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Continue reading Toyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota owners

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Toyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota owners – HOUSTON

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, GM, Toyota

Recently, General Motors has been offering special buying incentives specifically tailored to steer people away from Toyota and Lexus dealerships, and even get current Toyota owners out of their cars. And while most people look at this as just a clever marketing technique to promote other automakers in the wake of Toyota’s recall wound, a group of dealers are none too happy about the marketing campaign. What’s more, because the U.S. government currently owns a 60 percent stake in GM, Toyota dealers have made accusations that American taxpayer dollars are being used to fund these incentives.

The Toyota National Dealer Council, which represents approximately 1,250 Toyota dealers across the United States, claims that using taxpayer dollars for this purpose is “reckless, unfair and detrimental to the entire auto industry.” And while we believe it’s a completely rational argument for the TNDC to make, we must remember that no specific proof has been presented to completely prove their point. GM may be mostly owned by the U.S. government, but it’s still an autonomous company, and no one can say for sure if its marketing decisions are, in any way, influenced by the officials in Washington, D.C. Hit the jump to read the entire TNDC press release.

[Source: Toyota National Dealer Council | Image: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images]

Toyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.9.10 – HOUSTON

Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ is indisputably British and not afraid of a storm

We endure the most powerful storm to ever hit France to sample the all-new Jaguar XJ. And it was totally worth it.

Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye

We love wagons almost as much as we love pavement pummeling power. Meld the two together and you’ve got something special. Too bad this SHO five-door is just a glint in one designer’s eye.

Video: Honda execs talk up historical link between CR-Z and CRX

The connection between the CRX and the CR-Z might be hard for enthusiasts to swallow, but Honda tries to tie the two together in a new promotional video.

Also of interest:

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.9.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Report: Audi R8 to spawn sportier model, dual-clutch gearbox cometh – HOUSTON

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Audi

Audi R8 V10 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We already know that Audi plans to fit the standard R8’s 420-hp, 4.2-liter V8 into its all-new Spyder variant early next year, and now comes word that at least one more version of the R8 is in the pipeline and that the R tronic sequential automatic might not be long for this world.

According to company insiders speaking with Car and Driver, the herky-jerky gearbox will likely be dispatched in favor of Audi’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There’s no word on the amount of torque the DCT can handle, but considering how much better the R8 V10 performed with the standard sequential tranny, we’d suspect that the dual-clutch setup will make its way onto the V8 models only. And if you’re worried about the gated six-speed manual being nixed from the options list, don’t be – it will continue to be available on all models.

C&D also reports that a sportier version of the R8, inspired by the LMS model, could be in the cards, packing more power (think: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera) and a not-so-insignificant weight reduction thanks to the liberal use of carbon fiber. Expect that to only be available on the V10 model and yes, a fully-electric version based on the original e-tron concept is supposedly on the way and due to arrive in a few year’s time.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Audi R8 to spawn sportier model, dual-clutch gearbox cometh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Report: California to amend ‘Cool Cars’ legislation over… criminal activity? – HOUSTON

Filed under: Government/Legal

Is CARB backing down on its so-called “cool cars” regulation? On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will have to turn in its final draft of the controversial regulations, which calls for automakers to build cars and trucks with windows that prevent 45% of the sun’s energy from entering a vehicle by 2014 and 60% by 2016. Vehicle manufacturers have argued that it will be expensive to meet the requirements, and other groups are complaining for their own reasons. Heck, there was initially concern that off-roaders might lose their beloved Jeep Wrangler altogether. Thank goodness they came to their senses.

While several different groups have significant concerns about the proposal, it looks like CARB might finally be listening to one group in particular – law enforcement. It seems that California’s sheriffs, police chiefs and crime victim groups are calling for the plan to be amended… and CARB is actually listening.

According to The Detroit News, The California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association, Crime Victims United of California and other groups are concerned that the required window glazing needed to meet the new regulations will seriously degrade cell phone signals, as well as those from ankle monitoring bracelets. We wouldn’t want to lose track of felons now, would we? The other big concern is that 911 calls might not get through if the window treatment prohibits a strong signal.

That seems to be sending CARB back to the drawing board, with suggestions coming that the plan will be revised before the May 7 deadline. As a refresher, the idea behind the “cool cars” regulation is to save gas and reduce emissions. Cooler cars reduce their air con use, and with California’s overflowing freeways, that could mean a significant drop. In fact, CARB is predicting that the regulations will save 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2020 – the equivalent of parking 140,000 cars a year.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: California to amend ‘Cool Cars’ legislation over… criminal activity? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Report: Daimler dumping stake in Tata Motors – HOUSTON

Filed under: Mercedes-Benz, Tata

Daimler has been hit hard by the weakening global demand for luxury automobiles, as evidenced by the German automaker’s larger than expected 2009 losses and the company’s decision to cut its dividend for the first time in 14 years. Automotive News reports that Daimler is looking to raise money to rebuild its business in developed regions by selling its 25.6 million shares of Tata Motors stock. The move would reportedly net the German automaker an estimated $429 million, four to seven percent below market value. Shares of Tata Motors stock are up 19 percent since February 26, so Daimler stands to earn some serious coin from the share sell off.

