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Cadillac ELR, Nissan Resonance and Ford Atlas win Eyes on Design awards

This year's annual Eyes on Design awards were presented at the end of press days for the Detroit Auto Show on Tuesday. Given out for the best production and concept car designs that debuted at the show, and voted on by an esteemed panel of actual car designers, this year's award for best production vehicle design went to the 2014 Cadillac ELR. The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, which was the show favorite among Autoblog editors, apparently did not impress the Eyes on Design judges enough with its all-new vent-festooned design.
The award for best concept design was actually split as a tie among the Nissan Resonance and Ford Atlas concepts. Last year's winners were the 2013 Ford Fusion and the Lexus LF-LC concept.
The Eyes on Design organization also presented a new honor this year called the Catalyst Award to Bob Lutz, former Vice Chairman of General Motors. Lutz is reported to have given a defense of design in his acceptance speech, arguing that advancements in quality across the industry as a whole have made good design a key differentiator for buyers.

Datsun Redi-Go is reborn brand's first concept car [w/video]

Nissan's plan for its reborn Datsun sub-brand just got a shot in the arm, as the emerging-market manufacturer has unveiled its first concept car since its resurrection back in 2012. Called the Redi-Go Concept, it looks like a high-riding version of Datsun's recently launched Go hatchback that's been fitted with a few concept car cues (not a bad thing).
The Redi-Go packs LED taillights, Datsun's "D-cut grille" and LED running lights into its Go-inspired body. Funky two-tone 15-inch wheels add a bit of cheek to the overall design, and in our minds look quite good, despite being so small. The ruggedized front and rear bumpers, as well as the sill and wheel arch surrounds add to the Redi-Go's rough-and-tumble aesthetic. We like that Datsun has kept the overall package short, giving the Redi-Go a 92.5-inch wheelbase, rather than creating a lifted version of the upcoming Go+. There are no specific mentions of the Redi-Go's mechanicals, although we'd wager that a production model might share the 1.2-liter engine and five-speed manual found in the standard Go.
While it might be easy to dismiss a concept like the Redi-Go in America, there's no denying its importance to the Indian market, which is decidedly more limited when it comes to available bodystyles. "If we were to make a car like Datsun Redi-Go Concept it would be a segment creator in India, an aspirational car that at the same time is attainable, a car that would be within reach of the first time buyer. This concept shows how serious we are about reinvigorating the market by catering for the needs of a growing class of Indians who have the chance to own a family car that will enable them to enjoy a new sense of independence," said Vincent Cobee, the global head of Datsun.

Nissan recalling 300k Versas, Armadas in two separate campaigns

Nissan is issuing two recalls that affect a total of 300,301 vehicles in the US. By far the larger of the two covers 298,747 examples of the 2012-2015 Versa and 2014-2015 Versa Note. The center console trim panel on these vehicles can catch a driver's shoe when it's moving from the acclerator to the brake. The delay could potentially cause an accident. To fix things dealers will modify the part, and owners will start being notified in mid-October. NHTSA has been investigating this issue since 2014. The agency moved it from a preliminary evaluation into an engineering analysis earlier this year. At that time there was one crash with minor injuries, among the complaints of the problem. The second recall covers 1,554 examples of the 2015 Nissan Armada with manufacturing dates between April 30, 2015, and June 5, 2015. On them the driver and front passenger seatbelts might not latch properly, or they might not unlatch when the button is pressed. Dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the necessary assemblies if necessary, and the campaign will start in early October. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Lower Trim Panel may Impede Pedal Operation , 1 INVESTIGATION(S) Report Receipt Date: AUG 12, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V507000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Potential Number of Units Affected: 298,747 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) NISSAN VERSA 2012-2015 NISSAN VERSA NOTE 2014-2015 Details Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015. The affected vehicles have a center console trim panel that may catch the driver's shoe and delay the transition from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. CONSEQUENCE: A delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by mid-October 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.