Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
XVI maltatoday, Sunday, 25 January 2015 Motoring Honda to expand investigative air bag recall globally Honda Motor said it will expand an 'investigative' recall to replace potentially lethal Takata Corp air bag inflators across the globe, tak- ing the total Takata-related recall tally of all brands to more than 19 million since 2008. Honda earlier added about 2.6 million cars in the United States when it expanded nationwide a recall of driver-side air bag inflators that was previously limited to 11 states and territories with hot and humid climates. Honda is working out which mod- els and how many vehicles would be covered under a similar recall in other markets, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Takata's air bag inflators have been found to rupture and shoot metal shards into the vehicle, and have been linked to five deaths. As consumer concerns grow over the safety of Takata air bags, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last month ordered the supplier to take nationwide a recall of certain driver-side inflators that had been limited to areas of high humidity. Takata has refused, challenging NHTSA's legal authority to order such a recall when the cause behind the unusual deployment of its air bags is still unknown. Given Takata's response, Honda's US unit said on Monday it would voluntarily expand its regional recall to cover a total 5.4 million vehicles across the United States. On Tuesday, Honda said it would recall more than 134,000 cars in Japan covering six models made between 2002 and 2013 that carry Takata driver-side air bags subject to the wider recalls in the United States. Honda will begin the recall in Okinawa, an island in southern Japan, at the end of the month. Japan's transport ministry has said that about 200,000 vehicles from Honda and Mazda Mo- tor Corp would be subject to an expanded recall in Japan. Mazda is still considering whether to follow suit. Unlike NHTSA, Japan's regula- tor cannot order a recall unless the cause of the problem is known. Transport Minister Akihiro Ohta said the ministry would see whether it should change the law to be able to force an 'investigative' re- call after gauging the current series of Takata-related recalls, but added there were no immediate plans. Several automakers have called back millions of cars in the United States to replace Takata-made infla- tors and investigate the root cause of the problem in what is called a Safety Improvement Campaign, which is different from a typical recall to address known defects. Takata is struggling to make replacement parts fast enough, and has forecast a loss this business year amid an escalating recall crisis. The Nikkei business daily on Tuesday quoted Honda CEO Takanobu Ito as saying the auto- maker would step in to support Takata if needed, but Honda said he was not specifically referring to financial aid. Cars International launch the all-new Kia Optima The long-awaited, all-new Optima, Kia's hugely successful mid-size saloon, is now in Malta. The Optima is expected to have huge success among car buyers looking for a modern and luxuri- ously good-looking car at a highly competitive price for its segment. Configured to appeal to drivers with high expectations for com- fort and high-tech from a saloon car – particularly the business communit y and chauffeur-driven services - the Optima LX is fitted with an extensive list of very ex- clusive standard features. These include alloy wheels, dual climate control, LED daytime running lamps, dual projection head- lamps, electric folding heated mirrors and cruise control with a speed limiter, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, Radio/CD with MP3 compatibilit y, Bluetooth with voice recognition, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, powered windows, and chrome belt line. The boot capacit y is 505 litres, and the low loading lip makes the business of lifting in luggage less strenuous. Standard 60:40 split folding rear seats allow longer loads to be transported. Useful storage spaces, shaped to accommodate items, which own- ers like to carry, abound. There is a cooled glovebox, a centre console box, cupholders front and rear, a sunglasses holder, space for bottles in the front and rear doors, pockets in the backs of the front seats and a centre fascia tray large enough for a mobile telephone – conveniently located adjacent to the standard USB and 12-volt recharging socket. The Optima EX version adds 17" Alloy Wheels, chrome outside handles, rain sensor, centre console leather armrests, keyless entry system with Smart Key and Start Button. For the more discerning driv- ers, the luxurious Optima EX+ supplements all this with a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof with automatic electric roller blinds, blind spot detection, Sport Package and paddle gear shift with the 6-speed automatic transmission; the Kia Optima EX+ adds more live to your driv- ing. Kia's shift from a purely rational brand to one, which is design- driven, is t ypified by the Op- tima. This 'must have' qualit y is enhanced in the latest model by subtle but significant changes, which sharpen the external ap- pearance and give the Optima even more of the crispness of a fine Italian suit – the phrase that Group President and Chief De- sign Officer Peter Schreyer used to sum up the car at its introduc- tion. All manual versions feature Kia's EcoDynamics fuel-saving, CO2-reducing measures, while automatics have a Drive Select Mode featuring three modes: Normal, Eco and Sport which al- ter the transmission shift timing, throttle mapping and steering wheel weighting accordingly. The manual can achieve 5.1l/100km, with CO2 emissions of 133g/km, while the figures for the automat- ic are 6.0l/100km and 158g/km. As with every other Kia model, the Optima guarantees owners with the peace of mind provided by Kia's unique seven-year war- rant y. The Optima is available for test-drive at Cars International, Mdina Road, Qormi. For more information or to book your test- drive, kindly send an email to kiasales@cil.com.mt, call on 2269 2120 or visit the website w w w. kia.com/mt or Facebook page Kia Motors Malta.