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Kia recalls 9,700 new Sorento models for potential front axle failures

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Kia

2014 Kia Sorento

Kia has announced a recall on the 2014 Sorento due to an issue that could lead to a broken right front driveshaft on certain models. Only models equipped with the 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive are affected by the campaign.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that Sorento models built between January 7 through March 12 of this year may experience broken axle shafts that could lead to loss of power or cause the vehicle to roll if parked. According to the Detroit Free Press, a total of close to 9,700 units are being recalled, but that number is closer to 9,300 for customers in the US.

Kia says that it has had one incident with an internal vehicle that experienced a separated axle shaft in addition to 10 related warranty claims, but it says no accidents or injuries have been reported. The recall campaign will begin next month. Scroll down for the NHTSA recall notice as well as an official statement from Kia.

Continue reading Kia recalls 9,700 new Sorento models for potential front axle failures

Kia recalls 9,700 new Sorento models for potential front axle failures originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Aug 2013 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mark Monea’s new Carry On front flip will warp your mind

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Australia, Motorcycle

Mark Monea pulls off the carry on

Mark Monea pulls off the Carry On – Click above to watch video after the jump

We typically file motocross tricks somewhere between complete insanity and diabolical madness in the Dewey Decimal system that rules our minds, but we’re going to need to work up an all-new category for Mark Monea’s new stunt. The Australian has been working on a variation of the motorcycle front flip called the Carry On, and after four weeks of plopping himself bike-and-all into the foam pit, he finally took the trick to terra firma.

While ridiculously-skilled individuals have been pulling off front flips on bikes for the better part of two years now, Monea decided that going topsy-turvy face first was child’s play. So, he added a little bit of spice to the equation by throwing in a 360-degree flat spin in on top of the front flip.

If you’re having trouble wrapping your mind around the mechanics of such a feat, join the club. Fortunately, Monea and his crew were kind enough to record the whole shindig for prosperity and our twisted enjoyment. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading Video: Mark Monea’s new Carry On front flip will warp your mind

Video: Mark Monea’s new Carry On front flip will warp your mind originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: BMW working on range of front-wheel-drive concepts

Filed under: Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Rumormill

BMW Roundel

When BMW began making noise about bringing front-wheel drive to the table, purists, enthusiasts and fans of the brand immediately busted out the pitchforks and torches. Visions of front-wheel drive 3 Series and 1 Series models were almost enough to induce frenzy (not that a huge number of owners would know the difference…), but if the latest word from BMW Blog is to be believed, the company’s front-wheel drive efforts will be contained to a handful of all-new models.

The news comes courtesy of a BMW insider posting on German Car Forum. Supposedly, the main impetus behind delving into a FWD platform isn’t to increase the company’s average fuel economy as some have guessed. Instead, BMW is looking to make the Mini brand more profitable by sharing platforms with other models under the Roundel.

Those include a new compact BMW roughly the size of a Cooper, as well as an MPV that the insider calls a Compact Gran Sport Tourer. Additionally, there may be room for a crossover-sized front-wheel drive beast as well. Interestingly enough, the report says that the new BMW compact will have proportions similar to those of the Honda CR-Z.

At this point, it’s difficult to say whether or not the source from German Car Forum has their facts straight or not, but so far, this is the most detailed glimpse we’ve gotten into what BMW is up to with its FWD program.

[Source: German Car Forum via BMW Blog]

Rumormill: BMW working on range of front-wheel-drive concepts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: How to railslide a front-drive 1992 Subaru Legacy

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Subaru, Humor

1992 Subaru Legacy railslide

Wyatt Knox creating a new Winter X-Games event – Click above to watch video after the jump

The extreme sports and motorsports worlds have collided in recent years, with the X-Games set trading in their small wheels for much larger ones. In that same spirit, rally driver Wyatt Knox is looking to reverse that trend and bring rallying into the action sports world. Take a front-wheel drive 1992 Subaru Legacy, a well-placed log on Team O’Neil Rally School’s closed course, a couple of HD video cameras and you have the recipe for an automotive railslide.

The end result actually turns out pretty well because Knox knows what he is doing behind the wheel. His backside car slide can be seen in the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: How to railslide a front-drive 1992 Subaru Legacy

Video: How to railslide a front-drive 1992 Subaru Legacy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will the next Holden Commodore go front-wheel drive?

Filed under: GM, Holden, Australia, Rumormill

Holden Commodore

2011 Holden VE Series II Commodore – Click above for high-res image gallery

Since 1978, the Holden Commodore has been roaring across the land down under. It’s worn a plethora of body styles ranging from coupe and sedan to wagon and ute, brought the Pontiac G8 to American soil and sold over 44,000 units last year in Australia. During its run, the Holden Commodore has been a rear-wheel drive vehicle, but new reports state that the front-engine/rear-drive layout may not be in the cards for much longer.

The next-generation Commodore is going to appear by 2015 and it’s possible that General Motors may switch it to a front-wheel drive car. The goal is increased fuel-efficiency for GM’s large cars and the front-wheel drive platforms are the ones set up to deliver the highest fuel efficiency.

The Holden Commodore could ride on the Super Epsilon II platform, which will also make its way into the next Chevrolet Impala and the upcoming Cadillac XTS. Sure, we understand why an automaker would look to make this change but it doesn’t mean we have to like it. We prefer our Maltidas waltzing and our Commodores drifting.

Gallery: 2011 Holden Series II Family

[Source: Go Auto]

Will the next Holden Commodore go front-wheel drive? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Lotus bringing a pair of front-engine hybrids to Paris Motor Show

Filed under: Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Lotus

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to the pair of Evoras being introduced at this year’s Paris Motor Show, Lotus will also be unveiling two front-engine hybrid vehicles, in keeping with the automaker’s promise to offer more gasoline/electric sports cars. Edmunds’ Green Car Advisor reports that one of these hybrid cars will be a four-door hatchback and the other will be a two-door coupe.

Lotus debuted its hybrid concept earlier this year in the form of the Evora 414E Hybrid (pictured), but unlike the mid-engine concept, the two front-engine models will utilize a 47-horsepower 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine specifically designed to provide power to electric-drive hybrids.

We’ll have the full details direct from the Paris show later this month, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Report: Lotus bringing a pair of front-engine hybrids to Paris Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Lotus Exos Type 125 debuts in front of crowd that can afford it

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus, Racing

2011 Lotus Exos T125 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our first stop during the annual classic and exotic car feast up in Monterey every year is always the Jet Center Party, more formally known as McCall’s Motorworks Revival. This year was no exception and aside from the copious amounts of food and drink available, there were of course some cars to sate our appetites.

One that immediately caught our eye was sitting right in the middle of the centerpiece Lotus display. It was the just-announced Lotus Exos T125 single-seat racer. Even alongside Takuma Sato’s current Indy Racing League Lotus Dallara, the Exos draws a huge crowd.

This customer car will be available to a select few enthusiasts who wish to part with a million dollars or more to experience the thrills of Formula 1 racing for themselves – or at least a reasonable fascimile. The 650-horsepower Cosworth engine is limited to just 10,300 RPM for longevity, but that should be more than enough to keep the 25 projected customers happy.

We’re hoping Lotus takes this Exos out on the track this week so we can see it in action. If that happens we’ll be sure to bring you more pics, but for now, check out the gallery of photos from Wednesday night’s Jet Center Party below.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Lotus Exos Type 125

Monterey 2010: Lotus Exos Type 125 debuts in front of crowd that can afford it originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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