Latest Car News

Toyota to Launch Social Network for Its Cars

Posted: May. 24, 2011 11:05:59 a.m.

Social networks are evolving, and while you may currently be using Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with family and friends, soon it might be possible to keep tabs on your car as well. Toyota and Salesforce.com announced yesterday in a press release that they have “formed a strategic alliance to build ‘Toyota Friend’, a private social network for Toyota customers and their cars. Toyota Friend will be powered by Salesforce Chatter, a private social network used by ...

Panel Cites Toyota's Centralized Management for Slow Recall Response

Posted: May. 24, 2011 11:05:18 a.m.

An advisory panel appointed by Toyota released its report yesterday, which addresses safety concerns that have arisen in recent years. The panel, which is headed by former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Rodney Slater, said that Toyota’s recalls since 2009 were due in part to centralized decision making that’s still too Japan-based.
However, Toyota’s management style wasn’t solely to blame. “The company's ‘skepticism and defensiveness’ toward consumer and other outside complaints also played a role ...

Chevrolet Cruze Eco Trades Spare Tire for Fuel Economy

Posted: May. 23, 2011 10:05:26 a.m.

The Chevrolet Cruze has made headlines for its above-average fuel economy, especially for its fuel-sipping Eco model. But GM, Chevrolet’s parent company, has announced that to make the Cruze Eco even more fuel efficient it must dropped pounds wherever possible. One thing to go was the Cruze’s spare tire. According to a GM press release, the 2011 Cruze Eco will not come standard with a traditional compact spare tire and wheel. Instead, Chevrolet will replace the spare tire ...

Ford Considers In-Car Health Monitoring App

Posted: May. 23, 2011 10:05:03 a.m.

Cars can monitor tire pressure, track weather and traffic conditions and connect to the internet, and they keep getting smarter. Ford wants to take its cars monitoring systems to the next level. Last week, Ford announced that it will team up with health companies to create applications that would monitor medical issues like diabetes, asthma and hypoglycemia through its SYNC infotainment system. At a press conference in Michigan, Gary Strumolo, Ford manager of vehicle design and infotronics, said Ford plans ...

2012 Audi A6 Avant Not Coming to U.S.

Posted: May. 20, 2011 11:05:05 a.m.

If you’re in the market for a luxury wagon and live in the U.S., you can cross the new 2012 Audi A6 Avant off your list. Audi unveiled the new A6 Avant in Berlin recently, but says it will not sell this wagon in the U.S.
Edmunds’ Inside Line spoke with Audi of America Spokesman Andrew Lipman, who confirmed the news.
The 2011 Audi A6 Avant is currently sold in the U.S. and starts at $53 ...

Honda Voluntarily Recalls 2012 Civics for Fuel Leak Problem

Posted: May. 20, 2011 10:05:56 a.m.

Honda is voluntarily recalling 1,156 Civics from the 2012 model year in the U.S. due to a potential problem with its fuel feed line. Honda will replace the fuel feed line, which could potentially leak a small amount of fuel.
“During manufacture of the fuel line assembly, an O-ring may have been displaced, which could potentially lead to a fuel leak at a joint where two segments of pipe attach to each other,” Honda said in a statement ...

GM to Increase Volt Production

Posted: May. 19, 2011 10:05:00 a.m.

The Chevrolet Volt will be available to nationwide and in Europe, Canada and China by the end of 2011. In preparation, General Motors is increasing production of its ground-breaking green car.
GM says that it will begin by shutting down its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, which currently produces the Volt, for four weeks in June to prepare for the production increase. “As a result of the plant upgrades, planned Volt and Ampera production capacity this year will increase to 16,000 units ...

Chrysler Starts to Close Out Debt

Posted: May. 19, 2011 10:05:44 a.m.

Chrysler owes the U.S. government $7.5 billion, but the automaker is close to paying off its debt.
The Associated Press reports, “The company has lined up investors to help it refinance $7.5 billion in loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments, three people briefed on the matter said Wednesday. Under the deal, the company would take out $2.5 billion in bank loans and sell $3.5 billion worth of bonds to investors. Italy's Fiat ...

4,000 Juke Owners Get $400 Check from Nissan

Posted: May. 19, 2011 10:05:50 a.m.

The Nissan Juke, a new model for 2011, has front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The two drivetrains get different fuel tanks, but Nissan accidentally misrepresented the specifications to early Juke buyers. Some shoppers bought AWD Jukes thinking they got the same 13.2 gallon tank the front-wheel drive Juke has. The AWD tanks are 1.4 gallons smaller.
As a result, “Nissan North America is sending $400 checks to early buyers of the Nissan Juke compact SUV because some ...

2007-11 Toyota Tundra Recalled for Tire Pressure Sensors

Posted: May. 18, 2011 10:05:54 a.m.

If you bought a Toyota Tundra in the Southeast, your truck might be facing a recall for faulty tire pressure sensors. Motor Trend writes, “Toyota will recall 2007-2011 Tundras sold in the southeast because their tire-pressure monitoring systems may be faulty.”
The issue essentially involves the system’s failure to alert drivers when the tire pressure is low. NHTSA reports, “The TPMS on some vehicles may not have been properly calibrated and as a result the low tire pressure warning ...