Toyota IQ

Toyota Australia back to full production

2011-05-12T01:31:00.000-07:00

With the Japanese earthquake have a devastating affect on the parts supply; Altona was forced to cut production by up to 50 percent of pre-earthquake/Tsunami levels.
Toyota Japan has secured interim parts suppliers while some of the larger organizations gear up again, which has allowed the factory in Australia to increase production to 9000 cars per month from July 6.

It seems the Toyota Australia family have done their part too with Toyota Australia President and CEO Max Yasuda saying,
“The past two months have been challenging for Toyota Australia employees, dealers, and suppliers, but their flexibility and support has been critical in helping the company get back on it’s feet quickly.”

Mercedes SLK (R172)

2011-05-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

the first styling packages for the new third-generation 2012 Mercedes SLK (R172).

Dubbed the Accurian RS, the package features a front lip spoiler and extended side skirts with optional LED lighting units. Out back, there's a revised rear apron, a new diffuser, a trunk-mounted spoiler and a four-tailpipe sport exhaust system. Other goodies include 19-inch alloy wheels and lowering springs which reduce the ride height by 25mm.

Last but not least, the tuner also offers a roof lowering module which enables the hardtop to be operated at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph).

Toyota Prius

2011-03-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

While it might be well-known that U.S. automakers mocked Toyota and their “crazy” hybrid, secretly the folks at Toyota also though it would never catch on.
Unfortunately the design of the 2010 Prius is mostly indistinguishable from the ’09 model, which is a shame because Toyota has done a lot to improve the car. In fact, Toyota is taking a big step with this third-gen platform, in an attempt at moving it from a niche market science project to a mainstream auto.

To do this, the 2010 Prius has two very different sides to it. In order to appeal to a larger audience Toyota is making it easier to use while offering plenty of high-tech gadgets that will draw in up-market customers. And to keep the interest of past Prius owners and environmentally responsible folks, the 2010 Prius gets more fuel economy than ever.

EU Cuts Could Raise Clean-Diesel Prices

2010-10-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

Diesel Down? could present the European Union and clean cut diesel prices

Western Europe in response to increased energy efficiency and less CO2 seems idyllic. Instead of letting the drivers of hybrid automatic correction blocked highways and diamonds, Europe becomes large sedans, high German couple real whiz at 155 kmh?

Not so fast. love story in Western Europe with high-tech clean diesel, at least in small cheap car, it might end. The EU has to balance their states to reduce diesel and gasoline at the pump and diesel has long pushed advantage, "said Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics.

"And 'this additional cost parity of unleaded gasoline with diesel fuel," says Hall. "No other expenses, high-tech diesel will go into decline in stock prices. With a diesel engine before you have spent a bit 'more because you have more."

Diesel efficiency means producing less carbon dioxide than gasoline engines, but they are inherently much dirtier than gas engines when it comes to other issues - particularly oxides of nitrogen. To remedy this, they cost more modern diesel exhaust treatment. This technology can also praised the type of engine that "clean diesel" progressively more expensive the state of the art hybrid than a conventional gasoline engine. EU nations have incentives to reduce CO2 in the cost of using "clean diesel" technology makes it so important for diesel engines cleaner than gas engines offer.

"The incentives of CO2 will not last forever," created lobby.

"I think we all agree," Christoph Stürmer, Head says that the Business Process Management at IHS Global Insight in Frankfurt, Germany. He explains, Diesel penetration in Western Europe slipped over the plans for demolition last year, similar to our demolition, because the buyers of low cost market. "These guys never thought of a diesel engine. Of course they are punished at the pump."

Now move forward, recovering from the diesel refers to "a growing range of affordable diesel fuel."

Striker and Hall agree on the market in Western Europe remains clean diesel in the executive branch of prestige and luxury cars from manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and strong, and SUV /. It will be hard to find Audi A8 in parts of Western Europe, not a turbo diesel, "said Hall. Penetration and diesel SUVs that are not" tuner "(Mercedes AMG, BMW M, for example) says nearly 100 percent, the attacker.

proprietary data shows demand for diesel in France, Germany, Belgium and Great Britain, Hall said softening, the EU struggles through an economic crisis. EU countries are less likely to renew incentives for CO2 specifically for the single question of benefit of diesel. Nissan will collect the paper for the European markets in England and is funding the new place more incentives for diesel-driven power.

"You can quickly learn the natural market for diesel engines," said Hall.

