Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota
Toyota walked a fine line this afternoon when it revealed that its own two-day investigation of last week’s runaway Prius near San Diego, CA had reached the same conclusion as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation. That is, the brakes on Jim Sikes’ 2008 Toyota Prius should have been able to stop the car. Toyota did not, however, go so far as to call Sikes a liar.
The investigation determined that the front brake pads were worn so far down from overheating that the rotors were scraping the pads’ metal backings. According to investigators, this could have only happened if the brake pedal were applied lightly (less than 50% or so) for an extended period of time, not pressed firmly to the floor as Sikes claimed he was doing. Only by “dragging” the brakes lightly could they become so overheated and worn, as firmly pressing the brake pedal while the car is accelerating would engage the brake override system that cuts engine power.
Though asked repeatedly if they had concluded that Sykes was lying, representatives for Toyota insisted that was not their judgment to make and they could only say that the investigation’s findings were not consistent with the scenario that Sikes describes.
Follow the jump for Toyota’s official statement in which it details all eight points of its findings.
[Source: Toyota]
Toyota agrees with NHTSA investigation of runaway Prius, but not calling Sikes a liar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota
A joint investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Toyota into the highly publicized incident last week of a runaway 2008 Toyota Prius near San Diego, CA may begin to answer questions raised after the owner’s credibility was challenged. In particular, the brakes reportedly exhibit a pattern of wear that’s inconsistent with the story told by the vehicle’s owner, James Sikes. According to a draft memo written for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the condition of the brakes suggests that they “weren’t applied at full force over a sustained period at high speeds” reports the Wall Street Journal, but rather “the driver may have intermittently applied moderate pressure on the brakes.”
Representatives from NHTSA and Toyota also couldn’t duplicate the sudden unintended acceleration in testing that was allegedly experienced in the same car last week, though Sikes’ lawyer claims these findings are not surprising: “I don’t think that is surprising insofar as NHTSA has never been able to recreate these events and Toyota has denied that they even occur.”
Finally, Sikes said after the incident that his accelerator pedal was stuck to the floor and he was braking hard at the same time. His particular Prius, however, is fitted with a brake override system that cuts engine power if the accelerator pedal and brake are applied at the same time. Investigators from both NHTSA and Toyota reportedly tried to recreate the same scenario with the vehicle in question and failed due to the brake override system performing as it was intended.
Toyota has announced a press conference for later today to share more of the investigation’s results, which will likely further erode confidence in Sikes and his story. Some experts have questioned why Sikes didn’t follow the advice of a 911 operator and shift his Prius into Neutral, as well as his explanation later of being afraid that the car would flip if he took it out of Drive. Also, Jalopnik.com reported last week that Sikes is some $700,000 in debt as well as behind on lease payments for the Prius in question. Puzzling behavior and circumstantial evidence aside, this investigation appears to offer the first hard evidence that what happened on Interstate 8 last week may not have been Toyota’s fault.
[Source: Wall Street Journal, CNN, Jalopnik | Image: Toyota]]
Official investigation of runaway Prius begins to answer questions originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP induces grins, wheelspin and wheelies
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP – Click above for high-res image gallery We’re going to get ahead of ourselves a little bit with our review of the new Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP. We…
2012 Chevrolet Malibu design completely revealed in patent filings?
2010 Chevrolet Malibu patent drawings – Click above for high-res image gallery Over the past nine months, we’ve seen the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu twice at General Motors media…
DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based
Will the new Police Interceptor be a toughened Taurus SHO? – click above for high-res image gallery Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be…
Also of interest:
- Alleged patent images for Porsche Panamera convertible turn up
- Nissan only offering GT-R Premium for 2011, priced from $�85,060* – will volume be constrained?
- Report: Chrysler reconsidering light-duty diesel for Ram
- Study: Where do our nav systems take us most? Walmart
- Report: New GMC Sierra Denali HD to get the dually treatment
- Report: Toyota sales may bounce back big time in March
- Chevrolet to employ new “Excellence for Everyone” ad campaign
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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.11.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet a smooth Spanish Fly(er)
Convertibles have long been something of an acquired taste. Devotees steadfastly defend the unique sensation of…
2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon slots in right below ZR1
For the truly hard-core Corvette fanatic who likes to spend weekends thrashing his or her car at the track, there is only one Corvette worthy of consideration: the Z06…
Report: Another Prius accelerates unintentionally in New York and crashes
Not one day after a high-profile incident involving a Prius taking off on its owner in Southern California, we’re hearing reports that another one of Toyota’s popular hybrids has suffered…
Also of interest:
- Source: Next-gen Ford Police Interceptor will debut this Friday in Las Vegas
- GM quickly one-ups Ford with 2011 Duramax diesel ratings, shows off GMC Sierra Denali HD
- Report: Porsche really, really wants to built 918 Spyder. Really.
- Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors
- Ralliart announces it is closing its doors… so what does that mean for Mitsubishi?
- Spy Shots: Next-gen Dodge Charger interior gets outed
- Carl Edwards gets three-race probation for intentional wreck
- Report: Toyota Tundra frame rust recall to go nationwide
- Cash for Clunkers more than twice as effective as first thought?
- Infiniti celebrates 20 years with limited edition Gs
- Update: Texas high school gets to keep using Ram logo
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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.10.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Dodge
There’ve been no shortage of spy shots to be had showing the upcoming next-gen Dodge Charger, but to date we’ve yet to see the interior fully revealed. Our spy photogs have remedied this by finally capturing the big rear-wheel-drive sedan’s inner domicile. What’s plainly obvious is that Dodge designers have added some swoop to the Charger’s angular interior. Note the silvery dashboard piece that acts as a backdrop for the cluster gauge, driver and center air vents and the rather large navigation screen. This particular interior is two-tone with what appears to be light-colored leather seats and door inserts, with black plastic (soft touch, we’re hoping) everywhere else and some nickel-colored trim thrown in. There’s also a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and information display between the tach and speedo.
All in all, we see a big improvement over the current car’s aged interior, but a final verdict will have to wait until we can get our grubby paws all over it. We’ve also got some new spy shots of the exterior that don’t reveal much more than what we’ve seen before except a naked C-pillar. Have a look in the high-res gallery below.
Gallery: Next-gen Dodge Charger: Spy Shots
Spy Shots: Next-gen Dodge Charger interior gets outed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports
NASCAR handed down its ruling yesterday on Carl Edwards’ retaliatory wreck of Brad Keselowski during the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday. The Roush Fenway Racing team driver will be subjected to a three-race probation that covers the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 21, the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 28 and the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 10.
What does probation mean for Edwards? Not a whole hell of a lot. The best description we could find of this peculiar punishment was “little more than monitoring actions.” That is to say, unlike a suspension, Edwards will race the next three Sprint Cup races. The fact that Edwards won’t face much consequence for his actions last Sunday is in keeping with what NASCAR officials said in January about putting more responsibility in the hands of the driver. That said, NASCAR president Mike Helton remarked that, “… there is a line you can cross. When you cross that line in our opinion, we’re going to get involved with you.”
In addition to the probation, NASCAR plans on getting Edwards and Keselowski in a room together along with team owners Jack Roush and Roger Penske to iron out this feud. We don’t know about you, but that sounds close enough to the plot of Days of Thunder that an epic rental car race on the beach is almost certain to occur on the way to dinner afterwards.
[Source: NASCAR, The New York Times | Image: Geoff Burke/Getty]
Carl Edwards gets three-race probation for intentional wreck originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrid, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota
Not one day after a high-profile incident involving a Prius taking off on its owner in Southern California, we’re hearing reports that another one of Toyota’s popular hybrids has suffered unintended acceleration in New York. This time, instead of the car eventually succumbing to the will of its braking system, it crashed into a stone wall. Fortunately the owner was reportedly just pulling out of her driveway in Harrison, NY and the car only accelerated across the street, though the collision allegedly sent “some pretty big boulders” flying, said one police chief.
The 56-year-old driver reportedly suffered non-life threatening injuries, and like the incident in Southern California a day earlier, a floor mat trapping the accelerator pedal has been ruled out as a cause. The 2005 model year Prius’ driver side floor mat was reportedly tied to the seat base with plastic ties.
The 2004-2009 Prius is included in an earlier Toyota recall for floor mats that may entrap the accelerator pedal, but the Japanese automaker does not have a fix ready for the cars, which may include reshaping their pedals, replacing floor mats and altering the shape of the floor. These cars are not, however, included in Toyota’s other major recall involving drive-by-wire accelerator pedal assemblies that could stick due to wear and other environmental conditions. That leaves no obvious explanation as to why these two Prius models took off on their owners. Toyota has stated it will join California and the U.S. government in investigating the first vehicle, though hasn’t commented on whether it will investigate the vehicle in New York yet.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
Report: Another Prius accelerates unintentionally in New York and crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Videos
NASCAR had said it wanted a return this season to the bad boy days of oval racing where drivers settled disputes on the track rather than saying “Aw, shucks” in front of the camera afterward. On Sunday, America’s favorite motorsport got what it asked for when Carl Edwards used his No. 99 Roush Fenway Ford to intentionally wreck Brad Keselowski and his No. 12 Dodge on Lap 323 of the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The two were traveling around 190 miles per hour at the time when a tap from side by Edwards sent Keselowski’s car airborne and crashing into the outside wall. On-air commentators quickly noticed in replays that the white gloves worn by Edwards made a quick, sharp turn of the wheel towards Keselowski’s car right before the crash. At the time of the wreck, Keselowski was headed for his first top-10 finish of the season.
The incident has sparked questions about whether retaliation on the track has gone too far in NASCAR. And while Edwards has been painted by many in the press as the bad boy in this situation, Keselowski has a reputation as a wrecker himself. Earlier in Sunday’s race on Lap 40, he clipped Edwards car on Turn 2. Long before that, Keselowski had spun Edwards last April at Talladega on the final lap to secure a victory, a wreck that caused some injuries in the grandstand as well. Keselowski’s other feuds with Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya are also well known.
Edwards reportedly admitted to officials after the race that the wreck was intentional, though he did not expect Keselowski’s car to go airborne. The affable Aflac spokesman may be suspended for a race, though NASCAR officials have said they would take their time to investigate the incident before making a decision. Follow the jump to see the crash in question as it happened and make your mind for yourself: Did Edwards go too far, or did Keselowski have it coming?
Continue reading The Wrath of Carl: Edwards intentionally wrecks Keselowski at Atlanta [w/video]
The Wrath of Carl: Edwards intentionally wrecks Keselowski at Atlanta [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Celebrities
Reports are flooding our inbox this morning that Sir Stirling Moss, one of the most decorated drivers in all of motorsport, was injured falling down a lift shaft in his London home. Moss reportedly fell three floors down the shaft when the doors opened while the lift itself was still one floor above. The 80-year-old racing legend is said to have broken both ankles and four bones in his feet, though he is OK and expected to recover from his injuries in about six weeks.
Now, you may be wondering why Moss has a lift in his home. Remember, “lift” in the UK means “elevator” in the U.S., and the elevator in Moss’ home is unlike any other. Let us take you back to June 2009. That month we reported about Moss’ swank London home that’s outfitted with such crazy contraptions as a giant tray that lowers from the ceiling to deliver dinner in front of the television, a remote-controlled jacuzzi tub and an automated inbox/outbox in his office. The report’s real gem, however, was Moss’ carbon fiber elevator that was designed especially for him by the Williams F1 team at the time.
While no reports of the accident mention anything about a carbon fiber elev… err, lift, being what Moss took his tumble down, we can’t imagine he has two lifts in his house. Follow the jump for video of the carbon fiber elev… dammit… lift in action, and beware F1 teams bearing gifts.
[Source: The Independent]
Continue reading Report: Stirling Moss falls down elevator shaft, breaks bones but OK
Report: Stirling Moss falls down elevator shaft, breaks bones but OK originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you were to research all of the posts ever published on Autoblog, you’d find that one of the most popular was one published back in June 2006 about artist Scott Wade from San Marcos, Texas. Wade is a painter who, unlike his peers, uses dirty cars as his canvas. He turns dusty rear windows into masterpieces that only last as long as a stiff breeze or unannounced rain shower allows.
At the time, we didn’t know much about how Wade created his art other than that typical artists’ tools like paint brushes were used. We recently found this video on YouTube created in January of this year, that details exactly how these amazing images are created.
Surprisingly, Wade first has to clean the rear window of the car he’s working on. He then applies almond oil to the glass so the special dust he uses, the same kind of fake dust used in the movies, will stick better. The dust is applied using a hair dryer to blow it onto the glass, and once an even and opaque coating has been achieved, he goes to work with his paint brushes. A complete piece of dirty rear glass art takes about 2-4 hours to complete, after which it’s either washed off or left to naturally decay on its own, which will happen fast.
Take a look at the video after the jump and revisit our gallery of past pieces by Scott Wade in the gallery below.
Gallery: Scott Wade dirty car art
[Source: DirtyCarArt.com]
Continue reading Video: Scott Wade’s dirty car art and how it’s done
Video: Scott Wade’s dirty car art and how it’s done originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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