Autoblog

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

Chris Paukert — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

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.

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REPORT: Toyota U.S. president Lentz believes Prius could supplant Camry as brand's best seller

Chris Shunk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in the US for 11 of the past 12 years, and only a total industry meltdown has managed to slow the Japanese automaker's bread-and-butter sedan. Even with that impediment, the Camry still has a comfortable lead versus its archrivals, the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. In fact, the only vehicles to routinely beat the Camry in overall vehicle sales are the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado, and those vehicles need dozens of configurations and both regular and heavy-duty variants to retain their overall sales leads. Conversely, the Prius isn't even the second best-selling Toyota right now (that would be the Corolla), but it wouldn't surprise Toyota USA President Jim Lentz if the ubiquitous hybrid hatch passed the Camry for sales supremacy sometime next decade.

Lentz reportedly told Wards Auto that he envisions the Prius passing the Camry in the next decade, but not because he foresees the midsize sedan slipping. Instead, Lentz says, "I think Prius will become just that much stronger." The reason Toyota's top U.S. man sees the Prius taking over Toyota's top sales spot is because he feels that rising gas prices and growing eco-awareness will push more car buyers into hybrids. That, combined with the high regard in which many Americans hold the Prius makes for a very compelling long-term argument. Lentz also says that a full lineup of Prius-badged vehicles is far from a sure thing, though he says he pushes executives in that direction each time he visits Toyota's Japan headquarters

While we can see a future where the Prius overtakes the Camry for sales supremacy, we don't see it happening any time soon. Toyota's world renowned hybrid had its best-ever sales year in 2007, and 2009 numbers promise to fall about 40,000 units short of that bogey. Did we mention that the Camry is still outselling the Prius at a nearly three-to-one clip?

Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Wards Automotive]

REPORT: Toyota U.S. president Lentz believes Prius could supplant Camry as brand's best seller originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All four new Nationwide Series cars tested at Talladega

John Neff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Toyota

Nationwide Series cars testing at Talladega - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've already shown you the new Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger cars that will soon be running in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, but Chevy also introduced a new Impala car and Toyota a new Camry. All four new cars were out at Talladega Superspeedway today for some test runs, which gives us our first chance to view the new, more production-like bodies in the revealing light of day.

What we've learned is that all four manufacturers - Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota - worked with NASCAR to develop the new body types that look markedly more like their production counterparts than cars raced in the upper level Sprint Cup. Those cars, based on the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow chassis, look identical from the bleachers, making the task of identifying your favorite brand practically impossible. Not so with the new Nationwide Series cars. They actually have distinct shapes that clearly communicate which pony car and/or family sedan you're watching race.

We wondered how much these new bodies would affect aerodynamics and give some brands with sleeker designs an edge, and we're told that all four cars are within "three horsepower of drag and just a few pounds of downforce." Those teams that might have an advantage are likely Chevrolet and Toyota, both of which opted to base their cars on family sedans - the Impala and Camry - with sleeker front ends. The Mustang and Challenger cars may suffer a disadvantage when it comes to wind with their more upright and recessed grilles, but Ford and Dodge will surely win the PR war with their iconic pony cars on the track.

Gallery: Nationwide Series tests four new cars at Talladega

[Source: NASCAR]

All four new Nationwide Series cars tested at Talladega originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Ford owns brand loyalty in 2009; Scorned Saturn, Pontiac buyers will look outside of GM

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Pontiac, Saturn, Toyota

Ford buyers appear to love their cars more than customers of any other automotive brand, returning back to the American automaker when it comes time to purchase their next vehicle. According to a study by Experian Automotive, six of the top 10 vehicles for customer brand loyalty wear badges from the Blue Oval. That includes the Ford Fusion (62.4 percent), Ford Edge (57.9 percent), Ford Five Hundred/Taurus (56 percent), Ford Freestyle (51.9 percent), Ford Escape (49.4 percent) and the Ford Focus (47.57 percent).

Other vehicles making up the top 10 include the Toyota Prius (52 percent), Chevy Impala (51.7 percent), Toyota Camry (47.8 percent) and Toyota Corolla (47.56 percent). This brings up an interesting question: With the closing of automotive brands like Saturn and Pontiac, where are those buyers to turn for their next automotive purchase?

Apparently, not back to General Motors. According to Experian, Pontiac owners are most likely to look to the Ford lineup for their next car or truck and Saturn shoppers will switch to Toyota or Honda - not particularly surprising given that Saturn was meant to compete with import brands. Experian predicts that GM's overall market share will fall from 20 percent to about 17.5 percent, with most of the slack being picked up by Ford, Honda and Toyota.

