2019 Toyota RAV4 LimitedDerek McNaughton Toyota is recalling close to 4,000 new RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles in Canada because the rearview camera display might not turn when the car is put in reverse.Some 3,896 model year 2019 RAV4 vehicles are affected in Canada, along with 14,215 in the U.S., or about 18,000 in total.In affected vehicles, a faulty connector could keep the rearview cameras dashboard display from showing up when the SUV is placed into reverse, increasing the risk of a collision while backing up.The automaker will contact owners of these vehicles beginning in
Origin: Toyota recalls almost 4,000 RAV4s in Canada over rear cameras
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VW recalling roughly 117,000 cars in Canada over a rollaway risk
2018 Volkswagen GolfHandout / Volkswagen Volkswagen is recalling roughly 117,000 cars in Canada and 679,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix a problem that could let the cars roll away unexpectedly.The recall covers certain 2011 through 2018 Jettas; 2015 through 2019 GTIs; 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 Golfs; 2012 through 2019 Beetles and Beetle Convertibles; and 2017 through 2019 Golf SportWagens.All have automatic transmissions, manual hand brakes and keyless entry.VW says silicate can build up on a shift lever switch, allowing the key to be removed if the lever isnt in park. That could let the cars roll off unexpectedly.Dealers will add a switch and circuit board to fix the problem. The recall starts on October 11.A VW spokesman says hes not aware of any crashes or injuries due to the
Origin: VW recalling roughly 117,000 cars in Canada over a rollaway risk
Updated Rezvani Tank now packs 1,000 horsepower
Looking for all the world like an extra out of Demolition Man, the Rezvani Tank is a brute of a machine designed for either quashing a dissident uprising or tooling around Beverly Hills.While it is surely capable of the former, one look at the promotional videos on the brands homepage assures us the Tank will be used for the latter.Rezvani is a company based out of Orange County in California, so that revelation should not be a surprise.Previously available with a Pentastar V6 or SRTs 6.4-litre mill, reports have surfaced the updated Rezvani will offer yet another engine one which cranks out 1,000 horsepower. Itll be called the Tank X, and it can be yours for a mere $349,000.While the press bumf loudly touts the 1,000-hp figure, this isnt the Hellephant engine Mopar introduced at SEMA last year. The company specifies this mill is a 6.2-litre Supercharged V8 Demon. Those with long memories an elephant never forgets, right? will recall the enormous 426-cubic-inch Mopar monster displaces an even 7.0 litres. A six-speed automatic is the Tank Xs only option.A quick perusal of Rezvanis build-and-price tool reveals the $349,000 sticker price to simply be a starting point for financial hilarity. Adding a Dana 60 rear end costs $8,500 while automatic side steps are another $2,500. Thermal night vision, perfect for tracking down pesky infidels, adds $6,500 to the invoice.After learning Rezvani charges an eye-popping $12,500 for a six-inch lift kit, your author decided he is definitely in the wrong business.For fun, we went through the configurator and checked every box, including the ones for a $6,500 starry night headliner and $7,500 auxiliary gas tank. Total price? $429,585.Checking in at 84 inches wide and 190 inches long, the Rezvani Tank X puts down a footprint roughly that of a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, albeit one that is ten inches wider than stock. Its about ten inches taller than a Wrangler as well, so watch that low bridge. Truth be told, the new Wrangler JL does form the basis of this beast, explaining the design changes to this 2020 model compared to last years tank, which used the old JK Wrangler as its starting point.By the way, this thing is packed with bulletproof armouring and EMP protection, meaning youll still be able to drive to your secret lair after the attack. Bombs
Origin: Updated Rezvani Tank now packs 1,000 horsepower
Electric car sales climb in wake of new $5,000 federal rebate program
2018 Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid Canadas new rebate program to help make electric cars cheaper appears to be showing early signs of stimulating sales but mostly in the two provinces that require a minimum number of electric car sales.On May 1, Ottawa began offering rebates of up to $5,000 on the purchase of some electric vehicles in a bid to bring the cost of lower-end models closer to that of their gas-powered cousins.Announced in the March budget, the incentives are part of Ottawas goal to increase sales of electric cars to 10 per cent of all vehicles sold by 2025, 30 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040.Last year, electric and plug-in hybrids accounted for about two per cent of total vehicle sales.Matthew Klippenstein, an engineer who began tracking electric vehicle sales a few years ago on his website Canada EV Sales, said they accounted for four per cent of all vehicle sales in May and June.Its still a tiny share the Ford F-series pickup trucks alone accounted for seven per cent of all vehicle sales but it is rising. And Klippenstein said the federal rebate has definitely increased sales in the past couple of months.Transport Canada reports that more than 14,000 electric cars and minivans were bought nationwide using the rebate since May 1. The department, which is overseeing the rebate program, also said overall electric vehicle sales were up 30 per cent between January and June, compared to the year before.But Klippenstein said there is one caveat to the data. More than eight in 10 of the electric vehicles sold in May and June were sold in British Columbia and Quebec. Those are the only two provinces that have a provincial rebate Ontario did until last year when Premier Doug Ford cancelled it after being elected and both allow their rebate to be combined with the federal one for even greater savings.Even more important to the sales distribution is that both B.C. and Quebec require dealerships to sell a certain percentage of electric cars, Klippenstein said. If they dont meet the quotas they have to either pay a fine or buy credits from competitors who exceeded their quotas.Klippenstein said there is still a limited supply of electric cars and those the automakers are sending to Canada are going to B.C. and Quebec first to make sure dealerships hit their quotas. Dan Woynillowicz, policy director at Clean Energy Canada, said there is still work to do to install public charging stations in the provinces that have never had a rebate. The lack of that infrastructure is contributing to lower sales there.Transport Canada hasnt yet been able to provide further details about what kinds of cars were the most popular purchases or sales numbers by province.The federal rebates are available for fully electric vehicles whose lowest-end model retails for less than $45,000, or $55,000 for vehicles that have seven or more seats like minivans. Up to $5,000 is available, with fully electric vehicles bought outright or leased for at least four years eligible for the maximum.Shorter-range plug-in hybrids or fully electric cars leased for shorter times are eligible for rebates between $625 and $3,750 depending on the length of the lease and the type of
Origin: Electric car sales climb in wake of new $5,000 federal rebate program
The redesigned Genesis G90 will start at $90,000 in Canada
The Genesis G90 has been redesigned for the 2020 model year, taking a bold turn in styling thats soon to be present on every Genesis model.Only one trim is available, but it includes everything — all safety features, all technology and destination and delivery fees for $89,750 in Canada, the automaker said early August.That price also includes Genesis at Home concierge service, complimentary scheduled maintenance, Genesis Connected Services, map updates and more, for five years or 100,000 km.The standard engine for Canadian G90s is now a 5.0-litre V8 that produces 420 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3.3-litre turbocharged V6 is also available through special order; it makes 365 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque, and drops the price to $86,750.Both engines send the power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. That all-wheel-drive system is smart, too; the electronic transfer case can vary the torque from front to rear in response to driving demands.As for the styling, the flagship sedan will debut the latest generation of Genesis Athletic Elegance design language, featuring new Quad Lamp styling and a more prominent diamond grille with G-MATRIX crosshatch pattern. The technology we talked about encompasses a 12.3-inch central display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lane Follow Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance-Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist and Rear Safe Exit Assist are all standard on the G90, as are 10 airbags.The rest of the interior is obviously luxurious, with touches of copper and black all over. Quilted Nappa leather seating, leather-wrapped dashboard with contrast piping, leather-wrapped centre console and natural wood trim with exposed grain texture also add to the luxurious
Origin: The redesigned Genesis G90 will start at $90,000 in Canada
All-electric Ford F-150 pulls a 1-million-pound train 1,000 feet
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAFord Ford is literally shocking long-time F-150 owners with a stunt involving a prototype all-electric F-150.Okay, maybe not literally in the sense its running the battery-powered trucks voltage through their chests, but the pickup is leaving them very thoroughly taken aback.In a video posted July 23, Linda Zhang, Fords chief engineer for the F-150 program, pilots the prototype as it tows a million-pound train from rest, a feat no other truck has ever done before. Sure, thereve been other stunts involving pulling planes and other heavy things, but not a million-pound train.The audience for the stunt are a bunch of F-150 owners, guys with mostly newer models, but a few older models, too, including a 1990s truck and a late 1970s model.Their electric-vehicle skepticism sloughs away as the truck pulls the train no problem. Overcoming the rolling resistance of steel-on-steel train wheels is impressive, as is the fact its able to yank the train cars 1,000 feet, a distance marked by 42 F-150s parked end-to-end (because, yknow, thats the number of years its been the U.S. best-selling truck). After the stunt is completed, Zhang ups the ante by loading the 42 gasoline-powered trucks into the train and attempting to pull it again, the load now tipping the scales way over 1 million pounds. Hopefully, the stunt changes the minds of some people that doubt the capabilities of electric vehicles, and helps usher in a new era of electric utility. Hybrid F-150s are expected to arrive in 2020, with all-electric models soon
