Toyota Models Over Fire Risk to 1.4 Million Vehicles

The U.S. government has added approximately 570,000 vehicles to an ongoing probe of a power window master switch located on the driver's door on certain Toyota models that could pose a fire risk, increasing the total number of vehicles investigated to a little over 1.4 million units. In addition to the 830,000 Toyota Camry sedans, Camry Solara coupes and cabriolets and RAV4 SUVs from the 2007 model year, the probe now includes the 2007-2009MY Camry and Camry Hybrid, RAV4 and Yaris vehicles built from around September 2006 through August 2008, as well as all MY 2008 Highlander Hybrid vehicles.
"ODI [Office of Defects Investigation] has identified certain Toyota vehicles experiencing a higher rate of fire and thermal event incidents among all Toyota vehicles that use the same power window master switch design," said the NHTSA on its website.
The safety agency also upgraded the investigation to a so-called engineering analysis, which brings it closer to a recall.
NHTSA said that there have been 161 complaints and nine injuries related to this issue.

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Chevrolet Cruze Sedans Over Fire Concerns

that fires can ignite when fluids, mainly during improper engine oil change procedures, spill onto a plastic shield below the engine.
GM will modify the engine shield under the vehicle to prevent any liquids from being trapped in the engine compartment, where a fire could start and spread.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation in April of this year after learning about two engine compartment fires in 2011 model year Cruzes and later added the 2012 model year.
In a separate action, GM is recalling 249 Chevrolet Cruze sedans from the same model years to inspect for inadequate welds in the rear compartment that could affect the fuel tank attachment to the floor structure and a sub assembly to the rear floor pan.
"The most important thing for our customers to know is that we are proactively working to assure the Cruze is the safe and durable car they purchased,” said GM vice president of Global Quality Alicia Boler-Davis. "We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these actions."

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Renault Contemplating the Launch of Two Upscale Brands

While the economic outlook for Europe may be grim, Renault is looking to expand its portfolio with the addition of the two upscale brands including the revival of the Alpine marque to produce sports cars and the creation of another label called Initial Paris to sell luxury models. Renault's Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares confirmed the news in a recent interview with Bloomberg adding that the French carmaker also needs to grow its reach in emerging countries to reduce its reliance on Europe's stagnant car market.
"You need to be competitive across the world," Tavares said. "That’s why we have been managing the change from a European-focused company toward a global carmaker."
Renault has been in a strategic alliance with Nissan since 1999 with the two companies joined together through a cross-shareholding agreement. The Franco-Japanese partnership currently controls six brands including Renault, Nissan, Infiniti, Renault Samsung Motors, Dacia and Lada.
The French brand believes a luxury marque could be central to its plans to expand outside Europe and particularly in important markets such as China.
"We may have one day a luxury brand," said Tavares. "That would help from a profitability standpoint because everybody’s always looking at VW and what Audi represents for the VW group."
Earlier this year, Tavares had revealed that Renault has begun work on an upscale car based on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform, as part of the strategic cooperation between the two groups.
Just last month, Renault also previewed a concept for a mid-engined sports coupe with the Alpine moniker named A110-50.
The final decision on the new strategy to add the two luxury brands to Renault's portfolio will be made this year, according to Tavares.

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Citroen Debuts New C-Elysee and C4 L

Citroën is targeting the world's most populous automotive segment, the compact saloon market with some 20 million registrations in 2011 or close to a third of all worldwide passenger car sales, with not one but two new models, the C-Elysée and C4 L. As you may have already guessed by now, the C-Elysée is the Citroën flavored version of Peugeot's budget compact sedan, the newly announced 301, with the two cars sharing the same body but bespoke fasicas, wheels and tail lamps.
The French brand says the C-Elysée will be manufactured in Spain and will be sold in Turkey, Spain, Central Europe and Algeria before the end of 2012.
The sedan model rides on a 2.65m long wheelbase and has large boot capacity of 506 litres. Depending on the market, the C-Elysée will be available with the latest generation VTi 97bhp petrol engine.
Citroën's second compact sedan is the more upscale C4 L, which is based on the firm's C4 hatchback. Interestingly, the C4 L is the first production Citroën to de designed by the brand's Shanghai style center in China.
According to the French automaker, the C4 L will be produced in each of the zones where it will be sold, including Wuhan, China by the end of 2012, and Kaluga, Russia in the first half of 2013.
Citroën claims that the C4 L will offer a "lounge-like rear compartment" with "wraparound seats, backrests inclined to 29° and headrests designed for added comfort". Available features include hands-free access and start, touch-screen GPS, reversing camera, fully heated windscreen and air ionizer
Buyers will have a choice of three gasoline engines, the BMW Group and PSA co-developed THP 150 and 170, and the VTi 135, all of which can be linked to a new automatic or a sequential 6-speed transmission.
Thanks to Bruno for the tip!

