A recall is being issued for close to 20,000 Cadillac SRX models by General Motors for potential problems with the crossover’s transmission.

A total of 8,789 units are being recalled in the U.S., while Shanghai GM is recalling 9,862 units, and the remainder are scattered amongst 20 additional countries.

Click here for more news on the Cadillac SRX.

All of the vehicles affected by the recall were made in Mexico at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant, for model years 2010 and 2011.

Problems with the transmission that have been noted so far are unwanted movement when shifting between drive and park and improper routing of the shift cable. So far no reports of injury or accident have been reported because of this issue.

Check out our review on the 2012 Cadillac SRX.

GM also announced that another model built in the Ramos Arizpe plant, the Chevrolet Captiva, has a recall issued for 3,150 units sold to U.S. rental car agencies for problems with the power steering overheating.

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: MSNBC

Stallone's 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S

You’re in the market for a new a Porsche Panamera and are looking for something that will stand out from the crowd and turn heads. Well, check out this 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S optioned out with 20-inch RS Spyder wheels, Sport Chrono, Park Assist with camera, BOSE surround sound and much more. The car is on sale at eBay Motors.

But that’s not the only ‘cool’ thing about this Panamera 4S. This black 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S you see here was owned by Rock, Sylvester Stallone, himself. Stallone drove the car a total of 5,744 before he decided he no longer wanted the 4-door Porsche.

The current bid for Stallone’s Panamera stands at $80,827 and the reserve as not been met. A brand-new Porsche Panamera 4S starts at $94,700 so this is looking like a bargain right now.

Refresher: The $89,800 Porsche Panamera S is powered by a 400-hp V8 allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 175 mph. The $93,800 Panamera 4S is powered by the same 400-hp V8. The $132,600 Porsche Panamera Turbo is powered by a turbocharged V8 making 500-hp allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds with a top speed of 188 mph. The Porsche Panamera V6 and Porsche Panamera 4 are powered by a 3.6L V6 engine making 300-hp and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft. Prices start at $74,400 for the base V6 Panamera and $78,900 for the V6 Panamera 4.

Stallone’s 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S:

2011 Porsche Panamera:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: eBay (via Jalopnik)

Lingenfelter's Challenger Supercharger Package

Upset that your 2008-2010 Dodge Challenger won’t be as powerful as the 2011 model year? Well, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering is here to your rescue with the new Challenger Supercharger Package.

Available for the new 5.7L and 6.1L Dodge Challenger models, the Lingenfelter’s Dodge Challenger Supercharger Package features a Magnuson TVS 2300 intercooled supercharger system, in black powdercoat finish, a 160 degree thermostat, properly sized fuel injectors and a high flow air intake system.

Lingenfelter says that baseline testing on a Mustang chassis dyno showed the 6.1L Challenger produced 373-hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. After Lingenfelter’s supercharger enhancements, the LPE-tuned 6.1L Challenger produces 500 rear wheel horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque.

Click here for more news on the Dodge Challenger.

“Our engineering specialists are able to tune today’s Challengers to deliver increased performance, as demonstrated when the Lingenfelter 6.1L Challenger recently ran a best of 12.03-seconds at 120 mph at the Muncie Dragway in Indiana,” said Owner Ken Lingenfelter. “With more than 30 years of expertise in fine-tuning engines, we have the capabilities to give auto enthusiasts more speed, greater power and enhanced overall performance.”

Lingenfelter provides a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty with the whole package.

2011 Dodge Challenger:

- By: Omar Rana

2010 Jaguar XF

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Jaguar has announced a recall of 6,085 2010 XK and 2010 XF models over potential long-term problems with the power-steering system.

The recall is being conducted due to the fact that power-assist steering pipes were not assembled with the correct amount of corrosion protection. That means over time, corrosion may lead to pin-holding of the pipe, which could allow fluids from the power-steering to leak and cause loss of power-assisted steering. That would in turn result in difficulty to maneuver and an accident. The fluid from the power-steering leak could also ignite, causing a fire.

To fix the issue Jaguar will replace the power-steering fluid pipes with ones that meet corrosion specifications. For more info owners can call Jaguar at 800-452-4827 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: KickingTires

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

Lamborghini America has announced a new lease program in partnership with Premier Financial Services that will allow customers access the company’s Gallardo lineup.

Vehicles eligible for the lease program include the 2010 and 2011 Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyders, 2011 Gallardo LP 560-4 Coupe, 2011 LP 570-4 Superleggera and the brand new 2011 Gallardo LP 550-2.

“We have seen an increasing desire from our customers to develop a Lamborghini-specific leasing program as an alternative to traditional ownership,” said Wolfgang Hoffmann, Chief Operating Officer of Automobili Lamborghini America, LLC. “This new program allows enthusiasts access to some of the most extreme Lamborghini vehicles on the road.”

