Auto
*Mazda has unveiled the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, which uses hydrogen to power an electric motor. The automaker says it will be available for leasing in Japan next year. In the rotary-engine Premacy Hybrid, hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the air to power the vehicle. The hydrogen is stored in a tank, and the car can switch to gas when hydrogen runs out.
Recall
*Volkswagen is recalling 340,000 2005-08 Jetta and 2006-08 Rabbit, GTI and R32 cars because the headlights don’t meet federal safety standards. Some of the head lamps may be missing required caps in the sockets of the low beam horizontal and vertical aiming screws.
Safety
*The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded its investigation into 345,000 2000-03 Volkswagen Passat sedans after receiving 78 reports of engine fires. NHTSA says many of the complaints attribute the fires to ignition coil failure.
*NHTSA is investigating complaints that the front power windows on the driver and passenger sides of 2003-04 Pontiac Vibes shattered as they were being raised or lowered. NHTSA says more than 120,000 vehicles could be involved.
FYI
*Ford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are forming a research partnership to develop new engine and transmission, fuel and energy technologies.
*The Montana Highway Patrol has a new weapon against drinking and driving — a big, black DUI wagon. The Mobile Impaired Driving Assessment Center has a testing station, an Intoxilyzer 8000, refrigeration for storing blood evidence, computers for running background checks and other conveniences normally only found at a police station. The wagon is in response to Montana’s longtime ranking at or near the top for alcohol-related traffic deaths.
People
*Stephen E. Gorman, 52, has resigned as president and CEO of Greyhound Lines as control of the bus company has shifted to a Scottish company. Gorman, who held the posts since 2003, was replaced by chief operating officer Dave Leach, 43, and a 21-year veteran with Greyhound and its Canadian affiliate.
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Quick Trips are compiled from the notebook of Rick Popely and from Tribune news services.
