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Continental Automotive recalls 5 million airbag control units

Takata isn't the only supplier having airbag problems. Rival manufacturer Continental Automotive Systems announced a recall of 5 million airbag control units fitted to vehicles from Honda, Fiat Chrysler Automotive, Mercedes-Benz, and even a certain Chrysler-based Volkswagen. This sweeping recall has actually been in progress for some time, although the exact scope is only now becoming evident. In October of 2015, Mercedes-Benz recalled 2008 and 2009 model year C- and GLK-Class vehicles because their Continental-made airbag control units could corrode. Such a condition could cause the airbags to deploy without cause or warning, or in the event of a crash, not deploy at all. You can read all about it in our post from last year. Now, Continental's recall is going wide. Alongside the already recalled C and GLK, you've already heard about the 2008 and 2009 Honda Accord airbag recall, which we reported on yesterday. Now, Fiat Chrysler is announcing the recall of the 2009 Dodge Journey, as well as the 2008 and 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country, and their rebadged counterpart, the Volkswagen Routan. Yes, one manufacturer is recalling another manufacturer's vehicle. The models listed above only amount to about 580,000 vehicles out of 5 million bad airbag control units. And since Continental will notify manufacturers who will then issue their own recalls, it's extremely likely that more brands and vehicles will be ensnared. Stay tuned. Related Video: News Source: NHTSA via Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Fabian Bimmer / Reuters Recalls Chrysler Dodge Fiat Honda Mercedes-Benz Safety Crossover Minivan/Van Sedan FCA

SAE World Congress: Testing out the Honda UNI-CUB, Walking Assist Device

Based on the downstairs display at the 2015 SAE World Congress in Detroit this week, you would think that Honda is barely an automaker. Instead, it was a company that focuses on robots, bizarre unicycles, motorcycles, and jets. We were not adverse to the car-related tech on display upstairs, but we wanted a closer look at the UNI-CUB and the Walking Assist Device. The UNI-CUB is one of the strangest vehicles we've ever experienced. It feels telepathic, because when you're sitting on it and think you want to go forward, your body naturally leans and then the UNI-CUB starts to move. The UNI part of the name stands for unicycle, but that's kind of a misnomer, since this thing has more than one wheel. First off, there's a tiny wheel for balance at the rear, but the main wheel itself is made up of multiple smaller wheels, which Honda calls the Omni Traction Drive System. This is what lets the UNI-CUB move side to side instead of just frontwards and backwards. The Walking Assist Device is a small setup with motors, leg straps, and a battery pack. The idea is to have the machine help lift up your legs as you walk, with the target audience being people who have had an injury, like a stroke. The WAD sits outside your clothes and can help someone walk for about an hour from a 22.2V-1Ah lithium-ion battery. You can see more in the video above.

2016 Honda Civic will debut on September 16

The press days for the Frankfurt Motor Show are September 15 and 16. On that second day when all the German hubbub has died down, on other side of the Atlantic, Honda will be unveiling the US-spec production Civic in Detroit and Los Angeles. We'll only get to see the interior and exterior of the standard sedan that day; the coupe, five-door hatchback, the Si, and the Type R won't say hello until later. While there could be information on the Civic's new platform, Honda doesn't plan to offer any details on the new engines and powertrains. The sedan will come with a 1.5-liter VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder mated to either a six-speed manual or a CVT. Speedier versions like the Type R will get the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Honda is aiming for a fuel economy rating of at least 40 miles per gallon with the base model. As for what's coming beyond that, we have an idea of what the body will look like from the leaked patent images and the concept shown off in New York earlier this year. Spy shots have shown a new console layout within today's basic instrument panel structure, there'll be a better touchscreen and new infotainment system, driver assistance features like Honda LaneWatch and Honda Sensing, and heated rear seats, while the exterior bodywork has some Accord and Acura ILX influences and available LED headlights. Vowing not to make the mistake of the 2012 Civic, Honda says we'll get "sporty driving dynamics, more daring styling, and significantly improved fit and finish." Related Video: