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2015 Volvo XC90 proves Sweden's auto industry is alive and well [w/video]

The most important new Volvo in quite some time has made its first auto show appearance, with the second-generation XC90 debuting at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.
As we discussed in both our original post and Deep Dive feature, the new XC90 remains a three-row crossover for 2015, although it ditches the first-gen model's top-end, turbocharged six-cylinder in favor of a single twin-charged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. By pairing that with a plug-in-electric powertrain, the king of the XC90 range, the T8 TwinEngine, will offer up 400 horsepower. So yeah, performance should be brisk.
Also appearing on 2015 XC90 will be an entirely new, Apple CarPlay-compatible infotainment system with a big, vertical touchscreen display at its heart. Based on the videos we've seen, the new system looks responsive, feature-laden and quite attractive.

GM recalling 524k vehicles over hood latches and toe link nuts

Just hours after confirming to Autoblog its intention to recall 97,540 vehicles in the US (117,651 in North America) for a possible manufacturing defect in the chassis control module of several models, General Motors is issuing two more campaigns that affect another 379,401 units in the US (524,384 in North America).
One campaign covers 290,107 US examples of the 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX and the 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X because the "rear toe link adjuster lock nuts" may be improperly torqued. If not up to spec, the toe adjuster link could separate and allow the wheel to shift while driving, making the handling unstable. GM says that it knows of three crashes and two injuries as a result of this problem. Dealers are inspecting the nuts and installing a new link assembly, if necessary. Autoblog first reported about this potential issue when it showed up on a list of recalls from Transport Canada.
The second recall is for 89,294 examples of the 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark in the US manufactured from January 17, 2012, through July 29, 2014. According to GM, "corrosion can cause the secondary hood latch striker to stick in the open position." If this happens, and the primary latch also isn't engaged for some reason, the hood could fly open while driving. About 13,000 of these affected Sparks are at dealers and are being held until repaired. The fix requires replacing the hood striker. GM isn't aware of crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by this problem.

2015 Volkswagen Passat brings plug-in power to Europe

Volkswagen (and many other European automakers) have a storied history of launching products in their home market before bringing those wares over to the United States. Look at the seventh-generation Golf, for example, which just arrived in the US as a 2015 model but first debuted at the Paris Motor Show back in 2012. So while you might assume that the slick new Passat seen here will show up in US showrooms in another year or two, you'd actually be wrong. Sorry, folks - we're missing this one.
That's kind of a shame, too, as this Passat is one handsome - if conservative - automobile. It has more of a rakish, CC-like appearance, and it's built on Volkswagen's scalable MQB architecture, so it's a fair bit lighter than its predecessor. Powertrain options include VW's 1.4-, 1.8-, and 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines, as well as diesel mills in 1.6- and 2.0-liter displacements. There's also the 215-horsepower Passat GTE, which can operate as an EV for up to 31 miles. That GTE will even be offered as a sexy wagon variant (called the Variant, actually).
Check out the not-for-US Passat in our gallery above, then scope out the press blast below to learn more about that plug-in GTE.

Citroen C4 Cactus Airflow 2L brings the fuel-sipping funk [w/video]

Full disclosure: I love the Citroën C4 Cactus. Really, I just love French automakers. Kudos to them for flexing their design muscles, creating products that compete in the mass market while not looking like anything else on the road. This C4 Cactus, for example - it's a small hatchback that's about the same size as a Ford Focus, designed to take on small crossovers like the (also weird) Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. But it looks radical, what with its funky Airbump door trim (think of it as aerodynamic, protective Braille), extensive and imaginative color palette, and decidedly weird styling. It's just plain cool.
This specific C4 Cactus, however, takes things a step further with a massive focus on emissions and fuel economy. Much like the Peugeot 208 with which it shares a powertrain, the Cactus 2L Airflow uses PSA Peugeot Citroën's Hybrid Air powertrain, comprised of a three-cylinder PureTech gasoline engine and a compressed air storage unit. There are three different operating modes for the Hybrid Air system, including "air power," where the compressed air motor runs things, "petrol power," which is pretty self-explanatory, and "combined power," where the combustion engine works with the compressed air system to move things along.
The end result? A five-door hatch that weighs just 2,100 pounds (you know, lighter than a Mazda Miata) and is capable of getting 141 miles per gallon on the European cycle, or two liters per 100 kilometers (that's why it's got "2L" in its name). And it's all wrapped in colorful, textured, uniquely French package. Sign me up.

