At the same time, Honda, the second leading company in Japan after Toyota has also experiencing the same thing. More than half a million Honda vehicles in US were recalled because of ignition problems and airbags inflators which may expand with too much pressure.
This has given the two leading Japanese manufacturers a bad name. Consumers started to make reports, some even protest for their safety and there were others who had been victims in a number of accidents were filing for lawsuits. Sales has been declining. People also started making fun of it such as the Letterman's parody of Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.
You might think since it was Japanese automobile, then the quality must be at the minimum level compared to European's or American's or even the top names like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Buggati. Well, think again.
You see, recently Ferrari has just launched its new addition the 458 Italia. And boy oh boy, to me it was the prettiest and the most futuristic Ferrari ever to go on sale.
This particular Ferrari is a replacement for the old F430 and it costs around £170,000 in UK, or $230,675 in the States. If any of us interested in getting one of this, you could buy one from Naza Italia in KL for RM2,000,000 ;p
Many car magazines commented it to be among one of the best and most technical super car Ferrari has produced to date. And now, this model is also known to be one of the largest super car recall ever.
Since its launch earlier this year, there are now 1,248 of 458 Italia on the road worldwide. Suddenly, 5 of them has been catching fire across the globe. Incidents have also been reported in California, Paris, China and Switzerland.
July 8, Paris - Black 458 catches fire with passerby putting blaze out with extinguisher:
July 14, Switzerland - Red 458's engine catches fire on a mountain pass:
August 18, California - Red 458 catches fire in California:
Ferrari said that and I'm going to quote "a flaw in the wheel arch on the rear of the £170,000 supercar is fitted with a special glue which is prone to melting. The fault brings the lining of the wheel-arch into contact with the hot exhaust pipe causing both the lining and the adhesive to heat up and ignite. As result of the fire the superheated aluminium body will subsequently melt"
In Malaysia, there has not been a sighting of this beautiful car burst into flame in our hot weather...well, not yet. Naza Italia said it had 14 names in its order books for the 570 bhp 4.5-litre V8 Prancing Horse. Therefore, it’s save to assume that they are all safely kept in the cool garages of Datuk and Tan Sri owners. If you know someone who has Ferrari 458 Italia and it has been destroyed as a direct result of the fault, tell them not to worry since Ferrari will take full responsibility and offered a free vehicle as soon as possible at no cost. LOL.
