Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 at
12:59 am
Written by: Alex Nishimoto
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on
February 22 2012 5:00 PM
Whether the manufacturers like it or not, all car brands have certain reputations attached to them. We’ve all heard that European cars are unreliable and costly to fix, whereas certain Japanese makes are all but bullet-proof in the minds of some brand-loyal car shoppers. But is there any truth to these notions? Forum user Superman15857 wants to know exactly that in today’s Thread of the Day, asking, “Is any car brand truly reliable?” Conversely, are there any allegedly unreliable brands out there that actually deserve their reputation?
Do you think that all modern cars are equally reliable? Or are there some brands you feel you can count on more than others? Do unreliable cars come from a particular country? Or does reliability all depend on the company that builds them? How about the cars of today versus the cars of 20 or 30 years ago? Are new cars generally more reliable today? Or do you subscribe to the belief that “they don’t build them like they used to?” Give us your take in the comments section below.
Photo Source: FaceMePls via Flickr
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 at
12:56 am
Written by: Evan McCausland
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on
February 22 2012 4:30 PM
These official photos don’t show all that much of the new Toyota FT-Bh concept, but they do provide a little more information of the concept — which will debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March — than previous teaser sketches did.
A B-segment hybrid Toyota isn’t a new idea (in fact, Toyota recently announced a Yaris Hybrid for Europe), but the automaker claims the FT-Bh (Future Toyota B-segment hybrid) does push the envelope in a few areas. Toyota says the concept still offers the space of a five-door subcompact, yet its curb weight should ring in at less than 1760 pounds – allegedly without the use of “exotic materials or expensive techniques.” The same goes for the powertrain, which Toyota claims is merely a downsized version of its standard gas/electric hybrid system.
It appears as if the FT-Bh will look a bit exotic, at least in comparison to other subcompact designs. Toyota’s teaser shots show a narrow LED headlamp perched atop a razor-thin surface that extends from the front fascia and fender. In back, the FT-Bh’s vertical rear window – apparently cribbed from the defunct Renault Avantime – is flanked by thin taillamps, which are shaped like steps.
Expect more details – and complete photography – on the Toyota FT-Bh concept to emerge on March 6th, when the supersmall hybrid design makes its public debut in Geneva.
Source: Toyota
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