[Source: Experian Automotive, USA Today]

Continue reading STUDY: Ford owns brand loyalty in 2009; Scorned Saturn, Pontiac buyers will look outside of GM

STUDY: Ford owns brand loyalty in 2009; Scorned Saturn, Pontiac buyers will look outside of GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Men can't help but enjoy fast cars - it's that testosterone thing again

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Porsche, Toyota, Canada

Porsche Carrera 4S Cabriolet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Talk about a foregone conclusion. Researchers at Canada's John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal took thirty-nine typical young men (i.e. college guys) and placed them in one of two cars. The first was a Toyota Camry. The second was a Porsche 911 Cabriolet. They then let the men drive up and down on two streets. One was busy and filled with women. The other was deserted. After each little cruise, each man's saliva was measured for levels of testosterone. Results?

Interestingly, whether there were ladies present or not, the mens' testosterone didn't increase at all after driving the Camry. Can anyone else hear Toyota's CEO Akio Toyoda groaning? The Porsche? Well, this is interesting. When a young man drives down a skirt-filled street in a Porsche droptop, his testosterone level rises. And when then same young man drives down a totally empty road all by his lonesome in a Porsche convertible his testosterone level... rises. To the same level, in fact, as it did when all the ladies were around.

Says lead researcher Gad Saad, "In other words, just put a guy in a Porsche, and his testosterone levels shoot up, whether people watch or not." This biological reaction, according to Saad, is a form of "sexual signaling." A way of signaling to potential mates that the driver of said car is the best breeding stock, the best potential mate. Continues Saad, "It's saying, 'all you pretenders out there - you couldn't be driving this Aston Martin - you couldn't even rent it.'" Insert crack about auto journos borrowing it for a week here. Tip of the tuque to Jarrett!

Gallery: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S

[Source: CBC]

STUDY: Men can't help but enjoy fast cars - it's that testosterone thing again originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST

2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Common sense, right? Absolutely, but it's still helpful to see real-life data, as you'll see by checking out the results of a recent test performed by Consumer Reports. Not all cars perform the same at various speed limits, and as you might expect, America's most fuel efficient models are also the vehicles most affected by higher speeds.

A total of seven vehicles were tested by CR: a Acura TSX with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a new 2010 Honda Insight; a Lexus RX350; a Mercury Mountaineer with 4.6-liter V8; Toyota Camry and RAV4 with 2.5-liter four-bangers; and a Yaris with a 1.5-liter four.

As you're probably aware, today's hybrids are optimized for high fuel economy at city speeds and therefore lose much of their miserly ways on the highway. As it turns out, this was especially true of the new Insight hybrid, which lost over 15 miles per gallon moving the needle from 55 mph to 75 mph - the largest drop in the contest. Click here for the complete test results.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Toyota Corolla passes Ford Focus as top C4C car; program extended thru September

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

2009 Toyota Corolla XRS - click above image for high-res gallery

The more things change, the more they change back again. Or something. As of August 3, Reuters reports that the number one car Cash for Clunking consumers were purchasing was the long-in-the-tooth Ford Focus. Well, just two short days later, the Focus has been dethroned and Toyota's Corolla - the best selling car in the history of the world - has reportedly taken the crown. Two fun piece of relevant (if tangential) trivia - Corolla means "little crown" in Latin, and one example is sold about every 40 seconds, meaning that by the time you finish reading this post, two more will have found homes. In case you were wondering, Ford's price leader drops to number two and the Honda Civic has shifted into third place. Toyota has two other cars rounding out the top five, the Prius and the Camry. And just over 80% of the clunkers being traded-in are still trucks.

To date, 180,000 new cars have been sold as a result of the C4C program. So far, the program's total government expenditure amounts to just over $775 million. Late Wednesday, the Senate reached an agreement that would pour an additional $2 billion into C4C coffers. Additionally, consumers will now have until September 1 to trade in their old cars and receive a voucher for between $3,500 to $4,500. The new plan was largely pushed through by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who pointed out that Democrats have enough votes to approve the new plan as well as reject any changes to it. Cheers to Matt and several others for the tip.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.
[Sources: Reuters via CNN Money; Fox News]

REPORT: Toyota Corolla passes Ford Focus as top C4C car; program extended thru September originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sales Watch: Honda Accord sales creeping up on Toyota Camry?

