2015-2016 Volkswagen Air-Conditioning Issue

The problem: Affected vehicles may exhibit a condition where the air conditioning does not cool or the cooling is weak, or the compressor exhibits a groaning or grinding sound; either condition may be intermittent. This may be due to a faulty air-conditioning compressor regulator valve.

Vehicles affected by this service bulletin:

• 2015 Volkswagen Golf
• 2016 Volkswagen Golf
• 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI
• 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI
• 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen
• 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

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Corrective action: Dealers will diagnose the condition, and if confirmed, replace the air-conditioning compressor regulator valve and recharge the system.

Warranty info: This service bulletin is being performed free of charge under the Volkswagen new-vehicle or extended warranty, whichever applies.

What owners should do: Call your local dealer with your vehicle's identification number to determine if your vehicle is involved in this service bulletin. Call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hotline at 888-327-4236. Reference TSB No. 8715-18.

Need to find a dealer for service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find a local dealer.

Editor's note: This is only one of dozens of service bulletins issued each month by automakers. Please check your automaker's website to see if your vehicle has any service bulletins pending.

Check for recalls here on Cars.com.

 

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Viral Tweet Sparks Debate About Rescuing Pets in Hot Cars

A viral tweet has ignited an important debate about dogs being left in hot cars. Should bystanders break the window and rescue the dog? Or keep walking?

In this particular tweet, a passerby found a dog alone in a parked car. The dog’s owner, however, left a sign hanging from the driver’s side window assuring people that his or her dog is OK.  “Please don’t break the window,” the sign read. “The A/C is on. He has water and is listening to his favorite music.” The dog appears to be comfortable, sitting upright in the passenger seat.

http://pic.twitter.com/SWfBFOhM6S

— fee (@fioses) May 28, 2016

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for hundreds of dogs who suffer heatstroke or die in hot cars every year. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), a car’s interior can become excessively hot, even when the outside temperature is relatively comfortable. The AVMA says that when the outside temperature is a relatively comfortable 75 degrees, the vehicle’s interior temperature could reach 94 degrees in 10 minutes, increasing to a sweltering 118 degrees after an hour.

Making the issue more difficult is the fact that in many states, breaking the window to rescue the dog is considered illegal. Lawmakers in California, however, want to change that and are attempting to pass legislation (bill AB 797) allowing bystanders to do whatever it takes to rescue pets from hot vehicles without repercussions. The bill states the rescuer must first call 911 and tell first responders there’s no other reasonable option to rescue the pet. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Michigan are pushing for a law that would bring felony charges to anyone who leaves their pets in hot cars.

Did the pet owner in the tweet do the right thing by leaving their dog in the car with the A/C running? And should pet owners be charged with a felony for leaving dogs in hot cars? Sound off in the comments.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, American Veterinary Medical Association, MLive

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Ferrari’s Newest One-Off is the 458 MM Speciale

If you have run out of private islands to purchase, and need a new outlet to dispose of a substantial amount of cash, you might want to get in touch with Ferrari’s Special Projects department. Ferrari prides itself on catering to the every whim of buyers who are interested in creating a one-off car, usually designed to their exacting tastes. Sometimes, the design of these specialty cars come off as bulky, disjointed, and incohesive, a result of too many ideas applied to a small canvas. Ferrari’s newest one-off commission, however, is quite the looker.

Based on the bones of a Ferrari 458 Speciale, the so-called 458 MM Speciale sports spectacular new bodywork and a drastically new profile. According to Ferrari, the customer desired a “visor” style front windshield. Ferrari obliged by painting the A-pillar black, creating a wraparound-style visual.

Compared to the standard 458 Speciale, the MM sports lengthened bodywork, created from aluminum and carbon fiber. Changes extend to redesigned front and rear bumpers, along with modifications made to the roofline and side intakes mounted to the immediate rear of the doors. In short, the owner created his or her very own Ferrari version of the popular McLaren 675LT, a supercar that serves as a lengthened and aerodynamically changed McLaren 650S.

The car rides on a set of all-new wheels, designed specifically for the MM. Inside, the moneyed owner specified an uprated audio system, and “trim definition,” including satin white rings around controls on the center console tunnel.

Ferrari did not mention any mechanical modifications, so the 458 MM Speciale should feature the same naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V-8 engine, pushing out 597 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. This prodigious power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Want one? Well, it’s a one-off creation, and it’s likely to remain that way. That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be able to have Ferrari create a special car of your own, however. You just have to break out the big bucks to make that happen.

Source: Ferrari

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We Hear: Next-Gen Dodge Charger to Cut Weight, Offer Twin-Turbo I-4

The next-generation Dodge Charger could lose nearly 500 pounds and be available with a 300-hp twin-turbo I-4, according to a new report from Automotive News. FCA will move the Charger from its current Mercedes-Benz-based platform to an extended version of the Giorgio platform that made its debut beneath the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia, meaning the next-generation model will be slightly shorter in length.

AN’s sources also revealed that engineers and designers are working to cut the next-generation Charger’s weight down to about 3,500 pounds and that the twin-turbo I-4 could be the same unit that’s under development for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler. Before the next-generation Charger comes, however, the current model will receive another refresh for the 2019 model year while the new model is expected to start rolling off the production line at FCA’s Brampton, Ontario, plant in Canada early in the next decade.

During a private show for dealers  last August in Las Vegas, FCA showed an early prototype of the next-generation Dodge Charger along with a revival of the Barracuda, which is rumored to be a convertible. According to dealers who attended, the car was reminiscent of the 1999 Charger Concept penned by former Chrysler design chief Tom Gale.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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Is Your City's Commute Among the Worst in the U.S.?

CARS.COM — It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — especially, in the latter case when it came to travel times in 2015. As the economy continues to grow and gas prices continue to stay reasonable, traffic congestion last year increased like the dickens.

Related: Study: Car Sharing, Technology Will Drive the Future

According to the 2015 Traffic Scorecard from the urban-mobility data specialists at Kirkland, Wash.-based INRIX, American commuters spent an average of 50 hours in traffic in 2015 for a total of more than 8 billion hours — the most of any nation in the world. The U.S. cities impacted worst by traffic also tended to have the greatest economic growth and lowest unemployment.

"Urbanization continues to drive increased congestion in many major cities worldwide," INRIX said in a statement. "Strong economies, population growth, higher employment rates and declining gas prices have resulted in more drivers on the road — and more time wasted in traffic."

The U.S. lays claim to half of the top 10 metropolitan areas with the worst traffic congestion, according to how many hours per year commuters waste on the road. Drivers in Los Angeles spend more than two 40-hour workweeks staring at taillights. Motorists in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco weren't far behind.

The top 10 worst U.S. cities for commuters in 2015, followed by the number of hours burned in bumper-to-bumper, were:

10. Honolulu, 49 hours

9. Atlanta, 59 hours

8. Chicago, 60 hours

7. Boston, 64 hours

6. Seattle, 66 hours

5. New York, 73 hours

4. Houston, 74 hours

3. San Francisco, 75 hours

2. Washington, D.C., 75 hours

1. Los Angeles, 81 hours

Angelenos also have the unfortunate honor of being home to nearly half of the top 10 most-congested roads in the world; drivers on those roads lose an average of 110 hours a year in traffic. Still, in terms of per-driver hours wasted annually among cities worldwide, London ranked No. 1 with 101 hours — the first time a metro area has breached the 100-hour threshold, INRIX stated.

Taken as a whole, the U.S. traffic-congestion problem is a far bigger deal than just missed TV shows and late preschool pickups. Its impact is far-reaching, and eventually could reach crippling levels. A recent study by management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. showed that the global car count of 1.2 billion is projected to double by 2030, exceeding the existing capacity of the already-taxed urban infrastructure.

"Challenges of urban mobility can lead to reduced productivity, higher emissions and increased stress levels," INRIX stated. "While not all cities experienced increased congestion in 2015, the impact of traffic is felt worldwide, leading governments and agencies to seek better solutions for city planning and infrastructure improvements."

Among those solutions, INRIX said, should be the application of big data to create "intelligent transportation systems" that use info-based decisions to prioritize where public spending will have the greatest impact on congestion. One such effort, by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is the Smart City Challenge, which awarded $100,000 to cities that came up with winning data-driven urban planning strategies. INRIX pointed to its own annual Traffic Scorecard as an information benchmark to help guide future decisions.

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Single Women Are Driving Demand for SUVs, Report Says

Small crossovers are quickly gaining favor among consumers, and according to new data, single women are playing a pivotal role in the success of these vehicles.

Mainstream small SUV sales to women rose 34 percent between 2010 and 2015, according to data from research company MaritzCX. Compare that to a 22-percent increase in small SUV sales to men during the same time period. Meanwhile, sales of premium small SUVs grew a whopping 177 percent among women.

Single women in particular are driving growth in the segment and are buying more SUVs. Among all female car buyers, an estimated 40 percent are not married. “Increasing income and education as well as a general delay in marriage and child-bearing combine to create a growing number of single women buying cars,” James Mulcrone, director of research services in MaritzCX’s Michigan office, told Bloomberg.

Single or not, it’s clear that women are making purchasing decisions for themselves and their families. More than two-thirds of female buyers who bought a vehicle in 2015 reported their purchase was “entirely up to me.” In 2016, about a quarter of women vehicle buyers are projected to select a non-premium small SUV.

Read the full report from Bloomberg here.

Source: Bloomberg

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Dashcam Video of Flipping Rally Car is Like an Out-of-Body Experience

Rally driving, like all forms of motorsport, has its risks. Having less than ideal traction and hard, woody objects lining the road amplifies those risks, and oftentimes leads to scary, spectacular crashes. This dashcam video from a Skoda 130LR offers a rare view of such a crash – shot from beneath as the rally car tumbles through the air.

You’re probably wondering how that’s possible. In an unusual twist, the dashcam is ejected from the car mid-roll and lands facing up in just the right position to give us the unique vantage point. The crash occurred at the 2016 Podbrdská Rally Legend in the Czech Republic. Everything starts out normal as the rear-engine, rear-drive car hustles through the gravel stage, but something causes the Skoda to leave the road and head into the grass. It narrowly misses a tree as it rolls in midair, ultimately landing on the passenger front fender and continuing to bounce off the ground. It’s at this point that the camera leaves the cockpit and confusingly places the viewer outside. It’s a surreal transition, kind of reminiscent of an out-of-body experience, as we see the car we were just riding in flipping over us in slow-mo.

Thankfully, the team piloting the Skoda was unharmed. Check out the video below to see a rally car crash from both inside and outside the vehicle.

Source: Denis Fefko via YouTube

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Toyota Halts Production due to Explosion at a Supplier’s Factory

Toyota today was forced to stop production at plants throughout Japan due to an explosion at a supplier’s facility.

Aisin Advics Co., one of Toyota’s largest suppliers, said yesterday that its facility producing brake components experienced an explosion large enough to halt production. Reuters reports four people went to the hospital while another employee was seriously hurt. Aisin Advics Co. is still investing the explosion so it’s unknown when the facility will be operational again.

The incident has forced Toyota to halt production at a number of plants in Japan. A spokesperson told Reuters Toyota hopes “to have production up and running in the next day or two.” It’s unknown what models are affected and if any are allocated for the U.S.

One of the affected plants includes the Takaoka facility. The Takaoka plant currently produces the Toyota Corolla, RAV4, Auris (Corolla iM in the U.S.), Harrier, and Prius. Also affected is the Motomachi plant, which includes production of the Toyota Crown, Mirai, and Lexus GS.

Toyota is still recovering from production stoppages caused by major earthquakes that occurred in southern Japan last month. The stoppages affected many models exported to the U.S. including the Toyota Mirai and the entire Lexus lineup. Those production cancellations caused Toyota’s Japanese production to drop 17-percent in April to 258,387 units.

Source: Toyota, Reuters

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We Hear: Volkswagen Mulling Gigafactory-Like Battery Plant

According to German newspaper Handelsblatt, Volkswagen will expand its electric vehicle portfolio and is considering building a multi-billion-euro battery factory, much like Tesla’s Gigafactory. This will not only draw the public away from the diesel scandal, VW hopes, but allow the automaker to work independently from companies like Samsung and LG that have dominated the battery market.

Currently, VW chief Matthias Müller and his team are putting together a strategy to sell 1 million electric vehicles in the next 10 years. The supervisory board will vote on the plan on June 22 during the company’s annual meeting. We previously reported that the EPA may ask VW to build a certain number of EVs at its Chattanooga, Tenn., plant as penance for its emissions cheating.

An insider familiar with the new plan spoke with Handelsblatt, saying, “We want to launch a major initiative, one that will put us at the top of the industry.” The German paper says the company’s board is likely to approve the plan to build the battery factory. This initiative also has the support of the works council and the state of Lower Saxony, a major shareholder.

