News

·       World’s fastest man to help develop “Bolt-performance” GT-R

·       Olympic champion extends brand ambassador role as “Director of Excitement”

·       Unique Gold GT-R, inspired by medal-winner, to be auctioned for Usain Bolt Foundation

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man and champion Olympic sprinter, is targeting another record-breaking performance by offering his passion and performance instincts to the Nissan team developing a special “Bolt” version GT-R.

Following his world records and medal-horde at the London Olympiad, Bolt today signed a special deal with Nissan Motor Co, Ltd, to extend his role as brand ambassador for the 196-mph GT-R and to become honorary “Director of Excitement” for the company’s ambitious global marketing drive.

Bolt, appearing at Nissan’s world headquarters, said: “Racing is my inspiration, and I want to help Nissan become an even more exciting brand for everyone.”

Toshiyuki Shiga, Chief Operating Officer, welcomed Bolt’s endorsement and deepening ties with Nissan – where he became a brand spokesman on the eve of the London Games. “Nissan shares the spirit of excitement that captivated worldwide audiences at the Olympics. There is no-one better qualified than Usain Bolt to help us translate that spirit into great experiences,” said Shiga.

In recognition of Bolt’s contribution to sports and his automotive enthusiasm, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer unveiled a unique gold-painted GT-R, which will be auctioned to benefit the Usain Bolt Foundation (http://usainbolt.com/foundation/).

Proceeds from the online auction, details which will be announced later in October, will help the foundation’s work creating educational and cultural opportunities for children and young people in the Olympic Champion’s home country of Jamaica.

The one-off GT-R, to be auctioned on the eBay online auction platform, will be embossed with Bolt’s signature and bespoke interior fittings finished in real gold.

News of the deepening Nissan relationship coincides with Bolt’s pledge to defend his titles at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

As part of Bolt’s partnership with Nissan, the sprinter today test-drove various GT-R models at the car company’s proving ground near Oppama, Japan, where his reaction times, acceleration and other handling capabilities will be used in developing a special “Bolt GT-R” for his personal use.

Additionally, Bolt will start work with Nissan product specialists on a limited-edition version which can be ordered in markets where GT-R is available. Details of this project will be announced at a later stage.

Bolt, who was collected from Tokyo’s Narita Airport in a GT-R driven by F1 racer Mark Webber, is expected to contribute further to Nissan’s “WHAT IF_” global brand campaign.

The campaign, featuring Nissan’s iconic products and breakthrough technologies in billboards at airports around the world, forms part of the company’s Power 88 mid-term business plan – aimed at capturing 8 per cent market share and 8 per cent operating margins.

To continue building brand momentum at Nissan, TV commercials featuring the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, called “What if you could drive the future, today?”, will also be aired via six major international TV networks starting in October 2012.

Earlier this year, Interbrand reported Nissan’s rise in its latest report of the world’s Top 100 brands: ‘2012 Best Global Brands’. In the ranking, Nissan rose 13 places on the prior-year report to rank 73rd in global brand value.

TOKYO, JAPAN - Toyota Motor Corp. announced the industry's biggest single automotive recall since 1996, saying it will pull back 7.43 million vehicles worldwide -- including 2.47 million in the United States -- to fix power window switches.

The U.S. action covers various 2007 through 2009 models of the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Yaris, RAV4, Tundra, Scion xD, Scion xA, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Corolla and Matrix. About 240,000 vehicles in Canada are also affected.

The recall comes as President Akio Toyoda pushes to rebuild the company's reputation for quality. Toyota recalled more than 10 million units in 2009 and 2010 for defects associated with unintended acceleration.

Toyota didn't provide estimates on the cost of the recall. The power window switches can be repaired in about an hour depending on the dealer's work schedule, the company said in a statement.

"The process to repair (the power window switch) is not an extensive one," spokeswoman Monika Saito said.

The automaker said driver's-side switches are prone to having a "notchy" or "sticky" feel. If commercial lubricants are applied to address the issue, the switch assembly could melt or emit smoke and in some cases cause a fire.

The company said it's conducting the recall to inspect the vehicles and apply special fluorine grease to the switch.

Toyota said it hasn't received any reports of injuries or accidents because of the issue. The first time the problem was reported was in September 2008 in the United States, Saito said.

Other countries

About 1.4 million vehicles in China and 1.39 million in Europe are also affected, said Joichi Tachikawa, a Tokyo-based spokesman.

The firm is also recalling 650,000 vehicles in Australia and Asia, 490,000 in the Near and Middle East, and 330,000 elsewhere, said Shino Yamada, another spokeswoman for Toyota.

Koichi Sugimoto, senior analyst at BNP Paribas Securities in Tokyo, said: "Of course, 7 million vehicles is a huge number, but it's probably not going to be like last time when customers in the United States avoided buying Toyota cars. This sounds like a completely different scale from then."

Another securities analyst, Satoru Takada of Toward the Infinite World Inc., said: "Even if you calculate the cost in a very simple way, it's going to be significant. What comes with standardizing platforms and parts is that these recalls become immense."

The move comes a day after Toyota reported that its sales fell 49 percent year-on-year in China in September. Japanese car brands have suffered as a result of an outbreak of anti-Japan sentiment in China in response to a territorial dispute between the two countries.

In 1996, Ford Motor Co. pulled back 8 million vehicles to replace defective ignition switches linked to engine fires.

FINDLAY, Ohio - Conditions like snow-covered roads and black ice often make winter driving unpredictable. To help prepare and keep motorists safe on winter roads, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company encourages drivers to not only install winter tires before the first storm hits, but also use the changing seasons as a reminder to engage in routine tire maintenance. Preparing early for winter weather and anticipating and avoiding dangerous circumstances can help drivers maintain control and stay safe on the road.

"Drivers should consider replacing their all-season tires with a product made specifically for winter road conditions," said Chuck Yurkovich, vice president of global technology for Cooper Tire. "The key is to have those discussions with a trusted dealer before the first storm hits, as winter tires help maintain control and stability in icy conditions. It's also important to conduct routine tire maintenance checks as changing temperatures can affect tire condition."

Cooper Tire has been a proven winter tire brand in North America for decades, providing high-performing and extensive product lines, such as the Weather-Master S/T2™, Weather-Master WSC™ and the Discoverer M+S™. All Cooper winter tires include a patented snow groove technology that retains snow in the tread grooves, capitalizing on the higher traction of "snow on snow" versus "snow on rubber." The compound is formulated to respond with higher levels of grip in ice, slush and other winter conditions.

In addition to properly equipping vehicles with winter tires, Cooper Tire advises drivers to follow basic winter driving and tire maintenance tips:

Drive cautiously: Experts say the best advice for driving in harsh winter weather is to not drive at all, but with more than 900,000 kilometers of road throughout Canada, driving is the most common mode of transportation for Canadians, according to Transport Canada.

Double the anticipated stopping distance when braking anytime conditions are not dry. It will take longer to come to a stop in snowy or icy conditions.

Do not assume a four-wheel drive vehicle will stop faster than a two-wheel drive vehicle – four-wheel drive offers no braking advantage.

Always reduce speed during winter conditions.

When purchasing winter tires, replace all four tires. Due to the different grip capabilities of summer, all season and winter tires, the driver will not get all of the handling and traction benefits if all tires are not replaced.

Drivers should keep in mind that it is best to check their owner's manual to see how their vehicle should be serviced in cold weather.

Examine tread: The only part of a vehicle to touch the road is the tires, and tire tread is a vital part of handling, cornering, accelerating and braking.

Drivers can check tread using a tread depth gauge. Insert the tip of the depth gauge into the tread lines and read the measurement. If the tread depth is less than four millimeters at any location on the tread, drivers should replace the tires. As a tire wears, snow traction is reduced. Tires that are worn close to the tread-wear indicators or that have reached four millimeters at any location on the tread, have reduced traction and should not be used on snow-covered roads or in severe snow conditions. More tread is better in winter and wet conditions.

While examining the tread, also look for signs of uneven wear or damage such as cuts, cracks, splits, punctures and bulges. These conditions shorten the life of tires and, if not corrected, further tire damage, tire failure or air loss may occur.

Test air pressure: Tire pressure plays a critical role in the overall performance of tires. According to the Canada Safety Council, under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure and nearly a quarter of vehicles on the road have at least one tire under-inflated by more than 20 percent.

Tire pressure decreases by about one pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outside air temperature, so it is vital that drivers check the air pressure regularly as winter weather approaches.

Drivers should follow the guidelines found in the vehicle owner's manual or tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge to determine the correct air pressure for their vehicle's tires. A common myth is that the tire pressure listed on the sidewall is the optimal pressure, while in reality it is the maximum pressure.

Air pressure should be checked when the tires are cool, meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile.

Should any of these checks reveal the need for required maintenance – or when in doubt about the condition of their tires – drivers should take their vehicles to a tire dealer for a professional inspection.

For more information on proper tire maintenance, visit www.coopertire.ca.

Prius PHV finishes first in both speed accuracy and fuel efficiency; Lexus CT 200h places second   

TORONTO, ON – For the third straight year, the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV) has led Toyota Canada to victory in the Rallye Vert de Montréal, a world championship of “green” rallies and the only Canadian stop on the global FIA Alternative Energies Cup circuit.

The PHV, with its unique Hybrid Synergy Drive® platform, placed first in fuel consumption, with only 19L of fuel used for the 530 km of rallying, or average fuel efficiency of 3.6L/100 km. As an additional highlight for the Toyota family, the Lexus CT 200h recorded the second-best efficiency, at 4.3L/100 km. The results are notable, particularly as other companies have been comparing the performance of their vehicles to the Prius, and results like these demonstrate how it remains the benchmark for green vehicles.

The PHV was also first in regularity (speed accuracy). A key element of winning the rally is a combination of the consumption and regularity rankings. By placing first in both categories the PHV was the rally’s decisive winner, and with the CT200h placing a strong second.  

“The PHV has consistently demonstrated that its user-selectable EV mode for short trips and hybrid fuel efficiency for everything else is a winning combination,” said Stephen Beatty, Chief Environmental Officer of Toyota Canada Inc. “The key to victory for the PHV was its engine, which allows the driver to manually select between the EV and the hybrid mode seamlessly. The outstanding performance of the PHV and CT 200h in the Montreal rally was a compelling demonstration of the depth and breadth of Toyota’s leadership in green engineering.”  

The PHV is built on a proven hybrid powertrain – technology Toyota has been offering to the market for more than 10 years. As of the end of August, 15,636 of the vehicles have been sold globally. The Prius PHV is now available for retail sale in Canada.

With the PHV winning the Montreal rally, Toyota Canada has earned a berth in the Rallye Monte Carlo des Energies Nouvelles, to be held next March. The Monaco event is the world’s oldest and most prestigious green rally. It will be the first rally on the 2013 FIA Alternative Energies Cup calendar.

The PHV was driven by Vinh Pham, Toyota Canada’s Advanced Technology and Powertrain Engineer, who was assisted by navigator Alan Ockwell. Pham was also behind the wheel when Toyota Canada claimed the 2011 title.

 To learn more about the PHV and see photos of the Montreal rally, visit the Toyota Canada Prius Plug-in Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/ToyotaCanadaPriusPlugin.