Car Chute

David Shepardson / / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington — Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 51,000 new Tundra pickup trucks after a rear drive shaft failed in a 2011 model.

Toyota dealers will inspect the rear shaft drive of 2011 model trucks. The rear drive shaft in an estimated 0.05 percent of the vehicles — or about 30 vehicles — may include a component that could break due to improper casting during the foundry process.

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The part was made by a Toyota supplier. Toyota is aware of one drive shaft slip yoke failure in a customer-owned vehicle. There are no reports of accidents or injuries.

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Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a letter in May.

Toyota dealers will be instructed to perform an inspection to identify a specific “production lot” number located on the rear drive shaft. Based upon the inspection results, in a limited number of cases, the rear drive shaft may need to be replaced.

The inspection is estimated to take 10 minutes. If the rear drive shaft needs to be replaced, the repair will take more time depending on dealer workload.

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SANTA ANA, California—A federal judge said Friday that he will deny another request from Toyota Motor Corp. to dismiss lawsuits filed by car owners who claim sudden-acceleration defects caused the value of their vehicles to drop.

US District Judge James Selna in Santa Ana said in a 30-page ruling that the lawsuits have enough merit to move forward.

“Taking these allegations as true, as the court must at the pleading stage, they establish an economic loss,” Selna wrote. “Plaintiffs bargained for safe, defect-free vehicles, but instead received unsafe, defective vehicles. A vehicle with a defect is worth less than one without a defect.”

Toyota spokeswoman Celeste Migliore released a statement in response to Selna’s ruling after a hearing in an Orange County courtroom late Friday.

“Although Toyota is confident that no defect exists in its electronic throttle control system, at this early stage of the litigation the Court is required to accept as true all of the factual allegations made by plaintiffs’ counsel in ruling on Toyota’s Motion to Dismiss. The burden is now squarely on plaintiffs’ counsel to prove their allegations and Toyota is confident that no such proof exists,” the statement read in part.

Selna rejected a similar dismissal motion in November made by the Japanese automaker. His most recent ruling, which likely will be finalized within 10 days, was in response to an amended complaint by the plaintiffs regarding economic loss.

Other lawsuits have been filed that seek compensation for injury and death due to sudden acceleration.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed since Toyota began recalling millions of vehicles due to acceleration problems in several models and brake defects with the Prius hybrid. To date, more than 14 million Toyota vehicles have been recalled worldwide, and the company has paid the US government a record $48.8 million in fines for its handling of three recalls.

“We believe that Toyota failed consumers through a litany of failures and missteps, including choosing not to warn the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of sudden acceleration issues they knew existed,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Steve Berman. “We believe this specific failure was a violation of consumer protection laws and are pleased that Judge Selna’s preliminary ruling will allow us to address that in our case.”

Toyota argues the plaintiffs have been unable to prove that a design defect – namely its electronic throttle control system – is responsible for vehicles surging unexpectedly. It has blamed driver error, faulty floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals for the unintended acceleration.

The automaker’s defense was buoyed earlier this year when US regulators said electronic flaws weren’t to blame for unintended acceleration. Plaintiffs’ attorneys, however, want to look at Toyota’s secretive source code that may provide more

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SANTA ANA, Calif. — A federal judge said Friday that he will deny another request from Toyota Motor Corp. to dismiss lawsuits filed by car owners who claim sudden-acceleration defects caused the value of their vehicles to drop.

U.S. District Judge James Selna in Santa Ana said in a 30-page ruling that the lawsuits have enough merit to move forward.

“Taking these allegations as true, as the court must at the pleading stage, they establish an economic loss,” Selna wrote. “Plaintiffs bargained for safe, defect-free vehicles, but instead received unsafe, defective vehicles. A vehicle with a defect is worth less than one without a defect.”

Toyota spokeswoman Celeste Migliore released a statement in response to Selna’s ruling after a hearing in an Orange County courtroom late Friday.

“Although Toyota is confident that no defect exists in its electronic throttle control system, at this early stage of the litigation the Court is required to accept as true all of the factual allegations made by plaintiffs’ counsel in ruling on Toyota’s Motion to Dismiss. The burden is now squarely on plaintiffs’ counsel to prove their allegations and Toyota is confident that no such proof exists,” the statement read in part.

Selna rejected a similar dismissal motion in November made by the Japanese automaker. His most recent ruling, which likely will be finalized within 10 days, was in response to an amended complaint by the plaintiffs regarding economic loss.

Other lawsuits have been filed that seek compensation for injury and death due to sudden acceleration.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed since Toyota began recalling millions of vehicles due to acceleration problems in several models and brake defects with the Prius hybrid. To date, more than 14 million Toyota vehicles have been recalled worldwide, and the company has paid the U.S. government a record $48.8 million in fines for its handling of three recalls.

