Motorshow: 2010 LA Auto Show

At the recent LA motor show, there were several global debuts of numerous news cars, new concept cars like the Cadillac ULS and more.

Toyota revealed the revised Corolla sedan and the RAV4 EV. Hyundai debuted the all-new Elantra and Sonata Hybrid sedans. Check out the pictures after the jump.

 

Top 10 Best Engines List - Audi FSI Engines Acquire Two Places.

Yet another honor for the great auto maker Audi. Its two FSI engines acquire two positions in the "Top 10 Best Engines" category nominated by the editors of Ward's Auto World. The awards will be awarded during the North American International Auto Show at Detroit on January 13th 2010.

The two Audi FSI engines shortlisted are turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0 TFSI engine with the A4, and supercharged six cylinder 3.0 TFSI engine for the sporty upgrade S4 model.

For the purpose of nomination, six editors of Ward's Automotive World tested 34 engines from 13 different car manufacturers. This year the focus was how these engines are designed to give higher fuel economy with lower emissions without affecting the performance as a whole.

The engines were judged during driving cycles in Detroit where the judges assessed and assigned score to each engine on the basis of horsepower, torque, refinement, technical relevance and comparative data.

Ward’s AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter said.

“Auto makers are using innovative designs and advanced technology to boost horsepower and torque while downsizing engines and increasing efficiency.”

This is not the first time that the Audi engine is ranked with such a high esteem. In fact the Audi engines have been on the "Top 10 Engines" list for the last consecutive six years and 8 times for the last 10 years. Audi is the first car company to sell 100% of its gasoline engines with FSI direct injection technology, starting with model year 2010. The Audi S4 sedan, new for 2010, ushered in a new era of downsizing while enhancing performance and handling over the previous generation 2008 sedan model.

The eligibility criteria for the competition was to be available in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2010, in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000, a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle.

Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America said:

“Audi fuel-efficient powertrain technologies excel at delivering exceptional driving performance with reduced environmental impact. The well-rounded approach the brand is undertaking will keep Audi in a leading position for the foreseeable future.”

Supercharged Six Cylinder 3.0 TFSI Engine



Turbocharged Four-Cylinder 2.0 TFSI Engine

"Green Innovation Award"- Cheers For Toyota Prius.

At last the "tree", planted by the toyota motors to shift towards the "greener side" is now bearing fruits. Australia recognizes its efforts and initiatives to make the motor vehicles more eco-friendly. The latest prius, launched in early July, won a prestigious "Green Innovation Award" and "People's Choice Award".

The judges reckoned the Toyota Prius as innovative and "practical family car" continued to set benchmark for fuel efficient motoring. Furthermore they said that "Toyota was instrumental in hybrid techonoligy and making it popular to the point where most major car makers are now following suit".

"Hybrid have had many critics and, while the technology is not perfect it makes a sizeable step towards more effecient motoring. Something that's becoming more relevant everyday. Prius has gone from something of a science experiment to a practical, innovative family car."


The award was announced by the Fairfax Drive national Motoring editor Toby Hagon, while it was judged by nine of the top most experienced motoring journalists. The "People's Choice Award" was awarded as a general poll result, decided by the readers of the Fairfax Drive Online.

Toyota Australia's manager, Vic Johnston sure looked contented and stated that the iconic prius has now mainstream acceptance and the new generation prius has re-inventedthe transition of passenger carsfrom conventional power to hybrid delivery.

"Its success and acceptance is based on a greater understanding of the compelling need to save fuel and to reduce the environmental foot print of motoring", He added further.

This is not the only success that the Toyota Prius has witnessed so far. Infact prius has won its first major international award, recognized as the "Japenese Car Of The Year."

According to Japan Automobile Dealers Association's claim, third generation prius has been Japan's best selling car grabbing the 10.8% share of all the motor vehicle sales in September all over Japan.

Some of its basic features has been enhanced resulting in improved fuel effeciency of about 11.3% which means that it can cover a distance of 100Km in just 3.9 litres. Further improved features include 1.8-litre petrol engine and an electric motor of 100KW.

Amazingly carbon emission of the prius is as low as 89g per kilometer which is the lowest as compared to any vehicle in Australia so far and until now Toyota has been able to sell 1.5 million units the prius world wide out of which 14000 have been utilized in Australia alone.

NHTSA probes '07 Optima over transmission defect (U.S)

The feds are probing the 2007 Kia Optima after receiving three complaints stating that the automatic transmission cable could disengage. The investigation involves around 41,000 Optima sedan.

NHTSA "has received three complaints concerning automatic transmission shift cable detachment and inability to select and engage the gears (Park, Drive and Reverse) in model-year 2007 Kia Optima vehicles," it said. "One of the complaints also reported a rollaway incident after parking the vehicle."

The investigation could lead to a recall soon.

"Kia Motors America is not aware of any injuries as a result of a transmission failure in the subject vehicles and is cooperating with NHTSA in its investigation," said Kia Motors America.

In 2007, Kia delivered a technical service bulletin regarding imperfectly installed automatic transmission shift cables in some 2006 and '07 Optima’s. According to the bulletin, over time these cables can separate from the shifter assemblies' dowel pins, ensuing in the incapability to select or engage drive gears.

Peugeot 908 RC Exotic Sports Cars

Peugeot 908 RC Exotic Sports Cars

Peugeot 908 RC Exotic Sports Cars

Peugeot 908 RC Photo

Peugeot 908 RC Dashboard has a luxurious

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Land Rover recalls 2010 - '11 LR2 (U.S)

Land Rover will recall 2,956 LR2’s due to a faulty front airbag, which may not deploy.

"The shorting bar in the clock spring may become disconnected when the driver's airbag module connector is installed," said the NHTSA. "The driver's frontal airbag may not deploy as intended or at all and therefore will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injury."

Land Rover dealerships will put in a spacer into the driver's airbag clock spring harness connector. The recall is expected to begin on 13th December. Owners can contact Land Rover on (800) 637-6837.

Toyota working on turbos and direct injections to improve mpg

Toyota is working on more ways to improve fuel economy. While hybrid technology is all good and well, the Japanese car maker will start to use turbo charging and direct injection in the future as it looks to boost its overall fuel economy.

Toyota is developing turbocharged and direct injected petrol engines for its small and mid-size models.

“In the next five years, the general trend is downsizing of engines and the use of turbochargers,” head of Toyota’s R&D, Takeshi Uchiyamada, said. “Another development will be direct fuel injection.”

Uchiyamada added: “Eventually, we will see significant numbers of vehicles carrying engines with turbochargers.”

The turbocharged engines are likely to find their way under the Yaris, Corolla, Auris, Camry and Avensis models but no specific dates were given.

Toyota anticipates that just 10-20% of its new car sales in 2020 will contain hybrid vehicles.