Saab has officially begun production of the 9-4x crossover at their Mexican assembly plant. While the 9-4x was due to hit the market some time ago, financial troubles at GM halted production.
The first 9-4x , an Ice Pearl metallic Aero model, was fitted with a 2.8L turbo V6, and will be used as a media car before being shipped off to Saab’s museum. Sales begin in May in the United States, with European sales following in the summer.
[Source: LeftLane News]
A fire at a Toyota assembly plant in Japan temporarily halted production at a facility that assembles the Prius, Camry and Scion tC. The fire broke out around 10 A.M. but was put out by now.
Toyota reports that no production equipment was damaged, but the fire did affect the factory’s ceiling. An investigation is being launched to determine the cause of the fire.
[Source: LeftLane News]
Toyota hasn’t had the best run of luck in the past little while, but the automaker may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The Japanese automaker is seeing a surge in popularity, just two days after NASA engineers cleared the company of electronic flaws in its throttle control system.
It’s been a long 10-month investigation into causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota Motor Corp., and the verdict is in – NASA reports that the vehicles were free of electronic problems. The culprits, they stated, were due to floormat interference and sticky gas pedals, as well as drivers mistaking the accelerator for the brake.
But not everybody is convinced with the findings. Safety advocates and plaintiff attorneys are calling the study inconclusive and plan to continue to sue Toyota over unintended acceleration. Regardless, when NASA gave Toyota the big thumbs up, the automaker saw a big lift in the public’s esteem of the brand. Once Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s announced that Toyota vehicles “are safe to drive,” the company’s popularity started to rise.
Does the NASA report make you feel any safer driving a Toyota? Are you more or less likely to buy a Toyota vehicle now that the Transportation Secretary has announced that they are safe to drive? Let us know in the comment section below.
[Source: Autonews]
If you have a Dorel carseat, this recall may affect you. The Dorel Juvenile Group is recalling 794,247 carseats in the U.S. and Canada, as its harness can remain loose after adjustment. The trouble is also linked with the adjuster button/lever that won’t return to the locked position.
If you have a Dorel carseat (infant, convertible, and combination seats) that was manufactured from May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009, you’ll want to check below to see if you have a model that has been recalled. In the case of Infant seats, these were both sold individually or in part as a travel system.
To remedy the situation, Dorel is offering a repair kit free of charge to fix the problem. This includes a small tube of non-toxic, food-grade lubricant and instructions on where to apply the lube.
You can check out the list of Dorel carseat models affected by the recall after the jump. For more information, contact Dorel at 1-866-623-3139 or via email at harnessadjustment@djgusa.com.
[Source: CarSeat Blog]
Dodge‘s trademark cross-hair grille, the front end treatment that has been the hallmark of the brand’s styling for years, will become the sole domain of the Ram truck brand, as the Chrysler division moves toward a new look for future products.
“It takes time. We will evolve the products,” Ralph Gilles, CEO of Dodge and Chrysler’s design chief, told Automotive News. “We did as much as we could with the split cross-hair grille,” he said. “We had to be careful because the cooling work was pretty much done when we decided to rebrand the vehicles. That will continue evolving over time.”
No plans were divulged with regards to Dodge’s new look, but with cars like the new Charger leading the way, and attempting to target a different kind of buyer, perhaps a more mature look is in line for the brand as Chrysler moves upscale, and Dodge has been seperated from Ram Trucks, which understandably needs to project a macho image.
[Source: Automotive News]
Suzuki is recalling their SX4 compact and Grand Vitara SUV over a faulty tensioner pulley that could cause steering difficulties and engine stalling if it causes the accessory belt to detach while driving.
Dealers will replace the pulley at no charge starting February 16th. The recall affects 32,291 vehicles.
[Source: NHTSA]
Hit the jump to read the official recall notice
While speaking to Motor Trend, Fiat USA head Laura Soave told the magazine that in addition to new variants of the Fiat 500, there will be a new subcompact car arriving sometime around 2013, with a focus on the needs of the United States market.
Soave did not specify what body styles would be offered, but it’s hard to imagine a car made for America that lacked a sedan model. Soave feels that with Fiat having such a long absence from the United States, the chance to craft a brand identity free of any preconceptions is there, and the company intends to capitalize on this. Soave also mentioned that a C-segment car (around the size of a Honda Civic) is the largest Fiat would ever go, since Chrysler, Dodge and Alfa Romeo will cover the larger ends of the market place.
