News Service

Steve McQueen's Porsche from LeMans set for Monterey sale

The 1970 Porsche 911S once owned by Steve McQueen and featured in his movie Le Mans will be auctioned August 19-20 at Monterey Auto Week by RM Auctions. Built to 1970 specification, complete with air conditioning and a full complement of factory options, the Slate Grey 911S stars in the film’s opening sequence. McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, drives through the French countryside, reflecting on life, death, and racing. The Porsche 911S was also used as McQueen’s personal transport during the movie’s production, later joining his own stable of motor cars in California. The collection included a Jaguar XK-SS, multiple Ferraris, Porsches, airplanes and motorcycles. “There is no more iconic racing film than “Le Mans” and no more charismatic owner of

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Hyundai recalls 285,000 Elantras for airbag, electrical issues

Hyundai, the South Korean manufacturer with a near meteoric popularity increase in recent years, is recalling about 285,000 Elantras for various airbag and electrical issues,  according to documents filed this week with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The airbag issue in 2007-2008 models, is due to what the automaker described as an undisclosed electronic noise. The noise, which might be an issue in 96,000 vehicles, might cause the driver-side air bag to inflate with full force when not required. The second Hyundai recall covers about 189,000 Elantras from 2007 through 2009. The automaker reported liquid spilled in the front-console cup holder could leak through and cause an electrical problem and the cause trigger the deployment of the passenger

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Nissan, other car makers assess disaster impact (video)

The global effect to the auto industry following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is still be assessed. But Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda have all stopped production, thousands of cars have been destroyed or damaged and the available of some models in the United States and other key sales countries has yet to be determined. Nissan, Japan’s second-largest car maker, reports 2,300 vehicles were burned or crumpled in the disaster, including nearly 1,300 Infiniti M, EX and FX models ready for transport to the United States. Additionally, some Z models, among other Nissan offerings, were destroyed. Correspondingly, six Nissan production plants suffered structural damage. Insurance analysts estimate the Japan disaster may cost the global automotive industry as much as

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Japan Economy: Toyota, Honda, Nissan cease production

Toyota, Nissan and Honda have all suspended production of cars and trucks in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated northeastern Japan. Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, reported it has ceased manufacturing at its 12 plants until March 16, according to Reuters. Two of the closed factories have  a combined annual capacity of 420,000 small cars built mainly for exported sales. Toyota manufactured 234,045 vehicles (38 percent of its global production) in January in Japan. Nissan has halted output at four plants in northeast Japan and will remain closed without a scheduled re-opening date. Two Nissan employees at a plant in Tochigi prefecture were slightly injured by the earthquake, according to new agencies. The carmaker also reported 1,300

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Jeep Wrangler worst ranked in Consumer Reports’ 2011 list

Consumer Reports buys the vehicles it tests, and through the years, the publication’s editors and testers have refined their assessment approach. It’s arguably the most detailed and respected evaluation of new cars and trucks in the automotive industry. As the publication’s editors like to say: “Not all cars are created equal, and we have the data to prove it.” Lexus has been at or near the top of the list of best cars for years, and like Jeep has been been in the dubious position among the lowest scoring vehicles. Vehicle are rated in categories — family cars to sports cars — and there’s an overall list based on 100 points and via more than 50 testing areas. Here’s the

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Lexus LS 460L tops Consumer Reports' 2011 best cars list

Consumer Reports buys the cars it tests, and the publication arguably provides the most detailed and respected evaluation of new cars and trucks in the automotive industry. As the publication’s editors like to say: “Not all cars are created equal, and we have the data to prove it.” Vehicle are rated in categories — family cars to sports cars — and there’s an overall list based on 100 points and via more than 50 testing areas. Here’s the Consumer Reports list of the top 10 best overall 2011 cars (with points totals) as published in the magazine’s April print and online editions: Lexus LS 460L, 99 BMW 135i (manual), 97 Porsche 911 Carrera S (manual), 96 Mazda5 Grand Touring, 95

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Jaguar E-Type celebrates 50 years as greatest car ever made

The Jaguar E-Type debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, and throughout its 50-year tenure often tops industry enthusiasts most beautiful cars ever made lists. Phil Patton, the esteemed freelance contributor to numerous magazines and author of many books about cars and the auto industry, pays homage to the 50th birthday of the Jaguar E-Type in a recent article in the New York Times. Patton details, for example, that “the Museum of Modern Art in New York ratified the E-Type’s significance in 1996, adding a blue roadster to its permanent design collection. It was only the second road car so honored, following a 1946 Cisitalia 202 GT.” Indeed, the Jaguar E-Type is now ripe with a legacy of accolades.

