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Tesla Motors has initiated a voluntary safety recall on its battery-electric 2.0 and 2.5 models following the discovery of a potential fire hazard involving an auxiliary power cable.
The California-based automaker said it became aware of the problem after a single incident where an auxiliary cable "chafed against the edge of a carbon fiber panel in the vehicle causing a short, smoke and possible fire behind the right front headlamp of the vehicle."
Tesla Motors has initiated a voluntary safety recall on its battery-electric2.0 and 2.5 models following the discovery of a potential fire hazard involving an auxiliary power cable.
The California-based automaker said it became aware of the problem after a single incident where an auxiliary cable "chafed against the edge of a carbon fiber panel in the vehicle causing a short, smoke and possible fire behind the right front headlamp of the vehicle."
Kia has let loose new photos of its concept a week ahead of its scheduled world premiere at in Paris. The overly futuristic looking study for a small electric vehicle was penned by Kia's European design team under the direction of Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer, and Gregory Guillaume, the firm's Chief Designer in Europe.
"A concept car like the POP could only have come from us," says Gregory Guillaume. "Designers very rarely have the opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper and it's great to be in a position to operate with such freedom."
That freedom translates into a car measuring just three meters in length, or 15mm longer than the Toyota / Scion iQ, with swinging front doors and seating for three with a couch-like front bench seat and a side-mounted single seat at the back, which looks perfect for junior 'time out' or to revenge your mother-in-law.
The South Korean maker is keeping a tight lid on other details.
The POP Concept car will share Kia's Paris motorshow stand with a number of production models including the that will make its Euro debut before going on sale in select European countries this year. Kia said sales throughout Western Europe will commence in 2011. The EU-spec Optima will be offered with a choice of two powerplants, a 1.7-liter turbo diesel with 136-horsepower and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine delivering 170-ponies.
We just got our hands on the first official teaser sketch forthcoming dedicated. The image was shown by Infiniti's Senior Vice President, Andy Palmer, during a special ceremony held to mark the opening of the Infiniti Centre Piccadilly in London. Along with the release of the teaser, the Japanese automaker confirmed that the EV will be launched into the market in 2013.
For now, all we know about the as-of-yet unnamed car is that it's powered by electricity and can seat five passengers. The sketchy picture doesn't allows us to make out the body style of the car as it could be a four door sedan, a five-door hatchback/liftback or even a coupe; we're just not sure.
"Befitting the brand’s promise of “Inspired Performance” , the Infiniti EV will be a stylish, compact, high performance, five-seat luxury car with zero emissions technology," the company said in a statement.
There's a strong possibility Infiniti may lift the covers off the EV in Paris, but this has not yet been confirmed. In any case, we'll keep you updated on any new information we receive.