CITROEN C-ELYSEE

DMC's Lamborghini Aventador LP900 Tune Alone will Cost You More Than a New Porsche 911

Modifying exotic supercars can be a very, very expensive sport. How expensive, we hear some of you ask? In the case of DMC, the German tuning firm's LP900 “Molto Veloce” upgrade package for the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 will cost potential buyers a whopping €125,000 (US$163,200) or about 20 percent more than a brand new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S in Germany!
The tune starts out with an exterior styling kit made out of carbon fiber priced at €19,500 (US$25,500). It includes a front splitter and spoiler, side skirts, a new rear fascia with a diffuser and a rear wing.
Another €7,800 (US$10,200) will get you a new set of alloys from ADV1. DMC says it also offers a comprehensive interior package which it does not details but prices at €17,700 (US$23,100).
Last but certainly not least, is the performance kit for the Aventador LP700-4's V12 engine that costs €80,000 (US$104,500). DMC doesn’t provide any performance numbers but the company tells us that the car is rebranded to "LP900", which suggests that the V12 produces 900PS – which it better for 100 grand….
"The Molto Veloce aims at Aventador owners that seek to add a little more exclusivity to their LP700" says Thorsten Grebers, Marketing Manager at DMC Germany. “The LP900 engine upgrade clearly targets speed enthusiasts," he added.

 

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Pushing the Limits With Lamborghini Tuning

By Andy Adams

Lamborghinis are well known as being exceptional cars, they signify prestige and power and usually you'll need a six figure income to afford one. Assuming you have then there's a good chance you'll be enjoying the speed and luxury of such a great car.

The thing is that for many petrol heads who own a car they will want to push that car to its limits and get the absolute most out of the car and its engine. By modifying or tuning any car you'll be able to customise the ride of that car.

Whether it's increasing the speed, acceleration, braking or handling then there is bound to be a part or a tweak for you to alter in order to achieve your desired effect. Just because Lamborghinis are among the fastest cars in the world, especially the latest powerhouse featured in this year's summer blockbuster The Dark Knight, the Murcielago LP640, this doesn't mean that you can't get any better than the factory settings.

There are plenty of power inducing performance parts for Lamborghini cars that can help generate 5 to 10% more power in your Lamborghini and whilst it may seem small to most people but if you want to be the cream of the cream of the crop then you'll look to making your sports car better than the next person's.

Various Lamborghini tuning parts include uprating your turbo unit to reduce lag and increase peak power, other ways including making the inside of your engine icy cold whether you are heating and cooling the engine block or engaging in a bit of forced induction to keep everything nice and cool whilst being able to reach super speeds.

Other ways in which you can make a more noticeable alteration to your Lamborghini is visual alterations; many customisation groups can provide a more racing car styled body kit to complement the raging bull engine within.

There are many Lamborghini pictures of these kits as well as other styling mods like new alloy wheels, there are a plethora of different styles and sizes, Lamborghinis look stunning with larger sized alloy wheels and even coloured wheels can help make your Lamborghini stand out even more.

Pushing the Limits With Lamborghini Tuning

By Andy Adams

Lamborghinis are well known as being exceptional cars, they signify prestige and power and usually you'll need a six figure income to afford one. Assuming you have then there's a good chance you'll be enjoying the speed and luxury of such a great car.

The thing is that for many petrol heads who own a car they will want to push that car to its limits and get the absolute most out of the car and its engine. By modifying or tuning any car you'll be able to customise the ride of that car.

Whether it's increasing the speed, acceleration, braking or handling then there is bound to be a part or a tweak for you to alter in order to achieve your desired effect. Just because Lamborghinis are among the fastest cars in the world, especially the latest powerhouse featured in this year's summer blockbuster The Dark Knight, the Murcielago LP640, this doesn't mean that you can't get any better than the factory settings.

There are plenty of power inducing performance parts for Lamborghini cars that can help generate 5 to 10% more power in your Lamborghini and whilst it may seem small to most people but if you want to be the cream of the cream of the crop then you'll look to making your sports car better than the next person's.

Various Lamborghini tuning parts include uprating your turbo unit to reduce lag and increase peak power, other ways including making the inside of your engine icy cold whether you are heating and cooling the engine block or engaging in a bit of forced induction to keep everything nice and cool whilst being able to reach super speeds.

Other ways in which you can make a more noticeable alteration to your Lamborghini is visual alterations; many customisation groups can provide a more racing car styled body kit to complement the raging bull engine within.

There are many Lamborghini pictures of these kits as well as other styling mods like new alloy wheels, there are a plethora of different styles and sizes, Lamborghinis look stunning with larger sized alloy wheels and even coloured wheels can help make your Lamborghini stand out even more.