Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
One month of dreary sales figures doesn't signal the end of the hybrid, but the numbers reported for August hint that without a rise in gas prices, hybrid vehicle sales will likely continue to suffer. Overall hybrid sales dropped 40.4 percent in August compared to a year ago. Not even the mighty Toyota Prius could avoid the plunge. Prius sales fell 37.5 percent compared to August 2009 and dropped off 16.3 percent compared to the July 2010 numbers. Combined, Toyota and Lexus hybrids saw a 36.2 percent decline from a year ago. Ford fared better by posting a 17.1 percent drop in year-over-year numbers.

Hybrid sales were clearly boosted last August by the government's Cash for Clunkers program, but this summer's low gas prices take much of the blame for the current hybrid sales plunge. Toyota remains in the number one spot, posting 15,444 sales last month. Ford sits in second place after moving 3,894 hybrid vehicles off dealer lots, while Honda holds onto third with 3,485 sales. It's getting redundant, but Toyota still leads the hybrid market. Anyone want to place bets on when (or if) that'll change?

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Sources: Green Car Advisor, Autoblog]

Hybrid sales plummet 40% in August; Prius records 37.5% decline originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Etc., Videos, Nissan, Middle East, Design/Style, Off-Road

Sheik, hydro and roll - Click above to watch video after the jump
Well, this is certainly different. We've seen our fair share of wild vehicle modifications over the years, but this one takes the cake as one of the most imaginative. If the YouTube description is any sort of indication, this craft was hewn just for Sheik Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan as his personal toy. Near as we can tell, the guy liked the side-mount spare tire carriers on classic vehicles from the '30s, but wanted to be able to deploy them without having to actually get out and spin a lug nut. The solution was found in the miracle (or curse) of hydraulics.

Let's just do the world a favor and make sure this doesn't evolve into a trend. We've already had terrible visions of a future SEMA show with row upon row of six-wheeled, white-wall wearing Honda Civics. If you're brave enough, you can hit the jump to see the Nissan-based for yourself. Just don't show anyone else.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Sheik's custom six-wheeled Nissan SUV is a thing that makes us go 'Hmmm'

Video: Sheik's custom six-wheeled Nissan SUV is a thing that makes us go 'Hmmm' originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Honda

2012 Honda Civic spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery
After seeing a handful of spy shots of the next-generation Euro-spec Honda Civic, the North American car is finally starting to show up out roaming the heat-soaked roads of Death Valley. When the new Civic arrives next year, it won't be that much larger than the current car, and the overall shape looks to have stayed the same, though substantial changes to the front and rear fascias are definitely on deck.

Our spies were able to get a peek inside the Civic's cabin, showing that the two-tiered dash theme from the current car will likely be carried over to the new Civic. This means we can expect a digital speedometer on the top shelf with an analog tach below, and while we've never been big fans of this arrangement, it has its adherents among Civic fans.

We're not expecting to see the Civic debut until sometime in 2011, possibly at the Detroit or New York auto shows. For now, check out Honda's latest prototype from all angles in our gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic prototype holds on to two-tier dash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011

Ford's off-road beast, the F-150 SVT Raptor, has only been on sale for a year, but it's already getting a few upgrades for the 2011 model year. Many reports and a few spy shots indicated that Ford had been prepping a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor (you know, for when the family wants to do the Baja run with you), and the automaker has officially confirmed the details (again).

Rumormill: Toyota working on FT-86 sedan?

That's what the crew at Car Guide would have us all believe. According to the website, Toyota is looking to hedge its bets by producing a second model on the same platform as the upcoming FT-86....

Paris Preview: GM unveils Chevrolet Cruze hatchback for Europe

General Motors will be expanding Chevrolet of Europe's lineup by adding a five-door Cruze, and while we won't get our first look at this new hatchback for a few weeks, GM has decided to preview it early with a few pictures on the web.

Also of interest:

• Video: Cadillac CTS-V "Competition" commercial
• Chevrolet signs Tim Allen as brand's new voice
• Some say that Top Gear will viciously kill off The Stig
• Report: Rattner bio reveals Obama Administration wanted Ghosn to run GM
• Ford settles $�131m Explorer rollover case
• Who pays the highest auto loan interest rates in the country?
• Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango - What's your pick?

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 9.3.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Safety, Canada

Safety organizations and the District of West Vancouver, Canada are joining forces to build awareness about careful driving during the start of the school year. Thanks the work of the BCAA Traffic Safety Association, drivers motoring down 22nd Street in West Vancouver will be met with a 3D image of a girl chasing a ball across the street. No one is saying exactly how the tech works, but it's meant to be a wakeup call for drivers who may be distracted or otherwise not paying enough attention to their surroundings while driving near school zones.

The display will be installed for just one week and cost a princely total of $14,400 (USD) to operate. According to The Globe and Mail, drivers will be able to see that there is something on the road as they approach the 3D image. Once the vehicle reaches a certain point, the image of the child and her toy will appear. According to the BCAA Traffic Safety Association, September and October are the two months with the highest child fatalities, and this exercise should go well beyond the typical awareness campaign. Here's hoping it doesn't trigger any panic-braking induced accidents in the process.

[Source: The Globe and Mail]

Vancouver using 3D optical illusion to scare motorists into safer driving? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Specialty, South America

Mexican sports car intender Mastretta has officially announced that it will reveal the production version of its MXT at this month's Paris Motor Show.

Longtime Autoblog readers may recall that the Latin auto was actually expected to go on sale back in 2009, but for unknown reasons, it evidently hasn't made it into serial production yet. Previously shown iterations of the MXT have been powered by a 2.0-liter Ford Duratec four-cylinder, with the promise that a production model would be turbocharged and fettled by the enginemeisters at Cosworth. The target back then was a modest 240 horsepower, but with an expected weight of under a ton, 0-60 mph was expect in under five seconds.

At this point, we're not sure if the car will look like the model revealed in 2007, let alone how many MXTs are planned, or at what cost. Back in 2008, Mastretta indicated that they were targeting about 150 units per year, with fully 70 percent of production earmarked for Europe and the United States. Click past the jump for the company's announcement and check out our gallery of the original MXT below.

Gallery: Mastretta MXT

[Source: Mastretta]

Continue reading Mexico's Mastretta releases a few lines about MXT sports car for Paris

Mexico's Mastretta releases a few lines about MXT sports car for Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Japan

Mitsuoka Orochi Premium Gold - Click above for high-res image gallery
So you're headed to Japan and need to rent a car. What to choose? The island nation is a smorgasbord of metal foreign to American tastes, from a wide buffet of pint-sized kei-cars to more American-sized contraptions. But what if none of those options have the kind of flair you require for that special business meeting? Fear not. Mitsuoka has you covered. The company has just announced a rental program that will let you pick up either of its two sports cars for a fairly low per-day rental rate in Osaka.

For a mere $390 per day, you can play around with the ridiculously over-the-top Orochi, complete with its underwhelming Toyota 3.3-liter V6 mounted mid-ship. If you require something topless, Mitsuoka will be happy to put you in the driver's seat of its roadster, the Himiko for a mere $177 per day. Whichever you choose, you'll need a fair command of the Japanese language to navigate Mitsuoka's site. Our Google Translator was no help at all.

Gallery: Mitsuoka Orochi Premium Gold

[Source: Mitsuoka via Gizmag]

Mitsuoka Orochi now available to rent in Osaka originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A jury has ordered that Ford pay $131 million for a 2001 rollover accident that claimed the life of Mets prospect Brian Cole.


Ford Motor Company - Ford - New York Mets - Rollover - Punitive damages

Bentley is just days away from revealing the all-new 2011 Continental GT Coupe and Convertible models online, but our spies just captured a camo-free GT Coupe!


BentleyContinentalGt - Coupé - Bentley - Recreation - Autos

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet

Heads up, compact fans; the configurator for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has officially gone live. If you've got a few hot seconds to spare as your work week comes to a close, you can build up your new Bowtie fuel miser any way you so please. It doesn't take long to click off enough options to have the Cruze sitting pretty at just shy of $26,800 including destination. Of course, that kind of coin will fetch you a sunroof, spare tire, RS appearance package, navigation and just about everything else your heart could desire in LTZ trim.

Of course, the frugal among you can sink your teeth into a $16,995 LS model, complete with a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission and not much else. If it were us laying down the coin, we'd probably hold off until we got word exactly how much Chevrolet is going to ask for the super-efficient Eco model. Thanks for the tip, Scott!

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive

Photos by Zach Bowman, Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Chevrolet]

Chevrolet Cruze configurator goes live originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bold words, big claim. Cadillac proudly proclaims that it is "The new standard of the world" in its latest CTS-V commercial. [Nürburgring video inside!]


Cadillac - CadillacCts-v - Nürburgring - Video - Recreation

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology

Now that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency have established fleet fuel economy standards of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, the government agencies are hard at work on the next phase of increases that will stretch out to 2020 and beyond. The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act mandated 40 mpg by 2020 as a minimum, but the standards could actually be set higher. That's exactly what the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) want.

A report from CFA declares that the technology exists to raise fuel economy standards to 60 mpg by 2025 and estimates that doing so would add about $2,600 to the cost of new cars and $3,200 to light trucks. CFA's analysis indicates that, at the equivalent of $3.50 per gallon in 2025, the payback period for the extra costs would only be five years. While the technology definitely exists to produce 60-mpg vehicles, the real problem is consumer behavior, and most American consumers probably won't buy the kinds of small cars required to meet those standards at current fuel prices - particularly with that much cost tacked on to their MSRPs.

Hitting 60 mpg while maintaining the size and capability Americans currently buy would doubtlessly cost substantially more. In order to get people to buy such vehicles, critics suggest there will need to be significantly higher prices at the pump. The idea of a revenue-neutral petroleum tax (whereby other taxes would be cut to compensate) that establishes a floor price of at least $4 per gallon could be a good place to start on the way to 40 mpg. Getting people into 60-mpg vehicles would probably require an even higher floor - perhaps $5/gal or more.

[Sources: Green Car Advisor, Consumer Federation of America]

Continue reading Consumer Federation of America calls for 60 mpg CAFE standard by 2025

Consumer Federation of America calls for 60 mpg CAFE standard by 2025 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daihatsu, a brand name mostly forgotten in the U.S., but still soldering on as Toyota's minicar division, has announced the recall of 500,000 vehicles in its native Japan.


Toyota - Japan - Daihatsu - United States - Automobile

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Cadillac

Cadillac CTS-V "Competition" commercial - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Recently, we showed you a behind-the-scenes look at Cadillac's newest commercial featuring the CTS-V sedan out on Germany's hallowed-be-thy-name Nürburgring. Now, after all of the editing and post-production work has been completed, we're left with a brand new television ad spot simply dubbed "The Competition," showing viewers that one of the world's fastest sport sedans will strive to be better and better. How can you improve on 0-60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and a 'Ring run in just 7:59.32? We're eager to find out.

Aside from the gloriousness of watching a CTS-V do what it does best out on one of the world's greatest road courses, we like this video because it makes mention of the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - two vehicles that inspired Cadillac to raise the bar for its own sport sedan. Give credit where credit is due, after all. Still, we like stiff competition, and you can watch Cadillac's latest ad spot for yourself after the jump.

[Source: Cadillac via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac CTS-V "Competition" commercial

Video: Cadillac CTS-V "Competition" commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Records are meant to be broken, some say, but when records involve jumping monster trucks, more than records will break in the process. Much more.


World record - MonsterTruck - Motorsport - Truck - Sports

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities

General Motors has officially announced that television and movie star Tim Allen will be the new "voice of Chevrolet," starting with a series of ads that will begin airing on September 7. These ads will be for the all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, and while Allen is a big-name with a very recognizable voice, GM's vice president of marketing, Joel Ewanick, reminds us that "the car will be the star."

Allen is best known for his starring role on the long-running 1990s sitcom Home Improvement, as well as his roles in The Santa Clause movies and as the voice behind Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story trilogy. In addition, Allen is also a well-known automobile enthusiast and has an extensive car collection. He is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and has a strong love for classic American muscle cars.

Look Listen for Tim Allen in four 30-second GM spots, scheduled to hit your television screen in the coming weeks. GM says that the Cruze's marketing campaign will ramp up as the cars begin to arrive at dealerships in greater volume. For the full details, hit the jump to read GM's press release.

[Source: General Motors | Image: Michael Schwartz/WireImage.com]

Continue reading Chevrolet signs Tim Allen as brand's new voice

Chevrolet signs Tim Allen as brand's new voice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new report suggests that the U.S. Treasury intends to monitor and limit the possible cornerstone investors in GM, particularly in regard to foreign investors.


United States Department of the Treasury - Investment - Initial public offering - General Motors - U.S. Treasury

With just a few months left in the year, BMW is battling Lexus for the title of best-selling luxury marque in the U.S.


BMW - Lexus - Luxury vehicle - Makes and Models - Recreation

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

When murmurings began hitting the web that the man who plays The Stig was itching to publish his memoirs, we knew it was only a matter of time before the character met his end on the BBC's Top Gear. According to The Sun, James May has hinted that White Stig will be dealt with in the same manner as his predecessor, Black Stig. As you may recall, Black Stig infamously tried to outperform a Harrier jet from behind the wheel of the Top Gear Jaguar, only to overshoot his mark and wind up at the bottom of the sea.

According to May, White Stig may not be so fortunate. In his interview with The Sun, May said that he and his co-hosts may actually drive to The Stig's house, beat him silly and reclaim his suit of racing armor. We're thinking that the show's writers will likely come up with something a little more grandiose when it comes to sending the disgraced character out to pasture, but you never know. Will the show pit White Stig against the Royal Navy like his predecessor... or will he face some crueler fate? We'll find out soon enough. Thanks for the tip, Gooner!

[Source: The Sun]

Some say that Top Gear will viciously kill off The Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This morning a massive Boeing 747-400 cargo jet was forced to crash land on a Dubai roadway, potentially causing casualties.


Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Middle East - United Parcel Service - Government