| New Jersey increases distracted driving enforcement with sting operations |
May 18th, 2013 |
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New Jersey enforcement officers are increasing measures to stop distracted driving. Those who are distracted while driving and cause an accident could face vehicular homicide and assault charges.
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| Lowering The Legal Limit For Blood Alcohol Level in a DWI Case: A View From a Queens NY DWI Lawyer |
May 18th, 2013 |
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The NTSB is recommending that all US states reduce the blood alcohol threshold for legal intoxication down to .05%.
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| On the road Mazda6 2.2D Saloon Sport Nav Auto |
May 18th, 2013 |
We're off to see my mum. "Navigate to Dorchester-on-Thames," I command, to test out the state-of-the-art, voice-activated satnav. "Navigate to the nearest mountain pass - is that correct?" the car says. What? No! Dorchester-on-Thames. I try again. "Navigate to the nearest government office?" Maybe Mum's village is too small. Let's try Oxford - surely ...
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| Six charged with trying to defraud Nissan www.privateofficer.com |
May 18th, 2013 |
Six people have been indicted in a plot to defraud Nissan out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by making fake claims that they purchased lemons when they bought their cars. The indictment, filed Friday in federal court in Nashville, accuses Kenneth Carter, 44, of Corona, Calif.; Francisco DeLaRosa, 40, of West Covina, Calif.; Adrian Franklin, 39, of Chandler, Ariz.; Bruce Young, 49, of ...
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| Ford Being Sued Over EcoBoost Engines |
May 17th, 2013 |
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Ford Motor Co. is facing a lawsuit over alleged issues and defects with its 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engines. Three vehicle owners in Ohio have reported these issues, and according to the lawsuit, their engines “contained serious latent design, manufacturing, or assembly defects.” The three drivers have said the problems occur at highway speeds, where the [...]
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| To Protect and Impress: Bugatti Veyron Joining Dubai Police Fleet |
May 17th, 2013 |
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When it rains, it pours — even in the middle of the Arabian Desert. Weeks after adding Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari FF, and Chevrolet Camaro police cars to its fleet (among other things), the Dubai Police Force plans to add an even more exclusive exotic to its ranks: the Bugatti Veyron. The above rendering of a [...]
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| Food trucks from Baltimore and Washington to square off |
May 17th, 2013 |
Get ready to roll. Baltimore and Washington’s fleets of food trucks are squaring off again. Some 40 trucks, 20 from each city, are expected to attend the second Taste of Two Cities event on June 1, which is relocating from Westport Waterfront to Rash Field. Food trucks from Baltimore and Washington will compete in several categories. An overall winner will be presented the Mayor’s ...
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| Discover volcanic luxe in Iceland and art-deco cars in Nashville |
May 17th, 2013 |
Thingvellir, Iceland: Set amid the volcanic landscape of Mount Hengill, less than an hour drive from Reykjavik, ION is geared to adventurous travellers who prefer natural wonders to nightlife. Guests of the ultra-modern hotel can go fly fishing, diving and white-water rafting, tour the Gullfoss waterfall, geysers and glaciers, and explore Thingvellir National Park with a hiking guide or on ...
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| Auto stocks lead European shares to 4th straight weekly gain |
May 17th, 2013 |
Fri May 17, 2013 12:39pm EDT * FTSEurofirst 300 up 0.2 pct, Euro STOXX 50 up 0.4 * Indexes up for 4th consecutive week * U.S. data pushes FTSEurofirst 300 to new 5-yr high * Auto stocks lead cyclical rally after sales increase By Francesco Canepa LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - A rally in auto stocks and strong U.S. data helped European shares set a 5-year high on Friday and record their fourth ...
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| European car sales rise but it is a dead cat bounce |
May 17th, 2013 |
For the first time in a year and a half, car sales in Europe rose, but without an almost 15 percent increase in Britain they would have been negative again. Indeed the rebound in April was weak – one analyst called it a ';dead cat bounce'; – and was linked to several one-off factors which suggests we are not looking at a sustained recovery. Last year demand for new cars in ...
