WHAT WE LIKE: Commutes during Michigan’s construction season are just a little bit easier when cocooned inside a BMW 740i. The cabin mutes jackhammers, the numb steering neutralizes rumble strips, the suspension floats over milled pavement, and the seats—my word, the seats. If you can’t get comfortable in these thrones, you are probably a giraffe. […]
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Toyota is recalling 337,449 RAV4 and Lexus hybrid models for the third time to fix rear suspension parts that may loosen and rust, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The 2006–2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h have rear tie rods that can loosen, rust, and separate, leading to an “abrupt change in the vehicle’s alignment,” according to the original August 2012 recall of 780,584 cars. But filings show Toyota hadn’t grasped the root of the problem until now and its dealers weren’t yet properly trained to perform the repairs.
At first, Toyota was only inspecting the tie rod nuts and replacing those that were loose. Later, in a second recall in August 2013, dealers coated the tie rods in epoxy and replaced those that were corroded. Now, after receiving more reports of failed tie rods from owners who had completed the recalls, each of the remaining cars will have both left and right tie rods replaced and coated in epoxy, regardless of rust. The 337,449 cars name in this action are those that either have not been previously repaired or were repaired without new replacement tie rods. Toyota said it has received at least 99 warranty claims and complaints of tie-rod failures. Owners will get recall letters in the mail starting late September.
BMW’s hard-core, track-focused M4 GTS makes almost 500 horsepower in part because it features water-injection technology co-developed with Bosch. And compared to the 425 horsepower you get in the regular M4, that’s a pretty big increase. Now, according to Autocar, Bosch is offering that same technology to other automakers.
Water injection works by spritzing the intake manifold with water. This lowers the temperature and reduces the likelihood of engine knock, resulting in more power. And while BMW was clearly focused on the extra horses, Bosch sees it more as a way to reduce fuel consumption, too.
The company claims its water-injection system can increase fuel efficiency by as much as 13 percent, as well as reduce carbon emissions by four percent. But as Bosch’s global products manager Fabiana Piazza told Autocar, those gains are only really seen in forced-induction engines with a high specific output—at least 107 horsepower per liter.
Water-injection technology isn’t necessarily new. It was first used in airplanes and later found its way into race cars. Oldsmobile used it on the 1962 Jetfire, and Saab later offered it on the 1978 99 Turbo S.
It will be interesting to see which companies decide to license the tech and how popular it may eventually become. After all, even though water-injection isn’t necessarily a new concept, who wouldn’t want an engine with more power and better gas mileage?
Toyota’s new Japan-only Kei-car looks like something that belongs in a Disney movie. And its name, Pixis Joy, is straight out of Disney World, too. Offered in three different versions with a variety of customization possibilities, the Pixis Joy almost seems like something that could’ve worked for Scion, that, less-than-dearly departed “youth” brand.
Developed and built by Toyota’s partner Daihatsu, the Pixis Joy fits into Japan’s popular class of kei cars, all of which must be less than 133.9 inches long and use an engine smaller than 660 cc (0.6 liter). The Pixis offers both naturally aspirated and turbocharged three-cylinder engines making either 50 or 63 horsepower, both mated to a standard CVT. All-wheel drive is available on certain models.
The range of models includes C, F, and S variants, all of which are adorable. The Pixis Joy F is meant to be the most elegant of the lot, with smoother body lines and a glitzier grille; the S is a “sporty” model (we’re dubious because of its 63-hp output) with larger wheels, red interior accents, and different front and rear bumpers; and the C is a teeny-tiny crossover imposter with its extra body cladding and higher ground clearance.
As with all other kei cars, these Toyotas won’t make it off the islands of Japan, as they’re simply too small to work in other markets. But who knows? Maybe something like the Pixis Joy will soon grace the silver screen in an upcoming Pixar movie. It certainly has the right look.
So far, the majority of Volkswagen TDI owners who’ve joined the company’s settlement have chosen to sell their cars back at above-market rates.
According to Automotive News, greater numbers of the 210,000 owners and lessees want the buyback instead of a cash payment and a free fix. The numbers vary depending on age, equipment, and mileage, but it seems that owners are opting for the simplest way out. Volkswagen must pay the trade-in value for a clean car listed under the NADA guidelines, plus $2986.73 and one-fifth of the car’s determined trade-in value.
Considering that Volkswagen offered the choice of cash payments from $5100 to nearly $8000 and buybacks between $12,475 and $34,000, we’re not surprised by owners swaying toward extra cash. Of course, a buyback means they’ll need to buy a replacement car, which might not be worth the effort or the extra cost. Another quarter-million or so eligible Volkswagen drivers have not made up their minds yet.
September 1, 2016 at 10:02 am by Clifford Atiyeh | Photography by Clifford Atiyeh and the Manufacturer
If you’re in the mood for some gratuitous video of an engine cutaway set to dramatic music, this clip of the Ferrari 488GTB’s redheaded V-8 is just the thing you need.
The twin-turbo 3.9-liter V-8 in the 488GTB and 488 Spider, as we’ve described, is a masterpiece of engineering and real pleasure to experience from the driver’s seat. (A 661-hp engine tends to be fun.) While the engine doesn’t have quite the same delectable aural character as Ferrari’s naturally aspirated V-8s, this video is intended to show the lengths to which Ferrari went to ensure the instant response and progressive power delivery for which the 4.5-liter V-8 from the 458 Italia was famed.
Our East Coast Bureau just had this blue 488 Spider for a week and happily reconfirmed its near-complete lack of turbo lag and even distribution of power. Unfortunately, it also reconfirmed our impression that this turbo V-8 just doesn’t sound as good, being fairly quiet at start up and lacking the banshee wail near redline even in Race mode. Of course, these complaints are relative—the 488GTB is still spectacular.
