AWD

Toyota today announced a voluntary safety recall of about 52,000 2001 through 2003 Prius models in the U.S. to replace the electric power-steering pinion shaft attachment nuts.

According to Toyota, there is a possibility that the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly may become loose "if the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position."

The driver could, over time, notice that more effort is needed in steering when making a left turn, the company said.

Toyota dealers will make the necessary repairs, free of charge, by installing … Read more

Skipping CDs, navigation CDs do you even need CDs at all these days? We'll let you know all about it, but first I'm about to totally nerd out about all-wheel drive systems. This is the 14th episode of CNET Roadside Assistance for Thursday, the 26th of May 2011 and I am Antuan Goodwin alongside Senior Editor Wayne Cunningham. This is the show where the car tech guys take a moment to answer your emails and highlight your comments.

We see all-wheel-drive (AWD) badges on cars, crossovers, and SUVs all of the time. However, for those who really care about how their cars work, that badge can often stir up more questions than answers. Are all four wheels always being driven? Does AWD improve handling or does it improve safety? Are some systems better than others?

The answers to those questions vary by automaker and even by model. For example, there are automakers who use on-demand AWD systems across their lineup (Mazda comes to mind) and others, like Subaru, use full-time AWD for their vehicles. Other manufacturers, like Nissan, … Read more

CNET Editor at Large Brian Cooley said it best in his First Look video for the 2011 Acura MDX when he said--if I may paraphrase--that if you're pushing a big seven-seater SUV for sport driving, you need a second car, not Acura's Super Handing All-Wheel Drive system.

I understand exactly what he means, but as I swung that big-ol' SUV around a bend in my favorite mountain road, I honestly didn't care. With its six-speed automatic transmission manually locked into second gear, the 3.7-liter V-6 engine was able to output all 300 of its available ponies, … Read more

It is easy to look at the 2011 Land Rover LR4 and see a big dumb SUV. Its boxy form and imposing presence drew sneers and rolled eyes as we made our way around the streets of San Francisco, where the Prius reigns supreme. However, unlike most gas-guzzling poseur utility vehicles, the Rover is actually a very capable SUV with an advanced Terrain Management system that allowed the massive SUV to climb loose dirt hills like a mountain goat and pull itself through slick mud holes like it was fitted with treads. All the while, the LR4 isolates its driver … Read more

Try as we might, it's impossible for any car guy or gal to settle behind the wheel of a vehicle with zero expectations. So, when the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport arrived in the Car Tech garage with its athletic good looks, a "Sport" pedigree, and all-wheel driven Lancer underpinnings, we found ourselves briefly fantasizing about Lancer Sportback Ralliart-class handling and power. As you'll see in the full review, we got a serious reality check within the first few miles behind the wheel, thanks in no small part to the continuously variable transmission that sits between … Read more

Acura has heard our prayers and answered with an announcement that it will be offering the 2010 TL SH-AWD with a new six-speed manual transmission for "the enthusiast driver."

The all-new transmission is a proper three-pedal deal featuring uprated internals and a stiffer case, along with a new clutch system. Acura claims new gear synchronizers and a short-throw shifter assembly generate more accurate shifting with low shift effort. With Acura/Honda's history of sweet manual transmissions, we're inclined to believe the claims.

Aside from netting an 88 pounds weight reduction and a better weight distribution, the … Read more