Toyota has offered to test Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s Prius after he claimed the vehicle’s electronics can cause it accelerate unintentionally.

Wozniak’s claims made headlines when he claimed his 2010 Prius’ accelerator “goes wild” under certain conditions. He says he can repeat the acceleration issue and suspected the Prius’ software as the culprit.

Toyota has long maintained is the acceleration problem is not a electronics-related issue. The Prius is not included in the company’s recent recall, however, so if Wozniak’s suspicions prove true, Toyota’s problems can only get worse.

Toyota, already under a storm for its trouble with unintended acceleration, is trying to contain the PR damage by offering to have a dealer borrow and test Wozniak’s Prius for a week. Toyota is trying to get Wozniak in touch with U.S. sales president Jim Lentz to help make arrangements.

[Source: Jalopnik]

The Japanese Ministry of Transportation has now asked Toyota to investigate its new third-generation Prius model after complaints from owners of potentially faulty brakes. This news comes as Toyota currently has recalls out for millions of vehicles (not including the current Prius) which are mostly for two separate recalls. The first recall for 5.1 million vehicles is for floor mats that can cause the accelerator pedal to stick, while the second is for 2.3 million vehicles where Toyota has now said that over time the accelerator pedal could become stuck or slow to return to its “off” position.

In the sticking pedal recall, Toyota has said that the issue is mechanical and not electronic, but some individuals have refuted that claim and, most recently, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, commented publicly that his 2010 Prius suffers from unintended acceleration that is caused by the car’s software.

Toyota has admitted to receiving complains about braking issues in the Prius and a quick look at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, returns 102 complains, most of which cite a loss of braking ability when driving on rough roads. One complainant says she was injured in a crash when the brakes on her Prius failed. The Japanese transportation agency has on record 14 reports of braking-related complains with the Prius.

Toyota’s Prius does not use the same pedal mechanism as found in the other recalled models, but rather uses a more complex system of regenerative braking to recharge the onboard battery. Such regenerative brakes feel much “grippier” than traditional brakes.

[Source: Automotive News]

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Kia has just launched the above commercial to drum up interest in its first-ever SuperBowl ad set for this Sunday. The bizare campaign features several strange life-sized children’s toys, that look like they’ve been plucked from an internet meme.

At least one of them is a “real” character – monster Muno from the Nickelodeon show Yo Gabba Gabba. There’s even a sock monkey. Heck, we half expect to see pedo bear.. but that’s really not a marketing move anyone wants to make.

As for the robot character, there’s a chance you’ve seen it before, as Kia paraded it around the Detroit Auto Show a few weeks ago. Now Kia didn’t officially say the robot belonged to them, but among the journalists present it was probably talked about more than any car at the show.

Presumably the SuperBowl ad will help promote the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento. We’ll be sure to be watching in the 3rd quarter to see the ad and what Kia’s crazy characters are up to.

Germany’s largest and best-known Audi/VW-tuner ABT Sportsline will display three finely-tuned new models, as well as an even more hard-core version of the V10-powered R8 5.2. Called the ABT R8 GTR, this German exotic is based off the modified R8 5.2 that ABT brought to Geneva last year, and boasts the same V10 under the hood, which has been tuned to 600-hp.

New for 2010, the GTR model will get an even more aggressive aero treatment, with most of the body panels made of carbon fiber. In fact, ABT has taken a light-weight approach with the GTR model, manufacturing the hood, front and rear bumpers out of carbon fiber, while the rear hatch has been replaced with a carbon fiber unit and the glass swapped out for light-weight plexiglass. Just 25 R8 GTRs will be built.

Along with this monster, ABT will display a more subtle R8 Spyder as well as the first modified version of Audi’s new flagship A8.

Best known for its Volkswagen tuning, ABT hasn’t neglected its core audience either and will show a new line of performance and aesthetic products for the very-new Golf R model. With 265-hp and a 0-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds in stock trim, we can’t wait to see what ABT has in store for this hot German hatch.

AutoGuide will bring you live coverage of the ABT vehicles and of everything else at the Geneva Auto Show, starting March 1st.

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation has now said it will look into electrical issues as a possible source for the unintended acceleration of Toyota products. Toyota recently recalled 2.3 million cars and trucks due to pedals that stick or are slow to return and has since announced a fix for the problem that it says is mechanical, not electronic.

According to an unnamed Transportation official, interviewed by Automotive News, the Federal government’s investigation into the pedal issue will include a look at Toyota’s electronics.

Shinichi Sasaki, Toyota’s to man in charge of quality today repeated Toyota’s position that the problem was mechanical and not electronic. The maker of the supposedly faulty pedal, CTS Corp, has said that it does not believe the problem originates with its product.

The accelerator pedal recall affects 2.3 million vehicles in North America, including eight models: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia.

This news come on the day that Toyota launched an advertising blitz in U.S. newspapers, with Toyota U.S.A. president Jim Lentz quotes as saying, “We have launched a comprehensive plan to permanently fix the vehicles we’ve recalled because in rare instances, accelerator pedals can, over time, become slow to release or get stuck. We know what’s causing this and what we have to do to fix it.”

