97-01 Toyota Camry Chrome Front Grille Emblem Badge Logo on 2040-parts.com

Fisker Karma recalled over fire risk

The Fisker Karma range-extender EV is being recalled over a fire risk from a faulty cooling fan. We’re not sure how many Fisker Karmas there are in the UK (well, there should be at least one), but so far it appears that there are a surprising 1,900 in the wild. Now those 1,900 (or 2,400 if you count all the Karamas built and heading for customers) are to be recalled after fire destroyed two Karmas in the US.

One Lap of the Web: Mock the Week Edition

-- Mazda Europe designer Peter Birthwhistle talks about the future of Mazda: potential hybrid and electric powertrains for the Skyactiv-obsessed company, and how we'll all be driving Mazda-branded pods in the 22nd century. But he also mentions, rather interestingly, how certain Mazdas capture a quintessentially long-hood, RWD look -- and not just the Miata, either, which is RWD. No, it's the exhaust systems on those Skyactiv engines that force a longer, larger hood compartment, and the "long, flowing looks" not usually found on FWD engines.

Weird Chevrolet pickup roadster hot rod probably inspired the SSR

Here's a thought: If you've ever wanted to be buried in what you're driving, it's a boon if your car is already shaped like a coffin. Behold this "cute little roadster," which resembles the unholy union of a Ford T-Bucket and a mechanical pencil lead dispenser and probably will make its way into a Jimmy Buffet video. (Click here if the ad goes down or if one of the Autoweek editors snaps it up first.) A 1972 Chevrolet pickup truck is scattered in there, somewhere after the bowtie-shaped everything.