The 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad, positioned between the SXT and Limited models in the Journey lineup, is powered by a standard 173 horsepower 2.4-liter 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine linked to a four-speed automatic transmission delivering 26 miles per gallon on the highway. Also available is the 283 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission delivering up to 25 mpg on the highway. The Dodge Journey Crossroad also comes standard with an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, power front seat and a front passenger fold-flat seat with hidden storage bin under the seat cushion. Second- and third-row seats fold flat to create 67.6 cu. ft. of cargo space.
The redesigned 2014 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck comes in SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum and the all-new 1794 Edition and offers three engine choices. A 270 horsepower 4.0-liter Dual Overhead Cam V6 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with uphill/downhill shift logicis is standard on the Tundra Regular and Double Cab. The available 310 horsepower 4.6-liter DOHC i-Force V8 and the 381 horsepower 5.7-liter DOHC i-Force V8 come in both gasoline and "Flex Fuel" variants and standard with a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. Tundras will have a new Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a standard back-up camera (viewed from the audio display screen), and standard Bluetooth. Additional standard features include a 3.5-inch multi-information display in the gauge cluster. Sales of Tundra topped 100,000 in 2012 for the first time since 2008. The redesigned 2014 Tundra will reach Toyota dealers in September.
The Tundra pickup has been the platform for the Sequoia SUV so stay tuned for the third generation Sequoia which will be its first update since 2008.
Toyota will launch "#1 For A Reason", a new advertising campaign on Monday to remind people why Toyota continues to be the top brand consumers turn to when buying a new vehicle. Camry, Corolla, Prius, RAV4 and Tacoma will be featured in the commercials and some of Toyota's bragging will include: Camry being the number-one selling car in America for nine straight years with more than 90 percent of Camrys sold over the past 15 years still on the road today; the Corolla sedan holding the title of best-selling car of all time with more than 8.6 million sold in the U.S. since it launched in 1968 and the Prius being the best-selling hybrid in the world averaging 50 miles per gallon.
Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released results from an unprecedented ten-month study of potential electronics-based causes for unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. NASA engineers found no electronic flaws in Toyota vehicles capable of producing the large throttle openings required to create dangerous high-speed unintended acceleration incidents. The two mechanical safety defects identified by NHTSA more than a year ago – “sticking” accelerator pedals and a design flaw that enabled accelerator pedals to become trapped by floor mats – remain the only known causes for these kinds of unsafe unintended acceleration incidents. Toyota has recalled nearly 8 million vehicles in the United States for these two defects and spent billions.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, “We enlisted the best and brightest engineers to study Toyota’s electronics systems, and the verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas." In conducting their report, NASA engineers evaluated the electronic circuitry in Toyota vehicles and analyzed more than 280,000 lines of software code for any potential flaws that could initiate an unintended acceleration incident. Unfortunately, the Egyptian revolt may have buried this news in coverage by the mainstream media who were quick to blast Toyota at the outset of these incidents and do irreparable damage to the Toyota image.
The 2011 Toyota Matrix made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show last week with new standard wheels, interior design features and standard Smart Stop Technology. The 2011 Matrix has a base model with a 132 horsepower 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine and the sporty S grade has a 158 horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The Matrix has earned an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway for the 1.8-liter with the five-speed manual transmission, and 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway for the 1.8-liter paired with the four-speed automatic transmission.
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup truck, with 20,000 lb. towing capacity (3500HD crew cab/long box can tow up to 20,000 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch) and 6,335 lb payload, has an all-new chassis and more powerful 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine mated to a stronger Allison 1000 six-speed transmission. No horsepower ratings as yet - stay tuned. The Silverado HD has a strengthened Vortec 6.0-liter V8 standard powertrain.
The Silverado heavy-duty lineup grows to eleven 2500HD models and eight single- and dual-rear-wheel 3500HD models – including a new 3500HD Crew Cab with a 6.5-foot cargo box. WT, LT and LTZ trim levels are offered and features, including the EZ Lift tailgate and rearview camera system. The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD trucks go on sale this summer along with Chevrolet's 2010 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition Suburban.
The redesigned 2011 Toyota Avalon was introduced at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show with upgraded equipment and technology features, such as a touch-screen navigation system with real-time traffic, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone capability with music streaming to the audio system.
The 2011 Avalon is powered by a 268 horsepower 24-valve, dual-overhead cam 3.5-liter V6 engine equipped with the latest dual VVT-i electronic valve-control mechanism that is mated to a multi-mode six-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 Avalon is an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, EPA-estimated to deliver 20 mpg in the city, 29 highway, and 23 combined. The 2011 Avalon will be available in two grades when it arrives in showrooms this Spring, Avalon and Limited.
