Toyota’s hybrid sales eclipse 2.5M mark, now climbing at 2,000 per day
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota
2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’d like to know what it’s like to be on top in the hybrid segment of the automotive industry, just ask Toyota. The company has held the top spot for eons and it certainly doesn’t look like Toyota will relinquish the honor in the foreseeable future. Banking on the success of the Toyota Prius, the company has now captured more than 2.5 million hybrid sales and counting. The Prius, the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle by a significant margin, has accounted for more than 1.8 million of Toyota’s total hybrid sales.
If memory serves us right, just last year we reported that Toyota eclipsed the 1.7 million mark for hybrid sales. Now, sales already stand at 2.5 million-plus and are growing at a rate of more than 2,000 per day. The strong boost in Toyota’s hybrid sales are attributed to the introduction on the current Prius and the release of the Camry Hybrid in additional markets such as Australia and China. At 2,000 per day, Toyota’s hybrid sales are still short of the company’s target of one million per year, but not by that much.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
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On the Road Again: Travel the USA and Sears Auto Centers will Pick up the Tab
The program is called Exploring My America; Sears Auto Centers is choosing 21 teams to take a drive around America, and they’re picking up the tab. They’ll give your vehicle a pre-trip inspection, give you $500 of Sears Auto Center bucks for any needed repairs, before or along the way, plus $1500 for gas, good, and lodging. They also provide an HD video camera so you can document your great American Adventure, and the only thing you owe Sears is your story and the rights to publish the vid. How can you lose?
And the route choices are cool too: Pacific Coast, Route 66 Coast to Coast, Atlantic Coast, Road to Nowhere, Appalachian Trail, Loneliest Road, Great River Road, Dixie Overland Highway. You know: the thrill of the open road, bad road food, cheap motels, listening to local radio stations, you and your ride and free gas – road ‘trippin is one of the great things this country was made for.
Get the rules, the rest of the story, sign up, and audition, at www.exploringmyamerica.com
Lexus recalls 270,000 models globally
In the latest kick in the teeth to Toyota’s quality reputation, the Japanese car maker is set to recall 270,000 Lexus vehicles, (137,000 in U.S, 90,000 in Japan & 3,200 in the UK), after it was revealed that an engine problem could lead to stalling.
Lexus released a statement saying it has “discovered faulty valve springs in some V8 and V6 engines in certain Lexus models sold in the U.S. Due to slight variations during the manufacturing process, some foreign material may have contaminated the valve springs, resulting in potential breakage.”
Lexus U.K issued a statement that said: “Improperly functioning valve springs have been found in some Lexus engines and there is a small possibility that abnormal engine noise or unstable idling may occur. In very rare instances, there is a chance that the engine may stop.”
The affected models include the GS 350, GS 450h, GS 460, IS 350, LS 460 and LS 600h models. The JDM Toyota Crown is also part of the recall. The faulty springs were found in some V8 and V6 engines. Lexus says it has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this issue.
UPDATED: What’s really going on with Toyota’s faulty valve springs [w/ video]
Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Recalls, Safety, Videos, Lexus, Luxury
![03 lexus spring 630 1278094804 UPDATED: Whats really going on with Toyotas faulty valve springs [w/ video]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/03-lexus-spring-630-1278094804.jpg "UPDATED: Whats really going on with Toyotas faulty valve springs [w/ video]")
Failed Lexus IS350 valve spring – Click above for high-res image gallery
Toyota’s announcement of plans to recall 270,000 of its V8 and V6 models, including a number of Lexus sedans, was a little light on information. The company didn’t say much about the issue other than faulty valve springs could cause a vehicle’s engine to stall while driving. Fortunately, the same anonymous source that came through with some information during Toyota’s recent pedal recall crisis has stepped up to fill-in some of the blanks.
Apparently, Lexus dealers have been encountering the defect for a few years. The fault typically manifests itself as a zig-zag break about three-quarters up the valve spring. This means that typically, the spring still has enough tension to keep the valve retainers in place, preventing the valve itself from going all hari-kari on the cylinder, cylinder wall and head.
That’s not always the case, though. If the failure happens at high RPM, the valve can come loose, causing significant damage to the engine. According to our source, one Lexus GS350 incurred $12,000 worth of damage (in parts alone) during such an incident. And there’s no word on who footed the bill.
Toyota hasn’t said exactly what’s caused the issue, though our source indicates that a Field Technical Specialist within the automaker believe the bad springs either have a manufacturing issue or a deep scratch – weak points that allow the part to fail prematurely. As for why the issue effects the company’s 3.5-liter V6 as well as its 4.6-liter and 5.0-liter V8s, we’re assuming that all three engines use the same valve springs.
Citroën DS3 R3 ready for customer combat
Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Hatchback, Citroën
Citroën DS3 R3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Citroën has just introduced a new customer rally car for the FIA’s Group R3T class based on the DS3. The DS3 R3 will be available as either a turn-key racer or a do-it-yourself kit. Either way, power comes from a 210-horsepower high-pressure turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four driving through the six-speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox. Shifts are handled via carbon fiber paddles mounted on the back of the steering wheel.
The suspension has been developed to make it easily adaptable to different racing surfaces ranging from gravel to tarmac. Tubular wishbones are attached to a revised front subframe while the rear hubs are removable to allow for independent toe and camber adjustments. The bodyshell comes with a multi-point steel roll-cage already welded in, but buyers will have to supply seats, harnesses and fire suppression equipment. Citroën says it has accumulated over 6,000 miles of testing since last August.
The DS3 R3 will at the end of this year, but if you can’t swing one for your weekend racing sessions, you can at least check out the press release after the jump and the high-res images below.
The BMW M8 that never was…
Filed under: BMW
Unlike Mercedes-Benz which produces AMG badged versions of just about every model in its lineup, BMW has maintained greater exclusivity with the M badge. Until last year’s launch of the X6 M and X5 M, there have only been four M models (not counting the M1), but one M got as far as prototyping and testing, but never produced: The M8.
Powered by a 550 horsepower version of BMW’s original M70 V12 engine, the M8 was meant to challenge the Ferrari 456 GT. However, following testing of the single prototype, BMW canceled the program and built the 375 hp 850CSi instead. The M8 prototype was long thought to have been crushed, but it turns out that it was stashed away in a corner and turned up in the BMW museum in Munich. Check out the BMW Blog for more shots.
[Source: BMW Blog]
The BMW M8 that never was… originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Video: Mark Webber and Red Bull F1 makes pit stop in… Parliament Square?
Mark Webber goes for a pit stop in London – Click above to watch video after the jump
The new Formula One rules have made it a pain for teams to get in any sort of practice these days. While that’s an issue for drivers, it’s just as much of a challenge for the guys working the pits. So we can imagine that when Red Bull was able to pull some strings for Mark Webber to perform a complete pit stop in front of England’s House of Parliament in London, the team was probably thrilled to get their gloves dirty. The stunt was designed to promote the upcoming British Grand Prix scheduled to kick off on July 9 at Silverstone.
Webber hadn’t been in the cockpit since his stunning crash in Valencia, but the Australian driver looks to be fit enough to go tire-to-tire with the rest of the field in less than a week. Likewise, the Red Bull pit crew seems to be doing just fine as well. The crew reportedly managed a 3.2-second pit stop in downtown London. Hit the jump to see the video of the action for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Peter!
[Source: Autosport]
Continue reading Video: Mark Webber and Red Bull F1 makes pit stop in… Parliament Square?
Video: Mark Webber and Red Bull F1 makes pit stop in… Parliament Square? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
