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Fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 unveiled

Mazda Motor Corporation today celebrated the unveiling of the fourth generation Mazda MX-5 (known as Roadster in Japan) together with fans at events held simultaneously in Japan, USA and Spain. The all-new MX-5, which adopts both SKYACTIV technology and Mazda's KODO—Soul of Motion design language, will be rolled out to global markets starting in 2015.

The MX-5 is an iconic model representing Mazda's vehicle-engineering philosophy—the pursuit of driving pleasure. "Innovate in order to preserve" was the motto for the fourth generation, as the development team searched for innovations that go beyond simple evolution. Environmental and safety demands are much more stringent than they were when the first generation MX-5 was introduced 25 years ago, but the fourth generation stays true to the model's original aim of offering the pure driving fun that only a lightweight sports car can. It achieves this through the adoption of SKYACTIV technology and refinement of its appeal to the senses and sensations through which people enjoy cars.


The design of the all-new MX-5 reveals another layer to Mazda's KODO design language. The exquisite proportions make the driver and passenger stand out, and both the interior and exterior evoke the exhilaration of open-top driving. It is the most compact of any generation MX-5 so far and is more than 100 kilograms lighter than the model it replaces, promising a dramatic leap in Jinba-ittai driving fun.

As of July 2014, total production volume of the Mazda MX-5 exceeded 940,000 units and it continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sports car. This highly-celebrated model has received over 200 awards from around the globe including Japan Car of the Year 2005-2006.

Moving forward, Mazda will continue to develop products which offer all customers driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance.

Hyundai's top SUV making sales gains

The 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe mid-size sport utility vehicle stands out from the crowd for its attractive styling, comfortable ride, value pricing, surprising standard features and warranty.

In fact, sales of Hyundai's bestselling SUV are up 26.4 per cent so far this calendar year — to more than 60,000 — compared with the same period a year ago. And this is the Santa Fe that had only minor changes in standard and optional equipment for the model year.

Maybe more shoppers are finding the Santa Fe because it's a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, where reliability is rated as average. Perhaps the buying decision is easier knowing the Santa Fe comes with Hyundai's industry-leading, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty plus a five-year/60,000-mile new-vehicle, limited warranty that is transferrable to the next buyer.

There's no doubt shoppers like getting a lot for their money, and this is where the Santa Fe shines most.

With 290 horsepower from its V-6, the Santa Fe boasts more horsepower than the Toyota Highlander with 270-horse V-6 and the 250-horsepower Honda Pilot.

Plus, even the base Santa Fe comes standard with modern, light-emitting diode accent lights by the headlights. Neither the Highlander nor the Pilot does. Door handles and the grille on all Santa Fes are chrome-colored for a rich look, while door handles on all 2014 Highlanders are the same colour as the vehicle paint and the grille is black. A leather-wrapped steering wheel is standard on the base Santa Fe, but Honda Pilot buyers can only get this on the top-of-the-line EX-L model.

Best of all, starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a base, front-wheel drive, 2014 Santa Fe GLS is $30,775. The starting retail price for an all-wheel drive, 2014 Santa Fe GLS is $32,525.

All Santa Fes are powered by a 3.3-litre, double overhead cam, direct injection V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.


Standard equipment on the base SUV includes heated front seats, eight-way, power-adjustable driver's seat, Shiftronic manual shift mode, air conditioning, rear air conditioning and heat controls, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, electroluminescent gauge cluster, power door locks and windows with all window buttons illuminated, automatic on/off headlights, remote keyless entry and more.

Note that the base, 2014 Santa Fe GLS has seats for seven, while the uplevel Limited model comes with second-row captain's chairs for a total passenger capacity of six.

There is another SUV with Santa Fe in its name — the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The Sport is not a trim level of the three-row Santa Fe, however. It is a shorter-wheelbase SUV that has seats only for five passengers, and it comes only with four-cylinder engines.

In comparison to the Santa Fe, the base, 2015 Toyota Highlander LE with a 3.5-litre V-6, six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive and three rows of seats — capable of accommodating eight passengers — has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $31,605. The 2014 Honda Pilot with 3.5-litre V-6, five-speed automatic, front-wheel drive and seats for eight has a starting retail price of $30,700.

The engine power in the Santa Fe Limited tester came on smoothly and strongly, accompanied by confident engine sounds.

Yet, the power didn't seem to penalize fuel economy. The front-wheel drive tester averaged just over 20 miles per gallon in combined city/highway travel. This was a tad below the federal government fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in city/highway combined travel.

This 21-mpg rating, by the way, is equal to that of the lower-powered Highlander and Pilot. It's also the average mpg of many other SUVs on the market, including SUVs that only offer five seats, such as the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan with turbocharged four cylinder and the luxury, 2014 Lexus RX 350 with V-6.

On the outside, the Santa Fe looks less boxy than the Pilot and Highlander, and the appealing styling masks the vehicle's 16-foot-long length.

The test Santa Fe also drove as if it was a smaller vehicle — more like a two-rows-of-seats vehicle.

There was some weight shifting felt from side to side on twisty mountain roads, and the Santa Fe took up more room in parking spaces than anticipated early on in the test drive.

But dynamically in around-town trips and country road travel, the Santa Fe felt sprightly and comfortably easy to drive.

Highway trips can be especially pleasant, given that the Santa Fe's long wheelbase of 9.2 feet mutes the bobbing up and down that can come from highway expansion cracks.

Front row seats were nicely supportive yet a bit cushioned, too. Second-row seats amazed by offering as much legroom — 41.3 inches — as the front seats have. And even the smallish rear bench had 31.5 inches of legroom, which compares with the 27.7 inches in the third row of the Highlander. The Pilot's 32.1 inches of third-row legroom, however, is bigger.

Santa Fe passengers sit up a ways from the pavement, but getting inside the front and second-row seats was not arduous, even for small-statured adults, because door sills were slim. Third row access requires some manoeuvring of the second row seats.

Controls and knobs are well-placed in the Santa Fe, save for the fuel door button that's difficult to see at the driver door armrest.

There has been one safety recall involving just 28 Santa Fe SUVs built during 10 days in November 2013. During production, tires with damaged sidewalls may have been installed. A tire with sidewall damage poses a risk of coming apart during travel, which could lead to a crash.

Limited edition fashion-focused Ford Mustang t-shirts

DEARBORN, MI – Fashion innovators Anna Sui, Rogan, Paula Cademartori, CO|TE and Pamela Love join Ford Motor Company to celebrate the iconic Ford Mustang with the debut of Mustang Unleashed, a limited-edition line of one-of-a-kind shirts.

These five designers from around the world each created three unique Mustang-inspired shirts, resulting in a collection of 15 designs. The line is produced by Loomstate, a leader in organic and sustainable apparel. It will be available starting in September exclusively at Gilt.com, an innovative online shopping destination.

“Mustang embraces passion, power, adventure and freedom, and by collaborating with top designers known for their expressive personalities and designs, we are blending the parallels between the worlds of fashion and automotive like never before,” said Kim Cape, Ford group marketing manager. “The Mustang Unleashed collection celebrates the passion and freedom of Mustang, and its inspiration to pop culture over the last 50 years.”


Five visionary designers ‘unleashed’

As trendsetters, the Mustang Unleashed designers embody the Mustang spirit. They are emotive, expressive and “unleashed” in their own right – living and working with a sense of freedom and individual style. This is the inspiration for their unique designs:

-         Anna Sui: Detroit native Sui and Mustang have quite a bit in common. Sui’s designs illustrate a rock ’n’ roll fantasy – reflecting the freedom, authenticity and inspiration embodied in Mustang

-         Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay-Hahn of Rogan:With a respect for soulful minimalism and traditional quality, Rogan’s designs were inspired by the raw American heritage expressed in the modern, high-tech Mustang. The designer incorporated this into the graphics of the shirt, using the simplicity of natural, hand-drawn lines

-         Paula Cademartori: Cademartori’s passion for femininity and fine details are distinct in her designs and collection of bags. For her, “unleashed” represents power, freedom and creating new experiences. Cademartori’s Mustang-inspired designs highlight geometric shapes, the fantasy of color and glamour

-         Tomaso Anfossi and Francesco Ferrari of CO|TE: With a philosophy of freely interpreting established design themes from a contemporary point of view, CO|TE – like Mustang – moves forward and pushes boundaries. The inspiration comes from thinking without preconceptions, while paying attention to quality and tradition. CO|TE designs showcase Mustang’s attention to detail and geometric elements

-         Pamela Love: Love, with a passion for unique jewelry pieces, and Mustang come together as artifacts of a narrative. The inspiration comes from Mustang’s enduring role in American pop culture, and the idea of moving forward while leaving the past behind. Love’s designs highlight the horse as a symbol of power, strength and freedom

“Having grown up in Detroit,” said Sui, “I wanted to incorporate my memories of Mustang and celebrate the spirit of pop culture and Americana in my designs. As a designer, I am constantly inspired by everything around me and often include a nod to my roots – referring to nostalgic, romantic and rock influences – just like Ford Mustang.”


Working together toward sustainability and innovation

Each Mustang Unleashed collection shirt is proudly made by Loomstate in the United States. Using 100 per cent organic cotton, Loomstate is committed to supporting best practices globally – growing communities by developing fashionable and quality products that create a more equitable and sustainable future. Ford Motor Company – with its own rich American legacy that now includes Mustang joining an exclusive club of vehicles in continuous production for 50 years – is proud to work with Loomstate on this project.

For the Mustang Unleashed collection, the women’s casual-fit T-shirt will feature a unique U/V-shaped neckline, slightly fitted sleeves and Loomstate signature skewed sides. The men’s collection will be available in Loomstate classic crew-neck style.

Innovation is a key theme of the collaboration between Ford Mustang and Gilt, a retailer that pushes the boundaries of online shopping by providing instant insider access to top designer labels.As a brand that believes every day is an opportunity to inspire and be inspired, Gilt serves as a unique collaborator to celebrate Mustang’s inspiration to pop culture and the visionary lineup of Mustang Unleashed designers.

“We are excited to work with Ford to exclusively launch the Mustang Unleashed collection on Gilt.com,” said Steven Schneider, president, Gilt City and Gilt Business Development. “We’re always looking for ways to give our members access to unique products and experiences they can’t find anywhere else. This is a perfect opportunity to bring together fashion and automotive design in a way we know our members will love.”

The 15-shirt limited-edition collection will be sold exclusively at www.gilt.com/unleashed, with pre-orders beginning Aug. 26. Each Mustang Unleashed limited-edition shirt will retail for $39 USD.

Honda Fit passes crash test after a few adjustments

DETROIT - When the subcompact Fit failed a crash test, Honda went back to the drawing board.

The tiny Fit, redesigned for the 2015 model year, initially flunked the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small overlap test, earning just a "Marginal" rating. The test simulates a 40 mph crash between the front corner of a car and an object such as a utility pole.

Honda engineers strengthened the welds on the front bumper beams, so energy from a crash would be spread over the entire front of the car. This gave the driver and passengers more protection and lessened the likelihood of injury.



The change got the Fit an "Acceptable" rating in a second test, and earned it a "Top Safety Pick" designation.

High crash-test scores are important because they help allay buyers' concerns about whether tiny subcompacts can adequately protect a driver and passengers in a sea of larger vehicles. Of all subcompacts, only the Fit and the Chevrolet Spark won the "Top Safety Pick" designation, the institute's second-highest rating.

Honda Motor Co. started installing the stronger bumpers at the Mexican factory that builds the Fit in June. a rare step for an auto company, Honda is asking owners of all 12,000 2015 Fits sold before then in North America to return them to dealers, who will replace the bumpers.

"We want to make our cars as safe as we can make them for our customers," said chief safety engineer Chuck Thomas.

The replacement should take about 30 minutes, Thomas said, and involves removing the original bumper beam and bolting on the stronger one. He couldn't estimate the cost to Honda.

IIHS crash test results are followed widely on the Internet and are especially important for subcompacts, which by design have less structure to absorb the impact of a crash, said Karl Brauer, senior auto analyst at Kelley Blue Book. Subcompact sales are down just under 1 per cent so far this year, and the poor crash test scores for most of the segment are partly to blame, Brauer said.


Many buyers, he said, wouldn't consider a subcompact it didn't get at least an "Acceptable" rating on the overlap test or a "Top Safety Pick" designation. "Just having not failed would make some people open to considering the car," Brauer said.

Honda sold nearly 27,000 Fits through July, down almost 12 per cent from a year ago. The Chevrolet Sonic is the top-seller in the segment, at almost 57,000, according to Autodata Corp.

Russ Rader, an IIHS spokesman, said it's rare for automakers to call cars back to dealers after they are retested, but it has happened about two dozen times since 1999. Most were to change air bag deployment or fix post-crash fuel leaks, he said.

All Fits built on or after June 9 have the new bumpers. Honda will notify owners of Fits without the stronger parts starting in late September and replace the beams free of charge.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge tests out its namesake – the Eau Rouge

It was only a matter of time before the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge took a test down the famous Eau Rouge corner at the Spa-Francorchamps race track in Belgium. This is the corner of the track that the F1-inspired sedan is named after. And it would only be fitting for Infiniti's Director of Performance and current four-time Formula One driver's champion Sebastian Vettel to give it a go.

Still in its prototype stage, the race-inspired sports sedan wouldn't only be driven by Vettel, but a competition would be set-up along with American racing driver Parker Kligerman and Nine-Ball World Champion snooker player Pan Xiaoting. Why? Who knows, but Infiniti does a great job in setting up the illusion of a fascinating competition in the video.


Vettel had a hand in designing the Eau Rouge and he provided some tips about the race track for the other two competitors. The Spa track can be tricky, especially when you get to the Eau Rouge corner, as drivers need to go flat out for a fast run onto the straight in order to make good time.

The stage was set, but of course nobody told mother nature, as heavy rains would fall during Vettel's run.

"Even though it was difficult to get a proper feel for the car's performance due to the wet track, the engineering team have made definite improvements to the car in the areas of steering and suspension since I first drove it earlier in the year," said Vettel. "There is definitely no shortage of power from the Q50 Eau Rouge. All in all it was an interesting day and we had fun. It was a privilege to be given the task of driving the Q50 Eau Rouge on one of the most demanding corners in the world."

The Q50 Eau Rouge continues with the Q50's double arch grille with a lower and wider stance from the normal sedan, formerly the G37. The base engine that's in the prototype is a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6, currently in the Nissan GT-R. The sports-tuned sedan is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and has aerodynamic bodywork that comes from the world of Formula One, producing 560 hp. 

Safety reaches high level with Chevrolet's new Valet Mode

Chevrolet has come back with a new and improved Performance Data Recorder that features an all-new Valet Mode for the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette. The latest Corvette that's due to be released in September will protect you from any concerns with valet stands at hotels and restaurants.

All owners need to do is punch in a four-digit code before handing over their keys and the Corvette will instantly disable the infotainment system, lock the storage compartments, and the best-of-all start recording a video with sound to be played back afterwards.

Valets will not know that they're being recorded, but they will quickly find out that the storage areas and infotainment system are off limits.

“Think of it as a baby monitor for your car,” said Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager. “Anyone who has felt apprehension about handing over their keys will appreciate the peace of mind of knowing exactly what happened while their baby was out of sight.”


The video recording system is a carryover from the 2014 model, but Chevrolet realized that the Performance Data Recorder that captures 720p high-definition video through a camera within the windshield, could be utilized more than just for recording your own track days. It's dual use can come in handy when you get that feeling that your car is about to go on a joyride. I'm sure taking a brand-new Corvette for a spin would cross many minds, even those innocent ones.

“Performance Data Recorder was initially designed as a tool for track days, allowing drivers to record their laps and improve their driving skills,” said Charles. “We soon realized the system could have many more applications, such as recording a scenic drive up Highway 101, or recording when the Valet Mode is activated.”

Data is recorded by an SD-card and 200 minutes can be played back instantly, once out of Valet Mode. The latest PDR was developed together with Cosworth and will be available on all 2015 Chevrolet Corvette models in a package paired with its navigation system.

Even Music Sounds Better in the 2015 Ford Mustang

DEARBORN, MI – The throaty rumble of a V8 or the refined though aggressive note of an EcoBoost® engine is generally the preferred soundtrack when driving a Ford Mustang. Yet for those times when a favourite road trip tune is called for, the all-new 2015 Mustang has that situation covered as well.

“As our team developed this Mustang, the goal was to improve the car’s fidelity in every respect – from the way it slices through a corner to the way the audio system reproduces the sound of favourite driving songs,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The process of rebuilding this car from the ground up allowed us to improve all aspects of the driving experience.”

Creating a solid foundation is essential to extracting the maximum performance out of the tires and suspension on the road. But that same foundation also provides numerous side benefits, such as enabling the audio system to provide cleaner, clearer sound.


The stronger body structure of the 2015 Mustang fastback is 28 per cent more resistant to twisting than the previous model, resulting in less noise. The acoustic environment is also aided by improved aerodynamics that result from twice as much simulation and wind tunnel development – significantly reducing wind noise, especially at highway speeds.

“With a fundamentally quieter baseline to work from, we had a better acoustic environment to tune the audio systems in the new car,” said Joe Kafati, multimedia systems supervisor. “The reduction in ambient noise enabled us to achieve the same sound pressure levels in the cabin with much less power and distortion.”

The new Mustang is again available with three audio systems, each of which is better than the system it replaces in the outgoing model. The baseline system features a six-speaker configuration with separate high-frequency tweeters, now mounted in the A-pillars and pointing across the cabin to provide more direct sound to the driver and front passenger.

The more rigid doors of the new Mustang enable the use of slimmer, lighter 6.5-inch door speakers that don’t need as much travel to produce comparable audio volume, with higher-fidelity mid-range and bass sound. A pair of 6.5-inch round full-range speakers are mounted in the rear package tray of the fastback, or in the quarter panels in the convertible.

Both available premium audio systems add a front centre speaker mounted in the top of the instrument panel for improved vocal and speech clarity. These systems add a separate 8+1-channel amplifier, and use powerful neodymium magnet speakers to help reduce weight while improving overall sensitivity and sound reproduction. The mid-range nine-speaker system adds a second speaker to each door, separating the low and mid-range frequencies for improved fidelity.

Stepping up to the top-end Shaker Pro system that is available on Mustang EcoBoost Premium and Mustang GT Premium brings 12 polymer cone speakers, with a pair of coaxial tweeter/woofers in the rear, plus a trunk-mounted subwoofer for maximum bass response. The subwoofer has been repackaged to fit into the rear corner of the trunk, leaving more space for cargo. Even with the Shaker Pro audio system, the 2015 Mustang convertible can still accommodate two large golf bags, or everything you would need for a weekend getaway.

“We took advantage of our new acoustics lab to tune the equalization modes for each system to provide improved clarity across all frequency ranges and in different driving conditions,” said Kafati. “The lab provides us with a consistent baseline for measuring the response of audio systems with a wide variety of music and spoken word content.”

Using the lab, Kafati and his colleagues can take objective measurements and bring in listeners to evaluate the audio from each seating position, ensuring everything sounds clear and well balanced.

