Toyota President apologizes... again, calls situation a "crisis"
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/business/global/06toyota.html"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/hkg3207618opt.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
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Fifteen days after Toyota announced a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/toyota-issues-new-voluntary-recall-for-sticking-accelerator-peda/">recall of 2.3 million vehicles</a> in the U.S. for sticking accelerator pedals, the company's president and grandson of its founder made a formal apology at an evening news conference in Japan on Friday night (early morning EST). Akio Toyoda has been largely silent during the last two weeks as his company struggles to contain the fallout from recalls affecting over nine million vehicles on multiple continents. The only other time he's spoken on record was during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last Friday when he told a Japanese interviewer, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/29/toyota-ceo-apologizes-to-those-affected-by-throttlegate/">"I am deeply sorry."</a> What's the reason for today's remarks? Toyoda told the audience of press, ""I came out here today because I would not want our customers to spend the weekend wondering whether their cars are safe."<br />
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The company president also announced that a committee would be created to look at Toyota's quality issues and address them going forward, something his predecessor, Katsuake Watanabe, also did back in 2006. Finally, in regards to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/04/toyota-prius-brake-problem-was-known/">braking issues with the 2010 Prius</a> revealed yesterday, Toyoda said the company would soon announce how it plans to address them. Despite reports coming out of Japan to the contrary, there has been no official confirmation from Toyota that the new Prius will be recalled. Both the Japanese and U.S. governments have also opened investigations on the Prius and Toyota has pledged its cooperation.<br />
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We also learned yesterday of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/04/report-ford-issues-tsb-fix-for-brake-pedal-on-fusion-hybrid-mod/">brake issues</a> in the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/fusion">Ford Fusion Hybrid</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/milan">Mercury Milan Hybrid</a> after Consumer Reports experienced a sudden loss of braking power in a Fusion Hybrid and contacted the automaker. The issue sounds similar to what some owners are experiencing in the 2010 Prius, though we've only heard of this one instance and Ford has already responded with a TSB to repair the issue with a software upgrade.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ab-recall-banner-sm-1265124357.png" alt="" /></a><br />
<em><strong><small>Tire d of Toyota recall news? Try out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/exclude/toyota+recall">recall-free version</a> of Autoblog.</small></strong></em></div>
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[Source: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/business/global/06toyota.html">The New York Times</a> | Image: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/toyota-president-apologizes-again-calls-situation-a-crisis/">Toyota President apologizes... again, calls situation a "crisis"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/toyota-president-apologizes-again-calls-situation-a-crisis/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19346305/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/toyota-president-apologizes-again-calls-situation-a-crisis/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Toyota President Akio Toyoda pens op-ed piece for Washington Post
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="www.washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020803078.html?hpid =opinionsbox1"><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/gyi0057471259-630op.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
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Oh, what a terrible feeling it must have been when Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda, had to sit down and write out this here <em>mea culpa, mia maxima culpa</em> for today's <em>Washington Post</em>. As the bad news continues to fall upon Toyota's bruised crown, we imagine that Mr. Toyoda realized that his company had reached the point where continued <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/29/toyota-ceo-apologizes-to-those-affected-by-throttlegate/">sound bite apologies</a> (here's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/toyota-president-apologizes-again-calls-situation-a-crisis/">another one</a>) isn't doing Toyota all that much good. As such, he put pen to paper and defends the Japanese giant in long format.<br />
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Maybe we could use a more charitable word than "defends." For Toyoda does take responsibility (in writing, at any rate) for <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide">Toyota's unintended failings</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/toyota+recall">accelerati ng recalls</a>. Says Mr. Toyoda, "We have not lived up to the high standards you have come to expect from us. I am deeply disappointed by that and apologize. As the president of Toyota, I take personal responsibility." Not a bad place to start from, we think.<br />
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Toyoda then goes on to explain about the Toyota's fabled andon cord. An andon cord is an alarm that any line worker at any Toyota plant can pull when there's trouble on the production line. Meaning that Toyota takes its vehicles's quality so seriously, that even the dude screwing in the ashtray (or whatever) can shut down production for the entire for an entire plant. Quote Mr. Toyoda, "Two weeks ago, I pulled the andon cord for our company." That's in reference to his decision to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/26/breaking-toyota-temporarily-halts-sales-of-selected-models/">cease production of eight Toyota models</a>. <br />
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He then goes on and explains what Toyota is doing to prevent things like <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/throttlegate">ThrottleGat e</a> from happening in the future, starting with a "top-to-bottom review" of Toyota's global operations. Toyota will also be establishing the Automotive Center of Quality Excellence, essentially an engineering and quality clearinghouse. Toyota will also be putting together a "blue-ribbon safety advisory group" comprised of non-Toyota quality management experts to periodically review Toyota's business practices. The group's findings - and Toyota's response to those findings - will be made public. Lastly, Mr. Toyoda acknowledges that Toyota needs to investigate complaints from consumers more quickly. To that last bit we say, "Gee, ya think?"<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020803078.html?hpid =opinionsbox1">Washington Post</a> | Image: Junko Kimura/Getty Images]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/image-toyota-president-akio-toyoda-pens-op-ed-piece-for-washi/">Toyota President Akio Toyoda pens op-ed piece for <i>Washington Post</i></a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/image-toyota-president-akio-toyoda-pens-op-ed-piece-for-washi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19350139/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/09/image-toyota-president-akio-toyoda-pens-op-ed-piece-for-washi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Rumormill: Has Toyota scrapped the design of the FT-86?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/63086.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><sma ll>Toyota FT-86 concept - click above for high-res image gallery</small></em></strong></div>
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This is... odd. But here's the very long story short. Japan's Holiday Autos is reporting that <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/toyota">Toyota</a> has decided to scrap the design of the so far pretty much beloved <a href="http://autoblog.com/tage/ft-86">FT-86</a>. Don't worry, the FT-86 and its rear-wheel drive, simple, cheap, sporty self isn't in danger. Toyota had three competing designs to work worth and have picked one that they liked better than the car we saw in Tokyo. That is their right and privilege.<br />
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This new design is reportedly the work of a Northern American design team also known as Calty Design Research, beating out Toyota's other European and Japanese proposals. The European team is responsible for the FT-86 concept we've seen so far. Trouble is, we have no idea what this new car looks like <em>and</em> we like how the concept looked. FT86club.com has a rendering of what the new car may look like <a href="http://www.ft86club.com/?p=128">posted here</a>. But again, who knows? Especially as Holiday Autos doesn't strike us as the most trustworthy of sources. We'll try to do some digging and keep you posted. <em>Tip of the floppy fedora to Cameron!<br />
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</em><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/low/">Tokyo 2009: Toyota FT-86 Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/toyotaft86live_01_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/toyotaft86live_02_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/toyotaft86live_03_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/toyotaft86live_04_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tokyo-2009-toyota-ft-86-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/toyotaft86live_05_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Holiday Autos via <a href="http://www.ft86club.com/?p=128">FT-86club.com</a>]<em><br />
</em><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/rumormill-has-toyota-scrapped-the-design-of-the-ft-86/">Rumormill: Has Toyota scrapped the design of the FT-86?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/rumormill-has-toyota-scrapped-the-design-of-the-ft-86/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19351688/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/rumormill-has-toyota-scrapped-the-design-of-the-ft-86/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mazda/" rel="tag">Mazda</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/630britmiata.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><sma ll>Mazda MX5 20th Anniversary Edition (UK) - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></em></strong></div>
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If you'll allow us to channel Kyle's mother for a moment, "<em>What!? What!? What?!?!</em>"<em> </em>That's right folks, not only has <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/mazda">Mazda</a> decided that them good bread and cheese eaters over in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/mazda-to-launch-special-20th-anniversary-mx-5-miata-in-geneva/">Europia get a 20th Anniversary edition Miata</a>, but the redcoat wearing, Simon Cowell spawning, union jacking Queen-lovers over in Britain are fit to get their own special <em>special </em>edition 20th Anniversary Miata. Us Yanks? Bupkis. <br />
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Of course when you scrape your way down to the nitty and/or gritty of the matter, you learn that just like the Europe-only Miata, the Brit version also gets a 1.8-liter motor, not the more powerful 2.0-liter found in U.S.-spec Miatas. Meaning that only a very few crazy die hards would shell out good money for a detuned special edition Miata even if the 1.8-liter model "echoes true spirit of 1990 original." And of course, as we all know (ahem) the 1990 original Miata came with a 1.6-liter power plant and the 1.8-liter motor didn't show up until 1996.<br />
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The truth of the matter is there doesn't seem to be any difference between the British 20th Anniversary cars and the European ones aside from the fancy paint job (the 20th Anniversary car is largely an appearance package <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/02/mazda-to-launch-special-20th-anniversary-mx-5-miata-in-geneva/">detailed here</a>). It's just that Britain is such a huge Miata market the island nation secured 33% of the production run. After all, the Miata is essentially a British roadster minus all the never absent rust, fatal electrical gremlins and routine catastrophic purging of essential fluids. Still feeling bad that we're not getting a 20th Anniversary Miata? It takes 9.9 seconds for that 1.8-liter to 60 miles per hour... Press release <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/blimey-uk-gets-its-own-20th-anniversary-mazda-miata/#continued">after the jump</a>.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/low/">Mazda MX5 20th Anniversary Edition (UK)</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/01-mazda-mx5-20th-euro_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/02-mazda-mx5-20th-euro_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/03-mazda-mx5-20th-euro_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/04-mazda-mx5-20th-euro_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda-mx5-20th-anniversary-edition-uk/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/05-mazda-mx5-20th-euro_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Mazda]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/blimey-uk-gets-its-own-20th-anniversary-mazda-miata/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/blimey-uk-gets-its-own-20th-anniversary-mazda-miata/">Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/blimey-uk-gets-its-own-20th-anniversary-mazda-miata/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19352496/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/blimey-uk-gets-its-own-20th-anniversary-mazda-miata/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Report: Cosworth getting its magic mitts on Subaru Impreza WRX STI
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/aftermarket/" rel="tag">Aftermarket</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/subaru/" rel="tag">Subaru</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/630cosworthsti.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><sma ll>Just wait until Cosworth is finished with you - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></em></strong></div>
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Here's some extra happy news, especially if you're into that whole turbocharged, AWD rally thing. <em>Autocar</em> reports that legendary English engine tuner <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/cosworth">Cosworth</a> has gotten its mitts all over the mighty <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/sti">Subaru WRX STI</a>. Described as a "one-off, special project," it sounds as if Cosworth will be tweaking the engine, suspension and body. Long story short: <em>YES!</em> <br />
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As for details, we don't have any. <em>Autocar</em> says that specifications and pricing will become available when closer to the car's on sale date in March. A Cosworth spokesperson has said that the improved upon STI, "will raise the bar for all-wheel-drive, high-performance motoring." Sounds good to us, especially as the current STI has always felt about 85 percent finished to us. For what it's worth, Cosworth has a pretty special history when it comes to tuning rally cars. <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/ford+rs200">Ford RS200</a> anyone? We'll let you know more as soon as we can.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/low/">2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-ed__thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-ed_-(1)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-ed_-(2)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-ed_-(6)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-edition/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/2010-subaru-wrx-sti-special-ed_-(10)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=24746 4">Autocar</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/report-cosworth-getting-its-magic-mitts-on-subaru-impreza-wrx-s/">Report: Cosworth getting its magic mitts on Subaru Impreza WRX STI</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/report-cosworth-getting-its-magic-mitts-on-subaru-impreza-wrx-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19352743/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/report-cosworth-getting-its-magic-mitts-on-subaru-impreza-wrx-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Geneva Preview: Lexus CT 200h gets teased
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/" rel="tag">Geneva Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/630ct.jpg" /><br />
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Another <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/lexus/">Lexus</a> hybrid is coming, and it's coming soon. Remember that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept-hits-misses/">solid gold Lexus LF-Ch Concept</a> we saw last year at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/frankfurt-auto-show/">Frankfurt Motor Show</a>? We referred to it as something of a deformed puffer fish with some nice <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/detroit-2009-little-bigtime-concept-c-takes-lincoln-in-brand/">Lincoln Concept C</a> cues. Well guess what? It's a concept no more and it's coming to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/">Geneva Motor Show</a> in just a few short weeks so that us and the rest of the automotive press can ooh, ah and head scratch in unison.<br />
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Not only that, but Lexus has dropped the silly LF-Ch name and replaced it with the not-quite-as-meaningless but equally clunky moniker CT 200h. We know, we know - 200h means the car has a 2.0-liter engine plus an electric motor. How exciting! That is, unless it's like the LS 600hL, where the 600h means the 5.0-liter V8 <em>combined</em> with the electric motor is theoretically as powerful as a 6.0-liter V12. There we go again, attacking overused alphanumerics...<br />
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As for the CT 200h, here's your <em>de rigueur</em> teaser shot. We know next to nothing about the car, other than that Lexus views the gas/electric compact luxury hatchback as a "gateway model" to its other hybrid vehicles. These include the RX 450h, GS 450h, the aforementioned LS 600hL and the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/hs250h">HS 250h</a> that Lexus oddly left out of the CT's press release. Does that mean the CT could be replacing the HS? 99.9% no, but we're grasping at straws here, trying to sex up this post. Perhaps it's best for us just to say, "we'll know more in Geneva." Tiny little information-free press release <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/geneva-preview-lexus-ct-200h-gets-teased/#continued">after the jump</a>.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/production-lexus-lf-ch-spy-shots/low/">Production Lexus Lf-CH spy shots</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/production-lexus-lf-ch-spy-shots/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/lfchproductionspy002_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/production-lexus-lf-ch-spy-shots/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/lfchproductionspy000_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/production-lexus-lf-ch-spy-shots/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/lfchproductionspy001_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept/low/">Frankfurt 2009: Lexus LF-Ch Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/01-lexus-lf-ch-live_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/02-lexus-lf-ch-live_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/03-lexus-lf-ch-live_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/04-lexus-lf-ch-live_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-lexus-lf-ch-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/05-lexus-lf-ch-live_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Lexus]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/geneva-preview-lexus-ct-200h-gets-teased/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Geneva Preview: Lexus CT 200h gets teased</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/geneva-preview-lexus-ct-200h-gets-teased/">Geneva Preview: Lexus CT 200h gets teased</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/geneva-preview-lexus-ct-200h-gets-teased/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19355943/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/geneva-preview-lexus-ct-200h-gets-teased/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Akio Toyoda outlines quality reform, won't attend U.S. hearings
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20100217/OEM/100219873/1147"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/hkg3257749opt.jpg" /></a><br />
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In a press conference on Wednesday in Tokyo, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> Motor Company's president Akio Toyoda (grandson of the company's founder) revealed new details of his plan to reform the automaker's quality standards. Toyota has been beset by a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide">trio of high-profile recalls</a>, two of which involve unintended acceleration caused by either floormats or a sticking accelerator pedal and another having to do with the brakes on the 2010 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/prius">Prius</a> hybrid.<br />
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In addition to heading up what's being called a Special Committee for Global Quality, Toyoda remarked that his company will also establish a "chief quality officer" for each geographical region in which the company's vehicles are sold. Those officers will each have a seat on the committee led by Toyoda, which holds its first meeting March 30. New local technical offices will also be opened to help better investigate customer complaints, the goal reportedly being to have an on-site inspector there within 24 hours after a complaint is made.<br />
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In addition, Toyoda reaffirmed the automaker's commitment to outfit all of its vehicles with a brake-override system. This system would prevent acceleration if the gas and brake pedals were applied at the same time. Finally, the Japanese automaker also plans to make better use of onboard data event recorders in its vehicles. Like the black box in an airplane, these devices record critical data the seconds before an accident happens.<br />
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His third time speaking to the press in less than two months, Toyoda also confirmed that he would not be attending a February 24 Congressional hearing before the House Oversight Committee. Instead, Yoshimi Inaba, president of Toyota's operations in North America, will appear on behalf of Toyota to answer the U.S. government's questions. This will be the second of four Congressional hearings related to Toyota's recent recalls, and while Toyoda does not plan to attend any himself, he is planning a trip to the U.S. to speak directly with workers, dealers and suppliers.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20100217/OEM/100219873/1147">Automotive News</a> - sub. req. | Image: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty]<br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ab-recall-banner-sm-1265124357.png" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/exclude/toyota+recall">recall-free version</a> of Autoblog.</small></strong></em></div><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/toyota-president-outlines-quality-reform-wont-attend-u-s-hear/">Akio Toyoda outlines quality reform, won't attend U.S. hearings</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/article/20100217/OEM/100219873/1147>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/toyota-president-outlines-quality-reform-wont-attend-u-s-hear/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19361633/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/17/toyota-president-outlines-quality-reform-wont-attend-u-s-hear/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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