2011 Hyundai Sonata being recalled for steering issues – Click above for high-res image gallery
It looks like the is officially taking its place near the top of the midsize car category. We already told you how it has moved into , and now it moves up the charts again… but on a much less desirable list. Hyundai has issued a recall of 139,500 Sonatas over steering issues.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report at safercar.gov identifies the issue says “the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.” The consequence could be “a complete separation or compromised attachment of the connections, such that the driver could experience a loss of, or reduction in, steering capability increasing the risk of a crash.”
The recall affects MY 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedans built between December 11, 2009 and September 10, 2010. Dealers should begin sending out recall notices in October. They will inspect and re-torque the assembly, and update the steering software too, at no charge.
In the meantime, owners can contact the Hyundai Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151, or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153). Hat tip to Ralph!
issued a press release recently to discuss the updates to the 2011 FJ Cruiser. The release goes on to highlight the all-new Trail Teams Special Edition FJ, which wears Army Green paint. The photo above was attached to the release and highlights something else: someone at Toyota might be color blind.
Tritanopia, a form of Blue-Yellow colorblindness, can cause some green colors to appear light blue to the affected viewer. We would love to show those of you with standard color vision a photo of the Army Green FJ but we don’t have one available.
For our readers with Tritanopia, check out the sweet new Trail Teams Special Edition FJ shown above.
Everyone, regardless of colors seen, can hop the jump to read about the updates on the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser. They include an upgraded standard audio system, improved rearward visibility and a new design for the available 17-inch wheels.
Jay Leno gets the , version 2.5, for a spell in the garage, which goes from a two-speed to a single speed transmission, has some revised bodywork front an back, interior upgrades to add more polish and the targa will roll an EPA-certified 245 miles on a charge. for his lengthy take on it, and to hear him compare it to his 1909 Baker Electric.
2011 Toyota Highlander – Click above for high-res image gallery
As we have suspected for some time now, will update its popular mid-size crossover for the upcoming model year, and now we have the details about what’s in store. The , and Highlander Hybrid, are getting a plethora of updates inside and out to completely freshen up the vehicle.
, the 2011 Highlander has been updated thanks to an all-new hood, fenders, lights and front fascia. The hybrid features additional exterior elements, such as a unique grille and front bumper, which help set it apart from the standard Highlander.
On the inside, the Highlander now features three-row seating as a standard feature while amenity and tech options have been expanded throughout the lineup. SE and Limited trims will henceforth come standard with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and XM radio while these features are available optionally on the base model. The base Hybrid Highlander can now be outfitted with a Leather Package boasting heated front seats and a power moonroof.
Under the hood, the base 2.7-liter engine four-cylinder engine is now also available on the SE model, and it churns out 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque – good enough for highway fuel economy figure of 25 miles per gallon. The uplevel 3.5-liter six-cylinder has been tuned to deliver 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, but both the I4 and the V6 still make do with five-speed automatic transmissions. Interestingly, the Highlander Hybrid gets an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine to replace the older 3.3-liter unit, and it’s the most powerful powertrain in the range. The combined output of the new engine with the electric motor is 280 horsepower, yet the hybrid is expected to return 28 mpg in the city and on the highway.
Pricing for the 2011 Toyota Highlander lineup has also just been announced. Break out the wallet and start counting the bills…$27,390 gets you the base four-cylinder front-wheel drive model; the SE V6 FWD will be $33,150, while the Limited V6 with all-wheel drive will list for $36,345. The MSRP for Highlander Hybrid will range from $37,290 for the base model to $42,945 for the Limited model.
The full list of updates can be found in the press release and you can check out both the gasoline-only and hybrid Highlander models in the galleries below.
If you’ve been in sitting on the fence for a you’re time is officially up. The website My Nissan Leaf posted the announcement below and Nissan has since confirmed that sales of the Leaf officially ended yesterday. For those of you who didn’t get your $99 deposit in, next year’s your best bet.
Nissan aggressively anticipated reaching its goal of 20,000 consumer reservations by December 2010 and we are excited to announce that we have reached this goal 3 months ahead of schedule! Therefore, on 9/23/10, Nissan will shut down the reservation system in order to focus on providing the best level of customer service and premium ownership experience to those who have already reserved.
All current reservation holders will continue to have the opportunity to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF. Those who are interested in the Nissan LEAF but have yet to make a reservation are invited to sign up for information and updates on http://www.nissanusa.com. A subsequent phase of reservations for those consumers will begin next year
2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE – Click above for high-res image gallery
2010 has been a banner year for heavy-duty pickup truck fans, with revamped entries from all three U.S. automakers making their debut this year. Of those, the HD pickups from both and received the most subtle exterior updates, but virtually everything under their skins is new, including a heavily revamped version of the company’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8.
When it comes to full-size pickup trucks, the old Burger King tag-line of “Have It Your Way” still rings true. Regardless of where your brand loyalty lies, these types of trucks are available with either gas or diesel engines; as regular, extended or crew-cab and with regular or long beds. All you have to do is figure out what you need the truck for and then check the appropriate boxes on the dealer’s order sheet. Somewhere in the middle of this cacophony of choice lies the .
Nissan Foria Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
As much as we’d love to see hearken back to its performance roots with a remake of the classic 240SX coupe, it seems the Japanese automaker is content to earn sales by sticking to the tried-and-true approach of offering competent vehicles at attainable prices. In other words, if Nissan has a sporty-looking coupe in the pipeline, it’ll be more of a competitor than a -challenger.
This revelation comes by way of Larry Dominique, chief product planner for Nissan North America, who tells Wards “he would be more inclined to do a derivative of the Sentra than introduce an entirely new nameplate.” Nissan’s internal data suggests that it could only sell about 30,000 240SX coupes in America per year, which isn’t enough to make a convincing production argument. Sad, sure, but very likely also true.
In related news, Dominique also says that the next generation of Nissan cars in the States will share a great deal of design DNA. At present, there is very little visually that ties the , and together in any meaningful cohesive way besides the Nissan badge on the trunk. Expect that to change in the coming years as the nameplates receive their next rounds of styling updates.
With over three months and 5,342 miles on our , we’ve moved from the honeymoon phase to the daily grind, and now we’re appreciating the little things.
Aside from averaging 39.2 mpg since our last update – which included a 10- hour trip to LA and back – there are a handful of thoughtful touches that continue to impress us. For instance? Carpeted bin liners. It may sound trite, but not hearing a plastic-on-plastic smack every time we throw our FastTrak into the door pocket is reassuring. Auto-up and down on all four windows is something you don’t find often enough in this segment and it’s a huge plus when clearing out the heat on a summer day. But our Favorite Little Thing? B-pillar mounted coat hooks. Throw your dry cleaning or sportcoat onto one of the hooks normally integrated into the rear grab handles and you’ve doubled your blind-spot. With VW’s solution, visibility out back remains nearly unobstructed, assuming you hang your coat on the passenger side and not behind the driver’s seat. We’ve also managed to cram four R-compound-shod wheels into the back (not for the Jetta, mind) with the rear seats folded down, and still had room for a toolbox, a few backpacks and a small tent. Not bad for a “compact sedan.”
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2011 Jeep Wrangler – Click above for high-res image gallery
After a rather long product winter, 2011 is shaping up to be a big year for . Obviously, the biggest news from ’s off-road brand has been the introduction of the , and after (), we’ve learned that the automaker is still fully capable of delivering competitive, well-rounded products. But beyond the Grand Cherokee, Chrysler has made tweaks to both its Jeep and for the 2011 model year, and we spent some time this morning at the Pentastar’s Technical Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to see what all the fuss is about.
Looking at both the Wrangler and Patriot from the outside, you won’t immediately notice the new changes these vehicles receive for 2011. The Patriot receives a slight styling update – a cleaner front end with repositioned fog lamps is up front, body cladding has been added to the sides and a new rear bumper is found out back. The Wrangler has even less in the way of exterior visual updates, save the new body-colored hardtop available on the Sahara trim level.
What really impresses us, though, is the larger attention to detail in both of these vehicles. On the Wrangler, for example, little kitschy add-ons like an off-loading Jeep integrated into the windshield outline (pictured right) or the seven-slat grille design for the . Little things like this are only part of the story, though – the new interiors that both of these vehicles receive are seriously worthy of your consideration.
Wranglers get an updated dash with softer, rounder shapes, and although hard plastics are still used throughout, it fits with the SUV’s bad-to-the-bone attitude. Still, new improvements for 2011 include the addition of optional leather seating and Jeep’s new corporate steering wheel.
The Patriot, on the other hand, gets a full host of updates, with soft-touch materials used throughout the cabin. Chrysler says that specific touch points have been enhanced in the Patriot to rid the interior of cheap-feeling buttons and knobs, and the new seats (both leather and cloth) are really comfortable. It’s a huge, much-needed leap forward for the Patriot, and it makes it much more competitive against vehicles like the , and .
Similar updates will make their way onto the unloved , which will launch closer to the end of the year. In the meantime, click through our galleries below to see live shots of the 2011 Wrangler and Patriot live from Chrysler’s design dome.
What if you could update your classic car with modern tech, without losing the style that you’ve come to love? now has a solution for owners of old . Starting in October 2010, owners will be able to retrofit their cars with the Porsche Classic Radio Navigation System (Part # 911 645 910 00), which packages a display screen fitted into a form factor that is an exact fit for the original factory radio’s location. Round knobs keep appearances in line with that classic Porsche aesthetic, but the technology is purely 21st century.
The unit will retail for plus VAT (around $776 USD before taxes at current exchange rates). Considering on its modern cars, the neo-retro nav unit’s price seems pretty good. We understand a desire for modern conveniences in older cars, and the Porsche Classic Radio Navigation System may be an answer to the prayers of some 911 enthusiasts since it obviates the need for a less desirable aftermarket solution. (Of cource, one could always just stick a portable GPS unit on the windshield…)
According to MotoBullet, the Classic Radio Navigation System is designed to fit Porsche 911s from from model years 1963 to 1977 (it might also fit the Porsche 914). They go on to suggest that this nav unit may also work with firstgeneration , but those guys are already going too slow to care where they’re heading. (We kid, we kid… out of jealousy.)
Test drive the 2011 Ford F-150 – Click above to enlarge
is ready to show off the … in fact it’s so excited about it that it wants you to drive one (or four) before the truck arrives in dealer showrooms. The F-150 is receiving , including the all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost unit. The twin-turbocharged. direct-injection V6 mill is capable of great power numbers and is rumored to come in around the 400 mark for both horsepower and torque. Also making are the 3.7-liter V6 base engine, the 5.0-liter V8 and the top-of-the-line 6.2-liter V8 for the Platinum edition truck.
Ford is taking a fleet of trucks on a whirlwind tour around the country and expects to put 20,000 butts in the driver’s seats. The Built Ford Tough Roundup is going to kick off in Texas on Saturday, September 25th, 2010. It will then make a great big convoy across the USA as Texas gives way to Maryland, Georgia, Florida and finally California. All those stops will be hit before the 2011 Ford F-150 checks its on-sale date off the calendar.
If you are interested in checking out these updated trucks for yourself, you can register online at . If you are on Facebook (at this point, who isn’t on Facebook?), you can sign up by going to .
This is a great way to give consumers a sneak peak at a new product before it’s for sale. If you plan on going, make sure you get in line early for the EcoBoost, 5-point-0 and the big ‘ol 6.2 because those waits are bound to be just a bit longer than the those for the 3.7-liter.
Since the Malibu’s launch in 2008, competitors like the Mazda6, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Subaru Legacy and SuzukiKizashi are either brand new or heavily revised. With two more years left until an all-new Malibu is set to arrive, does the Malibu still lead the pack, simply keep up or something worse?
Jeep: Build it and they will come. Seriously.
Frank Sprongl would like to chat with Travis Pastrana, who’s time of six minutes and 20.47 seconds in a rally-prepped Subaru WRX STI bested Sprongl’s record-setting 1983 run.
has a whole cabinet full of pots on the fire, unleashing as it is a slew of heavily revised or completely new cars and trucks over the next couple of years. If you’re thinking that this seems like a good time to leap-frog its way back to the head of the pack in terms of vehicle specification, we’re right there with you.
And according to reports, so is Chrysler’s new management from Italy. We’ve heard rumblings that the -controlled automaker will introduce an eight-speed automatic transmission for rear-wheel drive vehicles in 2012, and now rumors indicate that the Pentastar’s next trick will be a nine-speed slushbox for its front-wheel drivers, which should have a suitably positive effect on fuel efficiency.
According to company head Sergio Marchionne, both the eight- and nine-speed gearboxes will be adaptable for use in all-wheel-drive applications and will come ready to accept hybrid bits and pieces. As of now, there isn’t any timetable on when we should expect to see the new nine-speeder.
*Update:Full text of Marchionne’s speech can be found after the break.
That mysterious Audi coupe we saw in is slowly becoming more clear. The above photo shows off some of the styling lines, even though the curly-Q camo is trying hard to hide them. Originally, the internet was abuzz with word that this vehicle could be related to Audi’s all-electric e-tron. Now, however, many are now backing away from that thinking – the large brakes, sporty wheels and shining tailpipes suggest otherwise. This could very likely be an R4 coupe or cabrio prototype basking in the Austrian sun, getting ready for a reverse ski-jump workout and laughing at our attempts to figure out what it is.
Our friends at GermanCarBlog may have as to exactly what’s going on here. They believe this is not the e-tron, not the R4 coupe or cabrio, but . That’s right folks, we may be staring at a long-awaited update to the beloved Ur-Quattro.
What exactly is sitting under the Van Gogh-esque wrap job remains to be seen. In the meantime, our eyes will remain glued to the ‘tubes until we learn more.
