Although most of us know by now that Nicolas Cage and the Mayans got it wrong and the world probably won't end in 2012, Chevrolet wants you to know that the apocalypse is no match for its Silverado pickup.
Here's what we have our eye on today:
- Chrysler will trade Eminem for Clint Eastwood in its Super Bowl commercial this Sunday, The Wall Street Journal says (3). Last year’s two-minute spot (4) won an Emmy; its follow-up will be the same length, sources told the publication, with the venerable Eastwood “giving the country a pep talk.”
Toyota is recalling 427 Toyota RAV4s from the 2011 model year because of a defect involving the side curtain airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The affected vehicles, which were manufactured from Nov. 24 through Dec. 19, 2011, do not use the correct propellant that helps to initiate the expansion of the airbag. As a result, one or both side curtain airbags might not deploy in an accident, increasing the risk of injury.
Toyota will start notifying owners in March, and dealerships will replace one or each of the side curtain airbags, if necessary, free of charge. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.
Maserati has issued a recall for 1,768 GranTurismos and GranTurismo convertibles from the 2008-10 model years because of a faulty lamp assembly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In the affected vehicles, which were manufactured from June 2008 to March 2010, both the taillights and brake light could fail because of the faulty lamp assembly. This could lead to reduced vehicle visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Maserati will notify owners this month, and dealers will inspect and replace affected rear taillamp assemblies free of charge.
For more info, owners can call Maserati at 201-816-2600 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.
Honda is recalling 347 Accord sedans and Crosstour hatchbacks to address airbag issues, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.
In certain vehicles, the side curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger may have a faulty inflator. In the event of an accident, the affected airbags will not deploy, increasing the risk of passenger injury.
Honda will begin notifying owners on Feb. 10, and the affected airbags will be replaced for free. Owners can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.
We know styling is subjective, but after driving and reviewing hundreds of cars each year, our editors earned the right to call some out as just plain ugly. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 ugliest cars from the last 30 years. And because we’re tired of seeing Aztek on lists like this, Pontiac’s homeliest vehicle isn’t on ours.
The redesigned 2012 Ford Focus appealed to the two sides of Cars.com Family contributor Sara Lacey. Sara’s fun side enjoyed the Focus hatchback’s updated looks with its large grille and swoopy taillights. Meanwhile, her more rational side appreciated Focus’ cargo space and roomy backseat — the latter made installing child-safety seats a breeze.
Cars.com Senior Family Editor Kristin Varela thinks Hyundai is on a roll, and its Veloster compact is one reason why. She tested the new-for-2012 funky compact hatchback and found it to be one of the most exciting cars she’s tested in weeks.
Its edgy styling won over her whole family, from her 69-year-old mother to her teenage nephew. Tune the suspension a bit softer and add some highway power, and she may even buy one.
Volkswagen has had great success with its diesel lineup of TDI models, especially the Jetta and its 42 mpg highway rating. The Beetle TDI, however, is estimated to get 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway despite using the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel power plant as the Jetta.
We’ve been impressed with the redesigned Beetle’s interior space, quality materials and design but nonplused by its mediocre mileage. The TDI certainly makes it more attractive for the gas conscious out there while still producing an impressive 140 horsepower and 236 pounds-feet of torque.
Pricing will play a big part in the decision-making process of the model, but the company says it won’t reveal the cost of the three trim levels until closer to the on-sale date this summer.
The Beetle TDI comes with more standard equipment than the gasoline Beetle base model as well as two additional trim levels listed below.
Like the comfortable and composed S-Class sedan but need more room? The M-Class midsize SUV should do the trick, says Cars.com Editor Mike Hanley, who tested the ML350 Bluetec diesel version and found it powerful, fairly quiet and pretty fuel efficient for a vehicle this size.
But diesel costs several cents more than premium gas, and Hanley also points out that the Bluetec version starts around $1,500 more than the base gas version. Is it worth the price?
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