[Source: Motor Trend]
The Lincoln Town Car is legendary for its ubiquity as a “black car”, a private limo for the well-to-do in New York City and other swanky locales. But with the Panther Platform vehicles (like the Town Car, Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis) set to be killed off very shortly, Lincoln has been scrambling for an alternative.
The new MKT Town Car is a very different machine than the Town Car its replacing. The big sedan was a rear-drive, body-on-frame vehicle that was beloved for its robust nature, cheap repair costs and the ability to go for untold miles without needing anything more than routine maintenance. On the other hand, the MKT is based on a front-drive chassis (though all-wheel-drive is available) and uses a modern V6 engine.
Operators will likely be skeptical that the MKT can handle the rigors of endless commuter duty through the pot-hole ridden pavement of Manhattan, so Lincoln has beefed up the chassis, brakes and other components to handle this task – and to provide a re-enforcements should clients wish to stretch the MKT by 10 feet, a capability built in to the Town Car from the factory. Wi-fi capability, a SYNC system and special rear seat pockets are maps and newspapers are further concessions made for the livery car market.
The rear seats have been moved back by 1.5 inches to allow for more leg room with reclining rear seats and controls for the front passenger chair, should back seat riders desire more leg room. With 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, the MKT also boasts more room for material objects than the Town Car, even if the old-money cachet of the outgoing vehicle isn’t quite the same.
Hit the jump for the official press release
Gallery: Lincoln MKT Town Car
In Finland, rally champion Juha Kankkunen has cracked the 200-mph barrier on ice in a Bentley Supersports, setting a new world speed record on ice.
Atop the frozen Baltic Sea at temperatures of minus 30 degrees, he drove the AWD, W12-engined, biofuel-powered Bentley Continental Supersports convertible to a record 205.48 mph, which bested his own previous world record of 199.83 mph set at the same location in 2007.
“The last time, I narrowly missed the magical 200 mph mark in a Continental GT,” he said. “When I heard about the Supersports I was determined to go record breaking again with the Bentley Boys.”
One of the goals of the British/Finnish team was to keep the car as stock as possible: modifications included a roll cage, low-resistance Pirelli winter tires, front and rear spoilers, and a bumper-mounted parachute. Juha Kankkunen fought crosswinds and sudden blizzards on the 10-mile track, atop 27 inches of ice, to complete two runs in opposite directions. The speed was verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Of course, Kankkunen is no stranger to racing in extreme conditions. Since he started rallying in 1978, he has over 23 World Rally victories under his belt, been crowned World Champion four times, and won the Dakar Rally outright in 1988. Finland breeds rally champions, so the saying goes, and off the coast of Finland Kankkunen seemed within his element.
Bentley is planning a limited edition 100-car run of the Supersports to reflect this achievement, in case well-heeled buyers want to tackle the record on their own.
Hit the jump to read the official press release.
The Evoque shown above is an attractive, compelling vehicle, designed to attract equally attractive and compelling owners. But its full name is the “Land Rover Range Rover Evoque,” a name straight out the Department Of Redundancy Department, and sure won’t help you attract Victoria Beckham, who helped unveil it back in July of 2010.
This is Land Rover’s problem. Officially, the Evoque is an offshoot of the Range Rover, whose full name is the Land Rover Range Rover. Both SUVs wear the LAND ROVER badge on the back. As does the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, an offshoot of the Land Rover Range Rover. Land Rover is planning a smaller Evoque, which–if it was called the Sport, for example–would be officially known as the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Sport.
Clearly, something needs to be done.
Hence, why Land Rover is planning Range Rover as a separate brand, focused on luxury while Land Rover handles the “utilitarian” models the company is known for. But the issue, according to Land Rover product manager Skip Pavlik, is “in flux right now.” Whether or not the Land Rover badging would still be present on the Range Rover, he couldn’t say. But if the idea to separate the Range Rover brand from Land Rover takes off, both will be aimed at different consumers, sold within existing Jaguar/Land Rover dealers, and allow the Evoque to focus on prestige and on-road driving.
Is it all an issue of brand marketing? Sure, perhaps. But try going down to the DMV and filling out “Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Sport” on the registration forms.
[Source: Autoblog]
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