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Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9 [w/video]

This is the car and the team that everyone wants to dethrone. The stability of this year's regulations means that the Infiniti Red Bull RB9 is a seriously honed RB8; however, that's a situation probably no other team would complain about seeing that the RB8 recovered from early stumbles and reliability issues last year to carry Sebastian Vettel to a third consecutive driver's title and the team to a third consecutive constructor's trophy.
The most noteworthy revisions to the car are the partial vanity panel that omits the driver cooling slot, the even narrower rear end - a feature of just about every car launched so far - and purple sidepods to showcase new title sponsor Infiniti. Adrian Newey, perhaps the most feared designer on the pit lane, said the nose and front wing could be changed relatively easily throughout the season, but he wanted to make sure to get the middle of the car - everything from the sidepods, back - as good as possible since they're more difficult to re-engineer. His track record leads us to believe he did just that.
Below are two videos, one of the making of the RB9, the other the launch at team headquarters in Milton Keynes.

2016 Infiniti QX60 gets a facelift, Hybrid still alive

The future of the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid looked grim a few months ago, when Nissan confirmed the Pathfinder Hybrid was being discontinued. After all, the QX60 and Pathfinder are nearly identical underneath their different bodies. But with this 2016 model year refresh, Infiniti confirms that its QX60 Hybrid will indeed carry on for the new year. It's the same hybrid system as before, combining a supercharged, 2.5-liter inline-four with an electric motor for a combined 250 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. New liquid-filled active engine mounts are added for 2016 in an effort to reduce overall harshness. Non-hybrid models carry on with the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6, good for 265 hp and 248 lb-ft. Front-wheel drive is standard with both engines, and all-wheel drive is optional. That's the biggest news for the updated QX60. Everything else baked in to the refresh is pretty standard. Up front, there's a new fascia that better aligns the seven-passenger crossover with every other Infiniti product, and the taillights are slightly more stylized than before. It looks nice, but there's still no hiding those Nissan Pathfinder bones. Infiniti says new shock absorbers and springs will help improve ride quality, and steering effort is improved with a retuned, speed-sensitive electronic power assist system. Standard, Sport, Eco, and Snow modes will help you manage the power depending on the weather and your driving style. We don't know how much this will actually improve the QX60's ride, but we never really had any problems with the luxury crossover's relaxed dynamics, anyway. Look for the QX60 to officially debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, following a reveal at a media event this week. For the full details on all the super-nitty-gritty changes, check out the press blast below. Infiniti QX60 Premium Crossover Offers Enhanced Design, Dynamics, Comfort and Convenience for 2016 - Refreshed exterior design adds to premium look and feel - Chassis dynamics retuned for a more engaging, comfortable drive - Interior revisions bring enhanced luxury for up to seven occupants - Augmented suite of assistive and intuitive technologies NASHVILLE (Dec. 15, 2016) – Infiniti has comprehensively enhanced its versatile QX60 premium crossover for 2016, introducing a wide range of changes that improve the seven-seater's exterior design and its driving dynamics, while showcasing new features and technologies that improve comfort, convenience and safety.

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.