Autoblog

This Means Something: Japanese Prius to get external speaker option [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Safety, Toyota

Toyota Approaching Vehicle Audible System - Click above to watch the video after the break

After years and years of doing everything in their power to make cars as quiet as possible, it seems somewhat backwards that we're now talking about adding external speakers to hybrids in order to make them... louder. But that's the current reality, and Toyota, the undisputed worldwide leader in hybrid vehicles, is leading the way in Japan with its Prius hatchback.

For about $150, Toyota will equip the Japanese Prius with a Approaching Vehicle Audible System. According to the automaker, the technology is "designed to meet new Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism guidelines for hybrid and other near-silent vehicles." Expect the system to extend to other hybrids from Toyota and probably to countries outside Japan in time.

Anyone interested in making their third-gen Prius sound like a prop from Close Encounters of the Third Kind are encouraged to watch the Japanese-market video after the break. We're not going to cast a vote quite yet as to whether or not these systems are a good or bad idea, but we will say this: If we heard that noise coming at us from behind, you can bet we'd be rushing to get out of the way...

[Source: Toyota via Prius Chat]

Continue reading This Means Something: Japanese Prius to get external speaker option [w/video]

This Means Something: Japanese Prius to get external speaker option [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota and Lexus combine to capture 73.9% of hybrid sales in July

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota

2010 Lexus HS 250h - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last week, we informed you that sales of the Toyota Prius had sharply dropped off this July, falling some 30 percent from the reported numbers a year ago, yet Toyota was pleased with the results. While it seemed rather odd that Toyota was satisfied with a drop in sales, the fact that the Cash for Clunkers program kicked off in July of 2009 helped to make some sense of the decline.

Though sales of the Prius may have fallen, the company is surely pleased with its continued dominance in the hybrid market. Toyota and Lexus have combined to capture 73.9 percent of U.S. hybrid sales for July, and surely that's something to be pleased about. The seven hybrid models from Toyota and Lexus accounted for 17,504 sales in July, with the Prius capturing a rather astounding 59.6 percent of the hybrid market for the month.

Ford placed a far distant second to Toyota by reporting just 2,896 hybrid sales in July, while Honda remained planted in third with a total tally of 2,475 hybrid sales. So, while Prius sales may have dropped off compared to last year, there's no denying that Toyota still retains its position atop the hybrid market.

Gallery: First Drive: Lexus HS 250h

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Toyota and Lexus combine to capture 73.9% of hybrid sales in July originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota recalls Lexus LX 470 for potential 'steering shaft disengagement'

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Lexus

2003 Lexus LX 470 - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the BP oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico may have shifted the media spotlight away from from Toyota's recall problems over the last several months, that doesn't mean the crisis has ended. One of two new recalls announced by the automaker today covers 39,000 Lexus LX 470 SUVs built between the 2003 and 2007 model years.

According to Toyota, a snap ring that retains two sections of the SUV's steering column can get dislodged following a heavy impact on the front wheels of SUV, such as hitting a severe pothole. Without the snap ring in place, using the steering can result in the column working itself free.

Toyota claims that no accidents have resulted from the problem and that a redesigned snap ring will keep the part where it belongs. LX owners can expect to see notifications in their mailbox starting in about two weeks. In the meantime, interested parties can check out the official recall press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2003 Lexus LX 470

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota recalls Lexus LX 470 for potential 'steering shaft disengagement'

Toyota recalls Lexus LX 470 for potential 'steering shaft disengagement' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota celebrates a decade of Prius

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

The first decade of the Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

As of 2010, the Toyota Prius has been available in North America for a decade, and it remains by far the best selling hybrid both here and around the world. Since its Japanese market introduction 1997, drivers have bought more than 1.8 million of the gas-electric dynamos, with about half of those ending up in the United States (and apparently half of those landing on driveways in the San Francisco Bay area!).

The original Prius was a gawky-looking four-door sedan that was slow and often didn't meet up with customer's fuel economy expectations. It wasn't until the second-generation model arrived in 2004 with a new teardop hatchback body style that the Prius really took off. By 2007, cumulative sales topped half a million, with the third generation model arriving two years later offering improved efficiency and better dynamic performance than ever. This year, Toyota has begun to deploy a test fleet of plug-in Priuses with lithium ion batteries with full series production of those versions coming in 2012.

