Toyota Acceleration Claims Down, But Allstate Launches Suit
Toyota earlier this week provided an update on progress regarding its accelerator-related recalls, and it's now more confidently pushing back on assertions that the automaker's electronic throttle controls might have caused unintended acceleration.
The automaker said that it's reviewed about 4,200 vehicles whose drivers had claimed instances of sudden acceleration, finding no evidence of an electronic flaw.
The rough going isn't altogether over for Toyota. The auto-insurance giant Allstate—after failing to reach a satisfactory settlement with the automaker—alleges that a number of accidents were caused by the recall-related defects, and it's sued Toyota Motor Corp., in an attempt to recoup damages for acceleration-related claims that it has already paid.
Allstate says that it has paid about $3 million in all toward claims that were caused, allegedly, by sudden acceleration—including 270 claims, going back to January 2007, and one for more than $60,000, involving a 2009 Lexus ES 350 in Beverly Hills. Allstate blames sudden acceleration for a total of 725 accidents, 304 injuries, and 18 fatalities, reports Bloomberg.
According to the LA Times, the suit charges that "certain of Toyota's cars and trucks have a defect that causes sudden uncontrolled acceleration to speeds of up to 100 miles per hour or more," as well as "defective electronics and the absence of a fail-safe, such as a brake-to-idle override system."
All of Toyota's 2011 model-year vehicles—including the Toyota, Lexus, and Scion brands—with so-called Smart Stop Technology, which allows the brake pedal to override the throttle. Also for 2011, enhanced Event Data Recorders (EDR) will be included on all vehicles from the automaker.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Toyota Calls Hoax On Runaway Prius In San Diego
Toyota's sudden acceleration problems seemed to get immeasurably worse last week when San Diego resident James Sikes' Prius appeared to accelerate uncontrollably, requiring assistance from a California Highway Patrol officer's car to come to a stop. The media frenzy that ensued spread the story to every corner of the Internet, TV and print worlds. But now it looks like the whole thing may have been a hoax.
Or a scam. Toyota (NYSE:TM) today revealed its preliminary official findings after investigating the incident and the car, coming to the conclusion tha the accelerator pedal was functioning normally, the front brakes showed severe wear and damage from overheating, the floormat in the car was the correct type but was not installed properly, the push-button start/stop switch worked properly, and that the shift lever also easily engaged neutral, as well as other factors that indicated nothing was at fault mechanically with the Prius involved. Toyota even tested the brakes to overheating and found that the car could still be stopped from high speeds.
The sum of these elements lead Toyota to conclude that there is no apparent reason for the problem itself, and that Mr. Sikes' account of events should be investigated further--a tacit way of saying that they don't believe a word he's saying. In its release, Toyota stated, "there are strong indications that the driver's account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis."
The release went on to state, "Toyota engineers believe that it would be extremely difficult for the Prius to be driven at a continuous high speed with more than light brake-pedal pressure, and that the assertion that the vehicle could not be stopped with the brakes is fundamentally inconsistent with basic vehicle design and the investigation observations."Clearly, Toyota is staking out its territory on the matter, but it remains to be seen if Sikes and/or independent investigators will be able to show that the "runaway Prius" was more than a Balloon Boy-like attention grab. For more details on Toyota's ongoing unintended acceleration issues, and the recalls surrounding them, check out the links below.We'll keep you up-to-the-minute on the situation as it develops. Read the full press release on page 2.
Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Is It All Older Drivers' Fault?2004-2008
Toyota Prius Recall Will Reshape Accelerator Pedal
NHTSA Has No Software Engineers or EEs To Analyze Toyotas
RECALL: 2010 Toyota Prius, Lexus HS250h For ABS Software Update
UPDATE: Braking Issue In 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid, Recall TBD
Piling On: Problems With Prius Brakes Are Toyota's Latest Worry
Is Woz's Prius Acceleration Just Toyota's Wacky Adaptive Cruise? Read more
Priced: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Starts at $43,850
Nissan says the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible will be priced from the low $40,000 range.
