Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BREAKING: Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles to reshape and replace pedals]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/breaking-toyota-to-recall-3-8m-vehicles-to-reshape-and-replace/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/breaking-toyota-to-recall-3-8m-vehicles-to-reshape-and-replace/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/breaking-toyota-to-recall-3-8m-vehicles-to-reshape-and-replace/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Toyota has announced that it will recall some 3.8 million cars and trucks to reshape and/or replace their accelerator pedals. The action is the result of fears that loose floormats may cause the accelerator pedal to stick, increasing the risk of an accident. The recall will be the largest in the Japanese automaker's history, and it will cover a wide range of vehicles from the 2004 model year through 2010 - a complete list is available after the jump. The move comes after an earlier action where Toyota announced it would recall 3.8 million vehicles to only swap floor mats.

Working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Toyota will effect the recall by sending letters to owners of its Avalon, Camry, and Lexus ES 350 models by year's end. Five other models, including the Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, and Lexus IS 250/IS 350 will receive similar notices sometime in 2010.

The plan includes training dealer service representatives to reshape gas pedals, and Toyota will develop and ship redesigned gas pedals beginning in April. Those customers who have elected to have their pedals initially reshaped will still be able to have the pedal replaced when the updated unit becomes available. Vehicles fitted with Toyota or Lexus-made all-weather floor mats will also receive a new set of redesigned front mats.

Interestingly, Toyota will also install a a brake override system that will turn off the engine if both the accelerator and the brake are depressed simultaneously. According to Automotive News, this update will occur on "involved Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models 'as an extra measure of confidence.'" This action appears to be limited to vehicles that employ Toyota's push-button start system, but interestingly its hybrid-only Prius has apparently been excluded.

For its part, Toyota says the cost of the action will come entirely from its dedicated recall fund, a $5.6 billion dollar stash, and therefore, the recall will have "no effect" on its business. The news come on the heels of yesterday's announcement that Toyota will recall 2000-2003 Tundra pickups over frame rust issues.

A complete list of vehicles covered under the action and both NHTSA and Toyota's official press releases are available after the jump.

[Sources: Reuters; Automotive News; NHTSA; Toyota]

Continue reading BREAKING: Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles to reshape and replace pedals

BREAKING: Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles to reshape and replace pedals originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbreakingnewsCamryfloor matfloormatfloormat recallFloormatRecallfloormatsfloormats recallFloormatsRecallLexus ISLexus IS 250Lexus IS 350Lexus IS250Lexus IS350LexusIsLexusIs250LexusIs350PriustoyotaToyota AvalonToyota CamryToyota PriusToyota TacomaToyota TundraToyotaAvalonToyotaCamryToyotaPriusToyotaTacomaToyotaTundratoyta recallToytaRecallWed, 25 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus at it again with tennis ball fuzz-covered IS350]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/08/lexus-at-it-again-with-tennis-ball-fuzz-covered-is350/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/08/lexus-at-it-again-with-tennis-ball-fuzz-covered-is350/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/08/lexus-at-it-again-with-tennis-ball-fuzz-covered-is350/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lexus IS350 Tennis Ball Edition - Click above for an image gallery

Andy Roddick, your new ride awaits. Lexus has followed up its golf ball-dimpled LS 460 L built to commemorate the automaker's sponsorship of the U.S. Open earlier this year with another uniquely-finished car that's got us scratching our heads. In this case, the Lexus in question is covered in tennis ball fuzz in the traditional yellow-green hue.

This fuzzy fluorescent IS350 was on display last weekend in New York City during the ongoing US Open festivities. Sorry tennis fans, we don't imagine this will be a factory option, though we do wonder if the finish could alleviate the pesky unmanned shopping carts that leave dents and scratches in our cars at the local grocery store. See? There is a practical application after all.

The boys from Kicking Tires happened to be in town while the Open was going down and they snapped off a few shots of the car in question. Take a look at a few of the shots in our gallery below and then check out Kicking Tires for the rest.


Gallery: Lexus IS350 - Tennis Ball Edition

tennis-lexus-1tennis-lexus-2tennis-lexus-3

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Lexus at it again with tennis ball fuzz-covered IS350 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lexuslexus islexus is 350lexus is350LexusIsLexusIs350tennis balltennis ball lexustennis ballsTennisBallTennisBallLexusTennisBallsus openus open tennisUsOpenUsOpenTennisTue, 08 Sep 2009 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORTS: Lexus to build IS F convertible; existing IS droptops selling ahead of supply]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/report-early-lexus-is-c-orders-outstripping-supply/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/report-early-lexus-is-c-orders-outstripping-supply/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/report-early-lexus-is-c-orders-outstripping-supply/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C - Click above for high-res image gallery

Lexus has high hopes for its new IS250 C and IS350 C convertibles, and early returns give the Japanese automakers cause for optimism. Car and Driver is reporting that Toyota's upscale division will build a droptop version of its bonkers IS F sports sedan, and plans for that model are surely buttressed by brisk initial sales of the new IS convertible models. Wards Automotive says that IS250 C and IS350 C folding hardtop convertibles are being picked up faster than they can be made, prompting Toyota to increase production at its Kyushu plant in Japan to 1,200 units per month. The ISC is so hot in the Northeast that the region will begin receiving 225 units per month.

Scott Wracher, general manager of the brand's eastern area, says 85% of the convertible IS models will have the 204 hp, 2.5-liter V6, while only 15% will have the more potent 306 hp 3.5-liter V6. The manual transmission 250C stickers at $38,480, and $43,940 will net you the auto transmission-equipped IS 350 C (plus $875 for destination). The IS convertibles also have a lengthy list of expensive options, which will easily push the MSRP up to (and over) $50,000.

In related news, C&D's sources suggest that hopes for a roadster version of the on-again/off-again LF-A supercar (currently 'on again,' for those keeping tabs) are increasingly unlikely.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C


Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc
[Sources: Car and Driver; Wards Automotive]

REPORTS: Lexus to build IS F convertible; existing IS droptops selling ahead of supply originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>IS-FIS250IS250cIS350IS350CISCLexusLexus ISLexus IS-CLexus IS250Lexus IS350Lexus ISCLexusIsLexusIs-cLexusIs250LexusIs350LexusIscToyotaWed, 08 Jul 2009 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus IS 350 to take on SPEED World Challenge GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/lexus-is-f-to-take-on-speed-world-challenge-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/lexus-is-f-to-take-on-speed-world-challenge-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/lexus-is-f-to-take-on-speed-world-challenge-gt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There hasn't been any news on a Lexus racecar since we heard rumors that the IS-F racer, unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, was really a reskinned 2004 Opel Vectra DTM. While Lexus might not be supporting a factory-backed motorsports program for the IS, that doesn't mean that privateer teams can't develop a car on their own. DRC Motorsports has done just that and has built two IS 350 racecars that will compete in the GT class of the SPEED World Challenge. Dubbed the IS GTF, it will be sporting a 4.7-liter V8 putting out 510 horsepower and attached to six-speed sequential transmission. The first car will make its debut this weekend at Mid Ohio with Jeff Altenburg, last year's SWC Touring Car champion, behind the wheel, and the second car, driven by Robb Holland, is scheduled to make its maiden run the following race at Road America. Both cars are scheduled to run the remainder of the race season. If you want to watch the new IS GTF in action, SPEED will be airing the race on Thursday, July 24 at 1:00pm (EDT) following the Touring Car race.

[Source: my.IS]

Lexus IS 350 to take on SPEED World Challenge GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DRC MotorsportsDrcMotorsportsJeff AltenburgJeffAltenburgLexusLexus IS350LexusIs350Robb HollandRobbHollandSPEED World ChallengeSPEED World Challenge GTSpeedWorldChallengeSpeedWorldChallengeGtFri, 18 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: 2007 Infiniti G35 sedan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/22/spy-shots-2007-infiniti-g35-sedan/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/22/spy-shots-2007-infiniti-g35-sedan/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/22/spy-shots-2007-infiniti-g35-sedan/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We were all wowed by the Infiniti G35 coupe and sedan concepts that made the auto show circuit rounds this year, and it appears that the sedan at least will reach showrooms as a faithful reproduction of those auto show darlings. We also get a peak on the inside where a new dash with a deeply inset nav screen and iDrive-like controller are featured prominently. A forest of trees gave their lives to slather the dash and center console in unpolished bark (aluminum trim is also available) and we think those are the solid magnesium paddle shifters Nissan told us about in New York behind the small but beefy steering wheel. A six-speed manual is also available, which will give the G a leg up on the Lexus IS350 that's only available with a six-speed automatic. Expect the G35's 3.5L V6 to be producing well over 300 horsepower when the car goes on sale this November.

Spy Shots: 2007 Infiniti G35 sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jun 2006 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>G35Lexus IS350LexusIs350Thu, 22 Jun 2006 10:58:00 EST