Tag Archives: SUV

Official: Bentley confirms SUV for 2016

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Bentley EXP 9 F SUV concept live at show reveal in Geneva - front three-quarter view

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It looks like the addition of a Royal Baby isn’t the only big news coming out of the UK this week. Bentley has ended all of the will they/won’t they speculation by confirming today that it will produce an SUV. Earmarked to go on sale in 2016, the as-yet unnamed Bentley SUV will help create an extra 1,000 jobs in the UK.

While no concrete details have been released, Bentley says that it will be the “most luxurious and most powerful SUV” on the market. Past rumors have indicated that the SUV could look completely different from the 2012 EXP 9 F Concept shown above, be renamed the Falcon and offer options like a plug-in hybrid version and three-row seating. To prepare for a fourth model in its lineup, Bentley will be investing 800 million British pounds (around $1.2 billion USD) into its Crewe headquarters and production lines over the next three years. Scroll down for Bentley’s press release officially confirming the new SUV.

Continue reading Bentley confirms SUV for 2016

Bentley confirms SUV for 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Official: Infiniti announces pricing for 2014 QX60 and QX70

By Jeffrey N. Ross

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With the exception of the G37, customers walking into Infiniti showrooms this summer are going to see a bunch of different names pop up as the automaker switches to its new Q-for-car and QX-for-crossover/SUV naming convention for 2014. The first of these renamed models are the 2014 QX60 (which replaces the JX) starting at $41,550* and the 2014 QX70 (which replaces the FX) priced at $44,950* (*prices do not include $995 for destination), and both are on sale now.

Compared to the outgoing models, the new QX60 (seen above, click to enlarge) lineup starts $300 more than the outgoing JX models (base and AWD), while pricing for the QX70 will remain the same as the trio of 2013 FX models (FX37, FX37 AWD and FX50). What is still unclear is how much the all-new QX60 Hybrid model will cost or how much option and package pricing will change, if any. Scroll down for more info on the new QX60 and QX70 crossovers.

Continue reading Infiniti announces pricing for 2014 QX60 and QX70

Infiniti announces pricing for 2014 QX60 and QX70 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Chinese SUV Maker Great Wall Says Net Profit Shot Up 74% In 1st Half

By Russell Flannery, Forbes Staff Great Wall Motor, the fast-growing, non-government-own Chinese motor vehicle maker, said today its business continued to expand rapidly in the first half of the year. Net profit shot up by 74% in the six months to June from a year earlier to 4.1 billion yuan, or $683 million, on sales that soared 44% to 26.6 billion yuan, or  $4.4 billion, the company said, without giving a reason for the increases.  Baoding-based Great Wall is one of China’s largest SUV makers and was a member of the 2012 Forbes Asia Fab 50 List of Asia’s best-performing large companies.   …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Report: BMW, Mini aim to sell million cars off new FWD platform

By Jonathon Ramsey

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Mini sold 301,526 cars in 2012; BMW sold 1.54 million of its own models. According to a piece in Autocar, analysts say the coming UKL1 platform that will form the skeleton of the third-generation Mini Cooper and coming front-wheel drive BMW 1 Series could be responsible for “more than 900,000 cars per year” all by itself.

That sale fire is fueled by the UKL1 wearing up to twenty-three bodies in total between the two brands, 11 for Mini and 12 for BMW, rendering hatchbacks, sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, crossovers and people-haulers from about 12.5 feet to 14.5 feet. In April the VP of Mini USA said we might find some current models don’t make it to a next generation, but a graphic accompanying the Autocar story has them all there. If it’s correct, then those 23 models will only base model lines and don’t account for different engines and four-wheel-drive options for each model.

The big changes that would perhaps mean big sales for the Mini line are a five-door hatch with two smaller rear doors for children, the sedan talked about last year for Asian markets and an MPV perhaps wearing the “Traveler” name that could send the Countryman in a more SUV-like direction.

BMW, Mini aim to sell million cars off new FWD platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Uber let you hail an ice cream truck for a day

It’s summertime, and the company behind the Uber car-hailing service wants you to stay cool.

Using their app, of course.

As part of a one-day promotion on Friday, Uber users in dozens of cities could hail an ice cream truck instead of the usual black car, SUV or taxi. A truck with an Uber logo on the side would then show up, hang around long enough to distribute some ice cream, and head off to make another delivery.

[You can see a video of an Uber ice cream van in operation here.]

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Volvo to Introduce Host of Next-Gen Tech in 2015 XC90

By John Lamm

The autonomous car, for all intents and purposes, is already upon us—or at least it will be once Volvo comes to market with its next-gen XC90 near the end of 2014. That’s when the Swedish marque, synonymous with advancements in safety tech, will introduce the following: night-time pedestrian detection, road-edge and barrier detection, new-gen adaptive cruise control, and—here’s the kicker—autonomous parking.

When Volvo describes autonomous parking, it’s not talking about systems that will tuck your ride into a parallel parking space with you at the helm as a failsafe. The 2015 Volvo XC90 will have fully autonomous parking—Audi is developing a similar system, which we witnessed at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show—that will allow the driver to get out of the vehicle while the SUV looks for, and slots itself into, a parking spot. Volvo didn’t go into detail as to how this will be achieved, but Audi’s system is reliant on lasers and Wi-Fi to navigate—infrastructure not prevalent in many of this country’s parking lots.

Road-edge and barrier detection is perhaps just as intriguing as the autonomous parking feature. This system can detect the edge of a road, even if it’s not marked—which Volvo claims is a world first—and, as the name implies, barriers, too. If the vehicle determines that the car is leaving the roadway, it provides steering input to keep the vehicle on the road.



Another world first, according to the Swedish manufacturer, is its night-time pedestrian detection. This will use the brand’s existing pedestrian-detection system—a combination of radar and a forward-facing camera mounted behind the rearview mirror—and adapt it for night-time use. Amazingly, adaptive cruise control is becoming somewhat pedestrian, but Volvo’s variation on the theme will add steering assist to keep the car in the correct lane and with the flow of traffic, automatically following the vehicle ahead—not unlike the Super Cruise feature Cadillac has been developing.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Spy Shots: Land Rover LR4 getting facelift and interior refresh

By Brandon Turkus

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Land Rover is preparing a slight freshening of the its seven-passenger, mid-range LR4 (known outside of North America as the Discovery 4). The LR4/Disco 4 is currently the second oldest model in the Land Rover range, besides the mostly forgotten LR2/Freelander, and while it’s still a competent entry, its age is beginning to show.

This refresh should allow it to soldier on until a replacement can be built, which logic would dictate is to be called LR5/Discovery 5. Until then, the current SUV gets the typical batch of headlight tweaks, along with a freshened front bumper. The side mirrors are new as well.

On the inside, we can also expect a long-awaited upgrade to the infotainment system. Jaguar and Land Rover have both struggled in this regard, so here’s hoping the new system offers an improvement.

The big news for the LR4 will come under its hood. Jaguar Land Rover as a whole has already phased out the excellent but thirsty 5.0-liter V8, with the only holdover being the supercharged variant. That means the V8 LR4 is not long for this world. Look for it to be replaced by the same supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 that’s offered as a base engine in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. As with the Jaguar XF we tested, ZF’s eight-speed automatic would likely harness the V6’s power.

Expect to see a refreshed LR4, likely before the end of 2013.

Land Rover LR4 getting facelift and interior refresh originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Range Rover Evoque convertible reportedly gets go-ahead after all

By Jeffrey N. Ross

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Despite a report earlier this year stating that a production version of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible was shot down, there have been signs suggesting otherwise recently. Last week, we heard that the fate of this two-door, drop-top SUV could be decided upon soon, but WhatCar? says that the decision has already been made.

Quoting an insider, the article states that the Evoque Convertible has been given a green light for production with the first units being built next year. WhatCar? also says that no structural modifications are necessary for the removal of the roof, which could lessen the development time and cost of the vehicle.

As there are really no luxury SUV convertibles with which to compete against, Land Rover seems to be expecting the Evoque Convertible to rival convertibles such as the Audi TT and BMW 4 Series. We’re a bit dubious, but time will tell.

Range Rover Evoque convertible reportedly gets go-ahead after all originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

11-month-old dies after being locked inside car in Alabama

The mother of an 11-month-old girl who died after being locked inside of an SUV says she blames herself for her daughter’s death.

Katie Luong told AL.com Thursday that she wishes she could have traded places with her daughter, Gabriella, who was found locked inside of the family’s SUV outside a business they own in Homewood, south of Birmingham.

“If I had to die for her to live, I would have done that,” she told the newspaper.

Luong says she was supposed to drop her daughter off at a babysitter’s house Wednesday but was preoccupied with thoughts of an employee who recently committed suicide and a close family friend who had a stroke and is still hospitalized.

Luong said her daughter was asleep during the 10-mile ride to work and the babysitter called Wednesday afternoon asking if her daughter was sick. It was then that she realized what happened and found her daughter lying unconscious in the car seat.

Police have said the temperature inside the SUV was nearly 130 degrees when they arrived.

Luong says she and her husband were also planning her daughter’s birthday party for Sunday.

“She had too many things on her mind,” family friend Diana Huynh told the newspaper. “She was traumatized over her employee’s death because she’s never known anyone who has died, and there were so many people calling her yesterday about the birthday party.”

The newspaper reports Luong and her husband have been married for nearly 10 years and the couple tried for years to conceive.

“I asked God for this baby,” Luong said, “She was our gift from God.”

The family’s pastor, Rev. Allan Murphy, senior pastor at North Shelby Baptist, and said he, friends and relatives of the Luong family are praying for understanding.

“When you hear just a few details, you can judge quickly but it’s different when you know someone’s heart and hear their hurt,” he told the Birmingham News. “It was a tragic thing that happened. A human tragedy.”

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

ETC: Convertible 2013 Range Rover Autobiography is safari luxe

By Jonathon Ramsey

2013 Land Rover Range Rover convertible - front three-quarter view

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The idea of a convertible SUVs remains attractive enough that manufacturers are still trying to figure out how to make it work – case in point, we recently heard that Range Rover continues to debate production of the Evoque convertible. On that note, the folks at Newport Convertible Engineering, lately of Acura TL convertible fame, have given us a look at what a 2013 Range Rover Autobiography looks like with its top removed.

Unlike the Evoque convertible concept, there’s quite a bit of structure left above the shoulder line. It still looks like one of the nicest ways to see lions, tigers and bears from a safe distance, or take a tour of the Champs-Elysée or Tokyo’s Ginza district.

For now, the issue with every topless SUV that isn’t shaped like a box is what they look like with the top up, and the convertible Range doesn’t escape the quandary unscathed; the only two that do escape are the Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender, because they’re shaped like boxes. As a second vehicle for your rain-free third home in Scottsdale or South Africa, however, it could be the thing.

Convertible 2013 Range Rover Autobiography is safari luxe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Altima Coupe dead as Nissan charts the changes for 2014

By Damon Lowney

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The 2014 model year brings plenty of new designs and updates from Nissan – including the next-generation Rogue – but the Altima Coupe has been discontinued. The current generation of the Coupe won buyers over with sharp styling and, at one point, a 270-horsepower naturally aspirated V6 – the heart of the more upscale Infinity G37. It’s unlikely that Nissan plans to make another one, but keep in mind the current Coupe was released to the public about a year after the sedan hit dealerships.

The vehicles joining Nissan’s lineup for 2014 include the Versa Note hatchback, the NV200 Compact Cargo van and the next-generation Rogue compact SUV. Also new for 2014 is the Pathfinder Hybrid, but that will be added to the lineup in the fall.

Other models that are receiving enhancements are the sedan version of the Altima, which now comes standard with the CVT transmission and gets revised option packs; the Frontier, which gets updated option packs, enhanced navigation system functionality and a sliding middle rear window; the GT-R, which receives a bunch of small performance enhancements and, more importantly, initially will be offered in three versions (Premium, Black Edition and Track Edition), with another, limited special-edition model coming late in the year; the Versa sedan, all versions of which get 60/40-split fold-down rear seats and revised steering and suspension tuning; and last, but not least, the 370Z NISMO will have exterior accent color updates and a new steering wheel and tachometer.

There are plenty more details to be gleaned about Nissan’s model lineup for 2014, so be sure to read the press release below.

