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Toyota’s faulty pedal supplier: It’s not our fault!

January 29, 2010 at 3:12 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under International News, Toyota

CTS Corp, the supplier of Toyota’s sticky accelerator pedals which has led to the Japanese automaker recalling cars in North America and Europe, says it has no knowledge that its parts were responsible for any accidents or injuries.

Mitchell Walorski, head of CTS investor relations said that the company has “no knowledge of any accident or injury” stemming from the accelerator assemblies it supplies Toyota, he told Automotive News. In what looks like an attempt to absolve responsibility he added: “Toyota is heavily involved in all stages of testing and production. That is why their quality is so high.”

In a separate statement, CTS, which designs and manufactures sensors and actuators, said it has been working with Toyota to develop a new pedal to meet tougher specifications from Toyota. “The newly designed pedal is now tested, and parts are beginning to ship to some Toyota factories,” it said.

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Toyota sticky accelerator recall crosses to Europe

January 29, 2010 at 10:05 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

The recall in North America which has seen Toyota USA suspend sales of eight models and call back up to 2.3 million vehicles has spread to Europe, due to the same “sticky accelerator pedal” issue. Details of corrective action and implementation will be communicated directly to customers with vehicles potentially affected. The models and exact number of potentially affected vehicles is under investigation.

The Japanese carmaker said that there’s a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Progressive wear, combined with certain operating and environmental conditions, can increase friction in the mechanism leading to the problem. In case of occurrence, the driver may notice that the accelerator pedal is progressively harder to depress or is slower to return. A rough or chattered feeling may also be experienced when depressing/releasing the accelerator pedal.

A running change in production using different parts has already been implemented model-by-model in the European production. Therefore, there is no need or intention to stop production in Europe, says Toyota.

UPDATE: Toyota has announced that the Europe recall will involve eight models and up to 1.8 million vehicles. No other models or Lexus models are affected:

- AYGO (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)
- iQ (Nov 2008 – Nov 2009)
- Yaris (Nov 2005 – Sep 2009)
- Auris (Oct 2006 – 5 Jan 2010)
- Corolla (Oct 2006 – Dec 2009)
- Verso (Feb 2009 – 5 Jan 2010)
- Avensis (Nov 2008 – Dec 2009)
- RAV4 (Nov 2005 – Nov 2009

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GM capitalizes on Toyota’s recall headache!

January 28, 2010 at 4:28 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under General Motors, International News, Toyota

Toyota’s big rival in North America, General Motors, is seeking to capitalize on the recall issues that is giving its Japanese competitor an almighty headache. Toyota USA recently suspended sales of eight models involved in a recall that aims to fix sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms that could cause unintended acceleration (only applicable in North America).

GM has come up with incentives to entice Toyota and Lexus owners to switch to its cars. The programme, which runs through the end of February, offers Toyota/Lexus owners three options should they opt for a GMC, Buick, Cadillac or Chevrolet vehicle:

- Leasing: Three payments for up to a total of $1,000 waived
- Financing: 0 per cent financing for up to 60 months for qualified customers
- Cash buyers: $1,000 off the purchase price

This move is in response to “thousands” of calls and e-mails to dealers and GM employees from Toyota owners asking for help, GM spokesman Tom Henderson was quoted as saying. In other words, GM says that it is merely helping the American public and is not twisting the knife that’s hurting Toyota. The explaination behind this offer is that it will compensate for some of the value Toyota trade-ins would have lost as a result of the recalls. Will other opportunists follow suit?

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Toyota USA recalls 2.3 million cars, halts production

January 27, 2010 at 11:37 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Toyota USA has instructed all its dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models involved in the recall for “sticking accelerator pedal” problems announced a week ago. About 2.3 million vehicles are in the list.

Toyota has investigated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats. There is a possibility that the accelerator pedal may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. This unintended acceleration could prove to be dangerous.

“Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company,” said Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter. “This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We’re making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible.”

The following models are involved: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, Certain 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia. No Lexus or Scion vehicles are affected by the recall.

Due to the sales suspension, Toyota will temporary stop producing vehicles on selected production lines for a week in February. Toyota’s Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, Canada and Subaru’s Indiana plant are involved.

Last year, the Japanese automaker recalled nearly four million vehicles. The problem? Floor mats that could trap accelerator pedals, also causing unintended acceleration. The two issues are unrelated, says Toyota, although 1.7 million vehicles are affected by both recalls.

This recall only involves the abovementioned models in North America, and does not include right-hand drive Toyotas sold elsewhere in the world.

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Euro Toyota Auris refreshed, hybrid coming soon

January 25, 2010 at 2:51 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

This is the 2010 Euro-spec Toyota Auris, which adopts the exterior changes made to the Japan market car late last year. Nothing radical, just a new bumper with integrated fog lamps, new headlights, a new grille, side mirrors with repeaters, new alloys, rear lights, some chrome and a new rear bumper for the “catamaran” look.

Inside, there are changes to the Optitron instrument cluster (now in white) and higher quality soft-feel plastics on the dash. The handbrake comes in a new shape and the centre console gets a silver finish. The cabin also features new cloth upholstery.

Under the skin, Toyota has fine-tuned the Auris’ suspension to better suit European roads, resulting in stable high-speed driving with secure handling and greater ride comfort, it is claimed. The speed-sensitive EPS has also been revised to deliver better feedback and agility. The current range of engines and six-speed manual and MultiMode transmissions are retained – there’s a 1.33-litre Dual VVT-i with Stop & Start, 1.6 Valvematic petrol and a 1.4 D-4D diesel.

A British built Auris Hybrid with the Prius drivetrain will be launched in July. One more image after the jump.
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Toyota Prius G Sports at Tokyo Auto Salon 2010

January 18, 2010 at 9:27 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Toyota

The new “G Sports” range of kit that debuts at the Tokyo Auto Salon this month have also been added to the Toyota Prius. The engine and hybrid motor has been left standard but other than the aesthetics mods, Toyota has also added what they call ‘chassis reinforcements’, and better 4-pot front and 2-pot rear brakes from their Advics brand.

On the inside, the car gets a black interior, a red-stitched leather steering wheel, a red piano black shift knob, and more piano black trim applied everywhere. The push start button has the G Sports logo, and there are also G Sports Recaro seats for the front driver and passenger. Seats are red in colour. Finally, the brake and accelerator pedals are done in aluminum.
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Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept at the Tokyo Salon

January 16, 2010 at 7:35 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Toyota, Videos

Toyota is showing a whole range of “G Sports” kitted up cars at the Tokyo Auto Salon (which is kinda like a Japanese SEMA) but I say by far the most interesting car there is probably this – a FT-86 Concept that’s been done up quite well.

Other than this FT-86, a number of other cars have had the G Sports treatment given to them, such as the Noah, the Voxy, the Mark X, and the Prius. Toyota’s GAZOO Racing arm has its own set of cars to showcase including a Lexus LF-A. Lexus will be showing an IS F Circuit Club Sports Concept. TRD will have a Corolla Axio “GT” TRD Turbo.

And why “G Sports”? Apparently Toyota says the letter G heralds back to the days of cars like the 2000GT and the Celica GT-Four. You know what I think? The letter G comes after F, so Toyota G Sports comes after Lexus F-Sports :P G-nius!

Another bonus will be a trailer released by Gran Turismo 5 that showcases the FT-86 complete with G Sports kit doing its stuff in the virtual world, so please enjoy that and a small gallery of the FT-86 G Sports Concept after the jump.
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Detroit 2010: Toyota FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept – more frugal and cheaper than Prius

January 12, 2010 at 1:18 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Toyota

Toyota has unveiled the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept at Detroit. The FT-CH is part of Toyota’s strategy to offer a wider variety of hybrid options, even as it begins to introduce plug-in hybrids and electrics vehicles in 2012 and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2015. Dedicated means that the FT-CH is a stand alone hybrid model – like the Prius – and isn’t based on an existing car.

The CH in the name stands for “compact hybrid” and the FT-CH sits below the Prius in size. Styled at Toyota’s European Design centre in France, the inspiration behind the design is one of the more bizarre stories. Apparently, the team looked to the “vivid, high-energy appeal of the 8-bit generation”. Popularized in the early 80s, 8-bit microprocessor technology dominated the budding home video game industry (remember the Micro Genius?). Toyota says that today, 8-bit is considered a retro-style that’s fun and innovative, colorful and stylish, with strong appeal to young buyers.

Lighter and even more fuel efficient than Prius, the FT-CH targets a younger, less-affluent buyer demographic. Toyota is developing a Prius family “marketing strategy” for North America that will take full advantage of the Prius brand equity, says Jim Lentz, Toyota’s US boss. “The strategy is still taking shape and obviously it will require additional models to qualify as a family,” said Lentz. “Among others, the FT-CH is a concept that we are considering.”

More pictures after the jump.
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Delhi 2010: Toyota Etios sedan and hatch unveiled!

January 5, 2010 at 1:27 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Delhi Motor Show, Cars, India, Toyota

This is the Toyota Etios sedan, unveiled moments ago at the Auto Expo 2010 in India. The show cars feature newly developed 1.2 and 1.5-litre petrol engines, according to Toyota. This booted version will be launched in India by the end of 2010, with a hatchback model to follow in 2011. It’s officially a concept, but should be almost production ready from the looks of it.

Toyota expects to sell 70,000 units of the Etios in India annually. To do this, Toyota will expand its Indian sales network to 150 dealers by the end of 2010 from the current 97.

“India will play a pivotal role in Toyota’s global expansion plans and the time has come for us to strategically accelerate our growth here,” said Toyota Vice-Chairman Kazuo Okamoto.

UPDATE: Toyota will sell a similar car in China, Brazil and South East Asia, according to Executive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo.

Pictures of the Etios hatchback and interior after the jump!
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Toyota’s Asia sales overtake domestic figures

January 4, 2010 at 11:46 am By Danny Tan Filed Under International News, Toyota

We’re surprised it took so long. Toyota’s data for the first 11 months of 2009 show that sales in Asia (excluding Japan) is set to overtake domestic sales for the first time this year. Toyota sold 1,354,000 units in Asia from January to November 2009, an year-on-year increase of 4.5%, compared to 1,256,000 vehicles in Japan. This makes Asia the second-largest market for Toyota in 2009 after North America (1,770,000 units).

The growth in Asia is spearheaded by a 20.7% increase in China to 622,000 units. Sources say that this will grow to 700,000 units for the entire year. November’s data also showed recovery in India, Thailand and Vietnam, it added.

This revelation isn’t shocking. Asia sales count growing markets such as India and China as well as the ASEAN region, while the Japanese auto market is saturated. Although it’s unlikely, but we can wish that with our newfound strength in numbers, Toyota will be less stingy with their JDM models and achieve better volume by exporting them to more sophisticated markets within Asia. The bulk of the figures will be borne by bread and butter models like the Camry, Corolla and Vios, as well as the IMV spin offs (Hilux, Innova, Fortuner), but I’m sure there will be takers for their Japan-only models. Just look at the amount of grey import Toyotas on the road!

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