Starting Lines: Toyota Recalls Millions
Recalls are nothing new in the auto business. When you build hundreds of thousands of cars a year, little problems are bound to pop up from time to time. In the most important recall since the infamous Ford/Firestone fiasco, Toyota’s “unintended acceleration” recall is a serious affair with dire consequences. Late in 2009, in the early days of the controversy, the problem of throttle pedals getting stuck under floor mats in full-throttle positions was addressed by Toyota with two temporary fix recalls; however, the sticking throttle issue still popped up and a faulty throttle pedal assembly has called for another round of recalls the world over. Affected vehicles are 2007–2010 Lexus ES350, 2006–2010 IS, 2005–2010 Toyota Avalon, 2009–2010 Corolla, 2007–2010 Camry, 2008–2010 Highlander, 2009–2010 Matrix, 2004–2009 Prius, 2005–2010 Tacoma, 2007–2010 Tundra, 2009–2010 Venza, 2008-2010 Sequoia and 2009–2010 Pontiac Vibe. If you are an owner of one of these vehicles, contact your local dealership. For more information on the problem, see our One on One section as we interview Toyota Canada’s Stephen Beatty for the run down on the recalls.
Saab Lives
Last issue we talked to you about the latest in the ongoing dramas to keep Saab alive. Saab drivers, while a small bunch, are intensely loyal to their unique little Swedish rides. However, Saab’s quirky trademarks were soon watered down once the company came under GM rule, and when the company went bankrupt and started killing off entire brands. With Saab holding such a low segment share and losing money, Saabophiles saw that the end was near after negotiations broke off with both Koenigsegg and Spyker. With GM ready to kill the brand, negotiations were reopened and an agreement met. Spyker says that it wants to rebuild Saab’s global reputation, repositioning the brand as “an independent performance-oriented niche car company with an industry-leading environmental strategy.” The new Saab Spyker companies will retain separate identities, allowing Saab to keep full control, which means the new 9-5 will be due out this year, a new 9-3 is due out in 2012, the 9-4X will go into production while a smaller 9-1 concept has received the green light.
Fusion N.A. Car of the Year
Welcome to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) issue of Starting Lines, meaning there is no shortage of newsworthy items. As North America’s largest auto show, Detroit always has an abundance of new cars, new announcements and of course awards. Detroit is also where Canadian and American Auto Journalists vote on the North American Car of the Year Awards. Ford scored a historic doubleheader, capturing both the Car of the Year and Truck of the Year awards for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively, at the NAIAS. It is only the third time in 17 years that one manufacturer has won both titles.
Volkswagen Shows Compact Coupe Concept
NAIAS was also the venue Volkswagen chose to reveal its New Compact Coupe concept, or NCC. While the Eos somewhat fills the sporty two-door gap in the Volkswagen lineup, it’s been a long while since we’ve seen a true sports coupe from the Wolfsburg automaker. The NCC concept features a 1.4L TSI inline-four, with 150 horsepower and 110 lb-ft of torque. Volkswagen has also jumped into the hybrid game with the car offering a 20-kilowatt electric motor drawing from a lithium-ion battery that boosts output to 177 horsepower and an equal amount of torque. Fuel economy is estimated at 5.2L/100km and it can reach 98 km/h in eight seconds. Like the Jetta and Golf, the NCC incorporates the same handsome looks of its siblings. Of course, this is a concept car, so VW says it has no production plans at this time, but with a design that is more production-looking than the usually extravagant designs of normal concepts, don’t be surprised to see more of this car in the future.
First Look at Honda’s CR-Z
Honda has been flaunting this one for a while now, leaking brochures and pictures, but we finally got a look at its latest hybrid. Honda claims the CR-Z will bring back the kind of driving joy that hasn’t been felt since the CRX last saw our streets back in 1991, saying it’s the first hybrid designed to maximize style and fun. Set to go on sale in late summer, the CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine with Honda’s compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system. The two-passenger CR-Z introduces a new three-mode drive system that delivers a combined peak output of 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft.
