Car Chute

This is the car the Smart should always have been. Indeed, according to Smart’s global product manager, Pitt Moos, this is the car the Smart was originally intended to be.

Moos is claiming that the original 1998 Smart was intended to be either electric-powered or a hybrid. The Smart’s entire being — its diminutive size, its Jetsonian shape, its sparse creature comforts — literally screams green intentions. That we got diesel-and gasoline-powered versions first is a result of consumers not being ready for electrification.

Well, we are now and the Smart, despite the headline-grabbing Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, is the first production electric car available to the general public from a major manufacturer. It’s also one that, considering the limitations of the breed, makes sense. The Smart, after all, has always been an urban car.

Mercedes has an advantage over other manufacturers pimping their electric cars. The Smart is one of only two EVs — the Volt being the other — I’ve tested that meets its targeted range specifications without “special” qualifications.

Mercedes promises a 135-kilometre range and that is almost exactly the amount it would have attained. Nor, as I said, did it require all those coasting/braking/tip-toeing tricks EV manufacturers claim the public can’t wait to embrace as part of its conversion to electric cars. Half of my driving was on the highway, which is normally anathema to EV range. I can, therefore, promise that, unless you are constantly driving uphill, the Smart’s 135-km range is a practical rather than theoretical limitation.

So, yes, the fortwo electric drive is here. Yes, it is the most sensible of EVs, both in range and intended use. As a part, albeit small, of the revolution to green our roads, it makes sense. Mercedes has other options — diesels and hybrids, etc. — it sees as more viable solutions for mainstream motoring. There’s a lesson in there somewhere for other auto-makers boasting electrification.

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TOYOTA PRIUS

The Prius marks an important milestone in Toyota’s Thai history, in the sense that it is a brand new model and has a dedicated petrol/electric drivetrain.

Moreover, the country is second after Japan to produce it locally.

It’s not that Thailand’s best-selling brand has never taken any interest in selling the Prius which now is in its third generation. Ever since the first-gen model was launched in Japan in the 1990s, Toyota carried out tests on Thai roads to gauge public opinion about the car.

And now that Toyota has already successfully launched the Camry Hybrid in the Thai market, it’s now right time to move lower down the ranks to chase for even more sales in the B1.2-1.3m price bracket – some B500,000 cheaper than the petrol/electric Camry.

The Prius also provides Toyota a good chance to make Thais more acquainted with hatchbacks in this price range – something market leaders like itself and Honda haven’t always been keen in offering them alongside the traditional saloon.

At first sight the Prius seems a rival for C-segment hatchbacks like the Ford Focus and Mazda 3. But if you glance at the specs, the Prius is a tad larger than those two.

So you can’t consider it a five-door variant of the Corolla saloon; that honour goes to the Auris sold in Europe and Japan.

Which means that the Prius is a reasonably practical car in its own right, boasting more occupant space than in conventional C-cars. The rear bench, for instance, can take three in comfort and has airiness enhanced by a near-flat floor.

Just don’t expect it to be as wide as in the Camry, which is a notch above the Prius as a proper mid-size family saloon.

But boot versatility is something the Prius can boast over the Focus and its likes and the Camry. Despite a somewhat shallow boot, it can still hold a decent amount of luggage and becomes commodious when the rear seats fold flat.

Then there are the numerous cubbie holes up front that lend the Prius a dose of everyday livability. The console is not only designed to enhance function, but it also yields a fine level of ergonomics for the driver.

It’s comprehensively equipped with safety features, be it on the active or passive side (see safety kit graph). No other close rival or Toyota has such a complete range of airbags. Be reminded, though, that LED lights – and some other small details – are only reserved for the top model, as tested here, priced at B1.27m.

Other than that, though, it’s quite a dull place to be in the Prius. There’s ample hollow feel while grey

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I think Bill Murray had it all wrong. The Scrooged denouement( andwhohasn’t, with AMC rerunning it 24/7, memorized it by now)shouldn’t have been about Christmas Eve but New Year’s Eve. His character’s whole “for a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be” schtick is far more apropos of New Year’s than Noel. For one thing, we’re almost assuredly drunk as skunks, which means our judgment is clouded, greatly aiding, I find, that whole love thy fellow man thing. For another, on New Year’s Eve, we’re with friends — whom we generally like — or strangers — who we may like even more — while at Christmas we’re with family. (I’ll let you fill in your own drunk uncle-inspired screed here).

Besides, by New Year’s Eve, we’re revelling in the home furnishings we’ve bought for ourselves at Boxing Week sale prices rather than worrying about the full-pop debt we incurred buying Christmas gifts for others. No wonder New Year’s Eve is a time of optimism and resolution — we’re hammered, we’re with strangers we love and we’re so very, very thankful that Christmas comes only once a year.

It is in this spirit of beatific celebration that I bring you my predictions–nay, my heartfelt wishes — for 2011. Call it my metaphorical “taking an old blanket out of the closet” for the homeless. Perhaps this is just my way of making sandwiches for the indigent. Indeed, the desire to help an old lady cross the street is starting to feel overwhelming. I don’t know about you folks, but, sometimes, the soft, cuddly side of me really believes that, if I can just find that ideal combination of Sassafraz bad-ass mojito and countdown champagne, Bill Murray’s “miracles” can actually happen.

So, it is with a pure heart that I hope Toyota gets its mojo back. Yes, the world’s most prolific automaker got a little too big for its britches; some might even say arrogant. But it’s important to remember that, behind all that unnecessary obfuscation and misguided denial, there really is an excellent car company. Dennis DesRosiers, Canada’s leading automotive consultant, recently mentioned that, of all the non-luxury brands, Toyota has the best “survival” — as in more old cars still on the road–over the last 25 years. Camrys may not be enjoying the greatest of reputations now, but my dear old papa loved his 1998 LE with a

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Meet the New Meerkats

- Meerkat Billionaire Aleksandr Orlov Launches Campaign to Save Home Village From Cheap Car Insurance Threat

PR Newswire — December 31, 2010

LONDON, December 31, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Fans of Aleksandr Orlov will today get the chance to meet a whole community of new meerkats as the comparethemeerkat founder opens the gates to his home village Meerkovo with a new advertisement, which makes its TV debut on 1st January 2011.

Aleksandr has had a busy Christmas period, with his autobiography reaching No.1 in The Sunday Times Bestseller Chart. However, with the new advert he is turning his attention back to his business problems. People of the UK are still confusing his site for comparethemarket.com (http://www.comparethemarket.com/) and visiting comparethemeerkat.com (http://www.comparethemeerkat.com/) by mistake when looking for cheap car insurance quotes (http://www.comparethemarket.com/).

In his next advert Aleksandr has now turned documentary film maker. Ably supported by Sergei, IT expert-come-boom-operator, Aleksandr has produced a new “infomercial” about the plight of his village and the suffering of its citizens.

Aleskandr is lifting the lid on life in his village of Meerkovo to reveal the affect this is having on the meerkat community, which is dependent on meerkat comparison.

Subject Codes: PC/t.101231040025570, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, IN/ADV, IN/AUT, IN/ENT, IN/INS, IN/TRN, IN/TRT, SU/PDT, RE/United_Kingdom

By Chang-Ran Kim, Asia autos correspondent

NAGOYA, Japan |
Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:51am EST

NAGOYA, Japan (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) is aiming to significantly lower the break-even point for its Japanese operations through a slew of improved manufacturing processes, a top executive said on Friday.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda has said he wants to maintain domestic production of at least 3 million vehicles a year in Japan to protect jobs and the tradition of manufacturing, or “monozukuri,” at home despite headwinds from a stronger yen.

Toyota is more exposed to a firm yen than rivals Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) since it produces a bigger portion of its vehicles in Japan, and is under intense pressure to lower costs or take the politically difficult step of shifting more of its production overseas.

Nissan has especially been aggressive in pursuing ways to shield itself against a strong yen by importing more parts, as well as some cars, from overseas.

“We’re trying to be able to operate at 85 yen (to the dollar) and 70 percent capacity utilization,” Atsushi Niimi, executive vice president in charge of manufacturing, told reporters.

As the global financial crisis hammered sales and left much of its production capacity unused, Toyota embarked on efforts to make its domestic factory lines more flexible and introduce other changes to be able to break even at capacity utilization of 70 percent, equivalent to daily production of 12,000 units.

But that had assumed a dollar rate of 90 yen, far more favorable than the current 83 yen level.

Niimi said improvements in processes could reduce Toyota’s capital spending by about 40 percent, limiting annual expenditure to about 700 billion yen ($8.4 billion) for the next five years or so. That is about half what it used to spend at its peak.

One measure Toyota is taking is to make its engine assembly process more compact.

“We used to believe that the most efficient scale for an engine assembly line was about 18,000 units a month,” Niimi said. “But now we think half of that is better.”

He said that because emissions and fuel economy regulations were evolving all the time, engine production would fall to half in two to three years, hurting the pace of depreciation.

By changing the layout of the engine production process and making other changes, Niimi said Toyota’s engine production could be 20 percent more cost-competitive than

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Dec 30, 2010 (SmarTrend News Watch via COMTEX) –
Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) recalled 7.1 million vehicles in 2010, claiming the top spot for auto recalls during the year, according to new data.

Toyota’s recalls this year stemmed from issues including problematic gas pedals, braking systems, floor mats, stalling engines, and more.

However, the automaker was not the only one to issue recalls for problematic vehicles in 2010.

General Motors Co. (GM) recalled 4.0 million vehicles this year, and Nissan trailed in third with 2.0 million recalled vehicles.

A total of 20.0 million vehicles were recalled in 2010, a low when compared to the 30.8 million recall record-high year in 2004 set by the auto industry as a whole.

Shares of Toyota are trading 1.14% lower Thursday afternoon at $78.20; shares of GM are 2.28% higher at $36.84.

Toyota Motor manufactures, sells, leases, and repairs passenger cars, trucks, buses, and their related parts worldwide.

The company also operates financing services through their subsidiaries.

Toyota Motor builds homes, produces pleasure boats, and develops intelligent transportation systems including radar cruise control and electronic toll collection systems.

Toyota Motor had sales growth of 0.1% during the last fiscal year.

The company has reported $20,251.8 billion in sales over the past 12 months and is expected to report $20,502.0 billion in sales in the next fiscal year.

Toyota Motor has a potential upside of 12.4% based on a current price of $78.28, and an average consensus analyst price target of $88.00.

The automaker is currently above its 50-day moving average (MA) of $75.72 and above its 200-day MA of $73.91.

In the last five trading sessions, the 50-day MA has climbed 0.7%, while the 200-day MA has remained constant.

Write to Chip Brian at cbrian@tradethetrend.com

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Copyright, Comtex News Network, Inc. 2010

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Visitors will be able to enjoy spending the day out at the Heritage Motor Centre on the 2 3 January 2011 paying 2010 prices. The Centre is freezing the special rates for just two days in January before rates will be increased slightly. What’s more, if visitors take advantage of the Museum’s ‘Gift Aid’ scheme by choosing to ‘gift’ their entry on arrival, they receive a 12 month entry ticket at no extra cost, so can return for free for the entire year! With Christmas over, the Heritage Motor Centre provides the perfect place to have fun and entertain friends and family during the school holidays.

The Heritage Motor Centre is home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars with over 180 vehicles on display. In addition there are a number of exciting and interactive exhibitions which chart the history of British motoring from the 1890s to the present day. Visitors can walk the ‘Time Road’ and discover how motoring and family life has changed through the decades with period music and memorable events including the introduction of double yellow lines. Travel through ‘Making British Cars’ and see how influential the motor industry has been over the years and where it is heading in the future. Get ‘Under The Skin’ and unravel the mystery of how cars work with interactive exhibits. Experience how suspension has improved over time and compare the difference between rack and pin and power steering.

The Centre also offers free guided tours twice a day and there is an onsite café serving hot and cold meals and snacks. For those needing to work off the Christmas excesses take a stroll round the grounds to the off-road viewing platform and the children’s playground.

The Museum is closed from the 24 Dec to 1 Jan inclusive, re-opening on the 2 Jan and open from 10am -5pm.

Museum entry fees in 2010 and on the 2 3 January 2011 are: Adult £9, Concession £8, Child (5-16) £7, Family £28 (2 adults and up to 3 children). Thereafter prices are: Adult £11, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free /Concessions £9 and a Family at £34.

To find out more information about the Heritage Motor Centre, please visit the website at heritage-motor-centre.co.uk.

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MOST Indians believe that if you praise a child excessively, you risk inviting misfortune, but they probably don’t think cars are similarly vulnerable.

When the Nano – the world’s cheapest car, with a price tag of $US2000 – was launched in early 2009, Indians beamed like proud parents, enjoying the acclaim it won for its originality and the hope it gave of owning a new car.

Its maker, Tata Motors, sold 9000 cars last July. But in November, only 509 were sold, down 85 per cent from November 2009. Suddenly, the pop star of the car world looked less like Kylie and more like Cher.

The Nano is in trouble, partly because of the sheer hype that surrounded it but principally because of safety concerns, lack of easy credit and pricing.

It was the Nano’s price tag that caught people’s imagination. Yet when customers went to buy it, the final bill was usually closer to $US3700 – still amazingly cheap, but closer to the price of other small cars.

”We paid extra for the air conditioning. But I was still taken aback at the final cost and my wife thought we should consider another small car,” said Altaf Ali, a Delhi engineer who bought a Nano because he wanted a ”piece of history”.

In a bid to boost sales, Tata Motors has recently started offering a maintenance contract for $US2.50 a month. It is also trying to undo the negative publicity caused by several cars suddenly catching fire. The company insisted that the car was safe but, to be doubly sure, installed additional features. Not everyone was convinced.

”When I saw how fast the fire spread on TV, that decided it for me. I’d rather take out a bigger loan and get another car than feel nervous every time my kids go out in the car,” said school teacher Meenakshi Khurana, who last month bought an Alto, the next cheapest car at $US6000.

Oddly enough, the car – meant to offer comfort and safety to Indians who normally travel dangerously perched on scooters – has been bought largely by people who already have a car but liked the idea of it for local errands.

After the fires, car owners seeking a runabout decided the Nano was no longer fun or trendy and first-time buyers began exploring the second-hand car market, especially as they doubted the Nano could handle highways.

Motoring writer Morad Ali Baig said the Nano was a ”good product”, but Indian consumers were ”unforgiving”. ”The Indian consumer doesn’t want a good car, he wants the best, so why should he buy any car that has the slightest shadow over it?” he said.

Tata Motors also seems to have realised the need

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Wow, what a year it has been in the auto industry. Ford surged up the sales charts because it didn’t take taxpayer bailout money (and it built some nice vehicles) and General Motors went public to pay back part of what it did take from taxpayers. Volvo was bought by the Chinese, Saab resurrected itself — with GM’s products — while Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Mercury won’t be down for breakfast.

Chrysler — on its third revival in 30 years, should rename itself Phoenix, as there appears to be ongoing life in the Pentastar brands after all. Twelve months can change everything — in a big hurry too.

And what about those Koreans? One by one, the cars from Hyundai and Kia are inching past their established rivals on the sales charts, making giant inroads into the American market. Subaru, too, on pace for its third record year in a down economy, is moving south and west with new dealerships. And just when you stopped looking, Toyota has solidified itself after a horrendous public relations year. Don’t count the earnest folks at Toyota out at anytime during this kind of market battle.

Amidst it all, 47 new cars, crossovers and trucks appeared here. A couple got repeated, different models or powertrains, yet each new vehicle demonstrated once again the rapid modernization of our driving fleet. Features that were being discussed on the pages of science and engineering journals two to three years ago are now almost commonplace on many of our new cars. Make no mistake, this is the best time ever to own a new car in America.

Herewith, my 10 favorite cars and trucks of the past year.

Chevy Equinox

The proliferation of crossover models for sale is expanding every month. With buyers moving away from the typical SUV-style platform, crossovers are essential for sustained success with full-line automakers. If in doubt, ask Porsche, Mini and Saab why they are selling these two-box designs.

Several crossovers appeared and many made very good impressions. I liked the styling and features content of Kia’s redesigned Sportage, yet it lost some subtle points in the ride category. In the 10th spot on my list of favorite — not best — cars, Chevy’s Equinox edges out the Sportage because of its superior interior passenger space, smooth ride and greater fuel efficiency. If the Equinox’s styling is too bland (compared to the edgy Sportage), check out the GMC Terrain version. They are mechanically identical.

Hyundai Sonata

Year after year, a certain august motoring journal picks the Honda Accord as the best sedan in America. While undeniably a fine four-door, the Accord, nonetheless, is not without shortcomings. These were dramatically exposed by the Hyundai Sonata.

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