Girl Sushi Car Logos

This is what happens when women with a peculiar attraction to seafood and automobiles bring out the sushi knife and the tuna.

Clockwise from top: Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Fiat (slanted logo in use between 1968 and 2000), Audi (on bottom), Toyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru.

Photo Credit: Eva Mercz

Lexus Logo

Toyota has announced they need to recall about 214,500 2006-2008 GS300/350, IS250/350 and LS460/460L sedans over potentially faulty fuel delivery pipes.

The Japanese automaker is working with the NHTSA on the US recall, which centers around fuel pipes that can corrode, eventually resulting in a leak. The problem reportedly stems from certain ethanol fuels with low moisture content that can lead to rust, occasionally (but not always) triggering a dashboard indicator lamp indicating a system malfunction.

The affected GS, IS, and LS owners should be contacted about the recall via mail, and Lexus dealers have been instructed to install the replacement parts at no cost.

So much for any car manufacturer being without problems…

First off, let me apologize to Batman for ever inferring that he would drive such a vehicle. We all know the Dark Knight drives only the best, most badass cars on the planet. Sorry Toyota, but this ain’t it. From the mind of Jon Rådbrink, the Lexus Nuaero Concept car does look incredibly fast and futuristic; but then again a Toyota that doesn’t have room for a fake front air intake on the hood or exhaust cans in the back just isn’t right.

But to be fair, this Nuaero Concept isn’t a complete wash. As mandatory for any cool car, it does look good in black, it also is lightweight, and is loaded with technology, too.

Let’s start with how the car is driven. By the Interior screenshot below, the driver would need to make use of the drive-by-wire steering PAD and a completely customizable multi-point touch screen. Rådbrink argues that our hands are far more accurate for driving than our feet, so goodbye foot pedals.

Absolutely everything is controlled via the “steering wheel”. “Since the car is powered by electrical motors [found in each of the four wheels],” Rådbrink says, “there is no transmission and you break intuitively by pushing the steering wheel away from your body.”

And even with all this state of the art stuff, the 14.5-ft. long car is designed with lightweight materials meant to increase mileage and efficiency. How light is light? The Lexus Nuaero Concept tips the scales about as much as the tiny SMART fortwo. “I believe that this design paradox of low weight and large presence could be the way we’ll define premium in the future,” Rådbrink said. Just don’t forget the awesome car to bat-bike ejection system if this ever makes it into production.  Head on over to Jon’s site to see the fancy flash gallery.

When we first heard that The Dark Knight was taking on Toyota’s F1 car, it sounded like an argument that started on the playground. “What’s faster, Batman’s Tumbler, or an F1 car?”Well, it would have remained a purely theoretical question if it wasn’t for the bosses at Toyota and Batman – The Dark Knight movie crew. We suppose after the questions that have been posed and answered like “What’s faster, a Lamborghini or a fighter jet?”, Toyota decided to have a go at it and brought the Batmobile to Silverstone for some run-ups to this past weekend’s British Grand Prix.

We’ve got the video footage above and some high-resolution photos to below… Hit the jump for the photos.

Admittedly the video isn’t as cool as we were hoping for. I guess the Tumbler would have just embarrassed the F1 car too much for a head-to-head race, so they just created the promo video. But still, its great to see such a movie prop from The Dark Knight CAN actually hit the race track and not seem too bad.

The month of May actually saw the Honda Civic overtake the Ford F-150 in sales putting the Ford down in 4thplace. Whaaa!?

Yup, you read what I wrote properly, 42,973 F-series trucks were sold in May, against 52,826 Corollas, 51,291 Camrys and 53,299 Honda Civics. For full disclosure sake, Toyota counts the Matrix towards Corolla sales, so we’ll discount that figure, but who cares?

Civic for the win! According to Jim Farley, Ford group vice president for marketing and communications, “That’s just a sign of the times. I think May has been a watershed month.” Do people care about gas prices? We think this means the answer is “yes.”

Much like the current Mercedes-Benz S Class, the new Toyota Crown Hybrid, has opted for a LCD panel mounted directly above the steering wheel in the dash, instead of traditional gauges. In the case of the Toyota, their 1280 x 480 pixel screen has a fancy name called “Night View.”