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Toyota shines in Consumer Reports' 2011 Top Picks list

The Ford Mustang (Sporty Cars) and Kia Sorento (Family SUV) are among six new models named to the Consumer Reports annual Top Picks car list for 2011. The diverse selections include eight brands from six manufactures, with Toyota models claiming three categories. The redesigned Hyundai Elantra, which now comes standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), also tops the list in the Small Car category. The previous Hyundai Elantra SE was Top Pick for Small Sedan for the past three years. The Honda Fit, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna and Chevrolet Avalanche are new additions to the list. The Infiniti G37, Toyota Prius and Nissan Altima are returning selections from the 2010 list. Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models

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Mercedes-Benz, Liam Neeson battle black SUV in Unknown

Epic cars scenes in movies range from Gene Hackman in the French Connection to Steve McQueen in Bullitt and the classic Mini Cooper scene in the Italian Job to high energy catapult across the country by Barry Newman in his 1970 Dodge Challenger in Vanishing Point. Selecting best car scenes in movies is subjective. But Liam Neeson’s car chase scene in Unknown, the current No. 1 movie in the United States, is memorable. It fits in well with the flow of film and while not in the caliber of some of the best cars scenes of all-time, it’s edge-of-your-seat footage. In the scene, Neeson is the driver of a Mercedes-Benz sedan tax. With passenger Diane Kruger, the twosome, like in

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Academy Awards: Hyundai again in auto ad driver's seat

For the third straight year, Hyundai will be the exclusive automotive sponsor of the Academy Awards, with nine ads from the Korean manufacturer set for broadcast throughout the Sunday, February 27 pre-show and telecast on ABC. In accordance with Academy rules, and to ensure that Hyundai‘s long-time “voice” gets to enjoy the spotlight for his second consecutive Oscar nomination, Hyundai has cast a guest star Jason Bateman to provides the voiceover for four ads surrounding the “Best Actor” award category presentation in which official voice Jeff Bridges in nominated Hyundai‘s lineup includes spots for Sonata, Sonata Turbo, Sonata Hybrid, Elantra, Genesis and Equus. The two red carpet ads include “Good Things Come in Threes” featuring Sonata’s three distinct powertrains, and

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Toyota recall: 2.2 million added to faulty floormat list

Toyota has announced another in its continuing series of recalls, this time nearly 2.2 million vehicles, including RAV4, 4Runner, Highlander and Lexus models dating from current models to 2003. The recall widens the same problem that began in 2009 via the risk the driver’s floormat could come loose and trap the accelerator pedal. The RAV4 crossovers have the largest percent of the recall, some 761,000 vehicles for model years 2006 to 2010. The other vehicles included in the recall: 4Runner (603,000) for the model years 2003 through 2009 and Lexus LX 570 (17,000) vehicles for the model years 2008 through 2011. Toyota has also recalled several hundred thousand Lexus, including the RX330, RX  350 and RX 400H models as well

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Formula One season-opener in troubled Bahrain canceled

The government of Bahrain, in the midst political unrest resulting in several deaths and many injuries to protestors, has canceled the March 13 season-opening Formula One race. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said in a statement that it’s “important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest.” Pro-democracy activists’ uprisings that have resulted in the ouster of leaders in Tunisia and Egypt have spread to Bahrain, Libya and Algeria. “It is obviously disappointing for everyone involved in the organization of the event, but it is clear that to race in Bahrain at this time would be inappropriate given the current circumstances,” Adam Parr, chairman of the Williams F-1 team, said in a media release. “We

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Jaguar gets J.D Power cross industry service honor

Jaguar North America has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as one of only 40 companies in 2011 selected as a Customer Service Champion. To qualify, companies must excel within their own industries and stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries. Among the five key customer “touch points” measured, including people, presentation, process, product, and price, Jaguar was noted for standing out by satisfying customers with the new-vehicle sales experience. J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. Companies were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research as well as additional, supplemental research. The 40 selectees represent the highest-performing companies that deliver service excellence to U.S. customers — both within

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Geneva Motor Show: Rolls-Royce will debut electric Phantom

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is developing the 102EX, a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom to debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2011. The car will tour during 2011, serving as a test bed to gather a bank of research data which will be crucial in informing future decisions on alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.” With 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it’s the

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Toyota cleared of sticky accelerator mess, civil claims remain

The long-awaited results of the Obama administration’s review of the Toyota Motor Corp’s unintended acceleration of electronic throttles and faulty floormats and the subsequent recall of more than eight million vehicles, revealed no systemic flaws in the software driven systems of Toyota or Lexus vehicles. Federal safety regulators investigated reports that as many as 89 U.S. crash deaths since 2000 may have been linked to unintended acceleration in Toyotas and Lexus vehicles. “There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. The recalls, government scrutiny, which included testimony by Chief Executive Akio Toyoda at congressional hearings a year ago, and more than $30 million in fines, damaged Toyota’s reputation.

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Darth Vader briefly rules for young boy, VW in Super Bowl

There’s not much better in life than the relationship between father and son, particularly if the father can help his son realize the powers of Darth Vader during the Super Bowl. And so it was for the automaker while promoting the 2011 Volkswagen Passat during the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. During the commercial, the son, dressed in Darth Vader attire, can’t get the family dog, a doll, a sandwich, a treadmill to react or the family’s washer and dryer to operate despite persistent attempts to engage “The Force.” When the boy (actor Max Page, age 6) hears his father’s arrival home in his new Passat, he rushes to the front yard to

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