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Honda audit says Takata manipulated airbag inflator data

Takata is already feeling the pressure of being tied up in the automotive industry's largest recall ever, which affects millions of vehicles worldwide, but an ongoing audit by Honda recently revealed that engineers manipulated airbag inflator test results. According to a report by Reuters, the audit found widespread manipulation of test results, but showed no safety risks for vehicles that were not involved in the recall. The audit, which Honda claims started last October, examined Takata-made airbag inflators and was led by former IIHS president Brian O'Neil. According to Automotive News, O'Neil found that Takata engineers had removed test results to make airbag inflator performance more favorable. In an interview with Automotive News, O'Neil stated that the audit results indicated that engineers selectively edited results to make the reports, which were given to Honda, shorter and prettier from the supplier's standpoint. So far, the automaker has received preliminary information from the first phase of the audit, with Honda and US regulators getting a full report later this week. There's no word on how much Takata will have to pay to fix the faulty airbag inflators, but some automakers have decided to drop the supplier for another source. The New York Times also reports that Takata CEO Shigehisa Takada would be stepping down after the company becomes stable. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Automotive News-sub.req., Reuters, The New York TimesImage Credit: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Government/Legal Recalls Honda Safety Takata airbag recall

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid [w/video]

Delivering On Promises
The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid should surprise no one. Its look is something we've seen since the non-hybrid versions went on sale last year. Its powertrain, mostly, we are familiar with from the already-on-sale Accord Plug-In model. And the overall vibe of the car? Well, it's an Accord, which has been a strong seller in the US for three decades, so much so that there's a very good chance you've been in one at some point, whether you noticed or not.
Honda's first attempt at an Accord Hybrid, released in 2005, put dynamic performance first, but it didn't match the public's maturing perception of what a hybrid is all about: fuel economy. The 2005 version was capable of a measly 28 miles per gallon combined, 25 in the city and 33 on the highway. Remember those numbers, and that the first-generation Accord Hybrid lasted all of three model years before being axed.

This is what Honda's new F1 engine will sound like

It appears that not even the legendary pairing of McLaren and Honda can produce a 2015-regulation Formula One engine that sounds as good as the current V8s. Much like Mercedes-AMG Petronas, McLaren Honda have released a clip of their turbocharged, 1.6-liter V6 ahead of next season, and well, at least to our ears, it's not the sweetest of singers.
We've reported on concerns that the new engines wouldn't sound "right," after years of the high-revving V8s and V10s. The more we're hearing of these new engines, the more reasonable those worries seem. That said, we'll need to wait until we really hear these cars driven in anger to render a final verdict.
Scroll down to view the official press release from Honda and to hear what the future McLaren Honda will sound like when it hits the grid in 2015. For comparison, we've also included some on-board footage of Jenson Button's McLaren's V8 from last season.