Video: Matt Lauer interviews Toyota Pres. Jim Lentz on Today Show

John Neff — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:27:00 EST

Toyota President and COO Jim Lentz on Today Show - Click above to watch video after the jump

Right after Toyota officially announced a remedy for its sticking accelerator pedals this morning, company President and COO Jim Lentz could be seen on television sitting across from Matt Lauer on NBC's popular Today Show. While Lauer isn't typically a hard-hitting interviewer (Is he? We don't regularly watch the show, but "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" has us thinking he's no Edward R. Murrow), he does kick things off by asking Lentz if he can guarantee one particular Toyota customer whose car has already experienced sudden unintended acceleration that her car will be safe. From there, Lentz gives the answers you'd expect any exec under siege to give, which is to say we don't learn much that we don't already know. Lentz does say that "...we're confident that... between those two things [the floormat and pedal recalls], this will be under control."

He also claims that the first time Toyota became aware of sticking pedals in its vehicles, or at least the first time that the company could duplicate the sticking pedal problem, was October of last year. Like a good interviewer, Lauer brings up the Los Angeles Times article that contends Toyota knew about the issue long before then. Follow the jump to see how Lentz reacts.

Continue reading Video: Matt Lauer interviews Toyota Pres. Jim Lentz on Today Show

Video: Matt Lauer interviews Toyota Pres. Jim Lentz on Today Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show

Chris Paukert — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM

This morning's Today Show on NBC featured General Motors' design chief Ed Welburn talking with host Matt Lauer live from General Motors' Warren Tech Center. Welburn previewing the Detroit Auto Show's coming attractions, including the new Buick LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Camaro. Most newsworthy, however, was the designer's willingness to pull back the sheet - albeit partially - on what looks to be a production-bound version of 2007's Chevrolet Beat concept. Welburn promised that the car would be unveiled at the show in Cobo, leading us to speculate that the Beat may come to the States after all. Check out the Beat concept's high-res gallery below, and video footage from the show after the jump.

Gallery: New York Auto Show: 2007 Chevy Beat Concept

[Source: MSNBC]

Continue reading VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show

VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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