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Electric vehicles are quiet as a mouse at startup, but for some Nissan Leaf owners, this push-button process is a little too quiet. Reuters reports that Nissan admits some owners in the U.S. and Japan are having difficulty starting up their EV. Company spokesperson Toshitake Inoshita tells Reuters that the problem has been traced back to the air conditioning system, but the exact root of the problem is still unknown.

Since a failure to start isn’t a safety issue (at least if you’re not parked in a seedy neighborhood), Nissan likely won’t issue a recall, but Inoshita adds “when we know the exact cause, we will decide whether to issue a service bulletin, or take other steps.”

There are currently only 452 Leaf EVs that have been sold in the U.S., so the fact that these issues are already being seen and reported on means the problem could be fairly significant. Still, the automaker has sold a more significant 3,300+ units in Japan, so it’s possible that the majority of complaints are from Nissan’s home market. Either way, the news isn’t exactly good for Nissan, which is hoping that consumers see its first modern mass-market EV as a halo car.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Nissan Leaf owners experiencing restart problems

The Shanghai Motor Show is beginning to look like a pretty big deal, with more than enough high-impact reveals to pique our interest. The latest vehicle to be teased in advance of the show is the XV concept, which Subaru says is “a design concept car that defines a new generation of crossover vehicle, blending exceptional SUV practicality with a fashionable form.”

The Japanese automaker says the theme of the crossover concept is “Enjoyment and Peace of mind,” which, loosely translated, means that the XV will be practical to own yet fun to drive. Subaru hasn’t provided many facts other than what we could have already guessed; that the automaker’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system is part of the package. We’re guessing a boxer engine isn’t far behind.

As you can see from the teaser photo above, the XV will feature four doors, stylized headlamps, big concept car wheels and the shape of a crossover, albeit one with a backlight that’s got more rake than a typical utility-first Subaru. Given the short distance from the rear doors to the tailgate, we might also guess that the XV will be on the smaller side; perhaps the size and shape of a puffed-up Impreza, but the company already has the Forester in that role – could there be room for two such models? Either way, we’re going to have to wait for the vehicle’s official unveiling on April 19 to know for sure. Hit the jump to read over the Fuji Heavy Industries press release.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Shanghai Preview: Subaru XV

Shanghai Preview: Subaru XV

Want the Jaguar of sport-utes? That’d be a Range Rover then. And it will be for another four years until Jag develops its own SUV.

The reports of a Jaguar ute come as the latest stage in a veritable onslaught of new products planned for the Coventry marque, which have included a new diesel four, all-wheel drive for the XJ sedan, a 3 Series rival and an XFR-S super sedan.

The SUV would naturally borrow heavily from its sister brand Land Rover, but in order to differentiate itself, would come in a more road-focused package to take on the likes of the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne at the upper end of the luxury crossover market.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Jaguar SUV set to arrive in four years

Safety recalls are a big deal in the U.S., but in India the issue apparently won’t be broached any time soon. MSN reports that the world’s second most populated country doesn’t have a recall policy, and The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) apparently has bigger fish to fry.

SIAM President Pawan Goenka doesn’t seem too concerned, adding “I am sure that it will someday but I do not know when. It is not the top policy priority for the government at this moment.” Goenka goes on to tell reporters the the bigger concerns are coming up with safety, quality and emissions standards in a country just beginning to embrace the automobile on a large scale.

But just because recalls aren’t standardized doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. Maruti Suzuki India announced a recall of 13,157 diesel-powered vehicles earlier this week, and in February Honda Siel Cars India recalled 57,853 midsize sedans due to a faulty engine part.

But while some recalls are happening without a specific policy, some instances that would likely lead to a recall in many countries have gone unchecked in India. For example, Tata Motors has had issues with the Nano that have led to several car fires, but the automaker refuses to call the problem a recall in spite of the fact that the company has issued a free “safety upgrade.”

[Source: MSN]

Report: India lacks formal recall policy, developing one “not a priority”

In the U.S., there are plenty of stories about amazing vehicles found in barns. Tales of rare Cobras, forgotten Corvettes and misplaced muscle cars are the subjects of books and dreams. Now, a long-forgotten treasure has recently been unearthed in the United Kingdom, and somewhere David Brown is smiling. An Aston Martin DB4 convertible, one of only 70 produced, has been recovered and will cross the Bonhams auction block.

Richard Truesdell of AutomotiveTraveler breaks down the history of the DB4 convertible for us (and he does so in a very iPad-friendly format). This particular roughed-up example has a two-owner history, and shows just 60,000 miles on the odometer. The original engine is gone, but the mill that comes with the car is a factory unit, which was installed in the late 1970s. The convertible will be sold in its barn find condition.