Air Filter Provides 1 to 4 h.p. power gain; 96 to 99 percent filtration efficiency; 1.19 in. height, 12.44 in

2010-07-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

K&N Air Filter - Cotton gauze, Panel, High flow
Part Number: K33332129
Manufacturer Number: 33-2129
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Read all 5 reviews
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K&N HIGH FLOW DIRECT FIT AIR FILTER, RED -- Provides 1 to 4 h.p. power gain; 96 to 99 percent filtration efficiency; 1.19 in. height, 12.44 in. outside length, 9.81 in. outside width; Oiled element; Panel style; Made of multiple interwoven layers of surgical cotton gauze; Increases horsepower and acceleration while providing excellent filtration; Custom designed to fit into existing air box and features a drop-in design which means adding performance is simple; Provides high air flow with excellent filtration; Economical and environment friendly; Works with OEM vehicle electronics; Will last the life of your vehicle; Washable and reusable; Lasts up to 50,000-mile before cleaning is required depending on drive condition.

Porsche Boxster and help fight cancer

2010-06-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

To help fund research for the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, a raffle called Drive Away Cancer is offering a 2010 Porsche Boxster or $55K as the Grand Prize.

The Drive Away Cancer campaign is organized by Omar Dawood, a survivor of Stage IV Hodgkins Lymphoma, diagnosed at age 14. He is now a physician, and was recently nominated Man of the Year by the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society and has kicked off the raffle to raise money for the cause. You can win the 2010 Porsche Boxster or the $55K and tickets are only $25 each, with the raffle closing on June 15th.

For more information, please visit Dawood's site www.driveawaycancer.com.

Ford Offers Current and New Focus RS Owners an RS500

2010-04-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

In a move that shows how lame the whole story of the special edition version of the... special edition Focus RS, a.k.a., the RS500 story is, Ford's European division has announced the availability of a factory-approved performance package developed by the company's tuning partner Mountune Performance for new and existing owners of the standard Focus RS.

And yes, the engine modifications provided by the so-called "MP350" package are similar to those developed for the new limited edition Focus RS500 model that was sold out only a few hours after its reveal.

As with the RS500, the Focus RS performance upgrade increases the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five's peak power from 305HP to 350HP, while torque rises by 20 Nm to 460 Nm.

Modifications include a larger intercooler, a larger air filter box, a larger diameter exhaust downpipe and an uprated fuel pump, along with an updated software calibration.

Not surprisingly, the MP350 package does not invalidate the standard Ford warranty.

Being only a performance kit, the package doesn't include the RS500's matte black film from 3M, but that shouldn't be a problem for RS owners looking to imitate the hot hatch's looks.

According to FoMoCo, the tuning package is available from Mountune Performance via a selected network of Ford dealers, initially in the UK, with a European roll-out planned to follow.

Scion xB restyled and repriced for 2011

2010-03-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

2011 Scion xB - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Scion brand's poster car, the boxy xB, gets a freshened face for the 2011 model year, as well as some minor interior upgrades. Overall, the changes give the exterior a more aggressive appearance econobox - a good thing, since the second-generation xB was not appealing to the young, hipster crowd nearly as much as the automaker would have Hoped. (We much prefer the first-generation car, for what it's worth.)

Up front, the revised fascia features slightly redesigned headlamps, as well as a honeycomb grille and larger outer vents on the bumper. Around back, the single rear backup lamp has been integrated into the taillamps, Which cleans up the car's back end rather nicely. Other cosmetic changes include the addition of two new metallic paint colors - Army Rock and Elusive Blue.

Moving inside, the xB's front seats have been given more bolstering for better overall comfort and support. Additionally, a new center console has been added that offers better storage solutions, as well as a sliding armrest, and the steering wheel now offers with both tilt and telescope adjustments (a simple feature that we wish were standard done on every make and model) .

Pricing for the new xB starts at $ 16,000 for the manual transmission model and $ 16,950 if you prefer a conventional automatic - increases of $ 150 over the 2010 car. The 2011 xB will make its way to a Scion dealer near you later this month. Hit the jump to read Toyota's official press release, attached and click through our gallery to see dozens of high-res shots of the new xB.

Toyota Remembers its Past as it... Accelerates into the Future with FT-86 Coupe

2010-03-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Knowing that "the past is only the future with the lights turned on", Toyota hopes to learn from its mistakes and take only the best from its times of yore and apply the lessons to its future products like the highly anticipated production version of the FT-86 concept study.

Or at least that's what the troubled Japanese automaker wants us to believe with the release of this family portrait that places the FT-86 (Future Toyota-86) Sports Concept alongside its closest relative, the Corolla AE86 as well as the Celica and Supra sport coupes.

