The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stepped up its investigation into complaints of trouble with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles electronic gear selector used in the newer Jeep Grand Cherokee and other models.

The agency first opened an inquiry in August after receiving numerous reports of rollaways. In more than a dozen cases, drivers claimed the lever had been placed into ‘Park’ before a rollaway occurred.

A deeper look at the government complaint database reveals 306 rollaway incidents in the 2014-2015 Grand Cherokee, resulting in 117 alleged crashes and 28 reported injuries. Several of the accidents are claimed to have resulted in hospitalization to address serious injuries, ranging from internal organ damage to broken ribs and a fractured kneecap.

The vehicles are outfitted with a shift-by-wire system that allows the driver to change gears by pushing a T-shape lever that springs back to centered position, rather than remaining in each detent position like a traditional mechanically-operated system. Drivers are warned with a chime if their door is opened while not in Park, and the selected gear is indicated via illuminated letters on the dash and shifter. Adding one last layer of safety, the engine cannot be turned off when the transmission is not in Park.

“This function does not protect drivers who intentionally leave the engine running or drivers who do not recognize that the engine is still running,” the agency wrote in its latest investigation update. “NHTSA testing … indicates that operation … is not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the potential for unintended gear selection.”

The NHTSA has not yet claimed the system is physically defective or non-compliant with federal safety guidelines. Officials have nonetheless initiated an engineering analysis to assess the “safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.” The same shift lever has been used in the 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300.

Following Toyota’s unintended-acceleration recalls, the NHTSA has declined to pursue other seemingly related recalls after determining that the later complaints were due to driver error rather than mechanical defect. The agency is now in a unique position to consider if a defect can be declared based on a combination of insufficiently-intuitive design and drivers’ bad habits.

The Environmental Protection Agency has reportedly moved to tighten restrictions on track modifications for street cars.

Regulators buried the controversial suggestion in a larger proposal otherwise focused on curbing emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

“EPA is proposing … to clarify that the Clean Air Act does not allow any person to disable, remove, or render inoperative (i.e., tamper with) emission controls on a certified motor vehicle for purposes of competition,” the agency wrote in a 629-page document (PDF).

The move has been met with fierce opposition from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), which represents a wide range of stakeholders involved in the aftermarket parts and tuning businesses.

“This proposed regulation represents overreaching by the agency, runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles,” said SEMA chief Chris Kersting. “Congress did not intend the original Clean Air Act to extend to vehicles modified for racing and has re-enforced that intent on more than one occasion.”

The organization claims the EPA wants to prohibit conversion of street-legal vehicles into race cars, and even ban the sale of certain emissions-related parts designed for such applications.

Track-day enthusiasts already face restrictions on certain aftermarket parts that, in some cases, push a vehicle’s legal status from street car to a dedicated racer that must be trailered on public roads. The single sentence published in the proposal does not explicitly claim owners and companies will be barred from modifying street cars for competition.

An alternative interpretation suggests the federal government will continue viewing certain modifications as non-compliant with emissions regulations, potentially forfeiting an EPA ‘certification’ for mixed use both on the street and track.

It is unclear if the EPA’s vague statement obscures a wider move to place tighter restrictions on the aftermarket parts industry — as SEMA suggests — or if it is genuinely a clarification of existing laws. Additional details could emerge ahead of the final rulemaking filings in July.

Image by Ronan Glon.

Nissan’s seventh-generation Sentra compact has been on the market since the 2013 model year. In this highly competitive segment, that might as well be an eternity. Unlike the midsize class, which is ever-more losing sales to compact crossovers and SUVs, compact sales are holding more steady. The Sentra alone accounts for 15% of Nissan’s sales (in a market where compacts represent 14% of all new vehicles sold).

With that in mind, Nissan set out to improve the Sentra’s value and curb appeal in one fell swoop. To show us the fruits of this effort, Nissan invited us out to Orange County, California to take a spin in the 2016 model and see what we had to say. Read on to find out what we thought.

A fresh look

The 2016 Sentra’s exterior overhaul follows that of the Altima’s. It now wears Nissan’s “Energetic Flow” styling complete with the “V-Motion” grille. It’s an aggressive look that blends an angular, aggressive front treatment with a swooping body line that terminates at the tail lights. Along the way, Nissan redesigned the hod, fenders, headlights, tail lights, rear fascia and wheels.

Like Altima, the Sentra doesn’t take the styling treatment to the extreme of the new Maxima or Murano. It appears the floating greenhouse look will have to wait until these cars are due for a redesign (if Nissan wants that visual here, anyway). The new look isn’t drastically different, but it keeps the smaller Nissan aesthetically reflective of Nissan’s current direction.

A more livable space
The interior got some love as well. Nissan’s focus was on the parts of the cabin with which the driver comes into direct contact. As such, the center console, infotainment interface, steering wheel, seats and shift knob all saw revisions.

The steering wheel is the most obvious interior tip-off. Inspired by the Nissan 370Z, the three-spoke unit is much sportier and cleaner looking than the old, shield-shaped unit. The shift handle too is more substantial and modern looking–less clunky. Nissan also upgraded the trim around most of the revised components, lending the cabin a more upscale feel.

Under the metal
The 2016 Sentra’s overhaul is more than just skin-deep. Nissan revised the Sentra’s chassis, suspension and powertrain for a more comfortable, efficient and sporty driving experience. Chassis improvements include a boxed front tunnel stay (which braces the area where the exhaust exits beneath the firewall); a new, thicker steering shaft for improved steering response and feedback; new and revised suspension components and improved spring and damper rates.

Backing up these hardware changes are a few improvements to the car’s programming. The electric power steering system was remapped, as was the CVT’s “step shift” logic, which was implemented to provide a more natural acceleration curve than most expect from CVTs. Nissan also specced new, grippier tires for its 16-inch wheel options.

Nissan also added/adjusted some of its construction to reduce NVH.


More life-saving tech

2016 Sentra shoppers now have at their disposal a modernized array of driver assistance technologies, including forward emergency braking, intelligent cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. In keeping with the Sentra’s value proposition, the latter two options are available as part of a Driver Assistance package even on the somewhat sparsely equipped “SV” trim (a step above the base model), meaning they can be had for less than $20,000.

Forward emergency braking and intelligent cruise are both available as part of the Technology package on the pricier SR and SL models only. As much as safety feature as it is a convenience feature, Siri Eyes Free is also available from the SV model up.

A day in paradise
The theme for Nissan’s test drive was “A day in Orange County.” Media participants were encouraged to imagine themselves on a couples’ day sightseeing trip to sunny Southern California. Despite the awkwardness of this premise, the prescribed outing did give us a chance to put the Sentra through its paces in all manner of surroundings, including interstate highways, back roads, surface streets and even a ferry ride.

Essentially, Nissan selected a handful of local tourist spots and strung them together so that we could experience the 2016 Sentra in what the company considers its natural habitat–the urban and suburban jungles. With that as the goal, it’s no surprise that our drive route lacked one of our favorite types of pavement: twisty.

In the few areas where we did get to push the new Sentra a bit, we found Nissan’s claims of improved body control and grip to be truthful, though we’d hesitate to the call the Sentra “fun.” Its suspension is tuned for comfort, and the 130-horsepower, 1.8L engine isn’t going to set the world on fire when it comes to acceleration. Even driving an SR model with the drive mode set to “Sport” and the D-stepped CVT giving us every possible shot at the little four-banger’s 128 lb-ft of torque, it never felt particularly lively. Nissan is reportedly working on bringing some new, peppier engines to the Sentra lineup, and we’d welcome them.

The news from the road isn’t all bad. While the Sentra may not be taking home any trophies when it comes to fun factor, we’re pleased to note that the car is pleasantly more quiet. There’s less drone from the notoriously buzzy CVT on the highway, which is welcome, and the cabin feels comfortably more isolated at high speeds. Nissan’s stepped CVT programming not only makes the Sentra’s acceleration feel more like that of a car equipped with a traditional automatic, but it has the added benefit of holding the revs slightly lower too, which contributes to the improved NVH.

Leftlane’s bottom line
While we wouldn’t recommend the Sentra to those who prioritize a sporty drive, its value proposition is virtually unmatched. Those looking for an inexpensive, efficient compact car can comfortably add the 2016 Nissan Sentra to their shopping lists.

2016 Nissan Sentra, base price: $16,780 (S, MT) $17,630 (S, Xtronic CVT)

As tested:
2016 Nissan Sentra SR, base price: $20,410; SR Premium package, $2,590; Technology package, $1,230; Destination, $835

2016 Nissan Sentra SL, base price: $22,170; SL Premium package, $1,130; Technology pacakge, $1,230; Destination, $835

Looking to make the shift from simply a car company to a mobility company, Ford announced on Monday that is launching a new cloud-based service called FordPass. Developed jointly with tech firm Pivotal, FordPass is set to launch this April.

FordPass is a comprehensive new technology suite the encompasses several different aspects of today’s on-the-go life. For example, FordPass allows you to reserve parking ahead of time and can even extend your parking time, through a new FordPay function, if you’re meeting runs long.

FordPass also includes a new ride share function that appears to be Ford’s answer to Uber. However, unlike the popular ride sharing app, which allows users to hail a private car at any location, Ford’s approach relies on a central FordHub and a shuttle vehicle that carries multiple passengers. Ford says its ride sharing system relies on in-house developed software that determines “the most efficient route to complete the requests of all riders in the timeliest manner.”

“With FordPass, we are making it easier for consumers, whether they own a Ford vehicle or not, to get where they need to go,” said Elena Ford, vice president, Global Dealer and Consumer Experience. “Working with Pivotal, Ford will be able to rapidly add new features and adapt mobility solutions and services that benefit FordPass members in the ways that fit them best.”

FordPass will be available to both Ford owners and non-owners. Membership to the service is free.

Super Bowl 50 is officially in the books, with the Denver Broncos edging out the Carolina Panthers for the NFL crown. But the action wasn’t limited to the field, with several of the world’s automakers battling it out during the game’s commercial breaks.

Most of the ad campaigns were released ahead of kickoff, allowing the companies to take advantage of social media momentum ahead of the Big Game. However, a few companies, including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Buick, kept their sports under wraps until the game was under way.

Acura used the game to showcase its new NSX, already featured in a previous Super Bowl ad several years ago. Parent Honda commissioned a segment featuring singing sheep, promoting the next-generation 2017 Ridgeline pickup.

Hyundai spent big on two major ads, one featuring actor Ryan Reynolds and another with comedian Kevin Hart. Affiliate Kia has also opted for star power, offering advice from Christopher Walken.

Toyota, meanwhile, promoted its all-new Prius hybrid with a pair of spots that poked fun at the car’s poky image.

Buick debuted its first-ever Super Bowl commercial Sunday night. The spot featured a wedding-goer making an Odell Beckham-like catch during the bouquet toss. OBJ was in attendance at the wedding, because Super Bowl. The bride and groom then ride off in the all-new Buick Cascada.

FCA went nostalgic with a pair of commercials for its Jeep brand. Both touted the brand’s 75th anniversary.

MINI took a celebrity shock-and-awe strategy, fitting tennis champion Serena Williams, actor Harvey Keitel, musician T-Pain, former MLB pitcher Randy Johnson, skateboard icon Tony Hawk and soccer star Abby Wambach all into a single 30-second spot.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover sat out Super Bowl Sunday, while Subaru has opted to save some money and extend its Dog Tested campaign for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl.

The average cost of a 30-second Super Bowl commercial has climbed to nearly $5 million, according to an AdAge report. Companies are said to have collectively spent $4.5 billion to present their brands through the Big Game’s 50-year history.

Hyundai

Audi

Subaru (Puppy Bowl)

Acura

Kia

MINI

Honda

Toyota

Buick

Jeep

The claims fund set up by Volkswagen to address U.S. customers has revealed that it expects to provide compensation to U.S. TDI customers in the form of either cash, buy-backs or no charge repairs/upgrades.

According to a Reuters report, VW fund manager Kenneth Feinberg told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that he expects the compensation to be “generous.”

In the interview with the German newspaper, Feinberg said customers are free to accept or reject the offers made by the fund. He does not yet know if Volkswagen will approve an unlimited ceiling on compensation offers (as GM did when he managed the victim fund for the ignition switch settlement) but he expects the take right to be very high, regardless.

More than 90 percent of victims accepted offers recommended by Feinberg on behalf of the GM ignition switch fund. The same was true when Feinberg represented BP in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. When Feinberg managed the fund for September 11th victims, the acceptance rate topped 97 percent.

With the initial EPA announcement now six months in the rear-view mirror, hope for a solution that would avoid buybacks or other financial compensation here in the United States is rapidly fading. CARB’s rejection of Volkswagen’s initial proposal only compounded the anxiety for those U.S. customers who purchased TDIs and still have yet to be told what will become of their purchases. In Europe, where the gap between actual emissions and the allowable output is much smaller, VW is on the way to implementing a fix that requires only minor hardware and software changes.

The claims fund set up by Volkswagen to address U.S. customers has revealed that it expects to provide compensation to U.S. TDI customers in the form of either cash, buy-backs or no charge repairs/upgrades.

According to a Reuters report, VW fund manager Kenneth Feinberg told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that he expects the compensation to be “generous.”

In the interview with the German newspaper, Feinberg said customers are free to accept or reject the offers made by the fund. He does not yet know if Volkswagen will approve an unlimited ceiling on compensation offers (as GM did when he managed the victim fund for the ignition switch settlement) but he expects the take right to be very high, regardless.

More than 90 percent of victims accepted offers recommended by Feinberg on behalf of the GM ignition switch fund. The same was true when Feinberg represented BP in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. When Feinberg managed the fund for September 11th victims, the acceptance rate topped 97 percent.

With the initial EPA announcement now six months in the rear-view mirror, hope for a solution that would avoid buybacks or other financial compensation here in the United States is rapidly fading. CARB’s rejection of Volkswagen’s initial proposal only compounded the anxiety for those U.S. customers who purchased TDIs and still have yet to be told what will become of their purchases. In Europe, where the gap between actual emissions and the allowable output is much smaller, VW is on the way to implementing a fix that requires only minor hardware and software changes.