By focusing more on electric vehicle technology, VW hopes to improve its image after the infamous “Dieselgate” scandal where the company cheated emissions tests. It’s unclear if VW’s battery plant would match the scale of Tesla’s Gigafactory, which is said to cover 5.8 million sq-ft when completed and supply enough battery packs to support production of 500,000 cars a year at the company’s Fremont, Calif., plant by 2018.

Source: Handelsblatt

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Report: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Will Take On Porsche Macan, Jaguar F-Pace

Alfa Romeo is readying its first-ever SUV, slated for 2017 wearing the Stelvio name, which is inspired by the famous Stelvio Pass. The car will share engines and underpinnings with the upcoming Giulia sports sedan that will take on established rivals such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. On the other hand, a new report from Autocar indicates that the Stelvio has the Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-Pace in its sights and that engineers have been given the go-ahead to challenge it.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio will prioritize on-road performance to differentiate it from FCA stablemate Jeep, which specializes in off-road prowess. Under the hood, the high-performance Stelvio is expected to receive the same 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 that produces 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque in the Giulia Quadrifoglio. However, the horsepower and torque numbers may not carry over to the Stelvio because it may be tuned for more torque in the SUV, which could mean the most powerful variant of the Stelvio may not wear a Quadrifoglio badge. Autocar also states that the range-topping Stelvio my only be offered in rear-drive configuration and eschew all-wheel drive to save weight and improve the car’s agility.

In addition to the Macan, Alfa Romeo is also said to be benchmarking the Jaguar F-Pace. Insiders revealed that the Porsche is the performance benchmark for the Stelvio while the positive first reviews of the F-Pace have forced Alfa’s development to also consider the Jaguar as another prime competitor when it comes to handling. Ferrari’s former technical director, Roberto Fideli, is currently overseeing the development of the Stelvio after returning to FCA as chief technical officer from BMW M. Fideli is credited with overseeing the engineering of Ferrari vehicles from 2007 to 2014, which include the LaFerrari, F12 Berlinetta, and the 458 Italia.

In terms of exterior design, the Stelvio should take cues from current Alfa Romeo vehicles, particularly the Giulia. The SUV is expected to debut sometime in late 2016 or early 2017 at the Los Angeles or Detroit auto shows and is the first of three crossovers that Alfa Romeo is expected to have in its lineup.

Alfa Romeo Kamal Concept pictured above.

Source: Autocar

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Recall Alert: 2015 Toyota Yaris

CARS.COM

Vehicles Affected: Approximately 3,100 model-year 2015 Toyota Yaris hatchbacks

The Problem: A front upper shock assembly bearing could be damaged, causing abnormal noises while driving on rough road surfaces or turning the steering wheel. If the vehicle continues to be operated in this condition, a front shock absorber piston rod could separate, causing a loss of vehicle stability and increasing the risk of a crash.

The Fix: Dealers will replace the strut mounting bearings with improved ones. If a strut mounting bearing is found to be damaged, the dealer will replace the strut and front suspension support sub-assembly with a new one.

What Owners Should Do: The automaker did not immediately announce an owner-notification schedule. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov, for more info.

Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.

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Four Things a 2009 Volvo XC90 Owner Would Change With the 2016 Model

Recall Alert: 2015 Toyota Yaris

CARS.COM

Vehicles Affected: Approximately 3,100 model-year 2015 Toyota Yaris hatchbacks

The Problem: A front upper shock assembly bearing could be damaged, causing abnormal noises while driving on rough road surfaces or turning the steering wheel. If the vehicle continues to be operated in this condition, a front shock absorber piston rod could separate, causing a loss of vehicle stability and increasing the risk of a crash.

The Fix: Dealers will replace the strut mounting bearings with improved ones. If a strut mounting bearing is found to be damaged, the dealer will replace the strut and front suspension support sub-assembly with a new one.

What Owners Should Do: The automaker did not immediately announce an owner-notification schedule. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov, for more info.

Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.

More Recalls

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Four Things a 2009 Volvo XC90 Owner Would Change With the 2016 Model

VW Group Reports Large Drop in Profit for Namesake Brand

Volkswagen Group reported that its sales revenue fell 3.4 percent during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Operating profit climbed to 3.4 billion euros (roughly $3.8 billion), up from 3.3 billion euros achieved during the same time period last year.