2015 Ford S-Max adds all-wheel drive, adaptive steering

The Blue Oval's 'One Ford' mantra has seen rapid commonization of the automaker's products across markets, but North America still has to look from afar at most of the company's Max-branded people movers, including this new S-Max. That's a bit of a shame - we like the space efficiency and above-average driving dynamics of the C-Max models we do get, but seeing this updated seven-seat small minivan makes us want the One Ford initiative to extend even further.
The new model's changes include an updated powertrain range including a 1.5-liter EcoBoost four with 158 horsepower, and a larger, 237-horsepower, 2.0-liter model, along with a pair of revised lower-emissions 2.0-liter diesels. The big news, however, is the advent of available all-wheel drive, something that hasn't been offered since the S-Max first went on sale back in 2006.
On the technology front, the S-Max is the first European model to receive Ford Adaptive Steering, a variable-ratio technology we recently sampled in a prototype Fusion that is expected to go into production on the next-generation Edge. The S-Max also receives a new aluminum-intensive integral link rear suspension, packaged to continue to fit up to 32 different seating combinations. Safety equipment is always a prime concern in kinschleppers like the S-Max, and to that end, this new model receives pre-collision assist technology and LED headlamps.

Peugeot Exalt concept wears a revised look for its home crowd

The Paris Motor Show is Peugeot's big chance to show off its newest wares to the home crowd, and the company has a ton of vehicles on display at this year's exhibition. Unfortunately, the Exalt concept is one of the more lackluster of the bunch. With its long, low body, the sedan certainly isn't ugly. However, Peugeot already showed the Exalt at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, and it hasn't done too much to change it for the City of Light.
The latest evolution of the Exalt still wears a unique paint finish over much of its body, but the rear panels are now painted gray, instead of the contrasting red from Beijing. The interior for the Paris version is at least reupholstered to replace the previous light gray and dark wood with pinstripe fabric and a lighter shade of timber.
Under the hood, things are left the same with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine sending 270 horsepower to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic. There's also an electric motor powering the rear axle for a total system output of 340 horsepower at a full gallop. Peugeot did make one small tweak for Paris by hiding a foldaway, electric scooter in the floor of the trunk. Scroll down to read all about this rehashed concept.

2015 Audi A6 spiffs up for Paris Motor Show duty

While the big names at the Audi booth might be dominated by the TT line, it's not the only product getting some attention from the German company. The A6, on sale in its present form since 2012, is getting its official mid-cycle refresh.
Featuring light exterior freshening, the new fascia wears a tweaked grille and slimmer, more expressive headlights. The rear end sees more substantial changes, with a freshened rear bumper that features rectangular exhaust outlets and more dramatically redone taillights.
Under hood, the 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 engine now produces 329 horsepower, while the 3.0-liter, turbodiesel V6s are available in 215- or 268-hp varieties, or in twin-turbocharged form, with 315 hp or 322 hp. The other big powertrain news surrounds the transmission. Audi has finally dropped the continuously variable transmission from the base, front-drive A6, slotting in a dual-clutch transmission in its place.

XL Sport was 200-millionth VW produced

Volkswagen Group is one of the largest automakers on Earth, operating 106 factories in 27 countries and building everything from motorcycles to commercial vehicles. However, it saved something very special to celebrate its latest production milestone. During VW's preview night ahead of the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the company showed off the frankly amazing XL Sport concept and announced that it was the 200-millionth vehicle ever built by the group.
In its release, VW claims that the XL Sport "symbolizes the innovative power and passion of the brand," but when it comes down to it, the vehicle just looks cool as the high performance evolution of the super-efficient XL1. The Sport ditches everything to do with fuel economy in favor of a 197-horsepower, V-twin engine from a Ducati 1199 Superleggera and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All that grunt, in an already light car allows for a claimed sprint to 62 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 168 miles per hour. Unfortunately, because the XL Sport is a concept for now, it may never see the road.
Perhaps even more surprising, it took VW Group until 1999 to reach the 100-million vehicle mark with a New Beetle. Getting to 200 million only required about another 15 years to accomplish. In that time, the company acquired Porsche and expanded heavily in China, among other business moves.

Peugeot 208 Hybrid Air 2L returns 141 Euro mpg, doesn't look like a Cactus [w/video]

One of the more intriguing automotive technologies on the market is PSA's Hybrid Air drivetrain, which is being shown rather prominently at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in both the Citroën C4 Cactus Airflow 2L and in this, the Peugeot 208 Hybrid Air 2L.
The gist of the Hybrid Air system is this: rather than mate a gas-powered engine with an electric motor and battery pack, the 208 Hybrid Air 2L uses a compressed air tank underneath the trunk, a low-pressure tank near the rear axle and a hydraulic system in the engine bay.
In the 208 Hybrid Air 2L, that compressed-air system is paired with a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine. So equipped, this particular "tech demonstrator" can run on any combination of power sources, including in a zero-emissions, compressed-air-only mode. Like the C4 Cactus Airflow 2L, the result of this powertrain is impressive, with the 208's fuel consumption ringing up at just 2.0 liters per 100 kilometers of travel, or about 117 US miles per gallon (equal to the C4 Concept's 141 European mpg).

2015 Kia Sorento shows its new face in fashion-forward Paris

It seems like we've been catching glimpses of the 2015 Sorento for ages now, but Kia has finally revealed the European version of its revised crossover at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.
For the latest Sorento, Kia a few of the elements from the Cross GT concept and adapts them for the road. The production model has the brand's familiar mesh grille up front and headlights that wrap around the body with large foglights below. It features a modified version of the concept's swept-back stance that thankfully removes the awkwardness from the original design. Kia says that shaping the latest crossover was truly a global effort with input coming from Korea, Germany and the US.
For Europe, powertrains amount to a trio of four-cylinder engines with a 2.4-liter gasoline unit with 185 horsepower, a 2.0-liter diesel with 182 hp and 2.2-liter diesel with 197 hp. They're all available with a six-speed automatic, and a six-speed manual is offered on the petrol mill and 2.2-liter oil-burner.

Cadillac recalls 17,500 SRX CUVs in Canada

When reporting on recalls, Autoblog generally tries to focus on the US market. However, a recent campaign in Canada seems important enough to be worth mentioning because it could eventually affect American drivers. General Motors is repairing 17,481 Canadian examples of the Cadillac SRX from the 2010-2015 model years because of the possibility of a loose nut in the rear suspension. For the moment, the automaker hasn't yet announced whether the CUV in the US would require a similar campaign.
The notice was dated September 18, 2014, on the website for Transport Canada, similar to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US. It says, "the rear suspension toe link jam nuts" might not have been sufficiency tightened, which could allow a rear wheel to turn "inboard or outboard" while driving. If this happens, it could cause a sudden change in handling. Canadian Cadillac dealers are inspecting the parts and replacing the toe link if necessary.
This campaign isn't listed on the GM's running recall tally from September, which includes exported models, but it does list four other campaigns for the SRX this year - three in this range of years and one for the 2004-2006 model. Autoblog reached out to the company to ask about the possibility of this recall expanding to the US and were told "We have not publicly announced US recalls" for the issues affecting the SRX. The New York Times was given a similar quote. Scroll down to read the notice from Transport Canada.

Peugeot 308 GT spices up the French Focus fighter

In the face of hot five-door hatches like the Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf R and Renault Megane GT 220 (to say nothing of the Renaultsport Megane), it's high time that French manufacturer Peugeot added some life to its C-segment entry, the 308.
This is the 308 GT, and while it won't pose a threat to hotter models like the Focus ST or Golf R, the availability of gas, diesel, five-door-hatch and station wagon varieties should prove appealing to a wider range of customers than the aforementioned challengers.
That gas mill is already pretty familiar to both American and European consumers, as it's been found in a number of Mini products (not to mention a wide array of vehicles from PSA). The 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder packs 202 horsepower in this particular Pug, while 210 pound-feet of torque are dispatched to the front wheels courtesy of a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. The turbodiesel offering, meanwhile, displaces 2.0 liters and returns 177 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

Kia Venga puts a fresh face on mini minivans

Minivans in America have grown to become anything but mini. That's not the case overseas, however, where Ford offers the B-Max, Citroen the C3 Picasso and Kia the Venga. On the European market now since 2009, the Venga shares its underpinnings with the Soul and with the Hyundai i20. The shape which Peter Schreyer sketched for it won a prestigious iF Design Award upon its debut, but five years later, it was time for a bit of a refresh. Debuting alongside the updated Rio at the Paris Motor Show, the new Venga has received some updated sheetmetal, an upgraded cabin and enhanced equipment – all the better for transporting a (small) family around some European metropolis, where the streets are narrow and the parking even tighter.

