Toyota Reliability: How Two Principles Shape The Brand

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Toyota reliability is legendary. Its cars are built on two design principles that shape the brand’s identity. Other automakers have been inspired by Toyota’s implementation of these principles and have begun adopting them.

Toyota production line | Junko Kimura via Getty Images

RELATED: Toyota Corolla: A History of the Best-Selling Car of All Time

Jidoka blends human engineering and robotic automation

The concept of jidoka blends the precision of automation with the intention of human engineers. This principle elevates the importance of improving a design flaw at the earliest states. Many manufacturers will retroactively engineer a fix to keep production rolling. Toyota believes it’s better to stop and correct a flaw to produce an optimized finished product.

At Toyota, jidoka means that every individual component of each vehicle is first made by hand. Each part is overdeveloped until it’s perfect before it’s included in a vehicle.

Once a component has been perfected, its production is slowly automated, and human engineering is phased out. When a part can be produced perfectly without human intervention, it can enter the production line. This slow and some might say old-fashioned approach has proven its merit.

Toyota reliability starts with minimalism

Typically, modern automakers emphasize automation to speed up production. While automation speeds up processes within strict parameters, small imperfections may go unnoticed. Utilizing the attention to detail of human engineers, Toyota ensures the automation process will be smooth.

This process takes time. As such, Toyota is reluctant to add new parts and processes to its lineup. Reusing components in multiple cars is not a unique practice. Many brands reuse components, but few pay such careful attention to their development.

Jidoka is the reason why Toyota offers few customizations and upgrade options. Each change to a design introduces more opportunities for inefficiencies and incompatibility issues. By keeping vehicles as simple as possible, Toyota avoids a lot of design and engineering headaches.

Kaizen opens up the design process

Toyota employees assemble a vehicle on the production line
Employees of Toyota | Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: The Toyota Corolla Is Cheaper and Better Today Than It Was 20 Years Ago

The philosophy of kaizen emphasizes acceptance of change in the name of improvement. Toyota encourages every employee to speak out about flaws or opportunities for improvement. This egalitarian approach means the brand has hundreds of thousands of contributors to every design.

At many manufacturing facilities, a production shutdown is avoided at all costs. Employees can be reprimanded for shutdowns deemed frivolous. Toyota employees don’t have this concern. They’re encouraged to stop production if they find a flaw.

At Toyota, it’s OK to miss a production goal if it means producing a superior product. The company prefers “just in time production,” meaning all allotted time should be used to work toward improvement. Saving time means opportunities may have been missed.

How do these factors contribute to Toyota’s Reliability?

Toyota employees assemble a vehicle on the production line
Employees of Toyota Motor Corporation | Junko Kimura via Getty Images

RELATED: The Toyota Corolla Is Cheaper and Better Today Than It Was 20 Years Ago

How do the philosophies of kaizen and jidoka produce reliable and resilient cars? Manufacturing great parts and streamlining design at every stage of development aren’t the only byproducts of these ideologies. They help to form a larger brand culture behind these legendary vehicles.

The slow process of over-engineering every component means Toyota engineers are familiar with every part of every car. That level of expertise is invaluable in development. In-house experts are on tap at Toyota. What the brand lacks in speed, it makes up for in expertise.

Improving designs and eliminating flaws at the earliest stages of development is the key to owner satisfaction. Many issues with Toyota vehicles are caught before vehicles are released for sale. This means fewer recalls and owner repairs.

By emphasizing practicality, simplicity, and quality, Toyota has defined its place in the automotive industry. It’s one of the most popular car brands because people trust its cars to be dependable. The brand is proof of the elegance of simplicity.

The post Toyota Reliability: How Two Principles Shape The Brand appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Genesis GV80 Recall, Owner Complaints, and Low Predicted Reliability Mar This Luxury SUV

by Gabrielle DeSantis

No matter what kind of vehicle, none are perfect. Luxury SUVs are no exception. And the 2021 Genesis GV80 is definitely not perfect. In fact, it might not even be good. Tiger Woods recently wrecked one, though he was going 87 mph, which as far as we know was the cause of the crash. And while it has exceptional safety ratings, it has been subject to recalls, complaints, and a poor reliability rating from Consumer Reports.

So even though this luxury SUV has gotten almost perfect reviews initially, it seems to be showing some glaring flaws.

The Genesis GV80 has really low predicted reliability

Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Genesis GV80 a reliability rating of two out of five. Part of this low rating comes from the fact that this is the first model year for the GV80 and Consumer Reports can only predict based the manufacturer’s track record.

While previous reliability ratings have been better, there have been recalls on multiple different Genesis cars, and the GV80 has a recall on it already. It does have multiple safety features that come standard, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning, among others.

It has had a recall and owner complaints

The Genesis GV80 | Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images

RELATED: Luxury Cars Are Flying off Dealership Lots in 2021

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted a recall on March 24, 2021, due to the high-pressure fuel tube having the potential to leak, and start a fire.

Interestingly, the other recalls are also due to fire risks, not due to the potential for leaking fuel, but due to an anti-lock brake system that can potentially short circuit. The recall for the GV80 involves approximately 147 units that have the 2.5-liter turbo engines.

In addition to the recall, the GV80 already has four owner complaints registered with the NHTSA. Two complaints involved a check engine light that came on within 30 days of purchase and less than 1,000 miles.

One was due to a possible problem with the engine control system, while the other was a defective fuel injector system. Both owners noted that parts were on backorder and the car has been in the shop just as long, if not longer than they actually owned the car.

Another complaint was regarding balancing issues as well as a rear tire leaking air, and the driver found that the tire was coming off of the rim. The fourth complaint was also regarding issues with balancing, as well as being unstable and unpredictable when hitting any bumps in the road, along with problems with the suspension.

The 2021 Genesis GV80

The first SUV from Genesis comes with two available engines, a 2.5-liter inline-four turbo that puts out 300 hp and 311 lb-foot of torque and a 3.5-liter V6 turbo that puts out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. It only has one transmission available, an eight-speed automatic, and is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for the smaller engine, and all-wheel drive for the V6.

As far as acceleration, the V6 goes from 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds, which is pretty quick for a luxury SUV. The overall fuel economy though was subpar at 18 mpg with 12/25 mpg city/highway. It seats five to seven depending on the trim, and while it has a relatively luxurious interior, the infotainment system is somewhat frustrating. 

Even though there has been a lot of hype around the first luxury SUV from Genesis, the GV80 has run into a lot of problems right out of the gate. In addition to recalls and complaints, one reviewer even said it delivered an atrocious ride. Only time will tell if this SUV can turn things around and come out on top or if it will quietly fall into the shadows and only be known as the car Tiger Woods wrecked.

The post Genesis GV80 Recall, Owner Complaints, and Low Predicted Reliability Mar This Luxury SUV appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty Dominates As Best 1-Ton Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Please join us in giving a round of applause to the large and in charge 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty. It has proven itself against the competition to be crowned as the best one-ton pickup truck. See where the Ford F-350 excels against the competition. 

The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty serves as the best 1-ton truck 

2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty | Ford

According to TruckTrend, the 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty truck excels as one of the best one-ton pickup trucks you can buy. Their team compared it to rivals to discover that the F-350 beasts the competition in most categories. 

One of its best features includes the price. You can get started in a new Ford F-350 Super Duty XL for about $35,745. The Ram 3500 begins at $35,795 for the basic Tradesman model, and the Chevy Silverado 3500 HD starts at about $36,500. 

If you add the Power Stroke Diesel engine to the F-350, you’ll have to pay an additional $10,500. But it costs about $12,200 to add the high-output Cummins diesel to the Ram 3500. Also, the Chevy Silverado’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel is about $10,000. 

How strong is the Ford F-350? 

RELATED: What You Need to Know Before Buying an F-250/ F-350

Some trucks can tow more than the 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty as it can only tow up to 35,750 lbs. But the Ford F-450 can tow up to 37,000 lbs. The Silverado 3500 HD can tow up to 36,000 lbs, and the Ram 3500 can tow up to 37,100 lbs. 

But the F-350 does have the best payload capacity, which maxes out at about 7,850 lbs. The Ram 3500 has a maximum payload capacity of about 7,680 lbs, and the Silverado can carry a payload of up to 7,442 lbs. 