The FT-86 study, which was designed at Toyota's ED² studio in Nice, France, had its European premier this week at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The compact sized coupe measures that 4,160mm long, 1,760mm wide and 1,260mm tall, with a 2,570mm wheelbase, is being co-developed with Subaru that will also present its own variant of the 2+2 seater sports model.

As a reminder of Subaru's involvement in the project, the near production-ready FT-86 prototype uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine from the Impreza while power is sent to the rear-wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. The study rides on 19-inch wheels shod with 225/40R19 tires.

According to Toyota, the FT-86 is scheduled to be launched into the market towards the end of 2011 with Subaru's variant to follow later on.

the sporty 335is variants with a tweaked 3.0-liter twin-turbo churning out 322HP

2010-01-17T22:31:00.000-08:00

A little after a leaked brochure gave us our first taste of the lightly refreshed 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models, BMW rushed out an official release and a whole bunch of pictures. For the 2011 model year, the Bavarian automaker's bread-and-butter coupe and cabriolet models receive some minor cosmetic touches and updated powerplants.

The most notable - that is, if you're a hardcore bimmer fan- changes on the outside concern the widened kidney grille, reshaped LED headlamps, front and rear bumpers with restyled lower fascias, new exterior mirrors and finally, reworked tail light cluster with a new color scheme.

According to BMW, these modifications slightly extend the front and rear overhangs by 1.14 and 0.12 inches respectively.

The only change in the cabin concerns the convertible models and the use of sun-reflective technology to mitigate temperatures on leather seating, armrest surfaces, headrests, and gear shifter. BMW says that this new treatment is able to reduce surface temperatures on dark interior colors by up to 20 Celsius degrees (36 Fahrenheit degrees) and by as much as Celsius degrees (27 Fahrenheit degrees)on light-colored upholstery.

In North America (we'll bring you details on the Euro spec models shortly), the 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models will be offered once again in two flavors, the 328i and 335i.

As noted in our previous post, the 2011 335i is fitted with BMW's new twin scroll single turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six, designated N55, that replaces the previous model's N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six.

BMW says that even though output has remained the same as before at 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, the new single turbo engine is more responsive, more fuel efficient, and cleaner-running than its predecessor.

The rear-wheel drive 335i Coupe and Convertible accelerate from 0 - 60 mph (96km/h) in just 5.3 (5.5 coupe automatic) seconds and 5.5 (5.7 cabrio automatic) seconds, respectively, when equipped with a six speed manual gearbox.

The all-wheel drive 335i xDrive coupe is slightly faster at 5.2 seconds (5.3 sec for the automatic model).

The 328i's 230 horsepower, 200 lb-ft, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine has been carried over unchanged from the 2010 model.

No word yet on the sporty 335is variants with a tweaked 3.0-liter twin-turbo churning out 322HP that were mentioned in the leaked sales leaflet (click here for details).

In the U.S. and Canada, the 2011 3 Series Coupe and Convertible models will go on sale in Spring 2010, with pricing set to be announced closer to the on-sale date.

The prototype model looks thoroughly worked over

2010-01-17T21:21:00.000-08:00

If you couldn't find a modified Prius to your likings at the grounds of this year's edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon in Japan, chances are that you never will. We lost count of how many customized Prius' made their way to the Makuhari Messe exhibition center, but Toyota alone displayed three different concept versions of its popular hybrid model.

Making its debut alongside the Prius G Sports and TOM's Prius studies was the Prius Custom Plus Concept (CCP) prepared by Toyota's in-house customizing and accessories division.

The prototype model looks thoroughly worked over thanks to the wide body kit that further accentuates the Prius hybrid's wedgy shape.

Together with the new nose job that boasts massive Lamborghini-styled air-vents, the Prius CPC gets custom-made fenders, beefy side skirts, new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and side spoilers, and a large rear wing made out of carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber is also the material of choice for the new hood, roof, the cameras on the doors that replace the exterior mirrors and the rear panel on the trunk door.

The uniquely styled 18-inch alloy wheels that are shod on 215/40 R18 Goodyear tires sum up the exterior modifications.

The Fast and Furious / Racing theme is continued inside with the addition of gauges on top of the dashboard and just above the new steering wheel that's wrapped in Alcantara.

The same material is also used to trim the new Recaro bucket seats and most parts of the cabin.

Despite the go-fast looks, the only performance mods on the Prius CCP concerns the high-performance brake system and the sports suspension that lowers the car's ride height by 10mm up front and 15mm at the rear.

Photos by Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron

is being run by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG)

2010-01-07T22:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a police vehicle guaranteed to make you move out of the fast lane pretty quick! This liveried lorry, complete with flashing blue lights, has been unveiled as part of a crackdown on dodgy HGV drivers.

The aim is to give cops some much-needed height so they can see directly into lorry cabs. It allows them to catch drivers using mobile phones, watching DVDs on laptops or committing other offences.

The initiative is the first of its kind in the UK, and is being run by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG). This is part of the West Midlands force, which looks after 450 miles of road between Cheshire and South Wales. A spokesman said: “One officer drives the truck while another sits in the passenger seat armed with a hand-held video camera, ready to film into the lorry’s cab as we overtake.” If an offence is being committed, or the driver’s behaviour arouses suspicion, the officer will radio an unmarked police car following behind, which pulls it over. If the driver disputes the reason for being stopped, the video footage can be used as evidence in court.

The liveried HGV was created for the launch of the scheme, but isn’t actually taking part. Unmarked lorries supplied by local hauliers will be used instead.

General Motors has said it won't set final pricing until late 2010

2010-01-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

We seem to know nearly everything there is to know about the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Well, everything but one of the most important pieces of its environmentally friendly puzzle, that is: How much will it cost? Predictions vary widely, with the $40,000 mark widely bandied about as a likely target – though whether or not that figure arrives before or after a federal $7,500 tax credit is complete speculation. For its part, General Motors has said it won't set final pricing until late 2010.

Throwing a wrench into the Volt-price-guessing works is none other than GM's own head of global program management, Jon Lauckner, who has reportedly told The Wall Street Journal that the extended-range electric vehicle could hit the market for well under that preconceived $40K level. Fortunately, "We have until this summer to figure that out," he said. Perhaps we can create ourselves a Price is Right-style contest?

The notion that GM may launch the Volt earlier than initially planned – possibly as early as this upcoming summer or fall, well before the expected launch in November – is also reportedly being discussed by GM's top brass. Regardless of when the first few units hit the market, don't expect to see a national launch outside of a few carefully selected regions until well into 2011. Thanks for the tip, Berto!

2011 Chevy Volt

9ff TR 1000

2010-01-03T21:37:00.000-08:00

Click above to watch the 9ff TR 1000 reach 391.7 km/h at the Papenburg test track after the jump

There aren't too many places you can cruise at over 200 mph in relative safety, but the Papenburg test track is one of them. The high speed oval located in Northern Germany is a pavement playground for supercars in search of straight line speed, and various manufacturers and tuners regularly use the track to see just how fast their projects can go.

Take, for instance, 9ff. The Porsche super-tuner previously used Papenburg to reach v-max in its GT9 supercar, and they recently brought out a modified 911 Turbo dubbed the TR 1000 for a high speed romp. While not quite as fast as the GT9 (409 km/h), the TR 1000 still reached an impressive 391.7 km/h -- just over 243 mph. Fortunately the cameras were rolling, giving us an opportunity to see just how quickly a 1000 horsepower Porsche can triple the legal speed limit. You can watch it for yourself after the jump.

9ff TR 1000

Lexus is to rival the M5 or E63

2010-01-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

In these very last days of 2009, some Japanese magazines are spreading the rumor that Lexus is working on a very hot version of the GS luxury saloon, allegedly called GS-F, which will get the firm’s V10 engine used in the LF-A supercar, to rival BMW M5. Now apparently Lexus has responded to this by tweeting! They say that the V10 is bespoke to the LF-A and won’t be used in any other car. They didn’t comment on the existence of GS-F though.

So as it’s usually the case, there must be a GS-F in the works but it certainly won’t be getting the V10. This makes more sense actually, because as we’ve reported earlier, BMW will replace theV10 engine of the M5 with a twin-turbo V8 in the upcoming model. Mercedes too has plans to drop the big and thirsty V8s in favor of more efficient turbo engines, so even if Lexus is to rival the M5 or E63, they would come up with something in the same league.

And as a side note, the GS’s face is too dull for a weapons-grade V10 such as LF-A’s 4.8 liter! It looks good as a hybrid, but as a performance saloon?! The M5 will eat it for breakfast!

Ford will call the Kuga when it goes on sale here in 2011

2010-01-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

2008 Ford Kuga in front, possible 2011 Ford Kuga out back – click above for high-res image gallery

Here's the skinny: Ford's current Escape is heading the way of the dodo bird. In its place will be the Kuga, a much less dowdy looking compact CUV that should compete nicely with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. The European designed 2011 Kuga will be built here in the United States at a Louisville, Kentucky plant. All this we already know and have known for some time now.

