So Toyota are facing the biggest PR issue of their history and one of the worst in automotive history since the Ford Pinto, and they've been invited on one of the highest profile morning new shows - BBC Breakfast - to try and explain about the Prius brakes, their second f*ckup.
Now, as I understand it, the problem is that the ABS is set up to be a bit over-keen so that when you hit ice or your wheel finds itself in air over very big potholes etc, it is so paranoid about slipping it backs the brakes right off which is apparently weird and causes unexpected stopping distances. The brakes do still work though, and it's just a configuration issue and perceived scariness - which is a valid point.
So Toyota send this mumbling geek onto the breakfast show who doesn't have English as a first language and is incapable of putting things in simple terms to reassure people. The interviewer gets the idea that if you go over a speedbump your brakes fail, and the Toyota guy can't seem to get it out of his mouth that that is not what he meant. So now people are going round thinking that brakes don't work when it's just a small issue.
Terrible terrible choice at such a crucial time.. what a shame.
