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    GM Recalls Nearly One Million Vehicles as Part of Larger Airbag Recall

    General Motors issued a recall for 994,763 vehicles over concern that the vehicle’s airbags may rupture.The recall affects certain Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles from the 2014 to 2017 model years. The recall is related to a much larger investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, concerning 67 million airbags produced by ARC Automotive. General Motors has announced a recall of nearly one million crossovers with a potentially life-threatening airbag defect. The recall specifically affects 994,763 GM vehicles, spread out between certain Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles produced between the 2014 and 2017 model years. According to documentation filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the driver’s air bag inflator may explode during deployment, which could send sharp metal fragments into the cabin of the vehicle, potentially causing serious injury or death. According to a filing from GM on Friday, the manufacturer learned of a report that a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse was involved in a crash in March, and that the front-driver airbag inflator ruptured during deployment. A later inspection confirmed that the front-driver airbag inflator ruptured in the vehicle.Recent RecallsGM dealers were set to be notified on May 10, 2023, with owner notification estimated to begin in later June. Under the recall, dealers will replace the driver’s air bag unit for free. Concerned owners can check the NHTSA recalls site to confirm if their vehicle is involved and get further details.The recall comes as part of a larger request from NHTSA that ARC Automotive Inc. recall 67 million airbag inflators because of the risk that they may explode. Documents released by NHTSA show that ARC denied the request. The ARC airbag inflators affect the GM products being recalled, as well as Stellantis, BMW, and Hyundai Motor Group vehicles. 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

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    BMW i7 M70 to Star in New Action-Packed Short Film at Cannes Film Festival

    This content is imported from youTube. 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.BMW Films will present its first project in seven years, called The Calm, at the Cannes Film Festival this week. It stars Pom Klementieff and Uma Thurman.The Calm features the new BMW i7 M70, and is a follow-up to The Hire series that BMW produced in the early 2000s.The film will be available to watch on BMW’s YouTube page on Wednesday, May 17.Action movies are an excellent way to market desirable performance cars. BMW capitalized on this in the early 2000s with the film series The Hire, starring Clive Owens and featuring big names like Forest Whitaker, Madonna, and Don Cheadle in epic chase scenes involving sporty BMWs such as the E39 M5. Now the automaker returns to the silver screen with a new short called The Calm. The first creation from BMW Films in seven years, The Calm, debuts at the Cannes Film Festival in France this Wednesday.BMWThe movie’s vehicular star is the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive, a high-performance version of BMW’s latest electric luxury cruiser that produces 650 horsepower and can zip to 60 mph in a claimed 3.5 seconds. The brief trailer shows the not-so-subtle orange i7 being pursued by ominous-looking motorcyclists and executing a sweet drift on dirt. On the human side, The Calm stars Pom Klementieff, who played Mantis in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and features Uma Thurman, known for her roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. The Calm was executive produced by Joseph Kosinski—director of Top Gun: Maverick—and directed by Sam Hargrave, who served as stunt coordinator on several Marvel movies. BMW also enlisted iconic composer Hans Zimmer—who developed the artificial acceleration sounds in BMW’s latest EVs—to write the score.BMWThe film lasts seven minutes and follows two secret agents en route to a meeting in Cannes when they are attacked by unknown enemies. After Klementieff’s character withstands a hijacking attempt in the back of the i7 M70, she teams up with Thurman’s character to finish their treacherous mission. The movie’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival will take place exclusively on the 31-inch, 8K “Theatre Screen” fitted in the back of BMW’s i7 sedan, with the automaker bringing 200 i7s to present The Calm to guests in the second row of the vehicle. The full movie will be published on BMW’s YouTube page on Wednesday, May 17. Related StoriesThis 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.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

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    2022–23 Ferrari 296 Recalled for Fuel Leak with Do Not Drive Order

