As they say, the show must go on, and in the case of BBC’s Top Gear, the plucky motoring show will roll on with Chris Evans as its front man.
The broadcasting company announced on Tuesday that Evans will take over for the recently sacked Jeremy Clarkson. Evans inked a three-year deal to host the world famous car show.

“I’m thrilled, Top Gear is my favorite program of all time,” he said. “Created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless. When in fact, of course, it’s anything but and that’s the genius of Top Gear’s global success.”

Evans added: “I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.”

Although not as popular on this side of the pond, Evans is well known in the UK for starring roles on both radio and television.

The BBC hasn’t announced who will co-host Top Gear alongside Evans. Following Clarkson’s firing, his co-presenters, Richard Hammond and James May, both declined to extend their contracts with the BBC.

The BBC promises that filing for a new series of Top Gear will “start in the next few weeks.”

Audi has reportedly lost its powertrain development chief, Stefan Knirsch.
The executive is said to have resigned after spending less than two years as the director of powertrain engineering, though his time at Audi dates back approximately 25 years, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

Knirsch is credited with leading development of Audi’s latest powertrain innovations, including various E-tron hybrids and electrically-driven forced induction, after the company faced criticism for years of apparent technological stagnation.

The executive previously spent time at Porsche, eventually heading engine development, and served as the top quality boss.

Audi reportedly tried to keep Knirsch, who left on his own accord. It is unclear if he was poached by a rival or left for other reasons.

The company will presumably continue its electrification push without Knirsch, with imminent arrival of the A3 Sportback e-tron to US showrooms. A new electric crossover is also rumored to be unveiled next fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Image by Ronan Glon.

Following Honda’s lead, Toyota has announced a significant expansion in its Takata airbag recalls.
The Japanese automaker has recalled an additional 1.37 million vehicles including the 2003-2007 Corolla, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2005-2007 Sequoia, and 2003-2007 Lexus SC430. The revision brings the company’s overall airbag-recall tally up past 2.9 million vehicles.

Honda earlier in the day recalled an additional million vehicles, following a misunderstanding over the recent Takata defect announcement. The company interpreted part of the recall recommendations as being regional in nature, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disagreed. It is unclear if the agency also pressured Toyota to expand its campaign beyond a regional action.

“Toyota’s focus remains on the safety and security of our customers, and we will continue to respond promptly to new developments so we can resolve issues for them as quickly, conveniently and safely as possible,” said Toyota North America quality chief Dino Triantafyllos.

Toyota suggests automakers and independent research firms are still attempting to determine the root cause for inflator rupture, however evidence suggests the inflator propellant is prone to degradation due to moisture exposure. The altered chemicals appear to explode with too much force, rupturing the inflator casing and potentially sending shrapnel through the vehicle cabin.

General Motors has put to use several retired Chevrolet Volt batteries at its Milford Proving Ground data center.
As the company prepares to ship the second-generation Volt, it has gathered several scrap batteries from the first-generation model. Five of the 16-17.1 kWh packs were connected in parallel to store energy from a 74-kilowatt solar array and two 2.0 kW wind turbines.

“Even after the battery has reached the end of its useful life in a Chevrolet Volt, up to 80 percent of its storage capacity remains,” said GM battery life-cycle manager Pablo Valencia. “This secondary use application extends its life, while delivering waste reduction and economic benefits on an industrial scale.”

The batteries are capable of powering the data center’s administrative building for up to four hours in the event of a power outage, while excess energy is sent back into the grid.

“This system is ideal for commercial use because a business can derive full functionality from an existing battery while reducing upfront costs through this reuse,” Valencia added.

The company will get even more power out of the 2016 Volt’s 18.4 kWh battery modules, which provide an estimated electric driving range of approximately 50 miles.

Subaru has announced that its Forester will get a slight price bump for the 2016 model year.
The latest generation was introduced for the 2015 model year, but not in time to be outfitted with Subaru’s new StarLink range of security and safety features. The satellite-connected technology, which includes the safety subscription bundle free for the first year of ownership, is accompanied by a $200 higher base price.

The entry-level Forester now fetches $23,245 (including $850 freight), pairing a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission and symmetrical all-wheel drive. Upgrading to the continuously variable transmission adds another $1,000.

The base model also integrates a StarLink 6.2-inch single-touch infotainment system, while the Premium, Limited and Touring trims add a 7.0-inch multi-touch display.

The Premium package now commands $26,145 with a manual gearbox or $26,645 with a CVT, while the Limited package starts at $29,645 and the Touring fetches $31,645. Stepping up to the 2.0XT engine brings the Limited and Touring prices up to $30,045 and $34,645, respectively.