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Toyota profits up 23% on high US sales, despite mounting legal costs

Toyota earned $9.3 billion in net income in the financial year that ends next month. The number beats earlier forecasts and marks a five-year high for the automaker, with both operating income and revenue up by 9.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. Toyota saw quarterly profit enjoy a year-on-year jump of 23.4 percent, with the manufacturer earning more than $1 billion between October and December 2012. The good news comes in spite of the fact that the Japanese automaker actually endured an operating loss in North America, due in part to legal fees.
Toyota is set to pay more than $1 billion to owners who claim their vehicles decreased in value as a result of the company's recent spate of recalls. Even so, all three of the automaker's brands enjoyed a 13.5 percent sales increase in the US in the last quarter, beating the industry average. Toyota faltered in Europe, however, where it earned $99 million in operating profit last year, compared to $111 million in 2011. You can take a closer look at the company's full press release below for more information.

Scion tC changes, barely, for 2016

The Scion iA and iM have cornered the recent headlines, but for now the tC remains the brand's milk and honey. Upgrades for the 2016 model are sprinkled throughout the cabin, from tiny tweaks like silver door handles inside to the leather shift knob, which is currently a $99 option. Scion touts the seven-inch Pioneer touchscreen Display Audio that's standard on base models, but that comes in the current tC. The head unit includes convenience features such as Bluetooth and voice recognition. A smart key and pushbutton start also get in the press release, but they, too, are standard features on the 2015 model. What can look forward to is a rear windshield wiper as standard fit. Prices for both manual and automatic have gone up slightly. The six-speed manual will start at $19,385, the six-speed automatic at $20,535, both prices a $175 increase compared to the present models. Destination and handling will throw another $770 onto that. You'll find a few photos above and a press release below with a bit more information. Related Video: 2016 Scion tC Upgrades Make for Alluring Touring TORRANCE, Calif., (July 16, 2015) – Scion's top seller, the tC sports coupe, adds new sound, smarts and swishes as it enters the 2016 model year. A new standard audio system, a host of upgraded interior features including a Smart Key with push-button start, and the addition of a standard rear windshield wiper add to the fun and functionality of the tC. The 2016 tC retains its thrill-to-value proposition with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $19,385 for the six-speed manual transmission and $20,535 for the six-speed automatic with paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management®. This price excludes a delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $795. The new standard audio system features a large 7-inch Pioneer® touchscreen Display Audio system with AM/FM/HD radio™, voice recognition, Bluetooth® hands-free and streaming audio, and the Aha™ app which provides access to 100,000 Internet radio options. Also new to the interior of the tC are new silver interior door handles, a new center console tray cover and a leather-wrapped shift knob. The 2016 tC will be available in dealerships starting in August.

Consumer Reports says infotainment systems 'growing first-year reliability plague'

The Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability Survey (right) is out, and the top two spots look much the same as last year's list with Lexus and Toyota in first and second place, respectively. However, there are some major shakeups for 2014, with Acura plunging eight spots from third in 2013 to 11th this year, and Mazda replaces it on the lowest step of the podium. Honda and Audi round out the top five. This year's list includes six Japanese brands in the top 10, two Europeans, one America and one Korean.
Acura isn't the only one taking a tumble, though. Infiniti is the biggest loser this year by dropping 14 spots to 20th place. Other big losses come from Mercedes-Benz with an 11-place fall to 24th, and GMC, which declines 10 positions to 19th.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's not traditional mechanical bugs hauling down these automaker's reliability scores. Instead, pesky problems with infotainment systems are taking a series toll on the rankings. According to Consumer Reports, complaints about "in-car electronics" were the most grumbled about element in new cars. Problem areas included things like unresponsive touchscreens, issues pairing phones and multi-use controllers that refused to work right.