Toyota officially refutes San Diego runaway Toyota Prius claim

A California Highway Patrol officer intercepted the vehicle and instructed the driver to press firmly on the brakes, apply the emergency brake and turn off the car, at which time the Prius came to a safe stop. While a final report is not yet complete, Toyota announced via press release: “There are strong indications that the driver’s account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis.” Toyota engineers employed data download/analysis, static and dynamic testing as well as thorough inspections of all relative components. In addition, they retraced the reported driving route taking into account driving

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San Diego runaway Toyota Prius: Could it have been a hoax?

The legitimacy of the story of Jim Sikes, the 61-year-old man who couldn’t stop his 2008 Toyota Prius on a Southern California freeway earlier this month until he was assisted by a California Highway Patrol officer, is now in question. According to a report on CNN.com, technicians who tested the Toyota after its owner claimed its gas pedal stuck were unable to recreate the same condition. The revelation was detailed in a draft of a congressional memo obtained Sunday by CNN. In addition, owner Jim Sikes’ claim that the car kept going even though he slammed on the brake while

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Runaway Toyota parodied on Saturday Night Live, Ford gets hybrid props

Toyota, in its continuing whirlwind of runaway vehicles, recalls and pending litigation, has received the ultimate compliment. It’s been parodied on Saturday Night Live. In a brief skit on the March 13 show, cast members Kenan Thompson and Abby Elliott are peaceful walk through what appears to be a national park or forest trail. But when the couple returns to their Toyota Prius, parked at the trail head, and leaves the area, the car immediately suffers from the proverbial “unintended acceleration.” The couple panics and shouts mock expletives. Despite the current series of runaway incidents around the country, the skit

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Volkswagen towing a travel trailer or an RV towing a VW?

Chuck Woodbury is publisher of RVTravel.com and several other web sites and blog relating in the recreational vehicle industry. Woodbury reports on campgrounds to recalls, new products to the sights and sounds of the open road. Woodbury also has a keen knack for discovering the unique, including the video below — a more than 25-year-old sales video for a Volkswagen Beetle towing a travel trailer. Or, is it a travel trailer towing a Volkswagen? The contraption has a 360-degree turning radius and the commentator discusses the idea with a combination of instruction and humor. For the latest information in the

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Buy a new Hummer in Chesterfield, Illinois, get a free new shotgun

After recently attaining a license from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, to sell weapons and ammunition in the dealership, Lynch devised the perk for new Hummer buyers. “There is now a real reason to believe that the current inventory on hand at dealers may be the last of the new Hummers, we wanted to send them off with something memorable,” said Lynch. “Browning and Hummer are prestigious brands and American Icons – bringing them together is a natural fit.” Lynch told various media outlets’ reporters. Last week, General Motors announced it will keep Hummer until May 1. If

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Flying car on the horizon? It's a Lamborghini with wings

“It’s a $200,000 vehicle, like a Lamborghini, but in this case it flies.” says Carl Dietrich, CEO and CTO of Terrafugia. Dietrich says his company has many buyers lined up and that vehicle is ready for commercial use. But whether potential consumers embrace the machine is anyone’s guess. Dietrich also needs financial support for his proposed debut in 2011. View the Reuters’ video here: Flying Car 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

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Total recall: Ford leads General Motors, Toyota, VW, Honda on all-time dubious list

10: Honda, 1995, 3.7 million — Faulty seat belt buckle. Recalled all Honda and Acura made between 1986-1991. 9: Volkswagen, 1972, 3.7 million — Non-functioning windshield wipers. The NHTSA ordered recall all VWs, 1949-1969. 8. General Motors, 1973, 3.7 million — Body had the potential to scrape the ground, prompting gravel to jam steering. Shields installed in full-sized models from 1971-1973, including including the Buick Electra, Riviera and LeSabre, Chevrolet Bel Air, Biscayne, Caprice, Brookwood, Impala, Kingwood and Townsman, the Oldsmobile 88 and 98, and the Pontiac Bonneville, Catalina and Grandville. 7: Ford, 1972, 4 million — Poorly constructed seat

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Second runaway Toyota Prius in two days, this time in upstate New York

The previous day, a California man said his 2008 Toyota Prius sped out of control on a California freeway. The man, 61, said his car accelerated beyond his control after he overtook another vehicle in San Diego County. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is aware of both incidents and is investigating. In the New York incident, the woman was driving on a long, curving driveway when the Prius accelerated beyond her control. She sped across a two-lane road, described as a “fairly busy” street. She traveled 150 to 200 feet, he said, before the Prius’ front end struck the

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Toyota recall timeline: apologies, promises and faulty parts

* March 8 — Driver James Sikes speeds along a San Diego County freeway in a 2008 Toyota Prius for 20 minutes, reaching 94 miles per hour, before a Highway Patrol officer helps slow down the car. Toyota, the California Highway Patrol and federal safety officials say they will investigate. * March 2 — U.S. Prius sales rise 10 percent in February despite earlier recalls over faulty brakes and floor mats that can trap gas pedals, causing unwanted acceleration. * Feb. 24 — Toyota President Akio Toyoda apologizes for the Toyota‘s millions of recalls before House Oversight and Reform Committee.

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Toyota denies another Prius recall set despite Wall Street Journal report

Other models involved in this previously-announced recall include 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2007-2010 ES 350, 2006-2010 IS 250, and 2006-2010 IS 350.  On January 27, 2010, Toyota expanded the campaign to include the 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe. Owners who have further questions are asked to visit www.toyota.com or www.lexus.com or contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Assistance at 1-800-255-3987. Public Web site:  https://www.toyota.com and www.toyota.com/recall Source: PRNewswire.com James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the

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Toyota recalls all 2000-2003 Tundras with potential corrosion, dropping gas tank, spare tire issues

Last November, Toyota recalled 110,000 Tundras sold in 20 cold-weather states, saying exposure to heavy road salt could cause the corrosion. Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons was unable to say how many additional vehicles are now involved. The recall will now expand nationwide, according to announcements mailed to dealers. The manufacturer reported the rear cross-member of the frame of the Tundra could corrode in some cases, and that could cause loss of rear brake circuits, making it harder for drivers to stop. Toyota redesigned the Tundra in 2007 in an attempt in infiltrate the market for full-size work trucks dominated by

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Motor Trend showcases Buick on magazine's cover for the first time in nearly three decades

The issue includes two Buick features: a drive review of the new 2011 Regal called “International Rescue” and “Trading Places,” a comparison of the 2010 LaCrosse and the 2010 Lexus ES350, in which LaCrosse emerges the winner. The Century T-Type was the last Buick featured on the cover of Motor Trend in August of 1982. In his review of the 2011 Regal, Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus Mackenzie writes: “The Regal is the first Buick in history with internationally chic sheet metal and sophisticated road manners to match and it’s truly likely to appeal to young, affluent, trend-setting import buyers.” Available

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Ford debuts 'expensive' sub-compact Figo in competitive Indian market

The Figo is priced substantial higher, with its base price is around $7,800 for the gas version and just under $10,000 for the diesel edition. But since Figo means “cool” in Italian, Ford hopes the car resonates similarly with car buyers. The sub-compact is specifically designed for the Indian market and four models – LXI, EXI, ZXI and Titanium – will be available with different trim levels and designed to suit a variety of consumer tastes. All models also will be available with a Duratorq diesel engine option. Based on Ford’s proven global small car architecture, Figo has been thoroughly

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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

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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

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Tata Motors debuts electric vehicle Nano EV at Geneva Motor Show

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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.

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