“We believe that Toyota failed consumers through a litany of failures and missteps, including choosing not to warn the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of sudden acceleration issues they knew existed,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Steve Berman. “We believe this specific failure was a violation of consumer protection laws and are pleased that Judge Selna’s preliminary ruling will allow us to address that in our case.”

Toyota argues the plaintiffs have been unable to prove that a design defect — namely its electronic throttle control system — is responsible for vehicles surging unexpectedly. It has blamed driver error, faulty floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals for the unintended acceleration.

The automaker’s defense was buoyed earlier this year when U.S. regulators said electronic flaws weren’t to blame for unintended acceleration. Plaintiffs’ attorneys, however, want to look at Toyota’s

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Tata Motors is planning to launch a Nano model that will run 40 kilometres on a litre of diesel, matching the mileage of a typical 180cc motorcycle. It will be the most fuel-efficient car in India.

  More Related StoriesTata Motors announces record profitsMaruti 800 vs Tata Nano Tata Nano – Nano second to none!Fiat India may enter 600cc car segmentTata Motors to introduce Nano in AfricaNano passes European crash tests! Nano Premiere Tata Motors to raise Ace truck productionNano fetches premium in used-car marketThe launch is expected this financial year.

A senior executive of Bosch India, which is helping Tata Motors develop the engine for the model, said, “We have worked with Tata Motors for Nano’s petrol version and we are working with it for the diesel version too. The car has a two-cylinder, 700cc engine which develops healthy power without compromising on fuel economy. Although official test figures have not been revealed, we expect it to run 40 km on one litre of diesel.”

A Tata Motors spokesperson said: “You are aware that Tata Motors continuously improves its products. But we do not provide guidance on our innovations.”

At 40km/litre, the running cost of the new Nano will be Rs 1/km. The capacity of the fuel tank is expected to be 15 litres.

For Tata Motors, the diesel version could finally attract customers opting for two-wheelers – the original idea behind the Tatas’ Rs 1 lakh car project. For instance, Bajaj Pulsar 180, which costs Rs 78,000 (ex-showroom, Mumbai), runs 40 km on a litre of petrol.

However, Bajaj Auto, too, is working on a petrol car with Renault and Nissan and aims to offer 40km/litre. The car is slated for launch in 2012.

Nano is the largest-selling Tata model in India with monthly sales of around 8,500. The country’s largest selling car, Maruti Alto, records monthly sales of 25,000 a month.

With increased fuel economy, Tata Motors is aiming to target Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest car maker, whose unique selling proposition is mileage. It markets Tata Indica on the basis of its mileage of 20-25 km/litre, claimed to be the best in the industry.

Although the price of the diesel Nano is yet to be finalised, market experts say it will be 15-20 per cent more than the petrol version. The base version of Nano costs Rs 1.5 lakh in Mumbai (ex-showroom).

The model is expected to do well as diesel is subsidised in India, unlike petrol. In Mumbai, unbranded diesel is 33 per cent cheaper than petrol.

From the low of 509 units in November last year, Tata Motors has been able to increase Nano sales through network expansion and easier availability of finance. The company recorded sales

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Tokyo, Apr 22, 2011 – (JCN Newswire) – Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that its production operations, which were negatively affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, are expected to normalize around November or December 2011.

In Japan, depending on vehicle model, normalization* of production is expected to start in July, with normalization completing around November or December.

Outside Japan, depending on region and vehicle model, normalization of production is expected to start in August, with normalization completing around November or December.

“To all the customers who made the decision to buy a vehicle made by us, I sincerely apologize for the enormous delay in delivery. Immediately after the earthquake, Toyota, like others, sent its employees into the disaster zone to join forces with our plants, dealers and suppliers to take steps toward recovery. I, too, visited the affected areas several times,” said TMC President Akio Toyoda at a press conference today announcing the normalization timeline. “I saw people’s efforts first hand, and I was filled with confidence that their hard work would make possible a quicker recovery of production.”

*As measured in terms of the annual production plan.

About Toyota


Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of March 2010, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 51 overseas manufacturing companies in 26 countries and regions. Toyota’s vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html.




Contact:

Toyota Motor Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Public Affairs Division
Tel: +81-3-3817-9150

Apr 22, 2011
Source: Toyota
Toyota (TSE: 7203) (U.S: TM)

From the Japan Corporate News Network

http://www.japancorp.net

Topic: Production report
View more news from these Sectors: Automotive General

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Shanghai, Apr 19, 2011 – (JCN Newswire) – Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is displaying approximately 50 production and concept vehicles from today through April 28 at the 14th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The Toyota and Lexus exhibit space – at 4,900 m2 – is the largest yet in terms of size for the brands in China.