What we don't know is what Ford will call the Kuga when it goes on sale here in 2011. Kuga is obviously one option, but so, apparently, is Escape. According to Wards Auto, Ford's domestic dealers are pushing for Escape. "I believe the Escape is a great vehicle with a great reputation and that it would be a big mistake to kill the Escape name," says one San Diego based dealer.

Others point back to Ford's decision to drop the Taurus name in favor of Five Hundred – part of the brand's strange decision to make all cars start with the letter "F" (Focus, Fusion, Five Hundred – though the Mustang never became Fustang) and all SUVs and crossovers start with the letter "E" (Edge, Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Excursion). Though, of course, reverting back to Five Hundred was supposed to drum up some long lost brand equity/nostalgia, which is the first thing CEO Alan Mulally did when he changed Five Hundred back to Taurus. Very complicated stuff, no?

So, Kuga or Escape? While there are many good arguments for Escape, here's one for Kuga – Ford's One World strategy. Simply put, rather than having one Focus for Europe and one for North America, Ford is working toward offering one global vehicle per a given segment – and that's it. And naming one car one thing for one market and one car another for another is essentially a monkey wrench in the plan. What should Ford do, and more importantly what will they do? Place your vote in our poll below and leave any further thoughts in Comments.

What should Ford call the Kuga when it reaches the U.S. market?

KugaEscapeNeither

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne presents 5-year business plan

2009-11-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

Chrysler LLC has concluded its 7-hour-long marathon presentation of the business plan (read our Live Blog of the event here) that will see it through the next five years, and what we're left with is a little confusing. It's almost as if the automaker's new executives, amidst apologizing for the company's past and promising to do better in the future, were hoping we'd all fall asleep or get lost in the details. Well, we didn't fall asleep or get lost, and below you'll find a breakdown of what we learned while spending the day hip deep in Chrysler's future product. You can also check out the slides from Chrysler's presentation relating to product in the gallery below.

Models On Their Way Out

Jeep Patriot (end of 2012)
Jeep Compass (end of 2012)
Jeep Commander (end of 2010, may continue being sold internationally)
Chrysler PT Cruiser (end of 2010)
Dodge Dakota (mid 2011)
Dodge Caliber (mid 2012)
Dodge Viper (mid 2011, may return in 2012)

New Models That Are Coming

Jeep compact SUV (2013, supplied by Fiat, may be Panda)
Jeep small CUV (2013, supplied by Fiat, replaces Patriot and Compass)
Jeep Liberty (2013, replaced by Fiat product but retains name)
Chrysler small car (2013, supplied by Fiat)
Chrysler compact sedan (2012, supplied by Fiat, replaces PT Cruiser)
Chrysler Sebring (2013, replaced by Fiat product but retains name)
Chrysler midsize CUV (2013, supplied by Fiat)
Ram midsize unibody pickup (under consideration for 2011)
Ram large and small commercial van (2012, supplied by Fiat)
Dodge small car (2013, supplied by Fiat)
Dodge compact sedan (2012, supplied by Fiat)
Dodge Avenger (major update 2010, replaced by Fiat product 2013)
Dodge full-size CUV (2010)
Fiat 500 (late 2010, convertible 2011, Abarth 2012)

Models Staying, Receiving Attention

Jeep Wrangler Diesel (2010/2011, not confirmed for U.S. market... yet)
Jeep Grand Cherokee (all-new 2010)
Chrysler 300C (all-new 2010)
Chrysler Town & Country (major update 2010, next-gen 2014)
Ram 1500/2500/3500 (major update 2012)
Dodge Journey (major update 2010)
Dodge Nitro (major update 2011 under consideration)
Dodge Challenger (refresh 2011)
Dodge Charger (all-new 2010)
Dodge Grand Caravan (major update 2010, next-gen 2014)

UPDATE: You can dive whole hog into the plan yourself at Chrysler's website.

including the SMS 296 supercharge

2009-11-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

SMS Superparts - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With SMS Supercars recently launching the 570 Challenger and with a Mustang and Camaro, it was inevitable it would soon offer many of the parts individually. On the first day of SEMA Steve Saleen and his new company announced Superparts, the aftermarket sales and distribution arm of SMS Supercars. Many of the parts on the 570 Challenger are now available individually, including the SMS 296 supercharger, aerodynamic parts, and suspension, wheel and tire packages.

