| Ford attack ads targeting Toyota |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 11:41 AM - by Chuck
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 Toyota isn't just sitting there taking these attacks lying down.
Andrea Tse - THESTREET - Feb 9, 2010
Long gone are the days an ad vaguely refered to a competitor as "Brand X" --Ed.
New York - Ford has finally found a major vulnerability in Toyota's products -- and it clearly isn't willing to let the opportunity slip away
Following Toyota's two massive recalls, Ford is now attempting to grow sales with a new commercial taking on Toyota.
The commercial features Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs, in a Ford plant delivering the message: "Ford is better than Toyota, especially with Toyota recalling 2.3 million cars and trucks," according to CNBC.
... [Read More]
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1 Reply | 9 Views
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| A new BMW 1 or 3-Series for less than $11 USD? |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 11:04 AM - by xcel
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 Rental club allows anytime rentals for < $11 per hour 
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2010 BMW 116d 5-door – 53.5 mpgUS combined on the NEDC.
BMW has teamed up with Streetcar, the UK’s largest car club, to give people the chance to drive away in a BMW for as little as $10.92 USD. The innovative deal gives club members the opportunity to experience a BMW 1 Series or 3 Series as and when they wish.
Both new BMWs will be available to rent by the hour, day, week or month, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members can... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 24 Views
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| Toyota signs Prius PHEV partnership agreement with the City of Oslo and Energy Norway |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 10:24 AM - by xcel
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 Demonstration begins in June.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2011 Toyota Prius-III PHEV-12/13 – Price is unknown but oh how we cannot wait for this one 
Toyota Norge (TNO) signed a partnership agreement with the City of Oslo and the trade organization Energy Norway to run a demonstration project with two Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) in Norway for three years as from June 2010. This project is part of Toyota's pan-European PHEV limited lease program that will involve around 200 vehicles on European roads with the support of Toyota... [Read More]
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1 Reply | 39 Views
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| Is the Internet making us more irrational? |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 10:18 AM - by Chuck
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Isn't it wonderful how the internet has improved our reasoning and grip on life?
Chuck Thomas - CleanMPG - Feb 9, 2010
The internet has caused lots of people to lose their minds.
That or we are finding out how crazy they are.
Three days ago Peyton Manning was the greatest quarterback ever - now he "sucks" according to the internet postings. A sober view is he will be up there with the likes of Montana.
After the underdog New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl, they are now ranked by bookies as the 6th best team for next season....maybe if they win it again next year the bookies will rank them #5?. Don't... [Read More]
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2 Replies | 54 Views
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| Engineering giant Areva buying solar firm Ausra |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 8:02 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
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Founded in 2006, Ausra made a splash several years ago when it announced it would build solar-thermal power plants in California.
David R. Baker - SFGATE - February 9, 2010
Good news for the company, but will they be selling to the US as well? --Ed.
French engineering giant Areva said Monday that it will buy Ausra, a Mountain View startup specializing in large-scale solar power.
The deal will give Areva a way to break into the growing worldwide business for big solar facilities that can generate as much electricity as a fossil fuel power plant. Although Areva is best known for its nuclear... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 35 Views
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| Hybrid HOV Confusion |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 7:57 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
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It appears the ticket was improperly issued.
Rachel Stockman - AZCENTRAL - February 8, 2010
Isn't it about time HOV privileges were reserved for... well... HOVs ? --Ed.
A hybrid mix-up on I-10 left a Valley driver with a very expensive ticket, which police admit was mistakenly issued.
Joe Gannon was traveling in the High Occupancy Vehicle lane in his Prius last month, when a Phoenix Police Officer pulled him over for driving without a passenger.
Gannon's hybrid Prius has the "Clean Air" fuel license plate, which allows him to drive in the HOV lane without a passenger during rush hour; but the Phoenix officer... [Read More]
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2 Replies | 67 Views
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| Porsche Prepping Hybrid 911 For Nurburgring 24-Hour Assault |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 7:53 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
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 Porsche's Wolfgang Durheimer said last summer that an all-electric 911 might eventually be in the offing.
Nelson Ireson - MOTORAUTHORITY - February 8, 2010
This could get interesting, but will it appeal to the Porsche purists? --Ed.
We've heard from Porsche insiders that a hybrid sports car might be in the works, and we've heard that there's not going to be one at all until it can be built to meet Porsche's standards of performance. But it looks like Porsche is willing to try the technology out on the race track, as a hybrid 911 GT3-RSR is rumored to be headed to... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 35 Views
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| Efficient hybrid cars may get tax break |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 7:50 AM - by Right Lane Cruiser
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"In New Jersey, the automotive sector is by far the biggest producer of greenhouse gases."