    Ferrari has sent a notice to its dealers to stop selling or allowing test drives of the 2022 and 2023 296GTB and the 2023 296GTS “immediately and until further notice.”The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall of 425 Ferrari 296 cars and will send notification letters to owners by July 7.The cars are being recalled because corrosion in a fuel tank connecting pipe could lead to fuel leakage, potentially causing a fire.Ferrari has issued a Stop Sale order marked “Urgent” to its dealers, telling them not to sell or allow test drives of its 2022–2023 296GTB or 2023 296GTS until a fix can be made for a potential fuel leak.The explanation for the order is that the cars’ aluminum fuel tank connecting pipe could make “unintended contact” with the battery protection cover, leading to corrosion and possible fuel leakage. Ferrari said it first noticed the problem on April 12 when preparing a car for delivery in China. The automaker said there have been no reports of fires and no warranty claims submitted for the problem.Under the NHTSA recall, dealers will replace the pipe with a reinforced pipe covered in a rubber protective sleeve. Starting on April 20, Ferrari 296 cars have started to be fitted with this sleeve during production. The recall affects 425 cars built before that date.Ferrari 296 owners are advised not to drive the vehicles until the fix can be made. NHTSA will notify owners on or before July 7. In the meantime, owners can check the NHTSA recalls site to confirm if their vehicle is involved and get further details.Other Recent RecallsDigital DirectorLaura Sky Brown has been involved in automotive media for a very long time, and she sees it as her calling to guard the legacy and help ensure the continued high quality of Car and Driver. She was one of the first staffers at Automobile Magazine in the ’80s and has worked for many other car magazines and websites as a writer, editor, and copy editor ever since. It has been her privilege to edit many of the greats of automotive journalism over the years, including the ones who currently write for C/D. More

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    Giotto Bizzarrini, Legendary Ferrari 250GTO Engineer, Has Died at 96

    • The engineer who crafted both the Ferrari 250GTO and Lamborghini’s original V-12 has died, aged 96.• As both an engineer and test driver, Bizzarrini also founded his own eponymous car company in the 1960s, and his car won its class at Le Mans.• Earlier this year, the Bizzarrini name re-emerged as a company with plans for a V-12 supercar called the Giotto. It’ll have its work cut out living up to the legend of the man himself.Any automotive engineer seeks to leave a lasting piece of themselves in the machines they helped create. When Giotto Bizzarrini died last week, just shy of his 97th birthday, he did so assured of the immortality of his name. What greater legacy could any Italian engineer leave behind than fingerprints on both the most desirable Ferrari and most beautiful Lamborghini ever made? Further, like Enzo and Ferruccio, Giotto created a physical tribute to his surname in steel, glass, and rubber—the gorgeous Bizzarrini 5300GT. We mark his passing as a linchpin of the golden age of Italian automobiles.Related StoriesBorn in 1926 in Quercianella in Tuscany, a small coastal hamlet, Bizzarrini attended university in Pisa (of leaning tower fame). His father, also Giotto, had worked with radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi. Shortly after graduation, Bizzarrini junior joined Alfa Romeo and began working on the chassis development of the Giulietta.Surprisingly, the position was something of a frustration for the young Giotto—he wanted to work on engines. However, his innate skill soon found him transferred to Alfa Romeo’s experimental division, where he became both engineer and test driver. In 1957, Ferrari head-hunted him to run its sports-car development division.His work here resulted in perhaps the greatest Ferrari ever made: the 250GTO. Working with a 250GT that was his own personal car, Bizzarrini created the test mule that became a thoroughbred, though he would not be at Ferrari to see the production car emerge. He was one of five chief engineers to walk out after a reorganization of staff in Ferrari’s “night of the long knives.” Enzo was an uncompromising leader, and the echoes of this dispute would have lasting effect. Among the first unintended consequences was the 250GT “Breadvan.” This Kammback special never quite beat Ferrari’s own GTO, but was significant for its aerodynamic advances. It was created when Bizzarrini was hired by Count Giovanni Volpe, who had developed his own beef with Ferrari. Giotto’s next riposte to Enzo would be even more significant.According to legend, Enzo insulted a certain tractor manufacturer when some complaints were made about the quality of Ferrari’s road cars. In reality, Ferruccio Lamborghini might have been hot-tempered, but he was also a shrewd businessman and knew there was a gap in the market for a grand tourer that was quicker than a Maserati but less temperamental than a Ferrari. Who to develop an engine for such a machine? One of Ferrari’s own ex-engineers. Bizzarrini’s original V-12 was a little too high-strung for road use, redlining at 9800 rpm. Lamborghini’s in-house engineers tamed the 3.5-liter DOHC motor for use in the 350GT, then turned it sideways and stuffed it in the middle of the Miura, the first of Italy’s supercars. The basic architecture of the Bizzarrini V-12 would persist until 2010 in the last of the Murciélagos.Klemantaski Collection|Getty ImagesAfter being involved with the Iso Rivolta and Iso Grifo grand tourers, Bizzarrini founded his own company. The Bizzarrini 5300GT married Italian bodywork by Giugiaro’s Italdesign with muscular Chevrolet small-block V-8 power. Only 133 were built, making them highly collectible today. A Bizzarrini 5300GT won its class at Le Mans in 1965. This was not Bizzarrini’s only dalliance with American V-8 power. The AMX/3 prototype was a mid-engined DeTomaso Pantera rival conceived by the American Motor Corporation (AMC) with Bizzarrini’s input. The project was abandoned in 1970, but a handful of cars were made.Just this February, the Bizzarrini name again came to the forefront, with a company planning a V-12 supercar for launch. Though he was not personally involved with the effort, the car would be called, simply, the Giotto. Should plans come to completion, it’ll be a fitting tribute for a man who seemed to have a hand in the very best of Italian automobiles. Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

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    Simple One Electric Scooter Spied Testing Few Days Before Launch

    Simple One Electric Scooter SpiedPre-booking for Simple One electric scooter is open for a fully refundable token amount of Rs 1,947Electric two-wheeler segment will soon see a new contender in the form of Simple One electric scooter. Things appear to be a bit delayed, but Simple One should be able to catch up with its best-in-class features. Simple One electric scooter will rival the likes of Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X, Bajaj Chetak, Hero Vida and TVS iQube ST.Simple One is being described as India’s first premium affordable EV. Even when loaded with hi-tech features, Simple One will be made available at an affordable price point. Pricing and other details will be revealed at the time of launch on May 23, 2023. Deliveries will start subsequently. Simple One production has already commenced at the company’s plant in Tamil Nadu. Ahead of launch, Simple One continues to be on test. Here are latest spy shots.Simple One styling and featuresSimple One has a futuristic design with sharp panelling all across. The headlamp comes in a triangular shaped casing and is mounted on the lower section of the front apron. Lighting elements can also be seen on the handlebar cowl. There’s a compact windscreen and sporty rear-view mirrors.The electric scooter has a flat seat with a comfortable, upright riding stance. The floorboard is decently sized and can come handy for carrying some heavy stuff. The scooter has storage space at front as well as under seat storage of 30 litres.Simple One Electric Scooter SpiedColour options for Simple One electric scooter include Brazen Black, Namma Red, Azure Blue and Grace White. The scooter is equipped with an intuitive smart dashboard, offering navigation, screen customization options, and access to calls and music when paired to the user’s smartphone.Simple One has a dedicated connectivity platform, allowing users to access a range of features. It includes remote commands, geo-fencing, remote locking, save and forward routes, OTA updates and ride statistics. Simple One mobile app will be available for both Android and iOS devices.Simple One range, specsSimple One electric scooter is equipped with a 4.8 kWh battery pack. It is robust, safe and highly efficient and comes with the assurance of long working life. The battery management system is an advanced unit that effectively tracks and controls fluctuations in temperature, current and voltage. Simple One electric scooter is the first to achieve compliance with the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) 156 amendment 3. This rule enforces stricter battery safety standards for electric two-wheelers.Simple One Electric Scooter SpiedPowering Simple One is an 8.5 kW electric motor that has been designed in line with Indian road conditions. It generates 72 Nm of peak torque. Simple One can achieve 0-40 kmph in 2.77 seconds. It has a top speed of 105 kmph. Simple One offers a best-in-class range of 236 km (ideal driving conditions).Simple One has 12-inch wheels at both ends, shod with 90-90 tubeless tyres. The scooter has patented brakes, especially designed in accordance with local riding conditions. Optimal braking with patented CBS will allow users to unlock the full potential of the scooter.Simple One Electric Scooter SpiedAs the company seems to be focusing on affordability, a price point of under Rs 1 lakh can be considered for the base-spec variant. Quite a few rivals have similar pricing for their base-spec variants. It will be interesting to see how the market responds to India’s longest range electric two-wheeler. More

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    KTM 390 Adventure Spoke Wheels Variant Launch Price Rs 3.6 Lakh

    Image – TARIK ADVAfter launching KTM 390 ADV X and ADV Y variants, KTM Has now launched 390 ADV Spoke Wheel variant in IndiaAs part of its 2023 update, KTM 390 Adventure gets a new spoke wheel (SW) variant. While most of the features are the same as that of standard variant, 390 Adventure SW variant gets exclusive wire-spoke wheels. It will appeal to folks who want a more dynamic look and feel for their bike, a mix of retro and contemporary aesthetics. For this update, KTM 390 ADV will cost you Rs 3.6 lakh ex-sh, which is about Rs 22k more than the standard KTM 390 ADV.This new variant also gets fully adjustable suspension. The WP APEX suspension hardware is fully adjustable for compression, rebound and preload. This achieves that rare chemistry of tactile grip with the road and confidence-inspiring efficiency for the dirt.Damping at the front USD forks is of 30 clicks each for compression and rebound. The rear mono-shock is adjustable by 20 clicks for a rebound while retaining 10-step preload adjustability. This enables the rider to customize their ride quality, handling, and comfort as per their individual preferences and laden weight.KTM 390 Adventure spoke wheel variantWhile the standard variant with alloy wheels has a dominating street presence, 390 Adventure spoke wheel variant has a springy feel to it. The former is pure machine whereas spoke wheels ensure friendlier vibes for the bike. SW variant also gets a new colour scheme with orange shaded body work and trellis frame. KTM’s racing livery further enhances the bike’s look and feel.2023 KTM 390 ADV spoke wheel variant India LaunchThere are also the functional aspects, wherein spoke wheels have better capabilities across off-road tracks. Spoke wheels are also easy to repair in comparison to alloy wheels. KTM 390 Adventure SW variant has black-anodized aluminium rims that house the thickish wire spokes. The rims measure 19-inch at front and 17-inch at rear.390 Adventure spoke wheel variant specsApart from the spoke wheels and updated colour theme, there are no other major changes to KTM 390 Adventure SW variant. Powering the bike is the 373cc, single cylinder motor that churns out 44 hp of max power and 37 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Braking duties are performed by 320 mm disc at front and 230 mm disc at rear. Dual channel ABS with cornering function is offered as standard.Other key highlights of 390 Adventure include traction control, riding modes, ride-by-wire tech and quickshifter+. The bike has a 5-inch TFT screen that displays a range of information. Functionalities are the same as that of 2022 model.The display can be paired with the user’s smartphone via Bluetooth using KTM My Ride app. It can be used to access a range of functions including navigation. In India, KTM 390 Adventure will continue to rival the likes of BMW G310GS and upcoming Himalayan 450 and Hero XPulse 400. More

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    Yamaha Rental Service Adds E01 Electric Scooter To Its Fleet

    Yamaha E01 Electric Scooter In JapanYamaha E01 electric scooter packs an 8.1 kW (10.86 bhp) electric motor which draws juice from a 4.9 kWh fixed Li-ion batteryJapan witnessed the introduction of the Yamaha E01 electric scooter. However, Yamaha is not launching it traditionally. Instead, the company is offering it as a rental service. Late last year, Yamaha introduced an experimental leasing program in Japan. Intention was to collect raw information from participating users for polishing the product.In May 2023, Yamaha brought E01 electric scooter under its rental service umbrella. E01 is exclusively on rent via Yamaha Bike Rental outlets in Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka Airport. Riders of age 20+ and with a relevant driving license can rent Yamaha E01 electric scooter.Yamaha E01 electric scooterE01 has a maxi-scooter-inspired design that looks sharp and modern at the same time. It gets a clear windscreen to aid with wind buffeting. Charging port is on the front fascia, flanked by boomerang-shaped LED DRLs. There are small dual LED headlights below the front apron, lending a unique look.Yamaha has given the E01 Scooter one of the tidiest tail sections on a maxi-scooter. It also gets LED indicators on the handlebar. Ergonomics of the scooter look very relaxed as expected from a maxi-scooter. But the only fly in the ointment seems to be that this isn’t a step-through scooter and the center spine hinders practicality slightly.Yamaha E01 Electric Scooter In JapanIt packs a 4.9 kWh Li-ion battery along with an 8.1 kW (10.86 bhp) mid-mounted brushless DC motor. Yamaha promises 104 km of range from a single charge and bundles an AC portable charger as part of the rental program. This charger takes about 14 hours to top-up the battery from a household socket.The E01 scooter packs a fully digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity features with navigation readouts, keyless ignition and some more features as standard. Yamaha will also equip it with disc brakes on both sides. These discs are alloy-mounted too. Front gets RSU (Right Side Up) telescopic forks, while rear gets twin shock absorbers.Will it launch in India?There is a large 23L under-seat storage too, which will only be useful if users don’t carry the charger along. Yamaha is said to have recorded the learnings from the leasing program last year. With this rental program, the company will procure more data and user behaviour. All in all, Yamaha E01 is likely to launch in markets like Europe in the future.India launch is likely too as Yamaha showcased two electric scooters to dealers in India, Neo’s and E01. The Japanese brand has even registered trademarks for E01 and EC-05 in India. When? Yamaha India hasn’t revealed their plans regarding this like they have with RX-100. Pricing for Yamaha E01 electric scooter is likely to be in the Rs 2 lakh range upon launch. More

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    Next-Gen Aston Martin DB Teased ahead of May 24 Reveal

    Aston Martin has released three teaser photos of the successor to the DB11, which will be revealed on May 24.The shrouded images show the front of the next-gen DB, the side profile, and the new infotainment system.Aston filed a trademark in the U.S. for the nameplate “DB12,” suggesting that will be the next-gen car’s name.The world is getting a sneak peek at the successor to the Aston Martin DB11, with the British automaker today releasing three teaser photos of the next-generation sports car, which is set to be fully revealed on May 24.The partially shrouded photo above gives us a glimpse at the new DB’s headlights and hood. Aston Martin’s recently revised wing logo can be seen affixed to the car’s nose. Squint a little and parts of the grille are also visible with what appear to be six horizontal bars.Side Show Aston also released a photo teasing the next-gen DB’s side profile (seen below). The long hood flows into a steeply raked windshield. Its uninterrupted line suggests this model is the coupe, but a convertible version known as the Volante will also likely be offered. The car’s paint color appears to be an unspecified shade of green, and the gigantic wheels are coated in what looks like some type of bronze. It’s a handsome pairing to be sure.Aston MartinNext-Gen InfotainmentEarly last year, Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll was reported as saying the company’s next generation of cars would undergo big changes, including a new infotainment system. He wasn’t joking, as the setup shown in the photo below gives a good view of the updated interface, which is integrated into an angled center stack that also houses the HVAC controls and other switchgear. Aston MartinAlong with rollers to control the temperature for the dual climate zones and fan speed, there’s also one for the stereo volume. Surrounding the stubby gear selector and prominent engine start-stop switch are buttons that reveal some of the next-gen DB’s features. The list includes heated and ventilated seats, adjustable dampers and exhaust settings, and driver-assistance tech such as a surround-view camera system, lane-keeping assist, and parking sensors.What’s Its Real Name?While Aston has yet to reveal the name of the DB11’s successor, there’s a chance it could be called the DB12. That speculation is fueled by a trademark application the company filed for the nameplate with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. What will the car’s real name be? We’ll all likely just have to stay tuned until Aston reveals the next-gen DB on May 24. Other Aston StoriesThis 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.Senior EditorEric 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 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