Slated to face the gavel on May 21st, auction experts expect the car to go for £80,000 to £140,000, or around $130,000 to $227,000 USD. More is possible, however, because a recent 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII ended up costing one bidder $319,000. Of course, that one was owned by David Brown himself. Regardless, this barn find will most likely wind up in the hands of someone ready to bring it back to life.

[Source: Automotive Traveler Image: Gooding and Company]

Barn finds classier in Britain, Aston Martin DB4 convertible heads to Bonhams

Ducati announced that its sales for the first quarter of 2011 outstripped last year by some 68 percent after three months of growth.

The sales growth so far has been nice, but Ducati doesn’t see them slowing for the rest of 2011, particularly with the Diavel due to hit showrooms at the end of March. With the help of updated models like the Monster 1100EVO and the Multistrada 1200S Pikes Peak Edition, maintaining those stellar sales numbers shouldn’t be an issue, and puts Ducati well on its way to reclaiming the numbers it enjoyed before the economic nose dive.

[Source: AsphaltAndRubber]

Report: Ducati sales up 68% in Q1

A couple in Richmond Hill, Georgia were returning from the car wash when they noticed a strange late-night gathering at the local Walmart. Curious, they stopped to see what the fuss was about, and were confronted with the spectacle of a driver-less John Deere Tractor careening around the parking lot.

The tractor in question wasn’t just your regular, run-of-the-mill lawn tractor, either. No, the phantom tractor was a four-wheel-drive Deere equipped with enough snowplow to clear Vail in January. The tractor spent five minutes jogging circles around the parking lot, gouging the side of the Walmart and annihilating an unsuspecting Suzuki SX4 and Toyota Corolla while slackjawed onlookers stood by doing nothing and area police literally drove in circles.

Eventually, someone with enough cojones decided to climb aboard the wayward farm machinery and try to stop the madness… but did they succeed? Click past the jump to find out for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Marshall!

[Source: YouTube via VW Vortex]

Continue reading Video: Driverless John Deere tractor terrorizes Walmart parking lot

Video: Driverless John Deere tractor terrorizes Walmart parking lot

The seller of this 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 bought it from its original Akron, Ohio owner who racked up a scant 4,405 miles before offloading it back in the day. It’s been garage-kept all its life, and still sports its original, terrifying bias-ply tires. According to the seller, this particular Boss 429 is fitted with the coveted ‘S’ engine, a feature only available on the first 279 Boss 429s produced.

The current owner says he bought the car in excellent shape in 2007 and had it professionally cleaned and re-awoke the engine after a long slumber. Since then, the car has been pampered and its astonishing mileage preserved.

Despite its low mileage, the Boss participated in, and won, a couple bracket races when new. The quarter windows still carry the winner’s stickers. The price for this all-original time capsule is enough to make even the most-hardcore Mustang fan gulp. Buy-It-Now is set at an astounding $550,000. Is it worth it? Have your say in Comments. Top tip, Brent!

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 4,400-mile, unrestored 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

A photo purported to be a sneak peak at the facelifted 2012 Jaguar XF has hit the Web ahead of its New York Auto Show debut, and while there’s precious little information about where the photo came from, if it’s legit, this is exactly in line with what we’re expecting the next XF to look like.

The sharper headlights on the car pictured above look consistent with the camouflaged versions seen in spy shots, so there’s a solid chance this is the real deal. Underneath the XF’s reshaped skin will be a new eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF backing up a 2.2-liter diesel four-pot pulling down 187 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque. That same transmission will likely be fitted to the U.S.-spec models packing the 5.0-liter V8, possibly in both naturally aspirated and supercharged R guise.

[Source: Joke For Blog via Nitrobahn]

Is this the facelifted 2012 Jaguar XF?

Audi is ready to take its etron vehicle strategy on the road and one of its first all-electric offerings will come in the form of the A3.

Based on Audi’s entry-level hatchback, the A3 etron is packing an electric motor under the hood which sends power from the rear- and mid-mounted battery packs to the front wheels. Output is rated at 100 kW (just over 130 horsepower) and 199 pound-feet of torque, with the 26.5 kWh lithium-ion batteries providing a range of around 90 miles. The electric A3’s performance is far from enthralling, requiring 11 seconds to hit 60 mph and topping out at just 90 mph, but with a 400-volt rapid charger, getting juiced up can take as little as four hours – or as long as nine with a standard 110-volt outlet.

Other modifications include a new gauge cluster, a low consumption HVAC system and a heated windshield, but when the A3 etron is set to hit the market is still up in the air. The R8-based flaghip will supposedly go on sale sometime in 2013, but if Audi wants to get in on the EV action sooner – much like BMW is doing with its ActiveE 1 Series – the A3 could be a worthy stop-gap until in the interim.

