99659a21 Power Trim Unit on 2040-parts.com

Toyota, Honda, Nissan shut plants as big earthquake hits Japan

Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. suspended production at plants in Japan today and were assessing damage after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast, triggering a tsunami and shaking buildings as far away as Tokyo.

Toyota GT86 TRD Griffon makes its debut at Goodwood (video)

The Toyota GT86 TRD Griffon 9Pictured) made its debut at Goodwood this weekend We’re still waiting for Toyota to make a more powerful version of the GT86 (and Subaru the BRZ), but we are starting to get more focused versions. We’ve already seen the GT86 TRD – developed by Toyota Racing development – as a road car limited edition, and last month we learnt that Toyota were going to debut a track version – the GT86 TRD Griffon – and that it would arrive at Goodwood. Now the Griffon has arrived looking immensely purposeful with its wings and diffuser and carbon fibre for the roof, doors, bonnet and boot and some severe fettling of the oily stuff with upgraded brakes, new alloys, mechanical limited slip diff and stiffer suspension.

Hyundai Genesis, Ford F-150 win awards at the Detroit auto show

On Sunday of the Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai Genesis won the 2009 North American Car of the Year award, nipping the Ford Flex by a miniscule nine-point margin. The redesigned Ford F-150 pickup, the odds-on favorite in the truck category, was named 2009 North American Truck of the Year. Genesis beat out the Flex and the third-place finisher, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, despite being the first Korean car ever nominated for the award.