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4 automakers agree to $553M settlement of Takata airbag claims

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four automakers agreed to a $553 million settlement to address class-action economic loss claims covering owners of nearly 16 million vehicles with potentially defective Takata airbag inflators, according to court documents filed on Thursday. Toyota's share of the settlement costs is $278.5 million, followed by BMW at $131 million, Mazda at $76 million and Subaru at $68 million. According to a press release from Plaintiffs' Committee for Takata Airbag Product Liability Litigation, the funds for the settlement are aimed at getting more cars with faulty airbags fixed. At the time of writing, Toyota had the greatest recall completion percentage of 31.89 percent followed by Subaru with 31.37 percent. Mazda has completed repairs on 18.16 percent of affected cars, and BMW brings up the rear with 16.48 percent completion. Some settlement funds will go to an outreach campaign to increase awareness, while other funds will be used to reimburse people for any costs accrued to get their cars fixed. These costs can include rental cars, child care, lost wages, or any other reasonable costs associated with bringing in a vehicle for repairs. Furthermore, a customer support program will be funded with settlement money to handle any additional repairs or adjustments that could become necessary in the 75,000 miles following the airbag replacement. Lawsuits against Honda, Ford and Nissan have not been settled, lawyers said. Takata inflators, which can explode with excessive force and unleash metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks, are blamed for at least 16 deaths and more than 180 injuries worldwide. The safety defect has prompted recalls worldwide of about 100 million inflators by more than a dozen major automakers. Reporting by David Shepardson, additional details by Autoblog's Joel StocksdaleRelated Video: Government/Legal BMW Mazda Subaru Toyota

BMW debuts 435i ZHP edition coupe [UPDATE]

Performance enthusiasts enamored of the BMW 4 Series but not quite ready to step up to the M4 will be excited at the arrival of the new ZHP edition. Reviving a code last seen on a package for the E46 series a decade ago, the 2016 BMW 435i ZHP Edition boasts a series of performance upgrades aimed not only at "improved optics and aerodynamics; it is also notably quicker with more precise handling." The special 4 Series packs a series of BMW M Performance accessories to give it a more aggressive attitude, including a new Track Handling Package, M Sport Package, limited slip differential and a range of M Performance parts. The Track Handling Package alone includes 18-inch alloys, M Sport Brakes with four-piston calipers up front and two pistons in the back and incorporates the Active M Suspension with variable dampers and steering. With revised software and a new air intake, the M Performance Engine Kit kicks in an extra 35 horsepower for a total of 335 hp and either 32 more pound-feet (with the automatic transmission) for a total of 332 lb-ft or a 17-lb-ft boost (with the manual) for a total of 317 lb-ft. That's enough to drop 0.2 seconds off the 435i's 0-60 time and 0.5 seconds off the run from 50 miles per hour to 75. BMW also promises better accelerator response and engine note. There's a sport exhaust that sheds 8.8 pounds of weight, a full carbon-fiber aero kit and visual enhancements inside, out and under the hood. The German automaker will only be offering 100 examples of the enhanced coupe starting in July, with pricing to be announced closer to the launch date. UPDATE: Of course, if you miss out on one of these special editions, you can always spec out your own from the M catalog with parts installed at BMW's Vehicle Distribution Center. And, as BMW points out in correspondence with Autoblog, you could even order one up with all-wheel drive and in convertible or four-door Gran Coupe body-styles if that's more your pace. Related Video: BMW UNVEILS THE SPECIAL EDITION BMW 435i ZHP COUPE Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 19, 2015... Paying tribute to the iconic ZHP Performance Package, BMW today released details for a 2016 BMW 435i ZHP Coupe Edition.

BMW i8's three-cylinder sounds like it's shaping up quite nicely

We've run across some rather interesting news... or perhaps we should say interesting sounds. The folks from Bimmerpost have scrounged up a short video showing a preproduction BMW i8 running through a few gears in Sport mode at a quick pace, and if you were concerned that the somewhat eco-friendly nature of the upcoming German sports car would neuter its ability to stir the aural senses, fret not.
Judging by the lovely noise coming from the engine compartment of the i8 in the video, BMW's expertise in tuning high-strung, small-bore engines - remember, BMW Motorrad has quite the penchant for well-conceived motorcycle engines - has come through loud and clear. Now, it's worth mentioning that BMW's controversial Active Sound technology will be included with the i8, so the production car may not sound exactly like this version, which is running with the tech disabled. Owners won't have the ability to disable Active Sound on production i8s.
In related news, Bimmerpost reports that BMW will equip the i8 with an external Active Sound Design system to go along with its Pedestrian Protection System. That means those on the outside will likely hear piped engine recordings from the rear and a sort of "howl" from the front in order to warn pedestrians that the otherwise quiet (when running on electricity, that is) car is approaching. It will also feature technology that can stop the car before contacting a pedestrian.