Toyota: Moving Forward Comes Back to Bite

By now, you've seen and heard about the massive safety recalls that Toyota is undergoing. You know that Toyota has had to recall more than 8 million vehicles worldwide for various safety issues, ranging from floormats to accelerator pedals to brakes and, soon, steering systems. At least 34 people (UPDATE: 56 as of 2/28) have died from these issues, hundreds have been injured, more than a thousand have been involved in accidents, and hundreds of thousands have been inconvenienced and are beginning to see their resale values drop. No fewer than 46 class-action lawsuits have been filed against the automaker, with claims ranging from vehicle loss-of-use and lost value to wrongful death.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration forced Toyota to stop production and sale of the 8 affected models because, 5 days after Toyota announced the problem with no fix ready, Toyota was still building and shipping cars with faulty parts. And from the day the production halt was announced to the ads Toyota is currently airing, the company has been taking credit for that decision when they were legally forced into it.

Not one day of this entire recall/safety debacle has provided the public with facts that have added up. Few people, if anyone at all, seem to be in on what the issue is, including Toyota itself. Toyota has pointed fingers at CTS, the supplier that builds the accelerator pedal assemblies, saying that CTS was building them with flaws. CTS has pointed its fingers right back, saying that they've built the pedals to Toyota's exact specifications. ABC News released a story showing a college professor replicating unintended acceleration through an electronic fault that failed to show up on mechanical diagnostic equipment. Toyota has questioned the professor's methods.

AP Spotlight: 1962-70 Jaguar Mark X and 420G

In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Jaguar name, this week's feature is the car that would inspire Jaguar design for nearly 50 years: the large, lush, and lustrous Jaguar Mark X and 420G, made from 1962-70.

The Mark X was a milestone vehicle for Jaguar, in part because it set the styling mold in which most Jaguars would be cast for 48 years hence. However, its importance in the Jaguar lineage was underscored by the fact that the independent rear suspension that debuted under it, at the same time as did on the storied E-Type, remained in production for 35 years, until the last 1996 Jaguar XJS rolled off the line. What's more, the 4.2L version of Jaguar's world-beating XK family of inline sixes debuted in the Mark X in 1964, and would go on to power the high-luxury Daimler DS420 limousine until 1992, an amazing 28 years later.

NAIAS Report: Ford and Chrysler

The 2010 North American International Auto Show was a watershed moment in time for Ford. Riding high on American pride and optimism, the one major American manufacturer that didn't need a bailout or bankruptcy protection in '09 started the show in Detroit by sweeping the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid beat out the VW Golf Mk6 and Buick LaCrosse for the car award, while the 2010 Ford Transit Connect compact commercial van beat the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback in the truck category. It was only the third time in the award's history that a single manufacturer has taken both honors. To note, Honda did so in 2006 with the Civic and Ridgeline and GM did it in 2007 with the Saturn Aura and Chevy Silverado.

One look at Ford's massive, enclosed display said it all. The thing bathed the showgoer in a softly glowing shade of Ford pride blue. Henry's surname was to be found on every wall, in every corner of what looked like you had entered into a totally different, if not entirely well-organized, building. Ford's display was by far the most impressive among all the manufacturers and it exuded confidence.