6x Piston + Rods 2f 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser on 2040-parts.com

Akio Toyoda waves family flag, heir makes crisis personal challenge

The reclusive Akio Toyoda is taking the rare step of waving the family flag, as the scion to Toyota Motor Corp.’s founding dynasty tries to steer the world’s largest car company out of a spiraling safety crisis. In testimony prepared for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, President Toyoda pursues a rare personal tack on the emergency, saying “my name is on every car.” “As you well know, I am the grandson of the founder, and all the Toyota vehicles bear my name,” Toyoda says in prepared comments circulated ahead of Wednesday’s committee hearing in Washington. “For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well.” The intimate reflection is a departure for Toyoda, who has spent most of his career sidestepping public discussion of his lineage.

Honda plans plant for CVT builds

Honda Motor Co. plans to build a $470 million factory in Celaya, Mexico, to assemble continuously variable transmissions. The factory will operate alongside a plant under construction that's scheduled to build the next-generation Fit hatchback and a Fit-based crossover.

Car Design of the Year 2009 Winners

Car Design News recognized the winners of the 2009 Car Design of the Year Award at last night's Car Design Night event at La Sip nightclub in Geneva. Car Design News Editor Eric Gallina presented the winning design teams at Aston Martin and General Motors for the most publicly acclaimed production and concept car designs of 2009, as voted by Car Design News readers in an online poll. The Best Production Car Design accolade was awarded to Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman for the beautiful Rapide sedan unveiled in full glory at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show in September.