Toyota’s hybrid technology is too expensive to be used in Scion models says brand VP Jack Hollis. In an interview with Ward’s Auto, Hollis explained that a hybrid Scion model would essentially be out of the price range of the brand’s target demographic. Scion works to keep all its cars at, or starting at, under the $20,000 mark.

This news comes just days after Honda said a hybrid version of the Fit might not be in the works after all, due to prohibitive cost.

Hollis admits that not having hybrid Scions is particularly unfortunate as the typical Scion buyer is more likely to be open to hybrid technology and want to drive a vehicle that has a reduced impact on the environment. “Youth seem to be very, very cognizant of their environment and the footprint they’re leaving,” says Hollis, who went on to dismiss claims that the Toyota FT-CH hybrid concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show could one day be a Scion.

Toyota previewed the FT-CH and said that it would most likely debut as a smaller Prius model, expanding the Prius name into a family of vehicles. Scion is expected to deliver two new models in the near future, with the iQ concept one possibility, and a new version of the tC reportedly in the works.

Hollis did says that hybrid models are in Scion’s long-term future and even dropped another bomb – stating that all-wheel drive Scion models could be possible. In fact, Scion has already engaged in talks with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the parent company for Subaru, about using its AWD technology. Hollis said that with AWD he believes a sub-$20,000 model could be offered and even commented that the partnership between the two companies has, “just begun.”

Could an AWD FT-86 model perhaps be the future of Scion?

[Source: Wards]

Kia has just released the first photos of its upcoming 2011 Sportage crossover, which will officially debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. With Kia’s new front grille and a muscular new body, the 2011 Sportage is all-new, inside, outside and under the hood.

With many design cues similar to the new Sorento, the smaller compact crossover Sportage has a more butch look. It also promises to be a big improvement over the outgoing model as we expect it will use the same engine featured in Hyundai’s new 2010 Tucson. That engine is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that makes 176-hp and 168 ft-lbs of torque, giving it roughly the same power and performance as the old optional V6 while at the same time delivering 20 percent better fuel economy than the old 4-cyl. In the Tucson, this engine gets a fuel economy rating of 23/31 mpg.

In international markets, the new Sportage will also be available with a new diesel engine.

Kia promises a compact crossover that will compete head-on with segment powerhouses like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, thanks in part to a longer and wider body that should deliver more passenger and cargo room..

AutoGuide will bring you live coverage of the 2011 Kia Sportage from the Geneva Auto Show starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Kia Sportage

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Amidst the continuing controversy and confusion surrounding the numerous Toyota recalls, we at AutoGuide.com have decided to launch the TOYOTA RECALL NEWS HUB. Featured on our home page and constantly updated through our news blog, we aim to bring you the very latest in recall-related news as well as list important information about what vehicles are recalled and what owners should be doing.

The Toyota Recall News Hub features two main sections, a CONSUMER section listing what owners of recalled Toyota owners need to know, as well as an INDUSTRY section reporting on all related stories, emerging news and the fallout from the ongoing crisis at Toyota that consumers and the general public want to know. The INDUSTRY section will also feature links to more salacious stories and breaking news alerts from AutoGuide affiliate TheTruthAboutCars.com, as well as from other major industry sources.

See complete Toyota Recall News after the jump:

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A new reports suggests Ford will debut a new EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine at the Chicago Auto Show next week. As the new standard engine in the Ford Edge, it will produce roughly the same power as Ford’s 3.0-liter V6 but with significantly better fuel economy and emissions. As shown already in European models the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine should make aronnd 230-hp in the Edge. Ford will continue to offer the 3.5-liter V6 as the top engine offering for the sporty crossover.

The Edge will get more than just a new engine, however, and will feature a significant mid-cycle refresh including new bodywork. It will also be the first Ford model to go on sale with the company’s new MyFord Touch system, replacing all the controls on the center stack with a touch screen, voice activated controls and a steering wheel-mounted five-way controller.

For complete 2010 Chicago Auto Show coverage click here

[Source: Detroit News]

With Toyota insisting that it’s safe to keep driving your recalled car, while other folks advise against it, owners are no-doubt confused about risking the trip to the office or finding another way to get around. Toyota insists the instances of sticky accelerator pedals are rare, but if you do choose to keep driving you recalled Toyota, you should know what to do in case you do experience, “unintended acceleration.”

In case of unintended acceleration or a sticky gas pedal, follow the five steps below:
1. If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.

2. Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.

3. If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.

4. If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.

5. If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

Once the vehicle is safely stopped, contact your local Toyota dealership to make an appointment to have the recalled part fixed.

The Recall for sticking accelerator pedals affects 2.3 million cars and trucks including: the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia.

Just hours after Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood advised Toyota owners affected by the recent recall to “stop driving” their cars, LaHood has retracted his statement. LaHood made the comments earlier today appearing before a heading into the recalls.

“What I said in there was obviously a misstatement,” said LaHood. The DOT is now urging owners to contact their local dealership to have the problem fixed as soon as possible.

Toyota currently has two major recalls, the first being a floor mat entrapment issue for 5.5 million vehicles, and the second is a sticking gas pedal recall for 2.3 million vehicles.

Toyota recently announced a fix for the 2.3 million recalled models, which include the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia. The automaker has insisted that the recall is due to a mechanical fault, however, the DOT has now said it will look at the possibility that unintended acceleration is related to electronics and not a mechanical issue with the pedal.

