Brain...Jammed Vandals Destroy Seven New Toyota Models at 2011 Chicago Auto Show

Auto shows seem to have become risky business for car manufacturers. After the BMW 750i that was stolen at the Detroit motor show earlier this year, now more disturbing news comes from the Chicago Auto Show, where the Toyota booth attracted unwanted attention.

According to local newspapers, seven new Toyota models had their interiors vandalized by three young men, aged 20, 21 and 28. We don't know what really caused this deviant behavior, but one report attributes it to the fact that the three vandals were allegedly angry "about American jobs going overseas".

And it seems they wanted the Japanese cars to suffer badly, judging from the tools they used - screwdrivers and razor knives. The three young men were arrested on Wednesday evening before the show's closing time when guards noticed them acting suspiciously around a Toyota Camry. The mess they made inside the seven cars is substantial: dashboards were left smashed and ripped, seat upholstery sliced, windshields scratched, speakers cut open and turn indicators broken.

According to the police, the damage to the cars is estimated at $30,000. Interestingly, they had no preference for a particular model, vandalizing a Camry, a RAV4, a Land Cruiser, a Prius, two Tundras and one Lexus ES350. Funny thing, no accelerator pedal or floor mat were damaged...

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Chicago Sun Times

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Speed Ticket Survey: Mercedes-Benz SL and Toyota Solara Drivers Top the List

We recently told you about how the angriest drivers in Britain tend to be behind the wheel of a BMW. Now we have some speeding/insurance info from the States, and it's a bit surprising.

According to Quality Planning, a division of Verisk Analytics Inc., American Mercedes SL drivers are at least four times more likely to get ticketed than a run-of-the-mill motorist who presumably drives a Camry Solara or...no, wait, the Camry Solara/Coupe and Scion tC come in at second and third.

Oddly, the Pontiac Grand Prix is still on the list and making waves (scroll down for the full list with stats).

Of the top ten most ticketed cars, Mercedes and Toyota can each lay claim to three: the SL, the CLS63, and the CLK63, and the Camry Solara/Coupe, Scion tC, and xB. In defense of its speedy vehicles, Mercedes' spokesman Robert Moran says, "These are fun-to-drive cars, and sometimes people have a little too much fun enjoying them."

On the other side of the spectrum, people-hauling SUVs were among the least ticketed as long as we exclude the Hummer H2/H3; the lowest was actually the Buick Rainier.

The lesson here, kids, is skip the sex-on-wheels Benzos and just go for an old Buick SUV is you want to avoid tickets. Or, you could just restrain yourself...but where's the fun in that?

By Phil Alex

Source: Verisk Analytics , Via: BusinessWeek

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2011 Toyota Camry SE Road Test and all photos

The combination of two words whose meaning is apparently contradictory called an oxymoron, like "living dead", "dangerously safe", "almost pregnant" and "Camry Sport.

Though as strange as it may seem, in short, the car has a certain logic. A typical Camry is well known for its comfortable ride, soft as a marshmallow itself, its direction unclear and the lack of driving pleasure. But the SE version of the Toyota sedan seems to avoid being characterized as boring.

Yet, Toyota sells so many copies of the Camry every year we have to realize one thing: driving dynamics do not reflect the priority of everyone, and should not be either. That may well offer the SE sport to those shopping for a Mazda6 or Ford Fusion?

The Camry SE has aerodynamic additions that provide a little more style to its familiar form, like a front bumper, a rear diffuser, side skirts and a spoiler on the trunk. Personally, I would not get a Camry without these additions. In fact, as they can give the car a sportier look, a competitor like the Suzuki Kizashi is not displayed and no one looks much sexier.

The interior offers a feeling industrial. In addition, alignment of parts of the dashboard is poor, and that's since the consolidation of the sedan for the 2007 vintage. The mixture of dark gray and light gray is nothing exciting. However, all orders well designed, with large buttons and rotary controls easy to use air conditioning, comes to forgive part of monotony.

I wish the driver's seat cushion can be lowered further because my head is tickled by the ceiling while driving: would recline, for it would be inappropriate cons with my usual driving position. The leather seat surfaces are slippery, and with little lateral support, it bustles constantly on the seat in the curves, or it grips the steering wheel.

The space at the back, very generous, three adults can sit on the bench with little chicane. Trunk space, meanwhile, excels with its 425 liters.

