MINI Recalling Cooper S, John Cooper Works Models For Fire Risk

BMW has announced the recall of some 89,000 Cooper S and John Cooper Works models built for the 2007 – 2011 model year. The recall includes the turbocharged Clubman, Convertible and Countryman models as well, specifically: Read more

Audi Stops Sales Of 2011-12 Audi R8 Spyders, Issues Recall

If you own a 2011 or 2012 Audi R8 Spyder, heads up: Audi is recalling 920 models to address a potentially serious fuel line routing issue. Only cars built between May 18, 2010 and June 22, 2011 are affected, and the recall documentation doesn’t distinguish between 4.2-liter V-8 models and 5.2-liter V-10 models. In other words, it’s likely that both versions are included in the recall. Read more

Ford Focused On Safety And Technology

If you haven’t shopped for a new car in the last five years and you’re about to check out Ford’s latest offerings, be prepared to be surprised. A lot has changed over a short period of time, and today’s cars are coming with a dizzying array of new technology and safety systems, all designed to make driving more enjoyable while minimizing its risks. Excluding luxury brands such as Mercedes and BMW, no other automaker is putting as much effort into developing new safety and technology integration systems as Ford, and they recently hosted a group of journalist in their Dearborn, MI headquarters to show us what’s new. Below are the highlights of Fords current efforts, some of which are available today while others are still works in progress. One thing is clear: in-car technology is evolving at a staggering pace, so the cars of 2016 are likely to be filled with technology we can’t even imagine today. Read more

Are You Ready For Black Boxes In Cars?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been pushing for the implementation of event data recorders, known informally as “black boxes”, for quite some time. Next month the agency is expected to make it official, and mandate EDRs for future production vehicles. While no one would argue that safer cars are a good thing, the implementation of the EDRs in all new vehicles raises two significant questions: who owns the data, and how much will these devices increase the cost of a new car? Read more

The Mazda 6, Arachnophobia And You

Do you have a fear of spiders, known medically as arachnophobia? Chances are there’s no good reason for it, since very few of the eight legged critters found in the U.S. can do you much harm. Sure, we’ve got the black widow and the brown recluse to worry about, but both pale in comparison to spiders found in Australia. Take the Sydney funnel web, for example, whose fangs can penetrate the leather of a shoe and whose venom is perfectly capable of killing a human (or making him wish he was dead). In the United States, though, there’s no good reason to fear spiders, unless you own a 2009 to 2010 Mazda 6; in that case, a spider really can kill you. Read more

Asbestos Still Used in Manufacturing of Auto Parts

Though it is regarded as a “problem of the past,” asbestos should still be a major concern for those in automotive industry.

For the most of the 20^th century, asbestos was utilized by car manufacturers in clutches, gaskets, brake pads and linings. Asbestos appeared the ideal choice for car manufacturers due to its flame resistant, durable and inexpensive qualities.

Today, as asbestos has not yet been totally banned, many of these products may still contain asbestos. When materials that contain asbestos become damaged, they can release its fibers into the air. A big portion of the substance is inside the brake housing or clutch space and can become airborne when repairs or work is performed. This creates a major health risk to auto mechanics and car enthusiasts who maintain their own vehicles.  

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