autoinsane

Toyota calls shenanigans on ABC news segment, claims test was “artificially manipulated” and “unrealistic”

Just when you thought you’d heard the last word on Toyota’s acceleration problems, the company is fighting back. Today the company stated that it had comprehensively tested claims made by ABC News andProfessor David Gilbert of Southern Illinois University and found those claims not only wrong, but “artificially manipulated” and “unrealistic”. Read on for a link to the original testing by ABC and Toyota’s full statement.

Don Johnson, your new Miami Vice is ready: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG-inspired Cigarette Boat with 1,350 hp

It is oft said that oil and water do not mix, but recently, at the Miami Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz showed that sometimes – in their proper elements – opposites attract and defy physics.

Audi to laud A3 TDI “Green Car of the Year” in Super Bowl ad

Few ever mistake a German automaker with spontaneous jokes, frivolity or slapstick humor, however Audi of America will do just that in a Super Bowl ad next month when it spoofs its award-winning Audi A3 TDI with a tongue-in-cheek green theme backed by rock legend band “Cheap Trick.”

Volvo XC60 wins International Truck of the Year award

It’s a crossover.

It’s a utility vehicle.

It’s an SUV.

It’s also a truck. An award-winning truck, the XC60.

In case you missed it, the Volvo XC60 – an acknowledged crossover vehicle – was chosen as the winner of the 2010 International Truck of the Year today by the International Car of the Year (ICOTY) jury at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The other Truck of the Year finalists were the Chevy Equinox and the Ford Transit Connect.

Lotus Evora wins BBC “Top Gear” Sports Car of the Year title

The Lotus Evora chalked up a nice honor recently, taking home the “Top Gear” magazine Sports Car of the Year honors, celebrating the 10th year the mag has given out such platitudes.

Silver, black, and white are most popular global car colors according to Dupont survey

There may be nothing like a shiny black car to turn heads, and white is often the most popular in sun belts and shows less dirt. However silver is the top car color in Dupont’s most recent and first-ever global color popularity survey.

2010 Ram Power Wagon drives home “Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year”

Since it’s the holidays and assuredly better to give than receive, the magazines, net sites, newsgroups and others are handing out their awards.

Dedicated off-road magazine Four Wheeler handed its “Pickup Truck of the Year” hardware to the 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon, giving a needed morale boost to Chrysler as well.

Car And Driver Release 10BEST List, Fusion ousts Prius as Choice Green Car

Car and Driver have released its annual 10BEST list with some predictable and not-so-predictable results. Among the predictable, the 2010 Honda Accord, BMW M3 and Mazda Miata, with those cars making the list at least 11 times.

The upset? The Ford Fusion Hybrid beat out the Toyota Prius as the car magazines go-to green car. What do they like about the Fusion Hybrid compared to the Prius? Namely, that it isn’t a Prius. “We admire it as much for what it isn’t (polarizing, showy, cramped) as for what it is.”

Beyond the objectivity though, C&D points out the Fusion Hybrids class-leading fuel economy and excellent driving dynamics, a sentiment that we concur with after driving the Fusion Hybrid in October.

The full list is available after the jump

Chevrolet Hosting Webcast on Volt

GM will be hosting a live webcasts to discuss the Volt and how cities can get “plugged-in” with leading industry, government and policy officials and influencers. Later today, at 6:30 pm Chevy will let you submit questions at ChevroletVoltage.com during the live webcast.

Porsche Panamera, 911 Carrera win Auto Trophy Award

One of Porsche’s newest and one of it’s classics have received awards. The Panamera has received an award in the luxury segment and the 911 Carrera in the sport segment. Both awards are from German car magazine Auto Zeitung.

The Panamera was voted top spot by 25.6 percent of the magazine’s readers. Porsche’s newest has already received numerous awards having been released just a few months ago. Its awards include The Golden Steering Wheel for being the best new luxury car from newspaper Bild am Sonntag and magazine Auto Bild and several international awards in Canada, the US and the UK.
Click through to read the press release and full list of awards