Raybestos H439 Front Adjusting Spring on 2040-parts.com

Honda Accord hybrid unintended-acceleration claim under review

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into whether some Honda hybrid vehicles are prone to unintended acceleration. The federal auto safety regulator said Monday it had agreed to look into a complaint stemming from a fatal July 2005 crash. The driver of a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid said she was driving over rumble strips on the side of a freeway when she tried to apply the brakes.

Next BMW X1 loses inline-six, gets smaller and lighter

The second-generation BMW X1, expected here in early 2016, is smaller and lighter than the existing first-generation model. The new X1 loses optional six-cylinder power; a new high-output four-cylinder replaces it. A high-ranking BMW manager confirmed the new X1 abandons today's longitudinal engine layout for a version of the new transverse-engine platform the 2-series Active Tourer uses.

Aston Martin teases new car – could this be the ‘Final Edition’ V12 Vantage? (video)

This tease image from the Aston Martin video appears to show a V12 Vantage outline We reported recently that Aston Martin had told its dealers to stop taking orders for the V12 Vantage Coupe, which we took to mean the Vantage is coming to the end of its shelf life, at least in its current iteration. But a tease video Aston Martin has released for a new car perhaps – ‘Coming Soon’ – points to a final edition version of the V12 Vantage Coupe before it gets put out to grass. The video (below) does show what appears to be a V12 Vantage; it’s the right shape, it has bonnet vents, bits of carbon fibre and an exhaust that sounds about right.