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2018 L.A. Auto Show: 5-plus takeaways on Jeep, Honda, Porsche and more

The 2018 L.A. Auto Show is making a strong case that auto shows aren't dead. Carmakers are ladling out sports cars and SUVs featuring serious style and performance in Los Angeles, and it's a feast for the senses. We're talking the new Porsche 911, the long-awaited Jeep Gladiator and the stylish Mazda3. It's the best car show with the most important reveals since the 2018 Detroit Auto Show kicked off the year. Here are some quick reactions: The 2019 Jeep Gladiator is a rock star When the story went live on Autoblog, our traffic went straight up. I've literally never seen the graph go straight up. So yeah, you guys seem to like it. I do, too. It's everything I want in a vehicle, including enough of a retro feel that it satisfies my cravings for an old Cherokee XJ. It's more capable and likely more expensive than I originally anticipated, but Jeep is going to have to expand its Toledo factory to keep up with demand. Don't be fooled by whatever the politicians say when that happens. It's because people like Jeeps and pickups, and this is the hero sandwich of all of that. I'd likely go with the 3.6-liter and a manual transmission if I were buying a Gladiator, but the diesel is compelling, too. Gladiator is a great name, drenched in history. I like it better than Scrambler, which never felt right to me. Only issue: It's a little over-the-top. Imagine this conversation: "So, ready to go to Panera?" "Sure, let's take the Gladiator." I mean, it's a bit much to refer to your personal vehicle as the Gladiator. Unless Russell Crowe is driving it. Then it's fine. The 2020 Porsche 911 is conservatively brilliant Every time I drive a 718 Cayman, Jaguar F-Type or another 911 challenger, I wonder if the 911 may be over the hill. It's not. And it likely never will be. This latest generation, dubbed 992 in Porsche-speak, stayed the course. The back takes some Mission E stylings that give the 911 a more modern feel. The flat six gets a little more power. The digital-heavy interior looks futuristic and slick. But overall, it's a blocking-and-tackling update that should satisfy the purists and maybe draw in a few new Porsche fans. It's the right time for the 2019 Honda Passport This slots between the Honda CR-V and the Honda Pilot. That's serious segmentation, but it's another crossover, and it's undoubtedly what the people want.

2017 Honda Civic Type R mule sports sweet exhaust

The 2016 Honda Civic might be one the most-spied cars in recent memory, but the wait to actually see the new model is just a few days away on Sept. 16. That big reveal is only for the sedan, but these fresh shots show a sporty variant of the five-door that our spies speculate could preview bits of the next-gen Civic Type R. These photos seem to show the same variant recently spotted in Spain, but there are some notable differences and better angles here. Up front, the styling still shows the same Acura-like design as the patent drawings, but these images make it much easier to spot the narrow mesh in the grilles of the lower air dam. The major change along the side is the new set of big, black wheels with low-profile tires, and this setup fits the style much better than the earlier car. Plus, you can easily spot larger front brake discs and a Brembo logo on the caliper this time. Thankfully, these photos provide a much better look at the earlier example's weird, center-mounted exhaust layout, too. It appears that the larger pipes on the outside each have their own muffler, but there doesn't appear to be one for the smaller outlet in the middle. There's still the possibility this could be a way of testing the single-exit design from the 2016 Civic concept. We know the next-gen Civic will be offered as a sedan, coupe, and five-door. Plus, Si and Type R trims will eventually join the lineup. At the current rate of spy shots, we'll see them all well before their respective reveals. Related Video:

Honda recalls 304k Accords for sudden side-airbag deployment

Honda is recalling 303,904 US examples of the 2008-2009 Accord because the side airbags or curtains can inadvertently deploy. The automaker said the problem is not related to Takata's airbag problem or any other supplier. Instead, the issue concerns the software's deployment threshold for side impacts. These sudden deployments can happen if the ignition is on, and the door is forcefully closed. They might also occur if there's a strong enough impact to the underside of the vehicle, like from road debris. As of October 12, 2015, Honda has 19 allegations of injuries from this problem; plus 311 warranty claims and 160 field reports, according to a chronology submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (as a Word document). The fix will be a software update to adjust the Supplemental Restraint System, and Honda will begin mailing notifications to owners in mid-December. Statement by American Honda Regarding Side Airbag Inadvertent Deployment Recall: 2008-2009 Honda Accord Sedan Oct 29, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. Side and/or side curtain airbags may inadvertently deploy if the ignition is on and a door is forcefully slammed or there is a significant impact to the vehicle underbody. Issue arises from side impact deployment threshold specification; Not a hardware or supplier issue. Free software update will adjust the deployment threshold. Honda will voluntarily recall 303,904 model-year 2008-2009 Accord vehicles in the United States to update the side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) software, free of charge. The SRS threshold setting for the side impact sensor is such that with the vehicle ignition on, if there is a strong, non-vehicular collision impact to the lower body of the vehicle or if a door is shut with extreme force, the SRS control unit may interpret the input as a crash and command the side seat airbag and/or side curtain airbag to deploy. Airbags that unexpectedly deploy may increase the risk of injury. Honda has received 19 injury claims related to this issue. Honda is announcing this recall to encourage each owner of an affected vehicle to take it to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin in mid-December 2015. Additionally, owners of these vehicles can now determine if their vehicles will require repair by going to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (888) 234-2138.