http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1426
German tuner CoverEFX have remastered the tapes on the VW Touareg W12 and have come up with their own limited edition series of the model.
The Erftstadt-based tuner has unveiled the VW Touareg W12 Sport Edition - a series which will be limited to 500 units. CoverEFX has wrapped the Touareg in a two-tone CFC film of gun-metal and black gloss to give it the proper sporty look. A boosting of power under the hood is also performed by means of some software tuning, bringing the horsepower figure to a nice round 368 kW.
Some electronic tuning of the chassis is also part of the package with a sportier ride and a suspension lowering of unspecified centimeters.
The W12 Sport Edition is fitted with 22-inch RS-L light alloy rims from Kahn wrapped in Pirelli Zero Scorpion high-performance tires of 295/30-22 dimensions. The rims are definitely stylistically unique with their red pinstripes and black powder coat.
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Honda to cease Civic Type R four-door production
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1427
Honda says it will stop production of the Civic Type R four-door model at the end of August 2010. The car was being manufactured at the company's Suzuka factory in Japan. Its predecessor had come off Honda's Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, production line.
Unlike its three-door hatchback sibling with 150 kW, the four-door Type R's 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine was injected with extra power for a rating of 168 kW. Drive goes to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Type R badge is worn by Honda's performance models and was first offered with the legendary NSX back in 1992. The first Civic Type R appeared in 1997.
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Toyota confirms safety problem with Lexus GX 460
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1428
Toyota engineers have confirmed the serious safety-related issue with one of their company's vehicles. Following a published account in Consumer Reports listing the 2010 Lexus GX 460 as a "do not buy" due to rollover risk, employees at Toyota successfully replicated the test conducted by the magazine.
“They duplicated Consumer Reports’ results on the GX 460 and they are currently evaluating potential remedies, but at this point there is [sic] no details of what the remedy is,” Lexus spokesman Bill Kwong told the New York Times.
Consumer Reports linked the potential rollover to a slow-responding electronic stability control, and noted that other SUVs allow the driver to regain control quicker. The report led to Toyota ordering a sales freeze on the SUV until a solution to the problem could be found.
Vehicle testers for the magazine noted that in evasive or extreme driving situations the rear end of the vehicle would slide significantly, leading the model to be sideways before the stability system kicked in. Kwong said that the company is "very concerned," and sees this as a serious issue.
Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles over the last six months for a variety of safety problems. Amongst the most notorious is a sticking gas pedal that caused sudden, uncontrolled acceleration in several of their models.
Lexus hopes to discover the cause of the problem in the Lexus GX 460 within a week.
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Vorsteiner GTRS3 widebody kit for M3 E92 revealed
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1429
Vorsteiner has released a new body kit for the BMW M3 E92. The full product is called the GTRS3 M3 and it consists of several body modifications and aerodynamic pieces. Up front the bumper has been replaced with a complete carbon fibre unit with a modular replacement splitter, GTRS3 carbon fibre wide arch fenders and extended side skirts. A GTRS3 carbon fibre vented race bonnet is also available.
The back end consists of quarter panel fender arch extensions, a Vorsteiner chrome boot badge emblem, a wide arch rear bumper and an integrated carbon diffuser. A stainless steel quad exhaust system is available as an option. The twin 7-spoke V-308 concave forged mesh wheels can be ordered in 18 or 20-inch sizes. Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 performance tyres are specified.
Only 100 Vorsteiner GTRS3 M3 kits are to be sold through the company's worldwide network.
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Toyota agrees to pay $16.4M fine - sticky pedal
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1430
Toyota has decided not to fight a $16.375 million fine imposed by the National Highway Traffic safety Administration for its handling of a sticking accelerator found in seven different models. Led by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the department criticized Toyota for stalling a recall of 2.4 million units tied to the defective pedal.
Toyota is required to pay the fine within 30 days.
"By failing to report known safety problems as it is required to do under the law, Toyota put consumers at risk," LaHood said in a press release. "I am pleased that Toyota has accepted responsibility for violating its legal obligations to report any defects promptly. We are continuing to investigate whether the company has lived up to all its disclosure obligations."
However, Toyota will likely not acknowledge any fault in the matter. By doing so, they would give an advantage to the plaintiffs in over 200 different lawsuits filed against the automaker. Toyota knew about the problems with the accelerator since at least September 29, according to documents obtained by the NHTSA.
The Department believes Toyota could have recalled the vehicles four months earlier, if not sooner. The fine levied was the maximum allowed under law, though more fines may be possible as Toyota's practices are further investigated.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is also examining the matter for any fraudulent business practices, while the U.S. Attorney in New York has also initiated a criminal investigation.
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SA car makers up 2010 forecast
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1431
South Africa's automobile industry is set for a strong recovery this year, with new vehicle sales seen up 14 percent% - twice as much as previously forecast - after weak sales for the past two years, car makers said on Monday.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa) said in its first quarter business conditions report that sales should rise to about 451 000 units in 2010.
South Africa's auto sector was one of the hardest hit by a global downturn and domestic recession but sales have turned the corner for the key employment industry.
Monthly sales data showed the first year-on-year increase in almost three years in January and growth has since reached double figures, partly on a 550 basis point drop in the central bank's repo rate to 6.5% since December 2008.
"Projections for 2010 have been revised upwards," NAAMSA director Nico Vermeulen said in the report.
"In aggregate terms, domestic sales are expected to improve from the 395 000 in 2009 to about 451 000 in 2010, an increase of around 14%. However, the improvement will be off a very low base."
Exports were also seen recovering sharply, helping lift total domestic production by nearly 20%.
"Factoring in the expected improvement in domestic sales together with anticipated growth in exports, domestic production of motor vehicles in South Africa during 2010 is expected to rise from 374 000 vehicles produced in 2009 to about 443 000 units projected for 2010, an increase in vehicle production of about 18.4%," he said.
South Africa's government sees auto manufacturing as a key industry to help boost growth and jobs and has tried to help the car makers to build up exports.
Africa's biggest economy shed nearly 900 000 jobs during last year's recession, more than 200 000 of them in the manufacturing sector.
Car makers BMW, Ford, General Motors, Daimler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen all have manufacturing plants in South Africa.
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