Continue reading Altima Coupe dead as Nissan charts the changes for 2014

Altima Coupe dead as Nissan charts the changes for 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: GMC vehicles earn spot on Madden NFL 25's roster

By Brandon Turkus

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In the real world, the Super Bowl MVP gets a Chevrolet Corvette. Last year’s MVP, Joe Flacco, took delivery of a C7 Corvette Stingray after leading the Baltimore Ravens to victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

In the video game world of the Madden NFL series, the Super Bowl MVP gets a 2014 GMC Sierra Denali. Why no Stingray in the video game? Because GMC inked a deal with EA Sports for the truck and SUV builder to be named the official vehicle of the football video game’s twenty-fifth anniversary edition.

The new Sierra Denali will be joined by the Yukon, Acadia, and Terrain in game, with stadium promotions for the brand throughout the season. Yes, even when you’re beating the hell out of your buddy who insists on playing with the hateful Cowboys, you’ll be seeing commercials. (Hold your keystrokes, Cowboy fans. We’re just kidding. Sort of.)

Expect to see plenty of other GMC imagery as well, with a “Never Say Never Moment of the Week” in-season feature that displays spectacular plays throughout the week’s games. Madden NFL 25 will be available for both current and next-generation versions of the Sony Playstation and Microsoft XBox, and will arrive in stores on August 27. Scroll down for the press release.

Continue reading GMC vehicles earn spot on Madden NFL 25’s roster

GMC vehicles earn spot on Madden NFL 25’s roster originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Continental: Goodwood Festival, a Fantastic Peugeot, VW and Diesel News

By Jens Meiners

Peugeot RCZ R

Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.

This powerful Peugeot bowed at Goodwood.

Mere weeks after our very own John Lamm went for a spin in the Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour, the one-of-a-kind concept suffered a literal blow at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We hope the crashed, Lamborghini-powered sports car/SUV, which required some 50,000 man-hours to build, will be fixed.

Peugeot RCZ R

Besides hosting some crashes, Goodwood also served as the backdrop for a few new vehicle launches. There was the 154-mph Skoda Octavia RS reveal, and now Peugeot has unveiled a 266-horsepower variation of its two-seat RCZ sports car dubbed the RCZ R. It is powered by a version of the 1.6-liter “Prince” engine that was co-developed with BMW; a version is used by Mini, as well as several Peugeot and Citroën models. The RCZ R’s mill is called EP6CDTR, and it is force-fed by a twin-scroll turbocharger to deliver 243 lb-ft of torque. The sprint from 0 to 62 mph takes 5.9 seconds, and Peugeot governs the top speed at 155 mph. Based on the 308 compact sedan, the RCZ is a beautifully executed and fun-to-drive sports car that competes directly with the Audi TTS and Nissan 370Z.

I hear that Audi is celebrating 30 years of its quattro GmbH subsidiary with three special editions. The brand will make 30 units (each) of the A5 cabriolet, the RS6 Avant, and the RS7 Sportback. They are distinguished by their color schemes and equipment level, but they don’t have exclusive performance options. There’s no word on whether the A5 or the RS7 variants will be offered in the U.S.; regardless, I predict they will be sold out in no time. Besides, the RS6 Avant is not sold in the U.S.—sorry to bring that up again.

For the 2014 model year, Volkswagen has killed the V-6–powered Touareg in the German market. Only the V-6 and V-8 TDI remain, as well as the annoying hybrid. Other markets keep the V-6 (actually a VR-6), and the Middle East even gets the fantastic 4.2-liter V-8. For an SUV that once ruled the segment with a W-12 engine—it was available on the first-generation Touareg, and almost ruined me when I tested it for two weeks thanks to its vociferous appetite—killing a regular gasoline option is kind of sad.

VW Golf BlueMotion

No need to apologize to the birds: The Golf BlueMotion doesn’t need wind power.

GTD, Diesel Impresses

Of course, VW’s diesel engines are fairly impressive. At the launch of the Euro-spec SportWagen in Amsterdam last week, I had the opportunity to drive the Golf BlueMotion, which, despite a sprightly 105-horsepower 1.6-liter TDI, …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover spied inside and out

By Jonathon Ramsey

Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover spy shots

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When the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class entered production last summer, we were told in the accompanying press release that its platform would support the B-Class and “a further three sporty and emotive vehicles, including a coupé and an SUV.” The hidden cameras at KGP have captured the SUV part of that equation, the GLA small crossover, in the Rocky Mountains.

