2003 - Mitsubishi - Montero on 2040-cars

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Even Ferrari swept up in latest Takata recall expansion

The scope of Takata's deadly airbag problems continues to widen. Eight manufacturers announced recalls Friday that affect more than 12 million vehicles, according to documents filed with federal regulators. The automakers include Honda, which is recalling 4.5 million units, Fiat Chrysler with 4.3 million, Toyota with 1.65 million, and Subaru, which is recalling almost 400,000. Some of these cars include the Saab 9-2x and Pontiac Vibe that Toyota and Subaru made for General Motors. Mazda will recall 730,000 vehicles and Nissan has 400,000 affected units. The smallest numbers were posted by Mitsubishi, with 38,000 Lancers manufactured from 2006 to 2007, and as a noteworthy high-end manufacturer, Ferrari is calling back 2,800 vehicles. These are all US-market cars. Beyond America, the Japanese Transport Ministry has announced seven million additional vehicles will be recalled, which means 19.6 million vehicles across the globe are affected by recalls announced. The defects have been traced to an insufficiently manufactured airbag inflator, which lacks a drying agent that would prevent the inflators from deteriorating over time. Thirteen deaths have been linked to the faulty airbags, which have become unstable and are prone to exploding and showering vehicle occupants with lethal amounts of metal shrapnel. A private equity firm, KKR & Co., has been named in a possible buyout of the struggling Takata. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Recalls Ferrari Honda Mazda Automakers Mitsubishi Nissan Pontiac Subaru Toyota Saab Safety

Elon Musk: Teslas will already know where we’re going

In the future, cars will drive us. And probably not surprisingly, they'll often know where to go without us even needing to tell them. That's the theme of a short back-and-forth conversation on Twitter recently between Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk and a user who tagged him in a comment suggesting that "it would be cool" to be able to tell a car where to go. Responding to user James Harvey, Musk replied, "It won't even need to ask you most of the time." Later, after Harvey asked how the car would know where he wants to go, another user suggested that the car would know what time you go to work. "Yeah, don't exactly need to be Sherlock Holmes," Musk tweeted. It won't even need to ask you most of the time — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2017 Yeah, don't exactly need to be Sherlock Holmes. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2017 That the ability to know where we're going will be part of our future driving experience shouldn't be surprising. After all, the smartphones we carry around already possess the ability to predict what we want — think Google's cleverness in tailoring search results or providing traffic information just before your commute, Facebook's highly customized News Feed content or even auto-fill technology, which can predict the words you're typing. And plenty of automakers have been touting their own work in developing in-car artificial intelligence systems. Like Audi's Elaine concept, which will be able to learn, think and even empathize with drivers. Or Mitsubishi's e-Evolution concept, which can not only assist your driving, but also assess your skills and teach you how to improve them. Tesla's vehicles, of course, are being outfitted with all the latest autonomous driver-assist technology, with the automaker eager to one day reach full Level 5 self-driving capability. According to Inc., Teslas will be able to listen and respond to directional commands, and they'll even have access to your calendar to comb for information about where you need to go. Tesla has also said it's developing an update to its Autopilot hardware and remains on track to achieve full Level 5 autonomous driving by the end of this year, which strikes a lot of people as wildly unrealistic. At any rate, the promise of cars knowing what time we're sneaking out to get donuts or picking up the kids is interesting, coming from the man who has warned that AI presents "a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization."Related Video:

Mitsubishi is auctioning its entire UK heritage fleet with no reserve

Mitsubishi will exit the United Kingdom in the fall of 2021 after struggling for several years, and its losses can be your gain. Before it leaves, it will auction its fleet of 14 beautifully-preserved classic models with no reserve. There are 14 classics that need a new home, and the collection includes something for everyone. Enthusiasts can bid on a 1974 Lancer 1400 that stands out as the first Mitsubishi ever registered in the United Kingdom. It was displayed at the 1974 edition of the British Motor Show, and it's bid to 15,000 pounds (around $20,800) as of writing. Another 47-year-old classic is a Colt Galant 2.0 imported to the United Kingdom in the spring of 1974 and used as a demonstrator to recruit dealers. It's currently sitting at 5,000 pounds, which represents about $7,000. For something quicker, there are several versions of the Lancer Evolution to choose from. One is a 2001 model signed by pilot Tommi Makinen. Another is a 2015 FQ-440 MR, a limited-edition model built in 40 examples to send off the nameplate. There is also a 2008 Evo, and a 2007 model built to Group N rally specifications. It competed in the British Rally Championship in 2007 and 2008. Alternatively, a Galant-based rally car is up for grabs, too. Coupes are relatively well represented, with a 1988 Starion whose engine was recently overhauled, and a 1992 3000GT. Performance is only one part of the Mitsubishi story, however; off-roading is another, and there are several SUVs to choose from. Mitsubishi is selling a 1987 short-wheelbase Shogun, which was sold as the Montero in the United States, a 2000 Shogun, and an L200 Desert Warrior pickup. Our favorite of the lot is a 1983 Jeep J27, which, as its name implies, was produced under license from Willys. It was given a full restoration in the 2000s. Mitsubishi is also selling a 7/10-scale replica of the Model A. Finally, it's letting go of numerous personalized plates, and it's parting with a 2015 Outlander finished in Glacier Blue and showing approximately 1,800 miles. Bidding started on April 1, 2021, and each auction is scheduled to end on April 30, 2021. If you want to bag one of Mitsubishi's classics, visit the Auto Auction website to place a bid and keep your fingers crossed. The collection is located in England, but many of the cars are old enough to be imported to America and registered in most states.