It was a tough 2010 for Toyota, the year was marked by repeated recalls including the single largest recall in automotive history (read news). Despite these major meltdowns, Toyota managed to remain the world’s largest automaker last year. According to recent reports, the Japanese manufacturer amazingly saw its sales actually rise by eight percent to 8.42 million units in total if you include sub brands Lexus, Hino and Daihatsu. That figure beat out second placed General Motors, which saw its sales increase by 12 percent with 8.39 million units sold.
Toyota’s sales did drop in the lucrative U.S. market by 0.4 percent due mainly to safety concerns, but the automaker saw large increases in China. The company’s sales in China jumped by 19 percent, but by comparison General Motors did even better with a Chinese sales increase of 29 percent.
Bronze medal winner Volkswagen, meanwhile, managed to sell 7.14 million vehicles worldwide during 2010, further confirming its place as the third-largest automaker in the world. That figure marks a 14 percent increase over 2009, and VW says that it fully expects to see sales increase by at least five percent more in 2011.
Toyota is also optimistic forecasting its sales to hit 8.6 million vehicles in 2011.
What makes the Caliber aesthetically different is a mixture of traditional Dodge DNA and a body shape that’s a mash-up of hatchback, crossover and sports coupe. Its styling talks loudly and offers a truly American take on the conventional hatchback. The Caliber announces its arrival with its signature Dodge crosshair grille. In profile it shows off pumped up wheel arches, a coupe like roofline and a front foot, pouncing stance. The squared-off rear features jeweled tail lamps a narrow back windscreen and a protruding chunky bumper. Exterior changes to the updated Caliber are minimal but do include some subtle chrome trim and a new 17-inch alloy wheel design which helps give the 2010 model an even sharper edge.
“It was always the intention of Kia Motors New Zealand to position the new Sportage competitively in the marketplace and we are delighted to announce that we have been able to follow through with our promise of very sharp pricing,” says Todd McDonald, General Manager of Kia Motors New Zealand.
While Toyota’s Prius was always designed to be a hybrid-only vehicle, the Camry doesn’t share that luxury and small tweaks have been made to its appearance for both functional reasons and to distance it from lower-spec siblings. The most noticeable difference comes with a unique front bumper and grille. More than just give it a reworked face the new front end provides additional cooling to the engine bay and drops the coefficient drag by six percent to just .27cd. There’s also eye-catching blue tinted headlights, ‘Hybrid’ badges all round and some classy chrome trim on the boot and front grille. Our tested top model Camry Hybrid i-Tech also features 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, LED rear lights and a rear boot spoiler as standard kit. Elsewhere it shares the same low-key but modern styling as the rest of the Camry range.
use more lateral support and there are ample small storage options front and back. Boot storage however, has been compromised by the nickel metal hydride battery packs and capacity is reduced by 71-litres to 389-litres. It’s also more difficult to load longer items into the boot, but the back seat still split-folds to reveal a slim ski-port.
it’s a little complicated. All that aside, what’s the Isuzu D-Max really like? Car and SUV spent a week on the comeback trail with the D-Max to find out more.
enough to iron out the wrinkles on this ageing model. Car and SUV spent a week with the reworked Rio to find out more.