I would also like that you can get Bluetooth connectivity without having to opt for all leather and transparent panel. Yes, you can buy a module at the dealership BLU Logic, unfortunately it does not buttons mounted behind the wheel. It would also be nice to have the USB audio da chain without using a group of options $ 3,130.

Under the hood lies the 4-cylinder 2.5-liter 16-valve engine introduced recently by Toyota: it develops 179 horsepower (10 more than in the LE and XLE versions) and a torque of 171 lb-ft. A 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode is also included, since they can not get manual gearbox in Canada.

The 0-100 km / h in 9.2 seconds making, which is not so bad, and one of the fastest in our recent comparison of mid-size sedan. It does not feel as fast when driving more inspired, because the 6-speed automatic will be slow to react, even in sport mode, for the sake of fuel economy. Traction control is hibernating all summer, since it will probably never apply until there is no snow on the ground.

Speaking of fuel economy, our one-week trial ended with an average of 9.1 L/100 km, which is more than acceptable.

At full throttle, the engine becomes noisy, only by adopting a more relaxed driving, the interior of the Camry is quiet. The turnover of the car is comfortable, obviously, and the suspension so-called "sport tuned" pleasantly surprised us: not by its rigidity, but by how it makes the car more enjoyable to drive. Note that we did not say "exciting to drive, since management is still unclear at the center, which does not inspire to go hunting for twisty roads.

The base price for a Camry SE 4 cylinder falls to $ 27,755, while the band leather and transparent panel said earlier on our test car bringing the total to $ 30,885. For the price, a Suzuki Kizashi appears smaller but more captivating than the Camry, if a sports sedan is your cup of tea of course.

2011 Toyota Camry SE Road Test and all photos

The combination of two words whose meaning is apparently contradictory called an oxymoron, like "living dead", "dangerously safe", "almost pregnant" and "Camry Sport.

Though as strange as it may seem, in short, the car has a certain logic. A typical Camry is well known for its comfortable ride, soft as a marshmallow itself, its direction unclear and the lack of driving pleasure. But the SE version of the Toyota sedan seems to avoid being characterized as boring.

Yet, Toyota sells so many copies of the Camry every year we have to realize one thing: driving dynamics do not reflect the priority of everyone, and should not be either. That may well offer the SE sport to those shopping for a Mazda6 or Ford Fusion?

The Camry SE has aerodynamic additions that provide a little more style to its familiar form, like a front bumper, a rear diffuser, side skirts and a spoiler on the trunk. Personally, I would not get a Camry without these additions. In fact, as they can give the car a sportier look, a competitor like the Suzuki Kizashi is not displayed and no one looks much sexier.

The interior offers a feeling industrial. In addition, alignment of parts of the dashboard is poor, and that's since the consolidation of the sedan for the 2007 vintage. The mixture of dark gray and light gray is nothing exciting. However, all orders well designed, with large buttons and rotary controls easy to use air conditioning, comes to forgive part of monotony.

I wish the driver's seat cushion can be lowered further because my head is tickled by the ceiling while driving: would recline, for it would be inappropriate cons with my usual driving position. The leather seat surfaces are slippery, and with little lateral support, it bustles constantly on the seat in the curves, or it grips the steering wheel.

The space at the back, very generous, three adults can sit on the bench with little chicane. Trunk space, meanwhile, excels with its 425 liters.

I would also like that you can get Bluetooth connectivity without having to opt for all leather and transparent panel. Yes, you can buy a module at the dealership BLU Logic, unfortunately it does not buttons mounted behind the wheel. It would also be nice to have the USB audio da chain without using a group of options $ 3,130.

Under the hood lies the 4-cylinder 2.5-liter 16-valve engine introduced recently by Toyota: it develops 179 horsepower (10 more than in the LE and XLE versions) and a torque of 171 lb-ft. A 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode is also included, since they can not get manual gearbox in Canada.

The 0-100 km / h in 9.2 seconds making, which is not so bad, and one of the fastest in our recent comparison of mid-size sedan. It does not feel as fast when driving more inspired, because the 6-speed automatic will be slow to react, even in sport mode, for the sake of fuel economy. Traction control is hibernating all summer, since it will probably never apply until there is no snow on the ground.

Speaking of fuel economy, our one-week trial ended with an average of 9.1 L/100 km, which is more than acceptable.

At full throttle, the engine becomes noisy, only by adopting a more relaxed driving, the interior of the Camry is quiet. The turnover of the car is comfortable, obviously, and the suspension so-called "sport tuned" pleasantly surprised us: not by its rigidity, but by how it makes the car more enjoyable to drive. Note that we did not say "exciting to drive, since management is still unclear at the center, which does not inspire to go hunting for twisty roads.

The base price for a Camry SE 4 cylinder falls to $ 27,755, while the band leather and transparent panel said earlier on our test car bringing the total to $ 30,885. For the price, a Suzuki Kizashi appears smaller but more captivating than the Camry, if a sports sedan is your cup of tea of course.

2011 Toyota Camry SE Road Test and all photos

The combination of two words whose meaning is apparently contradictory called an oxymoron, like "living dead", "dangerously safe", "almost pregnant" and "Camry Sport.Though as strange as it may seem, in short, the car has a certain logic. A typical Camry is well known for its comfortable ride, soft as a marshmallow itself, its direction unclear and the lack of driving pleasure. But the SE version

2011 Toyota Camry SE Road Test and all photos

The combination of two words whose meaning is apparently contradictory called an oxymoron, like "living dead", "dangerously safe", "almost pregnant" and "Camry Sport.

Though as strange as it may seem, in short, the car has a certain logic. A typical Camry is well known for its comfortable ride, soft as a marshmallow itself, its direction unclear and the lack of driving pleasure. But the SE version of the Toyota sedan seems to avoid being characterized as boring.

Yet, Toyota sells so many copies of the Camry every year we have to realize one thing: driving dynamics do not reflect the priority of everyone, and should not be either. That may well offer the SE sport to those shopping for a Mazda6 or Ford Fusion?

The Camry SE has aerodynamic additions that provide a little more style to its familiar form, like a front bumper, a rear diffuser, side skirts and a spoiler on the trunk. Personally, I would not get a Camry without these additions. In fact, as they can give the car a sportier look, a competitor like the Suzuki Kizashi is not displayed and no one looks much sexier.

The interior offers a feeling industrial. In addition, alignment of parts of the dashboard is poor, and that's since the consolidation of the sedan for the 2007 vintage. The mixture of dark gray and light gray is nothing exciting. However, all orders well designed, with large buttons and rotary controls easy to use air conditioning, comes to forgive part of monotony.

I wish the driver's seat cushion can be lowered further because my head is tickled by the ceiling while driving: would recline, for it would be inappropriate cons with my usual driving position. The leather seat surfaces are slippery, and with little lateral support, it bustles constantly on the seat in the curves, or it grips the steering wheel.

The space at the back, very generous, three adults can sit on the bench with little chicane. Trunk space, meanwhile, excels with its 425 liters.

I would also like that you can get Bluetooth connectivity without having to opt for all leather and transparent panel. Yes, you can buy a module at the dealership BLU Logic, unfortunately it does not buttons mounted behind the wheel. It would also be nice to have the USB audio da chain without using a group of options $ 3,130.

Under the hood lies the 4-cylinder 2.5-liter 16-valve engine introduced recently by Toyota: it develops 179 horsepower (10 more than in the LE and XLE versions) and a torque of 171 lb-ft. A 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode is also included, since they can not get manual gearbox in Canada.

The 0-100 km / h in 9.2 seconds making, which is not so bad, and one of the fastest in our recent comparison of mid-size sedan. It does not feel as fast when driving more inspired, because the 6-speed automatic will be slow to react, even in sport mode, for the sake of fuel economy. Traction control is hibernating all summer, since it will probably never apply until there is no snow on the ground.

Speaking of fuel economy, our one-week trial ended with an average of 9.1 L/100 km, which is more than acceptable.

At full throttle, the engine becomes noisy, only by adopting a more relaxed driving, the interior of the Camry is quiet. The turnover of the car is comfortable, obviously, and the suspension so-called "sport tuned" pleasantly surprised us: not by its rigidity, but by how it makes the car more enjoyable to drive. Note that we did not say "exciting to drive, since management is still unclear at the center, which does not inspire to go hunting for twisty roads.

The base price for a Camry SE 4 cylinder falls to $ 27,755, while the band leather and transparent panel said earlier on our test car bringing the total to $ 30,885. For the price, a Suzuki Kizashi appears smaller but more captivating than the Camry, if a sports sedan is your cup of tea of course.