Base Certified Hatchback 1.3l Cd 4 Speakers Am/fm Radio Mp3 Decoder Abs Brakes on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Toyota GT86 convertible could debut in March

The dates are lining up, now we wait to see how the badges align. Just before the Toyota GT 86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ line-up was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, there was a report that Subaru was considering a convertible while Toyota wouldn't even comment on it. That got swapped around when earlier this year the chief engineer on Toyota's side said a convertible was coming, and then a Scion FR-S droptop was confirmed for early 2014.
Autocar now reports that the Toyota GT 86 convertible will make its first appearance at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March. In a car whose specs like weight, packaging, horsepower and center of gravity were all tightly controlled to get the most from the least, the changes necessitated by chopping the roof could make this a very different car. It's said to employ a fabric roof to keep a "small" weight gain check, and the suspension will be softened to work more harmoniously with the decreased body stiffness. And somewhere in all that the back seat and trunk space will need to take a hit.
In other news, Autocar says the hi-po GT 86 with some kind of capacitor system instead of batteries is being worked on for 2015.

Lexus tops JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study again, Buick bests Toyota

It shouldn't surprise anyone, but Lexus has once again taken the top spot in JD Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. That'd be the Japanese luxury brand's fourth straight year at the top of table. The big news, though, is the rise of Buick. General Motor's near-premium brand beat out Toyota to take second place, with 110 problems per 100 vehicles compared to Toyota's 111 problems. Lexus owners only reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles. Besides Buick's three-position jump, Scion enjoyed a major improvement, jumping 13 positions from 2014. Ram and Mitsubishi made big gains, as well, moving up 11 and 10 positions, respectively. In terms of individual segments, GM and Toyota both excelled, taking home seven segment awards each. The study wasn't good news for all involved, though. A number of popular automakers finished below the industry average of 147 problems per 100 vehicles, including Subaru, (157PP100), Volkswagen (165PP100), Ford/Hyundai (188PP100 each) and Mini (193PP100). The biggest losers (by a tremendous margin, we might add) were Land Rover and Fiat, recording 258 and 273 problems per 100 vehicles. The next closest brand was Jeep, with 197PP100. While the Vehicle Dependability Study uses the same measurement system as the Initial Quality Survey, the two metrics analyze very different things. The VDS looks at problems experienced by original owners of model year 2012 vehicles over the past 12 months, while the oft-quoted IQS focuses on problems in the first 90 days of new-vehicle ownership. Like the IQS, though, the VDS has a rather broad definition of what a problem is. Because of that, a low score from JD Power is no guarantee of extreme unreliability, so much as just poor design. In this most recent study, the two most reported problems focused on Bluetooth connectivity and the voice-command systems. The former leaves plenty of room for user error due to poor design (particularly true of the Bluetooth systems on the low-scoring Fords, Volkswagens and Subarus), while the second is something JD Power has already confirmed as being universally terrible. That makes means that while these studies are important, they shouldn't be taken as gospel when it comes to automotive reliability. News Source: JD PowerImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL Buick Fiat Ford GM Hyundai Jeep Land Rover Lexus MINI Mitsubishi RAM Scion Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Auto Repair Ownership study

2016 Scion iA arrives with price tag 'in the $16,000 range'

The adorkable iA, Scion's first sedan, is likely to appeal to a number of customers who value efficiency, affordability and equipment. And because the iA is essentially a rebadged Mazda2 there should be some pep in this little guy's step. If you're wondering why Mazda would build a car for Toyota, volume is a big reason. 1,003 Toyota dealers have a Scion store, more than one-and-a-half times as many franchises as Mazda, and that translates into higher production numbers. Ignoring the rather tragic grille, the rest of the iA is actually a handsome little four-door, which makes sense, considering the amount of Mazda blood coursing through its veins. One need only compare the shots of the Scion, shown above, and the leaked images of the Thai-market 2 sedan to see the similarity. The headlights and taillights are identical in shape and similar in overall design, while both cars share Mazda's expressive Kodo character lines in the profile. While the 2 is cute and brawny, the iA looks a little sullen, with its catfish-mouth grille drooping low in front of the sloping hood. It's a similar story in the cabin, where Mazda's work is plain to see. The dash is crowned by an ample, standard seven-inch display, which is in turn controlled by either touch or the excellent dial-and-buttons input also found in the Mazda3 and Mazda6. Toyota's Entune system is conspicuous by its absence. A trio of knobs control the HVAC system, while a section of faux leather, complete with stitching, separates the tactile controls from the main display. The instrument cluster is home to a single binnacle, housing the speedometer. A pair of secondary displays feature a tachometer and other ancillary information. Considering that the interior and exterior are almost unchanged from the Mazda2, it's no surprise that the 1.5-liter four-cylinder is also common to both cars. In the iA the lump under the hood makes 106 horsepower, while the Euro-market 2 comes in three flavors – 75 horsepower, 95 hp and 115 hp (with the i-ELOOP system). The 1.5 is paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Following the theme, the iA's chassis is largely identical to the new 2's. The front suspension is of the MacPherson strut variety, while a torsion-beam axle sits out back with rear drum brakes. The steering assist is electric, which contributes at least partially to the 33-mile-per-gallon city rating and 42-mpg highway.