Hyundai has shed light on its plans to release another fuel-cell vehicle, potentially coinciding with a new hydrogen-powered model carrying a Kia badge.

After working on hydrogen powertrains for more than a decade, Hyundai opted to launch an FCV adaptation of its Tucson crossover rather than building a new hydrogen-powered vehicle from the ground up.

The Tucson FCV appears to have fallen short of its modest 1,000-unit sales goal for 2015, as first-half deliveries remained below 300 units in the US, Europe and Korea.

Despite the Tucson FCV’s troubles, Hyundai promises to follow Toyota’s Mirai strategy and finally develop a dedicated fuel-cell vehicle.

“We will launch a dedicated vehicle, although it is not clear what vehicle type it will be based around,” said Hyundai-Kia hydrogen research head Sae-Hoon Kim, as quoted by Autocar.

The company is expected to focus on a new crossover with an improved range, jumping to 500 miles from the Tucson FCV’s 375-mile estimate. Top speed will also improve slightly to 110 mph.

The US market has proved difficult for hydrogen vehicles, as lack of costly refueling infrastructure discourages sales and lack of sales discourages infrastructure buildout. Hyundai is confident, however, that hydrogen will prevail and compete with ever-cheaper battery-powered EVs.

“Battery and fuel cell will co-exist, but fuel cell is the best powertrain for larger vehicles,” the executive added.

The report suggests both Kia and Hyundai will have different fuel-cell vehicles on the road by 2020.

General Motors has issued a compliance recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

The pickups’ console compartment lid is attached via a faulty latch assembly, which may fail to keep the door closed in the event of a crash. The issue violates federal safety guidelines related to occupant protection.

“If the console compartment door does not remain closed in a crash, the contents stored in the console may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury,” the recall documents warn.

The problem was traced back to an incorrect spring installed in the latch by the console supplier, China’s Yangfeng. An employee initially spotted improper behavior when the compartment lid popped open when the console was placed on a table.

“Yanfeng subsequently traced the problem to one of its suppliers, who, instead of scrapping latch springs that had been rendered obsolete by a design change, had improperly modified the obsolete latch springs and assembled them into new console compartment door-latch assemblies,” GM notes.

The campaign affects 8,763 units sold in the US market.

VW has released a new teaser video for its mystery van that will be unveiled next week at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The brief glimpses reveal at least some of the nameplate, which appears to end with the letters ‘uo-e.’ WorldCarFans believes the full term is actually ‘Duo-E,’ referencing both the van’s dual-purpose capabilities and its electrified drivetrain.

In any case, the teasers point to an updated electric Microbus that appears to resemble a modernized version of the Bulli concept from 2011. Reports suggest an electric Camper van could provide at least 186 miles of range, with 114 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, though other sources have claimed the company is targeting up to 310 miles on a single charge.

“First and foremost the world premiere marks the beginning of a new era of affordable long-distance electromobility,” the company said in a statement.

Production is expected to begin in 2017 at VW’s Puebla, Mexico, assembly plant.

Infiniti has detailed its QX30 crossover lineup for the North American market. The Infiniti QX30 made its North American debut at the 2015 Los Angeles auto show.

The QX30 will stand as the entry-point into the QX30 lineup. Essentially the same as the Q30 sold in markets outside of the United States, the QX30 will offer a sleek hatchback body style and will come exclusively with front-wheel drive.

The step-up QX30S will represent the sportiest version of the QX30 in the U.S. It will come standard with a lowered suspension, cross-drilled front brake rotors, 19-inch wheels and performance tires. The QX30S is sold in other markets as the Q30S.

Better aligned with its crossover positioning, the top-spec QX30 AWD will offer all-wheel drive and a higher ride height compared to the QX30 and QX30S. In addition to its higher ride height, the QX30 AWD will feature “off-road inspired front and rear valence panels.”

Infiniti has not yet announced pricing for its QX30 lineup, but expect a price tag starting in the low $30,000 range. The 2017 Infiniti QX30 will arrive in dealer showrooms in mid-2016.

Live images by Brian Williams.

TVR has finally released the first preview rendering for its upcoming sports coupe, the first new model for the once defunct British marque.

The teaser reveals a modern take on TVR’s historic design language, with a long hood, low profile, short overhangs and a sleek fastback shape. A few elements opt for an angular appearance, giving the car a more aggressive look.

The company has not yet settled on a final design for the production model, however hundreds of different variations have been narrowed to just a handful of final contenders that are said to be generally similar, according to Carscoops.

The car is being designed with help from Gordon Murray and Cosworth Engineering. It will be available as a two-seat coupe or convertible roadster, both powered by a V8 engine sending power to the rear wheels via a manual transmission.

The revived company wants to stay “true to TVR’s DNA and heritage” and bring to market a car that represents an “incredible value for money.”

At least 250 potential buyers are taking the automaker for its word, placing deposits for the entire first year’s production run.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has finally issued a follow-up recall for nearly 353,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2011 and 2012 model years.

The company launched a repair campaign in July 2014 to fix a problem with the vanity-mirror wiring, which was prone to short circuit if technicians had previously removed the mirror or headliner to perform service. At least three injuries were blamed on fires caused by improper reassembly.

