RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- 11 biggest auto recalls in history
- Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid announced
- New Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be better than the Focus or Golf
- Citroen teases new DS4 concept
- Audi planning to add five-door, cabriolet and S1 variants to A1 lineup
- Ford presents Transit Connect Electric and Taxi variants
- Citroen DS3-R hot hatch leaked before its debut
- Release schedule for next Need For Speed games revealed
- Chrysler offers 60-day money back guarantee “Minivan Pledge”
- Renault Clio 20th Anniversary special editions revealed
| 11 biggest auto recalls in history Posted: 12 Feb 2010 04:34 AM PST  Despite what many might think, building a fully functional car, which is safe but also provides a decent experience is extremely hard. While you may get together a factory and some workers to handle the assembly, testing out a car under everyday conditions is an even harder task. As such, especially for large carmakers which swap platforms, assemblies and parts like nobody’s business, small defects can appear. These small defects though can cause catastrophic accidents if they are left unchecked. As such, recalls are always issued if a fault is found in various cars. With the recent plethora of problems from Toyota, either due to floor mats, gas pedals, brake systems or anything in between, we thought a list of the top 11 biggest recalls in history would be more than welcome, at least to make the executives in Japan less gloomy. Without other delays, hit the jump to see what were the biggest recalls in history. 10-11: Ford, 1987, 3.6 million vehicles There are many vital parts in your car, each fulfilling a role to keep the machine going and you safe. Fuel lines are a key part of your vehicle, feeding precious, but dangerous liquid to the engine so that it can keep running. But given the flammable nature of fuel, the high amount of heat dispelled by the engine and various other hazards, you will definitely be in trouble if something were to happen to those lines. Unfortunately for Ford, in 1987, something did happen, as faulty fuel line connectors from practically any model Ford made, from Lincolns to Mercuries to even ambulances, were prone to such a defect, and quite a few incidents of vehicles bursting on fire were recorded. The public backlash forced the Blue Oval to recall over 3.6 million cars. GM, 2004, 3.6 million Nobody pays that much attention to the tailgate on trucks, and sometimes busted up models don’t even have such an accessory. I’m sure though that you’ll pay a lot of attention if you saw one of these metal pieces flying towards you on the highway. In 2004, due to faulty cables used by General Motors on many of its pick-up trucks, such a thing could’ve happened. After over a hundred incidents were reported, the US company finally issued the recall affecting around 3.6 million trucks, including Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Cadillac Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche. 7-9: GM, 1973, 3.7 million Many roads nowadays are extremely safe, but you’ll occasionally need to drive through some tough terrain, and rocks and dirt can get underneath your car and mess with some of the mechanics. Luckily, almost all cars these days have guards or shields, to protect the delicate portions (gearbox, oil pan) or the sensitive systems (steering, braking). Back in 1973 though, at least for GM cars, such guards weren’t all that popular. Until it was found out that rocks can damage the steering assembly, and cause lack of response that the company decided to something to remedy it. Effectively it was like the car had a mind of its own, groovy! 3.7 million vehicles were affected, including models like Buick Centurion, Electra, Estate Wagon, LeSabre, Riviera, Chevrolet Bel Air, Biscayne, Brookwood, Caprice, Impala, Kingswood, Kingswood Estate, Townsman, Oldsmobile 88 and 98, Pontiac Bonneville, Grand Ville and Catalina. Honda, 1995, 3.7 million Seatbelts save lives, so it’s very important to wear them when we are in car, either driving or as a passenger. But the seatbelt system in 1995 Honda models was much more laid back, at least its release button (aka the big orange thing) was. The tiny button was prone to getting loose and releasing the seatbelt while you were driving the car, and couldn’t lock the seatbelt in place. The recall was immediate and affected over 3.7 million vehicles, including the Honda Accord, Civic or Prelude and even luxury or sport models like the Acura Integra, Legend or NSX. Volkswagen, 1972, 3.7 million The Volkswagen Beetle was an hugely popular car, bringing small, cheap and reliable transportation to the masses, cementing VW’s name as the people’s carmaker. Sadly though, there was one small hiccup in the mechanics of the reliable Beetle: the windshield wiper. Most of us take wipers for granted, although we do forget to top up the washing liquid container, but the 3.7 million Beetles had a slightly bigger problem, as the wipers would completely fall off after repeated use. Now considering if such a thing would happen when you need it most, like when its raining or snowing, your life would surely be in danger. VW though, at least according to some voices at the time, wanted to make customers pay for the repair of the wipers, claiming that it wasn’t a threat to their lives. After a public uproar though, the German company stood down, and paid for the new wipers and the bolts which held them in place. 