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NHTSA urges owners of recalled Takata airbag vehicles to take immediate action

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation are taking the unusual step of issuing a followup press release urging owners of certain recalled vehicles "to act immediately" to fix their cars and trucks. The problem in question concerns the repair campaigns for rupturing Takata airbag inflators issued in June and covers a long list of models from Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Infiniti, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile and Pontiac.
While NHSTA doesn't specifically say why the recall is vital in the new release, Toyota's own explanation in its newly announced renotification campaign earlier today sheds some new light on the topic. According to the Japanese automaker, in testing, Takata found a possible link between the rupturing airbag inflators and high humidity. NHTSA is advocating that all owners pursue repairs immediately if they haven't already done so already. This is especially crucial for those drivers especially in Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Hawaii because of the humid conditions there.
We don't need to tell you how dangerous an inadvertent airbag deployment could be - even in a stationary vehicle - but adding to the Takata issue is fears that the deployment could lead to shrapnel being sprayed into the cabin.

BMW readying Spartanburg expansion for X7 production

Prior to the debut of the original X5 in 1999, the idea of a BMW crossover might have seemed like heresy. But here we are, fifteen years removed from the Frank Stephenson-penned design, and the Bavarian automaker has expanded its crossover lineup to include the X1, X3, X4 and X6, and it's showing no sign of slowing down.
We recently reported that BMW is planning on slotting an X2 in at the bottom of the range between the X1 and X3, but now it's being widely reported that it's got an even larger one to put in at the top of its utility line. That, of course, would be the X7, a long-rumored three-row model that would give BMW a large family hauler to challenge the Mercedes-Benz GL.
According to The Wall Street Journal, BMW is expanding its assembly plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to accommodate production of the X7 alongside the X3, X4 and X5 that it already builds there for local consumption.

2016 BMW M4 GTS: More power, less weight, ready for the track

BMW calls its new M4 GTS the "most agile, radical, and powerful M4 ever." It's got 493 horsepower, a slick new water injection system, a three-way adjustable coilover suspension, and a weight reduction of roughly 200 pounds compared to a stock M4. Only 700 will be built, with 300 allocated for the United States. And did we mention it looks absolutely killer? Let's talk about that water injection system for a moment, because it's the first time this technology is being used on [an intercooled - Ed.] production road car. Basically, water absorbs heat from surrounding air, so a fine mist is sprayed into the intake manifold where it evaporates, lowering the temperature of the intake air. BMW says this reduces final compression temperature, allowing the turbochargers to operate with increased boost pressure and better spark timing. The end result is increased output – 493 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque from the same twin-turbo, 3.0-liter straight-six as the standard M4. That's an increase of 68 hp and 36 lb-ft. But the GTS isn't just about increased power. In fact, the bigger story is its weight reduction. BMW incorporated the use of aluminum and carbon fiber throughout the M4's construction, and DIN curb weight is listed as 3,329 pounds. It's unclear if that's the exact US measurement, and BMW couldn't comment on that as of this writing, but compared to our 3,530-pound stock M4, that represents some 200 fewer pounds of heft. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used in the hood, making that part some 25 percent lighter than the stock piece. CFRP is also used for the driveshaft, making it 40-percent lighter than the standard setup. Even inside the car, the new center console is 30-percent lighter than what you'd find in a normal M4. The rear seats are gone, and we're sorry to say that the cool racing buckets pictured here won't be available in the US. Making this thing super capable at the track is a three-way M coilover suspension, combined with upgraded carbon ceramic brakes, set behind staggered wheels and tires. Up front, the GTS rides on 19-inch rollers wrapped in 265/35-series Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and out back, 20-inch wheels are fitted inside 285/30-series rubber. The only transmission available is the seven-speed, M DCT dual-clutch unit, and when all is said in done, BMW says the M4 GTS will run the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 28 seconds. Another cool feature: organic LED technology.