1 Million Vehicles With Dangerous Air Bags Recalled
DETROIT (AP) 鈥?Honda is likely to recall around 1 million older vehicles in the U.S. Canada because the Takata driver's air bag inflators that were installed during previous recalls could be dangerous. Documents posted Monday by Canadian safety regulators show that Honda is recalling many of its most popular models for a second time. Canadian documents say about 84,000 vehicles are involved. That number is usually over 10 times higher in the United States. Transport Canada, the country's transportation safety agency, said vehicles covered include those that were under previous recalls and others that had air bags replaced after collisions. Takata used the chemical ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate the air bags. But the chemical can deteriorate over time due to high humidity and cycles from hot temperatures to cold. It can burn too fast and blow apart a metal canister, hurling shrapnel into drivers and passengers. At least 23 people have died from the problem worldwide and hundreds more were injured. The recalls are part of the largest series of automotive recalls in U.S. As many as 70 million will be recalled. Honda spokesman Chris Martin wouldn't give details Monday evening, but said the company is communicating with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "and plans to issue a public statement tomorrow." Messages were left after business hours Monday seeking comment from NHTSA.
The Touran is fitted as standard with automatic engine stop/start and battery regeneration systems as standard. The Touran is available in two equipment levels - the Trendline and Comfortline. Even the Trendline is very well equipped, with leather upholstery, cruise control, automatic headlamps and wipers, an electronic vehicle immobiliser and the new Pure Air Climatronic system all coming as standard. The Comfortline has even more equipment, including a multifunction steering wheel, rear view camera and panoramic sunroof. An additional equipment package (EQP) comprising four features - LED headlights, keyless entry and starting, driving profile selection and Front Assist - can be ordered for both the Trendline and Comfortline models. The new Touran is 4,527 mm long, which makes it 130 mm longer than the previous model. Nevertheless, despite having the largest cargo capacity in its class, it retains compact exterior dimensions. This is due to an innovative design approach. The maximum utilisation of a minimum vehicle footprint, with all the associated practical advantages for driving and manoeuvring, is made possible by the innovative Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB).
Thanks to the optimum packaging enabled by the MQB, the increase in overall length could be applied to an unusually large extent to the wheelbase, which at 2,791 mm is now 113 mm longer than the previous model鈥檚. The longer wheelbase directly increases the usable interior space. The body of the new Touran is 1,829 mm wide (an increase of 36 mm) and 1,628 mm high (a decrease of 6 mm). The increased length and width and the reduced height give the vehicle considerably more dynamic-looking proportions - and provided an excellent opportunity for the designers to exercise their creativity. The design of the car has been completely reworked. The Touran鈥檚 new powerful and precise lines pick up the reductive clarity of the previous model. At the same time, the design concept was significantly further refined, and even reinvented in some cases, in order to give the vehicle a sharper look while retaining a strong underlying continuity. What emerges is an original with an enhanced and noticeably lighter and sportier look, thanks to the long side windows and precise lines.
Volkswagen was also able to improve the aerodynamics in the Touran further, whereby the aerodynamic drag coefficient has been reduced to 0.296 - an extraordinarily good Cd value for an MPV. The more dynamic proportions, the expressive Volkswagen design language and the aerodynamic perfection achieved combine to give the new Touran a sporty, powerful and modern air. With its increased overall length and longer wheelbase, the Touran also now appears considerably sleeker and more grown-up. The distinctive details of the Touran鈥檚 front section lend it a new and unmistakable depth of class. The front is organised into a number of detailed horizontal sections that help to emphasise the sense of width. The lines all complement one another logically and harmoniously. For example, the cross pieces of the radiator grille extend naturally into the headlights to form a single, cohesive element. The headlights themselves are much slimmer than those of the previous model, and have a more threedimensional shape. Powerful wheel arches and horizontal lines form the visual accents at the sides of the vehicle.
The window design is noticeably flatter and more stylish than in the previous model, extending once again from the A-pillar all the way back to the D-pillar. The new proportions of this glass surface, the more distinct areas around the A-pillar and D-pillar, and the new glossy Bpillar and narrower C-pillar all add to the sense of exclusivity. An MPV can only be successful if the interior - the journeying space - meets the demands of everyone on board. Since day one, the secret of the Touran鈥檚 success has been its interior, which has now been further refined for the new generation model. Not one aspect of the previous model was left untouched in the process, which also included enhancements to quality and ergonomics. One major feature of the new Touran is the length of the interior, which has increased by 63 mm to 1,779 mm. This is where the design advantages of the Modular Transverse Matrix really come into play: the additional interior space is immediately noticeable in all three seat rows.
