Toyota recalls 2.17 million more vehicles over possible pedal entrapment

Toyota has announced that it will recall about 2.17 million vehicles because of possible problems pedal strangulation. In case you forgot about massive recall by Toyota from last year, does this new edition over 2.17 million vehicles in the driver's side floor mat is a potential danger can be. Uh oh.
In October 2009, Toyota recalled nearly five million vehicles because of possible problems with the floor mats. In January 2010, the automaker recalled an additional 2.3 million due to a problem with jump accelerator.
This latest rash of recalls affecting:

     * 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner (603 000 units)
     * 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid (397 000 units)
     * 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4 (761 000 units)
     * 2008-2011 Lexus LX 570 (17,000 units)
     * 2006-2007 Lexus GS 300 and 350 all-wheel-drive models (20,000 units)
     * 2004-2007 Lexus RX 330, 350 and 400 h (372 000 units)
Toyota is sending notices to vehicle owners by first class mail and dealers will fix the problem at no cost to the owner. As I write this, Toyota says that he knows nothing of accidents or injuries related to this new series of product recalls. The automaker's official press release is available after the jump.

BREAKING: Spyker sells car unit to coachbuilders CPP

Since it opened for business at the turn of the millennium Spyker Cars has charted an unusual path. Basically a brand new inagurating no one had ever heard in a country not just for the automotive production is known to put the Dutch car manufacturer then launching its own F1 team. The company ended up failing, so Spyker went to move another surprise when it bought Saab by General Motors. Spyker and now sells its own luxury sports car business with a British concern.

The sale, it should be stressed, does not imply, Saab, Spyker leaves supposedly lead to the Swedish car manufacturer without distraction. The buyer, CPP Global Holdings Ltd, is a body builder in Coventry, England, that Spyker has delivered to the chassis and body parts for all its cars from the start and took over the entire production of the new C8 Aileron what is just now starting.

The transaction was not completed, but a Memorandum of Understanding is under € 15,000,000 forward signed and another 17 million euros over the course of the next six years that comes on current exchange rates a bit more than $ 44m. Official announcement in the press release after the jump.

Mini Rocketman Concept takes off ahead of Geneva debut

Mini's latest production car - the Countryman - to the automaker's largest offering to date, but now the brand for its pint-sized fighter known to his roots with his latest concept. But this is not a preview of the next generation Cooper - oh no, no, no - it is the Rocketman (Elton John keyword) is. In just over 11 feet long, the error-eyed little Luke a little shorter than a base Cooper hardtop and uses a unique three-plus-one seating inside. It is not gonna be a long, long time before we see the Rocketman in person, either - the concept makes its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week.
In compiling the Rocketman Mini focus of his petite body was kept as light as possible. A carbon space frame forms reduce the most significant works, and things such as weight-efficient wheels with a closed surface structure drag to improve fuel economy. Speaking of marketing, says that the Mini Rocketman by "a system to further improve combined sprinting ability with average fuel consumption of only three liters per 100 kilometers (94 miles per gallon Imperial)" is turned on - about 78 mpg on the U.S. cycle. We do not have any details on exactly what powers the mini-concept, but we would take our poison that it involved some electrification.

BMW's new eco sub-brand to be called "i"

We have for some time that BMW has been hard at work developing a series of high-tech green vehicles were known by the often mentioned mega-city runabout, a series version of its Vision EfficientDynamics eco supercar. But until now we did not know how to call the Bayern create this very different new models will now determined. BMW has just announced that its new sub-brand called "i" be the i-family house of the German automaker's vehicles and sustainable mobility solutions "when it arrives in 2013. The first two models are the still unpublished and i3 i8, otherwise like the Mega City and VED Series vehicles (both are in the illustration above teased) are known. While BMW is not saying where that is built i3, has confirmed that the smaller volume mounted i8 supercar in Leipzig.
In addition, the car manufacturer BMW i Ventures, an investment company in New York City with $ 100,000,000 has been established in support base. The company's goal is to promote "vehicle-independent services" - things such as Smartphone applications. BMW i venture has already begun setting out from other companies, including City My Way, a company whose self-titled Access includes details of public transport, parking and entertainment in over 40 cities in the U.S.
We can not help but note that in the attached press release (available after the jump), there is almost no discussion on the conservation of BMW call "fun-to-drive" and a leader in dynamics. (Sustainable vehicles and mobility solutions "is certainly not set terminology to the enthusiast's heart on fire.) That is, if production can keep i8 the promise of the Vision EfficientDynamics show car to drive conversation is almost certainly a part of the program for be the car, and hopefully the i3 a light and nimble little thing when it comes to the market.

Audi sketches 408-hp A3 sedan concept ahead of Geneva debut

Audi has a few sketches of his Geneva-bound concept A3, and in line with earlier published reports, the automaker is intent brings a sedan version of its smallest model on the market.

