The Demo Site

Are you ready for some change at Toyota? We definitely are and we’re definitely excited to welcome auto enthusiast Akio Toyoda as he takes control of Toyota from former boss Katsuaki Watanabe who will become vice chairman of the Japanese automaker.

The man behind cars such as the Lexus IS-F and the Lexus LF-A, Toyoda is grandson to the company’s founder and will steer the world’s No.1 automaker through one of the worst downturns in its history.

At this time, you’re probably thinking Toyoda is 23-years old but he is really 53 and will take over Toyota with four new executive vice presidents and eight new board members.Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda, Akio’s father, and Senior Adviser Hiroshi Okuda, have resigned from the board.

Toyota, which lost 436.9 billion yen ($4.6 billion USD) during the fiscal year through March (its worst loss since it was founded in 1937), expects an even larger loss this year.

Go ahead - check your calendars and make sure it isn’t April 1st - and no we’re not playing a practical joke on you. What you’re looking at is a new “luxury commuter concept” called the Cygnet developed by Aston Martin that looks like a beefed up Toyota iQ with a DBS grille and hood nostrils.

Aston Martin released one photograph of the clay model currently in production and is not even hiding the fact that the Cygnet has iQ based design and qualities. The Gaydon automakers says that the “Cygnet will offer customers a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury” and is “based on the critically acclaimed Toyota iQ with a Euro NCAP 5-star safety package.”

“Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to embark on this special project - made possible with the support of an organisation of Toyota’s stature and capability and the intelligent design and perfect city car package of the iQ,” said CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

Yes - it’s not a secret that an automaker that produces some of the world’s most gorgeous supercars is teaming up with an automaker that produces some of the world’s most fuel-efficient cars.

So will it ever become a reality? “Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not too distant future,” said Bez. “This concept - akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht - will allow us to apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a completely new segment of the market.”

We know. Not all car dealers are unscrupulous, and not all are going to take you to the cleaners. Among all the “Honest Bobs” out there walking the lots, many really are trustworthy. But there is a simple reason so many people dread buying a new car: the potential for rip-off is astronomical, and common practices over the years have often justified consumers’ fears. If you catch a whiff of any of the scams below, be on alert.

Juggling the Four-Square

This isn’t really a trick, but awareness here is important for a buyer. When you sit down to negotiate, the salesman will pull out a “four-square” worksheet on which to work out the terms of the deal. In the four quadrants of the sheet the salesman will record purchase price, down payment, monthly payments, and trade-in value. He will fill in the sheet as you talk, working the deal like a shell game—if he thinks you are preoccupied with getting a fair deal on your trade in, he might give you a good price for that and then nudge your new-car purchase price north. Take it slow, focus on one item at a time, and be sure you are comfortable with each individual aspect of your purchase.

Keep Reading: Car Dealer Tricks to Watch For - Buyers Info

Now the financial crisis, bankruptcies, and the 2016 CAFE has put the kibosh on that. Or has it? Here's how RWD will survive the decade.

For those of us enthusiasts who reached driving age during the first oil crises, the 2010s are looking a lot like the 1970s. The V-8 as affordable, mainstream performance already is dead. That's okay, given the increase of direct injection and turbocharging.

Photo Gallery: Rear Wheel Drive Car future - RWD Does Not Have To Die - Motor Trend

Whether you are a business professional, a student, or just someone who likes to stay connected, accessing the Internet and e-mail servers while away from your home or office is becoming more and more popular. While you can purchase an Internet card from your cellular provider or hook up at a pay-for-time hot spot, another solution on the market is the Autonet, a wireless Internet hub designed for use in your car, truck, or SUV.

Chrysler was one of the first manufacturers to offer wireless Internet as an option with its UConnect product, currently offered as an option on many vehicles. The same device is also available for use in any vehicle as the Autonet.

The Autonet Internet hub can be placed under a seat or in a cargo bin.

(Credit: Al & Ed's Autosound)

We installed the Autonet in a Honda belonging to our outside sales rep, but it can go into any car. It's a two-wire hook-up (power/ground), and can be placed under a seat or in a storage compartment. Once powered up, multiple users can surf the Net, check e-mail, download files, or do whatever they need to do online. It has a range of about 100 feet, so it can provide a wireless network away from the vehicle, too. It can be set up as a secured or unsecured network. You could also wire the unit up to a cigarette lighter-type plug and use it in multiple vehicles by plugging in to a 12v power supply.

