Car News

As part of Ford's latest regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company announced there was a "potential concern involving its US emissions certification process". Ford says it voluntarily informed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB) and other agencies about the matter in the middle of February this year. As a result, the US Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the matter.

Like his father, Kim Jong-un (above, right) prefers trains for long distance travel wherever possible. For last week's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim took one of his armoured trains to Vladivostok. There, he jumped into his waiting previous-generation Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard. He and his entourage have been photographed in other Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles during his trips to Hanoi, Singapore and the Korean DMZ.

Renault's pickup partner to the Nissan Navara, the Alaskan, has been treated to a facelift and suspension overhaul. Headlining the changes is a fresh five-link rear suspension, which bumps peak payload to 1100kg. That's an increase of between 127kg and 146kg, depending on variant, while its 3500kg braked-towing capacity remains unchanged.

Renault overhauled its light commercial vehicle range in one fell swoop this week, revealing updated versions of the Trafic and Master, plus a concept 2020 Kangoo EV. Given the Trafic is its top-seller in Australia, we’ll start here. The big news is the addition of new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines in place of the current 1.6 single- and twin-turbo options, tuned to meet harsh Euro6d-TEMP CO2 emissions caps.

Honda has recalled 2001-07 Accord and 2003-06 MDX models fitted with like-for-like Takata airbag inflators between March 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. As with all Takata-related recalls, a combination of heat and humidity can make the airbag inflator propellant degrade over time. If a car fitted with an affected airbag is involved in an accident, too much internal pressure can make its metal housing rupture, sending shrapnel into the cabin.