We Finance 08 Mx-5 Miata Convertible Touring 6speed 1 Owner Low Miles Cd Changer on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Even Ferrari swept up in latest Takata recall expansion

The scope of Takata's deadly airbag problems continues to widen. Eight manufacturers announced recalls Friday that affect more than 12 million vehicles, according to documents filed with federal regulators. The automakers include Honda, which is recalling 4.5 million units, Fiat Chrysler with 4.3 million, Toyota with 1.65 million, and Subaru, which is recalling almost 400,000. Some of these cars include the Saab 9-2x and Pontiac Vibe that Toyota and Subaru made for General Motors. Mazda will recall 730,000 vehicles and Nissan has 400,000 affected units. The smallest numbers were posted by Mitsubishi, with 38,000 Lancers manufactured from 2006 to 2007, and as a noteworthy high-end manufacturer, Ferrari is calling back 2,800 vehicles. These are all US-market cars. Beyond America, the Japanese Transport Ministry has announced seven million additional vehicles will be recalled, which means 19.6 million vehicles across the globe are affected by recalls announced. The defects have been traced to an insufficiently manufactured airbag inflator, which lacks a drying agent that would prevent the inflators from deteriorating over time. Thirteen deaths have been linked to the faulty airbags, which have become unstable and are prone to exploding and showering vehicle occupants with lethal amounts of metal shrapnel. A private equity firm, KKR & Co., has been named in a possible buyout of the struggling Takata. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Recalls Ferrari Honda Mazda Automakers Mitsubishi Nissan Pontiac Subaru Toyota Saab Safety

Automakers are offering more fuel-efficient cars than ever

Even with gas prices near their lowest point in more than a decade, Americans are still concerned about the fuel economy of their cars. More than 4 in 5 consumers say gas mileage will be an important consideration the next time they go shopping for a vehicle, according to the results of a new survey conducted by the Consumer Federation of America, which were released Monday. That's no surprise, says Jack Gillis, director of public affairs for the nonprofit organization. "Consumers have had a long history with volatile gas prices," he said. Though motorists have saved approximately $12 billion this year at the pump compared to 2015, according to AAA, car shoppers expect gas prices to rise again in the future. The average respondent to CFA's survey predicted a price of $3.50 per gallon within the next five years, a figure in line with projections made by the US Energy Information Administration. When those consumers visit dealerships, they'll have plenty of options. More models than ever are achieving 30 miles per gallon or more, according to CFA's annual analysis released in conjunction with the survey, and 15 of 16 major car companies improved their fuel efficiency on their 2016 model-year offerings. Only Ford backslid year over year, per the report. Researchers say American consumers are now enjoying the widest range of fuel-efficient options ever offered, in every vehicle class. Of 1,094 models on sale in 2016, 13.4 percent achieved more than 30 MPGs, an improvement from 11.7 percent in 2015. At the same time, the percentage of gas guzzlers offered for sale has declined. The percentage of vehicles on the market that get 16 miles per gallon or less has fallen from 6.1 percent to 4 percent, says CFA. "Even if you're in the market for a large pickup or SUV, you'd have to go out of your way to find a true gas guzzler," Gillis said. ""Consumers have had a long history with volatile gas prices." – Jack Gillis These results, the CFA suggests, indicate federal standards that prod automakers to invest in fuel-efficient technology are having the desired effect. Manufacturers are keeping pace with the requirements of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, which mandate carmakers achieve a standard of 52.5 miles per gallon in testing, equivalent to about 40 miles per gallon in on-road performance, by 2025. CFA's report singled out Mazda as setting an exemplary standard.

Will Mazda sell diesel hybrids in Japan in 2016?

Could the "Zoom Zoom" automaker start making hybrids that go "glug glug glug"? Mazda, known for its fuel-efficient Skyactiv engine line, will be the first Japanese automaker to make a diesel-hybrid vehicle for Japan and Europe. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Mazda may start making its oil-burning hybrids as soon as 2016, and the powertrain may reach fuel efficiency levels of as much as 95 miles per gallon (one the more lenient Japanese driving cycle). That'd make such a vehicle line about 30 percent more fuel-efficient than standard diesels and about eight percent more fuel efficient that the Toyota Prius C compact hybrid (known as the Aqua in Japan). Mazda has been dismissive of hybrid and electric powertrains, instead focusing on Skyactiv technology to maximize fuel efficiency from conventional gas-powered engines. Diesel powertrains account for about half of the light-duty vehicles sold in Europe each year, while Japan's diesel sales of 76,000 vehicles last year were about three times as many as were sold there in 2012. In January, Mazda said that it would delay the introduction of its Skyactiv-D diesel engine from what was to be a spring 2014 debut. The reason was to fine-tune the engine's performance/fuel economy balance. Mazda representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from AutoblogGreen about the diesel hybrids.