Toyota Prius with added noise: The Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification

Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification We’d much rather see a hybrid car than an electric one, but with plug-in hybrids starting to proliferate more car makers are having to address the issue of silent running endangering blind – and distracted - pedestrians. Step forward the Toyota Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification System. The US Senate signed off the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act at the end of 2010, which requires the makers of cars with the ability to run silently to make them run noisily instead, completely negating about the only benefit there is for electric cars.

Opel / Vauxhall Mocha almost revealed as Buick Encore

Three quarters of the Bucik Encore - the American Mocha The European Opel / Vauxhall Mocha – a Corsa based SUV – has been almost revealed in the US with a tease for the Buick Encore. Just before Christmas we reported on a new Corsa-based SUV on the way from Vauxhall and Opel which looks like it’s going to be the Opel Mocha (and, we assume, the Vauxhall Mocha too). But in this new ‘One World’ for cars, where North America actually gets the sort of cars they would once have derided as too small to consider, the Mocha is also going on sale in the US.

GM sued for not recalling nonpolice Chevrolet Impalas to fix spindle rods

General Motors has been sued by the owner of a Chevrolet Impala who claims the company recalled police versions of the sedan to fix a tire-wear issue but did not recall civilian Impalas for the same problem. According to the suit, filed in Detroit, GM issued a recall for police Impalas in 2008 for faulty spindle rods, which misaligned the rear wheels and led to premature tire wear. GM told dealers to replace the spindle rods, realign the rear wheels and replace the tires.