This first quarter operating profit contained a number of special items, including currency-related adjustments on the provisions VW had already created to pay for the diesel scandal. If it weren’t for these special items, VW says, operating profit would have declined slightly to 3.1 billion euros (roughly $3.5 billion).

Perhaps the biggest news is that VW’s namesake brand suffered dramatically during the quarter. Its operating profit, before special items, fell from 514 million euros to just 73 million euros (which is roughly $81 million). Sales revenue and volume remained down.

Audi’s profit before special items declined from 1.4 billion euros to 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion), and VW Group attributes this drop to exchange rates, spending on new products and technologies, and investments in the automaker’s international production network. Bentley recorded a sharp loss of 54 million euros ($60 million) due to slow sales. That’s a huge drop from the 49 million euros in profit it recorded a year ago.

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. Porsche performed quite well, recording a healthy bump in operating profit from 765 million euros to 895 million euros ($997 million). SEAT, a Spanish automobile manufacturer owned by VW Group, is “on the path to long-term profitability” with profit rising from 33 million euros to 54 million euros. Czech automobile manufacturer Skoda saw its profit rise by just over 30 percent to 315 million euros ($351 million).

Despite the mixed results, VW isn’t getting down on itself. The auto giant declares 2016 will be a “transitional year” for the company.

“In light of the wide range of challenges we are currently facing, we are satisfied overall with the start we have made to what will undoubtedly be a demanding fiscal year 2016. In the first quarter, we once again managed to limit the economic effects of the diesel issue and achieve respectable results under difficult conditions,” VW Group boss Matthias Muller said in a statement.

Meanwhile, VW is still working out the details of its post-scandal recovery plan. In its initial settlement plan, VW has agreed to buy back as many as 482,000 cars in the U.S. equipped with 2.0-liter diesel engines.

Source: VW Group

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BMW Celebrates 30 Years of the M3 With Two Special Editions

BMW revealed four special-edition models that include two M3s, an i8, and an M6. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the legendary M3, the Bavarian automaker has revealed two special editions, the “30 Years M3” and U.K.-exclusive M3 30 Jahre, which will be limited to 30 units.

The M3 “30 Years M3” will be limited to 500 cars worldwide and will come exclusively in Macao Blue metallic, a tribute to the original first-generation E30 M3. Other unique features include the standard Competition package, which raises the output of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 to a heady 450 hp and adds go-fast goodies like an adaptive suspension, M Sport seats, a “30 Years M3” logo on the front doorsills and in the front seat head rests, full Merino leather interior in Black/Fjord Blue or Black/Silverstone, and forged 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels. Both six-speed manual and seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmissions will be available.

Like the M3 “30 Years M3,” the U.K.-exclusive M3 30 Jahre also receives the Competition package, giving its twin-turbo I-6 the same 450-hp output along with the requisite go-fast bits, including 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels and an adaptive suspension. The M3 30 Jahre will only be available in a gorgeous matte Frozen Silver metallic exterior color and will come standard with an M sport exhaust system. A host of carbon fiber bits including the front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler will also come standard. Inside, the car receives M Sports seats, seat belts with BMW M’s color strips woven in them, an “M3 30 Jahre” logo on the front door sills and front seat headrests, and Black/Fjord Blue full Merino leather upholstery as standard. Only the seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission will be offered in the M3 30 Jahre. Additional standard equipment on the M3 30 Jahre includes carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive LED headlights, a head-up display, a surround view camera, and keyless entry/start.

In Japan, BMW will release two special edition models, the i8 Protonic Red Edition and the M6 Celebration Edition to commemorate its 100-year anniversary. In total, only 20 i8 Protonic Red Edition models will be made. Standard features include the vibrant Protonic Red exterior color, 20-inch Orbit Gray alloy wheels, BMW’s trick laser headlights, and black/red interior upholstery. The M6 Celebration Edition will be limited to 13 units and will come standard with the Competition package, which ups the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8’s output to from 560 hp to a mighty 600 hp and torque from 500 lb-ft to 516 lb-ft. Additional standard features include carbon ceramic brakes, 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels, full Merino leather upholstery, with yellow stitching, an M Sport steering wheel, an M Sport exhaust system, and carbon fiber bits such as the side mirror covers, rear spoiler and rear diffuser. The M6 Celebration Edition will only be available in one exterior color, Austin Yellow.

Source: BMW

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