ارشيف اخبار 2010

[اخبار مصر موتورز]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Japan, Toyota, Rumormill

Toyota FT-86 concept - click above for high-res image gallery

This is... odd. But here's the very long story short. Japan's Holiday Autos is reporting that Toyota has decided to scrap the design of the so far pretty much beloved FT-86. 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.



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 and we like how the concept looked. FT86club.com has a rendering of what the new car may look like posted here. 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. Tip of the floppy fedora to Cameron!

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Toyota FT-86 Concept

[Source: Holiday Autos via FT-86club.com]

Rumormill: Has Toyota scrapped the design of the FT-86? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[اخبار مصر موتورز]

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Japan, Mazda

Mazda MX5 20th Anniversary Edition (UK) - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you'll allow us to channel Kyle's mother for a moment, "What!? What!? What?!?!" That's right folks, not only has Mazda decided that them good bread and cheese eaters over in Europia get a 20th Anniversary edition Miata, but the redcoat wearing, Simon Cowell spawning, union jacking Queen-lovers over in Britain are fit to get their own special special edition 20th Anniversary Miata. Us Yanks? Bupkis.



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.



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 detailed here). 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 after the jump.

Gallery: Mazda MX5 20th Anniversary Edition (UK)

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata

Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[اخبار مصر موتورز]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Europe, Japan, Hatchback, Subaru

Just wait until Cosworth is finished with you - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's some extra happy news, especially if you're into that whole turbocharged, AWD rally thing. Autocar reports that legendary English engine tuner Cosworth has gotten its mitts all over the mighty Subaru WRX STI. Described as a "one-off, special project," it sounds as if Cosworth will be tweaking the engine, suspension and body. Long story short: YES!



As for details, we don't have any. Autocar 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. Ford RS200 anyone? We'll let you know more as soon as we can.

Gallery: 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Cosworth getting its magic mitts on Subaru Impreza WRX STI originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[اخبار مصر موتورز]

Filed under: Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Japan, Hatchback, Lexus, Luxury

Another Lexus hybrid is coming, and it's coming soon. Remember that solid gold Lexus LF-Ch Concept we saw last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show? We referred to it as something of a deformed puffer fish with some nice Lincoln Concept C cues. Well guess what? It's a concept no more and it's coming to the Geneva Motor Show in just a few short weeks so that us and the rest of the automotive press can ooh, ah and head scratch in unison.



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 combined with the electric motor is theoretically as powerful as a 6.0-liter V12. There we go again, attacking overused alphanumerics...



As for the CT 200h, here's your de rigueur 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 HS 250h 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 after the jump.

Gallery: Production Lexus Lf-CH spy shots

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lexus LF-Ch Concept

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Lexus CT 200h gets teased

Geneva Preview: Lexus CT 200h gets teased originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[اخبار مصر موتورز]

Filed under: Japan, Recalls, Toyota

In a press conference on Wednesday in Tokyo, Toyota 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 trio of high-profile recalls, 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 Prius hybrid.



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.



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.



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.



[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty]

Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

Akio Toyoda outlines quality reform, won't attend U.S. hearings originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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