While we wait for our future corded Prius models to give us even more pull with our eco-minded friends, we'll join Toyota in celebrating the now-iconic green machine by checking out the historic gallery below.

Gallery: Toyota Prius - Decade 1

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota celebrates a decade of Prius

Toyota celebrates a decade of Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Next Toyota Prius to be built in U.S... in six years

Zach Bowman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

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

It wasn't so long ago that Toyota was making big waves over plans to build the hybrid Prius here in the U.S. The company had originally planned to start cranking out the battery-powered people mover at its Mississippi manufacturing facility, but after GM pulled the NUMMI plug, Toyota was forced to move Corolla production to plant instead. That doesn't mean there won't be room for the Prius down that way in the future, though.

According to Reuters, Atsushi Niimi, the company's executive vice president, said that production of the hybrid could shift to the Mississippi plant when the car undergoes its next revision. Thing is, that won't be for another six years.

Niimi said that the car's production isn't likely to move until the fourth-generation Prius hits the assembly line, which is expected to be somewhere around 2016. Why the delay? Toyota doesn't see the American auto market - or even the economy as a whole - recovering any time soon. While some analysts have said that buyers in the land of the free would snap up 12 million cars and trucks next year and 14-15 million the year after, Toyota says it's not so convinced.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Next Toyota Prius to be built in U.S... in six years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Akio Toyoda would love to do a new Supra, probably won't happen

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda "wants to see the next Supra tested in the near future." But the reality of his company's current circumstances means it's unlikely to happen.

During a discussion with U.S. journalists on Friday in Japan, Toyoda was asked about the possibility of building a car like a Supra that would appeal to enthusiasts. As such a huge company, Toyoda said, "even if one president says that we want to have a Supra again, the whole company is not going to be responding to that request."

Toyoda explained that he did much of his development as a driver behind the wheel of a Supra and has fond memories of flinging that model around the Nürburgring. Speaking through an interpreter, Toyoda told the group that "would like to create a car that is better than the Supra, and just for your information, I am not against this idea."

However, this discussion came against the backdrop of a week where Toyota officials acknowledged that the company had grown too quickly in the past decade and would need slow down and re-prioritize. Between ensuring that upcoming models are trouble free, meeting new fuel and emissions requirement and delivering the FT-86 by 2013, a new Supra is likely to remain just a dream for the foreseeable future.

Akio Toyoda would love to do a new Supra, probably won't happen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota loses bid to dismiss hybrid patent infringements from Paice

Zach Bowman — Fri, 28 May 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Technology, Toyota

Things aren't looking good for Toyota in a legal battle over whether or not the Japanese automaker has infringed on a Florida-based company's hybrid drivetrain patents. A U.S. International Trade Commission judge recently ruled to deny Toyota's request to end the lawsuit brought by Paice LLC. Toyota's initial argument was that the plaintiff's patent was invalid, but so far, the courts have sided with the smaller of the two companies time and time again. Earlier in the legal battle, a judge ruled that Toyota must pay Paice LLC a royalty for every Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h model sold. Paice originally wanted Toyota to halt sales of those vehicles entirely.

In response, Toyota has begun the process of arguing against the royalty amount per vehicle, while Paice has filed a new complaint over the technology present in the third-generation Prius, Hybrid Camry, Lexus RX450h and HS250h.

Paice's base complaint is over how the manufacturer is supplying torque from both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine to the drive wheels on those vehicles at the same time. The company has also gone after Ford for the design of its Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid models.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Toyota loses bid to dismiss hybrid patent infringements from Paice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota Prius "Alpha" MPV coming in spring 2011

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Toyota

Toyota Hybrid-X concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Toyota gets around to expanding its Prius line-up next year, the first model to benefit from the badge will be a compact MPV reportedly badged the Alpha. The small van will apparently be based on a stretched version of the current Prius platform, will add a third row of seats and should be the first production Toyota hybrid with a lithium ion battery pack. Toyota is currently testing a fleet of plug-in Prius hybrids with lithium batteries, but those aren't slated for production until 2012.

The seven-seat Alpha is expected to be about one foot longer than the current Prius hatchback, while a shorter, five-seat version of the Alpha that may look similar to the Hybrid-X concept from 2007 and could retain the nickel-metal hydride batteries of the current Prius to keep costs down. If all goes according to plan, expect the Prius Alpha to launch around March of next year.

Gallery: Geneva Motor Show: Toyota Hybrid-X concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Toyota Prius "Alpha" MPV coming in spring 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Parents magazine names 'Best Family Cars of 2010'

Zach Bowman — Thu, 06 May 2010 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

Parents has worked up a lengthy list of its favorite family haulers for 2010, though you won't see too many minivans or SUVs on the roundup. Instead, the site broke down its selections into categories like sedans, hybrids and large vehicles and arranged its picks in no particular order. We certainly can't argue with cars like the 2010 Subaru Legacy or the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, though a few of those that made the cut had us scratching our heads.

Both the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight found favor among the Parents editors. Sure, we can respect trying to save some cash at the pump, but those hybrid hatches don't exactly have the space for the Boy Scouts level of preparedness that accompanies traveling with a toddler.

Other shockers include the loveable but quirky Kia Soul and the omission of the ubiquitous Toyota Camry in favor of the sportier Honda Accord. You can hop over to the Parents site to see the full list of 15 cars and CUVs for yourself.

[Source: Parents]

Parents magazine names 'Best Family Cars of 2010' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota Recalls: 3.2M down, 4.6M to go!

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Lexus, Toyota

Somehow, we're guessing that the "any publicity is good publicity" cliche isn't ringing particularly true with Toyota these days. That said, we do have to give some props to the automaker for being open about the current state of its recent recall woes. According to Toyota, roughly 3.2 million of its many recall notices have been fulfilled.

Yes, that number sounds like a lot. Bear in mind, though, that Toyota isn't even halfway finished with its recalls. In fact, there are about 4.6 million more of the notices out there that have yet to be fulfilled. And the actual breakdown of which recalls have been completed is also rather interesting.

Says Toyota, "Approximately 70 percent of the sticking pedal modifications have been completed on the 2.3 million vehicles that have been recalled... and more than 75 percent of the ABS program updates have been performed on the 147,500 Prius and Lexus models that were recalled."

Not bad, but there's still some worrying data. "Approximately 27 percent of the floor mat entrapment modifications have been completed on the 5.4 million vehicles that were recalled for this issue," continues Toyota.

We have to wonder if people aren't taking the floor mat entrapment issue seriously, or if perhaps the general populace is content just to chuck their mats into the trash bin in lieu of a seemingly odd tie wrap resolution. In any case, check out all the details in the press release after the break.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota Recalls: 3.2M down, 4.6M to go!

Toyota Recalls: 3.2M down, 4.6M to go! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 May 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota Prius minivan coming in 2011

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Toyota

Toyota Hybrid X Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've been hearing the rumors for over a year, and it's now looking increasingly likely that Toyota is getting ready to launch a new hybrid minivan that will wear the Prius nameplate. If true, this would be the first completely new vehicle added to the Prius stable, where it would join the well-known hatchback sometime in 2011.

According to Reuters (which is citing the Japanese Nikkei), this new Prius hybrid minivan may be the first such vehicle from Toyota equipped with an in-house developed lithium ion battery pack. The three-row vehicle, which we can only presume would also have sliding doors, would potentially seat up to seven people, expanding Toyota's hybrid technology further into the family-use market.

No other details are available other than the notion that Toyota would like to keep the price close to that of standard minivans currently on the market. Stay tuned for more as we hear it.

Gallery: Geneva Motor Show: Toyota Hybrid-X concept

[Source: Reuters via The Truth About Cars]

Report: Toyota Prius minivan coming in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

More Toyota accidents allegedly caused by sudden acceleration occur in Wisconsin, Canada

Zach Bowman — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Toyota

The past few days have seen a new rash of stories about Toyotas run amok. First, a 2009 Venza struck a house in Hamilton, Ontario. According to The Hamilton Spectator, the driver said he lost control of the vehicle after experiencing uncontrolled acceleration. While 2009-2010 Venzas were recalled for the infamous floor-mat issue, police have yet to determine whether the Hamilton incident was a result of faulty hardware or driver error. No one was injured.

The Seboygan Press is also reporting that a 2009 Camry accelerated and climbed a small embankment while the driver had her foot on the brake in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. The 76 year-old driver, Myrna Marseille, suffered a broken sternum from the impact. In Marseille's case, her Camry had already been serviced to correct the floor mat interference issue.

The reports join those of a San Diego man who had to call on the police to help him slow down his Prius after high-speed stint on the interstate and another Prius crash in New York. In the California case, both the NHTSA and Toyota found nothing wrong with the car (though the California Highway Patrol's view may differ). Likewise, the New York incident was found to be driver error.

[Sources: Sheboygan Press, The Hamilton Spectator]

More Toyota accidents allegedly caused by sudden acceleration occur in Wisconsin, Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA!

Dan Roth — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Cadillac, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti

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

Sam and Dan kick off Episode #172 of the Autoblog Podcast with guest Jason Vuic, author of a historical treatise on the Yugo.

Alex Nunez joins us afterwards for news items. We cover sights coming to the New York Auto Show, including the next Mercedes R-Class, Infiniti QX56, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and Sonata Hybrid, among other topics. We babble for an hour and twenty and then split.

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA!

In the Autoblog Garage:

Toyota Prius

News:
Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
Infiniti QX56
Mercedes-Benz R Class
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hosts:
Alex Nunez, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guest:
Jason Vuic, author of The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Runtime: 1:16:45

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota warned dealers with floormat TSB back in 2007

Eric Loveday — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:55:00 EST

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

Toyota announced an all out recall of both floor mats and accelerator pedals beginning in late 2009, but the issue was clearly known by the company years prior. Recent reports indicated that the automaker was well aware of floor mat-related issues dating back to early 2007. Not only was the company aware of the issue, it responded by posting a technical service bulletin (TSB).

Back in March of 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into pedal entrapment on the Lexus ES350. Within two weeks, Toyota issued a TSB to dealers regarding possible pedal entrapment caused by floor mats. Later that year, Toyota warned dealers of the same possible risk on all Toyota models and instructed dealerships not to install optional floor mats. A portion of the TSB is posted below:

NEVER install more than one floormat at a time in the driver's seating position... If applicable, any secondary set of floormats MUST be placed in the trunk with all the packaging material intact. DO NOT install the secondary mat on top of the primary floormat already in the driver's seating position.

In September of 2007, Toyota voluntarily recalled 55,000 floormats from Lexus and Toyota vehicles, but stated that no known problem had been found with the mats or vehicles. NHTSA closed the investigation, but the problems didn't end. Toyota continued to send TSBs for 2008 and 2009 model year vehicles to remind dealers of potential pedal entrapment problems.

The TSBs are clear proof that Toyota was aware of the potential problem and it shows they acted in a way consistent with other automakers by addressing the problem at the dealership level. The mistakes the company made include admitting that the floor mats were not part of the problem and then doing nothing else to discover and fix the real problem.

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

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Toyota warned dealers with floormat TSB back in 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota to replace pedals for owners not satisfied with fix

Eric Loveday — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Recalls, Safety, Toyota

Second-gen Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a Toyota memo first obtained by Jalopnik and later reported by the Associated Press, Toyota is currently notifying dealers that a replacement pedal can be installed at no charge to owners of recalled Toyota products if the owner is not satisfied with the current fix for the problem.

Most vehicles involved with the pedal recall have been fixed by inserting a metal shim into the accelerator pedal, which is believed to reduce friction and provide smoother travel to the pedal. The AP reports that owners who either do not feel confident in the fix or who still complain of pedal problems can ask their dealership for a new replacement pedal at no charge.

Through data analysis, it has been determined that at least 100 owners of recalled vehicles have filed complaints regarding pedal action after the dealership reportedly fixed the problem. Perhaps by witnessing this data, Toyota has responded to reduce further complaints by replacing the entire pedal assembly on vehicles with on-going problems.

