Monthly Archive for November, 2009

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Update: Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Vehicles over Gas Pedal issue

Published on November 25, 2009 in Manufacturer Update, Recalls and Under the Hood (In Depth). 0 Comments Tags: accelerator, accident, brake, braking, floor mat, gas, gas pedal, Lexus, NHTSA, recall, stuck, Toyota.

Source: AutoBlog

As I reported earlier here on Road Reality, Toyota is in hot water over stuck gas pedals. A statement this morning from Toyota gives us their solution for the recall, as well as a timeline for its resolution. While it’s too late to save the lives of the California State Trooper and his family, who died as a result of this flaw, it’s a wake-up call to Toyota and the rest of the manufacturers. Any manufacturer that doesn’t incorporate a “smart throttle” which cuts engine power when the brake pedal is pressed needs to think long and hard about how to get that feature into all of their future vehicles. The crash which brought this issue to the forefront of the news also brings with it the question of how to stop a car equipped with an engine start/stop button, versus a traditional key and ignition cylinder. Read the original post for how to stop said vehicles. Continue reading to find out what Toyota is doing to keep drivers safe.

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Bad Omen? Saab deal falls through for GM

Published on November 25, 2009 in Industry Update, Manufacturer Update and Predictions. 0 Comments Tags: GM, Koenigsegg, Saab.

It was announced Tuesday that Koenigsegg, a Swedish supercar manufacturer, has dropped out of a deal to purchase Saab from GM. Contrary to previous press releases from GM stating the “winding down” of Saab if a buyer could not be found, they are now saying that they, “… will take the next several days to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps next week.” Expect more news posted here next week as GM figures out what to do with its quirky subsidiary.

My prediction is that GM will sell off Saab to another buyer. There were other companies interested in Saab before Koenigsegg, and now they can come to the forefront. Realistically, GM doesn’t need Saab, so they should sell it off, or shut it down. This would get rid of unnecessary overhead and costs on GM’s part. While some reports have declared an end to the automotive recession, I believe we are far from it. The downward slide in sales may have slowed or stopped by this point, but I think it will be a long time before the American automotive market will be able to support sales of 13-17 million new vehicles per year.

by John Suit

Sources: Automotive News, GM

How do you say Chrysler in Italian?

Published on November 24, 2009 in Manufacturer Update, Polls and Predictions. 0 Comments Tags: Alfa, Alfa Romeo, automotive, Automotive Industry, CAFE, Chrysler, Fiat, Industry, UAW, update.

Earlier this year, Fiat Group purchased 20% of Chrysler Group, leaving 55% to the UAW (United Auto Workers) and the rest to the US and Canadian Governments. To American drivers who remember when Fiats and Alfa Romeos were last sold in the United States, this can conjure up bad memories of rotting floorboards, rusty fenders, and finicky engines. I think the new Chrysler/Fiat merger means good things to those of us stateside, and I’ll tell you why.

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Tech: Programmable Liftgate on new GM Vehicles

Published on November 24, 2009 in Under the Hood (In Depth). 0 Comments Tags: 2010, Cadillac, CTS, Equinox, GMC, Sport Wagon, SportWagon, SRX, Terrain.

Ever opened the liftgate on your SUV or wagon, only to hear the crunch when it hits your garage door or ceiling? GM heard that noise too, and in an announcement today, has seemingly solved the problem. Their solution is to use a knob in the overhead console to control the height. Once you have the height to your liking, there is a button built into the liftgate which sets the height.

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Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Published on November 23, 2009 in Reviews. 0 Comments Tags: 2010, Ford, Fusion, Hybrid, review, SYNC.

Originally introduced as a 2006 model, the Ford Fusion is a mid-sized car slotted between the compact Focus and the full-sized Taurus. Redesigned for 2010, the Fusion has been an instrumental part in Ford’s reinvention of itself as a quality American car maker. I put emphasis on “car” because Ford’s F-150 truck has been the top-selling truck for a long time, but their cars, as of late, have not garnered much positive praise. To better compete with their rivals, Ford has begun offering a hybrid version of the Fusion, the subject of this review.

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Recalls: Toyota to shorten gas pedals to prevent them from getting stuck?

Published on November 20, 2009 in Manufacturer Update, Recalls and Under the Hood (In Depth). 0 Comments Tags: accelerator, accident, brake, braking, floor mat, gas, gas pedal, NHTSA, recall, stuck, Toyota.

Source: AutoBlog

For the last couple of months, Toyota has been in hot water. At least one accident has already been blamed on a dislodged floor mat, which can cause the gas pedal to become stuck under in a wide-open position, leading to unintended acceleration. In all, there are 3.8 million affected vehicles, and Toyota says it has over 5 million dollars earmarked for recalls.

Continue reading ‘Recalls: Toyota to shorten gas pedals to prevent them from getting stuck?’

Monthly Archive for November, 2009

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