Ford Quality

Ford Beats Every Auto Company in Quality*
July 24, 2009
It’s a mark of higher quality, and it’s official: Ford had fewer problems than any other auto maker. In a second-quarter study conducted by the RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Ford moved past Toyota, which it has been tied with in the past.*

The survey compares issues per 1,000 vehicles. For the second quarter of 2009, it showed that new Ford, Mercury and Lincoln cars and trucks had 1,185 issues per 1,000 vehicles. Toyota had 1,215 problems and Honda Motor Co. had 1,291.

The study also rates customer satisfaction, and reported that Ford in tied with Toyota in this segment.

“We’ve been tied with Toyota before, but it sure feels better to be on the top!” says Bennie Fowler, Ford’s global head of quality. “We can all be pleased with the progress we have made in quality, even as we face external and internal challenges in a tumultuous climate. Our progress has come as the result of our union partnerships in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, along with the work of dedicated teams in manufacturing, product development, purchasing, marketing, sales, service, legal, IT and others who follow disciplined, standardized processes.”

Reference: Ford Motor Company

Trade In a Toyota or Honda and get $1,000

Thoroughbred Ford Announces Trade-in AssistanceTrade In Assistance 

Ford has announced that they will be offering a $1,000 rebate for Trade-In Assistance on any 1995 or newer Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Scion or Acura.  The vehicle must be traded in!

Thoroughbred Ford will get you the best price for your trade.

Brits Get Limited Edition Toyota Hilux Invincible

Toyota launches a new limited edition range topping model of its Hilux pickup truck for the UK market. The model is based on Hilux Invincible 200 Double Cab powered by the 3.0-liter D-4D diesel engine which regularly pumps out 169bhp and 343NM of torque, this new Invincible limited edition model has a Toyota Motor Sport engine performance kit raising maximum power to 194bhp and 430 Nm of torque. Despite the power increase the fuel consumption and emissions remain the same.

Toyota has also made to minor changes to the look of the vehicle, the exterior gets a news stainless steel mesh grille and a black metallic livery with a set of metallic finish alloy wheels. The interior gets a new two-tone leather upholstery with heated front seats and a full-map touch screen satellite navigation.

Production is to be limited to just 500 units of the model with pricing to start from £21,540.

Gallery: Toyota Hilux Invincible Limited Edition

Toyota/ Subaru RWD Coupe Spied For First Time

The new Toyota/Subaru RWD Coupe was announced back in April and now for the first time, we can show you the first picture of a prototype that was caught testing outside a test center in the UK( thanks to Winding Road).

Toyota and Subaru are developing a brand new platform for the new model. So with this kind of expense coupled with a sub $20,000 price tag, we can say that Japanese plan to sell a very high volume of this car. We already know Subaru's horizontally-opposed boxer engine will be under the hood but further details are still unknown. It is rumored that the engine will be making around 220 HP and is set to be mated to a six-speed gearbox.

The prototype you see above wears a modified Subaru Legacy Body but a far more unique design with similarities to Toyota's FT-HS concept is expected.

Go to Winding Road for more pictures...

Spy Shots: Latest Toyota Avensis Spy Photos

Almost two months after the first spy shots, the new Toyota Avensis caught by the photographers during winter testing. The third-generation Avensis is expected to be launched at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Since its launch in 2003, the second-generation Avensis has won the European Car of the Year award in 2004 and 156,000 units sold in 2005 alone. The current Avensis received its mid-product life cycle facelift at the Madrid Motor Show in 2006.

But because of the heating up competition that Avensis is facing in the up-market medium-sized car market from e.g. the Mazda 6, Toyota is in the process of updating the Avensis range, with reportedly a hybrid, all-wheel drive and diesel hybrid models being available by 2010.

Gallery: Toyota Avensis Spy Shots

Detroit 2009 Preview: Lexus To Unveil Lexus-Branded Prius

We've previously reported that Lexus is planning to unveil its first hybrid-only model at next year's NAIAS in Detroit.

Emerging reports now suggest that the Lexus hybrid will actually be a rebadged luxury version of the next-gen Prius. While it would be a little weird that the lightweight Prius will be loaded with Lexus-grade luxury equipments, we think the Hollywood people will love this new car so much.

Spy Shots: Toyota Urban Cruiser

Toyota is currently testing the Urban Cruiser, the small car that will be revealed in Geneva soon. Smaller than the RAV-4, the Urban Cruiser is more a Jeep Compass rival than a Cherokee competitor, sitting lower than RAV and smaller as well. These are the first live pictures of the Urban Cruiser yet .

The spotted mule is a diesel version; the photographer saw it was filling up with diesel. Urban Cruiser will aim to attract the younger buyers with its technologies, such as the navigation screen which can be viewed via a curved transparent panel, which is integrated with the centre console.

Gallery: Toyota Urban Cruiser Spy Shots

Toyota Redesigns Crown And Introduces Hybrid Model

Toyota has revealed the redesigned Crown model, including the hybrid version for the first time. The company will also offer two non-hybrid versions called the Crown Royal Saloon and the Crown Athlete.

Crown Royal Saloon will come equipped with either a 2.5L or 3.0L V6, while Crown Athlete’s offer a choice of a 2.5L or 3.5L engine. Both models come standard with a six speed automatic and rear wheel drive, four wheel drive is offered as an option. Hybrid models come equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine, an electronic motor, and rear wheel. Also featured is a first of its kind TFT (thin film transistor) LCD Finegraphic Meter that displays digital and analog speedometers, and a hybrid system status indicator showing output and energy recovery.

The improved Pre-crash Safety System that uses an eye monitor to determine if the driver’s eyes are properly open and which way their head is facing is also of note. If the driver is sleepy or distracted the car will attempt to get their attention. Toyota’s GPS stop sign location technology, we posted before, will also be featured for the first time in a production vehicle.

The Crown Royal and Athlete series are currently on sale in Japan, while the hybrid version will be available in early May. Toyota is predicting monthly Japanese sales of 5,500 units, with 800 of them being hybrids.

Gallery: Toyota Crown

Geneva 2008 Preview: Toyota Urban Cruiser

The Urban Cruiser will be joining the iQ at this year's Geneva Show. The car appears to be little more than a jacked-up Toyota Ist (Scion xD).

Earlier reports said that it would borrow styling cues from the 2006 Urban Cruiser concept. But there's not much similarity between these two cars except the show car's name. Toyota hasn't released tech specs for either the iQ or Urban Cruiser yet. You'll learn all of the information when the Geneva Show starts early next month.

Geneva 2008 Preview: Production Toyota iQ Revealed

Two Toyota cars will be making their world debuts at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. One of these two cars is the Toyota iQ. Toyota will be showing the production-spec version of the iQ microcar, which was debuted as a concept last year in Frankfurt will be available in European market soon.

The microcar measures just under 3 meters in length, and it should be as wide and tall as a Yaris, if the iQ concept is an indication. For comparison, the Smart Fortwo is 2.5 m long. Unlike the Smart, the iQ has seating for three adults plus a child or additional cargo. It's reported that the iQ would get a 1.0L engine with stop/start functionality. The iQ will go into production at the end of this year.

Chicago 2008: Toyota Tundra Warrior Concept

Toyota has unveiled the Toyota Tundra Warrior concept at Chicago. The Warrior appeared at the Chicago Auto Show to gauge public reaction to the SR5-based upgrade package. It looks certainly better than the standard version.

The exterior is complemented by brushed metal on the side mirrors, door handles, and fuel door. With tinted taillight lenses at the back and contrasting 17-inch TRD wheels.

We don't know anything about the interior yet but it reportedly banishes some of the faults of the cabin. The interior is decked out in inky hues with brushed metal brightwork. If the Warrior hits showrooms, it would be available as an upgrade on 4x2 and 4x4 models with the 4.7- and 5.7-liter V8s.

Toyota Is Seriously Considering A-BAT

The US marke is ready for small trucks which fill th blank between full-sizers and compact pickups. While there are many suspicions about whether such a vehicle could be a sales success, Toyota is seriously considering the A-BAT concept, which debuted in Detroit as a vehicle that could slot in below the Tacoma.

Toyota execs are looking curiously how the public responds to the hybrid truck while it makes the rounds of the national show circuit. They hope that it garners the same amount of interest that the FJ Cruiser concept did.

Despite it is suspicious that a hybrid truck sporting some high-tech features like this is a viable product, Toyota wants to be at the forefront of the small truck revolution.

Spy Shots: Toyota Yaris Facelift

Toyota engineers have been quietly working on a minor facelift for the Japanese automaker's successful Yaris small car. Today the new Toyota Yaris caught on the road for the first time by Worldcarfans photographers. The test mule was almost undisguised. The current Toyota Yaris has been on European roads since late 2005, so it's time for a mid-cycle refresh.

The changes are so minor that no masking needed. The front grille is updated with newly shaped air-intakes and a smaller grille than the current version. The rear features newly laid out taillights, while the overall shape remains the same.

Some minor alterations to the engines on offere are also expecting, mainly to improve fuel efficiency.

Gallery: Toyota Yaris Facelift

Toyota Advances Brake Assist With Navigation Link

Toyota has unveiled their latest technological advancement which helps to keep drivers safe. The automaker has introduced the world’s first GPS linked brake assist system, which uses preprogrammed locations of stop signs in order to detect stop sign related emergency braking situations.

When approaching an intersection the system activates aural and visual alerts to inform the driver to stop. Depending on the vehicle’s relative position to the stop sign a variety of warnings occur, if the vehicle fails to decelerate additional warnings are given. By determining the vehicle position and actual force the driver applies to the brakes, the system can decide if additional braking power is needed. Currently testing in Japan, Toyota hopes to offer the system there in the near future as part of their continuing efforts to help prevent collisions.