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| Fistful of new Grand Theft Auto V screenshots |
May 17th, 2013 |
Sky's the limit in new 'Grand Theft Auto V' images Vehicular-based activities abound as no-good drifter Trevor and car requisitionist Franklin get on the wrong side of the law, and a submersible stumbles upon a sunken wreck in the latest Grand Theft Auto V images. And various tidbits can be gleaned from each of the shots, such as the existence of police motorcycles in Trevor's ...
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| 2014 Jeep Cherokee Production Pushed Back One Month |
May 17th, 2013 |
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Chrysler Group LLC has announced that production for the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee will be delayed by a month, but that sufficient inventory will be ready by the fall. Chrysler is trying to iron out issues that arise when launching a new vehicle. The Cherokee replaces the Jeep Liberty, making it the brand’s most important [...]
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| BMW’s Z4 GTE Picks Up Where the M3 GT Left Off—Winning |
May 17th, 2013 |
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It’s going to break the hearts of many M-sters, but the last of the current-generation M3s are spoken for. And we’re not likely to see the F30-generation-sedan M variant until near the end of this year. On top of that, the coupe version, the M4, won’t make its first public appearance until some time next [...]
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| Cadillac Improves CPO Program |
May 17th, 2013 |
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 Cadillac's Certified Pre-Owned program will take its vehicle coverage to new heights, with a new bumper-to-bumper warranty for up to six years or 70,000 miles - whichever comes first.
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| Lawsuit Targets Ford EcoBoost |
May 17th, 2013 |
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 Bohrer Law Firm LLC has filed a class action complaint on behalf of all Louisiana purchasers and lessors of 2011 and 2012 Ford F-150 trucks with the Eco Boost engine.
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| Cars collide in north St. Louis after driver runs light |
May 17th, 2013 |
St. Louis, MO (KSDK) - A north St. Louis crash late Thursday remains under investigation after one of two drivers involved ran a red light and collided with a second car. The impact flipped the speeding car onto its top, where it then slid on the roof nearly a block. The crash occurred around 11:50 p.m. last night on North Florissant at Salisbury Street. Witnesses told police a northbound car ...
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| New Noises Lead to Dealership Visit for Long-Term Subaru BRZ |
May 17th, 2013 |
had developed some new noises -- or maybe we were able to hear them more now that it's getting warm in Chicago and we're driving with the windows ...
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| European Auto Sales Rebound but With an Asterisk |
May 17th, 2013 |
PARIS -- European auto sales broke an 18-month losing streak in April, industry data showed Friday. But don't pop open the Champagne just yet: The uptick was mostly a trick of the ...
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| In India its a bumpy road for trophy cars |
May 17th, 2013 |
Mumbai : It's not easy being the owner of an exceedingly expensive car in India. Just ask Rishabh Jain, whose Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, in a shade of metallic grey called Grigio Telesto, spends an inordinate amount of time under a cover in the parking lot of his apartment building in the affluent Malabar Hill neighbourhood in Mumbai.On a recent Sunday drive along the sea-hugging Marine ...
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| GM returns to $33 IPO price on truck optimism after 2-year slump |
May 17th, 2013 |
General Motors Co., poised to rejoin the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, topped its $33 initial public offering price for the first time in more than two years as the automaker prepares to introduce redesigned full-size pickups. GM rose 2.2 percent to $33.11 at 9:42 a.m. New York time after touching $33.16. The shares peaked at $38.98 at the close on Jan. 7, 2011, less two months after its ...
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| 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML550 4Matic review notes: With AMG-like acceleration |
May 17th, 2013 |
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EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Iand#8217;ll rarely turn down the chance to drive an ML, any ML. They are among the best midsize SUVs in the land. Expensive, but excellent. With that said, I like the ML350 Bluetec diesel best over the gas-powered ones.
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| Attend a 2013 Newberry Car Buffs Cruise In and Stay at the Nearby Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newberry Hotel |
May 17th, 2013 |
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newberry South Carolina Hotel offers convenient accommodations to guests attending a 2013 Newberry Car Buffs Cruise In.
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| Supreme Court says warrantless blood tests are generally impermissible |
May 17th, 2013 |
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The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that warrentless blood tests for DUI suspects are generally unconstitutional.