The Associated Press quotes a portion of the memo as follows:

A replacement pedal should only be offered to a customer after the reinforcement bar has been installed and the customer has expressed dissatisfaction with the operation and/or feel of the pedal. (Pedal replacement) is based upon specific customer request only. Dealers are not to solicit pedal replacement.

The AP added that the memo lists vehicles involved as: the 2005-10 Avalon; 2007-10 Camry and Tundra; 2009-10 Corolla, Matrix and RAV4; 2008-10 Sequoia and 2010 Highlander. It remains uncertain if other vehicles such as the Prius may also be included in the replacement pedal process.

UPDATE: Toyota's official statement on the matter after the jump.

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

Gallery: Review: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring

[Source: The Associated Press via Google, Jalopnik]

Continue reading Report: Toyota to replace pedals for owners not satisfied with fix

Report: Toyota to replace pedals for owners not satisfied with fix originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Local police agree, runaway Prius in NY caused by driver error

Eric Loveday — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Technology, Hatchback, Toyota

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

Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported its initial findings on the runaway Prius case in New York. The NHTSA disclosed information regarding its belief that the 2005 Prius involved in the suspected runaway case resulting in a head on crash into a stone wall was not caused by a manufacturing error on Toyota's behalf, but rather a driver error resulting from not applying the brakes during the incident.

The follow-up investigation conducted by the local Harrison police department came to an identical conclusion. The police department was initially upset with the NHTSA investigation and believed that the agency had come to a conclusion too quickly. Upon conducting its own investigation, Harrison police believe that the overwhelming evidence appears to support the NHTSA findings that driver error was the cause of the crash. The findings point to an open throttle and lack of brake pedal application, causing the vehicle to accelerate and eventually crash. Toyota has released its statement regarding the Harrison, N.Y. incident, which can be read after the jump.

The findings of this investigation appear more conclusive than the one involving James Sikes and his runaway Prius in California, where the California Highway Patrol did not find enough evidence to agree with Toyota and NHTSA that the car could've been stopped.

For Toyota, this is one more image boost during trying times for the company. Aside from the Prius winning a J.D Power award a few days ago and a couple of other sparse good words, the automaker has faced nothing but struggles in the last two months.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Washington Post, Toyota]

Continue reading Local police agree, runaway Prius in NY caused by driver error

Local police agree, runaway Prius in NY caused by driver error originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota begins investigating '10 Prius cruise control complaints

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:31:00 EST

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

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

Last month, Toyota recalled 133,000 2010 Prius models due to a braking issue that could cause a momentary loss of stopping power. However, in many of the claims filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicle's cruise control was brought into question, with drivers stating that they had difficulty getting the system to turn off when the brake pedal was depressed. According to Ward's Auto, 11 percent of all 2010 Prius complaints filed with NHTSA cite this issue.

Toyota is now starting to look deeper into these complaints, and believes that the majority of them are the result of driver confusion over the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which is an option on the top-rung Prius V trim. In talking with Ward's, Toyota spokesperson Dave Lee says that drivers are confusing the Prius' adaptive cruise control for unintended acceleration. Lee states that when drivers use the cruise stalk to adjust vehicle speed, the rate of acceleration is much higher than when the gas pedal is pressed - it takes about one second to increase the car's speed by five miles per hour by just holding the stalk up.

What's more, reports show that drivers tend to overestimate the adaptive cruise control's effectiveness for preventing collisions, such as instances where a vehicle is stopped in the lane ahead, and that the car's owners manual typically states that both laser- and radar-based adaptive cruise systems have trouble detecting vehicles ahead of the car on curves. Two NHTSA complaints reported colliding with stationary objects when the adaptive cruise system was enabled.

Ward's says that it is unclear how many of 2010 Priuses are equipped with DRCC. Even so, the top-end V trim only makes up about eight percent of total Prius sales, so Toyota will continue to investigate these complaints before making a plan of action.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Report: Toyota begins investigating '10 Prius cruise control complaints originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Toyota denied exclusive rights to 'Prius' trademark

Dan Roth — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Government/Legal, Toyota, India

Prius is a Latin word which is roughly translates to "prior." Toyota picked the word for its hybrid car to indicate that it's a predecessor of cars to come. One thing the automaker should have done was register the Prius trademark worldwide. What happened instead was that an automotive company in India called Prius Auto Industries popped up and registered its own trademark six years before Toyota thought about it.

