2014 Honda Pilot Touring on 2040-cars

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VW Finds CO2 'Irregularites', SEMA Recap, and More | Autoblog Minute

Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal gets a new wrinkle, US regulators hit Takata Corporation with a substantial fine, and we head to Vegas for a look at tuner paradise at the 2015 SEMA show. Autoblog Senior Editor Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Acura Chevrolet Honda Mazda Mitsubishi Toyota Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video Acura Legend

Racy, mysterious Honda spied in Spain

The next-gen Honda Civic five-door has been spotted near the IDIADA Proving Grounds in Spain, and Pistonudos was able to snap several photos of it covered in camouflage there. However, compared to the last spy shots we saw of this body, there have been some odd changes made for the latest test car. In front, the grille still wears a similar look to the pre-refresh Acura ILX like in the last photos. Although, this version might be a bit closer to production because as in the patent drawings, the air dam now sports three lower intakes. In profile, this Civic is largely the same as the earlier shots too, but now you get a better look at the tail's shape. The big, lightweight wheels and small brake discs are certainly odd on this example, though. The rear is where things get really strange because of the three exhaust pipes right in the middle of the bumper. Making things even weirder, the center one has a smaller diameter than the others. Because the Honda Civic Concept used a single, center-mounted setup, perhaps this is a way to test that design. Taken in total, this Civic test car is a head-scratcher. The bizarre exhaust layout and big wheels suggest a performance version, but the rest of the design doesn't look aggressive enough. One possible explanation is that Honda is testing a few components for the next Civic SI here. That would explain why some bits look racy but not the whole car. Related Video:

Takata airbags were adopted in late 1990s to save a few dollars per vehicle

According to a new report from The New York Times, General Motors started using airbags supplied by Takata in the late 1990s as a cost-saving measure even after receiving warnings about their safety. Takata's airbag modules were reportedly 30-percent cheaper than its competitors' offerings. GM approached Autoliv, which until that time had been its main airbag supplier, to see if it could offer a competitively priced alternative to Takata. Autoliv tested Takata's airbag inflator and found that it was unsafe, according to scientists who worked for the supplier at the time. Chris Hock, who until recently still worked for Autoliv, said the inflator "turned it into shrapnel" when tested. GM was subsequently warned by Autoliv that Takata's ammonium nitrate inflators were potentially dangerous. Still, "General Motors told us they were going to buy Takata's inflaters unless we could make a cheaper one," said Linda Rink, who served as a senior scientist at Autoliv at the time. A spokesperson for General Motors told The Times that it would be inappropriate to comment on discussions that "occurred two decades ago between Old GM and a supplier." So far, no Takata-supplied airbags have ruptured in an accident, and GM was far from the only automaker to make a switch to Takata airbags in order to save money. A total of 64 million airbags have so far been recalled from nearly every automaker selling vehicles in America. A spokesperson from Honda said in a statement to The Times that "There was no industry understanding in the late 1990s" that ammonium nitrate airbag inflators were risky. The majority of deaths linked to Takata airbags were in vehicles built by Honda. Takata still produces airbag inflators that use an ammonium nitrate compound, despite the devices being blamed for at least 14 deaths. Click here for NHTSA's dedicated site on open Takata recalls. Related Video: News Source: The New York TimesImage Credit: Joe Skipper / Reuters Government/Legal Recalls GM Honda Safety autoliv