2008 Honda Civic Dx Coupe Interior on 2040-cars

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Takata doubling production of replacement airbag inflators

Takata is scrambling to fill the massive backlog of orders for replacement airbag inflators, announcing that a recently completed pair of production lines are only the beginning of a production ramp up. The company has kicked up the pace on the two new production lines at its Monclova, Mexico factory, increasing the plant's production from 300,000 to 450,000 units per month. As AN reports, though, even at that pace, it'd take Takata years to produce enough replacements for the 25 million recalled vehicles. A spokesperson confirmed to AN that, globally, Takata will be producing 900,000 replacement airbag inflators by September. Even at that pace, it'd still take around two years to provide a new inflator for every affected vehicle. That's why other companies, perhaps smelling blood in the water, are providing their own replacements for the faulty inflators. We've already reported on Honda's plans to team with the world's largest airbag producer, Autoliv. Now, though, AN has confirmed that the Swedish supplier is in negotiations to provide millions of additional replacement inflators to other automakers affected by the Takata recall. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Carlos Osorio / AP Aftermarket Recalls Honda Safety Takata airbag recall autoliv

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 25k Fits over grab handle, airbag issue

Honda has issued another recall for the Fit. Only this time, it comes down to a very specific issue arising in a limited cross-section of production. The recall affects over 25,000 units in the United States alone. This problem results from the bracket affixing the rear grab handle, which was apparently manufactured incorrectly. As a result, the bracket may puncture the side curtain airbag as it deploys. That's bad news, so Honda is recalling the affected vehicles to have that bracket replaced. According to the manufacturer, the issue was discovered during its own internal testing procedures, and not because of any reported incidents. The problem only affects Fit hatchbacks from the 2015 and 2016 model years, manufactured between April 11, 2014, and July 2, 2015. Even within those confines, however, the recall is limited only to those in LX trim level and not equipped with a sunroof. That amounts to an estimated 25,367 units in the US - less than a third of the 84,000+ units American Honda sold in the same fifteen-month period. This is the third recall that has affected the Fit in as many months. Last month saw 143,000 units of the Fit and Civic recalled over a transmission issue. In September, the Japanese automaker called in another 18k Fits over a problem with their ignition coils. RECALL Subject : Improper Rear Grab Rail Bracket/FMVSS 214/226 Report Receipt Date: OCT 23, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V697000 Component(s): AIR BAGS , STRUCTURE Potential Number of Units Affected: 25,367 Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) SUMMARY: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Fit LX-trim vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014, to July 02, 2015 and not equipped with a sunroof. In the affected vehicles, the rear grab handle brackets were not manufactured properly, and as a result, the brackets may puncture the side curtain air bags upon their deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection" and number 226, "Ejection Mitigation". CONSEQUENCE: If the side curtain air bags are punctured upon deployment, the outboard seat occupants may be at a higher risk of injury during a crash. REMEDY: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear grab handle bracket, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV8.