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Toyota shows how its new driver safety system uses brake assist and navigation systems together to cut the risk of collisions at intersections. (Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.)

TOKYO — Toyota Motor announced on Thursday that it will begin launching a new driver safety system in Japan in the “near future” that links a vehicle’s brake assist with the navigation system. The new link between the two systems is designed to reduce collisions at intersections.

“Brake Assist engages when a driver suddenly applies the brakes in response to stop sign proximity warnings provided by the navigation system through its display screen and aurally,” Toyota said in a statement. “The navigation system is able to provide the warnings by drawing on stop sign information contained within its map data.”

The system uses a rear-mounted camera to adjust braking force based on vehicle… Read the rest of this entry

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The “Iceman” voiceth: Val Kilmer will provide the voice of KITT in NBC’s Knight Rider movie, debuting February 17. (Photo by Scott Jacobs)

HOLLYWOOD, California — Val Kilmer, whose screen roles have ranged from gunman Doc Holliday to porn star John Holmes and legendary fighter pilot “Iceman,” can now add crime-fighting car voice to his resume.

Kilmer has been tapped to replace Will Arnett, best known as the star of TV’s short-lived Arrested Development, as the voice of KITT in NBC’s upcoming Knight Rider movie. The problem is that Ford is a huge ad buyer on the Knight Rider series, particularly promoting that KITT is now played by a Mustang Shelby GT500 KR.

Arnett has a previous voice-over relationship with GMC, and Ford was… Read the rest of this entry

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Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic cuts weight on the ALMS M3. It’s in the hood, roof, deck lid, rear apron and wing, and other body parts. (Photo courtesy of BMW North America, Inc.)

CHICAGO — BMW has unwrapped a new racing version of the M3, designed to compete in the 2009 American Le Mans Series in partnership with Rahal Letterman Racing.

The racing car, prepared by BMW M GmbH, features a P65 motorsports version of the M3’s 4.0-liter V8, boosted from 414 to 485 horsepower and from 295 to 368 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed sequential racing transmission with a carbon-fiber clutch and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

The chassis also has been race-tuned. The track has been widened, and the car is… Read the rest of this entry

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The 2009 Sonata gets electronic stability control as standard, as well as a 15-hp improvement to power. (Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor Company)

CHICAGO — Hyundai Motor America on Wednesday announced that its 2009 Sonata sedan, which gets a new interior and revised powertrains, starts at $18,795, a price increase of $450 over the 2008 model. The top-of-the-line 2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited with a 3.3-liter V6 starts at $26,345, a $1,500 increase over the 2008 model. Prices include a $675 destination charge.

The 2009 Sonata is on sale now.

The Sonata has been tweaked for ‘09 with such features as standard auxiliary input jacks for audio devices. The exterior has new bumpers, lamps, wheels and grille. The uplevel 3.3-liter V6 gets 15 more horses for a total of 249 and 3 more pound-feet of torque.

Hyundai notes that the Sonata “remains the only midsize… Read the rest of this entry

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Lancia Delta hatchback will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show next month. (Photo courtesy of Lancia)

TURIN, Italy — Lancia has released images of the redesigned Delta hatchback that it plans to unveil in early March at the Geneva auto show.

The new Delta is based heavily on the HPE concept that was revealed at the 2006 Paris show. It will be built on a modified version of the Fiat Bravo platform, stretched to provide more interior room.

Any resemblance in the rear to the original Nissan Murano is purely coincidental, or so the Italians say.

Lancia plans to offer the production model in Europe with a wide range of four-cylinder turbodiesel and gasoline engines.

What this means to you: Not much relevance for Americans, but for a dwindling number of Lancia fans in Europe, a new Delta is cause for modest joy. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

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Steve Schneider, CEO of Zap, and Detroit Electric Chairman Albert Lam next to a 1918 Detroit Electric 75 Coupe. (Photo courtesy of Detroit Electric)

JINHUA, China/SANTA ROSA, California — The revival of the Detroit Electric brand, which was announced on Thursday, apparently will have little or nothing to do with the Motor City. Zap, the California-based electric-car startup, and China Youngman Automotive Group will use the name on electric cars and buses in 2009, the two said in a joint announcement.

The two say they plan to build a special-edition electric vehicle based on the original Detroit Electric as a “tribute for the new name of the joint venture.” The Zap Alias will also carry the Detroit Electric brand.

“While joint venture officials are reviving the Detroit Electric brand, the first offices and facilities are planned not for Detroit, but California,” said the two… Read the rest of this entry

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Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition gets a sporty new package called the Urban Runner. (Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.)

CHICAGO — Toyota used the venue of the 2008 Chicago Auto Show to unveil a new Urban Runner Package that spices up the 2008 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition. The automaker said the 4Runner Urban Runner is due to arrive in dealerships in early February starting on the Sport Edition four-wheel-drive V6 model. It is priced at $35,045, including a $685 destination charge.

The package will be available on two-wheel-drive 4Runner Sport Edition models in April. Toyota has not announced pricing on that model.

The package puts a premium on cosmetic touches and includes 18-inch six-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, color-keyed grille, special badging, chrome exhaust tip and black-painted tubular side steps and tubular roof rack. Exterior colors include Black, Titanium Metallic and… Read the rest of this entry

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The Cable Lock security system is Ford’s Work Solutions answer to the problem of equipment security. (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company)

CHICAGO — Realizing that many truck owners use their vehicles as mobile offices, Ford on Wednesday stole a lot of the limelight at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show with a lineup of technologies for its F-Series trucks and E-Series vans that includes an industry-first in-dash computer.

The lineup is dubbed “Ford Work Solutions.” The Dearborn automaker says it will roll out this fall on the 2009 F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4; the F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4; and all 2009 E-Series vans. The Transit Connect vans will get the technology in mid-2009.

Perhaps the most practical and long-awaited feature in the lineup is an in-dash computer that Ford says “allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents… Read the rest of this entry

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Aside from having a specially trained technician, the certified dealers also had to invest in an upgrade of their facility, down to such details as providing larger lifts to accommodate the low and wide body of the GT-R. (Photo by Yoshitada Moro)

CHICAGO — Nissan North America said on Wednesday that the 480-horsepower Nissan GT-R is now available for pre-ordering at 691 of approximately 1,400 of its dealerships in the U.S. At the same time, the automaker told Inside Line it has put a formal program in place to help prevent price gouging on the supercar, which starts at $69,850 for the base model.

“We are taking steps to let the dealers know that marking up the car is not a good thing,” said Nissan North America Spokesman Darryll Harrison. “We’re trying to take steps to curb excessive markups.”

Harrison said the automaker is requiring… Read the rest of this entry

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NHTSA is looking into complaints that the V6 turbo version of the Saab 9-3 (pictured) can lose braking power assist. There has not yet been a recall issued. (Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is investigating reports of loss of braking power on 2006-’07 Saab 9-3 Aero models equipped with the 2.8-liter V6 turbo engine. No recalls have been issued at this point.

The NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations says it is aware of “one low-speed crash related to the alleged defect.” No injuries have been reported. The federal government has received five reports that “allege loss of brake power assist” on the 9-3 Aero.

In a summary of the investigation, the NHTSA said “complainants allege that the loss of brake power-assist occurred immediately after a cold engine start. Most owners report that… Read the rest of this entry