And just like the Mercedes-Benz S Class, Toyota is now offering a night vision system that changes the screen from the standard Speedometer and RPM gauges, to a full screen Night Vision displal. But, Toyota has gone a step further by adding a human recognition system to their night vision system. As with any bleeding edge technology, there are some limits however.
The technology currently only works when the vehicle is being driven between 15-60km/h, or about 10-40 miles per hour. And certain conditions, like rain, can also sometimes force the system to shut down. And a high cost is also being cited as a potential obstacle to bring the technology to market. But Toyota is forging ahead and currently working on lowering the cost of Night View and programming it to recognize bicycles and animals.

Still, sounds like a cool idea. Check out the pics for more detail.

What makes a proper Road Trip? Do you have to cross political boundaries? Some minimum mileage that must be travelled? Do you have to be gone for days or weeks at a time? No freggin’ clue. But neither do the folks at Kelly Blue Book (KBB) who decided to compile an interesting mix of vehicles to meet the task of a Road Trip – ranging from the obvious choices like the Dodge Grand Caravan to surprises like the spirited Audi S5 and venerable Bugatti Veyron. And there’s even the VW Eos, not a car we’d enjoy to be crammed into for a long journey, but to each their own. The full list and press release below.

KBB.COM NAMES 2008 BEST NEW ROAD TRIP VEHICLES

IRVINE, Calif., May 20, 2008 – The expert editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com (www.kbb.com), the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, today announce their picks for Kelley Blue Book’s 2008 Top 10 Best New Road Trip Vehicles. Memorial Day weekend ushers in the beginning of the summer driving season, and record gas prices will play a large role in trip-planning this year. But even with gas prices reaching $4 per gallon, Americans are still expected to hit the road in droves for summer road trips. From the two-person weekend getaway to the full-family excursion, this year’s Best New Road Trip Vehicles list is certain to accommodate any road trip.

In choosing this year’s Best New Road Trip Vehicles, the kbb.com editors evaluated all tangible and intangible attributes that would enhance any long drive, such as driving enjoyment, passenger comfort, cargo space and of course, fuel economy. Because not all road trips are the same, Kelley Blue Book’s 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles provide a potential perfect ride or two for every type of driver and every type of journey. Each vehicle offers different perks such as entertainment options, interior accommodations and driving performance to keep road-trippers satisfied. Depending on the type of trip and the number of companions the right vehicle could be a coupe, sedan, crossover, SUV or minivan.

Kbb.com Editorial Comments: 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles

Audi S5

Combining a silky 354-horsepower V8 engine, impeccably tuned suspension and quattro all-wheel drive, the Audi S5 delivers high levels of both performance and comfort, along with the elegance to arrive in grand fashion.

Bugatti Veyron

If the price of fuel has impacted your yacht time more than your driving habits, you might find the $1.5-million, 1,001-horsepower, 16-cylinder, quad-turbo, 250-mph Bugatti Veyron an ideal alternative the next time the jet is in the shop. Just keep in mind that at full speed, the Veyron burns through its 26-gallon fuel tank in about 12 minutes.

Chevrolet Malibu

We recently drove six top-selling mid-size sedans in a back-to-back comparison test, and the remarkably quiet and comfortable Chevy Malibu handily outshined the competition on the highway. The first car in the category to combine a flexible six-speed automatic transmission with a gas-sipping four-cylinder engine, the Malibu is capable of an impressive 32 highway miles per gallon.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

While the Tahoe Hybrid’s highway fuel economy rating of 22 mpg is only 2 mpg better than that of its gas-only counterpart (the hybrid’s bigger advantage is in city driving), it’s nevertheless the most fuel-friendly full-size SUV on the road and provides seating for eight, plenty of cargo solutions and the ability to tow your boat to the lake.

Dodge Grand Caravan

They say that getting there is half the fun. In the Dodge Grand Caravan, getting there can easily be all the fun. The Grand Caravan’s wide variety of entertainment options includes multiple DVD players, video game inputs, two overhead video screens, SIRIUS Satellite TV and radio as well as rearward-swiveling second row seats, all helping to transform the once humble minivan into a virtual party on wheels.

Ford Flex

Due in dealerships this summer, Ford’s new full-size, three-row crossover will be turning heads from coast to coast all year, while treating occupants to cold drinks with its class-exclusive refrigerated console.

Infiniti EX35

In addition to a plush, flexible interior, the EX35 offers a Lane Departure Prevention System that can help keep any driver — quite literally — in line. A small camera detects lane markers in front of the vehicle and, when inadvertent lane departure is detected, the system applies a small amount of left or right brake force to nudge the vehicle back on course.

MINI Cooper Clubman

With excellent fuel economy and a fun-loving attitude, the MINI Cooper has earned its way onto our list of top road trip cars for the second year in a row. The new Clubman offers more passenger and luggage space than the standard Cooper, making the largest member of the MINI family an even more ideal long-haul companion.

Toyota Prius

The iconic Prius doesn’t just deliver the best highway mileage of virtually anything on four wheels, it also features a flexible hatchback design and enough interior volume to qualify as a mid-size vehicle.

Volkswagen Eos

The Volkswagen Eos is a sporty coupe that’s also a sexy convertible, thanks to a sleek, sophisticated retractable hardtop. This chameleon also has an exceptionally wide glass sunroof for when you want the open-air experience without getting that wind-swept look.

The full report is here.

Its to our surprise there’s no mention of ANY Mercedes-Benz or BMW…

The Awards for Strategic Vision’s 2008 Total Quality Awards have been cast, and this year, three companies – Mercedes Benz, Honda and Toyota all have 2 models on the list that have managed to win in their respective categories.

The Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Awards are rated by The Total Quality Index™ which, of course, is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. Strategic Vision asks buyers to rate every aspect of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to performance and driving. It is much more than simply counting problems.

The full press release is below.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Strategic Vision 2008 Total Quality Awards™

San Diego – Toyota and Ford tied for leading in the most segments on Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index™ (TQI), leading with three vehicles each. Toyota lead with its Yaris, 4Runner and Sequoia while Ford lead with the Edge, Mustang Convertible and F-250/350. The San Diego based research firm today announced the 2008 results that are based on the ratings by new vehicle owners in 19 product segments.

Toyota Motor Sales had two additional leaders with the Scion xB and the Lexus RX 350 (which tied with Land Rover’s LR2); while Ford Motor Company added two additional wins with the Mercury Sable and Volvo C30. “Ford is back, establishing its vehicle quality in the hearts and minds of its customers,” says Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision’s automotive division. “The Ford Edge is one of the vehicles Ford can be proud of. By careful attention to key areas such as exterior styling, workmanship and performance, (which are the cues that signal quality for crossover customers), Ford is building vehicles that also build brand equity and perceived customer quality.”

The Total Quality Index™ is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. It asks buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to performance and driving. It is much more than simply counting problems. “Innovation and thoughtfulness in functionality and design, keeping in mind how the customer will interact and use the vehicle, is essential,” reports Dr. Darrel Edwards, Founder and CEO of Strategic Vision. “Vehicles like the Volvo C30 and Toyota Sequoia are both terrific examples of providing customers with this ‘functional luxury’ in a very stylish design suggesting quality both on the inside and out.”

Mercedes, Honda and Chevrolet brands each had two leaders: Mercedes leading with the S-Class and SL, Honda with the Odyssey and Ridgeline, and Chevrolet with the Corvette Convertible and a tie with itself in full size trucks between the Avalanche and Silverado. From three leads last year, Hyundai took the lead in only one segment this year with its Santa Fe in one of the most competitive automotive segments, the Smaller SUVs. The Volkswagen Jetta, Chrysler 300C and BMW X5 were each TQI leaders. Also worthy of mention is the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu, now second in the highly competitive Medium Car segment.

“Over the past quarter century in the US, customer perceptions of quality of domestic and Asian manufacturers underwent large swings. Today, it doesn’t matter if you are a Toyota or a Ford, BMW or Hyundai, each manufacturer has the opportunity and mandate to produce a product with the right Cues of Quality — those product attributes that signal quality and create customer Trust — and present vehicles that have a greater impact on the purchase decision,” says Alexander Edwards.

Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments:

The Total Quality Index™ was calculated from the responses of 20,655 buyers who bought 2008 models in September, October and November of 2007. Strategic Vision has presented Total Quality annually since 1995.

Since its incorporation in 1989, Strategic Vision has studied consumer and constituent decision-making for the widest variety of clients, including most auto manufacturers, Coca-Cola, American Airlines, Procter and Gamble, as well as for most advertising agencies. Its unique expertise is identifying consumers’ motivational hierarchies, including the values that shape perceptions and capture the customers’ emotional responses and drive behavior. The firm’s in-depth Discovery Interviews and ValueCentered Surveys provide comprehensive, integrated and actionable outcomes.

Head on over to Strategic Vision’s website to see the result for yourself.

Like a family crest, most Automotive emblems actually represent something important to their maker. Whether it be something historically important for the founder, ideals the brand strives towards, or a testament to someone’s ego, the symbol of each company has a history.

We stumbled across this encyclopedia of sorts that has cataloged the origins and meanings for almost every one of the worlds major automakers, and we must say, it’s pretty darn interesting. For instance Chevy’s logo has come about from…

…Popular legend has it that the Chevrolet logo was inspired by wallpaper in a French hotel where William C. Durant was staying (the legend says he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on the wallpaper and tore a piece of it off to keep to show to friends and later turn into the company logo). However, his wife says that the bowtie emblem was first seen by her husband in a Virginia newspaper on a vacation around 1912, upon which he told her that the thought it’d be a very good emblem for the Chevrolet (per Chevrolet Pro Management Magazine, October 1986).

Or, Smart’s logo…..Apart from the Smart name (all lowercase), the Smart logo features a ‘C’ for ‘Compact’, and an arrow for ‘forward thinking’.

Cool Stuff, I Swear!

Take a look at the full list here.

The 2011 Lexus LF-A — or maybe it will be the 2010 Lexus LF-A, or maybe even the 2012 Lexus LF-A, depending on what you read. Anyway, this almost-supercar has been photographed by the always ready spy photographers at KGP. Those quick shooters caught the Toyota in fancy clothing as it appeared to be getting ready to hit the Nürburgring.

We’re all expecting hot laps won’t be far behind, but what’s taking the super number 1 most awesome automaker from the land of the rising sun from debuting their first entry into the world of super car performance? It’s been like, what, 3 years already since the Lexus LF-A first started hitting the auto shows? And during those years, how many versions of the LF-A concept? More than I’ve been able to keep track of. We distinctly remember at least, like 3 — one in 2005, a revised LF-A concept at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and the roadster concept as well as definitive word we’ll be seeing a sexy a price point of around $170K. So, we’re still talking about something like a 6 year development cycle here, aren’t we?

Jeez, and people get all upset when any other automaker takes a couple of years to develop a new muscle car. Anyway, despite the LONG development time, it will be interesting to see this new Lexus in showrooms in either a V10 or V8-with-hybrid flavor.

Full spy report from KGP below.

The Lexus LF-A has hit the roads around the ‘Ring, and some hot laps can’t be far behind. The LF-A’s retractable rear wing can be seen lowering in this sequence of shots. This prototype is obviously still wearing some preproduction lighting, and some details are clearly lacking production-finished trim, but the styling looks basically unchanged form last year’s prototype. It appears that Lexus may have finally locked-in the bulk of the LF-A’s final design.

In a recent interview, Lexus Australian chief executive confirmed that the LF-A is still being readied for production, although it may not reach showrooms until 2011. Even if that claim refers to the 2010 calendar year as a 2011 model, that still means a lengthy development course ahead. At that point, the LF-A’s gestation will be approaching six years. Such a long development process is almost unheard of in today’s automotive industry, although the Hyundai’s recent entry into the luxury market with its new Genesis is another recent example. The Genesis showcased many design changes right up to its auto show debut, and the Lexus LF-A has been similarly tweaked over the course of its development.

One can’t help but sense a whiff of uncertainty in Lexus’ entry into the rarefied supercar realm, but they’re certainly going to great lengths to see that its right when it finally reaches the market.