Also making its debut at the show is the new SMS 296 supercharger for the 2005-2010 Ford Mustang. The system uses many of the same core components from the Challenger kit, but has a few new features specific for the 4.6-liter V8. The most notable feature is the "Duo-Path" induction system that splits the incoming air starting at the throttle body, going around the supercharger housing to the back of the engine where it enters the rear intake of the compressor. Expected power will be in the 475-650 range depending on the package.

Read more on the SMS Superparts announcement after the jump, or opt for the visuals with the '90s-style 2010 Mustang and a 570X Challenger painted in Sour Grape Green in the high-res gallery below.

2009-11-06T16:42:00.000-08:00

Honda FF engine demonstrator - click above for high-res image

For 2010, Formula F is getting some fresh blood. The Sports Car Club of America's board of directors has given the thumbs up to Honda's proposal for a new engine in the class. Next year, competitors will be able to swap out their ancient Ford Kent engines for a new 1.5-liter four based on the Fit.

Honda Performance Development created the engine so that it was specifically able to bolt up to many contemporary Formula Ford chassis designs with minimal modification, all while providing comparable performance. The air restrictor and ECU calibrations can be adjusted by HPD to ensure performance parity with the series' existing engines.

The engine's electronically fuel injected engine promises significantly reduced service requirements compared to the Kent, along with better efficiency. The engines will be supplied complete with intake, exhaust and conversion kits. The kit for the Swift DB-1 including the engine and all necessary parts runs $11,750 with deliveries starting February.

Honda Fit FF engine

Win one of five Sony PSP/Gran Turismo bundles - Day 4

2009-11-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

It's Day 4 of our SEMA Sweeps! After giving away three of five limited-edition PSP/Gran Turismo bundles, we're ready to give away our fourth. Yesterday's winner has been randomly selected and contacted, so here's how you can win today.

We're doing this in honor of the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and with it, the Seventh Annual GT Awards, so take advantage of our generosity and follow the directions below for your chance to win.

Today we're asking whether you prefer the PSP-3000 or new PSP Go. Your answer won't have any effect on your chances of winning since the sweepstakes winner is drawn at random, so pick your favorite portable Sony system, leave a comment and keep your fingers crossed!

Entering is easy. All you have to do is:

Leave a comment in this post telling us whether you prefer the PSP-3000 or PSP Go.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec, désolé!)
Limit 1 entry per person per day
This entry period ends at 3:00PM EST on Friday, November 6
At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one PSP/GT bundle (ARV $199.99) that includes a Mystic Silver PSP-3000 system, Gran Turismo PSP game on UMD, a PlayStation Network downloadable voucher for a white Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, PlayStation Network downloadable movie voucher (title TBD) and Sony MusicPass voucher good for 10 downloadable songs.
For a list of complete rules, click here

Massa has also spent time on Ferrari's racing simulator

2009-10-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Ferrari just announced that injured driver Felipe Massa could be back in the saddle as early as Monday. Massa hasn't been in an F1 car since July's Hungarian Grand Prix, when a spring from another car flew up and hit him above his eye, fracturing his skull.

The first time he has even been back on track was last week when he took the wheel of a kart. Because of testing bans in place this season in F1, Massa can't drive the current car he was running until Hungary. As he gets back up to speed, the FIA has granted him permission to drive a 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tires.

Massa has also spent time on Ferrari's racing simulator. Word has it he's already mastered Barcelona and is working hard at beating the Interlagos circuit now. Before taking the wheel of the 2007 car, he still needs to pass an examination, but once he's cleared, he could be on track in Italy by Monday. This will be testing only as the driver isn't expected to compete for Ferrari any more this season.

Cars and Coffee roadshow headed for New England

2009-10-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Cars and Coffee, the informal and inclusive wheeled hootenanny originated in Irvine, California has been spreading across the country faster than swine flu. There's no stage with bad cover bands, not a trophy in sight, but you're always likely to see some astounding vehicles.

Herb Chambers, New England dealership juggernaut, has thrown his support behind a New England gathering. "Herb himself is a super car enthusiast," says John Covell, Director of Marketing for the Herb Chambers Companies, "He thought that others would enjoy it." A new BMW dealership in Sudbury, MA, where the event is being held this Saturday, October 10th, is a supporting cast member.

Cynics may dismiss this as another ploy akin to inflatable dinosaurs, but when was the last time you were invited out by a car dealership to drink free coffee and ogle a McLaren F1 on a Saturday morning? Running from 7-10 AM, the inaugural event will be over before many people's days get under way. "Herb is passionate about cars and he's passionate about this business. If our customers understand that we share their passion, that's a good thing," sums up Covell. Hey, if he doesn't mind us drooling all over his McLaren, we'll agree.

New GM marketing boss Mark LaNeve apparently unaware that diesel is now cheaper than gas

2009-06-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

Over the last several years, we've heard a lot of excuses from many auto executives as to why their companies aren't offering diesel engines in their American market cars. Yesterday, General Motors' Mark LaNeve, the company's vice president of sales and marketing, made an appearance on C-SPAN's Washington Journal. The final question of the segment came from a viewer wondering why GM has failed to offer U.S. consumers the chance to buy some of the high-mileage diesel cars it offers in Europe.

It would appear that LaNeve might have done better to take a pass on the question. Instead of talking about the cost of making those diesels meet U.S. emissions regulations or the difficulty in helping Americans overcome the misconceptions about the fuel, he claimed that no one has successfully cracked the diesel passenger nut in the U.S. (which based on VW's May sales appears to be wrong). More startlingly, LaNeve went on to claim that diesel is $1.25 a gallon more expensive than gasoline. According to the Energy Information Agency, the national average for diesel this week is $2.35 / gallon while regular gas is $2.52 or $0.17 more than diesel. Admittedly, the fact that diesel is now cheaper than 87 octane gas is a recent development (a trend that nobody is sure how long it will last), but – going on national television and quoting outdated fuel prices as a reason for your bankrupt company's business decisions... well, that doesn't strike us as a terribly hot idea.

You can hear the question and response at 20:30 into the video replay over at C-SPAN.

Toyota iQ: The Smallest Four-Passenger Car in the World

2009-04-02T04:14:00.000-07:00

Toyota iQ: Coming to Japan and Europe
The Toyota iQ, which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will go on sale in Japan in October and in Europe a few months later. Lets have a closer look.

Big Space in Small Package
Unlike the Smart Car which can only seat two people, the Toyota iQ has 4 seats, though only 3 of those can accommodate adults. The last one is better used for a small child, a baby seat or a grocery bag. Still, not bad for a car that fits somewhere between the Smart and Yaris in lenght (117 inches).

Update: 57 MPG Toyota iQ Goes on Sale in Europe, No U.S. Release Date Yet

Engine, Drivetrain
Three choices of engines and transmissions are in the plans right now. According to Edmunds:

The 2009 Toyota iQ is really meant to enhance Toyota's presence in Europe, and this market will get the choice of an iQ with either a 1.0-liter inline-3 with a five-speed manual transmission or a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4 diesel with a six-speed manual. In mid-2009, a 1.3-liter inline-4 with variable valve timing will become available, and it'll feature either the six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Meanwhile, Japan will get the 1.0-liter inline-3 matched with a CVT.
[...] we can expect the 1.0-liter to produce around 70 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 69 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. The 1.4-liter turbodiesel will generate approximately 89 hp.

For those concerned about safety, despite its small size, the Toyota iQ received a 5-star safety rating in Euro NCAP testing.

Considering that the iQ weights 1,962 pounds, these engine choices, despite their modest HP ratings, should be more than enough to give a good driving experience.

How Green is It?
According a Toyota engineer, the 1.0-liter gasoline iQ should record 54.1 mpg on the European driving cycle (99g/km of CO2), while the more powerful 1.4 turbodiesel should get 52.3 mpg (106g/km of CO2).

That's pretty good, though in Europe Toyota will have a lot of competition, especially from small diesels.

How Much will the iQ Cost?
The expected price is $13,000, though we won't be sure until Toyota confirms it. We think Toyota should bring the cover over to North-America. Maybe in limited quantities first if they want to test the waters, but we're pretty sure it would sell in urban areas.

Toyota iQ Microcar

Toyota iQ 1.0 (2009) CAR review

2009-04-02T04:13:00.000-07:00

The new Toyota iQ is a landmark car: the world's soon-to-be-biggest car maker has gone and made the world's smallest four-seater. You see, the iQ packs two rows of pews into a tiny slip of a hatchback. It's not even three metres long. But the Toyota iQ has a twist; like Smart's Fortwo, the last car to rip up the packaging rule book, the iQ wears a distinctly premium price tag.

Think of it like house prices. Although the iQ is tiny, at just 2985mm long, it is plonked slap bang in Mayfair, carrying an estimated £10,000 price tag when UK sales start in January 2009. So it had better be good...

