Daily Car News - U.S. News

Toyota to Launch Social Network for Its Cars

U.S. News Best Cars — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:22:59 -0400

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 ...

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Panel Cites Toyota's Centralized Management for Slow Recall Response

U.S. News Best Cars — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:18:18 -0400

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 ...

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Chevrolet Cruze Eco Trades Spare Tire for Fuel Economy

U.S. News Best Cars — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:49:26 -0400

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 ...

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Ford Considers In-Car Health Monitoring App

U.S. News Best Cars — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:29:03 -0400

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, ...

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2012 Audi A6 Avant Not Coming to U.S.

U.S. News Best Cars — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:05:05 -0400

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 ...

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Honda Voluntarily Recalls 2012 Civics for Fuel Leak Problem

U.S. News Best Cars — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:58:56 -0400

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 ...

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GM to Increase Volt Production

U.S. News Best Cars — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:28:00 -0400

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 ...

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Chrysler Starts to Close Out Debt

U.S. News Best Cars — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:11:44 -0400

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 ...

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4,000 Juke Owners Get $400 Check from Nissan

U.S. News Best Cars — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:05:50 -0400

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 ...

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2007-11 Toyota Tundra Recalled for Tire Pressure Sensors

U.S. News Best Cars — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:56:54 -0400

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 ...

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Chevrolet Volt Resale Value Set at $17,000 after Three Years

U.S. News Best Cars — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:43:24 -0400

With gas prices up, hybrid and electric vehicles look like great options for savvy consumers who want to save money at the pump. But according to Kelley Blue Book, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be worth just $17,000 after 36 months of ownership – a significant drop from its $41,000 sticker price. “Despite all the hype and multiple Car of the Year honors, Volt retains only 42% of its original ...

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Chevrolet Impala Gets Power Boost for 2012

U.S. News Best Cars — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:46:05 -0400

Compared to other affordable large cars, the Chevrolet Impala may be overdue for a redesign. Autoblog says, “The model has been on sale in its current configuration since 2006 and a full update isn't scheduled to land until 2014 at the earliest.” Still, that doesn’t mean that the Impala won’t see some powertrain updates for 2012. The General Motors online ordering and reference guide shows that the 2012 Impala will ...

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Most Americans back 60 MPG Cars by 2025

U.S. News Best Cars — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:40:10 -0400

Gas prices are up, and according to a recent survey car shoppers want vehicles that are more fuel efficient. “The Consumer Federation of America said its survey of 2,000 Americans found both those identifying themselves as Republicans and Democrats think the government should require automakers to have their models average 60 miles a gallon by 2025,” writes USA Today. “Cars would cost more, but respondent said they'd be willing to ...

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Kia Adds More Powerful Four-Cylinder to 2012 Sorento

U.S. News Best Cars — Mon, 16 May 2011 10:19:01 -0400

Kia will make a new direct-injected 2.4-liter engine available in its Sorento crossover for the 2012 model year. “The new engine is almost certainly going to boost gas mileage on the Sorento,” writes USA Today. The Sorento’s current 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine already gets an EPA-rated 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway in two-wheel drive models and 21/27 mpg city/highway in four-wheel drive models, which are ...

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NHTSA Investigates Ford Freestyle for Lunging Problems

U.S. News Best Cars — Mon, 16 May 2011 10:18:07 -0400

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 170,000 Ford Freestyle crossovers after receiving complaints that the vehicles were “lunging” at low speeds. The federal agency reports that 238 people have complained of “unexpected vehicle movement when the driver’s foot is not on the accelerator,” possibly resulting in 18 crashes and one injury. The unexpected lurches seem to be occurring only at low speeds, and can happen in both forward ...

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Nissan, Toyota to Offer More Incentives in U.S. as Production Starts to Recover

U.S. News Best Cars — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:53:49 -0400

Nissan and Toyota are planning to introduce new sales incentives in the U.S., as production following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is starting to return to normal levels. Nissan North America Vice President Al Castignetti said in a memo sent Thursday to dealers that the automaker is in a "much healthier position" than Toyota and Honda in terms of U.S. inventory, the Associated Press reports. Nissan said its inventory ...

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Cadillac Relaunches Certified Pre-Owned Program

U.S. News Best Cars — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:39:08 -0400

Cadillac announced this week that it is relaunching its certified pre-owned program, which it said aims to bring new shoppers to the luxury brand and help increase the resale value of Cadillac vehicles. Cadillac joins General Motors’ other three brands (Chevrolet, Buick and GMC) in offering certified pre-owned vehicles to shoppers. “While the immediate benefit is provided to buyers of these pre-owned vehicles, it's also a key component for assuring ...

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Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra Named IIHS Top Safety Picks

U.S. News Best Cars — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:17:06 -0400

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently conducted its first roof strength tests of large pickup trucks. The Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra were the only two full-size trucks that earned the top rating of “Good” in the roof strength test, which measures how well a vehicle protects occupants in rollover crashes. Because of their “Good” ratings in the roof strength test, both the F-150 and Tundra were also named ...

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General Motors Recalls 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon

U.S. News Best Cars — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:32:03 -0400

General Motors is recalling 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyons for faulty windshield wipers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains, “Some of these vehicles have the condition in which the windshield wiper motor crank arm nut may not be tightened to specification. When the wipers are operated with a build-up of snow or ice, or if the wipers are operated on a dry windshield, the nut could loosen. If ...

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Google and Ford Team Up to Customize Driving Experience

U.S. News Best Cars — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:22:07 -0400

Imagine owning a car that will ask you were you’re headed and optimize your powertrain to minimize the amount of energy you’ll use to get there. Such technology is a strong possibility, as Google and Ford are teaming up to produce cars that can predict a driver’s behavior to maximize energy consumption. Ford says it will rely on “Google Prediction API, which provides greater computation power, information storage and external ...

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