Toyota Land Cruiser Has Turned 60
The year was 1951 when Toyota was hardworking a new all terrain vehicle for military use. After having some development, the Toyota BJ was the result of their hard work, and the all terrain SUV quickly established itself as a capable and reliable workhorse. In fact, it was the first car that was driven to Mt. Fuji sixth hill station and climbing for 2,500 meters. Then, Toyota BJ was applied to the police fleets in the country.
After sixty years and a name change, Toyota Land Cruiser is still strong around the world today. The Land Cruiser name was applied to the past BJ in 1954, with 5 million of the trucks have been sold around the world. Land Cruiser has evolve from the beloved FJ through 20 series and on the the 200 series. It has gained a level of luxury far removed from the past BJ. Anyway, it still a reliable off road vehicle for tackling any terrain on the planet.
While turning 60 is a big something, Toyota has created two 60th anniversary model for the 2011 Land Cruiser. The anniversary Land Cruisers are a fully loaded version of the SUV sporting special badging and trim pieces. Unfortunately these special edition models are currently being built only for UK.
Toyota Land Cruiser Has Turned 60 is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Prius Might Have Its Price Cuts
Well the first year of the new decade was only a month behind us. However, Toyota, according to the report on Bloomberg, are ready to make their sales prediction for the end of this decade, 2020. The automaker seems to be very confident that their Prius will continue to hold the spot as the Japanese best selling model. In fact, a man from Nomura Research Institute, Fumikazu Kitagawa, seems to think that the exceptional sales of the Toyota Prius may drive them to drop the price.
This Kitagawa guy claims that the Japanese car buyers might consider the mainstream Prius as the friendly model, but not a leading edge vehicle. The friendly image puts the Toyota Prius into a direct competition with other vehicles such as the Honda Fit for the bargain-priced subcompact. Kitagawa has polled 1,972 car owners in Japan, and he explains the situation today is like this, “Prius has become more of a mass market car, but it may be the time to think about lowering its price.”
A volume seller vehicle like the gas-electric Prius are not often sough by the tech-savvy Japanese users. Kitagawa argues that the Prius cutting edge appeal that commanded a premium price has been faded away.
Prius Might Have Its Price Cuts is a post from: Automotive News and Review
NHTSA Investigating 2001-2007 VW Passat
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently opened an investigation to the Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons which are built around 2001 to 2007. According to NHTSA, there are a total of 35 complaints that have been field regarding the malfunctioned ingnition coils, and 14 of those complaints were resulted in an underhood fire.
This is maybe sounds familiar. It is because this is the second such investigation which is opened by the NHTSA. The first centered around models was built only in between 2002 and 2003. This second investigation has been opened now and has been expanded to include any model from year 2001 to 2007 Passats due to those additional customer complaints.
From the NHTSA’s press release, they said that some reports stated their vehicle hesitated or lost power, and the check engine on dashboard lights illuminated. After that, the vehicles were repaired with replacing the ignition coils. Even some of those 35 complaints said that their ignition coils were need to be replaced more than once. The expanding investigation is because there is some other complaints about the MY 2006-2007 Passat Vehicles.
NHTSA Investigating 2001-2007 VW Passat is a post from: Automotive News and Review
2012 Honda Civic Si Will Get 2.4 Liter Engine With 200 HP
Honda has given us their preview of 2012 Civic at the previous Detroit Auto Show. However, the car on the stage was technically still a concept, but we can expect that the production will look very similar, with a little bit more conventional wheels, headlamps, and the interior. Instead of only one Civic, Honda brough both the sedan and Si coupe concept. There are confirmed words that the new 2.4 liter engine is on the deck.
The 2.4 liter engine which is internally known as K24 that will be slated for Civic Si will be very similar with the powerplant which currently exist on the Acura TSX. The official power numbers haven’t been divulged, but the engine is currently makes 201 horsepower for the TSX, so it will be similar on Civic. The Si output is maybe somewhere around 200 and 210 horsepower. It is a small increase from the Si 2.0 liter, but it has more torque of 170 pound feet.
The official data will be revealed later this year closer to the Civic family’s launch. I know it might be a little disappointment on you about the number of power that aren’t leaps much better than the currently available version, but the easily flickable driving dynamics will still make it an engaging steer.
2012 Honda Civic Si Will Get 2.4 Liter Engine With 200 HP is a post from: Automotive News and Review
New JCW Pack From Mini, 2011 Clubman Hampton
Mini has confirmed their new upcoming model, including the Clubman Hampton special edition that has been leaked onto the web recently. The company says that this Clubman will be joined by the new John Cooper Works (JCW) pack for the Cooper S, Cooper S Convertible, and Clubman S. The European buyers will have their chance to get their butt on a sportier diesel model as well.
As the part of Mini Yours customization program, Clubman Hampton is set to wear the unique Reef Blue Metallic paint with Damson Red stripes and some mirror caps outside as well as the special wheels to suit. The jump indoors and the interior is swaddled in an updated seat with its red piping and the orange contrast stitching to show it class.
Beside that, if you want more speed, you can turn to the new John Cooper Works Pack. Because of some tweaking on the engine management, the engineers from Mini has managed to pull the additional 16 horsepower from inside the four cylinder turbo and bump the final power output to 200 ponies with 199 pound feet of torque. Mini claims that it can reach 0-62mph in only 6.8 seconds. The car will has a special exhaust system and lightweight alloy wheels.
New JCW Pack From Mini, 2011 Clubman Hampton is a post from: Automotive News and Review