As best we can make out, the contours under its swirly vinyl are those of a burlier copy of the handsome A-Class, only raised off the ground. Inside is the same minimal yet well done interior we’ve seen in the A and the CLA, sales numbers having proved so far that the cabin is a hit with buyers around the world.

Speculation is that GLA powertrains will match those of its platform siblings, the base motor said to be the 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder and chassis options being front- and all-wheel drive. The Frankfurt Motor Show should be when the public gets the first naked look at it. The high-res gallery of spy shots above should suffice in the meantime.

Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover spied inside and out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Boston bombers were tracked using Mercedes mbrace [w/video]

By Zach Bowman

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 diesel playing among the rocks

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We now know Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the two brothers said to be behind the Boston Marathon bombings, planned to head for New York City to detonate more improvised explosive devices. As it turns out, that plan was foiled by the quick thinking of one Mercedes-Benz owner, diligent police work and the Mercedes-Benz mbrace system. When the brothers carjacked a 26-year-old Chinese entrepreneur identified only as “Danny,” they didn’t realize his Mercedes-Benz M-Class was equipped with the mbrace system, which can call for help in the event of an accident or track the vehicle in the event of a theft.

According to reports, the Tsarnaev brothers held Danny hostage for nearly 90 minutes while they drove around Boston forming a plan until they had to stop for fuel. When one of the brothers went inside to pay, the other put his gun down for a moment. Danny took the opportunity to unlatch his seat belt, open the door and run to another nearby gas station, where he told the owner to call the police.

When police arrived, they used the mbrace system to track the SUV after receiving Danny’s permission, and it wasn’t long before a shootout between police and the brothers ensued. When it was over, the eldest brother lay dead in the street. For more on the story, view the video report available below.

Continue reading Boston bombers were tracked using Mercedes mbrace [w/video]

Boston bombers were tracked using Mercedes mbrace [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Breaking: 2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival

By Chris Paukert

2014 Toyota 4Runner reveal at Stagecoach Music Fest

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Toyota has just pulled the sheet off its updated 2014 4Runner at the 2013 Stagecoach Music Festival near Palm Springs, California.

Unfortunately, the Japanese automaker hasn’t revealed many photos of refreshed model yet, only showing a couple of live photos on its Facebook photostream. Toyota is the title sponsor at the festival, and claims that this is the first ever global reveal of a new automobile at a major music festival. We’re also guessing this is the first time that the 4Runner has seen duty inside what looks like a vintage circus act’s cage.

We can see from the photos (and the earlier teaser images) that the body-on-frame SUV has received a freshened look with new smoked light fixtures front and rear, along with a reworked front fascia and grille. The profile view seems largely unchanged, though there are new wheel patterns on offer.

The 4Runner will continue to be offered in three trims, including SR5, more luxurious Limited, and off-road-ready Trail specification. Both 4×2 and both part- and full-time 4×4 models will continue to be available, all will be powered by the same 4.0-liter 270-horsepower V6 and five-speed automatic as last year.

Other changes for the 2014 model year include a retouched interior featuring new Optitron gauges, a multi-information display, and changes in trim. On the entertainment front, there are new head units with Toyota’s Entune infotainment technology and an in-glass antenna replacing the previous mast unit. The optional navigation unit features a seven-inch screen.

We’ll provide you with more photos as they become available, but for now, check out our gallery above and the official press release below.

Continue reading 2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival

2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Report: Japanese government chides Mitsubishi over recall delays

By Jonathon Ramsey

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An official with the transport ministry in Japan has some stern words for Mitsubishi, taking the carmaker to task for not being more proactive and honest about its recalls. An investigation into The Tri-Star last December found Mitsubishi was tardy investigating problems and didn’t explain itself forthrightly to the transport ministry about the issues. None of Mitsubishi’s actions were illegal, and we should stress that this is a dialogue with Mitsubishi in Japan, not Mitsubishi Motors North America.

The official advised the automaker to, “Come up with plans for improvement, implement them and report them to the ministry.” It looks like the company will get more practice than it wants in that department, having to announce another recall for the Outlander PHEV over software and hardware glitches. Those recalls come just after Mitsu finally figured out the problem with overheating lithium-ion batteries that caused a production halt of the plug-in hybrid SUV.

Japanese government chides Mitsubishi over recall delays originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog