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Ford and GM reliability ratings dip in Consumer Reports survey

Consumers rated Ford's new Explorer, Fiesta and Focus models at less-than-average reliability during their first year, according to Consumer Reports' annual auto survey. Poor reception of the new models bumped Ford's overall reliability rank from the 10th spot in 2010 to the 20th this year among the 28 major nameplates included in the survey. Findings are based on responses from 1.3 million vehicle owners or lessees who subscribe to the magazine.

Toyota says software glitch in data boxes can give faulty speed readings

A top Toyota executive says the crash data boxes in its vehicles are reliable but a bug in the software that reads the information can provide inaccurate vehicle speeds. The disclosure comes as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration continues its investigation into unintended acceleration of Toyota models. “Toyota has acknowledged previously that the event data recorders are not accurate,” said Takeshi Uchiyamada, executive vice president in charge of research and development.

Vuhl to debut 05 car at Goodwood Festival

A Mexico-based carmaker says it will debut what it calls a supercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. The company is named Vuhl—pronounced “vool”—and its first product will be the 05, described as a road-legal lightweight car engineered for the track. We don't know much about the 05, and Vuhl didn't give us much to go on besides a teaser photo of the car's front end.