Toyota Recalls Other SUV

Toyota Recalls Other SUV
Largest car manufacturer in the world was again tripped. Not long ago the world’s largest car manufacturer that Lexus GX 460 merecall, is now a sport utility vehicle (SUV), Sequoia, production in 2003 which amounted to 50,000 units.

The problem is the same, namely its stability control system does not work perfectly, just different diperangkatnya. So, the Lexus GX 460 is “on the verdict easily overturned” by the magazine Consumer Reports, when a car sped around the corner quickly, liveliness of its stability control system is very slow.

While at Sequoia, electronic stability control system regulated by the computer through the two parts, between the brake and gas pedals. Depending on needs, but one goal to maintain tire traction on the corner.

Toyota and the American Institute of Highway Safety (NHSTA) said if they had received 163 reports from owners of Sequoia. But, no one suffered serious accidents.

“Toyota’s promise to investigate consumer complaints more aggressively and respond quickly,” said Steve St. Angelo, head of the quality of Toyota North America, as quoted by AP (04/29/2010).

Lexus GX 460

Lexus GX 460
After the announced cessation of production of the Lexus GX 460 last week due to media reports Consumer Reports in the United States (U.S.), Toyota Motor Corp. finally (TMC) in Japan announced it would call for improvement (recall) of the product from the market. Consumer Reports in the review did not recommend consumers to buy because the sport utility vehicle (SUV) is easily rolled out in emergency situations.

The manufacturer said it will repair damage to the vehicle stabilization systems software 13,000 units of these SUVs that have circulated. Of that total, 9400 units in the U.S. market while the rest scattered around the globe, among others, Russia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Canada.

“Since we first heard the issue was outstanding, Lexus and dealers we are moving quickly to reduce the existing turmoil. Our network will personally contact the customer to fix their cars,” said Mark Templin, vice president and general manager, Lexus Group, as reported by Bloomberg, Tuesday (20.4.2010).

In addition, the manufacturer also plans manarik 21,000 units of the Land Cruiser Prado models specifically countries with the position of the steering wheel on the left. Some countries it is, Russia, France, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Sudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Mieko Iwasaki Toyota spokesman said the manufacturer also stop production activities for this model at the Tahara plant, Japan starting today until 28 April.

Meanwhile, Toyota has promised to deploy his engineers to address the findings made by the parties mediaConsumer Reports. Testing will be conducted for the GX 460 and Land Cruiser Prado which uses the same control system stability.

Lexus GX 460 Paused

Lexus GX 460 Paused

The report from Consumer Reports magazine that warned consumers not to buy American automotive Lexus GX460 for the sake of safety, Toyota troublesome enough. Japan’s largest car manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corp.. (TMC) recently announced it will conduct tests of all models of sport utility vehicle (SUV). Within hours, came back a new policy.

Starting on Friday (16/4/2010), delaying production of the Lexus GX 460 is made in Tahara, Japan. The duration of the delay stipulated 12 days, following the ban on street sales that began this week. This information from Toyota’s headquarters, as quoted AP (16/4/2010).

Of the incident, Toyota also has decided to seven-passenger SUV merecall a sturdy and strong, just not marketed in North America. Also that in the Middle East, Russia and other countries.

Reaction from TMC so quickly is a promise or agreement with the affairs of Toyota’s safety. “I think Toyota has been very quick to respond to safety-related products,” said Rebecca Lindland, automotive analysis of-IHS Global Insight.

Lexus GX460 newly launched late last December, has sold 4787 units in the U.S.. The amount is carrying 10 percent of total sales for all Lexus models this year and only 1 percent of all Toyota products sold in America until the 1st quarter of 2010.

Toyota Recall List

Toyota Recall List

This latest suspension from Toyota is on top of the already 270,000 vehicle recalls in Canada and last years 2.3 million recalls, also to do with an accelerator pedal problem. The latter was an easy fix; all you had to do was remove the floor mate, not a long-term solution, but one that stopped the pedal from sticking.