Kirk Moore - APP - February 8, 2010
Incentives are nice but can they ever establish a lasting trend? --Ed.
TRENTON — Legislation that would create a sales tax exemption for efficient hybrid cars had its first hearing before a Senate committee Monday, as advocates for the automobile industry and environmental groups urged the bill be widened to include the new generation of high-efficiency diesels.
Bill S-756 would waive sales tax on hybrids that get at least 35 mpg, up to $40,000 of the purchase... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 40 Views
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| Germany: BMW "Best Innovator" in the field of sustainability |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 4:50 AM - by xcel
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 With the magnificent turbo-diesel lineup BMW offers throughout Europe, it will almost take a PHEV/BEV_company to take them out.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
The award can in part be explained by the 2010 BMW 320d – Everything you would expect from a BMW including 0 to 60 time of 8-seconds yet provides an incredible 57.4 mpgUS combined on the NEDC.
There simply is nothing like it available on the North American Continent.
In the 2009 Best Innovator competition, the BMW Group won the award for “Sustainable Innovation Management”. This award is decided upon and awarded by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology. At the Best Innovator round table... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 61 Views
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| Toyota announces recall on current generation Prius’ in Australia |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 3:49 AM - by xcel
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 Darn notice is like a virus. Japan, North America, Europe and now Australia
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2010 Toyota Prius in the “Land Down Under” joins its brethren around the world.
Toyota Australia has initiated a safety recall campaign on its current generation Prius vehicles. Current generation Prius commenced being sold in Australia in July 2009.
A total of 2378 Toyota Prius vehicles in Australia are affected. Globally a total of about 400,000 vehicles are involved in the... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 43 Views
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| Toyota recalls third generation Prius in Europe |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 3:13 AM - by xcel
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Same ABS SW update fix as announced for Asia and North America.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2010 Toyota Prius and its driver enjoying a warm and sunny day drive.
Toyota of Europe today announced it would recall 52,903 units of its third generation Toyota Prius in Europe in order to carry out a modification to the software used to manage the vehicle’s Anti Lock Brake System (ABS).
The recall is being taken in response to reports of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady braking on bumpy or slick road surfaces when the ABS is actuated. It entails a change to the ABS management program of the vehicle’s... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 50 Views
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| 2010 Prius, 2010 Lexus HS 250h and Camry voluntary recall FAQ |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 2:50 AM - by xcel
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Late in the fourth, down by 6 and 75 yards to go… Now comes the comeback of the century.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
Toyota's "Committment"
Toyota releases an FAQ for owner/drivers of the 2010 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h.- Q: What is the problem with the 2010 Prius?
A: The anti-lock brake system (ABS) in the 2010 model-year Prius, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to
... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 105 Views
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| 2010 Toyota Prius, Prius PHEV, Sai and HS 250h recalled in Japan |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 2:22 AM - by xcel
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 Recall to correct ABS Software program.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2010 Toyota Prius PHEV-12/13 -- Recall to fix braking "feel" through ABS updated ABS programming.
Toyota announced a recall related to the software program that controls the antilock braking system (ABS) in current-model "Prius", "Prius Plug-in Hybrid", "Sai" and "HS250h" sold in Japan. The recall, for which TMC submitted notifications today to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, pertains to approximately 223,000 vehicles.
"Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 70 Views
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| Ford Transit Connect/Azure BEV conversion finally revealed |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 2:15 AM - by xcel
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No gas and no local emissions taking business’ where they have never gone before!
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2011 Ford Transit Connect Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).
Ford unveiled the all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect – the 2010 North American Truck of the Year – at the Chicago Auto Show and confirmed the zero-emissions small van will be in fleet operators’ hands later this year!
The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use a Force Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics.
“Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are... [Read More]
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2 Replies | 83 Views
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| 2010 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h recalled for “Braking Feel” with ABS update |
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Feb 09, 2010 - 2:03 AM - by xcel
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What has been common knowledge for well over two days is now official.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Feb. 9, 2010
2010 Toyota Prius – The Hybrid icon recalled for a ABS SW update. Inspection of power steering hose position on certain non-hybrid 2010 Camry’s also announced.
Recalls underscore Toyota’s commitment to Address All vehicle quality and safety issues promptly and Effectively.
Toyota today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 47 Views
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