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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 is hilarious. The commercial ends with the Ford emblem and the words, “We Make Hybrids, Too.” James RaiaA sports, travel

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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 RV industry, visit: www.rvtravel.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written 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 the carmaker doesn’t reach an agreement with a partner for Hummer’s takeover by then, the brand will be “killed.” The

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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 belt buckles could. All Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles built in 1970 and 1971 recalled. 6+5: Ford, 2009, 4.5 million,

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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 rock wall —  built with boulders weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds — with such force that it “hurled those boulders

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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. * Feb. 23 — Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. President Jim Lentz says recalls may not “totally solve” sudden acceleration

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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 Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written

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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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Oscars: Hyundai debuts clever Academy Awards ad with Jeff Bridges' actor friends

What do Kim Basinger, David Duchovny, Richard Dreyfuss, Catherine Keener, Michael Madsen, Mandy Patinkin and Martin Sheen have in common with Jeff Bridges and what do the eight actors have in common with the Academy Awards and Hyundai? It’s simple. Bridges has been the voice of Hyundai for the past three years, and the South Korean automaker is the exclusive automotive sponsor for the Academy Awards broadcast. But Bridges is also nominated as Best Actor for his performance in Crazy Heart. And therein lies the problem. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prohibits sponsors from running advertising featuring any of the night’s nominees or presenters, which put Hyundai in a bind. Bridges suggested seven of his fellow actors,

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General Motors says 661 dealers welcomed back from bankruptcy restructuring

GM planned to terminate franchise agreements with about 1,300 U.S. dealers by the end of 2010 in a bid to operate its retail networks more efficiently and return the company to profitability. About 1,160 dealers have sought arbitration. Mark Reuss, GM North American President, said the manufacturer has opted to reinstate more than half of the dealers appealing closure in an effort to complete the arbitration process before the congressionally mandated deadline of July 15. The company plans to continue settlement talks with some 500 dealers who will not be offered reinstatement and remain in arbitration, Reuss said. To be reinstated, the dealers will have to meet certain business criteria, including minimum working capital requirements, sales and profitability within 60

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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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Volkswagen debuts CrossGolf at Geneva Auto Show

Volkswagen has unveiled the CrossGolf, the sixth vehicle in the Golf family, at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The latest addition joins the standard Golf, longer wheelbase Golf Plus, Golf Variant wagon, Golf GTI and new Golf R. Like the CrossPolo, the CrossGolf is a five-door hatchback with a raised ride height and a rugged all-terrain look. However, it is not based on the standard Golf but rather the slightly larger Golf Plus. The engine lineup consists of compact turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines, with outputs ranging 105 horsepower (base model) to 160 horsepower (range-topper). A six-speed manual comes IS standard but a seven-speed DSG dual clutch transmission is optional. Key design elements include the unique bumpers, finished in an

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Alfa Romeo, Fiat back in full force (almost) in US in late 2012

According to Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne, Alfa Romeo is likely return to the U.S. at the the end of 2012 although MiTo and Giulietta may not be available. While the MiTo is already available in some markets and the Giulietta is making its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the U.S. is expected to only receive the larger Giulia 159-replacement and another large sedan based on the Chrysler 300 platform plus several sports models. Designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Center, the new Giulietta is a five-door hatchback and on an all-new platform simply titled Compact. New technology features DNA driving mode selector, which offers Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather modes, as well as the automaker’s Q2 electronic front-wheel

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Stuck accelerator problems include Honda, Volkswagen, Volvo

The just-released NPR report details consumer complaints to federal regulators regarding accelerator issues have also been problematic for Volkswagen, Volvo and Honda, among other manufacturers. The analysis covers about 15,000 complaints filed over the past decade, covering cars back to the 1990 model year. The complaints were filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) which regulates auto safety. In 2009 models, for example, NHTSA  identified 251 complaints alleging sudden acceleration and related problems. To read the NPR account of unintended acceleration, visit: Unitended Acceleration To view a year-by-year individual manufacturer list of complaints, visit: Complaints James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver

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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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Ford has dramatic sales increase, Toyota tumbles again

Ford announced sales rose to 137,644 vehicles for its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands and it plans to build 595,000 in North America in the second quarter and increase of 32 percent from 2009. The industry’s sales were announced following one if them most turbulent months for the car industry, particularly for Toyota and other manufacturers facing recalls. Despite the tumultuous times, Ford sales in February rose for every brand when compared to the same month last year.  It was the first month since 1998 that Ford outsold General Motors, the biggest U.S. carmaker. General Motors reported its February U.S. sales rose 12 percent to 141,951 vehicles with its four core brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac increasing by

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