Toyota recall list has been announced and it is very unfortunate for Toyota that their products are having serious faults that forced Toyota to publish recall list.

The recalled cars are having consistent problem of accelerator pedal, which was reported several days back.

Toyota did not have a great end to 2009 following a number of vehicle recalls, it looks as thought 2010 will start off the same as well. The Japanese carmaker has now suspended sales of eight of its models due to continued problems with gas pedals, which we discussed a few days ago.

The vehicles that have been affected by this recall are as follows:

* 2009-2010 Matrix
* 2009-2010 RAV4
* 2010 Highlander
* Certain 2007-2010 Camry
* 2005-2010 Avalon
* 2007-2010 Tundra
* 2008-2010 Sequoia
* 2009-2010 Corolla

Owners with questions or concerns, are asked to please contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center (1 800 331-4331) or Lexus Customer Assistance Center (1 800 255-3987), or consult the information posted at toyota.com and lexus.com.

July Sales: Cash for Clunkers Spurs FoMoCo; Toyota Regains Second-Place

DETROIT – Ford Motor Company is ebullient about its first year-over-year sales increase since November 2007. Total Ford-Lincoln-Mercury sales, including fleet, rose 2 percent in July 2009 compared with July 2008, and of that, retail sales rose 9 percent. Still, it’s too early to party. The Great Recession isn’t over yet.”Right now, the legs under the economy are not strong enough to sustain a 14-16 million sales rate as we saw at the end of July,” says Ford analyst George Pipas. “A sales increase in July is not the end of the journey.”Aside from the minor increase compared with a very weak July ’08, when gasoline averaged $4.11 per gallon, Ford proved through individual model sales that the Cash for Clunkers program helped move fuel-efficient metal. Probably not coincidentally, the low-priced cars and trucks that consumers who until now were driving clunkers could afford to buy moved the most. Ford Focus sales surpassed Fusion sales, although both models were up compared with last year. Even though a four-cylinder Fusion is within a couple mpg city/highway, the smaller, cheaper Focus easily outsold the Fusion, 21,830 (up 43.6 percent) to 17,610 (up 66 percent).The redesigned-for-2009 Focus became Ford’s darling when gas topped $4 per gallon. Earlier this year, the facelifted 2010 Fusion was Ford’s savior in some of the slowest sales months in decades. Advertising dollars targeting new models helps.If Cash for Clunkers money drew a lot of prospective buyers to Ford lots in the last week, I’ve got to bet that some of those consumers trading in ’90s Explorers chose, say an $18,000-list Focus over a $23,000-list Fusion because it better met their budgets. Many of those clunkers undoubtedly were third or even fourth cars, driven by the high schoolers in the family. Estimates of how much oil the program saves may be a bit of a stretch.No matter. The program is a success for bringing consumers back into the market — either those who have been holding off or those who figured credit had dried up so much, it wasn’t worth it to walk into a showroom. General Motors estimates July sales for all makers totaled an annual rate that would equal about 11.3-million vehicles, marking the first month in 2009 above the 10-million level.And GM has just announced a lease program with U.S. Bank for Chevrolets, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs (its core four in North America) for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan and Ohio through August 31. U.S. Bank leases for the new Cadillac SRX are available nationwide.Meanwhile, Chrysler says that The Wall Street Journal got it wrong Monday morning. Chrysler will continue to offer matching incentives of up to $4500 on certain models whether you bring in a clunker or not. Obviously, if your local dealer is out of, say, 2009 PT Cruisers, you’re not going to get $4500 off a 2010 model. And so, to the numbers:GM: 189,443, off 19.4 percent.Inventory of about 466,000 is the lowest on record, says sales veep Mark LaNeve.With inventories dropping for all automakers, the deals aren’t likely to get any more desperate.Chevy division sales were relatively strong, at 124,948, still down 9.3 percent.Equinox was a rare gainer, up 77.8 percent to 10,834. About 60 percent were ’10 models, and most of those were four-bangers.Buick Enclave remains strong, selling 3,797, off 2.5 percent.Cadillac, at 6,171, off 52.6 percent, was the biggest loser of the core four.Saab was off 71.7 percent to 574 and Hummer was off 57.4 percent to 799.Impala was up 9.6 percent to 14,649 but Malibu was off 7.8 percent to 15,339.Modern wagon wars continues: Toyota sold 9,407 Highlanders, (+39.1 percent), Chevy sold 6,690 Traverses, Honda sold 6,430 Pilots (-15.3 percent), Dodge sold 4,165 Journeys (+21 percent) and Ford sold 3,631 Flexes (+64.7 percent).The new Camaro continues to be in short supply. Chevy sold 7,113, vs. 6,686 Ford Mustangs (-37.6 percent) and 886 Dodge Challengers (-69 percent).GM will build some 2010 G6s for fleet customers, LaNeve said, making it the last Pontiac.The New GM of Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac, sold 160,078 vehicles, a couple thousand more than Ford/Lincoln/Mercury but short of Toyota.Toyota-Scion-Lexus: 174,872, off 11.4 percent.Toyota division accounted for 156,355 (including Scions), off 10.8 percent, making Toyota the U.S.’ best-selling brand.Lexus fell 16.5 percent to 18,517.Prius jumped 29.7 percent to 19,173. Camry sales fell 19.4 percent to a still-strong 33,974.RAV4 may have benefited from the clunkers credit, up 32.5 percent to 15,912.Midsize pickups also are doing well. Tacoma was up 7.6 percent to 12,552.Monthly Scion numbers: 6,754, vs. 11,906 in July ’08.Ford-Lincoln-Mercury: 158,838, up 2 percent.Focus was Ford’s best-selling car, up 43.6 percent to 21,830.Fusion was up 66 percent to 17,610.F-150 remains Ford’s best-selling vehicle, off 19 percent to 36,327.Escape was up 94.2 percent to 20,241.Ranger was up 64.5 percent to 7,695. Looks like another Cash for Clunkers winner.Taurus was off 57.1 percent to 1,760 as Ford ramped down the old model.Mercury Milan was up 59.8 percent to 2,934 while Mariner was up 70.5 percent to 3,682 as the Lincoln side of the showroom suffered a 24.3 percent drop.Inventory of 295,000 vehicles, averaging less than a 50-day supply, is 41 percent thinner than at the end of July ’08.Honda-Acura: 114,690, off 17.3 percent.That’s 106,028 Hondas, off 15.8 percent, and 8,662 Acuras, off 32.5 percent.Civic was up 3.1 percent to 30,037.Accord was off 28.1 percent to 29,774.Fit was off 27.6 percent to 8,876 but CR-V was up 9.9 percent to 19,151.Acura RDX was off 62.5 percent to 519 and TSX was off 35.8 percent to 2,232.Chrysler LLC: 88,900, off 9 percent.Winners were small models, helped by heavy incentives. Chrysler PT Cruiser was up 24 percent to 4,092 sold.Jeep Patriot was up 134 percent to 8,084 and Compass was up 95 percent.Jeep Wrangler, which posted increases for the first five months of the year, was down for the second month in a row, off 25 percent to 4,540.Dodge Caliber was up 63 percent to 7,814.Avenger was up 30 percent to 5,616.Sebring was off 27 percent to 2,781. Chrysler has sold 13,466 for the entire year so far, well below Ford Fusion’s monthly sales.Chrysler Town & Country fell 15 percent to 6,837. Dodge Caravan was up 15 percent to 8,405, however.Ram was off 17 percent to 17,723.Nissan-Infiniti: 71,847, off 24.6 percent.Nissan division was off 24.8 percent to 64,751.Infiniti was off 23.3 percent to 7,096.Nissan Versa was off just 2 percent to 8,530, though Sentra fell 13.5 percent to 9,496.Rogue sales were up 3.8 percent to 6,770.Z was up 11.9 percent to 890. Inexplicably, Infiniti QX56 was up 0.4 percent to 553.Nissan GT-R was off by 19 units to 128.OTHERS …Hyundai says 22 percent of its trade-ins were “clunkers.” Sales rose 12 percent, to 45,553. Accent, Sonata, Elantra and Genesis all posted gains and Santa Fe was down very slightly.Kia sold 29,345 units, up 1,324 units from last July. Subaru was up an impressive 34 percent, to 21,839. Mazda sold 19,032, off 15.1 percent.BMW Group, including Mini, was off 26.7 percent, to 21,253. BMW brand sold 16,381, off 31.5 percent. Mini was off 3.8 percent, to 4,872. Only all-ne
w models gained sales last month; BMW Z4 (up 33.8-percent) and 7 Series (up 14.5 percent), and Mini Cooper convertible (up 45.1 percent).Cash for Clunkers helped Volkswagen, which was up 0.7 percent, to 20,590 while Audi says it outperformed the premium segment, dropping just 5.8 percent, to 6,407. The clunkers program does not help with new cars north of $45,000.Mercedes-Benz USA, sold 17,646, including 16,228 Mercedes (off 21.7 percent) and 1,418 smarts, off 44.6 percent.Jaguar Land Rover fell 25 percent, to 2,607. Jaguar was down 45 percent, to 785 cars and Land Rover was down 11 percent, to 1,822.
Source : blogs.motortrend.com/6564996/car-news/july-sales-cash-for-clunkers-spurs-fomoco-toyota-regains-second-place/index.html

Audi Bucks the Trend, Promises More Product, Not All for U.S.

Hyundai’s U.S. CEO John Krafcik said it best earlier this year: “flat is the new up.” By that measure, Audi AG is riding high. Global sales fell 11 percent in the first half of 2009, versus 18 percent for the whole industry. What’s more, Audi was comparing its number to a record-setting 2008. In North America, sales fell 12 percent in the first half of the year, versus a one-third drop in sales for the industry. More important, Audi is making money. Its global first-half profit was 823 million euro ($1.17 billion), off 36.6 percent. Chief Financial Officer Axel Strotbeck said Friday that the company posted a “clear profit” in both of the first two quarters. “We’re the most profitable premium manufacturer, at the present.”Audi continues its struggle for more premium market share in the U.S., of course. It’s been about 17 years since it nearly left our market. Audi’s still a pretty small player here, only its fourth-largest global market (after Germany, China and Great Britain) whereas we’ve traditionally been the second-largest market for Mercedes-Benz and BMW (though their Chinese sales undoubtedly rival U.S. sales now, too). Nevertheless, Strotbeck said Audi will “not push sales by artificially pushing lease prices down” in the U.S. Instead, it will continue to move upmarket. In terms of features, quality and luxurious interiors, Audi’s reputation is nearly that of BMW and Mercedes. While its A4 and A5 can get very expensive with optional equipment very quickly, the A4 especially strikes many upper-middle-class buyers as an accessible step up from an entry level Lexus, Infiniti or Acura, and perhaps a step-and-a-half up from a loaded Camry or Accord.The other element that’s working for Audi is marketing. While other luxury brands cut marketing and advertising budgets and get out of racing, Audi is a marketing powerhouse that led Super Bowl XLII advertising and spent a truckload of euro to go to Le Mans. It’s setting itself up well for the next decade, when strong marketing will pick the winners in a plethora of good new product. Strotbeck pointed to three new models Audi will introduce in coming months: the A5 Sportback, an all-new A8 coming in calendar 2010 and a new A1 in the third quarter of ’10. Two will not be imported to the U.S. Audi said this about future models/strategy in the North American market:No U.S. production plans for now. This became a big issue for models like the A4 last year when the euro’s value went past the $1.60 mark. Volkswagen is building a plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will build the Passat replacement beginning calendar year ‘1l, but Audi won’t be part of it, for now. No plans to bring the 2011 A1 to North America. Audi hopes to grow A3 sales with a new diesel version coming to the U.S. in December. Problem with the A3 is that it costs nearly as much as a base A4 in the U.S., and despite the Mini’s popularity, we don’t like hatchbacks here. Given the expected technology, the A1 could cost Audi at least as much to build as the A3 or even the A4. Still, if the new A1 is as cool and cutting edge as the original, won’t it be as desirable as a Mini Cooper?While Audi still considers diesels the best green/fuel-efficient technology, it will have a hybrid Q5 on the market in one-and-a-half to two years.All of Audi’s 2010 gas-powered models will have direct injection, and it claims it will be the first to achieve that milestone.
Source : blogs.motortrend.com/6564153/corporate/audi-bucks-the-trend-promises-more-product-not-all-for-us/index.html