6: Ford, 1972, 4.1 million Seatbelts weren’t causing problems just for Honda in the 1990s, as Ford models suffered from quite a few issues in 1972, when the seatbelt shoulder harness would detach from the car altogether. Even though people weren’t all that much into safe driving, let alone fastening their seatbelts (it wasn’t groovy, man), Ford was forced to recall over 4.1 million vehicles from under the Ford, Mercury and Lincoln brands. The only models without such a problem were the convertible ones. 5: Toyota, 2009-2010, 4.9 million Toyota manges to snugly fit in just around the middle of our list. We’re only counting the floor mat recall, as the unintended acceleration one had a different cause (even though there were models affected by both issues). It seems that a failure in the design of the floormat on Toyota and Lexus models caused it to move around and get stuck under or over the accelerator pedal, preventing it from returning to a normal position. This caused quite a few incidents and affected a huge number of models. While 3.8 million vehicles were recalled at first, the number was soon increased with another 1.1 million. Models included were the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza or the Lexus ES, IS and even the Pontiac Vibe. 4: GM, 1981, 5.8 million Now I dunno about you, but steering is quite important when driving a car. GM drivers found that the hard way, as certain models in 1981 had a really nasty habit of seeing their suspension bolts loosen up and even fall off, causing the whole vehicle to loose control. 5.8 million models were affected by this, GM’s second largest recall, including models like the Buick Century, Buick Regal, Chevrolet El Camino, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, GMC Caballero, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Pontiac LeMans 3: GM, 1971, 6.7 million Number 4 was GM’s second largest recall, but in 1971, the US carmaker had to make the largest one, due to weak engine mounts. The engine, as you can imagine, is one of the heaviest pieces of the car, so you should also figure out that its mounts need to be extra strong to cope with its weight. Well GM learned that thing the hard way, as mounts in over 6.7 million vehicles were faulty, and after a bit of wear, would break. This led to a plethora of incidents, including unintended acceleration, as the engine would push on the throttle cable. As such, GM had to recall models like the Chevrolet Bel Air, Brookwood, Camaro, Caprice, Chevy II, G-Series vans, Impala, Kingswood, Nova, P-Series, C-Series and Townsman, so that the engine mounts would be reinforced. 2: Ford, 1996, 7.9 million Ford’s second biggest recall happened in 1996, when problems with the ignition systems caused a lot of issues on a huge number of its models. These issues included braking and steering problems, as well as the occasional fire or two. Over 7.9 million vehicles needed to be recalled, including Ford Escort, Mustang, Tempo, Thunderbird, Cougar, Crown Victoria, Aerostar, Bronco, F-Series, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car, all extremely popular models for the Blue Oval. You’d think that such a big recall would teach Ford a thing or two but … 1: Ford, 2008-2009, 14.1 million … but the company didn’t learn until it was forced to recall a whopping 14.1 million vehicles. What first began as a “small” problem, with the cruise control switch on 9.6 million, soon saw another 4.5 million vehicles added to the total recall. Said cruise control switch did more than just affect your cruising speed, as even if you had the car turned off and parked, it would catch fire, scorching the entire model if no intervention was made. Given the huge scope of the recall, affecting cars, SUVs and pick-up trucks from Ford, Mercury and Lincoln, the call back is still under effect, with some owners not even knowing about the cruise control problems. So, after counting up all of the other huge recalls, it seems Toyota’s problem isn’t that big. But carmakers need to understand that no matter how global their reach is, even if a tiny bolt or screw isn’t up to par, it could have disastrous consequences. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid announced Posted: 12 Feb 2010 04:13 AM PST  Well, this is definitely interesting: after revealing through the voice of its CEO that no hybrid sportscars will appear from its brand, Porsche has just presented the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, which will enter the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance competition in May. The track-only race car, which will be formally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, will feature a regular 480 HP 4.0-liter flat-six engine, that will power the rear wheels, and two electric motors, that can drive the front ones. Don’t go thinking that the Porsche will stop to have its battery recharged during the endurance race, as the motors will be powered by a flywheel, that can spin up to 40,000 rpm, and will only use a KERS (Kinetic Energy Regeneration System), in order to recycle the energy generated when the brakes are engaged. This power will be stored inside the motors, and used, via a special button on the dash, by the driver during the race, to let loose a combined output of 160 HP which will be more than welcomed when engaged in an overtake maneuver for example.  The car is thought of by Porsche as a “racing laboratory”, which will provide vital information to its engineers, and might spark a more refined edition in 2012, when the Le Mans regulations might be changed to allow hybrid models onto the track. What say you about this first hybrid Porsche GT3 R? Good or bad? You be the judge. Source: Porsche Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| New Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be better than the Focus or Golf Posted: 12 Feb 2010 03:50 AM PST  Alfa Romeo is preparing to launch its new C-segment hatchback, the Giulietta, at the Geneva Motor Show this March. And the company is quite confident in the new model, as it has revealed that it will provide a better experience than the Volkswagen Golf and be more agile than the Ford Focus. The new Giulietta, according to its engineers, will blow away all of its competition, especially with the 170 HP 1.4-liter MultiAir (as in turbocharged) engine that will be mated with a dual-clutch gearbox allowing for paddles to do the shifting. It is expected that the Giulietta, formerly called Milano, will arrive in three regular editions, Touring, Lusso and Veloce, like its smaller brother, the MiTo, but also as a hot hatch variant, wearing the Quadrofoglie (Cloverleaf) badge, and sporting a 235 HP 1.8-liter MultiAir engine. The model, besides being tasked with rebooting Alfa sales in Europe, might also be the car with which the brand can be launched in the US, according to the Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne. It will at least share its platform with future Fiat/Chrysler vehicles, from sedans to 4×4s. Until Geneva opens its doors, we can’t be sure of the Giulietta, but at least in terms of looks, the Golf and the Focus have quite a few things to worry about. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com No related posts. | ||||||||
| Citroen teases new DS4 concept Posted: 12 Feb 2010 02:08 AM PST  Besides preparing to launch the new DS3 premium hatchback, working on its performance edition, the DS3-R, and thinking about the DS5, Citroen has also started teasing the new DS4 concept it will premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this March. The image above shows off not only the new style of grille, as well as a bigger take on the design of the DS3, but also a much higher ride height, in vein of what a crossover might have. A three-door look is featured in this teaser, and might hint at a possible rival from the dual-chevron brand for cars like the Nissan Qashqai, or the new Juke. Nothing else is known at the moment about this new model, but following the current train of thought, it will offer a different experience than any other Citroen model, complete with premium technologies and accessories. Source: Citroen Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Audi planning to add five-door, cabriolet and S1 variants to A1 lineup Posted: 12 Feb 2010 01:50 AM PST  Even though Audi revealed its body style plan for the new A1 city car at the end of last year, after this week’s formal presentation of the premium model, its CEO, Rupert Stadler, revealed that the vehicle was devised to support multiple body iterations. The first, which we already saw, is the three-door edition, which will serve as a base for others. Next up in the release schedule is a five-door model, which will hit at the beginning of 2011, and will also be offered with the current gasoline and diesel engines. Performance fans will be able to order the S1 model at the beginning of 2012, which will use the same turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine as the upcoming Volkswagen Polo GTI, that can produce around 180 HP. The three-door S1 will be offered with the same seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox as the current edition, and still won’t feature the quattro all-wheel drive system. Last but not least, after the S1, Audi will market a cabriolet A1, which is set to feature a cloth folding top, and might also arrive with a revised engine range. Will all of these models become popular choices for the younger audience with a taste for premium models? You decide by leaving a comment. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ford presents Transit Connect Electric and Taxi variants Posted: 12 Feb 2010 01:22 AM PST  During this year’s Chicago Auto Show, Ford revealed two new editions for its popular Transit Connect model, which was recently named the 2010 North American Truck of the Year, trumping other extremely popular vehicles. The first edition is the aptly named Transit Connect Electric, which is presented as more of a fleet solution, for companies which operate inside a city and have a central hub that can work as a recharge stations. With a range of 80 miles and the possibility to be recharged from either a 120 or 240 volt socket, the TCE looks pretty interesting, but in case you really want a zero-emissions model from the Blue Oval, wait for the Focus electric, due to appear next year.  The other model, named the Transit Connect Taxi, promises to be more useful, and a great replacement for the aging Crown Victoria, which has been serving as a cab model for quite some time. Don’t go thinking that this is just a regular Transit with a yellow paint job, as even though it will be powered by the regular 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine like other models, Ford will offer to convert the vehicle so that it can run with compressed natural gas or propane fuels, making it more efficient than other taxi models. A special version Ford Work Solutions will be implemented in the TCT, which offers high speed Internet and navigation to the driver. Rear passengers will also enjoy various entertainment options, as well as a credit card swipe station. High end solutions might also include an 8.4-inch screen in the back seat, that can offer various types of information, from