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Archive for December 29th, 2009
December 29, 2009
Filed under: Crossover, Toyota, Reviews
2009 Toyota Venza – Click above for high-res image gallery
Earlier this spring, our own Alex Nunez reviewed Toyota’s latest crossover type thingy, the Venza, and came away rather impressed. I do a fair bit of traveling for my day job, which usually entails schlepping a sizable amount of video equipment around. Typically we pack up our A/V gear and FedEx it to a location since airlines charge so much for extra baggage and won’t guarantee arrival times. For one of our recent trips, however, we decided to hit the road and venture from our Ann Arbor offices down to western South Carolina. As it happened, a Venza was available for duty and appeared to be well-suited to the task at hand.
We loaded up cameras, tripods, microphones and other miscellanea before heading due south on US-23 for Ohio and parts beyond. Our Venza was finished in a unique Sunset Bronze Mica color with the same ivory leather interior that we sampled previously. Under the hood was also the same 3.5-liter V6 engine that we’ve enjoyed in numerous Lexus and Toyota vehicles with torque going to all four wheels via Toyota’s all-wheel-drive system.
As Nunez described, the Venza doesn’t really fit in the typical crossover category because it’s taller than a typical wagon yet shorter than vehicles like the Ford Edge or Chevrolet Equinox. It’s more like a tall Camry wagon than anything else – which, at least in theory – is just ducky by us. Find out how the Venza fared on our road trip odyssey after the jump.
Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Road Trip: 2009 Toyota Venza a few refinements short of a great ride
Road Trip: 2009 Toyota Venza a few refinements short of a great ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ferrari hybrids to the rescue
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Does it make any sense?A Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano hybrid concept is said to be ready for a Geneva Auto Show appearance.
Offering an impressive 35 percent improvement in fuel economy, the Fiorano hybrid almost seems to make sense. Still, overall fuel economy would be less than 14 miles per gallon, and far worse in pure city driving.
Lipstick just can’t change a pig. A Ferrari is what it is and no amount of hybrid technology can change that.
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Toyota Prius braking problems?
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Another problem for Toyota?The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation has received a few dozen reports of braking problems with the 2010 Toyota Prius. According to IL some of the complaints describe the problem as a “disturbing lag” or “jerky brakes”.
Thus far the NHTSA has not opened an official investigation into the problems.
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MOTORZ TV Premieres on MavTV HD February 7th 2010
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Duke Networks, LLC is proud to announce season 3 of its hit DIY automotive show MOTORZ TV(TM) ( www’motorz’tv ) will premiere on the MavTV cable and satellite network beginning Sunday, February 7th, 2010′ Hosted by Chris Duke, the popular show will air on MavTV Sunday mornings on a motorsports block of programming at 8:00AM EST in High-Definition to 33 Million homes nationwide’ Full Story”’
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2011 Ford Mustang GT Brings Back 5.0 Liter V8
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
The 5′0 is back! The 2011 Ford Mustang GT arrives with an all-new advanced 5′0-liter V-8 engine, developed by a passionate cadre of enthusiastic engineers who rallied around the common goal of delivering more than 400 horsepower’ The modern 5′0-liter four-valve Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) V-8 engine in the new Mustang GT will deliver 412 horsepower and 390 ft’-lb’ of torque’ At the same time, fuel economy is projected to be better than the previous model and unsurpassed in the segment’
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Dodge Challenger Tops Owner Satisfaction Survey
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Consumer Reports surveyed nearly 400,000 subscribers and discovered that an unprecedented 92 percent of Dodge Challenger SRT8 owners would purchase another Mopar powered auto’ Which car came in second? The new Ford Fusion Hybrid at 91 percent as well as the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911 and Toyota Prius rounding out the top five’ A Prius”’really?
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Chevrolet Camaro SS to pace 2010 Indianapolis 500
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Officials from Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway unveiled the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car at the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum today’ “We’ve enjoyed a great partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the years, and are proud to once again have the privilege of pacing the Indianapolis 500 in a Camaro,” said Jim Campbell, General Manager, Chevrolet’
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Old Super Cuda Still Kicks Ass
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
@digg@ What do you get when you take an old Super Cuda, toss 1,000 horsepower under the hood, and team it up against an Ferrari Enzo? You have a great competition’ Legendary Motorcar Company are making legends of themselves with their 1,000 horsepower turbo charged Viper V10 powered Super Cuda’ Topping out at 208 miles per hour, the Super Cuda holds its own on the track against the Enzo’ Check it out for yourself’ [ Car Chat ]
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2011 Mustang GT Getting 5.0 Liter V8
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Autoweek has leaked details from a Ford embargo that the 2011 Ford Mustang GT will get Ford’s new 5′0 liter V8 engine that pushes 412 horsepower, 390 foot pounds of torque, achieves an average of 25 miles per gallon, and features either a 6R80 automatic or MT82 six speed manual transmission’ Other engine upgrades include exhaust headers, forged steel crankshaft, four bolt main bearings, new pistons, and new connecting rods’ Damn’
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“Getting Away From the Cops” Maneuvers
Author: adminDecember 29, 2009
Although we’re filing this under “don’t do this at home” here’s a guy trying to lose the cops in a highway car chase. Little horsepower but definitely great skills, don’t you think? Looks like something depicted from a Grand Theft Auto game …
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