German car giant BMW has just announced plans to recall various models in its 1 and 3 Series range. The recall could affect cars manufactured from March 2007 up to July 2011 and sold in North America, Canada, Japan and South Africa.
The recall came about when potential electrical problems became known after one Canadian motorist suffered a minor crash.
The problem is said to be due to the potential degradation over time of the connector for the positive battery cable connector and corresponding fuse box terminal.
Reviewing the failures, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTS) have said that the loss of electrical power caused by a failing connector could cause the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of death.
Luckily, currently cars of these models sold in Europe aren’t affected.
Things are hotting up as we’re getting closer to the big reveal of the all-new 2013 Range Rover Sport.
Range Rover’s latest is expected to closely match the specifications of the new 2013 Range Rover, and include the much hyped, all-new V6Â turbocharged diesel engine, capable of delivering 255bhp and generating an impressive 442lb ft of torque.
More dynamic than current models, and around 300kg lighter than the entry-level model you can buy at the moment, the Sport looks set for a big release.
The new Range Rover Sport is set to be revealed fully in late March, at the New York motor show.
Also in the news…
Mini acrobatics?
Freestyle rally driver and professional skier Guerlain Chicherit performed a breathtaking stunt a few days ago in the snowy French skiing resort of Tignes. Accelerating to 37mph, Chicherit sent a Mini Countryman John Cooper Works SUV into a complete 360 degree backflip, landing safely.
Launching the Mini off a specially modified ramp, the Mini back flip is said to be the first-ever complete back flip ever made in a car.
Check out the full stunt on YouTube.
In a new survey conducted by Brand Finance Global 500, Ferrari has topped the lot, being named the strongest brand in the world.
The survey takes into account a whole host of things, including the average price spent on advertising and marketing, as well as the average amount of revenue from each customer.
Outdoing other car manufactures, including Audi and BMW, Ferrari also beat the likes of Google and Coca-Cola. While Apple still dominates the list of most valuable brands, at a staggering $87 billion, Ferrari’s business performance is also on the up and up with an 8% increase in total revenue for 2012 – a record figure for them.
It seems that Ferrari’s big-budget promotions have certainly paid off.
Some of us don’t even trust our friends to drive, so we’re not entirely sure how Google’s self-driven car has managed to fare so well in its bid for road-legal status over in America.
Google’s car – which is actually a modified Toyota Prius – passed for use on the roads in Nevada back in 2012, and its success seems to have pushed a team from Oxford University into gear in their own bid to create driver-less vehicles for use here in the UK.