The Toyota-brand booth features the “Zelas” launched at the end of March, the “E’z” scheduled for a mid-year launch, and the “FT-86 II” and “G’s REIZ” concept cars, both aimed at enhancing the joy of driving. Also on display are versions of the “RAV4″ and “Alphard” with factory-installed features for the disabled, and a number of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles to highlight Toyota’s role as a leader in environment-friendly vehicles. Meanwhile, the Lexus-brand booth features the China debut of the “CT 200h” dedicated hybrid.

At a press conference here today, TMC President Akio Toyoda said: “Toyota has grown in China thanks to the support of our many customers and associates. China is an important market for Toyota and we are committed to providing vehicles that meet Chinese consumers’ needs”.

TMC intends to continue producing ever-better cars – ranging from environment-friendly vehicles and assisted-mobility vehicles to sports cars – to meet the needs of a broad range of vehicle users in China.


TMC Display at The 14th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition

Venue: The Shanghai New International Expo Center

Date: April 19 – 28 (press days are April 19 and 20)

Exhibit space: Approx. 4,900 m2
- Toyota booth: Approx. 3,400 m2;
- Lexus booth: Approx. 1,500 m2

Number of display vehicles: Approx. 50

Featured vehicles, Toyota:
- Environment-friendly: Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Prius, FT-EV II
- Assisted-mobility (with factory-installed features for the disabled): RAV4, Alphard
- China-market: Zelas (launched at end of March), E’z (scheduled for mid-year launch)
- Concept: FT-86 II, G’s REIZ, FT-EV II

Featured vehicles, Lexus:
- CT 200h, RX 450h, LS 600hL and GS 450h

About Toyota


Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of March 2010, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 51 overseas manufacturing companies in 26 countries and regions. Toyota’s vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html.




Contact:

Toyota Motor Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Public Affairs Division
Tel: +81-3-3817-9150

Apr 19, 2011
Source: Toyota
Toyota (TSE: 7203) (U.S: TM)

From the Japan Corporate News Network

http://www.japancorp.net

Topic: Press release summary
View more news from these Sectors: Automotive General

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April 29, 2011, 9:51 PM EDT

By Margaret Cronin Fisk and Bill Callahan

(Updates with Toyota’s statement in eighth paragraph.)

April 29 (Bloomberg) — A federal judge overseeing lawsuits against Toyota Motor Corp. said the automaker will have to face economic loss claims over unintended acceleration allegations.

Toyota owners claimed the company failed to disclose or fix defects related to sudden acceleration, driving down the value of their vehicles. U.S. District Judge James V. Selna in Santa Ana, California, said the claims could go forward because vehicle owners met court standards on pleading loss or injury.

“Taking these allegations as true, as the court must at the pleading stage, they establish an economic loss,” Selna wrote in his tentative decision yesterday. “A vehicle with a defect is worth less than one without a defect.”

In court today, Selna told lawyers he wanted to review some aspects of his tentative ruling before making it final. He added, “The tentative, in essence, will be the ruling of the court.”

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, recalled millions of U.S. vehicles, starting in 2009, after claims of defects and incidents involving sudden unintended acceleration. The recalls set off a wave of litigation, including hundreds of economic loss suits and claims by individuals or their families for injuries and deaths caused by such incidents.

Most of the federal lawsuits were combined before Selna, who is overseeing pre-trial evidence-gathering, or discovery. Selna issued a similar ruling in November rejecting Toyota’s motion to dismiss an earlier complaint by the vehicle owners.

Appeal Suggested

Yesterday’s tentative finding followed an amended complaint by the plaintiffs and a subsequent renewed motion to dismiss. Selna told lawyers at today’s hearing to consider asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to review his ruling on whether the plaintiffs have presented enough evidence to allow their cases to go forward.

“Toyota is pleased that Judge Selna today invited the parties to seek consideration from the ninth circuit on key rulings that could have a significant impact on the case,” Celeste Migliore, a spokeswoman for the Toyota City, Japan-based company, said in an e-mailed statement. “The rulings at issue relate to which plaintiffs have properly presented claims under the U.S. Constitution and California statutes.”

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The National staff

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2011

AGMC, the Rolls-Royce dealer for Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, has recorded a sales growth of 178 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, compared with the same period in 2010.

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Bristol saved by EV firm

Bristol Cars has been saved from the brink of disappearing into oblivion by the Swiss company Kamkorp Autokraft, part of the Frazer-Nash Research group.

The link between Frazer-Nash and Bristol goes back to the founding of the company in 1946 as an offshoot of Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Bristol had to make 22 of the company’s 27 members of staff redundant last month when the firm went into administration.

Frazer-Nash Research Limited is a Surrey-based research and development company specialising in hybrid and electric powertrains.

William Chia, the director of operations at Swiss company Kamport, told The Telegraph newspaper: “Bristol Cars is a British institution and an important part of our national motoring heritage. Over the next few months we will start to reveal the details of our plans to combine Bristol Cars’ tradition and iconic marque with Frazer-Nash’s pioneering technology to showcase our cutting-edge electric and range-extended powertrains.”

Bristol is so exclusive that only 9,000 cars have been built in nearly 65 years.

Rolls records huge sales growth, limited edition car due in Dubai

AGMC, the Rolls-Royce dealer for Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, has recorded a sales growth of 178 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, compared with the same period in 2010.

“Such strong results not only reiterate the continued passion our discerning Dubai clients have for Rolls-Royce cars but also confirms that the emirate remains at the forefront in terms of its appreciation for true luxury,” said Mohammed El Arishy, brand manager of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at AGMC.

“We are pleased with the robust results achieved in the first quarter and we look forward to maintaining this momentum throughout the remainder of the year,” El Arishy added.

The achievement coincides with two unique Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom models ariving in Dubai. This year is the centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Rolls-Royce is producing 100 Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom Family models, and two of these exclusive cars will reach Dubai this year, with the first arriving next month.

The special edition Phantom is distinguished by a number of features, including unique paint colours, commemorative plaques, special

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If you super-sized a computer mouse, then designed a car to fit around it, the result might be Lexus’ CT200h petrol-electric hybrid.

A mouse-like device on the centre console sets up and controls important functions including sat-nav, phone and sound.

Controls for working all sorts of other stuff are grouped a finger’s jab away, rather like Function keys on a computer keyboard.

These all reinforce the future-is-now character of hybrid cars seen by some as the clean-burning, low consumption way of the future.

The just-landed CT200h (CT stands for Compact Tourer) is notable in several ways. It’s Lexus’ smallest, cheapest and most economical car. The company also claims it as the world’s first full hybrid luxury compact. It should do well for Toyota’s luxury brand, partly because it’s better than the parent’s popular Prius, and for not a lot more money. Pricing starts at $51,500, although the tested Sport model costs $69,000 – the dearest of the range. Prius starts at $49,690 with a high-spec i-Tech at $63,690.

Underneath, the Prius and CT200h are similar, sharing a 1798cc 73kW engine, the CVT transmission, electric system and so on.

But the Toyota’s slightly strange hatch body, the one that’s became graphic shorthand for hybrid cars everywhere, has been tossed aside for a completely different and possibly polarising high-waisted design with comic-book superhero overtones. If Robin followed Batman to fight villains in his own car, it might look like a CT200h.

Inside, the dashboard design and layout are well ahead of the Prius: it’s more functional, intuitive even for Luddites, and possibly the most worthy of all Lexus dashboards.

Well-bolstered leather seats are goodlooking, super-comfortable and in the back there’s more of the same, along with reasonable legroom. Cargo area with the seats up is 365 litres – 40 fewer than Prius.

There’s no doubt as to the purpose of the Sport version, with racy bits of trim in the cabin and the body colour-matched 17-inch alloys on the outside, wearing 45-series low-profile tyres. A stiffer suspension than on the Limited or base models rides slightly more harshly.

The powertrain has a Sports mode and you know when it’s engaged because the instrument binnacle glows red (or blue in Eco mode), and the economy meter on the instrument panel vanishes in favour of a tachometer.

You also know that it’s in Sport mode because the car’s demeanour becomes livelier, though still not properly sporting. The trouble is,

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British sports car brand Caterham has joined forces with household name Lotus.

Team Lotus Enterprise, headed by Tony Fernandes, the man behind the Team Lotus Formula 1 squad, has bought Caterham for an undisclosed fee from its current owners, Corven Ventures.

Despite the change of ownership, the current management structure will remain in place, leaving Caterham Cars managing director Ansar Ali in charge.

There’s been no official confirmation, but it’s expected that the tie-up could see Caterham branding appear on Team Lotus F1 cars – a huge boost for the Kent-based firm and something that will help it to grow and venture into new markets.

Tony Fernandes said: “Caterham has a unique place at the heart of the motoring world.

“As well as being proudly and staunchly British, it has an enviable and uniquely unblemished reputation within the industry for performance, handling and engineering excellence.”

Ansar Ali added: “This is yet another exciting chapter in the Caterham story.

“The Seven will now have the global springboard it deserves and will continue to be evolved yet further. We also have the opportunity to expand the Caterham family beyond the Seven and SP/300.R and mature it into a truly global business.”

To celebrate the tie-up Caterham will build a limited run of 25 Team Lotus Special Edition Sevens. The upgrade package, which can be applied to the top-of-the-range R500, includes a bespoke colour scheme in the famous green and yellow colours of Lotus and will come with a raft of bespoke Team Lotus additions.

Included in the upgrade package will be an invitation to a tour the Team Lotus F1 factory in Hingham, Norfolk.

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