The system works pretty well. It takes about 30 seconds to boot up and access the network. During this time, you see a flashing blue indicator light, which goes solid blue once an Internet connection is established. Then, you simply log on the way you would to any available wireless network.

The Panthera Leo can cut grass for 2 hours before needing a recharge.

(Credit: Husqvarna)

The Hank Hills of the world won't be impressed, but Husqvarna revealed a concept riding lawn mower that runs on electricity. The Panthera Leo's lithium phosphate battery can power the mower's five ...

This Bentley competed in the very first Le Mans race, setting the inaugural lap record and finishing fourth overall.

(Credit: Peter and Robin Briggs)

Any true James Bond fan will want to be at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 16, as four Birkin Blowers go on display ...

The Alpine iDA-X305 is a good example of a car stereo that can be found for significantly less than MSRP.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Looking to save a few bucks on that portable navigation device or epic stereo system for your car? Well, we have a few tips to help ...

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

We were expecting a lot from the Mercury Milan Hybrid. After having briefly driven the Ford Fusion Hybrid, we had an idea what to expect from the powertrain, and we've also seen Ford's killer combination of Sync and Sirius Travel Link in a few ...

As the movie Hoosiers amply demonstrated, Indiana natives don't quit. That's also true for three Indiana state pension funds who have fought Chrysler's bankruptcy all the way to the federal appeals court in New York and, having lost their case there, are filing papers with the Supreme Court today.
The central issue is that the funds feel Chrysler's post-bankruptcy remuneration plans have unfairly cost the funds a great deal of value by putting unsecured debtors such as the UAW ahead of the funds' claims. They are fighting the bankruptcy by alleging that the government's TARP disbursal to Chrysler was unconstitutional and that the subsequent events amount to a covert reorganization, not Chapter 11.
Yet when asked whether a Chrysler liquidation would be better for the pension funds than the Fiat deal, the funds' lawyer replied that he was looking for more remuneration for secured debtors. The filing will go to Justice Ginsburg who will decide whether to accept it at all, to handle it alone or to refer to the full court for hearing. Chrysler has until June 15 to emerge free and clear, else Fiat can walk away. And if that happens, Chrysler might owe Fiat $35 million -- which is just $7 million short of what the three Indiana funds together have invested in the Pentastar. Thanks for the tip, MM!
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

2009 Turkish Grand Prix -

With the established teams still threatening to walk and new teams lining up by the dozen, nothing could have better characterized Formula One's transition from old to new better than the move from the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago to the Turkish Grand Prix this weekend. While the Monaco race - held on the streets of Monte Carlo, with its close proximities and timeless seaside city-scape - remains one of the sport's oldest venues, the race in Turkey - at the new-school Istanbul Park Circuit, characterized by wide run-offs and state-of-the-art accommodations - is one of its youngest.
First held in 2005, the Turkish Grand Prix has been won the past three years running by the same driver: Ferrari's Felipe Massa, the young Brazilian who narrowly lost out on the driver's crown last year to Lewis Hamilton. Surely Ferrari's golden boy was eager to extend his domination at the Ottoman autodrom, but would he and his Maranello squad be able to translate the marked improvement which they displayed in Monte Carlo just a fortnight ago into a return to winning form in Istanbul?

General Motors said today that it will stop building medium-duty trucks at its Flint Assembly plant by July 31.

GEM CEO Fritz Henderson said that the automaker was unable to find a buyer for the operation. It had been searching for a buyer for the last four years.

The Flint factory employs some 2,100 people, of which 525 made medium-duty trucks for GM and Isuzu. The plant also builds the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra.

GM had negotiated a deal with Isuzu to keep production going through 2014 of the Chevrolet Kodiak and the GMC Topkick. It failed to close a deal with Navistar International Corp., a move that would have relocated jobs to another facility.

Who knows what Ironhide is going to do?

As GM prepares to sell its Swedish and German brand, Opel and Saab, the bankrupt automaker’s Australian brand is safe. After its surgical bankruptcy, the ‘New GM’ will consist of just four core brands including Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick.

However, managing director of GM Holden, Mark Reuss, says that the Australian brand will not be sold.

“I can’t say forever because some day when I’m not here, and more perhaps when someone may have that idea, but we have not been approached, nor have we been offered, nor are we pursuing any sale of Holden,” Reuss said.

“This is one of the iconic brands in Australia, and I think it always will be as long as we take care of it and feed it with the products and the different dealer services that we do today, which are very good.”

As GM files for one of the biggest bankruptcies in U.S. history, Reuss said that Holden will remain unchanged and will join the ‘New GM.’

Reuss said that company is now focused on improving the Commodore lineup and launching the Holden Cruze and Volt models.

Source: Drive

Park Lane Rolls Royce MINI

People love to imagine bigger and better things for the long-running MINI. Whether it's a new Speedster version or a revived MINI Moke, the platform inspires daydreaming. Apparently, it aspires, too, to a more pimped-out existence. Rumors of a Rolls Royce-branded MINI have been floating around recently, stoked most recently by a series of pictures taken recently at London's famous Park Lane MINI dealership. Sadly, this is not a production Rolls-Royce MINI. Instead, this is a MINI made for "a recent dealer event," and a MINI spokesperson told theSwitchback that a MINI Rolls has not yet been approved for production. Sorry. Still, anyone who's going to do any speculation about the MINI/Rolls-Royce collaboration could use this car as inspiration: it's got magnolia-colored leather practically everywhere, including the roof lining and the air vent bezels. Everything else is covered in walnut wood and glossy piano-black trim. It may not be a production preview, but it sure is a pretty MINI.

Austrian motorcycle maker KTM stakes its reputation on the ability of its off-road motorcycles to tackle the toughest terrain on earth, and it's made a habit of proving these capabilities with both a factory team and a far-reaching privateer support program in the Dakar Rally each year. Up through 2009, that is - KTM has just announced that it's pulling out of next year's event.
The reason cited for the shocking decision is the French ASO's ruling that all motorcycles taking part in the Dakar race in 2010 must use engines displacing 450cc or smaller. KTM's entries all use engines displacing a little over 650cc and will therefore not qualify. Instead of waiting for next year to react, KTM "has decided to immediately accept the consequences and announces its withdrawal from the Dakar."
Whether this is nothing more than a case of sour grapes or an intentional move to limit KTM's chances of winning a ninth-consecutive victory at the Dakar Rally, it's disappointing to a whole bunch of fans with orange-colored blood running through their veins. For what it's worth, KTM says it will continue racing, just not in the Dakar. Make the jump to read KTM's official press release.

Currently the 2010 Volvo X60 is available with a 3.0L turbocharged T6 engine making 281-hp with a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft. Volvo announced today that it is adding a new version of the compact SUV, the 2010 Volvo X60 3.2.

Power comes from the same 3.2L engine that powers the base S80 sedan. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2010 X60 3.2 makes 235-hp and peak torque of 236 lb-ft. Fuel-economy is estimated at 27 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city.

Pricing for the 2010 Volvo X60 3.2 starts at $33,245 for the front-wheel-drive model and $35,245 for the AWD model (prices include $850 destination charge).

Press Release:

Volvo announces pricing for the value laden 2010 XC60 3.2

Irvine, CA (June 5, 2009) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) announced pricing today of its newest version of its acclaimed small premium utility the XC60. The 2010 XC60 3.2 will be offered with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive when the vehicle goes on sale this summer. A front-wheel drive XC60 is value priced at 32,395*. The new 3.2-liter with AWD is aggressively priced at $34,395*.

The XC60’s normally aspirated 3.2 is the same engine that powers the base S80 flagship sedan introduced in 2008 and comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission. The inline 6-cylinder produces an energetic 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque across a wide power band that provides for the XC60’s quick, fluid acceleration.

Fuel economy for the 3.2-liter is nothing short of excellent with an estimated 27 miles per gallon on the highway and an estimated 18 miles per gallon in the city. Additionally, Volvo - a perennial leader in emissions control - offers two version of the 3.2 with either ULEV-II (ultra low emissions) or PZEV (partial zero emissions) systems.

This latest edition of what might be termed the world’s safest passenger vehicle incorporates more than 80 years of safety innovation including the Volvo invented 3-point seatbelt more than 50-years ago to the introduction of standard City Safety, a low-speed collision avoidance system, launched with the 2010 XC60 T6 AWD earlier this year.

Other safety features include Roll Stability Control (RSC), pretensioned seatbelts in all seating positions, an inflatable side curtain for front and rear passengers and a high-strength Boron steel roof structure, the XC60 combines both active and passive safety systems in one stunningly designed package. Additional standard safety features include Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC), anti-lock brakes, WHIPS, Volvo’s whiplash protection seats, and the SIPS side-impact protection system.