monuments and tourist sites to stock market data. Couple all of these features with the ease of getting in and out of the Transit Connect, thanks to the sliding doors and its big capacity, and the TCT looks extremely good. Source: Ford Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Citroen DS3-R hot hatch leaked before its debut Posted: 12 Feb 2010 12:44 AM PST  Citroen has high hopes for the upcoming DS3 model, which takes the brand into a premium segment, and aims at taking down rivals like the Mini Cooper. We’ve already talked about a possible hot hatch version appearing after the official launch of the regular DS3, but now thanks to some leaked pictures, we have the possible first look at this DS3-R model, which will take the fight to performance editions like the Mini Cooper S. From what we can see, the new car will sport more aggressive lines, enlarged wheels which hide performance brakes, lowered ride height and unique paint jobs. According to the rumors we already know, under the bonnet will be a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, developed in partnership with BMW by Citroen, which will output somewhere around 200 HP. Considering the massive experience Citroen has earned by dominating the WRC and that the DS3 will be the new rally car in 2011, hopes are quite high about this new hot hatch. Source: Autoblog.es Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Release schedule for next Need For Speed games revealed Posted: 12 Feb 2010 12:13 AM PST  Electronic Arts recently showcased its third quarter fiscal year 2010 earnings, during which it also presented the release plan for its future video games. Among them were three new Need For Speed racing games, including the online multiplayer title NFS: World, but also included two new titles in the popular racing franchise. NFS World is scheduled to be released between April and June, this year, exclusively on the PC, while a new NFS game will appear around October-December, 2010 for the PC, consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, as well as handheld devices, like the iPhone, Nintendo DS or PSP. Last but not least, another game in the NFS franchise will be released at the beginning of next year, between January and March, which will be coming only to the PC and consoles. Judging by the speculations currently flying on the Internet, the October-December title might be developed by the regular NFS team at the EA Black Box studio, which also handled titles like NFS: ProStreet, Carbon or Most Wanted, seeing as how they are experienced on getting the same experience on multiple platforms. The other NFS title is most probably the project Criterion Games currently develops, a studio which was responsible for the acclaimed hit Burnout Paradise. Overall, it seems the NFS franchise will continue to spawn sequels at least in the next time period. Hopefully they will continue to improve upon it, just like the recent NFS Shift did. Source: NFS Planet Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Chrysler offers 60-day money back guarantee “Minivan Pledge” Posted: 11 Feb 2010 11:56 PM PST  Even though Chrysler isn’t doing so well in the auto market, as many of its models are long due for an overhaul, at least one segment is still doing pretty good: the minivan one, where the Dodge Caravan and the Chrysler Town and Country are shifting units left and right. Seeing more potential in that segment, the Pentastar carmaker has announced a special offer, valid through March 31, entitled the Minivan Pledge. Current owners of competitive makes can opt to try out the two minivans for 60 days, and if you’re not satisfied, you can return it to the company.
GM also held such a promotion at the end of last year, and from what it revealed, it was pretty successful. Bear in mind though, that the guarantee the company offered spanned its whole lineup, not just minivans like Chrysler. Source: Chrysler Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Renault Clio 20th Anniversary special editions revealed Posted: 11 Feb 2010 11:35 PM PST  Renault is one successful carmaker, and it owes much of its volume sales to the humble Clio, which managed in just 20 years to sell over 10 million vehicles, a feat that not any car can brag about. In honor of its small yet popular car, the French company has announced that it will be launching special 20th Anniversary editions all over Europe, with France being the first territory to receive these limited editions of the three and five-door models, as well the top of the range RS one. The normal Clio and Clio Estate will have special colors prepared for them, including metallic Cassiopee Grey, Dyna Red, Grey Blue, Pearlescent Black, and Platine Gre, as well as non-metallic Glacier White. The RS model, on the other hand, will only arrive in Pearlescent Givre (white) with a black roof. All Clio cars will also be adorned with 20th anniversary badges, as well as glossy black front bumpers and side mirrors. For the inside, contrast stitching will be added to the dash, cloth upholstery and floor mats, and the air vents contour will be decorated with anthracite gray on the normal editions and chrome in the RS. Other stock features will depend on your local market, but at least in France prices will start from €14,350 ($19,600) for the regular edition and from €24,700 ($33,700) for the RS. Check out the photo gallery of the Renault Clio 20th Anniversary special edition below. Photo Gallery: Renault Clio 20th Anniversary
Source: Renault Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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