All Entries in the "Auto News" Category
New Ford Eco-Boost V6 Needs Sales Boost?
Die-hard Ford fans and industry observers alike (myself included) have been quick to give Ford credit for creating the Eco-Boost V6. What’s not to love about a fuel-efficient twin-turbo V6 with torque and horsepower figures that are comparable to a V8?
Indeed, Ford’s Eco-Boost has been considered the “next evolution” of truck engines because it’s becoming harder and harder for V8 engines to satisfy new fuel economy and emissions rules. Ford was very smart to bring the Eco-Boost to market, as they are ahead of the curve in terms of efficiency.
Ford has begun discounting their most advanced truck engine - why?
HOWEVER, many people (including myself) wondered if the Eco-Boost would be accepted by consumers. Considering today’s news that Ford is offering an extra $500 cash back on certain F150s with the EcoBoost engine, it sounds like consumers aren’t quite ready to jump on the twin-turbo V6 band wagon. At least not in their trucks.
The question: Is this about the EcoBoost, or is this about truck buyers?
Toyota News Wednesday – Supermodels, Media Fiascos, and More
Today’s post will tackle three topics:
- Swimsuit model Rianne Ten Haken meets the Lexus LFA
- A member of the media wonders why people keep listening to Sean Kane
- The Toyota Prius crushes new Chevy Volt in “Greenest Car” ratings
First up, watch this swimsuit model meet the new Lexus LFA (while wearing a swimsuit, no less)
Not much to say here – just fun video to watch.
Are All Chevy Truck Guys This Dumb?
OK, so obviously I just asked a stupid question. While there are certainly dumb Chevy truck owners, the vast majority of Chevy truck owners are just like everyone else.
Still, videos like this one make you wonder:
Ya – that just happened. Here’s what I see:
NHTSA and NASA Say Toyota Electronic Throttles Are Just Fine
Today, NHTSA announced that Toyota’s electronic throttles aren’t responsible for any instance of unintended acceleration – at least not any instance that NHTSA could study. According to Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood:
“The jury is back. The verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period…Our conclusion — that Toyota’s problems were mechanical, not electrical — comes after one of the most exhaustive, thorough and intensive research efforts ever undertaken.” [From Detroit News]
Let me say that one more time: after one of the most exhaustive, thorough, and intensive research efforts ever undertaken, NHTSA couldn’t find one flipping thing wrong with Toyota’s electronic systems.
This news comes as no surprise – in July 2010, early results from the NHTSA investigation were leaked to the New York Times. These early results showed that, in the vast majority of cases, unintended acceleration was caused by “pedal misapplication” (that’s safety-nerd-speak for “foot on the wrong pedal.”
NHTSA’s team of investigators, working with experts from NASA, couldn’t find one single shred of evidence to support accusations of electronic throttle problems.
Not one.
It turns out that the early analysis offered – over-sized floor mats, improperly placed floor mats, the rare “sticking pedal”, and driver confusion – were indeed the cause of all of these complaints. The questions are, now that this crisis is over:
- What will Toyota do to put this information in front of the public?
- How many people who argued that Toyota was at fault – or at the very least got caught up in all this mindless hysteria – will admit they were wrong?
- How many people will ignore this information because it suits their financial purpose?
Sean Kane, a supposed “auto safety” consultant, continues to say that Toyota’s electronics are at fault (link). This is the same Sean Kane who gets his checks from product liability lawyers suing Toyota for billions…but why is anyone listening to him now that he’s clearly been proven wrong?
Chrysler’s Super Bowl LIE
If you watched the commercial breaks during yesterday’s Super Bowl – you know, the one where the Steelers dug themselves a huge hole before eventually losing the game – you might have seen a very well-done Chrysler commercial staring the new Chrysler 200 and hip-hop mogul Eminem.
While this commercial is definitely compelling, it’s based on a tremendous lie: While the new Chrysler 200 is built in Detroit, it’s no more “American” than any vehicle built on U.S. soil by Honda, Toyota, or Hyundai. Why, you ask?
Because Chrysler is owned by FIAT, and Fiat is based in Italy. See the ad below:
