BMW issued an urgent “Do Not Drive” warning for 90,000 vehicles built between 2000 and 2006, that fall under a recall for defective Takata air bags.The recall affects the 3-series and 5-series, including the M3 and M5, as well as the first-generation X5.Drivers are urged not to use affected vehicles until a fix is implemented, as the airbags can become dangerous even in minor crashes.BMW has issued an urgent “Do Not Drive” warning for owners of roughly 90,000 vehicles built between 2000 and 2006. The affected vehicles are outfitted with defective Takata airbags, which have a high likelihood of failure in the event of a crash. The recall affects 3-series models built from 2000-2006, including the E46-generation M3, and 5-series sedans built from 2000-2003, including the E39 M5, as well as X5 SUVs built from 2000-2004. In the event of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says the airbags have “an extremely high probability of failure.” If the inflators rupture, metal fragments may eject towards the driver and cause serious harm. “These inflators are two decades old now and, with every day that passes, they become even more dangerous as they can rupture even in a minor crash,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman.More on Takata AirbagsBMW is asking owners to immediately check if their vehicle has an open Takata recall, (which they can do here) and to stop driving their vehicle if it does. The replacement parts are available, and owners of defective vehicles are being urged to contact their dealership immediately for a free repair, and free towing or mobile repair. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Ford has filed a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a system that helps law enforcement identify speeders, as first reported by Motor Authority. The patented system not only detects when speeding occurs, but it also snaps a picture of the vehicle committing the traffic violation.A Ford spokesperson said that the patent is specifically designed for use on law-enforcement vehicles and does not include sharing personal driving data.Cops could have an easier time handing out speeding tickets if a new Ford patent becomes reality. The system described in the patent application can be equipped to a Ford Police Interceptor, for example, and can identify other vehicles that exceed a set speed-limit threshold. This can trigger an onboard camera to take a picture of the lawbreaker’s car, which theoretically will help law-enforcement officers write a ticket for speeding.Ford first filed the patent application, titled “Systems and Methods for Detecting Speeding Violations,” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in January 2023. However, it was formally published by the USPTO on July 18, 2024, as previously reported by Motor Authority after that.The patent application also states that once data about the speeder’s car has been captured, the photograph can be used to determine at least one distinctive feature to help identify the vehicle, such as a license plate, a paint color, or visible damage. That info can be recorded and shared with other cop cars, and it may even determine if the situation calls for a hot pursuit. The recorded information can be sent to a computer server as well as to a roadside device that uses the Internet of Things, which is essentially a network of surveillance devices that can communicate with each other. USPTOWhile a cursory reading of the application might cause some people to become concerned that Ford’s patented system is planned for use in its passenger cars, a company spokesperson told Car and Driver that the tech is specifically intended for law-enforcement vehicles. Ford’s official statement is that “it’s a system that would automate a capability that law enforcement already have in use today, except this would utilize the built-in system and sensors in the vehicle. This patent does not state that driving data from customers’ vehicles would be shared with law enforcement, which is what some media have incorrectly reported.”Ford’s spokesperson also reiterated that patents are meant to protect new ideas and not provide insight into new products coming to market. Of course, we know that there are also plenty of patents that eventually do become features on new models, so sometimes it can be worthwhile to report on features like Ford’s speed-detection system that might one day become reality.More Patent StoriesEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

The Raptor Connection via Instagram The 2021 Ford Bronco, hotly anticipated for months if not years, is finally visible. That’s not Ford’s doing. The Raptor Connection leaked a full photo of a Bronco Sport on Instagram. The Bronco is to be officially revealed later in March and is expected to go on sale in early […] More

BMW’s i4 concept is on the leading edge of 25 hybrid and electric models the automaker promises by 2023. The i4 concept was meant to make its debut live at the Geneva auto show this week and is expected to go on sale as a production model in early 2021. BMW claims 372 miles of […] More

• The 2024 Ferrari Purosangue will cost $398,350, excluding a yet-unspecified gas-guzzler tax.• The destination charge is $5000, an eye-watering amount sure to make Jeep jealous.• Fuel economy and vehicle classification will have a major impact on how high or low the gas-guzzler tax could be.Every Ferrari costs house money, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Maranello’s first SUV carries a price tag commensurate with its stature—and that sweet, sweet V-12.In an email to Car and Driver, Ferrari said that the 2024 Purosangue SUV will set a buyer back $398,350. This includes a massive $5000 destination charge, which is among the highest in the industry. Ferrari hasn’t said how the cars will be delivered, but for that kind of money, we’re assuming they will be ferried to owners on the wings of angels.If that price wasn’t enough to set your wallet aflame, there’s also the matter of the Purosangue’s inevitable gas-guzzler tax. Ferrari told us this tax is yet to be determined, likely because this tariff is contingent on the vehicle’s official fuel economy, which the EPA has yet to announce. FerrariGaz-guzzler calculation also hangs on how the vehicle is classified. If it’s classified as a sport utility vehicle, like the Lamborghini Urus S or the Bentley Bentayga Speed, it could be exempted from the tax altogether. However, if it ends up under the station-wagon taxonomy, like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the gas-guzzler surcharge would apply. You know what else is considered a station wagon? The Lamborghini Urus Performante. You’re right to be confused; the feds don’t make this easy.More on the Purosangue SUVRegardless of the final cost, the Purosangue appears to be one properly potent performer. A naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine will deliver 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque; Ferrari claims that’s enough shove to reach 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds. It doesn’t have traditional anti-roll bars, instead opting for a trick adaptive suspension that uses electric motors to control body roll by applying a force on the dampers. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More