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| Data reveals the most common distractions in fatal crashes |
May 17th, 2013 |
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A recent analysis details the top 10 causes of fatal distracted driving accidents.
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| Illinois lawmakers consider banning handheld cellphone use for drivers |
May 17th, 2013 |
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Currently, drivers may legally talk on their handheld cellphones in the Land of Lincoln. However, a proposed law could soon change that.
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| Inhalation of auto emissions turns HDL cholesterol from good to bad |
May 17th, 2013 |
Washington, May 16 : Breathing motor vehicle emissions triggers a change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, altering its cardiovascular protective qualities so that it actually contributes to clogged arteries, researchers have found in a study done in ...
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| Virginia man accused of crashing stolen ambulance into cars www.privateofficer.com |
May 17th, 2013 |
Police say a man was drunk when he stole an ambulance and crashed into five cars in Norfolk. Just after 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, police say 25-year-old Lamont Antonio Davis got into the private ambulance that was parked at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and drove off. They say he drove down Colley Avenue, crossed the median and crashed near the intersection with Westover ...
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| Two NATO truck drivers killed near Afghan border |
May 17th, 2013 |
Two NATO drivers were killed when gunmen opened fire on supply trucks passing through northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, local officials said. The News quoted local official Asmatullah Wazir as saying, that the first driver was killed in the Jamrud area of Khyber by two motorcycle-borne gunmen. In a separate attack, gunmen opened fire on another NATO supply truck in a suburb of ...
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| Honda confirm F1 grid return in 2015 |
May 17th, 2013 |
Honda have announced they will return to Formula 1 by supplying McLaren engines from 2015.The Japanese manfacturer and British team believe they can take advantage of the new 1.6 litre V6 engine rule that is being brought in next season.Honda came into the sport back in 1964 when they debuted their works team at the German Grand Prix, only to withdraw from the sport at the end of the 1968 ...
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| Good news today Chequeout this honest auto driver |
May 17th, 2013 |
He could have been a billionaire overnight, but autorickshaw driver Raju Bharwad chose honesty over a cheque of Rs 1.9 crore sent in his name by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation.Bharwad was surprised to receive the cheque, which also had the name of his mother as the corecipient.The accompanying letter said the money was being given to them in lieu of 10 bigha land that they owned at ...
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| BMW M235i revealed in spy shots |
May 17th, 2013 |
has been spied almost entirely free of camouflage, revealing most of the production car’s exterior design. CarAdvice’s spy photographers captured the 2 Series coupe during an official photo shoot in which all but the ...
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| Ram’s 2500 / 3500 HD pickup Driven: Going for the Gold Medal of Tow Ratings |
May 17th, 2013 |
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While half-ton pickups often lead lives of suburban leisure, three-quarter and one-ton class trucks are seldom extended the luxury. Often put to work within minutes of taking delivery, big dogs like Ram’s 2500 and 3500 HD models are built to flex their muscles on a daily basis, and live in a world where a soiled [...]
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| Flying cars grounded following crash into Vernon schoolyard |
May 17th, 2013 |
VERNON, B.C. -- The Transportation Safety Board says the U.S. manufacturer of flying cars has grounded all five of its prototypes until it can determine a cause for a recent crash in B.C.One of the Maverick flying cars, sold by Florida-based Beyond Roads, crashed near a Vernon elementary school last Friday, leaving a pilot and a passenger with minor injuries. According to the company's ...
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| BMW CEO to Germans Chill out and start buying electric cars |
May 17th, 2013 |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) visit a BMW plant in Leipzig on Nov. 5, 2010. The plant will be expanded to produce the newly-developed Megacity electric car. (Steffen Kugler/AFP/Getty ...
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| Honda confirms Formula One return |
May 17th, 2013 |
from 2015. The Japanese brand had been strongly rumoured to return to motorsport’s premier racing category after leaving at the end of the 2008 ...
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| Spied! 2014 BMW M235i Without Camouflage |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Previously, the only BMW 2-Series prototypes seen were smothered in camouflage, making it harder for us to figure out what the production-ready car would look like. Today, we caught the BMW M235i at an official photo shoot where most of the camouflage has been done away with. Even several months before its official debut, we [...]