Origin: All-electric Ford F-150 pulls a 1-million-pound train 1,000 feet
Nissan set to cut 10,000 jobs globally, according to reports
Nissan is preparing to axe more than 10,000 jobs globally, according to Japanese media. The car maker announced 4800 job cuts earlier this year, as part of an initiative to turn its fortunes round, having suffered its lowest profits for almost ten years. A further announcement is tipped to take place on Thursday. Global sales stagnation in the US and Europe, plus falls in Asia, political uncertainty, tariffs, the need to invest in electrification and autonomy and a part-ageing product line-up, including its successful Qashqai and Juke SUVs, and greater competition from rival manufacturers in the SUV segment have been cited as reasons for Nissan’s profits slump. The reports suggest that the bulk of the losses will fall on workers outside of Japan. Although there have been no specific warnings of losses at Nissan’s UK operations, earlier this year the firm made headlines when it reversed a previous decision to make some X-Trail models at its Sunderland factory. That was said to have led to “hundreds” of new jobs not being created at the plant. At the time it made specific reference to Brexit negotiations undermining the company’s position in the UK, although falling diesel sales and the EU’s tariff-free trade deal with Japan were also believed to be factors. Nissan has also hit the headlines recently with the arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn, who is now suing the firm for unfair dismissal. The firm has previously committed to making the next-generation Juke – set to be revealed at this year’s Frankfurt motor show – and Qashqai, in Sunderland. In May this year Nissan reported net profits annual profits of 319bn yen (£2.37bn), down 5% on the previous year. This was the lowest figures since 2009/10, in the wake of the global financial crisis. The company has also warned that the current year could be
Origin: Nissan set to cut 10,000 jobs globally, according to reports
Volvo recalls 507,000 vehicles as probe finds fire risk
According to the U.S. IIHS, the outgoing Volvo XC60 is one of only two midsize SUVs on sale with acceptable headlight performance. Swedish automaker Volvo Cars is recalling 507,000 vehicles worldwide because of a faulty engine component that, in extreme cases, could result in a fire.The company, which is owned by Chinas Zhejiang Geely, said its own investigations have identified that in very rare cases the plastic engine intake manifold may melt and deform.In the very worst case, there is a possibility that a localized engine bay fire may occur, it said.When asked to provide details of the potential financial impact, Stefan Elfstrom, a spokesman for Volvo Cars, said, We dont comment on the cost. The company is keen to fix the faulty vehicles as fast as possible and customers wont incur any costs related to addressing the error, he said.The cars being recalled were produced in 2014 through 2019 and have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, Volvo Cars said in an emailed statement. The affected models are the S60, S80, S90, V40, V60, V70, V90, XC60 and XC90. While the company has no reports of accidents or personal injuries, all customers will receive a letter asking them to contact their local retailer for corrective
Origin: Volvo recalls 507,000 vehicles as probe finds fire risk
Almost 100,000 Jeeps recalled over defect that could shift them to neutral
Fiat Chrysler is recalling 10,485 Jeep Cherokee SUVs in Canada because the transmission could accidentally shift into neutral while driving, keeping the vehicle from moving forward.Including Jeeps sold in the U.S., some 91,650 vehicles are affected, specifically Cherokees from the 2014 model year equipped with the 3.2-litre V6.On affected vehicles, a stuck valve in the transmission valve body can keep the clutch from deactivating, which may shift them into neutral while moving and cause an abrupt stop, increasing the risk of a crash.Fiat Chrysler hasnt outlined a specific fix yet for the issue, but nevertheless expects to begin the recall early August. No crashes or injuries associated with the issue have been
Origin: Almost 100,000 Jeeps recalled over defect that could shift them to neutral
More than 13,000 Mazda3s recalled in Canada over wheels that could fall off
2019 Mazda3 SportBrian Harper Mazda is recalling 13,108 examples of its 2019-model-year Mazda3 in Canada because a manufacturing defect may increase the odds the wheels will fall off.The Japanese automaker says while the lug nuts on the wheels were tightened to the correct specification at the factory, a manufacturing error may mean a gap between the wheel hub bolt and the hub flange was left during assembly.The gap could allow the lug nuts to loosen when the vehicle is in motion, which could in turn result in the wheels falling off completely.Drivers will hear a rattling sound before the wheel completely separates from the car, Mazda suggested.Recalled vehicles will simply have their lug nuts re-torqued to the correct specifications. No incidents of wheels detaching from Mazda3s has yet been reported, nor have any accidents or injuries tied to the
Origin: More than 13,000 Mazda3s recalled in Canada over wheels that could fall off
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