The king of its class gets updated for 2011 and we test out the top-spec Lariat model to see how it copes with the daily grind.
The Countryman may seem like an odd entrant into WRC, but couple the marque’s rally heritage with these latest spy videos and it’s obvious that Mini is serious about slinging dirt.
Dodge Viper ACR – Click above for high-res image gallery
At yesterday’s dealer conference, the Pentastar people publicly revealed new or updated products from , , and . But there was more on stage than just a facelifted Town & Country and a federalized .
Towards the end of his remarks, Chrysler Group and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne pulled a Steve Jobs-style “one more thing,” and onto the stage rolled the 2012 . According to our sources, the design was all-new, complete with an aggressive greenhouse and fresh, angular sheetmetal.
Chrysler has already confirmed that in two years’ time, but showing it off this early is a clear indication that work is well underway. There’s still some debate about what powertrain will be fitted to the thoroughly updated Viper, but early reports indicate that the same 8.4-liter V10 could carry on, possibly with the inclusion of Fiat’s MultiAir technology to reduce emissions and boost output over 700 horsepower. An entry-level V8 option is a possibility, and there’s little doubt that Dodge is tapping engineers to advise on everything from handling to steering and stability control systems.
Another supposed cameo at the event was a Jeep pickup, similar to the , however, we’ve yet to confirm its attendance or any serious production plans. But for the time being, we’re content with the knowledge that Dodge’s next supercar is in the wings and we’ll being seeing it in person within the next several months.
After to vehicle owners, will be getting a well-deserved boost in functionality to better take on and other upstart systems.
New infotainment systems are one of the hottest trends in the automotive marketplace, and GM certainly can’t afford to be behind the curve. Because of this, OnStar will be relaunching its brand image, citing the phrase “responsible connectivity” as the motto for everything moving forward. This means that OnStar won’t just be about safety anymore, though its core values will continue to be improved.
Two of the main infotainment technologies being tested right now are audio Facebook integration and voice text messaging. OnStar recently released about these two functions, but we were able to attend a presentation to see these new social functions firsthand.
OnStar’s Facebook integration will allow subscribers to post audio status updates directly from the car. These messages will appear as audio updates on the Facebook news feed, and drivers will also have the ability to have their personal news feed read back to them. Even though this technology is still undergoing beta testing, the whole process works relatively seamlessly, though the read-back audio could still benefit from some smoothing-out.
Voice text messaging piggybacks on this same audio technology. Using a Bluetooth-paired phone, drivers can have text messages read to them via the car’s audio system. From there, the driver can press a button on the steering wheel to verbally select one of OnStar’s four pre-set replies – things like, “I received your text message, but am currently driving,” or, “Please call me.”
All of this being tested in correlation with OnStar’s ninth-generation hardware, which improves voice recognition, adds a Bluetooth phonebook, help ‘wizard,’ improved navigation and uses advanced notification services for traffic and weather alerts. This is just the start to what OnStar is working on, though. Stay tuned for a deeper dive into the future technologies OnStar is working to bring to GM vehicles. In the meantime, for the official press release.
Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari presented to Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa – Click above for high-res image gallery
Good work deserves a good reward. And could hardly have asked their drivers (SPOILER!) to perform better than they did at their home race at Monza, turning a 1-3 qualifying into a 1-3 finish. Their reward? A new for each.
Now the hot hatch may pale in comparison to some of the machinery the pair have been awarded in the past, like the or . But with a , the 695 is could be considered a junior Ferrari as it is a top-of-the-line Fiat. Whichever way you look at it, we certainly wouldn’t be turning it down.
The full press release can be found after the jump, with high-resolution images in the updated gallery below.
2010 BMW 335i Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery
has always had a gem of an inline-six on its hands, regardless of which particular powerplant you’re referring to. But over the last couple of years, it’s the German automaker’s turbocharged 3.0-liter N54 engines that have been lighting enthusiasts hearts afire, and steering more than a few buyers away from the and into the seat of a . And when the N54 proliferated across the rest of the automaker’s lineup, it was well-received in nearly every application.
For 2011, though, there’s a new engine in town, and the big question is whether or not the single-turbo N55 is better than the or, at the very least, not worse. Helping shed some light on the matter is the crew from Automobile Magazine, who managed to snag a trio of various N54-powered 3-Series’ – one of which was the , which uses a high-output version of the old N54 – along with one new model powered by an N55.
And the results? Well, it’s pretty much more of the same: good peak horsepower (266 horses) and a nicely flat mid-heavy torque curve, cresting at a stout 302 pound-feet. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that the new N55, while seemingly offering than its predecessor, appears to be a wee bit less powerful overall than the N54. Progress?