If you’re looking to lease a Lambo you better hurry because the program is only open from Jan. 31 to March 31, 2011. The 27-month lease allows only 3,500 miles a year.

“We have created a custom leasing plan for Lamborghini that will be a beneficial tool for dealers and a great finance option for customers,” said Mitchell Katz, President of Premier Financial Services. “We are pleased to partner with Lamborghini and to play a role in getting enthusiasts into these amazing vehicles.”

- By: Omar Rana

2010 Dodge Journey

Chrysler Group LLC is recalling a total of 248,437 model year 2010 minivans and crossovers due to a problem that can lead to sudden engine stalling. The models being recalled include 2010 model year Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and the Dodge Journey that were produced between June 3, 2009 and August 17, 2010.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration said that some vehicles may experience inadvertent ignition key displacement from the run to accessory position while driving causing the engine to shut off.

Around two rear-end collisions have been blamed on the issue at hand. To fix the issue, dealers will replace the win modules free of charge. The recall will start next month. Owners can contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

- By: Omar Rana

2011 GMC Terrain Active Noise Cancellation

If you must pass gas in your vehicle when riding with other passengers, don’t buy a GMC Terrain. If you want to save gas and have a nice quiet interior, than definitely look into purchasing one. A new active noise cancellation technology in the GMC Terrain enables it to deliver an EPA-rated 32 mpg in highway driving while ensuring the driver in one of the quietest interiors in its segment.

“On the highway, Terrain easily tops the 28-mpg rating of Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape,” GM said in a statement.

“The use of active noise cancellation for fuel economy benefit on Terrain is among the first at GM,” said Paul Beaker, program engineering manager for GMC Terrain. “It has strong potential for implementation on other four-cylinder vehicle programs.”

How does it work? GM engineers chose to lower the 6-speed transmission’s gear shift points to enable the Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine to run at lower rpm torque in the GMC Terrain. While in ‘Eco’ mode, which the driver can activate with a click of a button, the torque converter clutch engages at lower engine speeds to help preserve gas. The move does improve fuel efficiency by up to one mpg, but it also creates a low-end frequency boom. To counteract that boom, engineers added a noise cancellation system that relies on two microphones embedded in the headliner to detect the hum and prompt an onboard frequency generator to create counteracting sound waves through the audio system’s speakers and sub-woofer.

So next time you think about passing gas in the car, make sure it doesn’t have a noise canceling feature.

Click here to read our review on the 2010 GMC Terrain.

Review: 2010 GMC Terrain:

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

- By: Omar Rana

Thanks for the tip George.

Facebook Fans Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche’s Facebook fan page has reached its one-millionth fan on the social networking site. Celebrating the huge milestone, Porsche museum presented a 911 GT3 R Hybrid with the signatures of more than 27,000 fans of the brand.

“The 911 GT3 R Hybrid was chosen for this extraordinary signature-gathering campaign because it impressively embodies the future of motorsport – with Porsche Intelligent Performance,” Porsche said in a statement. “The all-new hybrid system developed specially for use in a racing car has little in common with conventional hybrid systems as far as its design and componentry go.”

Click here for more news on the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

Refresher: Power for the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid comes from a flywheel system unlike a conventional battery-electric hybrid system. In this case, electrical front axle drive with two electric motors developing 161-hp, supplementing the 480-hp 4.0L inline-6 that powers the two rear-wheels. The flywheel system gathers kinetic energy under braking to fuel the two electric-motors and after each boost of charge, the two motors provide 6 to 8 second jolts of power.

Facebook Fans Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid:

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid:

2010 Cadillac CTS

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, General Motors is recalling 44,117 units of the 2009 – 2010 Cadillac CTS for a loose joint condition that could cause the rear-wheel to become unstable. GM said it has no reports of any injuries or fatalities related to the issue.

The Detroit automaker has been studying the issue since May when it received four complaints. Most consumers complained of metal clanging sound coming from the rear of CTS.

GM said that it will start notifying customers to bring in their CTS to Cadillac dealers. Once inspection is completed dealers will clean the rear suspension toe link, replace the jam nuts and replace the rear toe link if needed.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News

2011 Ford F-150

Ford is recalling around 281,000 units of the F-150 pickup in the United States due to a potential problem with the door handles, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall involves model years 2009 and 2010 F-150 pickups that were produced from January 2008 to November 2009.

The NHTSA said that in an event of a crash, ‘the door handle spring can fail causing the door latch to open.’ Ford said that as of Jan. 21, there have been no reported accidents or injuries related to the recall.

The NHTSA filing by Ford said that customers are being asked to bring their F-150 trucks to dealerships for inspection. Once parts are available, dealerships will replace them free of charge.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

2010 Ford Fusion

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into 280,000 units of the 2010 Ford Fusion sedan over wheel stability concerns. The NHTSA said that it is currently reviews four complaints it has received about the Ford Fusion that allege wheel stud fractures.

