Toyota Rav4 L on 2040-cars

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Fuel cells will flop outside Japan, says VW

"It may fly within Japan, but not globally," VW's Shoji said.
It's long been battered into our beleaguered auto writer brains that the ultimate future source of motivation for tomorrow's cars and trucks is not gasoline, diesel, electricity, natural gas, propane or solar power - it's the hydrogen fuel cell. It's been the Next Big Thing since the start of Next Big Things.

Toyota announces two recalls affecting 1M Corolla, Matrix and Lexus IS models

The recall bug strikes Toyota again. The automaker has issued a voluntary recall of three models that, in total, represent more than one million units. Around 752,000 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla and Matrix models are being recalled for airbag concerns, while a windshield wiper issue is causing the recall for close to 270,000 Lexus IS sedans from the 2006-2012 model years.
Completely unrelated to the small airbag-related recall issued earlier in the week, the Corolla and Matrix recall is caused by a faulty airbag control module that could potentially short circuit, which could lead to the front airbags or seat belt pretensioners deploying. The Lexus recall is due to a wiper arm nut that wasn't tightened properly, which can cause the wipers to not work when trying to clear heavy buildup such as snow.
Scroll down for a press release that includes more information, as well as details about how owners can contact the manufacturer directly.

Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The result, according to the magazine, is "the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value."
Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru, BMW, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen.