Toyota plans to recall 7.43 million vehicles worldwide -- including 2.47 million units in the United States -- in the single biggest automotive recall since 1996 to fix faulty power window switches.
Honda's FCX Clarity Hydrogen fuel cell-powered car has completed the UK leg' of the H2 Moves European Hydrogen Road Tour - which saw seven fuel-cell cars from four manufacturers visit different UK locations - but with Honda's car manufacturing facility in Swindon refuelling the convoy at its public-access hydrogen refuelling station.
In its clearest signal yet that it wishes Cadillac to become a global luxury brand, General Motors has switched its chief lobbyist to a new position as head of the division.
Sales of cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia grew 10 percent year-on-year in September to 259,582 units, but the market is showing signs of a slowdown, the Association of European Businesses said in a statement.
PSA and Fiat had their debt ratings lowered to three levels below investment grade by Moody's Investors Service as slumping European car markets take a toll on the automakers' finances.
Peugeot and Fiat had their debt ratings lowered to three levels below investment grade by Moody's Investors Service as slumping European car markets take a toll on the automakers' finances.
Toyota has issued a global voluntary recall for 7.43 million vehicles over a friction fault inside an electric window switch. The company says the part may emit smoke due to unevenly applied grease.
As carmakers go, Lotus is something of an unusual company. As an OEM it's a small volume player, making sports cars that are still - as typified by the Elise, for example - the spiritual descendants of the stripped down 'light of weight' approach to design and engineering favoured by Lotus founder Colin Chapman.
Supplier BorgWarner, which makes turbochargers, is concerned the fourth quarter may be 'more difficult' for companies as a slowdown in Europe widens, CEO Tim Manganello said in an interview.
University of California, San Diego researchers say they have developed a way to better estimate what goes on inside lithium ion batteries -- a breakthrough that could lead to lower battery costs and faster charging times for electric vehicles.
Honda is not ruling out a return to formula one in the future.
The Japanese carmaker pulled out of the sport after the 2008 season, amid the global financial crisis and the slump in new car sales.
But Honda's head of research and development Yoshiharu Yamamoto has told autocar.co.uk that the marque still sees F1 as an attractive platform.
Jenson Button aboard the RA108 Honda, in 2008. (Photo: Honda)
"On a personal level I love racing, but there is a lot involved when you are in F1 -- it is the very top of auto racing and that requires a large commitment. But it is true that we do look up at those races and hope that one day we can take part again," he said.
"I do not personally think we can just go straight back immediately, but there is potential for the rules to change and attract us. I follow the rules, certainly, and if they present an opportunity then it would be nice to go back."
His comments follow speculation F1's 2014 switch to radical new turbo V6 engine rules could attract more car manufacturers to formula one.
Honda has committed to running a 1.6 litre turbo engine in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).
The 2013 WTCC Honda Civic. (Photo: Honda)
"This is my personal view - not that of Honda - but I feel the first thing we must do is win in the WTCC, and then perhaps we can look further afield," said Yoshiharu Yamamoto.
If you've recently been in an accident and need your airbags replaced, beware of conterfeit versions that have been circulating the auto scene and malfunctioning (from non-deployment to metal shrapnel during deployment) consistently after replacement.
These knock-off airbags look the same as NHTSA (National Highway Safety Administration) certified airbags and even carry automaker insignias, however, they are not safe and must not be used in your vehicle. To ensure you do not replace your airbags with counterfeits, ensure your repair work is done at a reputable dealer repair shop less than 3 years old, and that you do not use replacement airbags bought online. If you've already had your airbags replaced with what you think could be counterfeit airbags, contact your automaker to arrange for a vehicle expection as soon as possible.
Consumers who have purchased a used car that's been previously accidented (where the airbags deployed and needed replacing), should contact one of the call centers listed at www.safercar.gov to request a vehicle inspection as soon as possible.
British race car manufacturer Lola Cars International has ceased trading after the administrators concluded that it could not be sold as a going concern.
The company, created in 1958 by Eric Broadley went into administration in May with debts totaling more than $30 millions.
Lola Cars International continued to trade through the summer while joint administrators Mark Newman and James Snowdon of CCW Recovery Solutions LLP looked a buyer.
"At the end of September, having not received an acceptable offer for the business as a going concern, we considered whether or not we should continue trading," a press release indicated.
"During the first week of October we concluded that a going concern sale of the business was not going to be possible, and the company ceased to trade on Friday, October 5, which unfortunately led to the redundancy of the remaining staff working in the business."
The administrators declared they expected to conclude a sale of the assets of the British company in the near future.
No additional penalties will be assessed following the incident Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway involving Kurt Busch, NASCAR officials announced Tuesday.
Busch was parked for the remainder of the race after he failed to hear a NASCAR directive to stop his vehicle following a lap 99 crash.
Kurt Busch (No. 51) gets spun around. (Photo:John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
He had taken his helmet off and wasn't in communication with his spotter. He refired the engine and drove back to the pits. Busch was then summoned to the series hauler to explain his actions.
"He made an effort to get back in the car and get back in the garage, and we felt like it put some of our folks in harm's way, and we just talked to him about that," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition.
Busch was leading just past the halfway mark of the race when his car ran out of gas on the backstretch and slowed suddenly. He was tapped from behind by Jamie McMurray, spun and hit the infield retaining wall. Safety crews attending to the car were surprised when Busch restarted the engine and drove off, with one of the EMT kits still sitting on the trunk of the car.
Back in the garage area, Busch calmly said: “That's the competitor in me, that's the desire that I have, and that's what gets misconstrued all the time. And this is the way my life works. That competitive guy wants to get back in the race, and now NASCAR's yelling at me because I don't have my helmet on, and I'm trying to get it to the garage so the guys can work on it”.
Busch was credited with a 39th-place run in his final start with Phoenix Racing. He's expected to finish this season in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, starting this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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