Rumored: Subaru To Build Next Generation Toyota Celica

It was started to be rumored after Toyota gave life to the interesting cars committee, shortly after they took a majority share in Fuji Heavy Industries (aka Subaru). This committee aims the return of the legendary AE86 Corolla Coupe. It doesn't have to be the AE86, how about the return of the Celica.

Are there two different projects or is the AE86 Project the eigth generation Celica? Leaked details from last August describe all, under 4 meters in length, 1,7 meters wide and 1,35 meters high and a target weight of 1000 kg. Only the engine seems to make the difference, a 1.5 liter 2NZ-FE engine versus the 2.0 liter boxer from the Impreza.

The next generation Toyota Celica will be built by subaru and be available in two versions, a Celica GT and Celica GT-4. The GT should be powered by the 2.0 liter boxer and will be rear-wheel-drive while the GT-4 receives the 300 hp 2.0 liter boxer from the Impreza STI with Subaru's four-wheel-drive (including in-wheel electric motors for added power on the wheels). There are some rumors that Toyota may return to WRC with the new Celica too.

Toyota Takes It To Tata

It is no industry secret that India-based Tata Motors has shaken the automotive world with release of their $2,500 Tata Nano. Called "The People's Car," the Nano has the potential of being a huge hit in the company's home country.

Both GM and Toyota have said they plan to work out a vehicle that could rival the Nano. What had been unclear is if the automotive giants could match the ultra-low price point Tata has set. It looks like Toyota can. The Times Of India is now reporting that Toyota has informed India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of their plans to begin building small cars in India.

The investment to produce cars meant for export out of India will cost less to Toyota because of the low standard wage and purchase parity India has with other nations. That means more can be purchased for the same amount of money in India than in countries like Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe was quoted as saying, "There is a huge market for low-cost/price vehicles," but he expressed concern about Toyota's ability to maintain a high level of quality.Today, India's Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath, told The Times, "[Watanabe] met me and informed me that Toyota would be doubling its investments in India and would also make small cars in the market that would be exported to other countries as well."

Production of the car will take place at Toyota's current joint-venture facility near Bangalore. Final details are expected to be announced in three to four months. As the new World's Largest Automaker, this move will be key for Toyota to maintain global market share in the future.

Rumored: The New Toyota Avensis To Be On Sale In 2008

A member of the Toyota Owners Club, who writes that he works in Toyota Burnaston factory, claims he has seen the new Avensis and gives us some details on Toyota's upcoming sedan. According to him:

• New headlights ( They go even further up the top of the wing.)
• New grille.
• Interior is definetly better than the current model with influences from the Auris (raised gearstick,etc)
• The rear lights are split between the rear quarter and the bootlid.
• The estate has the option of a "panoramic" roof, effectivly a 4 foot glass panel instead of the normal metal roof panel.
• Currently there are only saloon and estates planned, no hatchback. And it's not likely to change in the future.

The plastics used in the interior appear really cheap to the eye, quite hard too. The car does have the appearance more of another facelift rather than a complete model design which it is.

The production starts in October 2008 and it will be on sale in sometime 2009.

Toyota Sold More Than GM In 2007

There are some news on the net which tell that GM has sold more than Toyota in 2007. But that's not true. The numbers of both automakers looked too close to call, but GM was counting its sales in China in its overall total.

GM had a solid year in 2007, with sales growing all over the world (except in the U.S.), but it is now the world’s second-largest automaker. GM had included 516,435 vehicles of the Wuling brand in China as part of its total, despite owning a minority share in the operation.

The industry practise is to only include sales of majority-owned subsidiaries, which meant GM slipped well behind Toyota with 8,885,599 sales in 2007, while the Toyota managed an estimated 9,370,000. Official figures from Toyota will be released in a few weeks.

Other manufacturers such as Ford, are also not allowed to count sales of minority owned subsidiaries such as Mazda (Ford owns 33.4 percent of Mazda).

Toyota Australia To Unveil TRD Hilux In Brisbane

Last year in Melbourne, Toyota showed off a TRD Hilux concept truck. And now, Toyota announced that the TRD Hilux will be unveiling in February.

The TRD Hilux, will get the bodywork, wheels, and graphics you see above. Power numbers haven't been released yet for its 4.0L V6, but you can expect something in the general neighborhood of 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft underhood, along with upgraded brakes and suspension.

Spy Shots: Toyota Avensis SW

The new 2009 Toyota Avensis Station Wagon snapped in Germany. The current Avensis has been on the market since 2004 and is expected to be replaced in 2009 by the sedan with the wagon following six months later. There are no plans yet for a hatchback version.

The prototype still wears a lot of camouflage but we can see that the headlamps and taillights are ready. The headlamps reach up higher while the taillights are split between the rear quarter and trunk door. There will also be a panoramic roof in the wagon, basicly a 4-foot glass panel instead of a metal roof. It is rumoured that there will be a Toyota Auris inspired interior in the Avensis too.

Engines will be both gasoline and diesel with a diesel-hybrid following in 2010. Four-wheel-drive will be available as an option.

Gallery: Toyota Avensis SW