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GM recalling 250,000 SUVs over door electronics

After a door-fire investigation that dates back to February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has officially announced a recall today that affects around 250,000 General Motors SUVs for a faulty driver's door module. The recall applies to the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X from the 2006 and 2007 model years, as well as the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL for vehicles sold and/or registered in the Snow Belt.
Road salt use in these midwestern and northern states can lead to corrosion of the driver's door module on these GMT360 and GMT370 vehicles, which allows water to come in contact with the circuit board. If shorted out, the vehicle's power door locks and power windows will not work, and could possibly lead to overheating and, in some circumstances, a fire. No official word on how many total vehicles caught on fire, but back in June, 28 fires had been reported to the government agency. A fix for the problem is still being worked out, but all affected vehicle owners will be notified by GM.
Scroll down for the official NHTSA statement.

eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera

The Tucker Torpedo is one of the great what-if stories of automotive history. Preston Tucker hoped to revolutionize the industry with a car unlike any other on the road at the time. However, due to a variety of problems, he only managed build 51 vehicles before closing shop. Over time, they have become highly sought-after; In 2012, one sold for $2.65 million at auction.
That brings us to this Tucker "replica" that you see above because it might be one of the ugliest monstrosities ever put together. However, we might extend some leniency to the creator, as the vehicle isn't actually trying to replicate the classic look of the 1948 Tucker Torpedo. Instead, it is attempting to reproduce an earlier prototype from 1946 that actually features that weird, trident nose. According to the seller, his uncle built the car as a labor of love and supposedly used actual plans from Tucker as inspiration.
Underneath all of the crazy changes is a 1971 Buick Riviera powered by a 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Buick V8. Some of the replica's odder modifications include the front fenders that turn with the wheels and the fin running down the back. All three headlights work, but the one in the middle is only for the high beams. Oddly, the small hinged sections on the roof are meant to open to avoid hitting your head when getting in or out. Maybe the seller's uncle was a very tall guy?

Buick confirms 2017 Encore for New York Auto Show

Buick will unveil the refreshed 2017 Encore at the New York Auto Show in March, company spokesperson Stuart Fowle tells Autoblog. The brand isn't ready to divulge info about the updated compact crossover, but a recent revision to the Encore's European platform-mate, the Opel Mokka (above), might provide hints about what to expect. "While we have no additional details to announce, we're excited to confirm that media and customers will see the new 2017 Encore at next month's New York Auto Show. The Encore joins the Cascada convertible, Envision crossover, and LaCrosse sedan as the fourth new product arriving in Buick showrooms this year," Fowle said to Autoblog. Expect the 2017 Encore to have its own twist on the the Mokka's (now called the Mokka X) exterior styling, and spy shots hint the Buick has a new front end with a smaller grille. The Encore could benefit from the Opel's redesigned dashboard, which integrates the infotainment system into the center stack. It's a very attractive change, and we hope to see the switch in the US. The Mokka X also gets improved safety tech. The German compact CUV now sports adaptive LED headlights that adjust to traffic. US law doesn't allow these intelligent parts, but the Encore might get dumber LED lights. The Opel's improved front-mounted camera also increases the traffic sign detection rate. The Mokka X is available with the updated powertrain from the Encore Sport Touring, so there might not be any engine upgrades for the Buick. Buick needs to keep the Encore fresh, as the compact CUV is the brand's best selling model. It delivered 67,549 of them in 2015, a 38.2-percent jump over the previous year. The popularity continued into January 2016 with 4,920 deliveries – up 42 percent. Related Video: