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Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The result, according to the magazine, is "the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value."
Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru, BMW, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen.

A replacement for the Lexus CT 200h is due to arrive in 2021

On the hunt for a reasonably priced gas-electric hybrid-powered compact, but want something a little nicer than the oddity that is the Toyota Prius? You probably remembered that Lexus made the CT 200h. That's made, as in the Prius platform mate was discontinued in 2017. But word on the street is that Lexus is working on a replacement, according to Autocar in the UK. The outlet spoke to Lexus Europe's head honcho, Pascal Ruch, at the Geneva Motor Show recently, who shed some light on the matter. According to the report, a new CT 200h is set to arrive sometime in 2021 and will be built on Toyota's latest TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) modular platform. TNGA these days underpins a majority of Toyota's current models, from the new Camry, to the new Corolla, the current Prius, and even the new RAV4 and Highlander. But what isn't so clear is whether the CT 200h will keep its hatchback body style. A few years ago, we even heard the CT 200h could be replaced by a hybrid crossover. But nothing's confirmed. The original CT 200h used Toyota's old "New MC Platform." When new at the time, it underpinned many models from the third-generation Toyota Prius and Prius V, to the last Scion tC, Scion xB, the outgoing Toyota Corolla, the previous Toyota RAV4, and many other JDM-specification Toyota models. The CT 200h also pretty much utilized the same 1.8-liter 2ZR-FXE inline-four and electric motor hybrid powertrain as the Prius. It also produced the same total 134 horsepower and 153 pound-feet of torque. Despite being discontinued in the U.S. two years ago, Lexus continued with the CT 200h in Europe, where it sold, but modestly. And despite not being too hot of a seller here stateside as well, Lexus is adamant about keeping it in the portfolio as the automaker continues to push for more fuel-efficient hybrid models. Over the long-term, Lexus plan hopes to boost its global market share of hybrids to 50%. "Europe has a great strategic importance for Lexus because it's seen as a leading region for technology and design," Ruch told Autocar in its interview. "Our hybrid sales are highest in Europe, China and Japan will electrify [internal combustion engines] and the wider U.S.

Lexus ES 300h gets optional side-view cameras and monitors in Europe

In select European markets, Lexus is expanding the availability of one of its newest and most futuristic features. Starting in March, 2020, the ES 300h will have an option for digital side-view cameras and monitors.   Lexus first introduced its side-view cameras and monitors on a production car when it added the tech to the Japanese-market 2019 ES sedan in 2018. Typical side-view mirrors are replaced with camera stalks, which feed video into small five-inch digital displays attached to the front corners of the car's interior.  To ensure an optimum high-definition view at all times, the cameras have numerous weather-proofing features. Built-in heaters prevent freezing, and the aerodynamic design is also shaped so that rain and snow should not affect the quality of the recording. The cameras also have demisters that have their own dashboard switches, as well as a light sensors that help curb headlight glare.  In addition to maintaining quality, the tech has built-in driver aids. When a turn signal is activated, the monitors will automatically show an "extended view" that helps eliminate blind spots. That feature can also be manually activated. Guidelines are also introduced to the monitor when the car is parking or in traffic.  Like normal mirrors, the cameras can be adjusted through controls on the doors. The system has adjustable brightness and the option for automatic camera retraction, too. As pointed out by CarScoops, the option is already available on the ES 300h Takumi on the United Kingdom Lexus configurator. The total package is priced at roughly $2,000, with each of the cameras and monitors accounting for a quarter of the cost. Lexus plans to show off the ES 300h with side-view cameras at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show in March, and the option will be available immediately in the U.K., Germany, Spain, and Poland. The rest of Europe will get it before the end of 2020. Meanwhile in the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still testing and debating the safety of the technology. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Kia Blindspot Monitoring System | 2020 Autoblog Technology of the Year Disclaimer: Autoblog accepts vehicle loans from auto manufacturers with a tank of gas and sometimes insurance for the purpose of evaluation and editorial content.