The court in New Delhi denied Toyota's request for exclusive rights to the Prius trademark, citing the long delay. Also dismissed by the court was Toyota's claim that having two automotive claims to the Prius name could confuse buyers into thinking that any parts with the Prius Auto Industries branding could be misconstrued as originating from Toyota. The high income group typical of the Toyota buyer in India puts that person in the position to understand what it is they're paying for.

[Source: The Hindu Busines Line]

Report: Toyota denied exclusive rights to 'Prius' trademark originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Feds suggest driver error may have caused runaway Prius in NY

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:58:00 EST

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

Last week we told you about an incident in New York involving unintended acceleration in a 2005 Toyota Prius. This accident occurred just after the high-profile case involving Jim Sikes and his runaway Prius in San Diego, but unlike that incident where the car eventually came to a complete stop, the New York Prius crashed into a stone wall with the driver suffering minor, non-life threatening injuries.

Now, after a full investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ruled that this accident was likely caused by driver error, rather than a faulty brake system. NHTSA delivered this message to reporters:

"Information retrieved from the vehicle's onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open."

Toyota spokesperson John Hanson says that the accident is being looked over by the Harrison, NY police department, and that the automaker will not comment until the investigation has completed. And while Toyota did join in with the investigation of Sikes' Prius, it is not clear if the automaker will take a closer look at this second incident.

With the validity of Jim Sikes' story coming under attack and the incident in New York likely being a true accident, we have to wonder how many other runaway Toyota incidents have been much ado about nothing other than driver error, intended or otherwise. With both the NHTSA and Toyota under a microscope, each one will likely be investigated by the feds and local authorities, as well as possibly Toyota too. Neither high-profile incident mentioned above has resulted in a solid case against Toyota and its products, a streak that may or may not continue depending on the result of each investigation going forward.

[Source: USA Today]

Feds suggest driver error may have caused runaway Prius in NY originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CHP report seemingly sides with Sikes on case of the Runaway Prius

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:23:00 EST

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

In reality, the California Highway Patrol isn't taking sides with anyone regarding the recent speeding Prius of Jim Sikes. But the CHP doesn't see any reason to doubt Sikes' version of events that led to his hybrid reaching speeds of around 90 miles per hour, apparently unable to bring the barreling vehicle to a stop. Also of note is the fact that a Border Patrol agent had also responded and was leading the Prius with its emergency lights on when the CHP officer arrived.

The officer that responded to the scene states that he "could see the driver sat up off his seat indicating that he was possibly applying the brake pedal with his body weight... His back was arched and both hands were pulling at the steering wheel." A short time later, the officer positioned his patrol car in front of Sikes' Prius when he "noticed that the Prius' speed had dropped dramatically" before coming to a complete stop on the highway. According to Sikes, this happened after he applied both the standard and parking brakes.

Paramedics arrived on the scene and found that "Sikes' blood pressure and pulse rate were very high." Another interesting tidbit is the the officer encouraged Sikes to speak with the media, despite the fact that the driver indicated he preferred not to. Later at the station, the officer took a statement from Sikes, who described his Prius as 'feeling funny' under braking, saying that the "whole car was shaking and vibrating" when the brakes were applied.

Sikes also claims to have manually pulled up on the gas pedal three separate times with no effect, and he was afraid that shutting the car off would cause the steering to lock up. The officer reports seeing the car's brake lights on and off intermittently, smelling the scent of worn brakes and seeing that the pads were worn completely down after the event.

CHP spokesman Brian Pennings has said that it is the CHP's position that no evidence has emerged to doubt Sikes' version of events. See the CHP officer's complete report in our image gallery below. For a slightly different view, click here and here to see what Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found after inspecting Sikes' Prius.

Gallery: CHP report of James Sikes' speeding Prius

[Source: California Highway Patrol, USA Today]

CHP report seemingly sides with Sikes on case of the Runaway Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments