Updated Statement From Toyota Regarding Prius Brake Issue

TORRANCE, Calif., February 4, 2010 – Toyota is aware that NHTSA has opened a Preliminary Evaluation centered on owner complaints of a braking issue with the 2010 model year Prius. Toyota will cooperate fully with NHTSA’s investigation.

Some customers have complained of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.  The system, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage.  A running production change was introduced last month, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage.

This preliminary evaluation addresses owner complaints specific to the 2010 Prius.  This condition is not related to either the floor mat entrapment recall or the sticky pedal recall currently in action.

Toyota will continue to evaluate the condition as it relates to owner complaints and will keep NHTSA informed of its progress.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Toyota Motor Sales, Corporate Communications
(310) 468-5297

(310) 468-7359

Media Web site: http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
Public Web site: http://www.toyota.com

Source: Toyota Press-room

FT-HS Concept car of Toyota was revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit two years back. The car was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid engine, and it pointed towards an environ-friendly sports car future. After this the car appeared in other auto shows. After that it was quiet till now.
Toyota is formulating FT-HS Concept into a production model which is going to represent all the good about sports cars and all the good for the environment utilizing a changed Prius powertrain. It will be aerodynamically brought forward to help dealing and maintain fuel bills at its lowest. The car will have a long list of technological innovations.
The car would be marked as an MR2 to restore the name of that funky little Toyota sports car. It will be a sports car with a rear-wheel-drive setup and a paddle shift gearbox. The price is being speculated at around £20,000 (about US$24,400) for the MR2.
In terms of performance it may be 0 – 60mph time in about 7 seconds while emitting less than 100g/km of C02.