REPORT: Ford widens cruise control recall by 4.5M vehicles - now biggest in company history

For the past ten years, Ford has been doing a dance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and consumers over the issue of leaking cruise control switches in certain company vehicles. As of 2008, it had recalled some 9.6 million vehicles to repair a faulty Texas Instruments cruise-control deactivation switch, and now after a NHTSA investigation, the Blue Oval has added 4.5 million more Ford and Mercury vehicles to the recall.

The latest action covers these vehicles:

1992-2003 Ford Econoline
2000-2003 Ford Excursion
1995-2002 Ford Explorer
1993-1997, 1999-2003 Ford F-Series Super Duty
1994 Ford F-53 chassis
1995-1997, 2001-2003 Ford Ranger
1995-2003 Ford Windstar
1995-2002 Mercury Mountaineer

According to NHTSA, the switch can leak and overheat, which can lead to smoking and, in some cases, fire. In fact, The Detroit News notes that the switches have been faulted in more than 550 fires – some of which led to fatalities – many of which have led to lawsuits. A Ford statement declared, "Aside from the Windstar, the additional vehicles addressed in this action have different system parameters and do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety. However, Ford is taking this action on all of these vehicles to address possible ongoing customer lack of confidence in vehicles with the affected switch."

The recall begins on October 26. Anyone with an affected vehicle can take it to a Ford dealer and have the switch repaired with a fused harness. Owners can get more information directly from NHTSA by calling the government agency's hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Officially Official: Regal named next mid-size sedan for Buick

Chinese-market 2010 Buick Regal – Click above for high-res image gallery

Drum-roll please. After making a point of pausing to listen to its dealers for input and suggestions, Buick has just announced the name of its next mid-size sedan. Plucking a nameplate from its not-too-distant past, the brand has introduced its newest model for America, the 2010 Buick Regal. Believe it or not but it's been six years since any Buick wore the iconic Regal tag, until it was affixed to the Chinese market Insignia-based sedan this year.

Following on the heels of the Enclave and LaCrosse, the Regal hopes to continue the march towards reestablishing Buick as a premium brand worldwide. There's no word yet on what changes we can expect from the Chinese model shown above, but since it's based on the Euro-market Opel Insignia, it will most likely be a fine ride. The full presser is after the jump.

Quick Spin: 2010 Nissan Altima a well-mannered sedan without surprises

2010 Nissan Altima – Click above for high-res image gallery

As the company's number-one global volume vehicle, the Altima is instrumental in keeping the lights on at Nissan HQ. Now in its fourth-generation (last redesigned for the 2007 model year), the made-in-the-USA model is sold in both sedan and coupe variants with a choice of two gasoline engines or one hybrid powerplant. Nissan offers four sedans for the 2010 model year, with the Altima slotting in directly under the flagship Maxima in the lineup (with both sharing Nissan's D-platform architecture).

After spending time with the 2010 Nissan Altima, we understand why it's the brand's best selling model and while it's not a tire shredding sport sedan, this competent family hauler deserves all the kudos and sales volume it's earned.

Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox sets the tone for New GM

2010 Chevrolet Equinox – Click above for high-res image gallery

It's fitting that General Motors has a vehicle named after an astronomical phenomenon that marks the seasons. The first Equinox came from the "old" GM during the autumn of its long slide. Since then, the General has emerged from a government-funded chrysalis, and the Equinox has followed suit with a redesign. Hopefully, the freshening signifies a springtime in GM's fortunes; a future desperately in need of a green infusion of the cash variety. Its products need to not only compete – but exceed – what's available from the competition. That figures to be a tall order, because the opposition is in rare form.

Just across town, Ford isn't sitting around – the Escape gets tweaks and updates seemingly every year. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 also crowd the top of the family CUV class, with the Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Santa Fe playing supporting roles. Into this company of A-students wades the Equinox, fresh from reform school. Have the model's rough edges and troublesome behavior been smoothed out enough by remedial study?

Google Local Business Ads

My company e-channel is now no.1 under Google's local business listings for keywords such as: search engine marketing Adelaide, search engine optimisation Adelaide, search engine optimisation Sydney, search marketing agency Adelaide & Sydney. This is indeed some great positions to get in Google and an early Xmas present. After some testing and playing around, I have also managed to get my own home address listed in Google's LBA for the keyword search marketing agency Adelaide. Next posting, I will write up on how to get into the local business results and how to optimise for it after months of experimentations.

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is still the drive of our childhood dreams

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata – Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember back when you were a diapered enthusiast-to-be and you weren't allowed to venture beyond the end of your family's tree lawn? The sum total of your 'driving' experience was probably a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. If you were like us, your toddler self was all big dreams, bustling feet and arms akimbo, twirling around those front caster wheels, savoring your first taste of automotive freedom.

Mazda created a timeless masterwork upon minting the very first MX-5 Miata back in 1989.

Small wonder, then, that Little Tikes' now 30-year-old bauble of rotation-molded plastic was last year's best-selling car – it's timeless. Combine classic styling, unburstable robustness, an inexpensive sticker price and the fact that it remains just quick enough for its target audience, and you've got a recipe for lasting success. The CC's whimsical, animated face; rounded, friendly styling; unfussed interior; nimble handling and general affordability has meant that despite a decidedly casual model update schedule, the folks at Little Tikes still have the whole fun-to-drive thing knocked. Sound like anyone else we know?

Oh, it may have taken them a decade longer to cotton on to the idea, but Mazda's designers eventually stumbled upon the same secret sauce as those wondrous toymakers from Hudson, Ohio. Perhaps inadvertently, they, too, created a timeless masterwork upon minting the very first MX-5 Miata back in 1989. All these years later, just like the Cozy Coupe, you can't help but smile a little when you see one. Just like the Cozy Coupe, you have to adopt the same mildly vulnerable, elbows-out-the-window driving position because of the cabin's pronounced narrowness. Just like the Cozy Coupe, both cars have more than their fair share of plastic in their interior. Just like the Cozy Coupe, road imperfections are transmitted directly through the modestly sized wheels into the driver's hands and back pocket – and in both cases, it's part of the fun. Most importantly, just like that Cozy Coupe of your youth, Mazda's minimalist masterwork will help you rediscover your inner enthusiast's childlike heart.

Officially Official: VW releases details on 2010 Golf, TDI up to 42 mpg hwy!

2010 Volkswagen Golf - click above for high res image gallery

Several weeks ago someone stumbled across the web site for the 2010 Golf buried in the VW consumer site and we got a preview of the some of the details of the U.S.-spec MK VI model. VW has now made that information official including pricing, options and EPA mileage numbers.

For 2010, U.S. Golf buyers (not including GTIs) will be able to choose from two engine options, the old 2.5-liter inline five carried over from the MK V and the 2.0-liter TDI that debuted last year in the Jetta. Gas-engined Golfs have a starting tab of $17,490 with the better-equipped TDI kicking off at $21,990. The TDI gets the new up-level touch-screen audio system with Sirius satellite radio and mobile device interface as standard. Diesels also get a special lowered sport suspension standard. Unlike the 2009 Jetta TDI, DSG-equipped Golfs also get steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

The EPA numbers have also been improved with the manual gas Golf getting a 22/30 mpg rating. The manual diesel gets 30/41 mpg while the DSG diesel gets 31/42 mpg, up two mpg from the 2009 Jetta

Tokyo 2009 Preview: Suzuki Swift hybrid plug-in concept

_{2010 Suzuki Swift hybrid plug-in concept - Click for high-res image gallery}

The Suzuki Swift is a competent subcompact that the Japanese marque sells both in Japan and Europe. In the latter, the little hatchback is available with a solid 1.3-liter diesel dubbed DDIS. To make things even cleaner, Suzuki has announced that it will introduce a plug-in series hybrid version of the Swift at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, and the powertrain reminds us of nothing less than a smaller Chevrolet Volt.
The model, which is just a concept at this point, uses a 660 cc engine, probably sourced from a kei car. The engine charges the lithium-ion batteries, which are placed between the front seats – we suspect they extend into the middle of the rear seat as well. The batteries power a 54 kW motor that moves the front wheels.

We'll learn more when we get to Tokyo, but for now, check out our high-res gallery below.

REPORT: Zeta-based Chevy "G8" police car to be unveiled Monday

The Pontiac G8 has not deserved its lot in life, and despite the Australians trying to steal it back with the debut of two special edition Holdens that look awfully similar, this rear-wheel-drive sport sedan will find one way or another to stay on sale in the U.S. Unfortunately, its customers won't be the general public since General Motors, after a few crossed wires, has decided not to let the G8 live on as the Chevrolet Caprice. No, the G8's new audience will be the po-po, as in law enforcement.

We've been telling you about GM's plan to introduce a G8-based cop car for some time, and all evidence points to Monday as the cruiser's official debut at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver, CO. While GM has not technically confirmed that the G8 will form the underpinnings of this new police package, the Zeta platform on which the G8 is based is the only RWD one large enough to accommodate a pair of officers and their collars. In other words, we don't expect GM to unveil a Kappa-based Pontiac Solstice police cruiser next week, as cool as that might be. So keep your eyes and ears peeled on Monday. The cops are coming and they'll be driving a G8.