With mobile technology constantly evolving, Ford SYNC® has always been designed to enable drivers to easily connect devices of their choice. Mustang is the first Ford vehicle to feature a high-power, 2.1-amp USB port in the media bin at the base of the centre stack to charge those devices twice as fast as before.

No matter which audio system a Mustang customer selects, supplemental controls on the steering wheel and voice activation for hands-free operation are standard. With standard Bluetooth wireless connectivity, drivers don’t even have to take their phone out of pocket or purse to stream music or take calls.

Each of the three available systems includes a single-disc CD player and auxiliary input. The standard audio system also features next-generation SYNC AppLink™, enabling drivers to take advantage of selected smartphone apps while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

“Whether it’s a V8 rumble or ‘Mustang Sally,’ we’ve worked to make this the best-sounding Mustang ever,” said Kafati.

Saab owner faces bankruptcy petition

STOCKHOLM. SWE - The company that lifted Swedish automaker Saab out of bankruptcy is now facing financial difficulties of its own.

On Tuesday a supplier petitioned a Swedish court to declare National Electric Vehicle of Sweden (Nevs) bankrupt.

Labo Test, which supplies test equipment for car parts, said Nevs had failed to pay bills of 150,000 kronor ($22,000) since February.

Nevs spokesman Mikael Ostlund didn't immediately answer a request for comment.

The company, owned by a Hong Kong-based group, bought Saab out of bankruptcy last year after a failed attempt to revive the brand by Spyker Cars of the Netherlands.

Though its plan was to make electric cars, Nevs started off with gasoline-fuelled models to get production going immediately.

Chrysler 200 earns Top Safety Pick + from IIHS

The all-new Chrysler 200 has truly transformed into an all-around better vehicle when it comes to looks and features. Now it can add safety to the list after earning top honours from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in their gruelling small overlap frontal crash test.

This is the same test that saw 12 small cars struggle mightily to protect the driver, with only one, the MINI Cooper Countryman receiving a top rating of 'good'. That would be the same rating that the 2015 Chrysler 200 would receive, a step up from the previous models rating of 'acceptable'.

The 200 receives extra recognition for the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award for having an available front cash prevention system that has an optional forward collision system with autobrake.

The small overlap frontal crash test examines the impact and damage of a front driver side collision with a fixed object, such as a tree or post, or with another vehicle at 64 km/h. The reason for the test is that 25 per cent of vehicle crashes occur with this exact impact.

During the test, the Chrysler 200 showed an absorption of impact without any significant injuries to the driver. The driver's head didn't hit any of the side structures or door and stayed well-controlled. Furthermore, the side airbag deployed, protecting the driver from any additional damage.

For more information and to understand the test further, here's a short video from the IIHS.

GM issues 6 more recalls covering 312,000 vehicles

DETROIT - General Motors on Friday issued six more recalls totalling more than 312,000 vehicles as the company cleans up past safety issues.

The recalls in North America pushed GM's total for the year to 66, covering just over 29 million cars and trucks. That beats the company's old full-year record and has pushed this total number for the industry this year to more than 40 million, also an annual record.


The largest of Friday's recalls covers 215,243 Saturn Vue SUVs from the 2002 through 2004 model years. GM says keys can be removed when ignitions are not in the "off" position. The problem is linked to two crashes and one injury.

GM is conducting a companywide safety review following a bungled recall of 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches. GM has admitted knowing about the defective switches for at least a decade, yet it didn't recall the cars until February.

In the recalls announced Friday, GM has told dealers to stop selling some of the vehicles until repairs are made.


Including the Vue recall, GM has called back 16.5 million vehicles for ignition switch problems. In many cases the switches can be knocked from the "run" position to "accessory," shutting off the engine and disabling the power steering, power brakes and air bags.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. government's road safety agency, is investigating ignition switches across the auto industry to make sure they can't be inadvertently moved from the run position.

Dealers will inspect the Vue ignitions and replace the cylinder if needed at no cost to customers. The company says it's important for drivers to make sure the SUVs are in "Park" before they exit the vehicles.

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