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Toyota recalls 550,000 vehicles for steering issue

Toyota has recalled 550,000 vehicles around the globe for a potential defect that could impact steering capabilities. The fix involves a replacement for the crankshaft pulley on V6 engines. Toyota said if the problem isn’t corrected, the belt for the power steering could become detached from the pulley, making it tough to steer.

Better Place Electric Car visitor centre opens

Better Place have opened a visitor centre in Israel to demonstrate their battery swap technology for electric cars Last October we wrote about a start-up company in Israel – Better Place – that had a new way forward for electric cars by taking the purchase of battery packs out of the equation, and was developing a system for ‘Battery Swap’ stations where electric car owners could drive in and swap their battery pack for a fully-charged one in a few minutes. That story first brought to our attention our favourite quote of last year – by Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn – who said “A hybrid is like a mermaid: if you want a fish, you get a woman; if you want a woman, you get a fish.” Which probably explained why Nissan – and its partner Renault – got involved with Better Place. Better Place aims to address the main concerns of electric car drivers by making the battery packs in electric cars ‘swappable’.

Land Rover Freelander Metropolis is the Freelander’s Swan Song

The Land Rover Freelander Metropolis (pictured) is the new range-topping Freelander Land Rover will soon be losing the Freelander name as the next Freelander becomes a new Discovery Sport, but before that we’re getting a revised Freelander range and a new range-topper – the Land Rover Freelander Metropolis. The Freelander Metropolis is a Freelander with all the option boxes already ticked, so you get the best Windsor Leather with electric seats, deep pile carpets to squidge your toes in, Panoramic glass roof for an airy cabin, heated steering wheel and a set of new 19″ alloys. You’ll also get quality sound thanks to the standard 825 watt surround sound audio, along with LED running lights, reversing camera and a touch screen SatNav too.