Toyota quality perception takes a hit in U.S.
Toyota is having a string of bad publicity in the United States, the company’s largest market, where Toyota’s perception of quality helped it become the largest automaker in the world this year.
Toyota is having a string of bad publicity in the United States, the company’s largest market, where Toyota’s perception of quality helped it become the largest automaker in the world this year.
An all-new 2010 Chevrolet Sail model has debuted exclusively for the Chinese market, to sold alongside the recently-facelifted Chevy Lova. The Lova happens to be a version of the Aveo that we get here, and by all indications, the Sail may very well become the next Aveo.
General Motors is recalling some Corvette C6 and ZO6 models, models years between 2005 and 2007, but only those equipped with a removable “targa” roof. The adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate. According to the U.S. NHTSA safety agency, if there is a partial separation, the driver may notice one or more symptoms, such as a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, bouncy roof panel movement when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak in the headliner.
There was a time when General Motors poured all their resources into developing full-size 4x4s such as the Chevy Tahoe. The U.S. operation had pretty much sidelined the sedan market, churning out midsizers so embarrassingly bad that they turned to their Australian and Korean outfits when it came time to expand the GCC line-up. But as Americans started to give up their ever-hungry trucks for fuel-efficient cars, the General came up with the all-new “award-winning” Chevy Malibu.
Samsung Motors, the South Korean joint venture with Renault and Nissan, has released the first official photos of the 3rd-generation Samsung SM5 sedan, set to go on sale by late January in its home country. Incidentally, the outgoing SM5 forms the basis for the GCC-spec Renault Safrane, so this new car is likely hitting the UAE market sometime next year as a 2010 or 2011 model.
Leaked information confirms what has been rumoured for almost a year now. The 2011 Ford Mustang GT is receiving an all-new 5.0-litre V8, marking the return of the Mustang “5.0” badge that was last seen in the mid 1990s.
Introduced less than a year ago, the all-new BMW Z4 range will have another model in its line-up, although it still won’t be an M version. Instead, it will the confusingly-named 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is. That little ‘s’ at the end of its name means a bit of extra performance over the sDrive35i, while an optional new M-Sport package will give it a more aggressive look. The Z4 sDrive35is is making its world debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The U.S. NHTSA safety agency has announced two factory recalls for the Volvo XC60 and various other older Volvo models involving problems with fuel systems. The recall covers more than 140,000 vehicles manufactured since 2000.
The 2010 Lotus Exige S Type 72, yet another one of countless Elise variants, now celebrates the return of Lotus in the 2010 F1 season. It is named after the Lotus Type 72 Formula One racecar which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975.
Quite possibly the most anticipated electric car in the history of electric cars, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is evidently almost ready. Unlike the non-moving prototype displayed at the Dubai Motor Show, there exists several working prototypes of the Volt. This video shows one burning rubber around a parking-lot autocross course. While we are supposed to marvel at its agility, it isn’t particularly remarkable except for the fact that it is so boringly quiet.