Chrysler co-President Jim Press is stirring things up at his former employer, Toyota Motor Corp., by saying development of the Prius hybrid was subsidized by the Japanese government.

In a BusinessWeek story published Thursday, March 24, Press said that when he was at Toyota, ?“The Japanese government paid for 100 percent of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius.?”

Toyota today denied the remark made by Press, who left Toyota last year after a long career at the Japanese automaker. His last position there was president of Toyota Motor North America Inc.

continue reading "Jim Press: Prius was 100% subsidized by Japan: Toyota denies remarks made by its former U.S. executive"

Chrysler LLC co-President Jim Press has a PR problem–and so does his former employer, Toyota Motor Corp.

In an interview published Thursday, March 24, Press told BusinessWeek that the Japanese government ?“paid for 100 percent of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius.?”

On March 14, 2007–when he was still Toyota?’s top U.S. executive–Press told something else to a subcommittee of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce committee. U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, questioned Press about the seven years of r&d that went into Toyota?’s hybrid technology:

continue reading "Jim Press creates PR mess for Toyota and Chrysler: Debate over Japanese randd subsidies continues"

Peugeot revealed it will develop a diesel-hybrid version of its existing 908 HDi turbodiesel LMP1 prototype. But the race team distanced itself from comments by company boss Jean-Philippe Collin at the Geneva motor show that a hybrid 908 will race at Le Mans next year and that it even could race before the end of this season.

“We will develop a diesel hybrid this year, but we are not saying anything more about it. When the car will run is confidential,” said Peugeot Sport team manager Serge Saulnier.

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California’s Air Resources Board voted Thursday, March 27, to require that fewer zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) be offered for sale in the state starting in 2012. The board said that between 2012 and 2014, major automakers must produce a total of either 7500 ZEVs for sale in the state or 12,500 “battery electric vehicles,” which, by our reading of the ARB’s decision, would include fuel-cell electric vehicles.

The new decision also says automakers have to make 66,000 plug-in hybrids, unless they make 25,000 ZEVs.

It’s a little confusing.

Environmentalists wanted more, carmakers less. But it’s still far fewer than would have been required before Thursday’s vote.

continue reading "ZEV mandate lives:"

What you’re seeing here is nothing less than a revolution in sport/utility vehicles, and not just for Ford.

Make no mistake: The Ford Explorer America concept to be shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will become the production Ford Explorer when the next generation of America’s best-selling ute arrives in 2010 as a 2011 model.

While the next Explorer retains its SUV silhouette, the America concept indicates that just about everything else changes–along with America’s concept of an SUV.

Start with the chassis, which switches from the tried-and-true body-on-frame formula to a unibody design.

continue reading "2011 Explorer: Ford rewrites SUV playbook:"

Talk about contrasts.

Next week’s Detroit auto show features fuel-sipping hybrids, zero-emissions fuel cells and a healthy dose of rubber-burning performance cars.

Five Chinese companies will set up shop in Detroit’s Cobo Center to woo potential dealers — and, looking ahead, future buyers.

Green concepts include the Cadillac Provoq fuel-cell crossover and the Chrysler ecoVoyager, a jelly-bean shaped vehicle. On the hybrid side, there’s the Toyota A-BAT pickup concept.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, with more than 620 hp and more than 595 lb-ft of torque. The Mitsubishi Concept-RA concept hints at the next-generation Eclipse and packs a four-cylinder diesel with 309 lb-ft of torque. And the Mazda Furai concept has a 450-hp rotary engine.

continue reading "Detroit 2008: Sports cars and more green things:"

Buyers wanting a hybrid Saturn Vue wagon will have two choices later this year: mild or full hybrid.

The 2009 Vue Green Line 2 Mode mates a direct-injection, 3.6-liter V6 with a front-drive transmission that houses two 55-kilowatt electric motors.

That setup lets the Vue 2 Mode run in electric-only mode at low speeds and reverse. It also has fuel shutoff during deceleration and regenerative braking. GM says this hybrid Vue will get 50 percent better fuel economy than its nonhybrid counterpart, with a range of 500 miles on a full tank.

Oh, and it will run from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds and can tow up to 3,500 pounds, GM says. The Vue Green Line 2 Mode goes on sale late this year.

continue reading "Double the hybrid fun: Saturn Vue gets second hybrid version"

The 2009 Lincoln MKS will be the first Ford Motor Co. vehicle that uses a new performance and fuel economy boosting technology that features gasoline direct injection and two turbochargers. Ford calls the system EcoBoost and claims it will deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development, says Ford will use EcoBoost on as many as 500,000 vehicles within the next five years.

The 2009 MKS will be available with an optional 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine that develops 340-horsepower. It will be an all-wheel drive sedan. Ford says fuel economy is improved by 2 mpg in the MKS with EcoBoost, while emissions are down 15 percent. Performance is about the same as a car with a 4.6-liter V-8. Ford expects higher fuel ecocnomy gains in vehicles that use smaller engines, such as the Focus.

continue reading "Ford EcoBoost: Better mileage, performance:"

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. took over Ford Motor Co. in U.S. sales in 2007, bumping the Detroit automaker to the No.3 spot.

Toyota last year sold 61,962 more cars and light trucks than Ford, according to the Automotive News Data Center. Toyota sold 2.62 million vehicles during the year while Ford sold 2.56 million.

General Motors remained No. 1 overall with 3.82 million vehicle sales with a market share of 23.7 percent.

Overall, the auto industry sold 16.15 million light vehicles in the U.S. last year, down 2.5 percent from 16.56 million in 2006.

Toyota?’s total U.S. market share now stands at 16.8 percent to Ford?’s 16.4 percent.

continue reading "Toyota overtakes Ford in U.S. sale: Chevrolet is top brand; Camry wins car title; F-series No. 1 truck"

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. took over Ford Motor Co. in U.S. sales in 2007, bumping the Detroit automaker to the No.3 spot.

Toyota last year sold 61,962 more cars and light trucks than Ford, according to the Automotive News Data Center. Toyota sold 2.62 million vehicles during the year while Ford sold 2.56 million. Toyota’s total U.S. market share now stands at 16.8 percent to Ford?’s 16.4 percent.

But that doesn’t bother Ford marketing chief Jim Farley, who left Toyota last fall to join Ford.

The company’s focus is on restructuring operations to be profitable at lower demand levels, Farley said in a conference call to reporters and analysts.

continue reading "Toyota overtakes Ford in U.S. sales:"