Safety
Porsche to Open Second U.S. Driving Center in Carson, California
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Porsche announced at the LA Auto Show that it will be opening a new facility Carson, California, intended to become a “center of excellence for vehicle and human performance education from track experiences and driver training to car culture events”. This California based Porsche Experience Center will be the second one built in North America,…
Hybrids Safer For Drivers, Dangerous For Pedestrians
Believe it or not, hybrids are safer in a crash than their gasoline-only counterparts, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute. “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts,” Moore said in a statement today. “This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins…
2012 Chevrolet Camaro Gets First Perfect NHTSA Crash Test Rating
Gas, tires and insurance probably don’t matter much if you’re in the market for a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang, but safety does. The Camaro and Mustang GT come with more-or-less comparable horsepower and grunt off the line. What the test drive won’t show you is that the Camaro is the first car to…
Saturn Aura Investigated By NHTSA For Faulty Transmission Shift Cable
NHTSA is ramping up its investigation into the Saturn Aura after numerous complaints of the vehicle moving while in park or accelerating in the opposite direction to which the driver intended. A total of 33 complaints have been received by NHTSA and GM combined, covering both 2007 and 2008 model Auras. So far, an engineering analysis is…
2012 Cadillac CTS Recalled
General Motors is recalling a certain production run of Cadillac CTS models built between October 21 and October 26, 2011. According to reports, “the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut may not be torqued to the proper specification.” This defect could cause catastrophic consequences, specifically brake failure, and lead to accidents. Cadillac dealers began…
Ford Releases Findings on NHTSA Mustang Transmission Investigation
Back in August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation regarding the Getrag MT82 6-speed manual transmissions found in 2011+ Ford Mustangs. At the time, Ford was already carefully monitoring customer feedback as well as online forums as well to better understand the issues concerning the transmission. While only 3 percent of all…
This is What a Wrecked Chevy Volt Looks Like
Would you trust new technology with your life? One Chevy Volt owner did, and walked away from a rather serious smash-up mostly unharmed. A forum user on GM-Volt.com posted pictures recently of his totaled Volt on the New Jersey Turnpike. The car (number 187) became a martyr after a nasty highway collision. “Except for some…
Toyota Recalls 400,000 Vehicles to Replace Crankshaft Pulley
Toyota has announced a recall of roughly 400,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicle to replace the crankshaft pulley. According to Toyota the outer ring of the pulley may come out of alignment with the inner ring, resulting first in a noise with the possibility that the belt for the power steering pump may become detached. If…
Ram 1500 Special Services Police Truck Serves and Protects With Hemi Power
Law enforcement gets a severe-duty upgrade beginning this month, with Chrysler’s Ram Truck brand offering their new Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4×4 Special Service package for police enforcement and emergency services support. Combining durability, reliability, and value, president and CEO of Ram Truck Brand Fred Diaz announced, “Like the Ram Truck brand, first responders give…
Pontiac G8 Recalled For Delayed Airbag Deployment
The Pontiac G8, the brand’s last hurrah before GM completely discontinued its operations, is now subject to recall due too concerns regarding the front passenger air bag module. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the air bags may suffer from a possible delay in airbag deployment at the moment of a collision,…
Right-Hand-Drive Jeep Wranglers Recalled for Airbag Issues – in the US
In fact the recall centers around driving conditions in such areas, citing the fact that dusty roads can cause dirt to enter the airbag clockspring assembly, causing the airbag light on the dash to come on.
Ferrari FF Burns to The Ground, is it Just the First? [Video]
A rite of passage of sorts for new Ferrari models, reports have surfaced of a brand new $300,000 Ferrari FF spontaneously catching fire and burning to the ground. The driver of the FF reportedly heard a bang coming from the rear following a rise of flames during his test-drive in Frankfurt, Germany. Pulling to the side…
2009-2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Recalled For Defective Electric Auxiliary Water Pump
Back in 1907, Rolls-Royce presented the Silver Ghost as the “Best car in the world.” Unfortunately, more than a century later, the Rolls Royce Ghost models manufactured between September 2009 to September 2010 are now facing a recall pertaining to an electric auxiliary water pump that can overheat and potentially cause a fire. It would…
Chinese Buyers Pledge $850M in Long Term Saab Funding
After much back and forth over the past months between Swedish Automaker Saab and Chinese suitors Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co., it seems like funding for Saab is very much back. The Chinese companies have both agreed to buy the Swedish automaker, providing the company with some much needed…
Cobra iRadar Community Crowdsources Speed Traps
For decades, Cobra has provided drivers with the technological edge necessary to speed without the risk of getting caught. After endless efforts from speeders and enforcers to one-up one another, Cobra finally revert to the age old adage of “strength in numbers” and “the power of the people.” In Cobra’s latest evolution of the iRadar…
BMW Recalling 32,000 Vehicles Over Engine Fire Risks
BMW is recalling 32,000 vehicles in order to replace potentially faulty electric auxiliary water pumps. An issue can cause the water pumps to overheat, potentially causing a vehicle fire. Models impacted by the recall include 2008-2011 5-Series, 5-Series Gran Turismo, 7-Series, X5 and X6 equipped with either the eight- or 12-cylinder turbocharged engines. Two engine…
Volvo S60, C70 Recalled Over Incorrect Tire Pressure Labels
Swedish car firm Volvo takes safety very seriously, and so it’s taking the extra step to correct a small error it had made in the past. The issue is in regards to the tire pressure label for the spare tire. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some Volvo vehicles had incorrect information…
2012 Chevrolet Equinox And GMC Terrain Crossovers Recalled For Malfunctioning Tire Pressure Monitoring System
34,000 units of GM’s 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers are recalled due too improperly calibrated tire pressure monitoring systems. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, requires all tire pressure monitoring systems to illuminate a warning signal when the tires are below 25 percent of the vehicle’s recommended psi. However, the sensors fitted into…
120 MPH Crash Test Obliterates a Ford Focus [Video]
If you’re looking for a good reason not to speed, this is it. Thanks to the inquisitive minds at Fifth Gear we now know the absolutely devastating result of what a 120-mph crash would look like. Part of an ongoing series looking at crash tests and the safety of modern vehicles the team of eloquently-voiced…
Driving Enthusiasts Make More Aggressive Drivers: Study
A study published in the Journal of Psychology & Marketing has revealed that driving enthusiasts and gear heads are more likely to be aggressive drivers. Perhaps because the observation is so obvious, a formal study has not been conducted until now. In a statement released by Temple University, Ayalla Ruvio, lead author of “Aggressive Driving:…
Canada May Restrict All Cars to 150 KM/H
Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis of Scarborough-Agincourt, Ontario, Canada, is a long time political activist for speed limiters with the intent of reducing the number of car accidents caused by excess speed. Though a previous attempt in 2006 to present a speed limiter bill to the House of Commons was unsuccessful, a recent high-speed car accident…
Volkswagen Jetta, Golf TDI, Audi A3 TDI Being Recalled Over Fuel Leak
Volkswagen is recalling 168,000 diesel engine vehicles produced from 2009-2012 over a possible leak from the fuel injectors that could start a fire. The vehicles in question are Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and Golf models as well as the Audi A3 TDI. 161,144 VWs and 7,131 Audis are involved in the recall, while no injuries…
Recaro Launches New Facebook And YouTube Campaign
In the world of race seats, perhaps no name is bigger or stronger than Recaro. This German company has been manufacturing seats since 1906 and its products are now sold around the world. It is so popular, that if you come across a race car, chances are its seats are by Recaro. Not to rest…
GM Develops Auto Industry’s First Front Center Air Bag [Video]
General Motors will be offering the industry’s first front center air bag in select vehicles. This inflatable restraint will help to protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle. You’re going to have to wait a bit for the new front…
