Car Blog

Complaints about the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan models have taken a serious turn as U.S. Safety Regulators upgraded its preliminary investigation. The initial issue about the models revolved around the models’ wheel stud fractures that might cause the tires to pop out.

The issue involves around 317,315 medium-sized sedans from Ford Motor Co. According to the reports from the website of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the investigation will not involve an engineering analysis.

According to the statement made by the U.S. Safety Regulators, the car company’s own investigation of the defect is still in process and therefore, the former widened its own probe to access the root of the problem and complaints.

Ford Motor Co.’s spokesman, Wes Sherwood, has said in a statement that the company gives it full cooperation to review the matter at hand. Moreover, he stressed that the company is not aware of any injury reports that might be related to the alleged wheel stud fractures.

According to the reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 128 warranty claims and 29 wheel fracture-related complaints have been tallied. However, the NHTSA said that they know of about four incidents that involved separated wheels due to the said defect.

An engineering analysis is done to further study the cause of the problem. Should the NHTSA rule that the defects should be handled by the auto manufacturer; a recall might be in order. However, this is not always the case.

Speed lovers has another reason to smile as Shelby American might just give you a chance to drive the beefed up Mustang GT as they plan to bring back their rent-a-racer program.

Reports say that the rental program might be revived as early as next spring just in time for their 50th year anniversary. The Mustang Gts will come in their traditional black and gold configuration and white and gold finish.

Under the hood of the 2012 Mustang GT is a 4.0L naturally aspirated V8 engine that gives out 412 horsepower paired with an automatic gear box. The car manufacturer collaborated with Hertz back in the 190s to build 1,000 units of the high performance Mustang.

After forty years the program returns, although there is limited availability, the GT-H remains to be very popular. The cars have actually been put to sale. Right now, what Shelby wants to find out is if there will be a good number of interested race fans for the 2012 program before they give it a go signal.

Hertz has always been collaborating with Shelby. If the rental pushes thru, Hertz will be offering the Mustang under their Adrenaline collection. Aside from the exciting body finish, Shelby will also boost the car’s power. Most likely we can hear about the details with regard to the car and program once Shelby American takes the next step closer to the implementation of the program.

Nissan just announced the official prices of the 2011 line up of their well loved Nissan 370Z including the NISMO 370Z, 370Z Roadster, and the 370Z Coupe which all have rolled out to dealerships.

Here are the MSRPs for the Nissan 370Z M.Y. 2011:

370Z Roadster Touring 7AT          $42,370

370Z Roadster Touring 6MT         $41,070

370Z Coupe NISMO (6MT)            $39,990

370Z Roadster 7AT                           $38,820

370Z Roadster 6MT                         $37,520

370Z Coupe Touring 7AT               $36,580

370Z Coupe Touring 6 Manual    $35,280

370Z Coupe 7AT                                $31,910

370Z Coupe 6MT                               $30,610

The 2011 Coupe and Roadster versions of the Nissan 370Z are still dependent on the 3.7L V6 powerplant with DOHC configuration that produces 332 horsepower coupled to either a six-speed manual gearbox that is equipped with a SynchroRev Match system or a manual shit seven-speed transmission via paddle shifters plus DownShift Rev technology. The changes for the 2011 editions of the Coupe and the Roadster will just be limited to upgrades of the Navigation Package to have a RearView Monitor and a Gun Metallic finish option for the exterior.

The Nissan NISMO 370Z is set to wow everyone with its powerful 350 horsepower engine, racing setup for its exterior and for its interior, specially configured suspension system, super lightweight alloy wheels, optimized computer module, and especially designed exhaust system. The NISMO 370 can only be availed with a six-speed manual transmission that comes with SyncroRev Match and limited to Gun Metallic color.

BMW released some details about the 2011 X3 over the internet and also dropped some camouflaged photos. With the introduction of the X1 in Europe, the German carmaker is giving the X3 some additional cabin space so we can expect the 2011 X3 to be a bit longer and wider than its current version you see on the roads.

Although the new X3 is bigger, the vehicle slimmed down a bit by 55 pounds giving it some thumbs up to the fuel economy department. BMW also made the steering of the 2011 X3 electric instead of the pneumatic type to decease the drag on the powerplant.

Consumers can not expect surprises when they pop up the hood. Buyers in the UK will be able to select from 4 engine variants. The petrol engines will be marketed as a 3.0L naturally aspirated 6-cylinder with an ouput of 268 bhp and a twin turbocharged version that gives out 302 bhp. The bigger chunk of sales in the UK though will be on the diesel variants. One will have the 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel powerplant that gives out 181 bhp and the other will be the stronger 3.0L diesel engine that outputs 241 bhp.

BMW is also planning to add more engine options in the line up including an ActiveHybrid variant on the drawing board.

The entry level unit will have its engine paired with the 6-speed Getrag manual transmission while the rest gets the 8-speed automatic gearbox with a stop-start system.

BMW also equips the new X3 with a new steering system that uses mechanical-electric technology from Thryssen Krup replacing the ZF hyrdraulic system of its older sibling.

The 2011 X3 will also get VDC or variable damping controls to improve its ride.