Japan's top two manufacturers, Honda and Toyota, unveiled new green cars at the Toyota auto show. The vehicles focus on low emission technologies. Take a look:
Japanese Automakers Dominate Consumer Reports Auto Rankings
The Associated Press reports that Japanese automakers have dominated the Consumer Reports auto reliability and survey rankings. The top ten picks by the magazine are all Japanese made vehicles. The Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle, was number one for the fourth straight year.
For the second time in 10 years, all the magazine's top-10 picks are Japanese nameplates. This year's list includes five new models: the Toyota RAV4, Infiniti G35, Toyota Sienna, Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Honda Fit.
The list features vehicles that performed well in Consumer Reports' tests, have at least average predicted reliability and adequate performance in government and insurance industry crash protection tests.
The Toyota Prius ranked as the most satisfying vehicle overall for the fourth straight year based on the percentage of respondents who said they would buy the same model again, according to the magazine's annual car owner satisfaction survey. The Chevrolet Corvette again came in second.
THere was some good news for U.S. automakers. According to the AP, "Seven domestic models made the top cut, compared with four last year." So that's a little bit of an improvement. More information about Consumer Reports choices can be found here on the magazine's website.
The AP reprots that Toyota Motor Corp. crushed GM and DaimlerChrysler in September. Toyota saw a 25% increase in year-over-year sales for September while sales dropped for both GM and DaimlerChrysler.
Toyota Motor Corp. trounced the domestic automakers in the U.S. marketplace last month, posting a 25 per cent year-over-year sales increase. General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG each saw their sales slip by a few percentage points, while Ford Motor Co.'s sales gained 4.7 per cent.
GM's sales fell 3.1 per cent last month, but the largest North American automaker put a positive spin on the decline, attributing it to a reduction in low-margin sales to rental companies. The company's car sales fell 6.4 per cent, while trucks, including pickups and sport utility vehicles, were down 0.7 per cent. The numbers include the European Saab brand.
DaimlerChrysler said its overall decrease of 2.3 per cent stemmed mostly from its U.S. subsidiary, Chrysler Group, where sales fell 3.8 per cent. Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles rose 13.2 per cent. The automaker was to release more detailed numbers later in the afternoon.
Ford's increase over the same month last year was fuelled largely by car sales, which rose 26.2 per cent, while its truck sales fell 5.5 per cent. The figures are for all Ford brands, including Jaguar, Volvo and Land Rover.
The U.S. auto manufacturers are still smarting from rising oil prices. They focused on SUVs while Toyota built hybrids and smaller cars. Aging factories and expensive pensions have also been cited as problem for the U.S. car makers. A post on the Economist's View lists more reasons why Toyota is growing while the U.S. auto companies are lagging.
Kelley Blue Book editorial team has named the Top Ten Cars under $18,000 (thx Left Lane News). The Toyota Yaris (pictured on right) topped the list. Here is the list which includes the MSRP prices followed by the New Car Blue Book value.
And here are some editorial comments about each vehicle from Kelley Blue Book.
Toyota Yaris
With a long history as a best-seller in Europe, the Toyota Yaris migrates to the U.S. as the least expensive vehicle in the Toyota lineup. Sporting unusually cool styling, Toyota quality and a 34/city and 40/highway MPG rating, the Yaris' value more than exceeds its under-$12,000 starting price.
Scion xB
The xB has proven to us that, these days, it's cool to be square. Not only does its slab-sided styling set it apart, but its boxy dimensions also mean this diminutive and fuel-efficient vehicle is a surprisingly commodious hauler of people and stuff.
Dodge Caliber
Caliber changes the small-car game by offering a larger, more flexible interior filled with way-cool features like an air-conditioned storage bin to keep drinks cold, rear speakers that flip down to project outward from the open tailgate, a 110-volt outlet for powering small electronics and a self-charging flashlight.
Kia Sportage
When buying your first SUV, bang-for-the-buck is a very cool thing to find. Pricing out the Kia Sportage is almost fun when you get to include a sunroof, a great stereo and a tire pressure monitor all for under $16,500.
Chevrolet HHR
As cool as the 1940s-style exterior is, the Chevrolet HHR is equally cool for its efficient use of space and worthwhile features like remote start and the increasingly requisite iPod connector. It offers hauling ability like a compact SUV, yet it handles like a car.
Ford Fusion
Size does matter, so getting a well-styled, contemporary midsize sedan with the roominess and comfort of the new Fusion is cool. Even better is the unexpected level of equipment for the price, including remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel and cruise control.
Nissan Frontier
Utility is in, and nothing's more utilitarian than a pickup. The Frontier backs up its sharp styling with excellent ride and handling.
Mazda3
Available as a hatchback or sedan, the Mazda3 is a deft one-two punch to the compact-car segment. We can't decide which model we like better, but the combination of fine driving dynamics, upscale interior and arresting looks make this a "cool cars" list repeater.
Honda Civic
You know how U2 were cool, then in the mid-90s they weren’t so cool, and now they’re as cool as ever? Well, the Civic has traveled a parallel path to regain its stature as arguably the finest economy car ever built--and cool once again.
Scion tC
If you're cool enough to appreciate it, the slick styling and fashionable features in the tC deliver "Lexus-like" technology in an affordable package. This year, the improved audio features stand out, including steering-wheel gauges and iPod connectivity.
Forbes.com reports that Toyota is recalling 160,000 of the Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles. Of the 160,000 about 70,000 of them were sold here in the U.S.
Now a software issue is causing Hiroshi Okuda's Toyota Motor to recall a 160,000-strong armada of Prius cars sold mainly in the U.S. and Japan because the gas-electric hybrid vehicles were stalling. A Toyota spokesman said there were no safety concerns, but that the company has decided to fix the fault free of charge. The problem may cause the gasoline engine to stall, but does not affect the electrically powered brake and steering functions, he added.
The recall follows hot on the heels of an investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into customer gripes about problems with the popular fuel-efficient vehicle. In June, the agency said it had received 33 reports of engine stalling in 2004 and 2005 Prius vehicles.
Rising gas prices have made hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius more popular while salse of SUVs have slipped.
The Associated Press 
Kelley Blue Book editorial team has named the Top Ten Cars under $18,000 (thx 