2015 Ford F-150 [w/videos]

To learn more about the all-new 2015 F-150 and get an early read on its potential hero-or-zero status, we flew to the heart of full-size pickup truck country, San Antonio, TX, to spend a day driving, towing and playing in the mud with an assortment of Ford's innovative new trucks.
First, a caveat - while we feel we have a reasonably good handle on the new F-150 after attending this first-drive event, we are far from ready to pass definitive judgment on the success of this radically new rig. Our time in the various models was lamentably limited and we felt rushed. With so much at stake and with so much to talk about and experience, we had zero alone time with the vehicle - there were Ford folks shadowing us at every moment.
And we still don't know everything there is to know about the trucks, as Ford is withholding some of its most crucial numbers, including curb weight data and anticipated EPA fuel economy figures. We don't even have a firm on-sale date. All of this information is typically disclosed - or at least officially estimated - at the time of a new vehicle's first drive. This limits the scope of the judgments we feel comfortable making based on our first encounter.

Peugeot Quartz concept hides a 500-hp hybrid under its rocky exterior

Peugeot is going through a bit of a rough patch recently with Dongfeng and the French government coming to its rescue earlier this year. For the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the company is bringing out everything it can to show strength to the home market. Among the automaker's concepts this year is the high-performance Quartz that imagines a very tough crossover.
True to its rocky name, the Quartz looks chiseled from a block of stone with sharp, angular lines covering the whole body. Up front, its LED headlights are recessed behind the hood's overhang to lend a menacing demeanor, and the louvers in the side of the hood take the angry appearance even further. It also rides on some seriously weird 23-inch wheels with composite flaps to direct airflow.
Underneath the long hood is Peugeot's 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and a six-speed automatic. However, the setup is augmented with an electric motor hooked up to each axle boosting total system output to 500 hp. Alternatively for a greener drive, the Quartz can drive 31 miles on an electric charge.

Citroen Divine DS Concept ushers in the next generation of French style [w/video]

Meet the new Divine DS Concept, the future of Citroën's new DS sub-brand and one of the bigger debuts at this 2014 Paris Motor Show. Why, you ask? Well, the current crop of DS cars, like the DS3 and DS4, are basically just slightly restyled versions of the standard Citroën C3 and C4. Park them next to their more mundane counterparts, and the relationship is plain as day.
The introduction of the Divine DS, though, is a preview of what Citroën is going to do to differentiate the premium DS line from its parent's mainstream, twin-chevron-adorned cars and crossovers.
That means a new, expressive exterior design, using what designers call the "DS wings," or the chrome bits below the headlights and above the lower intakes. While Citroën first introduced this on the DS5-based 5LS, the Divine DS' interpretation is more upright, giving the fascia a "heightened sense of prestige." Okay.

2015 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack jacks up onto stage

Subaru has its Outbacks. Volvo the Cross Country models. Audi has Allroad. Volkswagen labels the wagons it ruggedizes for off-roading (or at least soft-roading) under the name Alltrack, and this is the latest.
Joining the Passat Alltrack and making its grand debut at the Paris Motor Show, the new Golf Alltrack is based on the Golf SportWagen (which itself effectively replaces the Jetta wagon) but upgrades with a more rugged appearance and equipment. It's got 4Motion all-wheel drive, an electronic differential lock and a raised suspension, along with black lower body cladding and wheel arches and metallic trim on the bumpers, side sills, wind mirrors and roof rails.
All of which makes the Golf that much better suited to driving where the paved road ends, if not where the dirt road ends too.

