTO was tremendously successful in competition, securing multiple World Championships. In April 1963, the 4675 GT left the factory finished in Rosso Cina. It was raced by such drivers as Guido Fossati, Jean Guichet, Oddone Sigala, Vincenzo Nember and Luigi Taramazzo and proved itself a tremendously capable racing car, rarely finishing outside the top three in its class and achieving numerous race wins. It participated in the full range of competitive events, including hillclimbs, endurance races and rallies. For more information about the purchase of this car, contact Max Girardo at RM Auctions via telephone +44 (0) 20 7851 7077 or visit: www.rmauctions.com. James

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Toyota tumbles, Ford F-150 leads January U.S. auto sales

Sales figures the first month of 2010 reflect the industry’s turbulent times. Ford, the only carmaker among the American top-three that did not received federal funding in 2009, led sales with its popular F-150 series. It also led sales in 2009. Toyota, shattered by the recall of its best-selling Camry and Corolla, fell 16 percent. Lexus, the upscale Toyota line, had a 12 percent increase. Here are the top-10 sales totals for the United Sates in January, 2010, according to Cars.com 1. Ford F-Series: 27,630; 2. Chevy Silverado: 22,772; 3. Honda Accord: 20,759 (1,737 Accord Crosstours included); 4. Nissan Altima: 18,636; 5. Toyota Corolla: 17,121; 6. Chevy Malibu: 16,439; 7. Toyota Camry: 15,792; 8. Honda Civic: 14,693; 9. Chevy Cobalt:

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Ray LaHood, U.S. Transportation Secretary, amends 'stop driving Toyotas' statement

While speaking before a House Appropriation sub-committee on transportation, LaHood said, according to an Associated Press report, “Stop driving it. Take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it.” LaHood was referring to the eight Toyota models, including the top-selling Camry and Corolla, that were recalled in late January because of the potential of a faulty accelerator pedals. But at the risk of causing further confusion among Toyota owners, LaHood has corrected his statement. He now advises owners of recalled Toyota cars to “Stop driving your car if it shows signs of having a sticky accelerator.” LaHood also said the U.S. Transportation Dept. is investigating to see if other automakers might have the same

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