Standard equipment on the XC60 3.2 includes: 17-inch alloy wheels; auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, Bluetooth with hands free capability, dual zone Electronic Climate Control, front fog lamps, HD Radio, high performance audio system with 8-speakers, a 4×40 amplifier, CD player with MP3 capability, cargo area load cover, power driver’s seat with memory function including the outside mirrors, Sirius Satellite Radio including a 6-month complimentary subscription and USB and auxiliary inputs.

The XC60 3.2 is also included in Volvo’s excellent Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance program, which covers the first three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance helps reduce the cost of ownership by providing customers the first four maintenance visits to their Volvo retailer as complimentary. A wide range of services are covered by the program, including oil and filter changes, cabin filter replacement, complete fluid level top-offs and a check of the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic system.

Just yesterday, we reported that the Volkswagen BlueSport Concept is ready to take the giant leap into production. It was reported that the BlueSport could carry a starting price-tag of about $30,000 when it hits showrooms.

According to AutoCar, the BlueSport may not be sold as V-Dub. Apparently the big bosses at Audi don’t believe that someone would cash out $30,000 for a Volkswagen badged roadster. In order to make the two-seater more cost-effective, they may sell it as an Audi or Seat.

Yesterday, we told you that project leader Marco Fabiano, said that the 265-hp 2.0L turbocharged engine from the Volkswagen Scirocco R is also being considered besides the 180-hp 4-cylinder diesel. Well, he also told the AutoCar folks that the BlueSport is capable of taking a 6-cylinder engine as well.

Sources say that Porsche is unlikely to get a version of the car. Rumors that Porsche may use the BlueSport to revive the 914 have been refuted by Volkswagen insiders.

Around here, we are all big fans of the Acura TSX—the lean, frisky, three-time-10Best-winning, first-generation version, anyway. With respect to the larger, more substantial second-gen 2009 TSX introduced just last year, our camp is split. Some of us believe that even despite the car’s newer and larger (but just 130-pound-heavier) body, the high-revving 201-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder carried over is still a great match, offering an excellent blend of power and prudence, especially with the available six-speed manual. The rest believe that along with the newfound size and substance, Acura should have added a heap of horsepower—and rear- or all-wheel drive.

In regards to the former group, nothing has changed on the four-cylinder TSX for 2010: it’s still the happy, front-drive, near-luxe sedan it’s always been. For the power-hungry bunch, the 2010 TSX V-6 will alleviate the horsepower deficit when it goes on sale in July. By slipping in the same, 3.5-liter V-6 from the base TL—tuned in the TSX to 280 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque—Acura turns its smallest four-door into a very quick sports sedan, even if it comes only with a paddle-shifted, five-speed automatic transmission.

Keep Reading: 2010 Acura TSX V-6 - First Drive Review

We'll start off by saying that this spoof on General Motors' Re:invention commercial is not exactly fair and not exactly accurate... but it is funny. It comes from an Onion-esque type website with a decidedly sharp take on GM's situation, with story headlines like "GM Kicks Dog, Takes Candy from Baby" and "GM Kills Electric Car, Five Others in Shooting Spree." You can watch the original commercial and the spoof after the jump. Make sure you have your sense of humor switched on.
[Source: GM Retardation]

On Wednesday, we brought you the first pictures of Hyundai's new Transform, a Korean market derivative of the Verna hatchback that is a close relative of our stateside Accent, the automaker's lowest-cost offering. For 2010, the KDM Verna Transform model incorporates a unique front fascia and a controversial looking grille among other changes. The big question we had on our mind after seeing it was: Is this model bound for the U.S. - or was it simply another foreign Accent?
Well, we put exactly that question to Hyundai P.R. manager Dan Bedore, and he indicates that the Verna Transform is not representative of what we will see in the U.S. - on the contrary, our Accent successor "...will have a distinct, exciting new look of its own when it is introduced. The Verna Transform pictured here is a sport package for the KDM model Verna only."
Bedore went on to confirm that the next U.S. Accent is part of the company's 24/7 plan (which will see seven new model introductions over a 24 month period that began with the rollout of the Genesis Coupe). While we're not privy to the salacious specifics of Hyundai's product calendar, we expect to see the new Tucson crossover join the family next, followed either by the aforementioned Accent replacement or the Veloster-based 2+2 sporty coupe.