[Source: Autoblog.it]

First details on Audi’s ActiveE-fighting A3 etron

Alfa Romeo Giulietta – Click above for high-res image gallery

Alfa Romeo is reported delaying its return to the States until 2013 because Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is unhappy with the proposed vehicle designs bound for the U.S. Marchionne cited manufacturing and styling issues that need fixing before the 2013 Alfa Romeo Giulia is ready to be released both in the States and abroad.

The delay pushes the Giulia back from a late-2012 release to sometime mid-2013, which leaves Alfa Romeo in the lurch in two continents. Without the Giulia, Alfa will have a gaping hole in its lineup and nothing to offer in the hotly-contested mid-range market.

Marchionne is also unhappy with efforts from Chrysler designers to retool the Giulia as a replacement for the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger, models which Fiat-Chrysler is hoping to debut in 2013. Since the two new Chryslers and the Giulia will share a platform, a delay for one means a delay for the others.

With the Giulia’s release postponed, Alfa will have to make do with a three-model lineup, comprised of the MiTo, the 159 and the Guilietta, until its new small SUV arrives in late 2012, followed by the Giulia the following year.

[Source: AutoNews]

Report: Alfa’s return to the U.S. delayed until 2013

The 2011 BMW Z4 GT3 proved it can win races back in January when it took the overall victory at the Dubai 24 Hours. Never one to rest on its laurels, BMW took the car from the winners circle in Dubai and put it right back on a test track. After a good beating throughout March, BMW made aerodynamic and electronic tweaks to get the racer into absolute state-of-the-art shape for customer entries in 2011 GT3 competition.

The BMW Z4 GT3 resembles its production cousin in name and basic shape only. Most of its body panels have been significantly altered to keep the car slipping through the air and bolted to the road.

Under the hood, the production Z’s six-cylinder heart has been ripped out and replaced with the same 4.4-liter V8 that sees duty in the M3. The V8 feeds power to the ground through a six-speed paddle-shifted sequential manual. Stuffing all that engineering know-how into the Z4 GT3 isn’t cheap, either; the car retails at just north of $450,000. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests

BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests

The Mopar Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak debuted just shy of a month ago and has already stormed its way into the NHRA record books. Driver Dave Thomas laid down a 9.43-second pass at 143.90 mph at a test session April 7, simultaneously setting the elapsed time and mile-per-hour records for the AA/SA class.

Thomas’ record is all the more impressive when you consider that he made his first-ever passes in the car the Sunday before the record run. With capabilities in the nine-second range almost as soon as it comes out of the box, we expect there are quicker times to be pulled out of the only V10-powered factory dragster.

As a refresher, the V10 Drag Pak carries a slightly modified version of the 500 cubic-inch mill from the Viper mated to a two-speed race-only transmission and a Mopar solid-axle rear end. The car comes ready to race, with an NHRA-approved roll cage, fuel system and racing wheels and tires. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Mopar]

Continue reading Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak sets NHRA AA/SA records

Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak sets NHRA AA/SA records

There are major auto shows, and there are relatively minor ones. Holland’s AutoRAI may fall more into the latter category, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have its fare share of new debuts. And a big part of those are reportedly coming from Jaguar.

Say what you will about the wisdom of decisions taken in Europe’s notoriously mind-altering playground, but as we already reported, Jaguar has apparently chosen the Amsterdam expo as the location to elaborate on the future of its X-Type successor. But the company’s English manners prevent it from turning up empty-handed with only some promises of things to come, so it’s created a special series specifically for the Dutch market.

Called the Designer Edition, it’s available on either the XF or the XJ, powered by the 3.0-liter V6 engine, and decked out in Stratus Grey London paint – looks decidedly greenish to us – with tan leather interior and piano black lacquer trim. The XF Designer Edition is further distinguished by bi-xenon headlights, 19-inch wheels in grey or black, heater leather steering wheels and sports seats and heated windshield. The XJ Designer Edition, meanwhile, packs a infotainment system with Bowers & Wilkins audio, high-def dual-view touchscreen and TV tuner plus a leather headliner.

Only 20 units of each are slated for production, the former coming in at €77,790 ($110,000 by current rates), the latter at €121,290 ($171,000). Just don’t forget where you parked yours.

[Sources: TopSpeed, autoblog.nl]

Jaguar brings a pair of Designer Editions to go with the announcement at AutoRAI

Variety, they say, is the spice of life. So what does that mean in motor racing? Well, sometimes it’s the epic battles between the established front-runners that provides the most gripping race action. And this year’s Malaysian Grand certainly had plenty of that. But it’s the variety – those wild cards from which you never know what to expect – that throw us all for a loop.

Heading into the second round in the 2011 Formula One World Championship, defending champion Sebastian Vettel had already staked his claim for Red Bull and the lead in the standings, with McLaren close behind and the remade Lotus Renault GP following surprisingly in third. Would the same players dominate the field once again, or would new challengers mix it up so early in the season? Follow the jump to read on.

