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Toyoda says company is ‘grasping for salvation', fears big sales loss

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said his money-losing automaker is “grasping for salvation” as it struggles to return to profit. The world's largest car company was once targeting annual sales of 10 million vehicles but now expects sales of 7.3 million this year, down from 8.97 million in 2008, Toyoda said today at a news conference.

Honda looks ahead with new SUV

HONDA has unveiled a brand-new crossover SUV at the Tokyo Motor Show, scheduled to reach the UK in 2015. The compact-sized Vezel offers four-wheel drive and in Japan will come in petrol and hybrid models, although the 1.6-litre diesel is likely to feature in European specification. Combining the stance and driving position of an SUV but the design features of a coupe, the Vezel aims to compete with the increasing number of crossover vehicles that are winning sales from conventional hatchbacks.

Fuel-tank probe rekindles old issue

The placement of fuel tanks on passenger vehicles has changed over the past three decades, and for good reason. Automakers gradually have repositioned the tank to an area in front of the rear axle, generally below the rear passenger seat. Statistically speaking, the tank in that location is less vulnerable in a high-speed, rear-end crash than in the previous location--between the rear bumper and axle.