• Fiesta Movement agents and friends will head to Hollywood to celebrate at an awards ceremony recognizing the agents and marking the arrival of the 2011 Ford Fiesta
• Voting for the viewer’s favorite award, where fans can select their favorite agent, is taking place now atwww.fiestamovement.com
• Parachute, a pop-soul band that had four agents create a music video of its new single for October missions, will take to the stage to rock out for the evening

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 18, 2009 – On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford will celebrate all things Fiesta Movement-related – the agents, social media and, of course, the Ford Fiesta – during an awards celebration at the Palladium in West Hollywood.

Among the awards categories will be a viewer’s favorite, with fans and consumers having the opportunity to select their favorite Fiesta agent. Fans can visitwww.fiestamovement.com to cast their vote now, and can vote once daily; voting closes Dec. 1.

The Fiesta Movement Awards Celebration, which takes place Dec. 1, will provide attendees with a sneak peak of the new Fiesta in advance of its reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 2.

“We’re celebrating the agents and all of the engaging content they created with this awards ceremony,” said Connie Fontaine, Ford brand content and alliances manager. “Over the past six months, our agents have showed that they love Fiestas and we are thrilled to give three agents exactly what they want – a Fiesta of their own.”

The band Parachute will be on hand for a live performance featuring its hits “She Is Love” and “Under Control” from the debut album Losing Sleep. Fiesta agents are no strangers to Parachute; four of them created a music video for “Under Control” for October missions. The agent videos will debut at the awards celebration during Parachute’s performance.

In keeping with the spirit of the Fiesta Movement and its use of social media platforms, the awards celebration will also play host to the world’s largest corporate tweetup.

Building buzz
As part of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters are test driving and living with a European-spec Ford Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions. They then go on to relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites.

Throughout the Fiesta Movement, agents have traveled more than 1.1 million miles and have generated more than 5.5 million YouTube views, more than 677,000 Flickr views and more than 3.4 million Twitter impressions. The Fiesta Movement and test drive program has resulted in more than 60,000 hand-raisers.

source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-fiesta-movement-awards-voting-31429

TORRANCE, Calif. August 25, 2009 - The 2010 Honda Fit, a perennial favorite of the automotive press and customers alike, offers value and versatility in a fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient five-door package.

Compact on the outside yet spacious inside, the Fit stands apart from other entry-level vehicles with its multifunctional interior and high levels of refinement. The exclusive 60/40 split rear Magic Seat® offers multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations – tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode – in addition to the standard five-passenger mode.

The “super-forward aero-form” exterior design supports excellent outward visibility and contributes to the vehicle’s aggressive, sporty stance. The 1.5-liter, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine is tuned to deliver a rewarding combination of power and fuel economy. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 5-speed automatic transmission is available. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on Fit Sport models equipped with the available automatic transmission allow for manual gear selection.

“The Fit offers a long list of standard feature content, outstanding fuel economy and performance while still maintaining a high level of affordability,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda. “Entry-level customers can receive a tremendous value from the Fit without sacrificing function or design.”

Compact on the outside with an overall length of 161.6 inches, the interior provides an impressive passenger volume of 90.8 cubic feet for its class and a rear cargo volume of 20.6 cubic feet. The rear Magic Seat provides convenient one-motion dive-down functionality and can fold flat into the floor to create a rear cargo volume of 57.3 cubic feet.

Safety highlights include the Advanced Compatibility Engineeringâ„¢ (ACEâ„¢) body structure, standard anti-lock brakes and more. Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on all models. Vehicle Stability Assistâ„¢ (VSA®), commonly referred to as electronic stability control, is included on Fit Sport models equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System¹.

The engine produces 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 lb-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm. The Fit equipped with the available automatic transmission achieves an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) city/highway fuel economy rating of 28/35 miles per gallon² . The Fit with a manual transmission and Fit Sport with either a manual or the available automatic transmission achieve an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating of 27/33 miles per gallon2. Emissions ratings are CARB ULEV-2 and Federal EPA Tier 2, Bin 5.

The front MacPherson strut suspension and torsion beam rear suspension settings are tuned to provide a sporty, refined and dynamic driving experience. Fifteen- and 16-inch wheels (Fit and Fit Sport respectively) feature 175/65 R15 84S (Fit) and 185/55 R16 83H (Fit Sport) tires. The standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) uses 10.3-inch ventilated discs in the front and 7.9-inch drums in the rear.

The Fit comes with standard amenities such as air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, MP3/WMA playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS), auxiliary audio input jack, power windows, power mirrors and power door locks. The Fit Sport adds alloy wheels, an underbody aero kit, rear roofline spoiler, fog lights, security system with keyless remote entry and cruise control.

The Fit Sport audio system provides six speakers, a five-mode equalizer and a USB Audio Interface³. The Fit Sport is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System⁴ with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen and more than 7 million points of interest.

The Honda Fit has received multiple awards including the prestigious Car and Driver Magazine’s 2009 “10Best” list (www.caranddriver.com) and Kelly Blue Book’s (www.kbb.com) “Top 10 Green Car” and “Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″ awards.

Basic Specs:
Engine: 1.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC (all aluminum)
Horsepower: 117 hp @ 6,600 rpm
Torque: 106 lb-ft. @ 4,800 rpm.
EPA-estimated Fuel Economy, City/Hwy/Comb.: 28/35/31 (Fit AT), 27/33/30 (Fit Sport AT), 27/33/29 (Fit MT and Fit Sport MT)
Emissions Rating: CARB ULEV-2 or Federal EPA Tier 2, Bin 5
Seating Capacity: 5
Length: 161.6 inches
Width: 66.7 inches
Wheelbase: 98.4 inches
Track (front/rear): 58.7 / 58.1 inches
Passenger / Cargo Volume: 90.8 / 20.6 cubic feet
Standard Airbags: Driver’s and Front-Passenger’s Dual-stage, Dual-Threshold Front Airbags; Front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and Side-curtain Airbags
Standard anti-lock braking system: 4-channel with Brake Assist
Available Satellite-Linked Navigation Systemâ„¢ (Fit Sport)
Available Vehicle Stability Assistâ„¢ (Fit Sport)

¹ Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.

² Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

³ The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your dealer for details on compatibility.

⁴ Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.

source: http://automobiles.honda.com/news/press-releases-article.aspx?Category=Fit%205-Door&Article=5151

TORRANCE, Calif. (September 24, 2009)  Toyota has added standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) to all Yaris models for 2010.  These features make all Yaris models standard with Toyota Star Safety System™, which also includes an Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.  Yaris is the only vehicle in its segment to offer this set of safety features as standard equipment.  A manual transmission with standard tachometer is now available on the five-door model.  Rear window defroster is now standard on all Yaris models.

The Yaris line includes three distinct models, including a four-door sedan, three-door Liftback and a five-door Liftback.

Yaris remains the smart choice for consumers looking for outstanding value, safety features and fuel economy in the entry subcompact category. With the five-speed manual transmission, Yaris is EPA-rated to achieve 29 MPG city / 36 MPG highway; the ratings are 29/35 with the smooth-shifting four-speed electronic automatic transmission.

Performance and Efficiency
The Toyota Yaris brings a high level of balanced value, safety and a fun-to-drive experience to the entry subcompact segment. Its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and produces 106 hp at 6,000 rpm and 103 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. The optional four-speed automatic transmission features uphill/downhill shift logic to reduce gear “hunting” for smooth performance when driving in hills.

Handling and Ride
The Yaris is built around a highly rigid structure incorporating strategic use of high-tensile steel. Damping materials strategically located throughout the body structure reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) to help give Yaris a comfortable, quiet ride. Suspension and steering are tuned to deliver responsive handling, a smooth ride and excellent maneuverability, including a remarkably tight 32.6-ft. turning circle for the Sedan and just 30.8-ft. for the Liftback.

The L-arm MacPherson strut front suspension includes a 0.9-inch stabilizer bar. A hydroformed torsion beam axle for the rear suspension provides efficient packaging.  Both the Yaris Liftback and Sedan ride on standard 175/65 R14 tires with steel wheels and full wheel covers.  Newly-styled 15-inch steel or aluminum-alloy wheels are also available.

The sport-themed Liftback and Sedan S models feature color-keyed front and rear under-bumper spoilers; amber illuminated tachometer; sport seat fabric; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; rear window defroster; rear window wiper; AM/FM/CD player with MP3/WMA capability iPod® interface; auxiliary audio jack, satellite radio capability, CD text display function; and “S” badging.  Aluminum-alloy wheels are available.

Safety and Security
Yaris helps protect its occupants with a reinforced cabin that integrates front and rear crumple zones and energy-absorbing materials on the roof and doors. All five seating positions are equipped with height-adjustable headrests and three-point seatbelts, and the front seatbelts integrate pretensioners and force limiters. Standard driver and passenger advanced dual-stage front airbags (SRS) inflate according to collision severity.  A front seat passenger sensor is designed to detect weight capacity on the seat to determine whether the airbag should inflate and the correct inflation power.

Front-seat-mounted side airbags with first and second row roll-sensing side curtain airbags are standard in all Yaris models The rear seat is equipped with the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) uniform child restraint anchorage system.

Comfort and Convenience
The Yaris Liftback interior provides roominess that belies its exterior dimensions. The comfortable cabin provides rear seating for three with headrests in all seating positions. A 60/40 split rear seatback is included in the optional Convenience Package on Sedan and Power Package on Liftback. Yaris models are designed for convenience, providing easy-to-reach audio and climate controls, an array of storage spaces including a center console with built-in storage, and cup holders in the front and rear. The Liftback’s rear seatback folds down to expand cargo capacity from 9.3 cubic feet to 25.7 cubic feet. The Yaris Sedan’s spacious trunk offers nearly 12.9 cubic feet of capacity.

The instrument cluster is center-mounted and high on the dash to enhance forward visibility. Generous standard convenience features on Yaris Liftback and Sedan models include air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; rear window deforster; tachometer on manual transmission models; digital clock; a map light; intermittent windshield wipers with mist control; and dual sunvisors with vanity mirrors

Options

Yaris is available with a number of comfort and convenience options, as well as a selection of accessories for individualization. The convenience package is available on the Sedan and Liftback and adds an AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability auxiliary audio jack (AUX), satellite radio capability, and CD text display function; upgraded 185/60R 15-inch tires on steel wheels with full wheel covers; and 60/40 folding rear seatbacks.  The Liftback includes a rear wiper and a sliding and reclining feature in the rear seats.  All audio systems are satellite radio capable.

The optional Power Package further equips Yaris with power door locks, windows, and side mirrors.  New for 2010, all Yaris models include a remote keyless entry system and engine immobilizer.  The Sedan Power Package also includes upgraded interior trim.

The Sport Package, available on Liftback and Sedan, features color-keyed front and rear under-body spoilers; side rocker panels; rear spoiler; integrated front fog lamps; amber illuminated tachometer; driver and front passenger sport seats with sport fabric; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; AM/FM/CD player with MP3/WMA capability iPod® interface; auxiliary audio jack, satellite radio capability, CD text display function; and “S” badging.

By selecting the Power or Sport Package, customers can individualize the Yaris with stand alone options, which include 15-inch alloy wheels and cruise control.  Integrated fog lamps are available as an option on the Power Package.

The Liftback is available in six colors and the Sedan is offered in nine colors. Only two colors, Polar White and Black Sand Pearl, are shared by both body styles for an array of 15 color choices over the two body styles.

Exterior Design

The Yaris Sedan rides on a longer version of the platform, with a 100.4-inch wheelbase versus 96.9 inches for both Liftback models. The Yaris Sedan has an overall length of 169.3 inches compared to 150.6 inches for the Liftback models, and the Sedan is 2.5 inches lower than the Liftbacks, as well.  The Yaris Sedan is distinguished by its own styling, with the grille framed by sharp character lines integrated into the aerodynamic hood and windshield.

Like the Liftback, the Sedan features a “T” face grille that emphasizes the Toyota identity. Eliminating outer moldings from the windshield and door glass helps to enhance aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. In the rear, the tail lamps frame a wide trunk opening. The trunk lid extends down to the bumper molding to provide a substantial appearance as well as easy trunk access.

The distinctive rear styling features large taillights, and the wide liftgate provides easy cargo area access. Styled at Toyota’s European design studio, ED², and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Design Division, the Yaris Liftback features a strong, modern mono-form shape with short overhangs. Its arched beltline and wheels pushed outward at each corner give Yaris Liftback an assertive stance, while integrated bumpers, headlamps, and color-keyed door handles and mirrors lend sophisticated appearance.

source: http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/2010-toyota-yaris-gains-star-safety-102460.aspx