[Images: Clive Mason, Paul Gilham, Mark Thompson/Getty Mark Baker, Raymond Ho, Vincent Thian, Aaron Favila, Eugene Hoshiko/AP]

Continue reading 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix points the way forward [Spoilers w/poll]

2011 Malaysian Grand Prix points the way forward [Spoilers w/poll]

It’s hard to argue with the potency of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI. With it’s 525-horsepower V10 mounted amidships, the Gallardo-based engine is more than enough motivation for mere mortals. However, some folks out there felt slighted by the fact that Audi detuned the Lamborghini-sourced mill for four-ringed application. Enter the folks at Heffner Performance who decieded to rectify the situation by sticking two massive Garrett turbochargers into the R8’s rear-end.

The result? A 725-horsepower twin-turbocharged Teutonic terror that runs from zero to Ludicrous Speed faster than Spaceball One. Oh, and those 725 ponies are measured at the wheels.

Check out Heffner’s work in the gallery below and click past the jump to get a taste of the boosted R8 in action.

[Source: Heffner Performance]

Continue reading Heffner Twin-Turbo Audi R8 V10 pipes up

Heffner Twin-Turbo Audi R8 V10 pipes up

The North Pole and the South Pole are separated by over 12,000 miles, and Swedish explorer Johan Ernst Nilson wants to traverse that distance within 12 months. To do so, he wants to go carbon-neutral, and Audi has partnered up with Nilson to help make sure he accomplishes his goal.

Called the Pole2Pole Expedition, Nilson plans to go from the North Pole to the South Pole in six stages. Nilson’s means of transportation will be skis, a dog-sled, sailboat, bicycle and kite-sled. Audi has provided a light-weight sled that will allow Nilson to transport his equipment as he nears the southern pole, and the automaker has also offered up its test facility so Nilson can ensure that it will withstand the harsh conditions to which it’ll be subjected. The test facility is capable of recreating freezing temperatures and vicious wind, two of many environmental hazards awaiting Nilson on his trip.

In addition to the carbon-fiber sled and cold-weather testing, Audi has supplied a Q5 that will serve as a support vehicle as Nilson treks across the Americas. The Q5 spews CO2 so the team will work to offset the difference and keep the expedition carbon neutral.

Check out the press release after the jump for more on Johan Ernst Nilson’s Pole2Pole expedition.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi announces Pole2Pole expedition

Audi announces Pole2Pole expedition

Would you raise an eyebrow if you knew that former NHTSA workers took jobs with automakers after their tenure with the Feds? A few senators experience vertical eyebrow movement, and decided they’d like a few questions answered. Was it possible that misconduct was underfoot related to automaker recalls, and did current NHTSA employees provide special treatment for their former co-workers?

A probe was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, and over the past 10 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has seen 15 employees move on to jobs with automakers or their respective law firms.

The investigation found that all parties were compliant and adhered to the rules established by the US Office of Government Ethics. So employees of NHTSA, both current and former, are supposedly playing by the rules.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Probe finds no evidence of misconduct among ex-NHTSA employees

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Cadillac has apparently changed its plans for the next-generation CTS yet again, confirming the development of a coupe to fill out the rest of the line when it arrives in 2013. This comes after reports that Caddy’s mid-level fighter would only be offered in sedan form.

Fighting it out for the hears and wallets of coupe and convertible buyers was originall going to be left to Cadillac’s upcoming BMW 3 Series competitor, currently codenamed the ATS. The rationale was that a more traditional coupe roofline and folding convertible top would integrate into the ATS’s rump more smoothly than the angular CTS.

For the next generation CTS, Cadillac is changing the car’s underpinnings from the current Sigma platform to the Alpha rear-drive platform, which will also see duty under the next Camaro.

Rumor has is that Cadillac is working on an even more radical design for the next-generation CTS Coupe, which will likely share its doors with the Camaro. And as we’ve heard so many times before, there may be a low-volume flagship model from Cadillac, nosing its way past the six-figure price point.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL
[Source: MotorTrend]

Report: Contrary to expectations, next-gen Cadillac CTS will offer coupe model

Ford claims that the 2011 Boss 335 GT packs the most-powerful V8 ever offered in an Australian sedan. And after seeing four-time Australian Touring Car champ Allan Moffat at the wheel, we’re inclined to believe them.

The Boss 335 GT squeezes 450 horsepower from a supercharged, DOHC 5.0-liter V8 based on the same mill powering the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 in the U.S. With 10 more horsepower than our Mustang and two more doors, the Boss 335 GT is likely one of the most efficient ways of getting you and three friends arrested Down Under.

Unfortunately, that privilege is reserved solely for the Australians, as there’s zero chance the Boss 335 GT will come to our shores. Hear the 335 GT in action after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Dan!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ford FPV Boss 335 GT makes us wish we were Australian

Video: Ford FPV Boss 335 GT makes us wish we were Australian