Chicago Auto Show
CHICAGO – Mired in ongoing recalls, Toyota Motor Corp. emphasized safety features as the automaker unveiled a face-lifted version of its Avalon large sedan at the Chicago auto show Wednesday.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of our vehicles,” said Bob Carter, general manager of the Japanese carmaker’s U.S. sales operation,
He said Toyota already has repaired 220,000 of the 2.3 million vehicles affected by its recent recall for faulty accelerator pedals.
Carter said Toyota dealers will get a software update to fix the antilock brakes in Prius hybrids later this month. A fix for a similar repair to brakes in the Lexus HS 250h hybrid will be available shortly, he said.
The 2011 Avalon will feature a new pedal assembly developed to remedy that problem and an electronic brake system required to fix Toyota’s earlier recall, which accounts for about 5 million other vehicles.
The Avalon, the Toyota brand’s largest car, goes on sale this spring. Other safety features will include seven air bags. The Avalon should have an EPA rating of 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, Carter said.
Tags: 5 Million, Accelerator, Air Bags, Antilock Brakes, Automaker, Avalon, Bob Carter, Carmaker, Chicago Auto Show, Hybrids, Lexus, Million Vehicles, Other Vehicles, Prius, S Sales, Safety And Reliability, Safety Features, Toyota Dealers, Toyota Motor, Toyota Motor Corp
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