The Japanese automaker says the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $43,850 for the G37 Convertible; a Sport edition with a manual transmission is $50 more, at $43,900. That makes it a direct competitor for the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SLK two-seat roadster and the BMW 3-Series Convertible, which has slightly more room for rear-seat passengers. The Volvo C70 and Saab 9-3 Convertible also are close in price and mission to the new Infiniti.
We drove the new Convertible a few weeks ago--and in case you missed our first drive, you'll be interested to find the G37 is a rarity. It's just as good-looking, if not better, than the car that spawned it. It rates near the top of TheCarConnection.com's list of luxury sportscars: overall, it scores 8.4 from our editors, with highlights in styling and features. We found the new convertible's looks, road manners and interior fittings up to speed—even if back-seat room and a drop in acceleration and handling aren't quite as satisfying as the less stylish BMW 3-Series Convertible.
The new hardtop convertible goes live at showrooms on June 19th. For more information, go to our 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible pricing, specifications, and photos page.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: First Drive
Pretend you're an engineer at Ford. Wouldn't you be sick and tired of hearing from Washington and the coastal media that you build junk? Don't you wish you could plop these ignorant windbags behind the wheel of something you've recently worked on and ask, "So is this the uncompetitive, technologically backwards, fuel-sucking Ford you were referring to, Sen. Jackass?"
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the perfect vehicle from Detroit to put before spineless, deceptive, and dishonest politicians as well as the pile-on-mentality-but-otherwise-vacuous anchors. If these zoophytes possessed the ability to honestly report the facts, this is what they'd tell you after they drive a mid-size sedan that will go on sale early next year:
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is one helluva good car. The hybrid shares the new styling of the non-hybrid 2010 Fusion that includes new sheet metal, a new nose, and a new rear fascia. The design is contemporary and crisp. Only the Hybrid badges give you obvious visual confirmation that you're looking at the most efficient mid-size sedan on the road.
While official EPA estimates aren't due out for another month or so, expect to see figures of 39 city, 37 highway. These figures best the Toyota Camry Hybrid. During several extensive test drives in California, pilots from TheCarConnection.com averaged over 42 mpg, so Ford's estimates may prove conservative.
Perhaps the best complement one could bestow upon any hybrid is that it performs as well as a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The 2010 Fusion Hybrid does. Acceleration is smooth and strong, much like a small V-6. Transitions between running all-electric (up to 47mph) and gas and electric or just gas are neigh on imperceptible.
Inside, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid shares all of the upgrades that have been applied across the line, plus one. All 2010 Fusion models are significantly more refined than the outgoing model thanks to more (and more efficiently applied) insulation, thicker glass, and additional seals on the doors. Additionally, the entire instrument panel is new and made from a seamless soft-to-the-touch material that fits with tight tolerances for a high-quality appearance. The center area of the instrument panel (called the center stack) was also reconfigured to accommodate an eight-inch (that's big) LCD monitor that is included in vehicles ordered with the voice-activated navigation system.
The results of these interior changes have yielded a comfortable driving environment with a good seating position, improved visibility, and much less noise.
Now about the Hybrid-only interior upgrade it's the the Eco-Guide instrument cluster. This highly-legible LCD-based reconfigurable gauge package is not a marketing gimmick. Instead, it is a useful information delivery system that helps pilots drive more efficiently.
In terms of equipment, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid is well equipped (equivalent to a non-hybrid Fusion SEL). Standard features include a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, six-CD audio system enhanced with SYNC voice activated communications and entertainment controls, power front seats, SecurityCode keyless pad, and 17-inch aluminum wheels.
At this very point in time, my wish is that everyone who doubts Detroit could experience the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. This is a car that will change the minds anyone who dares say Detroit needs to "build the kind of cars people want to buy."
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
