Automotive Reviews

Runaway Toyota Prius incident in California now under federal investigation

Toyota said its nspectors are also trying to determine what caused the 2008 Prius to surge uncontrollably as it was being driven by owner James Sikes, age 61. The high-speed incident, which involved a dramatic pursuit by a highway patrol car, has raised new questions about the automaker’s damaging string of recent recalls and whether Toyota has done enough to address consumer complaints about unintended acceleration that have damaged its reputation and sales. The Prius was taken to a Toyota dealership in El Cajon, California, where Toyota investigators were examining the car, Toyota spokeswoman Celeste Migliore said. A CHP spokesman in San Diego said the cause of the runaway car incident remains under investigation. “We do not have any initial

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Runaway Toyota Prius reaches 94 mph, CHP helps driver safely stop (video)

The incident occurred in the same county where an off-duty CHP trooper and three family members were killed last August in an incident that brought the issue to national attention and led to the first major recall over unintended acceleration. Sikes said he had received a recall notice to take his car into a Toyota dealership, but upon arrival he was told his car was not on recall lists, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The automaker has not recalled the 2008 Prius. During his incident, Sikes overtook another car on Interstate 8 near San Diego, and then the Prius accelerated beyond his control, according to his report filed to the California Highway Patrol. Sikes said he sped 30 miles along

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Tata Motors debuts electric vehicle Nano EV at Geneva Motor Show

Built in cooperation with the Norwegian electric car specialist firm Miljoebil Grenland, in which Tata Motors acquired a majority stake in 2008, the Nano EV,  is a four-seater electric car with a range of about 80 miles. It  can accelerate from zero to about 35 miles per hour in 10 seconds. The car is powered by super-polymer lithium-ion batteries, which provides superior energy retention. When launched, it will expand the company’s electric vehicles portfolio, which also includes the Tata Indica Vista EV, based on the new generation Tata Indica Vista. The latter debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 2009. Tata Motors’ plans to launch the Nano EV in Europe in 2012 and in United Kingdom and Scandinavian markets. James

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Suzuki Sx4 Sportback, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Now in its fourth year since replacing the Aerio, the Suzuki SX4 has gained a steadily increasing following as an unheralded competitor to the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent and Scion xD. But the compact car now features 16 stylings, including the new sportiest family edition, the Sx4 Sportback. A hatchback with a different name, the Sportback has a firmer suspension, a lower ride height, increased of horsepower (143 to 150) and two new transmission options a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the latter of which replaces last year’s four-speed automatic. And there’s more: restyled front fascia, a new instrument cluster, a height-adjustable driver seat, an auxiliary audio jack (delayed availability), a few new navigation features and some

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Oscars: Kim Basinger in, Jeff Bridges out for Hyundai — but all for the show

In order to comply with the rules , Hyundai decided to make seven commercials with other actors’ voices. Bridges suggested a short list of colleagues, and last week Hyundai finished recording the final ad with assists from Kim Basinger, Richard Dreyfuss, David Duchovny, Catherine Keener, Michael Madsen, Mandy Patinkin and Martin Sheen. Hyundai has purchased seven ads that will air during the program and in one pre-show spot. Hyundai signed a three-year option with ABC in 2009. According to Chris Perry, director of marketing communications for Hyundai, the Oscars buy focuses on the 2011 Sonata, a mid-sized sedan poised to take on Toyota’s Camry and the Honda Accord. Of the eight spots that will air during the Academy Awards, six

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Red Ferrari GTO offered for private sale, all-time record price feasible

The 250 GTO model won its division of the World Sports Car Championship in 1962, 1963 and 1964 and was voted by Motor Trend Classic magazine the “Greatest Ferrari of All Time.” The privately-sold Ferrari GTO featured the original Series I bodywork, while the RM example has the slightly later, less desirable Series II design. A U.K. collector recently privately sold a 1930s Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 sports car for 12 million pounds ($17.9 million). A Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, sold by RM Auctions for $12.2 million in May 2009, holds the record for any car offered in a public salesroom. The current owner acquired the car in 1996 and is selling it because he’s no longer racing. For additional

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Suzuki Kizashi, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

With the exception of the choice, definition and pronunciation of its name (KEY-ZAH-SEEE), the 2010 sedan is an unqualified success. Often manufacturers’ claims are suspect. But Suzuki touts the Kizashi with the following, and all are hard to dispute: * The best equipped mid-size sedan starting under $19,000, with volume models averaging between $22,000 and $24,000. * The most standard safety features in its price class and already meets the NHTSA’s 2014 safety standards. * The AWD Kizashi, available in all trim levels with CVT transmission, can be purchased for less than some of the segment’s volume-leading FWD sedans. Again, it’s appropriate. Standard features on Kizashi S include: eight airbags (front/rear side and curtain); push-button keyless start, Dual-zone climate control,

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Saab story: 500 new cars left in US, but Spyker purchase adds promise

The company’s current moniker is “The Well-Built Swede.” But while all of Saab‘s slogans have sounded great, none have proven particularly pertinent. As a result. just how far the carmaker had fallen during its 60-plus years was no more evident than it was during an interview with the Associated Press at the Geneva Auto Show. Saab‘s CEO  Jan Ake Jonsson said the company, purchased last December by Dutch automaker Spyker, has only 500 cars for sale in showrooms across the United States  “That number should probably be 5,000,” Jonsson said. General Motors Corp. sold Saab Automobile AB to Spyker Cars NV for $74 million in cash plus $326 million worth of preferred shares in Saab. The deal was completed last

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Ferrari hybrid images leaked, but few other details before Geneva Auto Show

Ferrari has tried to keep its much-anticipated debut secret. But images are now appearing in various publications. The car has an unusual “green” green exterior and the interior features the high-voltage setup that stores braking energy for an extra boost of power via a push of the steering-wheel mounted button. It’s the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) used in Ferrari‘s Formula 1 cars during the 2009 season. The Geneva Auto Show will be held March 4-14. 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

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Ford Mustang to Dodge Charger: America's top-10 muscle cars

WeirdWorm.com is a “weird” web site that likes lists as much as The Weekly Driver. It has lists of lists, best-looking cowgirls to wacky technology innovations. Here are 10 of WeirdWorm.com’s favorite muscle cars: 1969 Chevy Camaro, 1969 Dodge Challenger, 1969 Dodge Charger, 1969 Chevy Chevelle, 1970 Ford Torino, 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger, 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda, 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge, 1965 Ford Mustang, 1969 Ford Thunderbird. Here’s what the site said about the 1969 Chevy Camaro: “With the meaner look of this car compared to the softer look of the years prior, this car was a high seller. You had your choice of either a big block or a small block V8 engine and that just depended on how much

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Tesla Roadster price slashed to $1,658 (per monthly lease payment)

The Tesla retails, depending upon options, for $104,000-$111.000. But a three-year, 30,000-mile lease is now available for as little as $1,158 per month, or about $55 per day. There’s small type, too: the leasing customer needs to provide $12,453 due at signing, which includes a $9,900 down payment and $895 acquisition fee but not taxes, title, license, registration, and “locally applied” fees. The Tesla Roadster has two seats, 248 horsepower and powers from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Such performance, of course, likely means expensive insurance premiums. They’re not included in the monthly lease payment. Like other leases, those leasing the Tesla Roadster can purchase the car after the contract expires or turn the car back in with

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Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Reviews (videos)

The Tucson has received a lot praise with its all new design and estimated 31 mpg highway mileage (I got 23.5 mpg in mostly freeway mileage during my weekly test.) The Nissan Rogue is rated at 27 mpg on the highway and that’s closer to my average during my week with the car. The Nissan Rogue I tested had an exterior color of Venom Red; The Hyundai Tucson exterior I drove for a week had an exterior of color of Garnet Red. Put the SUVs side by side, and they’re the same color. Here’s what Car and Driver said about the Nissan Rogue, which it ranked 16th of 22 in the compact SUV market “On its first try, Nissan has

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Chrysler will replace potentially faulty airbag sensor in Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan

Chrysler’s “safety improvement campaign,” which will begin in June, included 259,437 vehicles in the United States and 72,035 in Canada. The move comes after Chrysler found one of the front airbag crash sensors could crack under some environmental conditions and allow water to enter the sensor, potentially causing the sensor to become inoperative. The company, which is controlled by Fiat SpA, said it is not aware of any complaints, injuries or property damage related the sensor issue. Chrysler said the campaign is different from a recall because should problems occur, the vehicles would still meet crash standards outlined by U.S. safety regulators. “If the front crash sensors become inoperative, the driver is immediately alerted by illumination of the airbag warning

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Bloom Energy bloom box debuts, hailed as 'future of American energy'

Fuel cells rely upon chemical reactions to generate energy rather than fossil fuels, and as such are considered cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable than the traditional energy sources. Bloom Energy’s national public debut after years of secrecy occurred Feb. 22 when the Dr. KR Sridnar, the compmay’s principal co-founder and CEO, was featured in a 60 Minutes interview with Lesley Stahl. The segment generated global response, but conspicuously absent from the interview was any relationship or potential application of the “Bloom Box” to the automotive industry pursuit for cleaner omissions and improved efficiency. Dr. Sridhar repeated the same enthusiasm in the press conference in San Jose, Calif., he did during his 60 Minutes interview. The technology has roots in

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Hummer no more as GM, China truck company deal fizzles

General Motors Co has announced it will wind down its Hummer SUV line after failing to complete a deal to sell the brand to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. GM had hoped to sell the poor-selling brand to Tengzhong, an industrial equipment maker based in Sichuan province, the the deal in negotiations for monthly, dissolved. GM said it will continue to honor warranties and provide service support and spare parts to current Hummer owners. The first model, the Hum-Vee, was built in a variety of military-based equipment and versions. These included troop carriers, gun turrets and radar. The U.S. military, on receiving their quota, have adapted some of the vehicles. In 1990, two matching white Hum-Vees were driven

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Toyota Hearings: Akio Toyoda, 'We will invest heavily in quality' (part 3)

Here is the third of three parts of Toyoda’s prepared text: “Since last June, when I first took office, I have personally placed the highest priority on improving quality over quantity, and I have shared that direction with our stakeholders. As you well know, I am the grandson of the founder, and all the Toyota vehicles bear my name.” “For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well. I, more than anyone, wish for Toyota‘s cars to be safe, and for our customers to feel safe when they use our vehicles.” “Under my leadership, I would like to reaffirm our values of placing safety and quality the highest on our list of priorities, which

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