Rides : Recalls for the 2013 BMW M5 and M6 Oil Pumps, 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Refrigerant

 

The NHTSA has issued recalls covering various issues on the 2013 BMW M5 and M6, 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL, and 2011-2012 VPG MV-1.

2013 BMW M5 and M6
The Problem: As we previously reported, BMW discovered a manufacturing issue related to the oil pump used on the S63Tu twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8, which is used in M5 and M6 models. Dealers were ordered in September to stop selling the models, but the automaker is now issuing a formal recall to replace the faulty oil pumps, which could cause the engine to lose oil pressure.
The Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump free of charge. BMW expects to complete repairs by the end of October.
Number of Vehicles Affected: 696 vehicles, including M5, M6, and M6 convertible models.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL
The Problem: Daimler’s recent crusade against the new R1234yf air conditioning refrigerant has now culminated in a formal recall for all 2013 model year SL roadsters. According to the automaker, a severe frontal impact could rupture refrigerant lines, and if exposed to an ignition source, R1234yf could ignite.
The Fix: Dealers will replace the refrigerant with standard R134a refrigerant while backdating refrigerant lines and fittings designed specifically for R134a. Owners will be notified in early October.
Number of Vehicles Affected: 432 2013 SL models sold in the United States.

2011-2012 Vehicle Production Group MV1
The Problem: VPG’s accessible taxi vehicle is available with an optional compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system. On these models, the pressure relief plug for the CNG storage tank may not be assembled properly, and the gas could leak, potentially leading to combustion if in the presence of an ignition source.
The Fix: VPG dealers will install a secondary pressure relief device that should prevent CNG from leaking. The device will be installed free of charge.
Number of Vehicles Affected: 435 CNG-fueled MV1 vehicles.
Source: NHTSA ODI

Credit : Motor Trend

Rides : Check Out The All New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

Volkswagen has pulled back the wraps on the 2013 Beetle Convertible ahead of the vehicle's debut at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. The drophead makes use of the same flattened roof line of the 2012 Beetle Coupe when the folding soft top is in place. Stow the roof, and the mechanism lays flat to increase rear visibility. Volkswagen says the roof can go from fully stowed to in place in just 10 seconds, and engineers built in an automatic rollover support system comprised of two computer-actuated bars behind the rear seat that pop up in just four milliseconds in the event of a collision.

Buyers can choose between three engine options, including a 2.5-liter five-cylinder good for 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is also available with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Finally, diesel buyers will be happy to hear Volkswagen will offer the 2013 Beetle Convertible with a familiar 2.0 turbo-diesel four-cylinder good for 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. That mill can be bolted to a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG. 

 

Press Release

VOLKSWAGEN UNVEILS THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE

Volkswagen reveals images of the latest version of its iconic convertible ahead of the
2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

Herndon, VA, October 3 – Today, Volkswagen unveils the latest Beetle Convertible, the
third-generation of the iconic VW ragtop. Like its predecessors-the type 15 from 1949 and
the 2003 New Beetle Convertible-the curvaceous convertible offers the perfect combination
of practicality and fun for four.

In creating the latest version of the Beetle Convertible, Volkswagen has reinterpreted the
Beetle Convertible's timeless design with a sportier and more dynamic silhouette, just as it did with the latest Beetle coupe. The combination of a flatter roofline and a more upright
windshield gives the car a shape that's more closely aligned with the first generation of Beetle convertibles.

Volkswagen decided to stick with a traditional soft-top rather than incorporate a folding
hardtop on the car. When the top is down, it lies flat, giving good rear visibility. Although the top looks compact when furled, it's actually wide and long when in place, an action that takes a little over 10 seconds at the touch of a button.

Inside, the Beetle Convertible retains the design cues that have made the latest Beetle such a
hit with consumers, such as the body-color dashboard and the stylish gauges and trim. The
spacious cabin has space for four full-size adults and is able to carry plenty of luggage: a
fold-down split rear bench seat increases the practicality even further.

In any Volkswagen, safety is paramount and to that end, the company has developed an
Automatic Rollover Support System. Two roll-over bars are concealed behind the back of the
rear bench seat, activated by the computer that deploys the airbags in the case of a crash.

Along with the fixed A-pillars, they provide effective protection for the occupants of all four seats within milliseconds. Driver and front passenger combined head-thorax airbags are also among the standard equipment.

The new Beetle Convertible will be available in the United States with three engine options. The entry-level powerplant is the familiar 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Volkswagen's fuel-efficient 2.0-liter TDI® Clean Diesel four-cylinder engine makes 140 hp and 236 lb-ft, but just as importantly delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy figure of 41 mpg on the highway with the six-speed manual transmission. (A six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic is also available with this engine.) Finally, the 2.0-liter turbocharged TSI® four-cylinder, which makes 200 hp and 207 lb-ft, can be ordered with either a six-speed manual or DSG automatic.
Beetle Convertible pricing for the U.S. will be announced closer to launch, which occurs in the last quarter of 2012.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, Golf R, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

 

Credit : Autoblog

Rides : Photos - 2012 Infiniti G37 Convertible

Rides : (Video) Antenna Dilemma: Chevy Engineers De-Clutter Camaro

Chevrolet says it decided to change the antenna on its coming Camaro convertible after spy photographs showed a pre-production version of the car with a long whip-style antenna on its rear fender. Camaro fans loudly declared their disapproval of the old-fashioned eyesore.

But getting the antenna out of sight was more difficult that you’d think. They are often hidden in a vehicle’s rear window, but the Camaro’s soft folding top took away that option, And no other locations seemed suitable.

So Chevy assigned engineers Don Hibbard and Gregg Kittinger to find a way to hide the antenna while maintaining good AM and FM reception. Hibbard, a longtime Ham radio enthusiast, said he sees beauty in antennas but took on the challenge anyway.

They wound up putting the antenna inside the spoiler that stretches across the rear edge of the car’s trunk, something Chevrolet says had not been done on its cars previously. The short shark-fin style antenna for satellite radio, cellular signals and OnStar communications remains on the trunk lid, the long whip is gone.

I look forward to test-driving the new Camaro not so much to try out its convertible roof — it goes on sale in February and I’m based in New York — but to check out its radio reception. I have noticed that long whip antennas, no matter how unattractive and outdated, tend to outperform those embedded in rear windows, windshields and other hidden spots.

I know consumers’ migration to digital music files, satellite radio and other forms of road-going entertainment has made bad radio reception less of an issue than it was decades ago. But for people who like to listen to AM and FM while driving, the antenna trend has implications beyond aesthetics.

The 2011 Camaro Convertible arrives in dealer showrooms this February.