Automotive News

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Honda, Acura expand exploding airbag recall, total now 876,000 cars

The continuing dilemma of possible rupturing airbags has prompted American Honda Co., to recall another 273,000 Honda and Acura vehicles from 2001 to 2003 and thus pushing the total current recall to 876,000 cars. Honda said the additional recall is because the airbag could potentially explode causing injury or death. In a notice on its website, Honda wrote: "Affected driver's airbag inflators may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality." "Because Honda is unable to determine the specific vehicles that may have received the affected service parts through existing information, Honda will inspect an additional approximately 603,000 vehicles and replace those parts as necessary." The expanded recall

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Lexus GS 350, 2013: New design, new technology

The 2013 Lexus GS 350, unveiled this summer at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, Calif., and on display for the first time to the general public at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, will arrive at dealerships in February 2012 amid vast national media campaigns. The 2013 Lexus GS 350 will be featured in the carmaker's first Super Bowl commercial followed by its affiliation as the Official Automotive Marketing Partner of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. The fourth-generation 350 GS will feature the new Lexus design, including the manufacturer's signature Lexus spindle grille, as well as a 3.5-liter, 306 horsepower V6 engine rated in the standard 0-60 mph test in 5.7 seconds. Cabin materials include three types of wood

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Toyota unveils new sports car, no name yet for U.S. version

Toyota and Subaru have jointly debuted a new compact sports coupe with hopes of rekindling sportiness to the manufacturer's maligned reputation in Japan and the United States. The car is called the Hachiroku in Japan, which means 86. However, the name of the car for the United States market, has not been released. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the new car is reminiscent of the Toyota models Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno introduced in 1983. Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., maker of Subaru-brand vehicles, hope the four-seat, rear-wheel-drive will attract young customers. The Hachiroku will make its public debut Dec. 3-11 at the Tokyo Motor Show. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for

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Best all-time gas mileage equivalent among electric cars

With gas, hybrid, electric and now natural gas vehicles all vying for better gas mileages averages and the marketing of fuel efficiency among manufacturers at its peak, it's hard to keep track of what carmakers top the list. Pure electric cars, of course, top the list. But what might come as a surprise, it's not all current models that make the all-time list of best gas mileage average among electric cars — at least dating to 1984. Here are the top-10 Electric cars gas mileage average (electric equivalent), 1984-2012, with vehicle model, configuration and mpg combined/city/highway: 1. Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2012), 112/126/99 2. Nissan Leaf (2011–12), 99/106/92 3. MINI Mini E (2008), 98/102/94 4. smart fortwo electric drive cabriolet, coupe, (2011),

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One Chevy Volt burns, another smokes, NHTSA starts probe

Following problems while under close monitoring by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. Government has started a safety defect investigation of the lithium-ion batteries in General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Volt. The probe began after one Chevy Volt battery pack caught fire after a crash test. Another crash-tested battery emitted smoke and sparks, according to the NHTSA report. General Motors responded in a statement that the Volt “is safe and does not present undue risk as part of normal operation or immediately after a severe crash.” The latest fires are in addition to a battery fire in a crash-tested Volt six months ago. NHTSA learned of a possible fire risk involving damaged Volt batteries when a fire erupted

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Tata Nano, 2012: World's cheapest car now luxury sub-compact

The Tata Nano has had a tumultuous four-year tenure. It was nicknamed the "World's Cheapest Car," soon after it debut in India. Its quality and reliability have been questioned, but it has also provided a lot transportation for commuters and families in India who otherwise wouldn't have a car. Now, the Tata Nano is going luxury. The 2012 Tata Nano offers an increase in horsepower, more standard features and improved economy — 59.7 mpg. The new Tata Nano features still has a .6-liter, rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive transmission. But it now has 50 horsepower, four horsepower more than the original. Torque has also increased from 35.4 ft-pounds to 37.0 ft-pounds. The improved mpg is more than four mpg better

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Chevy Volt, Honda Insight top best gas mileage cars in past quarter century

With gas, hybrid, electric and now natural gas vehicles now all vying for better gas mileages averages and the marketing fuel efficiency among manufacturers at its peak, it’s hard to keep track of what carmakers top the list. What might come as a surprise, it’s not all current models make the all-time list of best gas mileage average — at least dating to 1986 — or the last quarter century. Here are the top-10 gas mileage average (internal combustion engines) dating to 1986: 1. Chevrolet Volt (2011–12), Plug-in hybrid, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, auto (variable gear ratios), premium gasoline, 60, city; 58 highway, combined, 62.2. Honda Insight (2000), 3 cyl, 1.0L, manual 5-speed, regular gasoline, 53/49/61.3. Toyota Prius (2010–12), 4

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Chevrolet Camaro, 2012: Iconic sports car gets top NHTSA safety honor

The Chevrolet Camaro built its enduring legacy on performance. Now with the debut of 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe, the iconic vehicle has another major attribute — safety leader. The new Camaro is the first vehicle to receive the highest possible five-star score in every individual safety rating segment of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program since the federal testing procedures were revised for 2011.

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Jeep Wrangler, Toyota FJ get 2012 best resale value honors

The Jeep Wrangler‘s for 2012 has a more powerful and more fuel-efficient V6 engine and its gets the top spot in the overall top-10 best used car value designation from Kelley Blue Book based on its 68.0 percent resale value after three years and 55.0 percent  resale value after five years. The resale designations signify automakers achievements in producing vehicles that best retain their value over the first five years of new-vehicle ownership. The awards are presented annually just prior to the L.A. Auto Show, which begins Thursday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The awards are presented to top vehicles in 19 vehicle categories and to the Overall Top 10 vehicles across all categories. Here’s the top-10 list and

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General Motors investigated for Saturn shifting woes

Seven crashes involving automatic shift levers on used Saturn Aura model have prompted federal safety regulators to investigate General Motors cars with the inquirty possibly also including the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6. The investigation began with complaints in the Saturn Aura (2007-2008) affecting about 89,000 vehicles. The Chevrolet Malibu (2004-2008) and Pontiac G6 (2005-2008) have similar shifting systems. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the protective jacket around cables connecting the floor shift lever to the transmission can deteriorate, exposing the cables to the elements. Cables can corrode and weaken, and the shift lever position may not match the car's gear. That means a driver could put the car in park but the transmission could be

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Toyota Corolla, 2012: More features, improved electronics

The Toyota Corolla, the largest-selling car in history, has received upgrades in several 2012 models, including more features in the base L model and a new standard audio system for the LE and S grades. A year after a "refrshed design," the Corolla L gains color-keyed power side mirrors as well as power windows with driver’s auto-down, power door locks and remote keyless entry. The Corolla LE adds standard 16-inch wheels and steering wheel audio controls. The sporty S model adds a double-stitch accent to its seats. The 2012 Toyota LE and S offer a new standard audio system. The head unit combines an AM/FM/CD player (including MP3/WMA playback) A USB port enables iPo connectivity, while an auxiliary input jack

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Scion iQ, 2012: Brainy microcar with a lot of room to roam

Three years to the month after it made its debut in Japan, the Scion iQ arrived in the United States in October 2011 as the country's second "city car." And, of course, it's the immediate rival of the Smart ForTwo, the now nearly teenage microcar. Like its rival, the Scion iQ mini-car is innovative, controversial and immediately attracts attention with its petite presence. Like the Smart ForTwo, the Scion iQ also has an odd name. Toyota, the Scion parent company, explains the "i" means "individuality," "innovation," and "intelligence." And the "Q" stands for "quality." The Weekly Driver Test Drive During my test drive, several people stared at the car while it was parked in front of our house. One guy

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Toyota Prius v, Mitsubishi i among five best 2012 'green' cars

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric, 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, 2012 Mitsubishi i, 2012 Toyota Prius v and 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI are the finalists for The Green Car of the Year award presented by the Green Car Journal yearly at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the seventh consecutive year, the Green Car of the Year will honor environmental leadership in the automotive field, with the winner being announced during a press conference Nov. 17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. These five finalists are also honored as Green Car Journal’s Top 5 Green Cars for 2012 for rising to the top of a field replete with increasingly more environmentally conscious and exciting models. What is notable about this

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Mitsubishi pummels Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, gets 126 mpge

Amid all the promotion and hype of the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and other mass-marketed hybrid and/or electric vehichles, the car with the best gas mileage in the United States is the unheralded Mitsubishi i. A comprehensive review of the Mitsubishi i, with debuted in Japan as the i-MiEV, is posted on the online edition of Motortrend. The i-MiEV was initiated in Europe in 2010 and now it's available in the United States. Yet, despite its lofty mileage status, the Mitsubishi i has yet to built a substantial buying appeal. One reason, accpording to the Motortrend site, is the question of whether or not "United States' consumers are ready for "a small, underpowered and range-limited EV?" But for pure economic

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National Enquirer: Danica Patrick quits after Dan Wheldon death

The National Enquirer doesn't often report on sports unless, of course, it involves sex, drugs, rock & roll, or a tragedy is involved. So considering the source, the publication of scandal is reporting that Danica Patrick has quit auto racing. Patrick is quitting (she recently ended her IndyCar racing career to compete full time on the NASCAR circuit), according to the publication, in the aftermath of the death of Dan Wheldon. Wheldon died Oct. 16 in a 15-car crash during the early stages of the IndyCar race series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Enquirer reports on its web site that Patrick told friends, "I will never race again." Patrick, competing in her last IndyCar race, was in the field

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Hyundai debuts cheapest car, but Eon's only for India

Hyundai has introduced in New Delhi, India, the Eon, the smallest car the South Korean manufacturer has ever made. It hopes the three-cylinder, four-door, five-seat hatchback will strongly challenge Maruti Suzuki, the country's best-selling carmaker. The Eon, priced at 2.7 lakh (approximately $5,500) is a few inches shorter than Hyundai's i10, Hyundia's previous smallest car made in India. The Eon is same length as the Maruti Alto, the top-selling car in India, and it's slightly longer than the Tata Motor. The Eon will be available in six trims — D-Lite, D-Lite (O), Era, Magna, Eon D-Lite Magna (O) and Eon Sportz. All models will include air-conditioning, adjustable power steering, power windows, multi trip meter, and integrated front seat headrests. Although

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