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| Behind the Wheel: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 BlueTEC 4MATIC |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Mercedes-Benz will be the first to tell you that it is the grandfather of the diesel engine. Across the pond, this makes for really good for business as 55 percent of all Europeans drive a vehicle with a diesel engine under the hood. Back in America, that number is incinerated down to around 2.5 percent. [...]
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| EPA’s Low-Sulfur Fuel Proposal a Mixed Bag for Refineries, Manufacturers |
May 16th, 2013 |
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In March of this year, the EPA took a few more steps in converting its long-gestating Tier 3 fuel-standards proposal to reality. According to a report in the Washington Post, the rules (which include plans to cut sulfur content by two-thirds and impose fleet-wide pollution limits on new vehicles by 2017) have been in regulatory [...]
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| NADA: Auction Prices for Full-Size Pickups Up 7 Percent |
May 16th, 2013 |
In the first four months of 2013, auction prices for full-size pickup trucks rose nearly 7 percent.
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| 2 Dealers Receive Dataium’s Web Awards for April |
May 16th, 2013 |
Ron Carter Hyundai and Antwerpen Hyundai Catonsville have each received an award from Dataium for the month of April.
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| Mitsubishi Prepares Second-Gen EV Pikes Peak Racers |
May 16th, 2013 |
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536-hp, AWD racer set to "race to the clouds."
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| Watch Infiniti M Sedans Slide Around in the Dirt |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Infiniti is making the most of its partnership with Red Bull Racing, releasing a new video featuring newly named Infiniti performance director and three-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel of an Infiniti M sedan. This time, instead of dueling with teammate Mark Webber, Vettel’s partner is former Red Bull driver David Coulthard. The [...]
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| Soar Over Volkswagen’s Worthersee Festival (W/Videos) |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Diehard Volkswagen enthusiasts wouldn’t miss the annual Worthersee festival in Austria, but in case you couldn’t make it out this year, the videos below take us for a tour inside the celebration, in which we see Volkswagens of all shapes and sizes everywhere the video camera turns. Onto its 32nd year, the Worthersee festival draws [...]
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| NHTSA Considers Making Automatic Braking Mandatory |
May 16th, 2013 |
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First antilock brakes, then traction and electronic stability control, and now automatic braking? The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reportedly considering a push to make automatic braking, as seen on vehicles such as the Volvo S60, a mandatory feature for all new cars. The news comes from NHTSA administrator David Strickland, who made [...]
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| Report EV charging stations may grow tenfold by end of decade |
May 16th, 2013 |
The number of electric-vehicle charging stations is expected to grow tenfold by the end of the decade, according to a new report compiled by IMS Research. EV charging stations, which totaled 135,000 globally in 2011, could grow to 10.7 million by 2020, the report said, led by growing electric-vehicle markets like the U.S., China, Japan and Germany. "While volumes may not reach the levels ...
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| Porsche Reveals An Itsy Bit of News on 918 Spyder Plus Photos |
May 16th, 2013 |
-- a time when electric vehicles were thought to be the near future for everyone. The idea of Porsche putting a plug-in hybrid powertrain into its halo race car might have dimmed with the tepid reaction to typical EVs. That doesn't seem to be the case. Porsche has let out some more details about the prototype for the 918 Spyder, which is running rings at Germany's famed ...
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| 2014 Cadillac XTS Whats Changed |
May 16th, 2013 |
goes on sale later this summer, the large sedan will be what the automaker calls "one of the most technologically advanced production cars in the brand's history." Topping the list of upgrades is a new twin-turbo V-6 engine that's borrowed from the ...
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| A16Zs Chris Dixon on the Internet of Locks Cars New York and Everything Else |
May 16th, 2013 |
Kevin Maney Chris Dixon is a New York guy with a degree in philosophy from Columbia University. He's also, as of last fall, a partner at hot Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (which shortens its name to A16Z--16 is the number of letters between the A and the Z). All in all, that gives him a pretty interesting point of view on the big technology shift that's being ...