Apparently the Feds aren’t so sure.

[Source: Automotive News]

Toyota has just launched a new website related to its recent recalls, hoping to provide its customers with information about the two different recall notices and what the automaker is doing to solve the issues. The website is also intended to help give answers to customers who, Toyota admits, “may have experienced lengthy wait times when calling our Customer Experience Center.”

The site explains the two recalls; the first for “Floor Mat Entrapment” and the second for unintended acceleration, which Toyota refers to as “Pedal.”

Toyota has already announced a fix for the recalled “Pedal” vehicles that includes reinforcing the pedal mechanism to eliminate the friction that could have caused a sticking accelerator pedal. In addition, Toyota has worked with the pedal supplier to create a new pedal that will be used on newly-manufactured Toyota models.

The accelerator pedal recall affects 2.3 million vehicles in North America, including eight models: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia.

No Camry, RAV4, Corolla or Highlander vehicles with VIN numbers that begin with J are affected, nor are any Lexus or Scion models.

In the event of a sticky gas pedal, Toyota advises to apply the brakes until the vehicle comes to a stop and to then turn the vehicle off. Experts also suggest that applying the brakes and then putting the vehicle into Neutral may help to slow the car.

As for the 5.5 million vehicles recalled for “Floor Mat Entrapment,” they include: 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2009-2010 VENZA

Toyota advises that if you have any additional questions to call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. The Toyota Customer Experience Center hours are: Mon.–Fri. 5:00 am-6:00 pm PST, Sat. 7:00 am-4:00 pm PST.

Visit the Toyota Recall Website here:

Rather than shy away from the spotlight, Toyota is going to put the focus on its products, rather than its problems at the Chicago Auto Show next week. Officials are said to be “still working on the details” of the press conference, but it is expected that some revised trucks and crossovers could debut in the Windy City.

Due for a mid-cycle refresh are the current Highlander crossover and Tacoma pickup truck. The current second-generation Highlander debuted as a 2008 model and the current Tacoma debuted in 2005. The Chicago Auto Show is well-known for truck debuts, with Chevy set to unveil its new Silverado Heavy Duty and Ford set to debut the all-new 2011 Explorer at this year’s show.

Also a strong candidate is a facelifted version of the Avalon full-sized sedan.

AutoGuide will bring you live coverage of the Chicago Auto Show starting February 10th.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Spy photographers have caught the folks at Chrysler Corp. out testing the 2011 Dodge Charger. While the entire vehicle is covered in the typical camo, it’s still possible to see a new rear roof-line, which gives the rear of the muscle-sedan a more sleek European look. A full mid-cycle refresh is expected for the 2011 model year, after a very mild set of adjustments that Chrysler debuted on the 2010 model at the Detroit Auto Show this year.

More importantly, the 2011 Charger looks to get big changes inside with a big LCD screen and revised center stack.

Under the hood, the 2011 Charger will get Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6, which will debut in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee this year making 280-hp and 260 ft-lbs of torque.

Follow the link below for a full gallery of exterior and interior photos:

[Source: Autoblog]

Hyundai has just announced pricing for the all-new 2011 Sonata, starting at $19,195 for a base GLS sedan with a six-speed manual transmission. The price has climbed from the outgoing model, but just by a models $500 and when you consider what the new model brings, that’s a real bargain.

Along with a beautiful new look and near-luxury interior, the 2011 Sonata gets a new direct-injection 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes an impressive 198-hp and gets 24/35 mpg (city/highway), a segment best for non-hybrids. Models equipped with a six-speed automatic get a 22/35 mpg rating, even the 200-hp SE model with dual exhaust pipes. That model will run you $22,595, and climbs to $25,295 in Limited trim.

Compared to the main competitors, the 2011 Sonata is $200 less than a Camry and almost $2,000 less than a base-model Accord.

GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Full 2011 Sonata pricing and specifications after the jump:

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The Prius hybrid has not been affected by the recent 2.3 million vehicle recall by Toyota for unintended acceleration, but according to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak it probably should be. Wozniak, a man who knows a thing or two about software, recently spoke openly about a “unintended acceleration” problem with his new 2010 Prius, which he described as, “very scary.”

Toyota recently announced a mechanical fix for its sticky accelerator pedals and has denied that the issue is caused by the engine control unit (ECU), despite claims that the ECU is the cause.

“After man years of exhaustive testing we have not found any evidence of an electronic [software] problem that would have led to unwanted acceleration,” said John Hanson, the national manager in charge of environmental safety and quality communications at Toyota.

Wozniak, a man who knows a thing or two about software, says the car, “has an accelerator that goes wild but only under certain conditions of cruise control.” He also claims he can repeat the acceleration issue. “This is software. It’s not a bad accelerator pedal,” he says.

Wozniak claims he has tried to get in touch with Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), but has had no response. We’re sure he’ll get a response now.

[Source: CNET]