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10 automakers sued over keyless ignitions

Keyless ignition has rapidly proliferated throughout the auto industry to become a fairly normal feature on new cars. It's supposed to offer the convenience of keeping the fob in your pocket and just pressing a button to drive away. However, ten major automakers are now being sued in US District Court over claims that the system is dangerous, Reuters reports. The suit alleges that people are forgetting to shut off the engine, and the lack of an idle timer is the cause for 13 deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning and multiple injuries. The suit currently includes 28 plaintiffs, according to Reuters, but the lawyers are asking for class-action status to potentially add many more. The case goes after a major swath of the industry, including BMW, Daimler, FCA, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, plus their related brands like Acura, Infiniti, Mini, and Lexus. In all, over five million vehicles are affected. The assertion here is that people walk away from their vehicle without shutting it off because they believe the engine shuts off automatically. If parked in a garage, carbon monoxide can build up, leading to poisoning. The lawyers claim automakers know this is a problem and also cite 27 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the issue, according to Reuters. The plaintiffs are asking for an automatic shut-off and damages from the companies. These concerns have come up before, though. Toyota previously faced a lawsuit over a carbon monoxide death after a woman accidentally left her Lexus running. Also earlier this year, GM recalled 64,186 examples of the 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt because owners weren't shutting them off. The problem resulted in two injuries, and the company released a software update to limit the idling time.

Hyundai's second Super Bowl ad is a Nice piece of work

Yesterday, Hyundai unveiled its Dad's Sixth Sense Super Bowl ad, which showed off the 2015 Genesis Sedan and its auto emergency braking system. While a fine spot, it lacked the pizzaz we expect of a commercial for the big game. Hyundai's second half-minute commercial, however, is more of what we expect of a Super Bowl ad.
Starring The Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki and with a cameo from comedian Richard Lewis, the commercial sees Galecki trying to woo a woman he comes across at a stop light by complimenting her on her Elantra, which just so happens to be what he's driving. Things go hilariously awry from there.
Scroll down for a full look at the video, and let us know how you think it stacks up next to yesterday's Dad's video.

Next-gen Hyundai Equus spotted horsing around in desert

The last time we showed you the next-generation Hyundai Equus, the northern hemisphere was in the depths of winter and the big luxury sedan was testing above the Arctic Circle. Now, as we're approaching the end of summer, the South Korean company is rather fittingly conducting hot weather testing in the American southwest. As with our last look at the Equus, today's images show a heavily camouflaged car. Said camo, which includes both coverings and more form-fitting stickers, can't hide the overall size of this vehicle. It's a big'un, especially behind the B-pillar. From what we can see through the front camouflage, the Equus should draw some inspiration from the Vision G concept. In short, expect a sportier, more assertive look than what's currently offered on Hyundai's flagship. This particular car is allegedly fitted with a version of the company's Tau 5.0-liter V8, which serves in both the current Equus and the smaller Genesis sedan. It's paired with a ten-speed automatic – yes, ten forward gears... on a car – while our spies reiterated previous reports that a new turbocharged V6 would also be on offer. Importantly, this latest gallery of spy photos gives us our first look at the new Equus' cabin. Again, there's heavy camouflage here, but we can get a look at the handsome leatherwork on the two-tone steering wheel and the stylish silver hue of the HVAC buttons. It also looks like Hyundai will retain a knob-and-button-style controller for the infotainment system, which will be housed in an expansive display at the tip top of the dash. Look for the next-generation Equus to make its debut some time in 2016 as a 2017 model. Related Video: