February 9, 2010

Toyota's Plan to Repair its Public Image
Toyota Motor Co. President Akio Toyoda writes in a Washington Post piece that more than 70 years ago, Toyota entered the auto business based on a simple, but powerful, principle: that Toyota would build the highest-quality, safest, and most reliable automobiles in the world. For much of Toyota's history, it has ensured the quality and reliability of vehicles by placing a device called an andon cord on every production line - and empowering any team member to halt production if there's an assembly problem. Only when the problem is resolved does the line begin to move again. Two weeks ago, Toyoda says he pulled the andon cord for the company, and ordered production of eight models in five plants across North America temporarily stopped so that it could focus on fixing customers' vehicles that might be affected by sticking accelerator pedals. But to regain the trust of American drivers and their families, more is needed. He writes that Toyota is taking responsibility for mistakes, learning from them, and acting immediately to address the concerns of consumers and independent government regulators. Click here to read Toyoda's full piece on what he and his company are doing to regain the trust of America's drivers.

Toyota Recalling Prius Worldwide
Toyota Motor Corp said it is recalling 437,000 of its flagship Prius and other hybrid cars for braking problems as it seeks to address criticism over the handling of its worst safety crisis. According to MSNBC, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday that Toyota's leaders have assured him they are taking safety concerns "very seriously." Toyota officials went to Japan's Transport Ministry earlier Tuesday to formally notify officials the company is recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid - the world's top-selling hybrid car. The automaker is also recalling two other hybrid models in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the U.S. and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan. In the U.S., Toyota will recall 133,000 Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles. Nearly 53,000 Priuses are also being recalled in Europe. There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the U.S. about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads. The delay doesn't indicate a brake failure. The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes. Click here for more on Toyota's decision to recall its Prius hybrid model.

Review: Subaru Legacy Limited's Transmission is a Peek at Future
According to Scott Burgess at The Detroit News, more cars in the future will resemble the 2010 Subaru Legacy Limited, whether we like it or not. Click here for a photo. While this all-wheel drive sedan is fun, capable, and good looking, it's also got a CVT connected to its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. CVTs defy the senses, and that's where the trouble begins. But there's no doubting that they're going to be inside future cars because they undeniably provide better gas mileage. The base Legacy with a 6-speed manual transmission and the same engine gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. But the Limited, which offers the CVT as standard, gets 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway - those are certainly noticeable differences. So how is a CVT different? Well, it doesn't have any gears. Typical CVTs use a belt and pulley system to maintain tension between the engine and the wheels. The Legacy Limited is a sporty sedan loaded with features. The exterior is sharp and clean, and the interior is comfortable and intuitive. The 170-horsepower engine provides plenty of power and the Legacy's suspension provides a smooth ride, even if you're trying to cut through corners fast. For Burgess' entire review of the Subaru Legacy Limited, including facts and feature information, click here.

Automakers Seek Spotlight in Chicago
According to Mark Phelan at the Detroit Free Press, leading automakers will try to either maintain or change their momentum as the Chicago auto show opens this week. Toyota hopes to draw some positive attention with a new version of its Avalon large sedan. Honda has a concept minivan that's nearly identical to the new version of its popular Odyssey model that goes on sale later this year. A new engine and transmission are expected to improve fuel economy, while interior additions should make the minivan more comfortable and appealing to families. Kia has high hopes for its Ray concept. The sleek car was designed by the Korean automaker's U.S. studio and foreshadows the look of upcoming production cars from the brand. The Ray concept also features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that Kia said is similar to the one it aims to produce.According to The Detroit News, Nissan - absent from the recent Detroit auto show - says it also plans to display several vehicles in Chicago. Click here to see what is new and on display at this week's Chicago auto show. Click here for Phelan's entire review on what the public can expect to see.

Nissan Expects Full-Year Profit on Rising Sales
Nissan Motor Co. predicted a return to profit this fiscal year, scrapping an earlier loss estimate, citing government incentives that boosted demand for the company's vehicles in China and Japan. According to BusinessWeek, Japan's third-largest carmaker expects net income of 35 billion yen ($391 million) in the year ending March 31, compared with an earlier forecast of a 40 billion yen loss. Nissan follows Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. in improving its earnings outlook. The company posted net income of 45 billion yen for the third quarter, compared with a median estimate of a 27.2 billion yen profit by four analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Global sales rose to 2 trillion yen from 1.82 trillion yen a year earlier, the company said in the statement. Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said on Feb. 1 that accelerator pedals in Nissan cars made by the same supplier that triggered recalls at Toyota aren't defective. CTS Corp. pedals used by Nissan differ in structure and materials from those used by Toyota, he said. Nissan will roll out its first battery-powered car, the Leaf, this year in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn predicts electric vehicles will account for 10 percent of global car sales by 2020. Click here for more on Nissan's sales forecast.

Around the Web
Audi Scores Big on Super Bowl Ad Meter [DriveOn]
2011 Asian Future Cars [Motor Trend]
Spy Shots: Hyundai HED-5 Leaves Show Stand for Snow Mound [Autoblog]
In-Car Tracking Device Tells Us We're Not Good Drivers [AOL Autos]
Review: 2010 Lexus GS 350 [TheCarConnection]