Ok, so the Toyota iQ is pricey, but is it good to drive?

CAR drove some of the first pre-production prototypes on the roads around Toyota's European design centre in Nice, on the south coast of France. This posed a bit of a problem; the Provençal roads might be sun-kissed and blessed with heart-stopping views, but they're also rather steep. And the pair of 1.0-litre iQ models we drove felt out of their depth.

Granted, the cheapest iQ models are designed to flit from Chiswick to Bond Street and back, not blast up the Col de Vence. But we were finger-tapping disappointed by the lack of oomph up the hilly Nicoise roads in the cars powered by the Aygo-sourced 1.0-litre triple.

The 1.3-litre engine option might be better (we didn't have the opportunity to drive it) and there will also be a 1.4-litre diesel option, but the UK won't bring it here. Small diesels just don't sell in Blighty...

And on the motorway?

The 1.0-litre iQ is fine on a motorway run. It'll cruise at 85mph no trouble, but we did feel strangely vulnerable when passing HGVs towering overhead. The iQ is still leagues ahead of the first-gen Smart Fortwo, which bobbed and weaved and felt generally out of sorts at dual carriageway speeds.

Toyota iQ

2009-04-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

Toyota first introduced the iQ as a concept city car at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.^[1] Toyota later revealed the production version at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, with Japanese sales beginning in October 2008 and UK sales in January 2009.^[2]

The name iQ, an initialism of the term intelligence quotient, recalls a competitor, the Smart Fortwo. According to Toyota, the i stands for "individuality" "innovation" and "intelligence". While the Q stands for "quality" and points to the iQ's "cubic" shape and "cues" a new value and lifestyle in the automotive market.

The iQ was initially designed at Toyota Europe Design Development (Toyota ED²), Toyota's design studio in Nice, France.

The design emphasizes low fuel consumption, maneuverability, environmental friendliness, and maximized interior space. Six specific design factors contribute to IQ's minimal overhangs, forward windscreen location, maximized cabin space and overall compactness. These include a newly developed differential and a centre take-off steering gear, a flat fuel tank and rear-angled shock absorbers, a smaller heater/air conditioning unit and asymmetric dashboard, and a slimmer seat design which retains comfort while increasing interior room.

iQ Concept

In Europe, Toyota will offer the iQ with two petrol engines and one diesel. CO2 emissions for the 1L 5spd are 99g/km, making it Road tax free in the UK. It has a 3.9 m (13 ft) turning radius. It has a similar engine to Aygo, a 997cc rather than 998 cc 3 cylinder due to a slightly shorter stroke, 67 bhp (50 kW; 68 PS), 67 lb·ft (91 N·m) at 4800 rpm. 0-100 km/h 14.1 seconds.^[3] The iQ achieves 65.69 Imperial mpg (4.30 l/100km) by European standards.^[4]

Toyota iQ revealed (updated)

2009-04-02T04:10:00.000-07:00

Toyota showed off its super compact, C-segment iQ to the world in Geneva today. The car was first shown in concept form at Frankfurt last year, and will be produced in late 2008.

Toyota is touting the iQ as the ultimate refined mode of transportation and at less than 118 inches in length, it’s certainly small enough to be a devoted city runabout.

The iQ is called a 3+1, meaning it is capable of carrying up to three adults along with a child or luggage in comfort.

Toyota is especially proud of the six engineering innovations it utilized to maximized interior space in the iQ in addition to the long wheelbase of nearly 79 inches, which minimizes overhangs but maximizes the space between the wheels. The first includes a newly developed compact differential, alone said to be responsible for over 100mm of added length in the cabin in comparison to the B-segment Toyota Yaris. The rest includes rear-angled shocks and a flat fuel tank under the seats, a smaller heater / air conditioner unit that’s just as efficient, a center take-off steering column, an asymmetrical dashboard as well as slimmer seats claimed to contribute about 1.5 inches in length to the interior. Despite its small size, the iQ received a 5-star safety rating in Euro NCAP testing.

“We came to the conclusion that, in order to ensure a sustainable future, there was a need for a radical change in vehicle packaging. We needed to create a break-through, away

from the traditional belief that small is basic,” said Kazuo Okamoto, Executive Vice President in charge of Research and Development at Toyota.

The pushed-forward dashboard features temperature controls with an LCD display, as well as a 5.8-inch screen for satellite navigation system.

The iQ showed at Geneva sat on 16-inch wheels and powerplant choices will include two gasoline and one diesel engine. Toyota expects to sell 100,000 units of the iQ in its first year of production globally.