  • Ford’s optional 7.3-liter V8 engine provides 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. 
  • The Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine pumps out 445 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. 
  • General Motors’ 6.6-liter V8 serves up 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. 
  • The 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine hammers out 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. 
  • The Ram 3500 has a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. 
  • With the 6.7-liter six-cylinder diesel engine, you get 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. 

What are the F-350 features like? 

A blue 2020 Ford F-150 hauling a silver trailer in a hilly area
2020 F-350 Platinum | Ford

According to Car and Driver, the 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty has a peppy acceleration and firm braking. The steering is more engaging compared to previous models but can feel ponderous. Going up in trim levels helps mute wind and road noise in the cabin. 

This beastly truck has a practical layout with an attractive design. The Lariat trim increases comfort with leather-trimmed upholstery, a wireless charger, and heated and ventilated seats. There’s tons of room for all passengers with deep cubbies for storing items and a lockable box under the rear seat. 

Each Super Duty model, except for the base XL option, comes with a standard eight-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available safety features include a multi-view camera system, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assistance. 

The post The 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty Dominates As Best 1-Ton Truck appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Mark Wahlberg Admitted the Bugatti in ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ Was Off-Limits

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While celebrities may be rich and famous, sometimes, even celebrities aren’t allowed to drive an exotic car. This was the case for Mark Wahlberg when he was filming Transformers: Age of Extinction. Here’s a look at the expensive Bugatti that even Mark Wahlberg wasn’t allowed to touch, let alone drive.

The cars in ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’

Cars and movies have been a popular combination for a long time. While most car movies are like Ford v. Ferrari or Fast & Furious, the Transformers franchise takes a fun spin on things. Obviously, in the Transformer movies, the cars can transform themselves into cool robots. As such, not only do the Transformers need to be cool, but so do the cars.

According to Business Insider, quite a few cool cars showed up in Transformers: Age of Extinction. For example, Optimus Prime transforms himself into the 2015 Western Star 5700, which is a big rig that’s estimated to cost about $150,000. Bumblebee fans obviously know that Bumblebee turns himself into a Chevy Camaro, and in Transformers: Age of Extinction, he becomes both a 1967 Camaro as well as a 2014 Camaro. 

However, the most expensive car that was in the movie has to be the 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Not only was it a very rare car that transformed into a samurai robot, but the stars of the movie couldn’t even touch it.

A look at the 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse

The 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse | Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images

RELATED: This Mind-Boggling Bugatti Chiron Watch Costs a Fraction of the $3 Million Supercar’s Price

The Bugatti Veyron name is probably well-known by now, as the Veyron was not only a very fast car, but it was also a very expensive and rare car. This was exactly the case with the Vitesse, which was a trim of the Veyron that had an open-top. Not only did it have an open-top, but it also had a very powerful engine, an engine that was actually a bit more powerful than the original Veyron’s. 

The Vitesse had an 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbocharged engine that got about 1,200 hp and 1,100 lb-ft of torque. According to Bugatti, this allowed the Vitesse to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in about 2.6 seconds.

On top of that, it could also hit a top speed of 254 MPH. As a result of those impressive specs, Business Insider said that the Vitesse was the world’s fastest open-top supercar in 2013.

And of course, all of that power and speed means a lot of money. The Vitesse started at about $2.5 million, and only a few dozen were ever created. Due to that fact, it’s not surprising that when the Vitesse was used in Transformers: Age of Extinction, very few people were allowed to touch it.

Mark Wahlberg couldn’t even touch the Bugatti

Wahlberg said, according to USA Today, “They don’t let you touch it unless you’re going to shoot in it, you got to be very careful.” Wahlberg explained that this was because of two factors. First, the Vitesse was very expensive and obviously, the people in charge didn’t want anything to happen to it. Secondly, they only had access to just the one Vitesse, so if anything happened to it, Wahlberg said that it would’ve been “a problem.” 

Every part of the Vitesse was worth protecting, as Wahlberg said about the Vitesse, “That’s like a $600,000 carbon fiber paint job on it.” It didn’t help matters that for the movie, they had to film in a rock quarry, and as a result, a lot of rocks ended up touching the Bugatti. 

All that effort seemed to have paid off, though. Like USA Today wrote, Transformers: Age of Extinction made $201,200,000 worldwide in just its opening weekend. 

The post Mark Wahlberg Admitted the Bugatti in ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ Was Off-Limits appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by