Three of the four complaints belong to the same 22-vehicle fleet but were assigned different drivers who said they experience the issue at three different times. All the four units had between 5,000 to 11,000 miles and had never been serviced prior to the issue.

The NHTSA said that the fractures could result in wheel separation and loss of vehicle control. Ford said it is aware of the investigation and is going to fully cooperate with the government.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News

Video: Suzuki Kizashi vs. Wicked Weather

Suzuki doesn’t have a huge advertising budge to take on a Super Bowl spot, but the automaker is releasing this new ad campaign in Super Bowl cities where it has a strong dealer base and a fighting chance. The ad, which features the Suzuki Kizashi being chased by mean snow men, is being shown Suzuki’s 14 markets around the country.

The ad is a part of Suzuki’s ‘Kizashi Kicks‘ campaign.

Click here for more news on the Suzuki Kizashi.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi:

2010 Suzuki Kizashi:

- By: Omar Rana

2010 Saab 9-3

And now we take a break from everyday fun news to bring you some boring recall news. Saab has announced that it is recalling 4,400 units of the 2010 and 2011 model year 9-3 sedans that were built between June and October of 2010. The recall is being conducted to fix fuel pumps that cold seize and cause the engine to stall. Saab said some of the fuel pumps may have had components with incorrect specifications.

The automaker said that no accidents or injuries were reported due to the issue and that dealers will replace the defective fuel pumps free of charge.

Saab will start notifying owners around Feb. 18. If you’re a concerned owner, you can call Saab at (800) 955-9007.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Free Press

2010 Mercury Grand Marquis

FoMoCo today produced the last Mercury – a Grand Marquis, which rolled off the production line at 8 a.m. in the morning today at the company’s assembly plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. The sedan will be shipped out as part of a fleet order, according to Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said.

Production of the last Mercury was delayed due to snowstorms that pushed back parts shipments to the plant.

The plant will continue to produce the Ford Crown Victoria for taxi and police fleets until it closes in September 2011.

The Mercury Grand Marquis had been produced for 25 years at the plant. FoMoCo sold more than 21 million Mercury cars and light trucks in the United States since the brand made its debut with the 1938 model year.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

2011 Honda Pilot

Why do we cover recalls? Not because we have fun doing so or because it’s something exciting to read about. We cover recalls because we care about our readers and want to keep them informed about the issues their vehicles might be facing (aren’t we nice people?).

Either way, Honda has announced that it is recalling approximately 10,800 model year 2010 to 2011 Accord and 2011 model year Pilot SUVs to prevent a potential front suspension failure.

“A potential problem with the machinery used to tighten the spindle nuts on the front axles of both vehicles, as well as the damper attachment bracket bolts for the Pilot, may cause the front suspension of a small number of these vehicles to fail.” Honda said in a statement. “A flaw in the software for the equipment used for this assembly process was identified at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC (HMA). This concern is isolated to vehicles produced at HMA.”

Honda will start notifying owners of the vehicles today and will replace the necessary parts to make you feel safe again. Honda owners can go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009.

- By: Omar Rana

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible

Maserati enjoyed a pretty strong 2010 due to strong sales of the GranTurismo Convertible. The Fiat SpA brand sales were up 48 percent this year through November. Maserati sold a total of 1,717 units in the United States during that period, including 558 units of the GranTurismo Convertible since its introduction in March, according to Autodata Corp.

“We are pleased with the results this year,” said Jeffrey Ehoodin, a Maserati spokesman.

Maserati said that the GranTurismo Convertible has sold out in the U.S. and that there is now a waiting list for the car.

Refresher: The 2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is powered by a 4.7L V8 making 440-hp. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the GranTurismo Convertible goes from 0 to 62 mph 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 176 mph. Prices in the U.S. start at $135,800.

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Chrysler Group LLC. announced today that it is recalling 76,122 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks from the 2010 and 2011 model years over a defective power-steering reservoir cap, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today.

According to NHTSA some vehicles equipped with diesel engine and a hydroboost brake system may be equipped with a power steering reservoir cap with excessive vent pressure levels that may result in brake pedals that are slow to return.

Chrysler said it will start notifying owners soon and dealers will replace the power steering reservoir cap free of charge. The recall expected to begin February and owners contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

- By: Omar Rana

2009 Mazda5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that Mazda is recalling 16,200 units of the 2009 and 2010 Mazda5 minivans due to a defective fuel pump connector that could lead to the engine stalling and the possibility of the engine not restarting.

“Water may not have been removed completely from the harness connector of the fuel pump due to variations in the fuel tank leak check process performed before vehicle assembly,” the NHTSA said. “The connector pin may corrode, potentially causing the pin to break. This could lead to an inoperative fuel pump, engine stall and the inability to restart the engine, increasing the risk of a crash.”

NHTSA said that the defective models were built from June 29, 2009 through April 28, 2010. Mazda dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump connector if necessary free of charge. Owners can get in touch with Mazda at (800) 222-5500.