AN quotes Juergen Pieper at Metzler Equities as saying “we certainly now have as a priority turning around the mature markets and then China. This is certainly now a higher priority for Daimler than India.” And while Daimler is selling, it appears that Tata isn’t buying, stating that its collection of companies isn’t interested in purchasing the shares. Daimler is looking to sell the stocks on the open market in block deals, which moves large amounts of stock at once.

Daimler’s break from Tata will be likely be a clean one considering the two companies reportedly don’t have any joint ventures or collaborative projects in the pipeline. Analysts reportedly don’t foresee Daimler’s sale of Tata shares affecting the Indian automaker’s stock price.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req. | Image: Sascha Schuermann/AFP/Getty Images

Report: Daimler dumping stake in Tata Motors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner – HOUSTON

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Safety, Infiniti, Lexus, Toyota, Luxury, Off-Road

First the Oscars and now this! The envelope please! The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a bevy of scores for the Infiniti M, Lexus HS 250h and Toyota 4Runner and it was nothing but “Good” all around. The Infiniti and Toyota were tested for frontal offset and side impacts, with their “Good” score maintaining the scores of their predecessors. The Lexus scored a first-time Good” in the frontal offset test. You can get all the details on the most recent round of crash-testing here and scan the IIHS archives to see how the competition stacks up.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Infiniti M56

[Source: IIHS]

IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My!

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My! – HOUSTON

Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Safety, Acura, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Rumormill

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #169 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived, and it’s Chris, Sam, Alex, and Dan again this week. As usual, the Autoblog Garage starts us off, this time with a couple Suzuki Kizashis, a Ford Transit Connect, and the Cadillac SRX. The first topic for discussion are the latest developments in the ongoing Toyota Recall issue. The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon catches our fancy next, and we stay on the wagon tip to talk about the Acura TSX Wagon, which will debut at the New York International Auto Show. Honda’s CR-Z is next, before we go big and talk about the 2011 Ford SuperDuty. Wrapping up on a sporting note, we offer totally uninformed commentary on the Carl Edwards NASCAR wreck before taking a few listener questions and calling this turkey done. Thanks for listening!

Direct fanmail to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, review the show in iTunes, fill out our survey or even leave us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget when podcast loneliness sets in. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Report: Toyota continues to work on floormat fix for 2004-09 Prius – HOUSTON

Filed under: Hybrid, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

In the wake of yesterday’s “runaway Prius” in San Diego, Toyota says it’s still working on a fix for the thousands of hybrids included in the 4.36 million vehicles recalled last November. The source of the unintended acceleration on these affected Prius models is the same as the other vehicles involved in the recall: A floor mat that gets jammed up against the throttle. Unfortunately for Toyota, the owner of yesterday’s “runaway Prius” claims the floormat wasn’t his car’s problem.

Regardless, Toyota says that new, smaller pedals and redesigned floor mats are in the works for these vehicles, but modifications haven’t begun because the automaker is still working on a more specific solution. Yeah, we’re a bit confused as well.

Contrary to a report by the Wall Street Journal, a new recall isn’t in the cards for the last-gen Prius and Toyota spokesperson Brian Lyons told The Detroit News that while he can’t disclose exactly when this floormat fix will happen for affected Prius models or how the correction will be implemented, the changes will take place “sometime this year.” Here’s hoping it’s sooner rather than later.

Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

[Sources: Detroit News, Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req.]

Report: Toyota continues to work on floormat fix for 2004-09 Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Video: Running the ‘Ring in reverse in a VTEC’d Mini

2010 03 09 admin New Cars Comments (0) Permalink

CARS 4 A GRAND – Video: Running the ‘Ring in reverse in a VTEC’d Mini – HOUSTON

Filed under: Videos, Mini

Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Nurburgring is the gold standard for any track not comprised of a banked oval, and it’s a blast to watch dashboard-mounted video of various vehicles taking on the best the Nordschleife has to offer. We typically share with you videos of ZR-1s and GT-Rs, but this time we have something a bit different. Achim Korden and co-pilot Guido Heindl of ringmini.de fame run the ‘Ring in reverse in an old school Mini (1971 Clubman Estate) equipped with a 1.6-liter Honda drivetrain, and they mean business.

Hit the jump to watch the little Mini battle a rain-soaked Nordschleife while starting at the end and making their way to the beginning. It’s an odd experience and further proof that you don’t need to have big power to have big fun.

[Source: YouTube]

Video: Running the ‘Ring in reverse in a VTEC’d Mini originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.