Tag Archives: vehicles

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Hundreds of Jaguars ended up in a scrapyard

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In August 2024, Jaguar recalled 2,760 vehicles due to a high risk of thermal overload from the high-voltage battery, which could lead to a fire. The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace has already been recalled four times since May 2023 due to the same issue, and now someone on Threads posted a photo showing a large number of Jaguars, no older than 6 years, in a scrapyard.

Following the recall, Jaguar advised dealers to update the software to reduce the maximum battery charge to 80 percent while the company’s engineers worked to find a cure for the problem. Owners were also advised to park and charge their vehicles outside until a fix was implemented. However, the problem was never fixed.

Three Jaguar I-Paces caught fire in the US after the software update, but fortunately no one was injured. This negatively affected the brand’s position in the market, so the company decided to buy back all affected cars. The cars in the photo have just been purchased from their owners and are ready to be dismantled.

All of the affected vehicles are equipped with lithium-ion battery cells manufactured by LG Chem. The company has received negative attention after fires involving examples of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV.

Source: Threads

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The VW VR6 engine has come to an end

The VR6 engine debuted at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show in the third-generation Golf and has since been installed in 1.87 million cars. 34 years later, it has come to an end. This was confirmed by Andreas G. Schleith, PR manager for Volkswagen passenger cars on his LinkedIn profile.

Over time, the VR6 engine has powered numerous models, including the Passat, Corrado, Touareg, Phaeton, Transporter, Sharan, CC or Beetle, but also cars from other brands in the Volkswagen Group such as the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, Seat Leon and Škoda Superb. Even Mercedes-Benz has used this engine in its Vito model, with certain modifications.

Since 2010, the VR6 engine has only powered cars produced for the North American and Chinese markets, as it has stopped being installed in new cars in Europe due to stricter environmental standards.

Source: Andreas G. Schleith via LinkedIn

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Hyundai drivers prefer physical buttons over touchscreen

Touch screens have become standard in most new cars, making car interiors look clean and stylish. They provide more options for controlling the car’s functions, and when the vehicle is not moving, they work perfectly well to use. However, Hyundai has done research that shows American drivers don’t really like touchscreens.

Hyundai conducted several tests on a certain group of users and found that people are stressed and annoyed when they want to adjust something quickly but fail to do so. It takes more time to find digital controls, which takes their attention away from the road creating uncertainty while driving, while they find physical buttons easier to use.

“When we introduced infotainment screens to our vehicles, we tried to integrate the controls as well, but people don’t prefer it,” Hyundai’s vice president of design in North America Ha Hak-soo told the Korea JoonAng Daily.

Hyundai has already started offering physical buttons alongside touchscreens, such as in the new Ioniq 5. Some believe that drivers could still accept only touchscreens if the driver assistance system were improved, which some automakers are trying to do.

Source: Hyundai