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Filed under: Budget, Japan, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota, Daihatsu

Daihatsu has announced plans to recalling over 500,000 vehicles in Japan due to taillight lenses that can fade over time. The lenses, originally orange, will bleach white with exposure to the sun, leading to a potential safety risk. As a result, Daihatsu is recalling a total of 435,423 Move hatchbacks built between 1995 and 2000, as well as 145,769 Mira models manufactured from 1998 to 2000. Both vehicles fall into Japans micro-car category and are powered by fuel-thrifty .66-liter engines.

The company plans to fix the issue by installing orange bulbs in the vehicles instead of the white ones that came from the factory.

Daihatsu is owned by Toyota, and the company produces a number of small vehicles for the manufacturing giant. While not as crippling as some of the other issues Toyota has had this year, the Daihatsu does add to the 11 million recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled since fall of last year.

[Source: Automotive News]

Report: Toyota’s Daihatsu recalls over 500,000 minicars over… fading taillamps? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:26:00 EST.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Lexus

Lexus just dropped us a note to let us know that its F Sport line of performance accessories are on sale between September 10 and November 1, with between $100 and $300 off on accessory packages ranging from $500 to $2,000. If you’re interested in wheels, brakes or an exhaust for your GS or IS, click here for the coupon with all the details.

$300 discount on Lexus F Sport Accessories originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST.

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Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Dodge

A 2008 Dodge Charger played the role of lifesaver on Tuesday when a man fell 400 feet and amazingly lived to see another day. The New York Post reports that 22-year-old Thomas Magill allegedly tried to commit suicide by jumping out of a 39-story New York high-rise when the aforementioned Charger broke his fall. Witnesses said that Magill flew through the air at “like 100 miles per hour” and landed on the Charger’s rear window.

The man’s impact sent glass flying everywhere and even knocked his tennis shoes clear off his feet and onto the windshield of another vehicle. After Magill hit the vehicle, witnesses claim the young man screamed that his legs hurt. Understandably.

While Magill lived through the tremendous fall, he’s not out of the woods yet. He is reportedly listed in critical condition at a local New York hospital.

[Source: The New York Post]

Report: Dodge Charger saves life of suicide jumper originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:35:00 EST.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Paris Motor Show, Hyundai

When it comes to designing an MPV, it’s difficult to move beyond the standard two-box form. That’s where Hyundai’s “fluidic sculpture” design language comes into play. Penned by the automaker’s European R&D studio in R

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Hybrid, Performance, Hatchback, Honda

Nearly one year later, we’re still digging the idea behind Meguiar’s Wraptivo system. For under $2,000 you can design and have a professional installer wrap your car in vinyl, complete with custom graphics and textures. And to drum up more interest in the program after its debut at last year’s SEMA show, Meguiar’s has picked up a 2011 Honda CR-Z and enlisted the tuning talents of RJ De Vera and rendering artist Jon Sibal to show what it has planned for the 2010 show.

Naturally, the CR-Z Type-F Concept is focused on the matte black and “carbon fiber” wrap, but the real party pieces are underneath the vinyl.

A supercharger will be fitted to the anemic 1.5-liter four-pot, with a custom exhaust system and a Hondata ECU used to extract maximum power. Accessories from Honda’s performance line will join a Tein suspension, HKS components and some Volk TE37 wheels, while the inside will benefit from a pair of Recaro buckets, Alcantara trim and a new shift knob. And while it might be easy to dismiss the Type-F (which apparently stands for “Fun”) as a SEMA show queen, Meguiar’s plans to enter it in Source Interlink’s annual Super Lap Battle the week after the show. Get all the details in the press release after the jump and check out Sibal’s high-res rendering above.

[Sources: Jon Sibal, Motorworldhype]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F

SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST.

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