In a statement Toyota said that, “We appreciate Secretary LaHood’s clarification of his remarks today about Toyota’s recall for sticking accelerator pedals. We want to make sure our customers understand that this situation is rare and generally does not occur suddenly. In the rare instances where it does it occur, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. Our message to Toyota owners is this – if you experience any issues with your accelerator pedal, please contact your dealer without delay. If you are not experiencing any issues with your pedal, we are confident that your vehicle is safe to drive. Nothing is more important to Toyota than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive. Our entire organization of 172,000 North American employees and dealership personnel is working around the clock to fix the accelerator pedals for our customers.”

For more information on Toyota recalls, visit the automaker’s new recall website:

http://www.toyota.com/recall/

[Source: PressConnects]

Jim Lentz, Toytoa president of U.S. sales, denied his company is covering up problems related to unintended acceleration.

On a media blitz to contain the damage after a nine million vehicle recall, Lentz denied Toyota was hiding anything after government documents revealed the company first received reports of “runaway Toyotas” in March 2007.

“There is no cover-up,” Lentz said to ABC News.

A document dated Jan. 21 submitted by Toyota to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  states Toyota received field reports in March 2007 of accelerator pedals  on the Tundra having “rough operation or being slow to return to the idle position”.

Toyota received further reports in from December 2008 to August 2009 about related issues in other models. An investigation was started in March 2009. Additional reports came in October and the manufacturer announced a recall in January 2010.

“It’s a lot of detail that goes into this,” said Lentz. “We’ve been upfront. We’re taking care of customers right now. What’s most important is that our customers know there is a fix. They’re going to be able to get their cars repaired this week.”

Lentz also denied the problem with unintended acceleration was an electronic issue.

[Source: ABCNews]

As expected, sales of Toyota models dropped significantly in the first month of 2010, as last year’s largest automaker slipped to just third at the start of a new year. Toyota sales dropped 19 percent in January, while the industry overall posted a 6 percent improvement.

While all the bad press certainly didn’t help Toyota, one of the biggest factors was the automaker’s decision to halt sales of vehicles affected in a recall of 2.3 million cars and trucks due to potentially sticky accelerator pedals that could cause unintended acceleration. The models, which include: the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia. Those models, which were not on sale of the last six days of the month, make up 60 percent of Toyota’s dealer inventory.

Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter admitted that the company had initially forecasted a sales increase of 4 percent.

Meanwhile, General Motors and Ford surged ahead on fleet sales, with GM posting a 14 percent gain while Ford surged ahead with a 25 percent increase, overtaking Toyota as the second largest automaker in the U.S. Ford did so by quite a margin too, moving 17,481 more vehicles than Toyota.

As for the rest of the auto industry, Chrysler continues to suffer with an 8 percent sales drop at 57,143 units. As a result Chrysler dropped from fourth to fifth, being surpassed by Nissan, while Hyundai managed a 13 percent gain to put it just 5,000 units behind Chrysler.

[Source: Automotive News]

See after the jump for a full breakdown of U.S. Auto Industry sales in January:

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If you are currently driving a recalled Toyota model, you shouldn’t be, says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (above). In a statement given at a House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, looking into the recent Toyota recalls, LaHood told owners to, “stop driving it. Take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it.”

Toyota currently has two major recalls, the first being a floor mat entrapment issue for 5.5 million vehicles, and the second is a sticking gas pedal recall for 2.3 million vehicles.

LaHood urged owners of recalled cars to contact their dealer and, “exercise caution until repairs can be made.”

Toyota recently announced a fix for the 2.3 million recalled models, which include the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia. The automaker has insisted that the recall is due to a mechanical fault, saying in a statement that:

“After many years of exhaustive testing—by us and other outside agencies—we have found no evidence of a problem with our electronic throttle control system that could have caused unwanted acceleration. Our vehicles go through extensive electromagnetic radiation testing dynamically. We have our own test facility in Japan, we are also building one in Ann Arbor. The testing examines microwave radiation and every other type of magnetic wave and we have never been able to force our systems to fail through any of the tests that are done on them. There are many redundancies and fail safes that are built into our system.  If the accelerator pedal and the throttle on the engine don’t match in their communication to each other the throttle returns to an idle position.”

The U.S. Ministry of Transportation has also been investigating electronic throttle issues and unintended acceleration issues on Toyota and Lexus vehicles for years but has never been able to find a problem.  The Ministry of Transportation, has now said it will look at the possibility that unintended acceleration is related to electronics and not a mechanical issue with the pedal.

For more information on Toyota recalls, visit the automaker’s new recall website:

http://www.toyota.com/recall/

[Source: CNBC]

Your company is going through a PR nightmare with nine million vehicles being recalled, worldwide. The government is investigating whether the issue is worse than you claim. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is on your tail. Consumer confidence in your product is waning. What do you do if you’re Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda?

Offer a public apology.

What don’t you do?

Be seen leaving in an Audi.

But that’s what happened after Toyoda apologized to his customers in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

To be fair, it’s unlikely Toyoda arranged to be picked up by the black Audi in Davos. Audi is the official vehicle supplier for the World Economic Forum, so every executive at the event would likely have been chauffeured in an Audi.

But still, Toyota just can’t seem to catch a break lately.

[Source: ABCNews]