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| Osceola County shoot-out damages cars in Buenaventura Lakes |
May 16th, 2013 |
KISSIMMEE – Gunshots fired about 1:40 am. Thursday drew Osceola County sheriff's deputies to the area of Royal Palm and Alameda drives, according to the sheriff's office.When they arrived, an unidentified resident told deputies he had been in his back yard when he heard gunfire on the street and then saw an older model white Dodge Caravan leave the area. Deputies found what ...
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| Honda looking forward to green return to F1 |
May 16th, 2013 |
Sitting in an interview room at the Bunkamura cultural complex in Tokyo's Shibuya district, Mara Pags leans forward, smiles and tells me: "Flamenco is my ...
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| Briefs New No. 2 NHTSA official has history with automakers |
May 16th, 2013 |
Washington - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new No. 2 official who has often sparred with automakers. David Friedman, deputy director of the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, was sworn in as deputy administrator at NHTSA on Wednesday, his boss, David Strickland disclosed at a Senate Commerce hearing. Friedman, who was in attendance at the ...
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| Car Promises That Werent Kept |
May 16th, 2013 |
, and in the following months purchased the remaining shares and privatized the entire company. With the acquisition came a new edict: No future product announcements. "We don't know, at this point, to what extent any of those future products are in the works," Lotus Cars USA spokesman Kevin Smith told us. "We don't even, frankly, know that much internally right now ...
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| 100,000th Porsche Panamera Built |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Porsche is undoubtedly one of the most iconic automakers, and its sports cars have been pleasing enthusiasts for decades. So when Porsche began deviating from its tried and true recipe of classically styled performance coupes, more than a few in the industry raised an eyebrow. In an effort to expand its sales and customer base, [...]
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| SUV vs. Small Car Crashes Deadly Despite Good Test Scores |
May 16th, 2013 |
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A new study from the University at Buffalo has found that crash test scores are less relevant when a sedan is in an accident with an SUV. The study will be presented in full on May 16 at the annual meeting of the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine in Atlanta. In a head-on collision between [...]
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| Lessors Approve More Consumers |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 The latest car lease credit approvals data show 2013 has started out with the strongest credit health since the recession.
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| This Rolls-Royce Wraith Video Required 100 DSLR Cameras |
May 16th, 2013 |
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If you love learning how movie magic is made, you’ll probably appreciate this behind-the-scenes clip for the Rolls-Royce Wraith launch video, which featured a scene produced using an array of 100 Nikon digital SLR cameras. The two-minute commercial starts off fairly tame, with Rolls-Royce’s new coupe barreling through a dark forest. As the Wraith passes [...]
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| Honda to Build Engines For McLaren F1 Team |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Honda to build turbo V-6 engines.
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| 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Car Seat Check |
May 16th, 2013 |
Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee's exterior and interior get refreshed for the 2014 model year. The changes don't affect the Grand Cherokee's ability to fit three child-safety seats across the backseat, however. Since its 2011 redesign, the Grand Cherokee has been one of the handful of cars that ...
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| Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez to step down |
May 16th, 2013 |
, is expected to step down at the end of the year after 13 years at the helm, according to the Sunday Times. Bez, who turns 70 this year, will reportedly move into an ambassadorial role with the quintessential British sports car marque, after effectively transforming the company from an under-performing niche operation into a profitable global business. After joining ...
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| Bicycle Sunday Look ma no cars |
May 16th, 2013 |
Fit & Fun For 47 years, the city of Seattle has closed a section of Lake Washington Boulevard to vehicles on select spring and summer Sundays and turned it over to bicyclists and walkers. In fact, "Bicycle Sunday," sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and Cascade Bicycle Club, is one of the older open-streets events in the country. About 2,500 people take advantage of the ...
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| Automotive Leather Supplier Eagle Ottawa Increases Hungarian Plant Capacity |
May 16th, 2013 |
Eagle Ottawa, the world's largest automotive leather supplier, is expanding its manufacturing facility in Szolnok, Hungary to meet increasing customer demand. The facility will increase by 60% in size. Groundbreaking will take place on June 10, 2013 and the expansion is expected to be complete in October 2013. The company's investment will be bringing 150 new jobs to the ...
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| IIHS Gives Top Safety Pick + to 2014 Subaru Forester, 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
May 16th, 2013 |
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The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced test scores for its most recent compact crossovers, and Mitsubishi and Subaru have reasons to smile. Only two out of the 13 vehicles tested earned the top honor of Top Safety Pick+. The 2014 Subaru Forester was the only vehicle to earn Good ratings on the [...]
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| Top 10 Incentives for May |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Summer is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to get yourself behind the wheel of that car you’ve been eying. With all the vehicles on our list this month, there is no doubt something for everyone, and even a convertible to help you beat the summer heat that has already started to [...]
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| 2013 Dodge Dart Special Edition Packages |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Available today in Dodge dealerships across the country are new 2013 Dodge Dart “Special Edition” packages, as well as a new Rallye Appearance Group. These are only available on the STX and Limited models, and they combine features and content exclusive to the segment, and are consistently ordered by current Dart customers. Dodge says the [...]
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| Tesla To Pay Back Department of Energy Loan Through Stock Sale |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Tesla Motors, Inc. has announced its plan to pay back the Department of Energy by offering almost 3 million shares of common stock, as well as $450 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes. The automaker has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 405,454 shares of common stock [...]
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| Gran Turismo Celebrates its 15th Anniversary |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has announced that Gran Turismo 6 will be released in time for the holidays this year, game creator Kazunori Yamauchi revealed a 15th anniversary celebration today. The newest installment of PlayStation’s best-selling franchise will bring more authenticity to the “Real Driving Simulator,” along with new track and cars. Along with the [...]
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| Nissan Leaf Hits 25,000 U.S. Sales |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Earlier this year, the Nissan Leaf had its best-ever monthly sales, and a 423.5 percent year-over-year increase compared to last year. Capping it off, today Nissan announced that the Leaf hitting the 25,000 U.S. sales threshold, making it the world’s best-selling electric vehicle. Since the vehicle’s launch, sales have continued to grow, especially in areas [...]
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| National Transportation Safety Board Recommends Lowering Legal Drunk Driving Limit |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Not wholly shocking, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that all states lower what legally constitutes drunk driving from a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 to 0.05 percent. The NTSB says that about 10,000 people die each year from alcohol-related car accidents, and 170,000 are injured. This would be one way to lower those numbers, [...]
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| Exclusive: Feds Declare War on Black-Market Land Rover Defenders |
May 16th, 2013 |
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About half of the action movies made in the 1980s and 1990s, it seems, end up with a final showdown in a shipyard, hero and villains weaving through crates and pallets and containers. (The other half in abandoned warehouses and steel mills with free-flowing magnesium sparks.) “Diplomatic immunity!” a South African criminal taunts from atop [...]
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| The Concepts of Wörthersee: VW Group’s Pilgrimage to Austria |
May 16th, 2013 |
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The GTI meeting at the picturesque Lake Wörthersee in the Austrian state of Carinthia has turned into the VW Group’s annual adoration event. The entire company’s top brass, including Ferdinand Piëch, is present on location, embracing the culture surrounding the GTI. This year, VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda will debut six concepts, and if the [...]
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| 24 Hours of LeMons New England: Winners! |
May 16th, 2013 |
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The last time LeMons racing came to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hurricane Sandy forced the LeMons perpetrators to drive their rental Kia to North Carolina immediately after the checkered flag. This time, the weather was a bit better, but we still had to endure a blizzard of thrown rods and a hail of engine-block bits. [...]
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| John Phillips: As Slow as Possible. As Fast as Necessary |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Last Sunday, my wife and I drove our website’s long-term Mazda CX-5 to Blue Joint Creek, about 30 miles southwest of Conner, Montana. Julie’s goal was to photograph a troupe of bighorn sheep that hangs out there, initiating little rock slides that dissuade viewers below, although not Julie. My goal was to pit the Mazda’s [...]
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| Suppliers’ Hires: Where Automotive Partsmakers Are, By State [Infographic] |
May 16th, 2013 |
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It’s been a long time since America’s auto industry consisted solely of Clint Eastwood types hammering together Fords in greater Detroit. While our automobile-manufacturing base is spreading across the South, if you look one step beyond the automakers, their suppliers are even more geographically diverse. From a factory in Maine that makes suspension components to [...]
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| 2015 Jaguar F-type Coupe Spy Photos: Same Sexy Sports Car, Different Hat |
May 16th, 2013 |
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What It Is: The inevitable Jaguar F-type coupe, caught wearing camouflage on its roof designed to look like a softtop. It’s not fooling anyone, and it isn’t exactly a secret that Jaguar is working on a fixed-head F-type. Despite debuting as a roadster, the F-type was first previewed in concept-car form as the roofed C-X16. [...]
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| The Continental: The Autobahn is Safe, Mercedes Unimog Gets SL Grille, and VW and Lambo Tidbits |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental. Whew—that wasn’t even close! An attack on unlimited speeds on the German autobahn has collapsed after [...]
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| Ten Things You Probably Didn’t Know—And Neither Did We—About McLaren’s P1 |
May 16th, 2013 |
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We recently had the opportunity to participate in a technical workshop hosted by McLaren to discuss all things P1. The long-awaited successor to the famed F1 has been touted by the Woking-based operation as “the world’s best car on road and track.” So we took the opportunity to discover what will make this $1.15-million hypercar [...]
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| 2013 Volkswagen Jetta “Safety” Commercial: A Little Fresh Heir Is Good [The Ad Section] |
May 16th, 2013 |
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There’s an old maxim in advertising that says if you want people to pay attention to your commercial, show babies or puppies. Over the years a lot of research—from eye-tracking studies to serious neuroscience experiments—has confirmed what every mother already knows: Adults are fascinated by the cute little buggers. E*Trade has certainly taken this adage [...]
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| 24 Hours of LeMons New England Day 1: Honda Accord, Volvo 745, Sea Sprite Leading |
May 16th, 2013 |
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When we inspect the cars that show up for a LeMons race, we’re never sure what’s going to happen once the real racing starts. Oh, sure, we always know which half-dozen teams have a genuine shot at the overall win— that’s a matter of recognizing which teams have the organizational chops and reliable machinery needed [...]
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| What I’d Do Differently: Dan Quayle |
May 16th, 2013 |
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C/D: Mr. Vice President, let’s get right to the fuzzy dice. DQ: I’m just on [Bell Automotive’s] board. I have nothing to do with their products. But I’ve had some dice and seat covers and steering-wheel covers in my cars. Not a lot. READ MORE ››
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| Lexus LS460 F Sport AWD Tested: Serene with an Attitude |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Note to luxury automobile manufacturers interested in entering the performance market: The world’s strategic reserve of performance-signifying alpha characters is dwindling fast. BMW has M locked up, Audi claimed RS, Cadillac took V, and greedy old Mercedes-Benz, acting with characteristic disregard for its Bavarian comrades, took A, M, and G. Thank heaven the letter F [...]
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| 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Driven: Good, Green Fun |
May 16th, 2013 |
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The 918 Spyder may pay homage to Porsche’s illustrious past, but its real mission is redefining supercar possibilities. Smart use of advanced technology works to eliminate the traditional conflict between performance and efficiency. Faster, and theoretically more fuel-stingy than any past Porsche, the 918 ventures beyond today’s expectations of hybrid technology to ensure that driving [...]
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| In Support of Lowering the Blood-Alcohol Limit to 0.05 |
May 16th, 2013 |
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When Roger Sterling takes a glass of vodka “for the road” on the television drama Mad Men, we laugh it off as another bit of black comedy. We’re smirking on our couches, nervously, from the reckless, carte blanche behavior seen on the show’s fictional 1960s setting. But five decades on, despite hundreds of laws on [...]
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| Prime Cuts: The Difference Between Regular and Run-Flat Tires Revealed—By Slicing Them Open |
May 16th, 2013 |
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Modern run-flat tires rely on strong, stiff sidewalls to carry the vehicle’s weight when air pressure dissipates. Extracting 50 miles of use from a flat tire, however, requires more than strength. Driving on a deflated tire—run-flat or not—initiates a destructive cycle: As the sidewall collapses, increased friction generates more heat, which softens the rubber and [...]
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| SEMA Enhances Collision Expo |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 The 2013 SEMA Show will include enhanced features for the Collision Repair & Refinish market, including an expanded show floor area, targeted activities both inside and outside the Las Vegas Convention Center and an educational program.
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| Experian Sees Delinquencies, Repos Rise |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 Experian Automotive announced that automotive loan delinquency and repossession rates increased in the first quarter.
According to the latest State of Automotive Finance report, 30-day auto loan delinquencies rose 1.3 percent, 60-day delinquencies increased 12.4 percent and repossessions rose 16.9 percent when compared with the previous year.
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| ALG Expects Lower Residuals |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 ALG is forecasting a slight decrease in 36-month residual values of -0.5 percentage points, which compares favorably to historical norms that expected a -0.9-percentage point drop, according to the latest ALG Industry Report.
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| Small Business Owners Feel Better |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 The National Federation of Independent Business' Index of Small Business Optimism rose 2.6 points to 92.1 in April, just above the recovery average of 90.7.
In April's report, 4 index components rose, 2 fell and 4 were unchanged. Yet pessimism abounds within the sector, as still far more of those surveyed expect business conditions to be worse in six months than those who think they will be better.
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| Value Guide Pioneer Passes Away |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 James Harry Lawrence, a member of the National Auto Auction Association Hall of Fame, died May 2. He was 90.
Lawrence served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He then attended the Johns Hopkins University, graduating in 1951 with a degree in political economy.
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| NADA Extends Deadline for Study |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), American Truck Dealers (ATD) and NADA University have extended the deadline to participate in the 2013 Dealership Workforce Study until June 30.
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| Ally Remains on Negative Watch |
May 16th, 2013 |
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 Fitch Ratings has maintained Ally Financial Inc.'s long-term Issuer Default Rating and senior unsecured debt rating of 'BB-' on Rating Watch Negative.
The ratings were first placed on Rating Watch Negative on May 15, 2012; following the bankruptcy filing by Ally's wholly owned subsidiary Residential Capital LLC.
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| California Town Settles Land Dispute With Former Dealer for $1.4M |
May 16th, 2013 |
The former owner of a Montebello, Calif., dealership will receive $1.4 million despite unsuccessfully suiting the city twice over a 2009 land dispute.
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| Colorado Legislature Sides With Dealers |
May 16th, 2013 |
The state’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to approve a bill that gives dealers more power in their negotiations with manufacturers. The legislation still needs to gain passage by the full legislature.
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| Manheim Expands Into Western Canada |
May 16th, 2013 |
Manheim Canada has signed a partnership agreement with Source Auto Auction, a newly created auction facility in Edmonton, Alberta.
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| April SAAR at 14.92 Million Units |
May 16th, 2013 |
The SAAR is up slightly vs. April of last year, and most manufacturers experienced an increase in sales during the month.
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| Sonic, Ashbury Total Revenue Up in Q1 |
May 16th, 2013 |
Sonic’s 2013 first-quarter net income from continuing operations was $21.7 million, while Asbury reported income from continuing operations of $23.9 million.
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| 3 ‘P’s of F&I |
May 16th, 2013 |
His Madness covers three items you won’t find in any new-hire training manual but are critical to your career in F&I. Together, they make up the unwritten rules of life inside a dealership.
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| FordDirect Adds Trade-In Appraisal Tool, Credit Estimator to Dealer Websites |
May 16th, 2013 |
The tools are generating 500 additional leads daily and 40 percent of customers who use the tools purchase a vehicle within 30 days, according to the company.
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| N.J. Dealer Sues Chrysler |
May 16th, 2013 |
Lucas Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram has filed a lawsuit against the automaker for terminating its franchise agreement after the dealer failed to make expensive renovations to its facilities.
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| VisionMenu Now Integrated With Dealertrack’s DMS |
May 16th, 2013 |
The integration allows dealerships using Dealertrack’s DMS solution and VisionMenu to quickly and directly access a one-click menu from the dealer’s library of templates.
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| Santander Plans IPO |
May 16th, 2013 |
Santander Consumer USA and three other equity firms are planning to list Santander in the coming months to take advantage of favorable market conditions to sell shares.
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