Nissan Recalling About 34,000 Sentra Sedans over Engine Stalling Issue

Nissan has issued a new recall on certain 2010-2011 model year Sentra compact cars because of a battery cable problem that could potentially cause the engines to stall. In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nissan explained that the zinc coating applied to the terminal stud bolt may be too thick and as a result, it could lead to a voltage drop the can damage the engine control module (ECM).
The documents say the problem can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion and it may not be possible to restart the engine after it stopped.
The recall affects Sentra sedans equipped with MR20 engines, built from May 11-22, 2010, and July 8-October 25, 2010.
The Japanese company said it will notify Sentra owners and replace the positive battery terminal and cover, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before January 23, 2012.

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Skateboarder Rob Dyrdek Kickflips a Chevrolet Sonic Like a Skateboard

Professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek joined forces with GM's Chevrolet brand for a daredevilish car stunt to promote the launch of the new Sonic sub-compact, and the result was pretty impressive. The 37-year old American skateboarder swapped his four-wheel plywood board for the five-door Sonic to perform a 360-degree “kickflip”, which employed two 50-foot ramps, one to launch off and the other to land the car on. And did we mention that there was a giant skateboard positioned between the two ramps?
The latest stunt is part of Chevrolet's ongoing “Let’s Do This” campaign for the Sonic hatchback and it follows the “Sonic Skydive”, in which the subcompact was parachuted from a plane at 14,000 feet, and the “Sonic Bungee Jump” where the five-door model was launched from a 100 foot tower while tied to an elastic bungee cord.

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Saab Says Warranty Coverage Indefinitely Suspended on All North America Cars

Just yesterday, we were telling about the benefits but also the dangers of buying a new Saab car in the U.S. after the company filed for bankruptcy on Monday. Today we learn that Saab suspended warranty coverage on all of its new vehicles sold in North America effective from December 19, while the company also informed dealers that they must sell any remaining cars "as is", without any coverage whatsoever.
Automotive News reports that Saab Cars North America issued the following statement on the matter:
"Warranty coverage is suspended indefinitely for all new Saab vehicles sold. During this period, the warranty booklet must be removed from the owner information packet. For any vehicle sold or leased during this period, the customer should be affirmatively advised that the vehicle does not carry any warranty coverage and is sold 'as is.' "
The Swedish automaker also told the news outlet that it has put off the processing and payment of all types of claims "including but not limited to":

• New-car warranties
• Powertrain warranties
• Emission warranties
• Parts warranty
• Safety belts, airbags
• Towing
• Recalls and campaigns
• Certified pre-owned coverage
• Goodwill
• No charge maintenance

Since it is not clear yet if the company will reimburse dealers in the future, Saab stated that "owners should be advised to keep receipts of all related warranty work done or services performed until further notice."
The company sold 5,340 new cars in the U.S. this year, which were covered by a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty that included free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
We'll remind you that while General Motors was responsible for Saab's sales and warranties through February 2010, the Trollhattan-based firm was sold to Swedish Automobile AB, a Dutch company formerly known as Spyker Cars led by Victor Muller.
Update: Carscoop emailed Saab to ask what the firm's bankruptcy means for the status of warranties on vehicles that were sold in the United States before and after GM sold the brand to Swedish Automobile AB in February 2010. Here's what Michele Tinson from Saab USA told us:
"All Saab warranty reimbursements have been temporarily suspended (regardless of the vehicle model year) until further direction from Saab Autmobile AB."

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Honda EV-STER Concept to Spawn a Production Model

It looks like the retro-styled N Concept 4 city car won't be the only Honda study displayed at this month's Tokyo Motor Show that will end up going into production as the Japanese carmaker's CEO Takanobu Ito told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that the open-top EV-STER has also received the green light. The Honda boss revealed that the battery-powered, rear-wheel drive roadster could arrive in the market as early as 2012, adding that the company may also introduce more conventional version with a classic gasoline engine, without offering any more details.
However, it's only reasonable to assume that the gasoline model would be a hybrid matching an internal combustion engine with an electric motor.
At 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.), the tiny concept is marginally larger than Honda's 1990s mid-engined kei car, the Beat.
In conceptual form, the two-seater features an electric motor that draws energy from a 10kWh lithium-ion battery and powers the rear wheels. Honda said that the EV-STER could complete the zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5 seconds flat and reach a maximum speed of 160km/h (100mph).
The Japanese automaker also claims a driving range of around 160 kilometers (100 miles) and a charging time of under 3 hours using a 200V source and in less than 6 hours with a 100V source.

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Dancing with the Bikes: Pakistani Rollerblader Controls Motorcycle

He's called the 'Skating King of Pakistan', well, at least that's the name given to him by the person that uploaded the video on YouTube, but watching him graciously endanger his own life as well as the lives of everybody else on the road, who are we to disagree? And just to make it clear, the young man is not simply tagging behind a motorcycle being driven by someone else, but he is actually controlling the bike with a rope of some sort. You can watch him in the video after the break.

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BMW Reveals New "Eclipse" Media Campaign for the 2013 6-Series Gran Coupe

Despite the fact that the 6-Series Grand Coupe’s world premiere will take place in March at the Geneva Motor Show and the first cars won't be arriving in showrooms until next summer, BMW has already readied a media campaign for its spanking new sports saloon. The global campaign, which will launch in print and TV media in the second quarter of 2012, features a total eclipse of the sun as the central theme and the motto “Beauty. Revealed”.
BMW tells us that the beginning of the commercial, the new version of the 6-Series will be barely visible, but as the eclipse progresses, the firm's newest model will gradually come into light. When the eclipse ends, the sun will come out and the Gran Coupe will be fully revealed.
“The new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe marks the beginning of a new chapter. It is BMW’s first four-door coupé and combines uncompromising driving dynamics with exclusive elegance and breath-taking design”, said head of BMW communications Andreas-Christoph Hofmann. “The campaign uses the image of a solar eclipse to highlight the model’s uniqueness.”
You can take a peek at the print ads right after the break.

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GM Confirms Next Generation Impala, will Invest $68 Million to Prep Oshawa Plant

The Impala is a historic nameplate for Chevrolet with roots that go back to the golden era of American automobiles, the 1950s, and it's one that General Motors isn't about to let go despite the fact that the series has faded away into mediocrity these past years. Today, the Detroit-based company confirmed plans for the development of a brand new Chevy Impala and announced an investment of $68 million to prepare its Oshawa Assembly Plant in Canada for the production of the next generation sedan.
In addition, GM revealed that it expects to meet high customer demand, and as a result, it will build the next Chevrolet Impala at both the Oshawa Assembly Plant and the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.
Combined with the recent investment to support the production of the upcoming Cadillac XTS in 2012, GM's investment at the Oshawa plant will reach $185 million, which will create or retain around 750 jobs.
“With the investments for the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS, we are taking big steps forward to ensure we maximize the flexible manufacturing facility and high-quality workforce that exist in Oshawa,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada.
“We are building on the recent capacity increases, product launches and shift additions at our Canadian operations to affirm that Canada will play an important role in the new GM as we continue to transform our product lineup,” he added.

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