Honda Jazz Prototype is brand's latest production-ready 'concept'

Another auto show, another Honda "prototype." The brand has made something of a habit of showing very thinly veiled production models at the world's auto shows, ranging from the Accord, to the Civic and Civic Type-R, as well as the CR-V. And yes, this is far from the first time we've railed against this particular trend (it's not even the first time at this auto show). Now, it's time to preview the production-ready Jazz, known to American consumers as the recently released Fit.
As we covered in our original post on the Jazz Prototype, this car is pretty much a twin to the Fit, aside from its 1.3-liter engine. Sitting in place of the US-market 1.5-liter four-cylinder, the Earth Dreams 1.3 is probably a bit more suited to the tighter urban environments of the European Union. While the engine might be different, the six-speed manual and continuously variable transmission will be plenty familiar to US consumers.
We have a full live gallery of the new Jazz Prototype at the top of the page. Take a look at that, and then scroll down for Honda's press release and official images.

Hyundai i20 shows what brown can do for you [w/video]

With the latest generation of the i20 at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Hyundai continues to shake off its old image in Europe as a maker of cheap, unstylish little penalty boxes. This five-door hatch has to fit into the crowded, compact hatch market over there against popular entries like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo - a high bar for success. But the Korean automaker claims that its latest vehicle is up to the task because it's designed in Europe specifically with European buyers in mind.
The new i20 takes a small step a bit more upmarket with features like LED front and rear lighting and a rearview camera. However, the biggest change is the jump in interior room, though. The wheelbase is two-inches longer than before, and the growth gives the hatch best-in-class legroom and cargo capacity with the rear seats up, according to Hyundai. Rounding out the improvements is an available panoramic sunroof that the company also believes is unique for the segment.
For the Paris show, Hyundai made the i20 extra sweet by covering it in a chocolaty shade of brown to look like a little French confection on the show floor. Scroll down for all of the details about it, and for the impossibly epic launch video.

2015 Volkswagen Polo GTI is the VW hot hatch we really want

The degree of love for the Volkswagen Golf GTI at Autoblog is at or above that for any other hatchback sold in the US market. That's undoubtedly influenced by the fact that what may be the best GTI in the VW stable, the Polo GTI, isn't sold here. Were it, we guess the Ford Fiesta-sized bomber would have a legitimate shot at joining its brother at the top of AB hot hatch heap.
Following its freshening for the 2014 Paris Motor Show, we're even more stuck on that statement, as VW has upgraded the diminutive hatch's 1.8-liter, twin-charged four-cylinder for 2015. It now produces 189 horsepower, allowing it to hit 60 miles per hour in just 6.7 seconds, or right in the thick of the sub-compact, hot hatch masses.
Adding to the appeal is the inclusion of a new-for-2015 six-speed manual. Yep, for reasons we can't comprehend, until this year, Volkswagen only offered the current generation of the Polo GTI with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That two-pedal setup will remain, but we're pretty chuffed for our European friends by the arrival of a proper, DIY option for this VW.

Dodge Charger Hellcat hitting 60 in 2.9 seconds on drag radials?

The Dodge boys and their cousins from SRT have shoehorned the same 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 into both the Dodge Challenger and Charger. The former being a two-door, it's lighter than the latter four-door sedan. So it would stand to reason that the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat would be the quicker of the two, right?
Only that's not necessarily proving to be the case. On stock rubber, yes, the coupe beats the sedan: Dodge quotes a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds for the Charger SRT Hellcat and 3.5 for the Challenger. Same gap across the quarter-mile: 11 seconds flat for the Charger versus 10.8 seconds for the Challenger. But according to recent reports, the story changes when you put both on drag radials.
While visiting Chrysler HQ in Auburn Hills, MI, TorqueNews.com caught wind of performance figures for the Charger Hellcat on drag tires: 0-60 in a mind-blowing 2.9 seconds and a quarter-mile in just 10.7. The latter figure just barely pips the Hellcat-powered Challenger's NHRA-certified figure of 10.8, making the Charger not only the fastest sedan on the market, but also the fastest muscle car. What isn't immediately clear, however, is whether the drag radials in question have any tread on them and are street-legal, or if they're pure slicks confined to a closed strip.

Fiat 500X scampers across the Alps

It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here. It's the new Fiat 500X: the rounder, somehow even more retro version of the Jeep Renegade. Joining an ever-expanding Cinquecento lineup alongside the 500, 500C and 500L, the new 500X is - to our eyes at least - the most handsome yet... better looking, at any rate, than the somewhat ungainly Mini Countryman. But despite its more fluid lines, the new 500X is barely any longer than the Renegade and only slightly less tall.
Taking the place of the previous Suzuki-based Sedici, Fiat will offer the new 500X in two versions (one more cosmopolitan, the other more rugged), with three transmissions, three traction systems and a whole mess of different engines. The list starts with a 1.4-liter turbo four with 140 horsepower and a 1.6-liter diesel with 120 hp, later to be joined by a 1.6-liter with 110 hp, a more powerful 1.4-liter turbo with 170 hp and finally the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine with 184 hp. Gearboxes will include 5- and 6-speed manuals and - in a Fiat first - a nine-speed automatic, driving the front wheels (with our without traction control) or all four.
Buyers will also be able to choose between 12 exterior colors, seven interior combinations and eight wheel designs ranging from 16 inches to 18, adding up to a long list of configurations to give the 500X the same kind of mass-customization options that have made its stablemate so successful. The 500X will be manufactured in Melfi, Italy, alongside its Jeep counterpart and will eventually reach over 100 markets around the world - including North America.

2016 Mercedes-AMG C63 pairs up to 503 hp with a backseat for scaring friends

The new Mercedes-AMG GT is an absolute stunner with svelte styling and cutting-edge tech under its skin. However, as a two-seat coupe, it's just not practical for a large swath of people. The German company realizes that, of course, and for customers who want to combine high performance with the ability to carry four people, latest versions of Mercedes-AMG C63 at the 2014 Paris Motor Show should fit the bill nicely.
The sedan shares some of the best high-performance tech with the GT, including its heart. They both make use of the company's latest twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with two levels of tune. The standard C63 makes due with just 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. If that isn't enough for some reason, then the C63 S offers 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of twist. That power means even the regular model can sprint to 62 miles per hour in 4 second flat, according to Mercedes, and the S sheds a tenth off that run. Regardless of tune, the gearbox is Merc's seven-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission.
In addition to the new engine, the C63 models are available with other bits of similar tech as the AMG GT, including dynamic engine mounts, three-stage adjustable damping and four-mode drive select. Ticking a few boxes on the options sheet can add ceramic-composite brakes and a performance exhaust, among other upgrades.

GM recalling 117,000 sedans, crossovers, SUVs, pickups and vans

General Motors has issued a stop-sale to dealers and has notified the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration of its intention to recall 117,000 vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Of those vehicles, only 4,500 are at dealerships.
The affected vehicles include the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Impala sedans, fullsize SUVs (Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL), Lambda-platform crossovers (Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia), heavy-duty pickups (Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD) and fullsize vans (Chevy Express and GMC Savana). The sedans and body-on-frame SUVs include model years 2013 and 2014, while the CUVs, heavy-duty pickups and vans are limited to MY2014.
GM confirmed the recall to Autoblog via an emailed statement (which we've included below). According to the statement, the issue at hand in what is the company's 69th recall of 2014 covers the chassis-control module. Automotive News is reporting that a problem in the chassis-control system could cause a short in the module, which could cause the engine to stall or fail to start. The fault could also affect the trailer-brake control, provided it's equipped.

2015 Ford C-Max gets a corporate nose job [w/video]

Ford might not have the splashiest booth here at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, but the automaker is showing off quite a bit of hardware that will actually end up on roads across Europe. Parisians are no doubt tickled at getting to see the specifications of the Mustang tuned for The Continent (which has a revised suspension for European roads, and a few visual nips and tucks), in addition to the revised face of the family-friendly C-Max.
As you can see, C-Max styling has been revisited with a deft touch, grafting Ford's six-sided corporate grille on the nose, in place of the outgoing car's two-part affair. New headlights can also be found on the car's revised front fascia, though the rear end of the C-Max looks only slightly different than the current version.
Inside the cabin, Ford has consolidated controls and upped the ante in terms of material quality, with "black satin" and chrome details and more storage capacity, overall. Grocery-lugging moms and dads everywhere should appreciate the hands-free liftgate feature, as well.

2015 Nissan Pulsar and Pulsar Nismo Concept show Jekyll and Hyde for the hatch

Nissan is showing two very different sides of its new Pulsar five-door hatchback (on the right) at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. On one hand you get to see the standard version hoping to take the fight to popular European models like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, but also on the stage is our first glimpse at the Pulsar Nismo Concept (above) that demonstrates the vehicle's more devilish side.
The standard Pulsar is hoping to make a dent in the Euro C-segment ranks. It rides on the same platform as the Nissan Qashqai crossover and is actually about 2.4-inches longer than the Golf. Power comes from a trio of choices. There are 1.2-liter and 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engines with 113 horsepower and 187 hp, respectively, and a 1.5-liter diesel with 108 hp. CVTs are offered with them all. The Pulsar is also available with a variety of safety tech, including forward emergency braking, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring.
However, the real excitement comes from the new Nismo Concept. Nissan is clear that it's "only a design study at this stage," but the sporty hatch imagines a flagship for the Pulsar range. It gets the full suite of Nismo goodies with a suspension dropped to the floor and sharper steering. The exterior also benefits from big air intakes in the front bumper, a rear diffuser with central exhausts, flared fenders and carbon fiber trim pieces. The whole thing is finished in satin gray with the division's traditional red trim. The interior has the same motif with race seats and a three-spoke steering wheel.

Mercedes-AMG GT joins the Just As Good In Person club in Paris

There are cars debuting in Paris this year that we've heard virtually nothing about until we showed up at Porte de Versailles, and others that we've hotly anticipated seeing for months or more. The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT falls distinctly into that second category. Approaching this year's motor-soiree, our only real question was, "Will it be as pretty in the tin as it is in pictures."
With our live gallery of images now in, we can answer ourselves pretty definitively: "Yep."
We didn't need to visit the Mercedes-Benz show stand to know that the GT will make 456 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque in standard trim, or 503 hp and 479 when the "S" badge is affixed. And that the sleek yellow and black body you see here will be capable of traveling from 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.9 (or 3.7) seconds. Looks fast, is fast.

2015 Kia Rio freshens up for France

We've always felt that the current-generation Rio is styled with European flair, so good on Kia for showing its refreshed new look here at the Paris Motor Show.
The B-segment hatchback's aggressive looks get modestly more so for the new model year, with a revamped tiger nose grille and new light fixtures, along with a pair of hash marks in the fog lamp area. To us, the current car, introduced for 2012, still looks quite fresh, but we like the subtly new light fixtures and suite of new wheel designs.

Mitsubishi exec says Evo 'will be replaced in spirit' by high-po hybrid SUV

Stop us if you've heard this one: According to Autocar, the current generation will be the last Mitsubishi Evolution we will ever see.
That, while unfortunate for driving enthusiasts, is a reality we've had plenty of time to digest. The days of wanton fuel burning for the sake of speed and power will soon come to an end. But that doesn't mean the days of performance have to die, too. "Green is still fun to drive," said Mitsubishi UK boss Lance Bradley in a conversation with Autocar. "It's a challenge to make it fun, but not a particularly difficult one. Electric vehicle performance is very good."
So, should we expect a new hybrid sedan to take up the mantle left by the Evo? Not so much. The British magazine quotes Kanenori Okamoto of Mitsubishi as saying, "It will be replaced in spirit by an SUV with high performance," which will apparently incorporate lessons learned in the automaker's efforts at Pikes Peak. The Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution III, which handily broke the EV record at the famed mountain course, will donate much of its high-performance, zero-emissions technology to the project, including its Super All Wheel Control four-wheel-drive system.

Infiniti Q80 Inspiration imagines future of brand's luxury flagship

Infiniti is among the best of the non-exotic brands when it comes to crafting concepts, with designers who just seem to know how to show a truly wild vehicle with subtle hints at a future model. Just take a look at its latest Q80 Inspiration at the 2014 Paris Motor Show to see what we mean.
Infiniti claims that the Q80 imagines how it would build a future, fullsize luxury sedan to take on the stalwart Mercedes-Benz S-Class. However, in the current form it seems like a flight of fancy. It's packed with fabulously weird styling tricks, including birdwing-shaped headlights. There's also the roof and windshield that look at first glance to be a single piece of teardrop-shaped glass terminating at a boat-tail rear. In addition, the Inspiration has every concept designer's favorite gimmick - suicide doors.
Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 and electric motor hybrid with a claimed 550 horsepower. The company asserts that the powertrain is actually on the way in the next two years and could do 43 miles per gallon (5.5 liters per 100 kilometers), though it's not specified on what driving cycle that's calculated on.