japanese cars
2012 Toyota Yaris Spied Testing in Canada [Exclusive]
![2012 Toyota Yaris Spied Testing in Canada [Exclusive]](/img/spacer.gif)
Toyota is expected to debut an all-new Yaris later this year with the hopes of climbing back to the top of the sub-compact sales charts. To do that, the Japanese automaker will need to offer plenty, with current rivals delivering style, high-tech options and plenty of interior space at a reasonable price. We can’t confirm…
Infiniti JX Concept Teased: First Photo Revealed
Infiniti has just released the very first image of its new JX 7-seater luxury crossover concept, which will officially be revealed at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18. Between now and that date, the Nissan luxury division will reveal a total of seven photos as a part of the “Power of 7”…
Subaru Aims to Grow Sales 37 Percent by 2016
Subaru is the latest automaker to announce ambitious mid-term goals, with a new “Motion-V” plan designed to boost global vehicle sales 37 percent. Having already achieved incredible success over the past several years in North America, the Japanese automaker looks to continue that growth, forecasting a 24 percent rise in sales by 2016, up from…
Nissan Micra Coming to America?
Is the Nissan Micra headed to American shores? That’s certainly one conclusion that can be drawn from recent comments made by Ken Davis, president of the Eaton Superchargers vehicle group. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Davis let slip that Nissan will launch one or more supercharged models in the U.S. The comments came…
2012 Subaru Impreza Delayed
Ripple effects from Japan’s disastrous earthquake and tsunami continue to be felt across the automotive landscape, with Subaru confirming the 2012 Impreza compact sedan will be delayed. Subaru had not previously announced a launch date for what it touts as the most fuel efficient AWD vehicle on the market, and the delay isn’t a major…
Lexus CX300h Planned as Down-Sized RX Luxury Crossover
Toyota has plans to introduce six new hybrids to their lineup by 2012. One of them is likely a smaller luxury SUV for Lexus, with the company’s tried-and-tested hybrid drivetrain. The SUV would be dubbed the CX300h, in Lexus naming nomenclature, and would bank off the success of the larger RX. It would probably share a…
Datsun Being Revived by Nissan for Emerging Markets
As an automaker, Datsun may have had its issues, and rebranding the company in North America in 1982 as Nissan proved a smart move by execs. Still, few have forgotten cars like the 510, the many Z sports cars and even the 720 pickup truck. News of the brand’s revival (according to a report by…
Scion Planning iQ Electric Car for Sale in 2012
Scion‘s new iQ mini-car hasn’t even made it to dealers, but already Toyota has announced plans for an electric version of the strange 3-seater. Essentially a rebadged and restyled version of the Toyota iQ that’s been on sale in Europe and Japan for several years, when the Scion model does arrive it will get a…
2012 Toyota Camry Teased by Akio Toyoda [Video]
Set to launch in this Fall, this is your first look at the 2012 Toyota Camry. Well, it’s your first look at one of the Camry’s headlights at least. With an on-sale date for later this year Toyota promises the new Camry will have a “contemporary design” with improved performance and refinement, not to mention…
2012 Nissan Versa Gets New Dual Fuel-Injector Tech for 30/38-MPG Rating
The all-new 2012 Nissan Versa will boast a 30-mpg city and 38-mpg highway rating thanks to a new dual-injector system. Rather than switch to direct-injection system like many other automakers, Nissan’s solution to increasing demand for improved fuel economy uses two fuel injectors per cylinder (one for each intake valve on the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder), and…
Toyota Prius Plus Performance Package Gets TRD Styling and Handling Upgrades
Proof that the Prius isn’t just for greenie eco-nuts, Toyota has just released a new Prius Plus Performance package for the world’s most popular hybrid. Just don’t look for added performance under the hood – even if the parts are made by Toyota Racing Development (TRD). In many ways an aesthetic package, the list of…
Toyota Prius c to Get All-Wheel Drive, Look Nothing Like the Concept
Toyota is promising a lot with its new Prius c. The upcoming baby Prius is set to up the driving enjoyment factor, while offering even better fuel economy than the standard Prius, while coming in at a price under the current model. And based on the concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this…
Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Lexus RX400h Recalled to Replace Hybrid Transistors
Toyota has announced a recall of its Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h vehicles, dating from the 2006 and 2007 model years. According to a statement released by the automaker, improperly soldered transistors on the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) located inside the Hybrid System Inverter could become damaged due to excessive heat, causing the car’s hybrid…
2012 Honda Civic Si Video Highlights New Features With Animated Graphic Novel Style
Honda has just released a new video highlighting the many changes to the 2012 Civic Si. Rather than bore us with chatty engineers, they’ve wrapped the info up in an animated graphic novel-style mini-flick. If you try real hard, you might even be able to discern a plot. But enough of analyzing the piece like…
Scion tC Release Series 7.0 Gets “High Voltage” Paint, Push-Button Start
The focal point of a new marketing effort by the brand, Scion has just announced official details on the tC Release Series 7.0. The latest special edition of the Scion sporty coupe this model gets the usual list of add-ons like a TRD body kit and a custom color – called “High Voltage” yellow. Other…
Toyota Camry Named 2011’s Most American Car
What’s the most American car? The Ford Mustang? Chevy Camaro? Dodge Charger? Nope. It’s the Toyota Camry. According to the annual Cars.com American-Made Index the Camry tops the list once again (for the third straight year) due not only to having its production based in American (at both the Georgetown, Ky. and Lafayette, Ind. Toyota…
Scion Targets Older Buyers With New Ads, Because Youth Are Broke
With the launch of Scion‘s new viral video ad campaign for the “High Voltage” Scion tC Release Series 7.0, the Toyota youth brand is hoping not just to sell cars, but to attract a more mature customer. While the TV spot and YouTube clips, which feature the Greek god Zeus, are aimed at being the…
Nissan to Launch One New Model Every Six Weeks for Six Years
Nissan has emerged from the global economic downturn as a powerhouse, quietly growing but without grabbing headlines like Ford or Hyundai have. Now the Japanese automaker has unveiled a new business plan titled “Nissan Power 88” that aims to grow its share of the global market to 8 percent, while bringing operating profit to a…
Infiniti Aims To Double China Sales
In car-crazy, luxury-crazy China, sales are booming across the board—except for poor, beleaguered Infiniti. Nissan aims to correct that. Infiniti is looking to double its current sales in China by the end of the year. Currently, Infiniti sold 160,000 cars around the world last year, including markets in China and America. Meanwhile, Lexus sold 400,000 in that…
Monster Tajima First to Break 10 Minute Barrier at Pikes Peak [Video]
Standing Pikes Peak record holder Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima is once again back on top of the world, being the first ever to break the 10 minute barrier at the treacherous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. As in the past his weapon of choice was a Suzuki, with the SX4 Hill Climb Special laying down a…
Subaru Releases Video of Record-Setting Isle of Man TT Run
Having recently set a new record for a production car on the Isle of Man TT motorcycle circuit, Subaru has now released a video to document the feat on the 200 turn, 37 mile course. The mostly stock WRX STI was driven by Isle of Man native Mark Higgins who managed to shave 20 seconds…
Scion Has Viral Hopes for New Ad Campaign Staring Zeus [Video]
You can’t make a viral video, it just happens. But that doesn’t mean marketing agencies aren’t going to try and spend multi-million dollar budgets trying. The latest such example is Scion‘s new ad campaign. It’s a comedic piece using the Greek god Zeus, who is credited for creating the limited edition “High Voltage” Scion tC…
Mugen CR-Z Detailed With Full Specs, Photos
It’s been quite a while since Mugen and Honda had this much buzz surrounding a car. And while some are still rolling their eyes at the thought of a modified hybrid, Mugen is definitely poised to prove that you can have your cake and eat it too, finally announcing full specs of its supercharged CR-Z….
Mitsubishi May Sell Electric Versions of Larger Cars
The i-MiEV electric mini car has only just gone on sale in North America but already Mitsubishi is looking to expand its offering of EVs. Speaking at a shareholder meeting in Tokyo Mitsubishi Motors president Osamu Masuko commented that the automaker is currently studying whether to produce electric versions of cars other than mini-cars like…
