Toyota
Detroit 2012: Scion Racing/GReddy FR-S Drift Car
Scion Racing brought its 600-horsepower GReddy FR-S drifter to the auto show in Detroit. With 500 pound-feet of torque, it should have no trouble breaking the rear wheels loose and make big clouds of smoke when it competes in the Formula Drift series next year.
First Look: 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser
The new Cruiser gets a refreshed nose and tail, with styling elements borrowed from the current Toyota Highlander. Inside, it’s mainly a matter of newer materials and trim colors, although Toyota’s Entune system is available as part of the standard hard-drive-based navigation system.
List: The Best Comments From Winding Road Readers In 2011
The comments below are some of my favorites, for various reasons, from the last year. Enjoy re-reading them, and be sure to click through to see the original threads, too.
Driven: 2012 Buick LaCrosse and Regal eAssist
eAssist is what’s called a mild hybrid system. In a traditional hybrid, like the Toyota Prius, both the electric motor and gas engine drive the wheels, drawing power/fuel from an onboard battery pack and a tank of gas, respectively. In a mild hybrid like the LaCrosse or Regal eAssist, the electric motor is simply there to supplement the gas engine under hard acceleration or at high speeds.
2011 Tokyo Motor Show Wrap-Up
Last week was the beginning of the Tokyo Motor Show, which saw some new concept and production cars hit the stage. Have a look below to see our coverage of the show.
Driven: 2013 Lexus GS350
In the world of mid-size luxury sedans, the big players have been the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Lexus GS, meanwhile, skated under the proverbial radar, lacking the performance cred of the 5-Series, the luxury cachet of the E-Class, or the sumptuous interior of the A6. It wasn’t a bad car, but even Lexus admits the Germans had dominated the market. Lexus is hoping to reverse that trend with the 2013 GS, and after a long day flogging it at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, we think Toyota’s luxury brand has got a pretty good shot of doing it.
First Look: 2013 Subaru BRZ
Unlike the Toyota GT 86 that we posted earlier (which could, but probably won’t, be tweaked when it gets its Scion badge), this is most certainly what the Subaru BRZ will look like when it hits North American shores.
First Look: 2013 Toyota GT 86
This is, maybe, possibly, hopefully the car that will be known as the Scion FR-S when it appears in the United States. Of course, we probably won’t see the Scion badged version until January’s Detroit Auto Show. In the mean time though, the world debut of the Toyota GT 86 offers quite a bit of information about the car that will debut in about six weeks.
Driven: 2012 Toyota Yaris
Throw it into a bend, and it just seems to go. It’s not the most graceful cornering experience you’ll ever have, tending to roll a bit too much, but this thing’s ability to carry speed around corners will put at least a small smile on your face. Where it’s different from the previous model is that it actually is tolerable to ride in when you aren’t going around turns. The suspension does a good job of soaking up road imperfections, although it’s hardly Ford Fiesta-like in its execution. There’s still too much vertical motion over the real rough patches.
First Look: 2012 Toyota Prius C
Toyota has taken the wraps off of the smallest member of the Prius family, the Prius c. Set to make its official debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the c is expected to net 50 miles per gallon in city driving.
LA 2011: Subaru Reveals BRZ STI – Concept
We already knew about it a few weeks back, but short of one rear three-quarter shot, we had no clue what it looked like. That’s changed now, with Subaru releasing images of the BRZ STI – Concept. This concept gives us the first clear look at the face of Subaru’s version of the Scion FR-S/Toyota FT-86. For more details on the BRZ STI, check out our original posting, here.
Driven: 2012 Honda CR-V
The old phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” has been taken to heart by Honda. After leading crossover/SUV sales from 2007 to 2010 with the third-generation CR-V, the Japanese automaker seems to have the pulse of this market’s buyers. Honda knows customers want a reliable, efficient, affordable, and stylish vehicle, and the third-gen model managed to pull that off with ease. The question is: will the new fourth-generation CR-V manage quite as well?
List: The Ten Greatest Movie Cars
We like movies. More importantly, we like movies that feature cars as integral parts of the story. So we’ve put together a list of ten of the most influential, important, and downright entertaining vehicles in cinema history. Quite simply, these cars made the movies as much as any flesh-and-blood actor. Of course, there will be disputes about just whether we should have included Mad Max’s Ford Falcon, James Bond’s Toyota 2000GT, or Herbie (wait, there probably won’t be any arguments about that last one). We’re pretty confident with our choices though. So without further ado, read on for our list of the ten greatest cars from the movies.
Quick Drive: 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
I attended the launch event for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler only a few short months before are Toyota FJ Cruiser loaner arrived at the office. What strikes me about the FJ is how it drives so differently than the Jeep, while still being almost as capable on the trail.
LA 2011: Subaru BRZ Concept – STI
We’re getting closer and closer to the start of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, and with it, the official unveiling of the hotly anticipated rear-wheel-drive Subaru BRZ (and its platform mate, the Scion FR-S/Toyota FT-86). In the mean time, Subaru has released this teaser of an STI-ified version of the BRZ.
Green Car Of The Year Finalists Announced
The 2011 Los Angeles International Autos Show is just around the corner, which means it’s high time to start thinking about the winner of the 2012 Green Car of the Year award. Presented for the seventh year in a row at LA, the GCOY recognizes the most fuel efficient, and environmentally friendly vehicles of the year.
List: Ten Best Vehicles For Tailgating
The pro and college football seasons are well and truly underway, which means if you haven’t been, you need to start thinking about tailgates. Keys to a good tailgate vehicle include storage, looks, and seating among others. Oh yeah, and as per WR rules, they need to be pretty good to drive too. Go Blue!
Driven: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
This Sonata may lack the power and involvement of its siblings, but still makes a sound case for itself as an attractive, high-mpg device.
Quick Drive: 2011 Honda Insight
I could sit here all day and bash the Honda Insight, but frankly, it would be a bit too easy. So instead, I’m going to offer some suggestions on ways to make the Insight better. Deep down, I know Honda can build a hybrid that could get the fuel economy of the Toyota Prius, while delivering a better driving experience. Here’s how.
Driven: 2012 Toyota Camry
For Toyota, it doesn’t get any more important. The Camry has been America’s best selling car for the past nine years (and 13 of the last 14), and Toyota expects almost 50 percent of 2012 Camry buyers to have been previous owners, so there is an expectation of what the car will deliver. The question is, will it deliver?
Driven: 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid
We recently drove the new Honda Civic lineup, and came away with a basic sense of what the car was like and how it had evolved. That trip, however, covered the whole Civic range, and with a limited amount of time, we had to focus mostly on a couple specific models, while giving the Hybrid only a cursory appraisal. Luckily, we managed to get the 2012 Civic Hybrid in at our Michigan office for some extended time in the vehicle.
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