Owners continued to report wiring fires in vehicles that had been ‘fixed’ by the original campaign. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration eventually opened an investigation into the campaign to determine what, if anything, went wrong. Notably, the fire complaint tally for serviced vehicles had exceeded the number of reports that led to the initial recall.

FCA has finally acknowledged the continuing problems, placing blame on technicians for failing to ‘precisely’ follow the recommended service procedure. The issue is said to be present only in vehicles with a certain wiring package, limiting the recall’s list to less than half the original campaign.

Headliners will be secured with a new adhesive, while other measures will be taken to prevent wiring from contacting abrasive surfaces.

The company acknowledges ‘overheating conditions’ in less than 0.02 percent of the original campaign’s 895,000 vehicle population, suggesting post-service failures occurred in up to 179 SUVs. The specific number of fires has not been disclosed, though the automaker claims to be unaware of any related injuries or accidents.

Ford has issued a recall for the 2013 Escape to fix a wiring defect.

In some vehicles, certain splices in the engine wiring harness may have been insufficiently crimped during the manufacturing process. As a result, the powertrain control module can receive incorrect signals from the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor.

High resistance in the circuits can cause engine performance issues, including reduced power, hesitation, running rough or stalling without warning. Engine shutdown while underway increases the risk of a crash.

Service technicians will repair the wiring harness splices to reduce resistance and restore proper signal communication.

The campaign affects approximately 9,000 vehicles sold in the US market.

Mitsubishi is celebrating a significant milestone in the US market, as collective sales surpass five million units.

The Japanese automaker first brought its vehicles to the US in 1982, initially offering the Tredia, Cordia and Starion sedans. Later vehicles, now retired, include the 3000GT, Eclipse, Montero and Galant.

Despite starting off in the US with a trio of sedans, Mitsubishi is now focused on better engaging the booming crossover market. The Lancer Evolution has already been officially retired, while the standard Lancer is expected to be pulled in the next few years. Following the i-MiEV confirmed departure, the Mirage will be the only car left in the company’s US lineup.

Looking beyond just popular bodystyles, Mitsubishi is also planning to take advantage of the anticipated shift toward plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles. Slotting between the Outlander and Outlander Sport, a new coupe-like crossover is expected to be the first of the new models outfitted with a plug-in system. Hybrid and EV adaptations of the next-generation Outlander and Outlander Sport are expected to follow in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The company recently reported its 21st consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases. Overall deliveries are up 23 percent for the year overall, driven by the revamped Outlander and other crossovers.

Looking further back, the picture is not so rosy. The automaker last year posted its first North American profit in seven years, prompting the crossover-focused turnaround strategy. The company hopes crossovers to dominate its future sales, and plug-in hybrids could account for 20 percent of its total output by the end of the decade.

Audi has confirmed debut plans for a few of its upcoming crossovers, including the Q2 and the next-generation Q5.

The company plans to spend the equivalent of $3.3 billion USD to achieve its near- and long-term goals. Half of the cash will be spent at German sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, while enabling the company to hire additional experts with a focus on future technologies.

Some of the new workers will be tasked with developing the company’s first high-volume battery-electric vehicle, previewed in concept form as the e-tron Quattro (pictured). The crossover is on track to arrive in production form by 2018.

“We are continuing with our high levels of investment in future technologies to enhance the strong position of our brand,” said Audi chief Rupert Stadler. “A significant proportion of our investment is naturally in the field of alternative drive systems.”

Previous reports suggest Audi plans to release at least two electric crossovers before the end of the decade. One is expected to be built upon the same modular MQB platform that underpins the Volkswagen Golf and A3 sedan, while the larger MLB model is said to carry the Q6 nameplate and serve as a sleek and sporty battery-powered alternative to the larger Q7.

Audi will show the Q2 and next-generation Q5 sometime next year. The company plans to expand its portfolio to include 60 vehicles by 2020.

Hyundai has appointed former Lamborghini executive Manfred Fitzgerald to lead its newly formed Genesis brand.

During more than a decade at Lamborghini, Fitzgerald served as the director of branding and design. He is credited with helping the Raging Bull transform from a “prototype car company” to an established luxury marque as sales increased by 10-fold.

The executive will help Hyundai achieve its goal of distinguishing a standalone luxury brand under the Genesis name. The division will receive a unique design identity, along with unique logos and a consistent naming structure as it prepares to take on German and Japanese rivals.

“Based in Hyundai Motor Headquarters Seoul, Mr. Fitzgerald will be in charge of establishing and executing strategies for the Genesis brand as the Senior Vice President,” Hyundai said in a statement. “For the brand to set a strong foothold in the global luxury car market, he will take a core role in brand strategy, marketing and other business operations within the Genesis brand.”

The Genesis brand will eventually encompass six new models by the end of the decade. Its first model, the G90 flagship sedan, will essentially serve as a successor to the Equus. Other planned models include several crossovers and an entry-level sedan, allowing the brand to compete with a spectrum of established competitors ranging from the BMW 3-Series to the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.

Unlike most luxury brands operated by mainstream automakers, Hyundai will not establish a separate sales network for its Genesis lineup. The company will also be targeting ‘new luxury’ buyers, attempting to snag customers who are ready to take a step upmarket but have not yet decided on a particular brand. The strategy appears to acknowledge the difficulties in converting customers who already own a luxury vehicle from an established brand.