Audi A3 describes the concept as a "four-seater saloon" and measures to 174.84 inch long - about six inches longer than the current five-door hatchback. The front end is a development of more aggressive snout Audi, complete with full-trapezoidal LED headlights and new grille. The greenhouse is suitable squat, with a curved roof line, which ends in a thin, deep C-pillar to give it the de Rigu "four door coupe"shape.

More Interestingly, the drive train of a turbocharged five-cylinder engine together - probably drawn from the TT-RS - Issue 408 hp Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive system. We have to show a full report from the floor in less than two weeks, but in the meantime, the full details in the press exploded below the fold.

Chevrolet MyLink brings the app fight to Ford Sync, Toyota Entune

General Motors is, after all the smartphone battle of Ford brings to the introduction of Chevrolet MyLink, an integrated infotainment system that connects to your phone and allows you to applications either via the shift paddles on the steering wheel or the console-mounted touch screen access.
The wraps officially dissolved at their current stage show, and Engadget has a similar functionality to Ford and Toyota recently announced AppLink Entune system. MyLink connects your Android or BlackBerry device over Bluetooth, so you can access the wireless access applications. And if you part on IOS devices from Apple - that the iPhone or iPod Touch - you get the same functionality, but can only be controlled by plugging in via USB.
At the start MyLink is only compatible with later Stitcher Radio and Pandora, in other applications due to be in this year. The Chevrolet Volt and Equinox will feature the first two models with the new system, and in addition to voice control functionality courtesy of nuance, both models will be available with inductive load Powermat system so that you do not worry connected via your Bluetooth phone runs out of juice. Pricing was announced yet, but expect MyLink be available in the coming months. Hit the jump for the official release and more details on our high-tech site obesessed Translogic siblings.

2012 Honda Civic launches in five flavors

That's right, this is all of the 2012 Honda Civic in its glory. While it would be hard to tell with one glance, this all-new Civic, the exchange virtually nothing other than his moniker with the previous generation. As much as we would have liked some additional visual flair, it seems Honda is conservative and right with the aim for the heart of the market with five separate and different flavors of the compact range.
We will start with the all-new HR model, which, as you might have guessed, is the most economical of the non-hybridized Civics, which are available in the U.S.. Honda expected to make the RF with its 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the EPA estimated consumption of 41 miles per gallon on the highway. The HF is its aerodynamic package with the returing Civic Hybrid, which creates a combined rating of 45 mpg (four mpg improvement over the outgoing Civic Hybrid), thanks to its lithium-ion battery - a Honda first - and 1.5-liter - i-VTEC engine and CVT transmission. There is also a natural gas Civic GX.
While these two models for the ultimate in fuel efficiency target, we imagine that the standard sedan and coupe models make up the bulk of sales. Buyer is a 1.8-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower under the hood, the scores of an EPA-estimated 39 mpg on the highway to find (three mpg improvement over the last Civic). The Civic soldiers and a five-speed automatic transmission at a time when most of its competitors are packing six conditions.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut

Still a mystery why Mercedes-Benz CLK killed a few years? Puzzle no more, my friend, here for your answer. You see, the CLK was slit extends between the C-Class and E-Class sedan and station wagon designed, and was both preceded and succeeded by the E-class coupe. When Mercedes went back to the old formula, it made room for the car you see here: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe.
The theme of many spy shots and leaked photos, has the new C-Class Coupe officially unveiled at last from the factory before its official premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It will be the new Benz coupe come with two engine variants: the Mercedes-Benz C250 coupe gets the 1.8-liter direct-injection turbo four with 201 hp, while the C350 coupe with the 304-hp, 3.5-liter V6 at right. Both are only 7-speed automatic transmission from Mercedes, which drives the rear wheels covered. 4Matic all-wheel drive is not offered on the C-Class coupe. (Tilted The AMG version of the coupe to come along in another month at the New York Auto Show.)
So what else separates the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe from the sedan on which it is based? Two less doors and a slightly lower roofline. That's it. The C-Class coupes wheelbase is the same, the front end thereof, the luxury touches and the ultra-modern electronic wizardry ... it is all the C-Class, we know only croupier. Will this be enough to steal sales away from the likes of the BMW 3 Series coupe and Audi A5, both of which differed significantly more from its four-door people? We'll find out once the two-door hit showrooms, but now you can on the official framework details in the press release after the jump, along with a gallery of high-resolution images below.

Report: Ferrari bows to Ford legal pressure, renames F1 car F150th Italia [*UPDATE]

According to AutoWeek, Ferrari is a recently filed suit Ford bow, renaming the new Formula One race of the F150th Italia.

Originally called "F150", the name quickly picked up the hackles of the legal team of the Blue Oval, the long-standing demand that alphanumeric names, thanks to its F-150 full-size pickup line. Ferrari F150 had chosen the moniker, in compliance with 150 years of Italian unification.

AutoWeek notes that the revised name was unveiled for the first time today published a new story about the car testing in Jerez, Spain on the official website of Ferrari.

So far Ferrari has no official opinion on changing the name, or the process that Ford lawyers filed on Wednesday in Detroit.