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Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan recall 3.4 million vehicles for faulty airbags

Most vehicle recalls that take place these days are a result of some problem that happens during the manufacturing process by the automaker, but as we see here, parts suppliers can also factor in to problematic safety issues. Automotive News is reporting that a total of 3.4 million vehicles produced by Japanese automakers between 2000 and 2004 are being recalled globally due to faulty airbags produced by an outside supplier, Takata Corp.
According to the report, vehicles from Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda are being recalled because of passenger front airbags that do not inflate properly. Globally, Toyota is said to be recalling around 1.73 million cars including 510,000 in the US composed of Toyota Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia and Tundra as well as the Lexus SC430 for the 2001 through 2003 model years; this is the second time this year the 2003 Corolla and Matrix have been recalled for an airbag problem. Honda is recalling 1.14 million models, Nissan another 480,000 and Mazda 45,463. The article says that Takata supplied faulty airbags to non-Japanese automakers, but it did not specify which ones.
Honda and Toyota have released information on their own websites about the recall, while Nissan and Mazda have not yet commented. Read official press releases from Honda and Toyota, below, and look for updates as we have word from the others.

Next Nissan Rogue flaunts its new look

Remember last April, when Nissan told us it would be launching five new models over the course of 15 months? Well, we've seen the Altima, Pathfinder, Sentra and Versa Note, so that magical fifth model has to be the new Rogue, which our spy photographers recently caught testing. Despite looking like a hodge-podge of black duct tape and garbage bags, we can clearly see that the new Rogue takes a lot of its styling cues from the Hi-Cross concept that Nissan showed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. And that's fine - we found that CUV concept to be a decidedly handsome thing, and certainly more attractive than the weird little Rogue that currently roams the streets.
Details surrounding the next Rogue are still very unclear, though our spies suggest that it could be powered by a new 1.2-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine, good for something like 113 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. We'll see about that, since those numbers represent a drastic drop in power versus the current Rogue - to the tune of 57 hp and 35 lb-ft. A diesel engine for other markets is expected to be on offer, and a plug-in hybrid version is also rumored to be in the works, though that won't show up at the vehicle's initial launch.
If Nissan sticks to its plan of showing these five new models in the course of 15 months, that means we should see the Rogue in July. Of course, since things don't always go as planned, it could be many more months before all that camouflage is taken away.

Recharge Wrap-up: Reverse graffiti powered by Nissan Leaf; BMW introduces Wallbox Pro

BMW has a new, faster version of the Wallbox home EV charger. The Wallbox Pro offers 7.4 kilowatts, and can charge the BMW i3 to 80 percent in under three hours. It features a seven-inch touchscreen and proximity sensor, plus an 11.5-foot cord. The Wallbox Pro can also be used with smart home systems such as lighting and heating. The Wallbox Pro is available in Europe, and will come to the US later in the year. Read more at Hybrid Cars. Nissan is using the Leaf to power the creation of "reverse graffiti" in London. The company has commissioned artist Moose to selectively wash dirt off of a wall outside of a subway station, leaving behind a mural of London landmarks. Moose used a jet washer powered by the Leaf's battery to create the piece. The goal is to highlight the amount of pollution in London and other large cities, which is not a new idea. "It is a reminder that electric vehicles don't have an exhaust to emit the kind of air pollution which has stained the wall Moose has created his piece on," says Nissan's Jean-Pierre Diernaz. See the artwork in the gallery, and read more in the press release below. Local Motors used a 3D printer to make the Strati electric car in 44 hours. The car was printed with 212 layers of carbon-reinforced ABS thermoplastic. After printing, the team then spent two days finishing the car to make it run. It is powered by the drivetrain from a Renault Twizy, and is capable of 40 miles per hour. Now the question is if this sort of small-scale car manufacturing using 3D printing technology will catch on. See how a car gets printed in the time-lapse video below, and read more over at Treehugger. Nissan cleans up London with the world's first car-powered graffiti - Nissan LEAF powers "Reverse Graffiti" street art in Waterloo - Mass-scale mural imagines a cleaner London, without car fumes - The artwork is on show in Waterloo, London near popular Southbank LONDON – Nissan is highlighting London's battle with air quality in the UK by using the 100% electric Nissan LEAF – the world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) – to power a striking piece of street art in Waterloo, London that depicts the capital's iconic skyline. Nissan commissioned Reverse Graffiti artist Moose – the founder of his field – to create the mass-scale mural, which was unveiled today. Unlike traditional graffiti, Moose creates his art by cleaning dirt off surfaces using a jet washer or wire brush, leaving a striking design in negative on the wall.