Chris Shunk — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Sedan, Honda, Toyota

While the Honda Accord dominated the 1990s, it has been virtually all Toyota Camry in the new century. Yet a look back at the first six months of 2009 shows that the newer, larger Accord is continuing to gain ground on its chief rival. Camry sales have so far remained top in its segment, with 150,242 sales in the first half of the year. The Accord isn't far behind, though, as it has amassed 131,143 sales through June; only 19,199 behind Camry.

Wards Auto reports that the Accord's gains have been consistent over the past three years, as the sales gap went from 94,004 in 2006 to 80,877 in 2007 and 63,828 in 2008. With sales deeply depressed so far in 2009, though, the numbers can be a bit deceiving. Still, the Camry has seen a 37.4% drop in sales, as compared to 36.3% for the Accord.

Toyota told Wards that one reason for the Accord's improved sales verses the Camry are increasing incentives on the full-size Honda. According to Edmunds, the Accord's April incentives increased four-fold verses the automaker's April, 2008 numbers. Even more interesting is the fact that cash on the hood has increased since April, hitting $2,183 in June. The Camry, on the other hand, had $1,538 on the hood last month; down over $400 compared to May.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Sales Watch: Honda Accord sales creeping up on Toyota Camry? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index

John Neff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Cars.com has once again published its annual American-Made Index that rates vehicles built within the United States based on their sales and percentage of domestic parts content. This year's list has a number of movers and shakers based mainly on the fact that a troubled economy has torpedoed sales of some models and others are now ineligible because their parent brands are being canceled.

The Ford F-150 has lost its top ranking in the American-Made Index for the first time since Cars.com began producing the list back in 2006. The new No. 1 is - gasp - the Toyota Camry. Assembled in Georgetown, KY and Lafayette, IN, the Camry's upswing in domestic parts content helped it barely edge out the F-150, which has seen both its sales and domestic parts content fall year-over-year. Toyota, in fact, had four models make the American-Made Index this year including the Sienna, Tundra and first-timer Venza.

General Motors placed the Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra, while Ford had the aforementioned F-150, and list newcomer Ford Taurus, which enjoys the highest domestic parts content of 90 percent. No Chrysler vehicles made the top ten, although one Honda did: the Lincoln, AL Odyssey has an 80 percent domestic parts content rating and thus sewed up the #10 spot. You can view the full list after the jump and visit Cars.com to read more about how the index was produced.

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index

Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Mo' Bondo: Hapless Toyota Camry gets its fill of filler

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:19:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toyota, Humor

The Toyota Camry Bondo Edition - click above for a gallery of images

Dear readers, this is what you get when you mix some serious damage, an aversion to body shops, a lot of time, and the belief that Bondo and duct tape can fix anything. This sad-looking fifth-generation Toyota Camry was spotted in Dallas by Final Gear user Spectre, and it appears to be wearing enough Bondo to give a nice boost to 3M's quarterly profits.

We applaud the effort on maintaining the window line as well as returning a Camry Coupe to Toyota's lineup, but we have to take points off for the roof bulge. If you can ignore the fact that it looks like the passenger side has been overrun by some sort of mutant mold and that it appears that you can't open the right side doors... well, there's not much else left to say about it, is there? Have a look for yourself in the gallery below. Hat tip to Pete!

Gallery: Bondo Camry

[Source: Final Gear]

No Mo' Bondo: Hapless Toyota Camry gets its fill of filler originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Michael Harley — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Toyota

The 2-ton SUV is sliding completely off its intended course. The steering wheel is at full opposite lock, yet uncontrolled oversteer flips the rear end of the Toyota 4Runner around like a cat with its tail on fire. In one last-ditch attempt to halt the pendulum process, I stab the throttle. All four tires desperately claw at the frozen surface, but it is too late to really help. The grip the four small contact patches manage to find simply drives me directly into the thick snow bank on the side of the road. The truck immediately comes to a stop and I sit there stupefied shaking my head with embarrassment. Over the radio, my instructor tells me to back up and try it all over again. No harm done, as the "crash" is all part of the learning process at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. Follow the jump to read all about our full-day experience in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Gallery: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Continue reading Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Toyota shows off 2010 Camry

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:48:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Toyota

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Toyota Camry

In addition to the 2010 Toyota Prius and iQ-based FT-EV, ToMoCo is taking the wraps off the redesigned 2010 Camry at the Detroit Auto Show later today. Due to go on sale this March, the restyled Camry offers the same soul-sucking practicality and Maytag levels of usability as its forbearers, but features a few engineering and design tweaks to bring it into the next decade.

On the outside, the 2010 Camry receives a new front bumper with enlarged air intakes, uprated headlamps and a set of restyled taillights. The XLE model includes 16-inch, ten-spoke wheels, while the SE rolls on 17-inch hoops and the base LE makes due with wheel covers. Inside, a new optional stereo with USB port, Bluetooth, satellite radio, single CD and MP3 capability is fitted, and Vehicle Stability Control is now standard on all models. The Camry Hybrid gets a slightly reworked fascia, along with a new gauge cluster and silk protein/synthetic fiber cloth seats that Toyota claims are more gentle on the skin.

Under the hood of the base Camry, LE and XLE models is a refreshed, 169-hp 2.5-liter four equipped with VVT-i. The SE model uses the same engine, but comes packing another 21 hp and can be had with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. Both the 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6 and the hybrid drivetrains soldier on unchanged.

Hit the jump for all the details and check the gallery below to see the tweaks for yourself.

UPDATE: Gallery of live shots added.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Camry

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Toyota shows off 2010 Camry

Detroit 2009: Toyota shows off 2010 Camry originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota of Jamaica Camry looks suspiciously like Honda Accord

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Honda, Toyota

If you visit the Toyota Jamaica website and have a look at the box under Toyota cars, you'll see these models listed: Avensis, Camry, Corolla, Yaris. Look at the pictures next to the cars listed, and you'll see an Avensis, an Accord, a Corolla, and a Yaris. That's right -- there's a Honda Accord thumbnail pictured next to the link for the Toyota Camry. According to tipster Michael, it's been that way for more than a year. We can certainly understand the odd spelling error or even the wrong picture... for a little bit. But substituting your bread-and-butter for your direct competitor's bread-and-butter for more than a year? Well, life is indeed relaxed in Jamaica town. Thanks for the tip, Michael!

[Source: Toyota Jamaica via Wheels Jamaica]

Toyota of Jamaica Camry looks suspiciously like Honda Accord originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Toyota Camry XLE

Dan Roth — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, Toyota

2009 Toyota Camry XLE - Click above for high-res image gallery

A recent night of excitement: driving the Camry XLE to the Super Wal-Mart. So lame, but that's not the car's fault. Like Wal-Mart, the Camry has been excoriated as a work of Satan, antithetical to all that is American, never mind where it's built. Despite the gleeful way everyone always lobs shots at Toyota's midsizer, there's a lot of virtue here. After all, there has to be some kind of hook to this car attaining such vaunted status, besides the bounce-lending automotive cult of personality. Since nobody actually reviews the Camry - we just complain about it as it outsells everything else - we rustled up an XLE powered by Toyota's 2.4-liter four cylinder and tried it out.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Toyota Camry XLE

Continue reading Review: 2009 Toyota Camry XLE

Review: 2009 Toyota Camry XLE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gilded Shame: gold-trimmed Camry spotted in Dubai

Noah Joseph — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Toyota

Click above for gallery of the gold-trimmed Camry

Taste: some have it, some don't. Case in point this Toyota Camry spotted in Dubai where the burgeoning middle class apparently wants to roll just like their oil-funded upper class but lack the money to secure a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. While we've reluctantly grown accustomed to customers opting for the gold-tone bright-wear instead of the standard chrome detailing - especially on cars like the Camry - this owner actually had the badges, grilles, side mirrors and wheels plated in 24k gold. Seriously.

If this somehow strikes you as a good idea, it can be yours for only 135,000 Dollars. Thankfully those are Arab Emirate Dollars, worth about $37 grand in American greenbacks. But please, if you're even thinking about it, contact us first and let us convince you of all the better ways you could spend $37k on a new car that won't instantly lose half its value the minute you take a wrong turn into a bad neighborhood.

Gallery: Gold-trimmed Toyota Camry

[Source: Auto Unleashed]

Gilded Shame: gold-trimmed Camry spotted in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota may build more Camrys at truck plant

Chris Shunk — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:54:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Toyota

Automotive times are a-changin, as fuel-efficient cars are now outselling trucks by a wide margin. Toyota's flexible manufacturing capabilities allow it to adjust to these crazy times, and the Japanese automaker is discussing a plan to build still more Camrys at its Indiana truck plant. The Princeton plant is only running two shifts right now, and its trucks and SUVs are suffering just as much as similar offerings coming out of Detroit. That makes the plant a great fit for the Camry, which sold an astonishing 51,291 units last month. Honda has already decided to increase production of the Civic, which was the top-selling vehicle in the US last month with over 53,000 units leaving the showroom floor.

[Source: Auto News (subs req'd)]

Toyota may build more Camrys at truck plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buyers dropping more coin on the 2008 Chevy Malibu

Chris Shunk — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

The 2008 Chevy Malibu has snatched up awards and media accolades, and JD Power data shows that customers are paying Chevy dealers handsomely to own one. The average transaction price of a Chevy Malibu is $22,358 -- $5,000 higher than the inherently uncool last-gen 'Bu. Twenty-one percent of buyers are also opting for the top-of-the-line LTZ vs. only 5% for the outgoing model.

The news isn't all rosy, however, as most of these customers are trading in other GM products to get themselves into the North American Car of the Year. Only 1.4% of buyers traded in a Toyota Camry, 1.3% swapped a Nissan Altima, and less than 1% turned in a Honda Accord. Those aren't exactly the kind of numbers GM will want to brag about, but at least the General is pulling in the equivalent of two Tata Nanos more per car than the last generation model did.

[Source: Detroit News]

Buyers dropping more coin on the 2008 Chevy Malibu originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As yen sweetens, Toyota sales sour

Michael Harley — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Being Toyota doesn't grant you any additional immunity from simple global economics. Word from Tokuichi Uranishi, executive vice president of Toyota, is that one of the world's largest automakers is going to miss its sales target of 9.85 million vehicles for 2008.

Toyota execs cite slowing sales in the United States, Europe, and Japan as a primary factor. In addition, rising raw material costs are hurting the global automaker, which assembled 9.37 million vehicles in 2007. To top it off, a yen that hit a 13-year high against the dollar at the beginning of this week is cutting profits on exports from Japan.

It may be up to China, Russia, and Korea to pick up some of the slack. Those emerging Asian markets are active, and Toyota is looking at them for future growth. In a move towards achieving that goal, the Prius, Camry, and RAV4 sports-utility will be introduced in South Korea shortly. Sales are expected to be just 500 units per month initially, and then increase to upwards of 1,000 a month.

[Source: Automotive News, subs req'd]

As yen sweetens, Toyota sales sour originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Hyundai Sonata gets big bump in price

Chris Shunk — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Hyundai

click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Hyundai Sonata

The new 2009 Hyundai Sonata gets a bump in interior refinement and available power, and the South Korean automaker would like to be paid for all its troubles. The 2009 Sonata Limited saw the largest jump in price, with the new model going for $24,645, up $1,650 from the 2008 model. At the bottom of the Sonata lineup, Hyundai increased the sticker on the entry GLS by a more reasonable $700 to $18,795, or $19,995 with the upgraded five-speed automatic transmission. Oddly enough, however, the base Sonata is now $75 more than a base 2009 Camry, which is an interesting decision on Hyundai's part. With destination and delivery charges included, the base Sonata GLS is now $585 less than the base 2009 Toyota Camry, which starts at $19,380. The base Chevy Malibu LS, meanwhile, now equals the automatic Sonata GLS in price at $19,995 with d&d costs included.

With prices going up by up by seven percent on certain models, Hyundai may have lost some of its price advantage on the competition. With better quality and improved refinement, it's clear to us that the South Korean automaker is banking on Americans picking the Sonata based on criteria other than price.

UPDATE: Corrections made to pricing of base 2009 Toyota Camry and base 2008 Chevy Malibu. The 2009 Hyundai Sonata still undercuts the Camry and now equals the base Malibue in price

[Source: Hyundai]

Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

Continue reading 2009 Hyundai Sonata gets big bump in price

2009 Hyundai Sonata gets big bump in price originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda, Toyota most researched on Edmunds in 2007

Chris Shunk — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Honda, Toyota

Each month, 13 million visitors use Edmunds to research cars and trucks, and once again Honda and Toyota dominate the site's list of top searches. The Honda Civic and Accord along with the Toyota Camry lead the hit parade, followed by six other Japanese models and the BMW 3-Series. The two Japanese juggernauts also owned the top truck searches, with the fuel efficient Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 taking first and second, respectively. The only other automaker to crack the truck/SUV/minivan category was GM, with the GMC Acadia coming in at number five, and the Saturn VUE rounding out the top ten.

It's interesting to note that the vehicles car shoppers research most aren't exactly the the ones that produce the highest sales volume, as evidenced by the Mazda3 besting the economy car sales champ Toyota Corolla by three spots. Also worth noting is that automotive stalwarts have a much larger presence on Edmunds than do new models like the Chevy Malibu or the Cadillac CTS. To check out the complete car and truck top ten from Edmunds AutoObserver, click the read link below.

[Source: AutoObserver]

Honda, Toyota most researched on Edmunds in 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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