Tesla asks NHTSA to investigate fires

In response to concerns following a recent accident which appeared to result from road debris damaging the underside of a battery compartment of a Tesla Model S, causing a fire in the engine compartment, the company has announced that it has requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conduct a full investigation into the fire incidents. In a blog post, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote the following about the investigation: "While we think it is highly unlikely, if something is discovered that would result in a material improvement in occupant fire safety, we will immediately apply that change to new cars and offer it as a free retrofit to all existing cars. Given that the incidence of fires in the Model S is far lower than combustion cars and that there have been no resulting injuries, this did not at first seem like a good use of NHTSA's time compared to the hundreds of gasoline fire deaths per year that warrant their attention." Tesla has also released a software update to the cars which will maintain their standard ride height at highway speeds, preventing the air suspension from lowering the car an extra inch at highway speeds for greater aerodynamic efficiency.

Mazda MX-5 Yusho gets 238bhp

The Mazda MX-5 Yusho Concept has been revealed at the the Leipzig Auto Show with 238bhp from a supercharged engine. It’s not just the German car makers that have turned up to the Leipzig Auto Show with some interesting new cars, the Japanese have managed it to in the shape of the Mazda MX-4 Yusho Concept. The MX-5 Yusho (Yusho means Victory in Japanese) is a supercharged and titivated version of the regular MX-5 with 17″ grey alloys, lowered suspension, a boot lid spoiler and carbon fibre rear diffuser.

Suzuki says mid-sized sedan will come to U.S. as planned

Suzuki, refuting media reports from Japan on Monday, said it still plans to release a mid-sized sedan based on the Kizashi 3 concept in the United States this year. The Nikkei business daily reported that production plans for the car had been shelved. "The production version will debut at this year's New York auto show in April," said Jeff Holland, spokesman for American Suzuki Motor Corp.