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Brand new cars are being sold with defective Takata airbags

If you just bought a 2016 Audi TT, 2017 Audi R8, 2016–17 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, or 2016 Volkswagen CC, we have some unsettling news for you. A report provided to a US Senate committee that oversees the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and reported on by Automotive News claims these vehicles were sold with defective Takata airbags. And it gets worse. Toyota and FCA are called out in the report for continuing to build vehicles that will need to be recalled down the line for the same issue. That's not all. The report also states that of the airbags that have been replaced already in the Takata recall campaign, 2.1 million will need to eventually be replaced again. They don't have the drying agent that prevents the degradation of the ammonium nitrate, which can lead to explosions that can destroy the airbag housing and propel metal fragments at occupants. So these airbags are out there already. We're not done yet. There's also a stockpile of about 580,000 airbags waiting to be installed in cars coming in to have their defective airbags replaced. These 580k airbags also don't have the drying agent. They'll need to be replaced down the road, too. A new vehicle with a defective Takata airbag should be safe to drive, but that margin of safety decreases with time. If all this has you spinning around in a frustrated, agitated mess, there's a silver lining that is better than it sounds. So take a breath, run your fingers through your hair, and read on. Our best evidence right now demonstrates that defective Takata airbags – those without the drying agent that prevents humidity from degrading the ammonium nitrate propellant – aren't dangerous yet. It takes a long period of time combined with high humidity for them to reach the point where they can rupture their housing and cause serious injury. It's a matter of years, not days. So a new vehicle with a defective Takata airbag should be safe to drive, but that margin of safety decreases with time – and six years seems to be about as early as the degradation happens in the worst possible scenario. All this is small comfort for the millions of people who just realized their brand-new car has a time bomb installed in the wheel or dashboard, or the owners who waited patiently to have their airbags replaced only to discover that the new airbag is probably defective in the same way (although newer and safer!) as the old one.

Rest of 2015.5 Dodge Viper lineup available after MSRP drop spurs sales uptick

The Dodge Viper has muscled its way back into buyers' good graces thanks to a $15,000 price drop across-the-board – and we're sure the extra five horsepower didn't hurt, either – posting a 26-percent year-to-date surge after the September realignment. No longer, uh, snakebitten, Dodge is now allowing dealers to place already-sold orders of the TA 2.0 Special Edition and GTS, both of which come with more goodies as standard than on the 2014 models they replace. The $101,995 TA wears a high performance Aero Package consisting of front lower dive planes, front splitter, competition rear spoiler, a dual-mode suspension supporting 18- or 19-inch matte black wheels on Pirelli PZero Corsa tires, two-piece Brembos rotors with black and orange calipers and performance pads, and a five-mode electronic stability control. We'll pretend to ignore features like a "rear carbon fiber applique" on a hardcore V10 sports car. The $107,995 GTS trim throws in Laguna leather seats as standard, an Alcantara headliner and an 18-speaker Harman Kardon system. It will also be the only model that can be had in Ceramic Blue with black stripes, orange brake calipers and GTS gloss black badging. And that rear carbon fiber applique, since it's apparently quite popular. The Connor Avenue plant where workers assemble the Viper by hand will begin production of the TA and GTS in November, the two models will appear in showrooms in Q1 of next year. A press release below has more information. Finally, it appears the only thing Connor Avenue builders looks like it finally has the work to keep everyone at work. {C} New 2015.5 Dodge Viper GTS and TA 2.0 Special Edition Models Now Available for Customer "Sold Orders" With New Pricing and More Content - Dodge Viper sales up 26 percent year-to-date since Dodge repositioned the hand-built exotic in September and reduced the starting price $15,000 - 2015 Dodge Viper's starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $84,995 (all prices exclude gas guzzler tax and destination) - New 2015.5 Viper GTS and TA 2.0 models now available for sold customer orders - Track-ready Viper TA 2.0 Special Edition builds on success of TA model; U.S. MSRP starts at $101,995 and adds high-performance Aero Package, competition rear spoiler and front lower dive planes for increased downforce and improved handling on the track - U.S.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR priced from $117,895

Fancy getting your hands on the all-new Dodge Viper ACR? Prepare to shell out at least $117,895, not counting destination or gas-guzzler tax. Those two add $1,995 and $2,100, respectively, for an out-the-door price of $121,990. That's $32,900 more than a base 2015 Viper, or the equivalent of a Challenger with a few options. As we explained previously, the ACR model doesn't do much for outright power – the 8.4-liter V10 offers up only five more ponies than before – but it does add suspension and aerodynamic upgrades that make this particular Viper far more potent on the track. The order books are officially open for the ACR, so if you've got the coin, get in touch with your local dealer. Until then, head into Comments and let us know what you think of the ACR's pricing. Would you shell out $118,000 for the ultimate Viper? DODGE OPENS ORDER BANKS FOR NEW 2016 DODGE VIPER ACR The fastest street-legal Viper track car ever offers a tremendous value for performance May 12, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Viper enthusiasts with the need for ultimate handling, performance and road course domination, as well as the ability to drive their Viper home from the track, can now place their orders for the fastest street-legal Viper track car ever. The Dodge brand has announced pricing and opened order banks for the recently introduced 2016 Dodge Viper ACR. Unveiled last week at the revamped Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, the American Club Racer model of the iconic, hand-built American supercar will have a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $117,895 (excluding destination and gas guzzler tax). "Bringing our street-legal Dodge Viper ACR back is going to arm our track enthusiasts with the ultimate weapon to dominate road courses across the country," said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO - Dodge and SRT Brands, FCA - North America. "This is without a doubt the best Viper ACR ever. The latest in aerodynamic, braking and tire technology will ensure its legendary performance reputation around the world." Originally introduced in 1999 and last available for the 2010 model year, the Viper ACR has a long-standing legacy as the ultimate street-legal track car for club racing. The new 2016 model honors that performance legacy with significant aerodynamic and suspension upgrades, new Carbon Ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers and high-performance tires specifically designed for ACR.