Archive for the ‘Toyota’ Category

Meet the Lotus Elite

Posted: September 20, 2010 in Audi, Lamborghini, Lotus, Toyota
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It’s Paris Auto Show time and UK dream weaver, Lotus Cars, makes us salivate with its latest creation.

Meet the Lotus Elite. It’s a 2+2 grand touring car with a 5.0 liter 612 hp 531 lb-ft torque that drives the rear wheels (no crappy all wheel drive to ruin the fun).  Lotus says the car will do 0-60 mph in an astonishing 3.5-3.7 seconds.  There was no word on the source of the V8, although Lotus does use modified Toyota engines in its other cars.

The folding hardtop missile measures 181.1 inches long, 74.8 inches wide and 53 inches tall and the car, porky for a Lotus, weighs in at 3,638 pounds.

I expect that the “back seats” are really for infants or a Prada hand bag.

Lotus will offer its first optional hybrid system that uses kinetic-energy-recovery system similar to the setup used in Formula One racing. (Who knew Formula One racers used hybrid electric systems?)

Save your pennies because it ain’t going to be cheap. The Elite will start at £115,000 or around $179,000 at current exchange rates. If you want options or the hybrid drive system, prepare to write a much larger check. It is scheduled to go on sale in 2014.

Hey, I can dream, right?

Lotus Elite Concept - 2010 Paris Auto Show

Lotus Elite Concept Car - 2010 Paris Auto Show

Lotus Elite Concept Car - 2010 Paris Auto Show

Lotus Elite Concept Car - 2010 Paris Auto Show

If you want a new 4-door Super Car, look no further than the upcoming Lamborghini Estoque, due sometime in 2013 according to Volkswagen (Audi is a VW subsidiary and Audi owns Lamborghini).  It will be powered by the V10 from the Gallardo (which is also used in the Audi R8 V10).

2013 Lamborghini Estoque (Europe debut in 2012, US 2013)

Another Toyota Safety Problem and Recall

Posted: August 31, 2010 in General Motors, Recalls, Toyota
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Is your circuit board cracked? Soldered joints giving you problems? Is the glass coating on your varistor broken? If so, you’re not alone.

More than 1,000 complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2005-2007 Toyota Corolla and Matrix models. The problem is that the engine can stall at any speed, without warning, and not restart. Failure to start, the check engine light on and “harsh shifting” are also listed as “symptoms” of the problem.

2008 Toyota Matrix

Woopsee…. Another Toyota safety and quality problem and yes, another reluctant recall. This issue has been floating out there for almost five years. Toyota says the problem rests with an electronic control module (ECM), a tiny circuit board that controls the operation of the engine. This time, it seems the source of the problem is clear and relatively easy to remedy.

The new recall announced by Toyota on August 26, 2010 covers 1.1 million Corolla and Matrix vehicles for model years 2005-2008 with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive. On the same day, GM announced a recall of 200,000 Pontiac Vibes (a mechanical twin to the Matrix) for the same model years. All the vehicles were made at the GM-Toyota joint venture, New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. in Freemont, California.

2007 Toyota Corolla

In total, 1.3 million Toyota Corollas, Matrixes and Pontiac Vibes are potentially affected by this problem. Previously, Toyota had issued four (yes, four) Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) addressing the issue and instructing dealers to replace the ECM to solve the problem; so it’s clear Toyota has known about it for some time now.

2006 Pontiac Matrix - A mechanical twin to the Toyota Matrix

The NHTSA says that there have been six crashes reported with no injuries or deaths. Toyota says it knows of three unconfirmed accidents and one minor injury. Maybe there are more?

Toyota North America’s regulatory affairs manager Chris Santucci said, before the recall, that the company did not believe the alleged defect “creates an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”

Huh? So I’m cruising in traffic and suddenly my engine shuts down. I lose power assist for steering and brakes and the car stops. In my experience, a sudden loss of critical functions can easily create a dangerous situation that could lead to a serious accident.

I would classify this kind of systemic failure while driving as an “unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety” – just to borrow a phrase.

There was more pre-recall spin from Toyota: “We understand that some customers have been inconvenienced by engine ECM failure and some have reported engine stalling.” Just an “inconvenience,” huh? Oh yes, now it is considered a safety defect.

Ah, but how things change in just a couple weeks. Toyota’s chief quality officer (love the new title) for North America, Steve St. Angelo, has the revised corporate spin: “Our goal [of the recall] is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles.” Don’t you feel better now about your Toyota? I don’t. (more…)

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