3,800 Lexus LS sedans were recalled in the U.S. to address a steering system problem. This is a similar recall made by Toyota Japan earlier. The recall covers 2009 and 2010 LS 460 and LS 600h sedans.
The recall is designed to fix a problem in which the steering wheel becomes off-center after a specific driving maneuver. The problem should not occur during normal driving. Lexus dealers will be contacting owners to set up appointments to have the repair performed.
The company has received 12 complaints of the problem in Japan but no accidents caused by the problem were reported either in the U.S. or Japan.
The LS 460 is Lexus’s highest-end four-door sedan, starting at $65,380 in the U.S. The LS 600h is the hybrid version and is priced at $108,800.
General Motors has confirmed that they are going to build a production version of the Buick Regal GS. The Buick Regal GS was spotted as a high-performance concept vehicle at the 2010 NAIA Show where positive consumer feedback had a hand in egging GM towards pushing for the said Buick Regal GS.
No official details were bared yet although the show car did boasts of a 2.0 liter Ecotec turbocharged engine. The base Regal CXL began arriving in dealerships earlier this month, with a starting price of US$26,495. The model offers a 2.4-litre four cylinder engine, leather heated seats, Bluetooth, XM Radio, and USB-port radio. The Regal CXL turbo will be available in the fourth quarter this year.
Here is something you can get for your car or maybe even just something to add to your collection of retro stuff. Everyone knows the ECTO-1 from the famed Ghostbusters movie and while you may not have the actual vehicle, you can get something closer with this Ghostbusters ECTO-1 License Plate Replica.
This is a full-sized plate replica that measures 12”x6”. It is pretty much the same as the actual plates used by the Ghostbusters but is sadly not street legal. You can get one now over at ThinkGeek for only $29.99.
General Motors has ended their partnership with REVA, after Mahindra & Mahindra reportedly acquired a controlling interest of the REVA Electric Car Company.
This resulted in GM cutting their ties with REVA to develop electric cars in India. Reva and G.M. India were working jointly to produce an electric version of the new Chevrolet Spark.
A rare 1991 Formula 1 Scuderia valued at $700,000 has been named among the list of new collectible vehicles from Aero Toy Store set to be listed in JamesList. This is one of the last turbo-charged Ferrari Formula One cars that was originally designed by the Maranello team.
Other cars up for grabs in the $700,000 price range are a 2005 Ferrari 575M GTC/2220 Michelotto Competizione, originally created by N Technologies and a 2008 430 GTC designed by the FIA GT3 European Championship.
Spyker is all set to unveil a new model of the 92 Classic model of Saab. Spyker is said to be in talks with unnamed automakers for the technology behind the new small-sized vehicle.
Saab is all set to sell the new 9-5 model by the end of this month and are aiming to sell between 50,000 to 55,000 cars. For 2011 the company targets to roll out 100,000 cars, including 40,000 9-5s and 10,000 9-4X models.
This 9-4X is a mid-sized crossover that will be manufactured beginning from April next year. Saab is also close to signing a dealership agreement with a Chinese company and rumor has it that its BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company).
Jaguar Land Rover will start assembling cars in China. At least two models will be made in China where it will reportedly take up to two years to set up. This is of course until they can find a suitable partner.
The move should not be seen as a move to shift out of the UK. The new assemblies in China stands to be good news as it will bring in more jobs, about 1,000 additional workers this year. However, these jobs will only be temporary and are linked to the expected production of a smaller Range Rover model due to be released next year.
Mercedes-Benz Financial, which has received more than $5 million in lease and loan payments from customers via their mobile phone devices since becoming the first auto finance company to establish that payment channel late last year, is now taking its mobile strategy to the showroom floor to benefit dealers and customers.
Mercedes-Benz Financial today announced that it is putting the Apple iPad into the hands of its dealers, becoming the first automotive finance company to give dealers mobile access to its proprietary point-of-sale dealer system called MB Advantage. In doing so, Mercedes-Benz Financial is one of the first companies to adapt the consumer-oriented iPad as a mobile business tool.
The Mercedes AMG Driving Academy kicking off this month is featuring the highly anticipated Gran Turismo 5 game exclusively for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system, enhancing the trackside experience for race enthusiasts driving several real 2011 SLS AMG supercars that are part of this year’s vehicle line-up during AMG Driving Academy sessions.
AMG and Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC teamed up to feature a Gran Turismo 5 SLS AMG gaming experience, created by Polyphony Digital, Inc., on racing sleds that incorporates the Nurburgring Nordschleife. In January 2010, the SLS AMG from Mercedes-Benz was given the honor of being the featured vehicle on the Gran Turismo 5 packaging cover. The game is expected to be available in stores this year. The Gran Turismo 5 racing sled experience is on hand throughout the AMG Academy schedule held at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.
In a survey of 42,000 owners rating their new 2010 model year cars and trucks, Porsche owners have ranked the 911 as the best sports car in satisfying customers, according to the 14th Annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) by AutoPacific.
The AutoPacific VSAs are based on owners’ ratings of their new 2010 model year cars and trucks across dozens of key vehicle attributes. The awards have become an industry benchmark for measuring how satisfied an owner is with his/her new car. AutoPacific is a California-based automotive marketing and product-consulting firm.
This is not the first time the iconic 911 model has been chosen as the winner of the Vehicle Satisfaction Award.