Euro and N.A. Focus Unite Once Again
With the Fusion and Transit Connect sweeping the Car of the Year Awards at NAIAS, Ford pulled the covers off its next big hope, the new Focus. Back in 2000, it was the all-new to North America Focus that took that crown, as the European-designed car changed the way we thought of Ford’s C-segment offerings. Since that time, the Focus has seemed to stray, losing focus so to speak, as the NA car broke its lineage from its Euro sibling. That lineage has been reconnected, as the next-gen Focus due in showrooms early next year is built on the platform of the popular Euro Focus as part of Ford’s globalization program. With only slight changes for the NA consumer, the new Focus is designed to provide class-leading new technologies, features and fuel-efficiency.
Röhrl Competing in 24h Nurburgring with Standard 911 GT3 RS
Porsche has been building some of the world’s most competitive and reliable cars to ever race. They prove such a dedication to racing that anyone can simply buy any level competition car straight off the factory floor. Well, along with adding to the competitive offerings with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche will send it’s famed test driver, 62-year-old double World Rally Champion Walter Röhrl, to compete in the Nurburgring 24-hour Race in a road-going 911 GT3 RS. The RS he will be piloting will be the same motorsports-inspired GT3 RS found on Porsche showroom floors around the world, featuring a 450-hp 3.8L engine. Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport, commented, “ I’m very pleased to see one of our Weissach-developed road-going vehicles competing parallel to the thoroughbred racers and proving its suitability for long distance competition.”
Third Edition of Audi’s e-tron
Audi has been teasing us with two very sporty Battery Electric Vehicles in recent months. During the Frankfurt Show, it took the wraps off the e-tron, a battery-powered version of the R8. In Los Angeles, Audi improved on the e-tron, showing a slightly modified second evolution sporting new paint. Well, in Detroit, we got a glimpse of the best looking e-tron of the lot, the the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron. This third evolution, while not wider, is a much shorter version of its two brothers and features an ASF-design aluminum space-frame, carbon fibre body panels, as well as two electric motors putting out a total of 204 horsepower and 1,955 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels. It cracks off 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, has a range of 250 km, and can fully charge in 11 hours with a 240 v outlet. With a name like that, you know this is strictly a concept car; however, Audi says it will have a production version available to the public in 2012.
XTS Poised to Replace STS/DTS?
Cadillac has made large headway in recent years, designing cars that can take the fight to their German and Japanese rivals. Vehicles like the CTS, Escalade and now the SRX have bold new designs, updated technology and a tight ride, despite those of the old-school who enjoyed Cadillac’s floating characteristics. However, their larger sedans, the STS and DTS, have not enjoyed the same success, and are due for a makeover. Cadillac introduced the XTS Platinum concept at NAIAS, a car that dimensionally fits in between the STS and DTS. The XTS showcases the progression of Cadillac’s Art and Science design, concentrates on technological and communication features and offers a Plug-in hybrid system matched with a 3.6L V6 and all-wheel drive. Again, the car is but a concept at this time, but will likely take over as Cadillac’s flagship which is due for 2012 production.
BMW 1-Series ActiveE Hits the Streets
As we reported earlier last year, MINI has been field testing the MINI E, a battery electric vehicle, in the U.S. to help develop BMW’s EV technology. As part of project i, the cars have already provided important insights into the demands required of future production electric vehicles. As a second step, project i has begun development of a second trial fleet of electric vehicles based on the BMW Concept ActiveE. These vehicles are likewise intended for everyday use by private and select fleet customers as part of a large-scale field test. The insights gathered in the process will be fed into the development of an electrically-powered serial production vehicle which the BMW Group will put on the market under a sub-brand of BMW in the first half of the next decade.
Challenger Goes Plum Crazy
There is no doubt that Dodge was trying to relive its glory days when re-introducing the Challenger. Well, it has added another great chapter to the retro resurgence by offering an exclusive production run of the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 featuring the classic Plum Crazy Pearl Coat exterior colour. “The new Plum Crazy R/T Classic and SRT8 feature more than just memorable blast-from-the-past design cues and HEMI engines; both models exude the very core of Dodge Challenger’s roots,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President – Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our new Plum Crazy limited-edition models pay homage to Challenger’s heritage while delivering the passion and excitement Dodge fans and customers demand.” Both Plum Crazy models are available for ordering now at Dodge dealerships
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