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NHTSA investigating Toyota Prius hybrid for steering-shaft concerns

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Monday it will look into whether steering shafts in Toyota Prius models spanning from 2004 through 2009 model years are defective. According to the Detroit News, NHTSA has already recalled the Toyota Prius twice for steering-shaft problems. In 2012, 669,000 Prius vehicles from 2004-2009 model years were recalled to replace the steering-shaft extension assembly.

Maserati refreshes Quattroporte

By Ben Whitworth First Official Pictures 24 June 2008 08:51 Maserati has given its Quattroporte a mid-life refresh and a power boost. The new flagship Quattroporte S borrows the 424bhp 4.7-litre V8 from the GranTurismo S, while the standard Quattroporte retains the existing 393bhp 4.2-litre engine from before, with both hooked up to the ZF six-speed automatic transmission introduced two years ago. No, fortunately Maserati has decided not to tamper with the Quattroporte’s styling – five years and 15,000 sales from launch and the Pininfarina-penned saloon still looks superb.

Audi working with Mazda on Wankel for A1 e-Tron?

The Audi A1 e-Tron could be getting a Mazda Wankel Last year at the Geneva Motor Show, Audi showed us another in its seemingly endless line of fantasy e-Tron cars. But instead of being a pointless supercar with a pile of batteries bolted underneath to wreck the handling with all their weight – for the three feet you can actually drive with your foot to the floor before you run out of juice – this e-Tron was a different beast altogether. Not only was the Geneva 2010 e-Tron a properly sensible city car – the Audi A1 - but it came with a range extender so you could actually use this Audi A1 e-Tron beyond the confines of its electric charge.