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GM recalling nearly 100,000 new crossovers due to seatbelt buckle fractures

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2011 Chevrolet Equinox

2011 Chevrolet Equinox – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has issued a recall on its Theta crossover triplets, the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX over safety belt buckle anchors that may fracture and separate in the event of a crash. A total of 97,843 vehicles are affected, all from the 2011 model year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued an official statement, saying that a fractured seatbelt buckle may not properly restrain the vehicle’s occupants during an accident, thus increasing the risk of injuries sustained during a crash. In all three of the affected crossovers, both the driver and front passenger seatbelts are apparently subject to this sort of breaking.

GM will begin notifying owners in the next few weeks, as the recall is expected to ramp up on or before January 18, 2011. Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC dealerships will modify one or both of the safety belt anchors as necessary, and of course, all maintenance will be performed free of charge. NHTSA’s official release is available after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Equinox

2011 Chevrolet Equinox

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading GM recalling nearly 100,000 new crossovers due to seatbelt buckle fractures

GM recalling nearly 100,000 new crossovers due to seatbelt buckle fractures originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man says he lost consciousness at the wheel due to Benz’s ‘new car smell’

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

new car scent

Numerous studies have shown that the so-called new car smell – which is actually a potent outgassing of volatile organic chemicals and heavy metals – can be potentially dangerous to breathe in, and that some people are more bothered by these VOCs than others.

But could that new car smell be so insidious that it could cause you to lose consciousness long enough that you get into an accident? And if so, could an attorney use such a new car smell defense to ease a client’s legal woes? Sounds a bit odd, but just such a case is currently taking place in Colorado.

Here are the facts: Martin Erzinger, owner of a 2010 Mercedes-Benz sedan (model unknown), fell asleep at the wheel, drifted off the road and struck a bicyclist named Dr. Steven Milo before colliding with a concrete barrier. The unresolved questions are whether Erzinger’s sleep apnea was compounded by his car’s odors, as suggested by a forensic specialist, and if he was aware that he had struck a pedestrian.

Of course, it’s not up to us to decide how guilty or innocent Erzinger may be… we’ll leave that up to the court. But we are curious what you think. Could a particularly noxious new car smell be a contributing factor in an accident?

[Source: VailDaily.com | Image: Dyanna – CC 2.0]

Man says he lost consciousness at the wheel due to Benz’s ‘new car smell’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM, Ford slow production at seven plants due to Canadian storms

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, GM, Canada

Flint Assembly Plant

If you think early winter weather is causing you headaches this season, you should hear what General Motors and Ford are putting up with. The companies have seen production slow in at least seven of their manufacturing facilities in Canada and the Midwest thanks to road closings. According to Bloomberg, The General was forced to either slow or stop production of at least eight models, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Camaro and Impala as well as the Cadillac CTS and STS. And Ford hasn’t fared much better – the Blue Oval has brought production of at least six models to a stop.

Among the FoMoCo casualties of this week’s winter wonderland? The Flex, Edge and Explorer, but work was also held up on the Lincoln MKT and MKS. Additionally, the slowdown may impact the automakers’ fourth-quarter results, since most carmakers record their revenue when vehicles are assembled at the plant.

Interestingly enough, Chrysler, which operates facilities in Canada, has apparently not had to slow or stop production because of the weather. Likewise, the Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio is operating normally so far this season.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: John Ehlke/AP /The Flint Journal]

Report: GM, Ford slow production at seven plants due to Canadian storms originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Cajun mini-SUV confirmed, due to arrive in 2014

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Crossover, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche has officially confirmed what’s been rumored for at least three years – the German automaker will build a small SUV to slot in below its highly successful Cayenne. With the working name “Cajun,” Porsche wants the mini ‘ute to provide younger customers another point of entry into the brand.

Designer Walter da Silva has apparently taken the lead on the project, which is expected to be loosely based on the Audi Q5, and the press release (available after the jump) claims that the Cajun will have “typical Porsche features such as light weight, ease of handling and agility.” Here’s hoping… [Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche Cajun mini-SUV confirmed, due to arrive in 2014

Porsche Cajun mini-SUV confirmed, due to arrive in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar recalling nearly 6,500 XJs due to defective windshield wipers

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Jaguar, Luxury

2011 Jaguar XJ

2011 Jaguar XJ – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jaguar has issued a recall covering 6,475 2010-11 XJ sedans built between July 28, 2009 and November 3, 2010 due to defective windshield wipers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration details the exact problem with these XJs, saying:

“The front wiper arms to spindle fixings were not torqued to specification during manufacturing. As a result, the securing nuts could fail to perform as intended, resulting in a loss of wiper arm synchronization and a clash of the wiper arms.”

Clashing wiper arms mean they could detach from the vehicle altogether, which is perhaps the last thing any driver would want to have to deal with on a rainy (or snowy) day. The full recall is expected to commence on or before December 13, and dealers will ensure that the wiper arms are securely fitted to the spindle. To read the full details, follow the jump for NHTSA’s release.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL

2011 Jaguar XJL

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading Jaguar recalling nearly 6,500 XJs due to defective windshield wipers

Jaguar recalling nearly 6,500 XJs due to defective windshield wipers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A5 Sportback could come to the States, A8 diesel due next year

Filed under: Sedan, Audi, Diesel

Audi A5 Sportback – Click above for high-res image gallery

The arrival of the Audi A7 in the U.S. is almost a given, designed to slot in – predictably – between the A6 and all-new A8, while finally providing Audi with a Mercedes-Benz CLS competitor. But what of the A5 Sportback?

According to our sources, the success of the A7 will play a key role in Audi’s decision to import the A5 Sportback into the States. If the A7 is well received, the Sportback could be slotted in as a smaller alternative to the larger A7 and its closest competitor, the CLS. We haven’t been given a timeline on when the A7 could arrive, but with the European launch happening early next year, a Stateside debut in 2011 isn’t out of the question.

Audi’s product expansion isn’t just limited to new models, but includes the continued proliferation of available drivetrains. To that end, a diesel-powered A8 should arrive in the U.S. sometime next year.

When the A8 goes on sale this November, both the standard and long-wheelbase versions will launch simultaneously, each packing Audi’s 372 horsepower 4.2-liter FSI V8. The 500-hp W12, however, won’t be an option on the A8L until the first quarter of 2011. If Audi decides to equip the A8 with a diesel, expect the same 3.0-liter V6 TDI fitted to the refreshed Q7, outputting around 225 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque.

Gallery: 2010 Audi A5 Sportback

Audi A5 Sportback could come to the States, A8 diesel due next year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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