2011 Toyota Avalon facelift debuts at the Chicago Auto Show

Toyota has introduced the redesigned 2011 Avalon at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. A wider, more substantial grille ties into projector headlamps, working with a broad, undisturbed front hood to suggest a lowered center of gravity and emphasize the Avalon’s wide stance.

New Avalon is enhanced by additional use of chrome trim, redesigned rocker panels, and glare-resistant outer mirrors with integrated turn signals. New 17-inch wheels on the Limited grade feature a 10-spoke design with a mirror finish.

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Toyota recalls 2010 Prius and Lexus HS250h for ABS Software update

Things are not looking good for Toyota. They are recalling millions of cars because of the accelerator pedal issues around the world. Now they are announcing voluntary recall on 2010 Model-Year Prius and 2010 Lexus HS 250h Vehicles to Update ABS Software.

Approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles are on the list, that should get their anti-lock brake system (ABS) software updated.

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Toyota accelerator pedal recall also announced in Europe

We reported yesterday that Toyota has suspended sales of selected vehicles in US and is recalling already effected sold models because of sticking accelerator pedals.

Now Toyota has also confirmed that recall is expanded outside US and includes Europe. There are no details yet how many Toyota models are affected in Europe by that recall.

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Toyota US temporarily suspends sales of selected vehicles

Toyota US has announced that it is instructing Toyota dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models involved in the recall for sticking accelerator pedal, announced on January 21, 2010.

“Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company,” said Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter. “This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We’re making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible.”

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Detroit preview: Toyota teases new dedicated hybrid concept

Toyota announced yesterday that in January they will show a a whole new dedicated hybrid concept vehicle during the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Details are very scarce and we can show you only two teaser images at this moment, but there are already different speculations circulating.

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SEMA 2009: Toyota and Billabong team up for Ultimate Venza Concept

Toyota has teamed with Billabong and Street Image to create an Ultimate Venza Concept. Toyota calls it the perfect active sports vehicle that you could take to the beach, lake, mountains, skate park or anywhere in between and have a blast.

Street Image built the Ultimate Venza by taking a 2009 Toyota Venza as the starting point. The exterior modification of the Ultimate Venza includes an aggressive custom body kit that includes a unique Toyota/Billabong exterior paint design, fender flares and alloy wheels.

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2010 Toyota Sai Hybrid for the Japanese market

For a while it seemed that all Lexus models are based on Toyota models. Now it is different and there are cars wearing Lexus badge that are not based on Toyota’s. In fact it can be the other way around.

2010 Toyota Sai is based on Lexus HS250h. This luxury Toyota hybrid is very closely related to the HS250h and goes on sale December 7th in Japan.

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Toyota FT-EV II concept previewed ahead of Tokyo Motor Show

Toyota has released first details about an all electric FT-EV II concept that is an evolution of the first FT-EV, which was shown two years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show.

This small urban electric vehicle has a range of 90 kilometers (56 miles) from a single charge. This should be plenty for most people who commute in the urban traffic.

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Toyota FT-86 Concept previewed ahead of Tokyo Motor Show

Even though Toyota is one of the biggest automakers in the world, they haven’t introduced anything really exciting for the younger crowd in a long time.

That’s not just our opinion, Toyota President Akio Toyoda has also said that they need something new and exciting, and here’s something new and refreshing: Toyota FT-86 Concept.

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Toyota faces yet another recall in the US

Toyota is in trouble again as it would have to recall 3.8 million vehicles for a seemingly minor problem, but one that may be indicted in car accidents. Apparently, the floor mat of the driver’s side of many Toyota cars can cause the accelerator pedal to get stuck.

As of now the automaker as well as The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has told owners of Toyota cars to simply remove the floor mat on the driver’s side. The company is still ‘studying the matter’ before issuing an official recall.

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Toyota forecasts increase in sales

There has been some recovery in auto sales and Toyota Motor Corporations has accordingly raised its global sales forecast for the year to March 2010 by 3 percent to 6.7 million cars. Due to government subsidies on fuel efficient cars, the automaker is also raising its global production by 8 percent to 6.45 million vehicles for 2009/10.

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Automakers report increase in sales

Thanks to the government’s cash for clunkers program many automakers have reported a sudden increase in sales, with August being the best month of the year so far. Due to this program as many as 690,114 new auto sales were reported by the Department of Transportation (at a taxpayer cost of $2.88 billion).

More fuel efficient cars have been sold and many consumers, apart from the auto industry as a whole, have benefited. GM, Ford, Toyota are among the major companies which have reported an increase in sales.

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Toyota face flak once again

After facing recall of its cars for various problems in China and the US, Toyota is now again facing flak from irate customers who are upset for the automaker for not warning them of a serious problem with the RAV4. Apparently there is a vital problem with the transmission of the car and this has lead to near accidents.

Many people have spent upwards of $4,000 to repair this problem. On its part, in March 2006, Toyota sent dealers a technical service bulletin warning them that some consumers might complain about harsh shifting. It said improvements were made to the computer “manufacturing process to reduce the possibility of this condition occurring.” It then told the dealers to replace the module and if that did not work to replace the transmission. But consumers owning the vehicles were never notified about the problem.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has more than 120 complaints about transmission problems with the 2001–2003 RAV4, of which Toyota sold about 250,000. Unfortunately, not only did Toyota not notify customers of this problem but also did not offer an extended warranty to fix it. Customers are probably justified in asking for a recall before somebody loses a life.

Source: NYT

Toyota to recall vehicles in China

Toyota has had to recall 688,314 vehicles in China due to a fault in their electric window control system. On the driver’s side of the window the equipment can short circuit because of an excess of lubricant which was used during the manufacturing process. The excess lubricant may cause overheating and melting and in rare instances, the flaw may even cause the interior door panel to melt though no cases have been reported.

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Honda’s electric car slated for the US market

Nikkei reports that Honda Motor Company will be launching its battery operated electric car in the US probably by 2015. A prototype of this vehicle will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October this year.

The mini-car EV will be Honda’s answer to the new environmentally friendly specifications introduced by the US government to curb carbon dioxide emissions by traditional gas guzzlers in the country.

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