Ram Recalls Heavy Duty Pickups Over Transfer Case Issues

Ram Recalls Heavy Duty Pickups Over Transfer Case Issues
Fisker Karma Reborn as Karma Revero
Watch the Tesla Model S P90D Run the Quarter Mile in 10.8 Seconds
Audi Plans Suspension that Produces Energy to Help Save Gas
Should You Replace or Fix a Cracked Windshield?
Brighter Colors Boost a Car’s Resale Value: Study

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Ram is bringing back a number of its heavy duty pickup trucks over transfer case output shaft fractures.

The 2016 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 are all affected by the recall, with 889 units involved in total. The issue is the output shaft from the transfer case can fracture. The supplier of the shaft has since investigated and changed it process to make sure this doesn't happen.

Ram first had a customer report the issue in October of 2016, while two further customers experienced the fracture in April of 2016.

All of the affected trucks will be outfitted with a brand new transfer case that was made using the new process.

Discuss this story at our Ram Forum

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Fisker Karma Reborn as Karma Revero

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The new Revero from Karma Automotive, formerly known as Fisker Automotive, has been fully revealed.

While it is being touted as a new car, the Revero is in reality a refreshed version of the Fisker Karma, launched back in 2011. Karma Automotive was created from the ashes of bankrupt Fisker when the company was sold to China's Wanxiang Group.

Updates to the car include an improved solar roof for collecting energy, an all-new infotainment system and a set of hand-painted badges. Karma didn't reveal all of the details, though a count down on its website suggests that the car will be fully unveiled on September 8. That is also the date that reservations will open up to the public, though current Fisker owners can reserve one now.

The car will be built in Southern California, a long ways from Finland where the original Fisker Karma was built. Production targets have not been announced, but the car will likely be produced in low quantities for now.

Discuss this story at our Luxury Lifestlye Forum

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Watch the Tesla Model S P90D Run the Quarter Mile in 10.8 Seconds

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Tesla's new option, Ludicrous mode, helps deliver a quarter-mile drag time that beats some of the top supercars around.

A 20 year-old Tesla Model S P90D owner took to the Rockingham Dragstrip to prove the electric car's mettle and registered a quarter-mile time of 10.8 seconds in a production version of the car. That drag time beats such models as the Corvette Z06 or the Pagani Huyara. The maximum acceleration on the Model S P90D also produces a G-force of 1.1G.

Tesla offers Ludicrous mode on the current Model S P90D, which tops out at 762 hp to the P85D's 691 hp, for $10,000. The car featured in the video here was fitted with that option, although, no other alterations were made to the vehicle according to the driver.

On the car's first quarter-mile run, as you'll see in the video, the car registered a time of 10.839 seconds. The Model S P90D's best time was 10.80 seconds.

Watch the video above for all the action.

[Source: Carscoops]

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Audi Plans Suspension that Produces Energy to Help Save Gas

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Audi is working on a new suspension system which can produce energy that can be put to good use within the car.

Audi calls its prototype eROT, which is a set of electromechanical rotary dampers that are able to use potholes, bumps and curves to produce energy for the 48-volt electrical system. It works by using a lever arm that absorbs the motion of the wheel carrier, converting it into energy. Audi says that during testing, its prototype regained 3 watts on a freshly paved highway and 613 watts on a rough secondary road.

Besides being able to generate electricity, the dampers are actively controlled, which means that they should provide an even better ride. A revised geometry also helps with packaging the cars, allowing more luggage space to be added thanks to the horizontally arranged electric motors in the rear axle.

To work, the vehicle needs a 48-volt electrical system, which is a system that Audi is moving towards in all of its vehicles. The brand says that a new prototype that is in the works for 2017 will be able to feed a "high-performance mild hybrid drive," offering the potential to save up to 0.7 l/100km in fuel economy.

Should You Replace or Fix a Cracked Windshield?

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We've all been driving along, minding our own business when a rock the size of a melon comes flying like a targeted asteroid and smacks right into your windshield, leaving a chip or crack in your car's visor and ruining your day.

In reality, that rock probably wasn't all that big, but driving at speed certainly makes the scene more dramatic. What's not to be taken lightly is that mark on your windshield. Cracks and chips in your window may not seem like a big deal, but they impact your visibility and are a safety hazard.

If you're left with a serious imperfection on your windshield, it may be tempting to just ignore it or look around it to save time and money, but leaving the crack or chip and driving around with it is not an option.

"Cracks and chips often grow longer or wider if not repaired or replaced," explains Debra Levy, president of the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC). Not only that, but it's also unsafe.

"The [cracked] glass may be compromised and the windshield is part of the safety system of the vehicle," she explains.

Can it be fixed?

There are two main solutions to dealing with a broken windshield. You can either fill a crack if it's small enough, or you can replace the whole windshield. The latter is the more expensive option, while the former is for smaller imperfections. It's like dealing with serious body damage or chipped paint, but your windshield is much more important in terms of your safety than your car's paint is.

"Whether or not a break can be repaired, rather than replacing the glass, depends on a number of factors including type of break, location of break and amount of time the glass has been broken," Levy says. But what's important is that it gets fixed soon, as Levy explained that cracks and chips can grow longer or wider if not repaired or replaced.

The decision to repair a crack or chip can be easy to make depending on the size of it.

"The Repair of Laminated Auto Glass Standard allows repair of cracks 14 inches or less," she explains, so cracks that are larger than that will need a complete replacement of glass. Obviously, the ability to repair such big cracks or chips is dependent on the skills of the auto glass technician you're using. Most one or two inch chips are commonly dealt with, but again, it depends on what your tech says is possible.

"Certain insurers also limit the length of damage they will pay for." That should help the decision.

Some quick research shows that certain types of cracks and chips just can't be repaired. For example, if the damage extends from the exterior pane of glass and penetrates the interior, it's too deep to be repaired. Chips on corners or tight spots are often too difficult to repair too, so count those out. If a chip or crack has spread after the initial damage, that's a clear sign the glass needs to be replaced. Also take into consideration things like temperature sensors, radio antennaes and other high-tech goodies that can be embedded into your windshield that can affect whether the glass can be repaired and increase the cost of a replacement.

What's involved with fixing or replacing a windshield?

A crack or chip repair takes about 30 to 40 minutes and is performed by injecting a clear resin into it. When it hardens, the resin helps restore the integrity and smooth look of the glass. The resin is then polished and cured by UV light. If done properly, the chip or crack won't be able to spread any further.

Replacing a glass is a bit more of an involved process. After prepping the body of the car to prevent any damage, technicians will remove the windshield from the car. The seals and adhesives are also removed, and a primer is used on the bare frame, so a new glue and sealant can applied for the replacement glass. The new windshield is then fitted and bonded to the car. After the glass is fitted, most auto shops encourage a 60-minute wait time so that the windshield is properly attached to the car.

Trust

Like dealing with an independent mechanic, one of the biggest worries with autoglass repair is having a trustworthy technician. Fortunately, the ASGC has a website where you can find certified and qualified technicians in your area. "[To] choose a company that does the work properly, just go to the AGSC site safewindshields.org and put in your ZIP code." says Levy. A handy search tool, these companies should be able to help you feel satisfied with your decision to fix or replace your windshield, and understand the importance of doing so.

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Brighter Colors Boost a Car’s Resale Value: Study

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A recent study shows that the color of your car has an impact on its resale value.

Some car shoppers tend to stick with neutral shades like white or black when purchasing a car, believing it will be easier to sell in the future. Part of that is true, but a recent study conducted by iSeeCars.com has some surprising results. When it comes to a car's resale value, the brighter and more unusual shades like orange and yellow actually hold their value better. And before you think that's because orange and yellow are typically reserved for luxury and exotic vehicles, the two shades had the least depreciation across virtually all body styles and market segments.

The average depreciation for a car over three years, according to the study, is 29.8 percent, while yellow cars depreciate 22 percent over the same period. Orange cars depreciate the least at 21.6 percent. Coming in third on the list is green at 24.5 percent and rounding out the top five is brown in fourth at 28.5 percent and red in fifth at 29.1 percent.

Neutral colors like grey (29.5 percent), white (29.5 percent), blue (29.9 percent) and black (30.2 percent) are close to the average of 29.8 percent while silver (30.6 percent), beige (31.2 percent) and gold (33.5 percent) depreciate the most.

It is worth noting that one of the contributing factors to the rarer color's higher resale values is scarcity, making up just 1.5 percent of all vehicles.

"Cars in orange, yellow, and to a lesser extent, green, are primarily sports cars and muscle cars," said Phong Ly, CEO of iSeeCars.com. "Not only do these colors appeal to many of the buyers in these segments, but these cars are driven less, most likely because they are not used as daily drivers. For example, the average mileage of three-year- old orange sports cars is just 27,210 miles, and 26,822 miles for muscle cars, compared to 36,324 miles on average for all cars."

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Car Reviews

Thursday, 11 August 2016