November 4th, 2010 admin

Toyota GB today announced it would recall a number of its iQ models in the UK to carry out a modification to the software used to manage the vehicle’s Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

It is working with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to contact registered owners and keepers by letter to advise them of the procedure for taking their vehicle to an authorised Toyota repairer for the necessary repair work to be done.

The issue affects certain iQ vehicles, produced between 11 September 2008 and 22 October 2010. When driving on certain roadside safety side strips or ‘rumble strips’, signals received by the EPS sensors may be incorrectly interpreted by the EPS control unit, triggering the EPS warning light. Should this happen, the driver would need to apply extra effort to steer the vehicle.

This issue has only been observed in very specific circumstances in Japan. No cases have been reported in Europe. No accidents related to this issue have been reported.

The repair involves the update or replacement of the EPS control unit software. The job will take approximately two hours to complete, at no cost to the customer. Approximately 12,000 UK registered vehicles are affected by this recall.

Toyota will ensure that vehicles produced before 22 October 2010, but not yet delivered to customers, will be checked and the necessary repair undertaken before delivery.

Jon Williams, Managing Director of Toyota GB PLC, said, “We are committed to putting the customer first and have a total focus on the quality of all our products. We will liaise with our customers to carry out the repair procedures as efficiently as possible, with minimal disruption.”

Small cars and cars with small footprints on the environment have won another award. MotorWeek 2010 Drivers’ Choice Awards Names Toyota Prius Best Vehicle of the Year! Toyota can use the good news right now and with the Scion iQ coming later this year I am sure they will want to put to rest any lingering recall issues.

Prius Also Awarded Best Eco-Friendly Vehicle.

February 11, 2010 - - MotorWeek, television’s longest running automotive series, announced today the Toyota Prius has won the top honor of “Best of the Year” in its 2010 Drivers’ Choice Awards “for making improvements on virtually every front including, fuel efficiency, power and versatility.” Prius was a double winner as it also won MotorWeeks Drivers’ Choice Award for “Best Eco-Friendly” vehicle.

“If you can only buy one car for your family, the 2010 Prius is the one,” said MotorWeek host and executive producer John Davis. “The Prius is a no-compromise vehicle that offers impressive efficiency, cutting edge technology, smart packaging and truly iconic styling.”

“The Prius winning the prestigious MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Best of the Year and Best Eco-Friendly awards is truly an honor that reflects how far hybrid technology in the U.S. has come in one short decade,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “Since it was introduced in 2000, the Prius has been an icon for positive change. Now, with over 800,000 currently on American roads, Prius has helped change the way people think about transportation, the roles cars play in the environment, and what people could expect from their cars in the future.”

MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Awards have been widely acknowledged as one of the auto industry’s top honors for more than 25 years. The Drivers’ Choice Awards are chosen by the MotorWeek editorial staff by test-driving vehicles using a broad range of evaluation factors that are most important to consumers – performance, technology, practicality and value.

The Prius will be featured as the “Best of the Year” and “Best Eco-Friendly” vehicle on MotorWeek beginning February 13 on PBS.

Here is the direct link to the “New Way” Scion iQ / Toyota iQ video page at YouTube, they have a huge collection of interesting videos and commercials.  Enjoy!  Follow Me >>>

“Now it looks like the iQ will arrive by September or October of 2010. That’s a few months earlier than the previously-expected early 2011 date–and the confirmation that it’s coming is new too.” Link To Green Car Reports >>>

“Toyota’s sharp-looking and innovative iQ is already snatching up sales in the UK and Japan, offering an alternative to the somewhat pricier Smart ForTwo in the nascent urban mini-car segment. The Scion-branded version of the car has already been tipped for possible U.S. sale, but today reports are emerging that the decision may already be made - and that it could be here sooner than expected.” Link To Car Connections Article >>>

Aston Martin Cygnet

PRESS RELEASE:

New Aston Martin “Cygnet” inspired by Toyota’s iQ
Collaboration marks critical step in plans to expand ‘iQ world’

Toyota’s revolutionary iQ platform is about to reset traditional thinking, with plans that the world’s
smallest four-seater will serve as the basis for a new luxury commuter car to be exclusively built for and sold to Aston Martin owners. Toyota Motor Europe (TME) today announced that the new “Cygnet” would pair Aston Martin’s trademark design flair with the Toyota iQ’s highly compact and low-CO2 city driving package. The commuter car will be tailored specifically to customer requirements at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, the United Kingdom.

‘It’s a great compliment that the Toyota iQ has been hand-picked by one of the world’s most prestigious sports car brands, a company with whom we also share a strong friendship. This collaboration represents a natural pairing of strategies: a small yet spacious package, perfect for the city driver, finished off with Aston Martin’s iconic design language,’ said Tadashi Arashima, CEO and President of TME. ‘The Cygnet is a good choice for the Aston Martin owner looking for that second or third car, which is luxurious and eco-conscious,’ he added.

Although radically different in size and customer base, Aston Martin and Toyota are united in their corporate
philosophies of delivering superior quality, engineering excellence and innovative technology. The collaboration is also fortunate to benefit from a strong relationship underlined by a passion for cars.

The Toyota iQ is considered a breakthrough in intelligent design. Less than three metres in length, its flexible package can accommodate up to four people, providing owners with a new dimension of versatility. Featuring a range of design innovations – such as its flat under-floor fuel tank and asymmetric dashboard – the iQ is positioned as the “no compromise choice” with CO2 emissions starting as low as 99 g/km. It also offers outstanding levels of passive and active safety equipment resulting in a Euro NCAP 5-star rating.

Despite tough market conditions for the automotive industry, the Toyota iQ has proved appealing to a wide
variety of city drivers with a taste for style, driving performance and low CO2. The Toyota iQ made its European sales debut in January 2009. It continues to perform in line with expectation, with over 25,000 units sold to-date.

The planned collaboration with Aston Martin is a timely endorsement of the iQ’s superior packaging. The
announcement marks a critical step in Toyota’s longer-term planning to expand the ‘iQ world’ – that is, to bring new versions of the Toyota iQ to market globally and expand the company’s eco-friendly line-up.