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Cadillac recalling 50,000 CTS models worldwide over potential handling fault

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

2010 Cadillac CTS

2010 Cadillac CTS – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have announced a recall of certain 2009 and 2010 model-year Cadillac CTS models. The notice covers around 50,000 units worldwide, 11,147 of which were sold in the States.

According to NHTSA, jam nuts on the vehicles’ suspension could come loose over time, eventually allowing the toe link to completely separate from the vehicle. If this happens, the rear wheel could turn in or out, making the vehicle difficult to steer. GM says that owners may hear a metallic clanking noise in the rear of the vehicle as a warning before this happens.

So far, no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the defect, though NHTSA warns that if left untreated, owners could experience a loss of control.

GM says that it will install new jam nuts free of charge and replace the rear suspension toe link as necessary. A recall schedule hasn’t been established yet, but owners should hear something soon. Hit the jump for the full recall notice.

Gallery: 2010 Cadillac CTS

[Sources: Chicago Tribune, NHTSA]

Continue reading Cadillac recalling 50,000 CTS models worldwide over potential handling fault

Cadillac recalling 50,000 CTS models worldwide over potential handling fault originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Pentastar V6 models first to get ZF eight-speed autos at Chrysler

Filed under: Chrysler, Dodge, Rumormill

2011 Dodge Charger – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler’s LX platform cars will pick up a new eight-speed automatic transmission made by ZF for the 2012 model year. The Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 will benefit mightily from the new transmission that will eventually replace the older five-speed unit that’s currently available.

Allpar reports that a reliable source within Chrysler has disclosed that the new transmission will first become available in 2012 Dodge Charger and 2012 Chryler 300 models powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. 2012 Dodge Challenger SE models hang on to the five-speed for a little longer still.

The reason for rolling the new transmission out this way may be to suss out any problems while backing up a less-powerful engine. It may also be that the fuel economy improvement will be larger with the V6, and yet another theory suggests that the engineering and software work for the V6 and eight-speed link-up was further along. It stands to reason that sales of V6 models outstrip Hemi-powered LX cars, and bringing the transmission to market behind the highest-volume powerplant is going to make the biggest CAFE impact. Whatever the reason, the new automatic gearbox is a leapfrog move that further re-modernizes the redesigned LX range.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Charger: First Drive

2011 Dodge Charger

[Source: Allpar]

Report: Pentastar V6 models first to get ZF eight-speed autos at Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: With two new models coming, “There is a future for Smart”

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Hatchback, Smart

2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive – Click above for high-res image gallery

Smart has delivered its first ForTwo Electric Drive and the 2011 ForTwo is equipped with a suite of first-time features such as cruise control, navigation and eight airbags. But no matter the advances heaped upon the brand’s sole ambasador now, the question many have is: does it have a future?

“There is a commitment to the Smart brand by Smart USA and Daimler’s also committed,” Rick Bourgoise, Smart’s Director of Communications, tells Autoblog. “There are two paths to product expansion: the Daimler alliance with Nissan-Renault to provide a small car platform as part of the next Smart ForTwo as well as a four-seat model to arrive mid-decade.” That car could be, or at least have something to do with, the scale model four-door ForTwo+2 spied recently in Europe. That car is being engineered by Mercedes-Benz and built by Daimler.

“That was good in the near term,” said Bourgoise, “but we needed additional product in the short term.” When he says “we,” he’s referring to Smart USA, which is Penske’s distributorship operation that has the U.S. and Puerto Rico territories for Smart.

“Smart USA agreed with Nissan of the Americas to get a five-door, five-seat hatch that will arrive sometime in Q4 of 2011.” That car refers to the Memorandum of Understanding that Smart signed with Nissan for a B-segment entrant last October. That means the car has officially been given the go-ahead. The platform is assumed to be that of the Micra, since it’s “a global vehicle for Nissan that’s not selling” here, and they’re putting it together in one year. The design of that car is a collaboration between Smart and Nissan, but “it will be a Smart, will have Smart styling cues and stay true to those brand attributes,” such as a tiny footprint and high efficiency and recyclability. Burgoise also confirmed “it will come in a standard manual and automatic transmissions.” Bourgoise tells AB the unnamed car will be revealed sometime in late Q1 or Q2.

Gallery: 2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive: First Drive

Chicago 2011: With two new models coming, “There is a future for Smart” originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feds find no evidence of faulty electronics in Toyota models

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Toyota car emblem with dealer sign

The ongoing saga of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles has taken another turn today as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood released a statement indicating that no evidence of electronic problems in runaway Toyotas has been found.

“The jury is back. The verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period.” said LaHood in a prepared statement. This finding comes at the end of a 10-month investigation carried out jointly by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NASA that was requested by Congress.

Over 280,000 separate lines of code embedded in the electronics of potentially affected Toyota vehicles were examined by NASA, none of which contained any flaws capable of causing runaway acceleration, says the report.

This isn’t to say that the government has found that Toyota is not at fault in any way. LaHood added, “Our conclusion – that Toyota’s problems were mechanical, not electrical – come after one of the most exhaustive, thorough and intensive research efforts ever undertaken.”

Those mechanical problems, namely sticky accelerator pedals and pedals that got trapped under faulty floor mats, “remain the only known causes for these kind of unsafe unintended acceleration incidents,” says NHTSA. It should prove interesting to see how the courts – both of public opinion and of law – react to these findings.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Ramin Talaie/Getty]

Feds find no evidence of faulty electronics in Toyota models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volvo to cut models, V50 first confirmed

Filed under: Wagon, Volvo

Volvo V50

Volvo wants to increase the number of units it sells each year in the U.S. So, it’s going to… um… cut the number of models it offers? It may seem a little bass-ackwards to those of us without a business degree, but that’s apparently the plan.

Says Doug Speck, head of Volvo’s operations in the U.S., “Five or six [models] is probably a good number… We have to focus on the key segments with significant volume potential.” At present, Volvo offers nine distinct nameplates, which means at least three have an appointment with a strange-looking man who wears a hooded black cape and carries a sickle.

According to Speck, the first model that will lose its lease on life is the V50 wagon. Others will follow, but not until Volvo’s dealer network is informed of their funeral proceedings. If we were betting men, we’d wager the C30, C70 and XC70 would be the first to get the axe, but we’ll know for sure soon enough.

The idea is to focus consumers’ limited attention spans and what little marketing budget the automaker has available on its core models: the S60 sedan along with the XC60 and XC90 crossovers. Volvo is counting on its revised strategy to post double-digit sales increases in 2011 after six straight years of declining figures.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req’d]

Report: Volvo to cut models, V50 first confirmed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Infiniti debating anchoring line-up with both entry-level and halo models

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Infiniti, Luxury

Infiniti Essence Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not uncommon for an automaker to be evaluating several potential products at the same time, but those models usually hover within the parameters of the company’s existing line-up. Not the case with Infiniti. Nissan’s luxury division is reportedly looking at going both up-market and down with a pair of new products to give it a much father reach than the current range.

First up is a halo model, and after looking at the competition, Infiniti has reportedly come to the conclusion that, in order to lure buyers into showrooms, they’ll need something attractive and high-end. And while a successor to the Q45 flagship sedan was once seen as a potential route, reports indicate that, if given the green light, a sportscar to rival the likes of the Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and even the Lexus LFA would be the way to go. The show-stopping Essence concept previewed that notion, but Infiniti is reportedly still mulling the idea over, and the presence of the Nissan GT-R surely isn’t helping focus the picture.

At the other end of the spectrum, Infiniti has long been considering the idea of an entry-level hatchback model to take on the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volvo C30. Arch-rival Lexus became the first of the Japanese luxury brands to earnestly pursue the segment with the CT 200h, and if Infiniti is serious about getting a younger demographic, it could opt to follow suite in short order.

Gallery: Infiniti Essence Concept

[Source: Ward’s]

Report: Infiniti debating anchoring line-up with both entry-level and halo models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S.

Automotive News Europe is reporting that BMW may be looking into expanding the number of models that the company manufactures here in the States. While the German automaker says that there are no solid plans on the table right now, it’s possible that both the 3 Series and the 5 Series could join the X3, X5 and X6 on the production line at the BMW facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina (shown above). The move is being considered as the U.S. threatens to overtake Germany as the company’s largest auto market. In 2010, the U.S. fell a mere 252 vehicles shy of taking the sales crown from Germany.

BMW currently holds a 2.3-percent market share in the U.S. with 266,000 vehicles sold in America in 2010. With the U.S. economy in a slow but steady state of improvement, the company fully expects to eclipse that number in 2011. As a result, the Spartanburg facility will operate at its full capacity of 240,000 units this year.

So far, it’s unclear as to whether the company would eye building a new facility for the American-built 3 and 5 Series vehicles or if BMW would simply add on to its South Carolina plant.

[Source: Automotive News Europe – sub. req.]

BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda recallying 2,277 Accord and CR-V models over wiring problem

2010 Honda Accord Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to USA Today, Honda has announced that it is recalling 2,277 Accord and CR-V models for an electrical coupling that may have been damaged while the engine was being installed in the vehicles. If this is the case, the engine could stall during normal operation. The condition impacts certain 2010 Accord and CR-V models, and as of right now, no injuries or accidents have been reported due to the problem. Still, Honda says that it’s important for owners who are notified of the recall to take their vehicles in for inspection. Honda is expected to repair or replace the connector free of charge.

Owners of impacted vehicles can look for letters informing them of the recall in February. Repairs are slated to begin shortly thereafter. Hit the jump to see the NHTSA recall announcement.

Gallery: 2011 Honda Accord Sedan

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda CR-V

[Source: NHTSA via USA Today]

Continue reading Report: Honda recallying 2,277 Accord and CR-V models over wiring problem

Report: Honda recallying 2,277 Accord and CR-V models over wiring problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Two Chevy dealers offering special 700-hp Camaro models – just like Yenko and Berger [w/video]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Car Buying, Videos, Chevrolet, GM

NeSmith Chevrolet Camaro

The COPO Camaros are back (sorta) – Click above for image gallery

There was a time when dealers utilized General Motors’ Central Office Production Order to the fullest, giving us some truly terrific muscle car options. By judiciously picking hi-po OEM performance parts to augment some already formidable performers, COPO Chevrolet Camaros from the late ’60s put a few dealers on the national map, and today, we know about Berger, Nickey and, of course, Yenko. Well… the Camaro is certainly back, but where are the modern COPO versions? If you live near Albany, New York or Claxton and Jessup, Georgia then the cars are right down the street at your local dealerships.

DeNooyer Chevrolet of Albany has dipped into GM’s Performance Parts catalog and come out with an LSX454 engine. After stuffing it into a Camaro, they know have a 620-horsepower coupe prowling their lot. In Georgia, NeSmith Chevrolet also took a look into the catalog and put in an order for supercharged LS9 normally found in a Corvette ZR1. Their NeSmith Storm Camaro puts out nearly 700 horses. In other words, the COPO is back! Check out our gallery below and then hop the jump to see video clips of both cars. Thanks for the tip, Tony!

Gallery: COPO Camaros for the 21st Century

NeSmith Storm Camaro DeNooyer Camaro

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: DeNooyer Performance Division]

Continue reading Report: Two Chevy dealers offering special 700-hp Camaro models – just like Yenko and Berger [w/video]

Report: Two Chevy dealers offering special 700-hp Camaro models – just like Yenko and Berger [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford expanding stop-start technology to non-hybrid models

Filed under: Technology, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer Blue Oval grllle badge

Given the multifaceted approach to making more efficient vehicles favored by Ford, an automaker that employs everything from EcoBoost to hybrids, pure electrics to less thirsty gas models – it’s not that surprising to learn that the company is announcing that it is expanding use of stop-start technology to more U.S. vehicles in 2012. Stop-start, you’ll recall, is a technology that allows an engine to shut off automatically at stop lights to avoid wasting fuel while idling. As far as the green race goes, stop-start is a no-brainer: it’s not all that expensive to implement – especially compared to technologies like hybrid powertrains – and according to Ford, it can result in a jump in fuel economy of up to 10 percent.

Ford is following BMW, Fiat and other automakers in bringing stop-start to its vehicles, but along with Porsche, it is taking a leadership role with the technology here in the U.S. for non-hybrid vehicles. Ford notes that it has sold over 170,000 hybrids with stop-start in North America in the last six years, and 2012 will mark the first time it will be found on Ford’s “conventional cars, crossovers and SUVs in North America.” European Ford drivers are familiar with the technology, and Ford says stop-start “eventually will be offered in all of Ford’s global markets.” Thus far, however, the Blue Oval isn’t saying which non-hybrid models will be the first to receive the technology.

Stop-start technology has become an easy and effective way for automakers to register substantial economy gains in European models, but don’t expect official mile per gallon figures to budge much on America’s EPA-mandated test cycle. As of yet, the U.S. government’s testing methodology simply doesn’t reflect the benefits of stop-start, so while the effects of the technology may be self-evident in real world driving, they won’t necessarily be reflected on a vehicle’s window sticker in dealer showrooms. In other words, Ford is likely to have some consumer educating to do.

To school yourself a bit further on the Blue Oval’s stop-start initiative, check out their official press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford expanding stop-start technology to non-hybrid models

Ford expanding stop-start technology to non-hybrid models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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