Lexus Models

Current models

The ES.

The GS.

IS: compact car RWD/AWD

2009 IS 250/IS 250 AWD/IS 350/IS 220d/IS F/IS 250C/IS 350C

ES: mid-size FWD

2009 ES 350/ES Pebble Beach Edition (U.S. only)

GS: mid-size RWD/AWD

2009 GS 350/GS 350 AWD/GS 460
2009 GS 450h

LS: full-size RWD/AWD

2009 LS 460/LS 460 AWD/LS 460 L/LS 460 L AWD
2009 LS 600h/LS 600h L/LS600h L Pebble Beach Edition (U.S. only)

SC: coup?/coup? convertible RWD

2009 SC 430

RX: mid-size crossover SUV

2009 RX 350/RX 350 Pebble Beach Edition (U.S. and Canada only)
2008 RX 400h

GX: mid-size sport utility vehicle

2009 GX 470

LX: full-size sport utility vehicle

2009 LX 570

Production model history

Shown from left to right: The 2007 LX, GX, and RX.

The LS and other Lexus vehicles on showroom display.

IS: compact RWD/AWD

2000 IS 200/IS 300
2006 IS 250/IS 250 AWD/IS 350/IS 220d
2008 IS F
2010 IS 250C/IS 350C

ES: mid-size FWD

1990 ES 250
1992 ES 300
1996 ES 300
2003 ES 330
2007 ES 350

GS: mid-size RWD/AWD

1993 GS 300
1998 GS 300/GS 400
2001 GS 430
2006 GS 300/GS 300 AWD/GS 430/GS 450h
2007 GS 350/GS 350 AWD/GS 460

LS: full-size RWD/AWD

1990 LS 400
2001 LS 430
2007 LS 460/LS 460 L
2008 LS 600h/LS 600h L
2009 LS 460 AWD/LS 460L AWD

SC: coup?/coup? convertible RWD

1992 SC 300/SC 400
2002 SC 430

RX: mid-size crossover SUV

1998 RX 300
2004 RX 330
2006 RX 400h
2007 RX 350

GX: mid-size sport utility vehicle

2003 GX 470

LX: full-size sport utility vehicle

1997 LX 450
1999 LX 470
2008 LX 570

Concept vehicles

The Lexus LF-A concept.

The Lexus LF-S concept.

LF series concepts

2003 LF-X: crossover
2003 LF-S: luxury sedan
2004 LF-C: convertible
2005 LF-A: sports coupe
2006 LF-Sh: hybrid luxury sedan
2007 LF-Xh: hybrid crossover
2008 LF-AR: roadster

Past concept vehicles

1994 Italdesign Lexus Landau: hatchback
1995 Lexus FLV: minivan
1997 Lexus Street Rod: roadster
1997 Lexus SLV: sport luxury vehicle
1997 Lexus HPS: sports sedan
2003 Lexus IS 430: sports sedan

Lexus History

The F1 project

The first LS 400 flagship sedan debuted in 1989, introducing Lexus to the world.

In 1983, Toyota Chairman Eiji Toyoda summoned a secret meeting of company executives, to whom he posed the question, ?Can we create a luxury vehicle to challenge the world’s best?? This question prompted Toyota to embark on a top-secret project, codenamed F1 (?Flagship? and ?No. 1 vehicle?). The F1 project, which eventually became known as the Lexus LS 400, aimed to develop a luxury car that would expand Toyota?s product line, giving it a foothold in the premium segment and offering both longtime and new customers an upmarket product. The F1 project followed the success of the Toyota Supra sports car and the luxury Toyota Cressida models. Both the Supra and Cressida were rear-wheel drive cars with a powerful 7M-GE/7M-GTE engine. The U.S. launch of the Acura marque by Honda three years prior also influenced Toyota in its plans for a luxury division. Around this same time, Nissan would unveil plans to create its own luxury division, Infiniti, while Mazda also considered developing a luxury division, to be called Amati.

Toyota researchers visited the U.S. in May 1985 to conduct focus groups and market research on luxury consumers. That summer, several F1 designers rented a home in Laguna Beach, California, to observe the lifestyles and tastes of American upper-class consumers. Toyota?s market research concluded that a separate brand and sales channel was needed to present its new luxury flagship, and plans were made to develop a new network of dealerships in the U.S. market.

wikipedia

Lexus

Lexus (Japanese: ????,, Rekusasu?) is the Japanese luxury vehicle division of Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in the United States, where Lexus has become the highest-selling make of luxury cars, today Lexus brand name vehicles are available throughout the world. In 2005, the Lexus marque launched in Japan, marking the continued global expansion of the luxury division.

Lexus originated from a clandestine flagship sedan project which began in 1983. This effort developed into the original Lexus LS, which was the first vehicle to wear the Lexus marque upon its launch in 1989. In following years, Lexus added sedan, coupe, and SUV models. Hybrid drivetrains arrived in 2005, and the F-marque performance division debuted in 2007. From the start of production, Lexus vehicles have been consistently produced in Japan, with manufacturing centered in the Ch?bu and Ky?sh? regions. Assembly of the first Lexus built outside the country, the Ontario, Canada-produced RX, began in 2003.

Since 1989, Lexus has developed a reputation for vehicle reliability and customer service, as measured by independent surveys. In 2007, consumer ratings firm J.D. Power and Associates named Lexus the most reliable brand in the U.S. for the thirteenth year based on its Vehicle Dependability Survey, a measure of over 53,000 vehicle owners and problems experienced in the first three years of vehicle ownership. In recent years, Consumer Reports has also named Lexus among the top five most reliable brands in its Annual Car Reliability Surveys of over one million vehicles across the U.S.

The Lexus slogan is The Pursuit of Perfection.

Type
Division

Founded
1989

Founder
Eiji Toyoda

Headquarters
Toyota, Aichi, Japan

Area served
Worldwide

Key people
Kiyotaka Ise (Managing Officer)
Vince Socco (VP, Asia Pacific)
Andy Pfeiffenberger (VP, EU)
Mark Templin (VP, USA)

Industry
Automotive industry

Products
Automobiles

Parent
Toyota Motor Corporation

Divisions
F marque

Website
Lexus.com
Lexus.eu
Lexus.jp

Hyundai Genesis will get 8-Speed automatic transmission

Posted on 11.7.2008 18:24
by
Simona AlinaFiled under:
Hyundai | sedan | Hyundai GenesisStarting 2009 Hyundai will join the small list of automakers offering fuel-saving eight-speed transmissions (next to Lexus and BMW). First model to get this option will be the Genesis sedan (the one that now is equipped with a six-speed automatic) starting the 2010 MY. The transmission is to be made by the automaker's affiliated Hyundai Powertech Company. Expanding the number of discrete gear ratios in a transmission enables automakers to improve fuel economy because the engine torque is (…)
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