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Toyota Mirai might be the name of new fuel cell car; it means 'future'

Anybody remember the Ford Futura? It wasn't exactly a world-beater of a car, so we don't think the name Toyota's has apparently chosen for its first production fuel-cell vehicle is a tribute of sorts. Though one never knows. Maybe Toyota just likes 18-inch-tall EVs. The Japanese automaker has apparently settled on a nameplate for its fuel-cell model, and the name will be "Mirai," which means "future" in Japanese, Bloomberg News says, citing a person familiar with the process that it didn't identify. Bloomberg couldn't get anyone with Toyota to comment on record about the name – and neither could AutoblogGreen – but we do remember that Toyota has bandied this name about before, so we're not setting anything down in stone quite yet. Last month, Toyota said the new fuel cell car would debut in Japan next April and would be priced at about $69,000 before any sort of government incentives kicked in. The company hasn't revealed details about a US release date or pricing here, but indicated that US sales would start where there's already some semblance of a hydrogen-refueling infrastructure. That pretty much means California and nowhere else in the states. The fuel-cell model is said to have a full-tank range of about 435 miles and that the tank can be filled up in about three minutes, similar to a gas-powered vehicle. In other words, the future.

Ford tumbles to second worst in Consumer Reports reliability survey, list dominated by Japanese [w/video]

It's no secret that MyFord Touch has had its share of problems since being introduced, but the most recent reliability survey from Consumer Reports shows just how much this infotainment system has affected Ford. Just two years ago, the automaker was in the top 10 for the institute's reliability rankings, but since then, it has tumbled to the second-lowest rung just above dead-last Jaguar. In addition to MyFord Touch, CR also attributes a handful of new products that have had issues right out of the gate.
Compiled from 1.2 million subscriber surveys, this year's auto reliability survey heavily favors Japanese automakers, with eight of the 10 spots hailing from Japan. Toyota brands grabbed the top three spots (Scion, Toyota and Lexus - in that order) with Mazda, Subaru, Honda and Acura filling the next four spots. The only non-Asian automaker cracking the top 10 was Audi at number eight.
Audi climbed a total of 18 spots from last year, and Cadillac and GMC round out this year's top gainers breaking into the top 15. Helping Cadillac's upward movement, the CTS Coupe was named the most reliable domestic car. Lincoln, Volvo and Chrysler join Ford on this year's biggest loser list.

Akio Toyoda backs exec Julie Hamp after drug-related arrest

Akio Toyoda, president of the Japanese automaker that bears his name, is personally backing Julie Hamp, the American businesswoman who was hired to run Toyota's global PR and reports directly to him, after she was arrested by police in Tokyo for the illegal importation of drugs into Japan. "We are confident ... that once the investigation is complete, it will be revealed there was no intention on Julie's part to violate any law," Toyoda said in a news conference, adding that the automaker was fully cooperating with Japanese authorities. Investigators found 57 oxycodone pills in a package sent to Hamp, who claims she did not know the substance was illegal to import into Japan. According to Automotive News, citing Reuters, a lawyer in Japan who is not directly involved with the case claims Hemp could face years in prison if found guilty, after which she would be deported back to the US. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Government/Legal Toyota drugs julie hamp oxycodone