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Star Trek actor's death may be linked to Jeep shifter issue

The tragic death of Anton Yelchin on Sunday may have resulted from a known design flaw with his Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 27-year-old actor, best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the latest Star Trek movies, was reportedly crushed when his vehicle rolled backwards down the driveway in front of his house, pinning him against a brick pillar and metal gate. The 2014-15 Grand Cherokee was one of three models (alongside the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans) that Fiat Chrysler recalled this past April due to roll-away risk. The vehicle was equipped with an unintuitive "e-shifter" that didn't deliver the usual tactile response of being shifted into position, leading to numerous drivers exiting the vehicle mistakenly thinking that it was in Park. The problem was reported to have resulted in 41 injuries – and now possibly Yelchin's death as well. The manufacturer stated at the time of the recall that "the vehicles involved in these events were inspected and no evidence of equipment failure was found." It determined that while the vehicle warned occupants if the driver's-side door was opened while the engine was running and the transmission not in the Park position, such measures may have been insufficient. Its remedy for the problem involved updating the vehicle software to better warn drivers in such an event, and changing the design for subsequent models. "Regarding the recall," an FCA spokesman told Autoblog, "I can confirm notices were mailed to affected customers. Included in those notices were tip sheets describing proper operation of the shifter. This supplemental information echoes the instructions in the owner's manual." Yelchin was born March 11, 1989, in St. Petersburg, Russia. His parents were a figure-skating pair, and defected to the United States when Anton was just six months old. In the prime of his career, Yelchin had several films currently in development, including Star Trek Beyond, set to reach theaters next month. His body was reportedly discovered by friends when he didn't show up for rehearsal. Related Video:

8 cars we're most looking forward to driving in 2015

Now that 2014 is officially in the books, it's time to look ahead. And following our list of the cars we liked best last year, we're now setting our sights at the hot new metal that's coming our way in 2015. Some of these, we've already seen. And some are still set to debut during the 2015 auto show season. But these are the machines that keep us going – the things on the horizon that we're particularly stoked to drive, and drive hard. Jeep Renegade Not the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Not the Ford Mustang GT350. Not the new John Cooper Works Mini. Nope, I'm looking forward to the adorable, trail-rated Jeep Renegade. And that's because I really, really, really like our long-term Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. I do not, however, care too much for the Cherokee's looks, and I really don't like its $38,059 price tag. The Renegade Trailhawk, meanwhile, promises much of the same rough-and-tumble character as its big brother, but at what we expect will be a more reasonable price (I'm personally wagering on the baby Jeep's off-road model starting at no more than $23,000). With a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a nine-speed automatic, it should also be a bit easier to fill than the V6-powered Cherokee. Also, I can't help but love the way the Renegade looks. It's like someone took a Wrangler, squished it by 50 percent and then handed it off to George Clinton for a healthy dose of funk. The interior, with its bright, expressive trims and color schemes should also be a really nice place to spend some time. I'll be attending the Renegade's launch later this month, so I'll have a much shorter wait than my colleagues. Here's hoping the baby Jeep lives up to my expectations. – Brandon Turkus Associate Editor Mazda MX-5 Miata Here's an uncomfortable truth: I'd rather spend a day driving a properly sorted Mazda MX-5 Miata of any generation on a winding road than I would nearly any other vehicle, regardless of power, price or prestige. It's not just that I prize top-down driving and enjoy the Miata's small size because it gives me more road to play with. I just find there's more motoring joy to be had with high-fidelity handling and an uncorrupted car-to-driver communication loop than I do with face-distorting power or grip – let alone valet-stand gravitas. But perhaps most of all, I love Miatas because they can deliver that level of feedback and driver reward at modest speeds that won't put the locals on edge or endanger lives – you can use more of the car more of the time.

Jeep Wrangler to remain in Toledo, get a pickup version

Production of the Jeep Wrangler is staying in Toledo, OH, and it might be getting a pickup in the near future, according to Automotive News. Meanwhile, Cherokee production is leaving Ohio. The announcement was reportedly made to plant management earlier today. "We found a solution that accommodates a variety of other interests to us because of the way in which we can move some product around," CEO Sergio Marchionne said to Automotive News. A Jeep spokesman declined to comment to Autoblog. Right now the official details about FCA's production plans are still hazy. However, an official announcement is expected when the automaker has a deal with the UAW, which could be by Sept. 14. According to insiders speaking to AN, the Wrangler pickup would join the lineup in 2017 or 2018. While losing the Cherokee doesn't help the Toledo factory, the new pickup should take up some of the slack. It also keeps Wrangler production going in Ohio until the next-generation model launches in 2018. The Cherokee is expected to move to the Sterling Heights Assembly plant in Michigan or Belvidere Assembly in Illinois because they build vehicles on the same platform, AN reports. The future of Wrangler production has been a hot topic at the Toledo plant for the entire year. There was initial speculation that model might leave the factory if it moved to an aluminum body. However, the latest reports offered some hope of the Jeep remaining there. Last week, Autoblog's sources at FCA also said that the Wrangler pickup was coming but couldn't confirm a timeframe. Related Video: