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Report: VW, Suzuki mulling rekindling relationship in face of legal battle

Filed under: Government/Legal, Suzuki, Volkswagen

Suzuki and Volkswagen Grilles

Volkswagen and Suzuki have been undergoing marriage counseling in a bid to avoid finalizing their nasty divorce. The union has been troubled for some time, with Volkswagen claiming that it could affect operational decisions at Suzuki, and the Japanese brand’s sniping and constant flirting with a certain Italian temptress causing rifts.

The matter first went to court in 2012, when Suzuki demanded VW get out, and leave its 19.9-percent stake in the Japanese brand in a box to the left. Now, Automotive News is reporting that the company will give the relationship one last shot, according to closed-door dealings between the two in London.

Still, it’s understood that VW and Suzuki recognize the benefit of their alliance, and that it’d be in the best interests of ~~the kids~~ both parties to make things work. Spokespeople declined to comment to AN, but the newsmagazine spoke with Frank Biller, an analyst for LBBW in Stuttgart, who said, “Both companies stand to benefit if they can overcome the disagreements over leadership claims.”

This argument over who wears the pants in the relationship has the potential to make or break the partnership, as sources close to the discussions told AN that if an agreement can’t be reached, then a London-based arbitrator could get involved.

Suzuki last made waves when it up and pulled out of the US and Canadian markets last year after declaring bankruptcy.

VW, Suzuki mulling rekindling relationship in face of legal battle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Saab US bankruptcy plan gets legal green-light

Filed under: Government/Legal, Saab, Earnings/Financials

Saab

It feels utterly bizarre that we’re still talking about Saab, but Reuters is reporting that the bankrupt Swedish manufacturer’s American arm has gotten approval from the US Bankruptcy Court to liquidate its assets and pay back creditors. As part of the plan, secured creditors like Ally Financial will receive full repayment. Unsecured creditors, consisting of those affected by abandoned leases and contracts will get anywhere from 25 to 82 percent of their money back.

There are currently $77 million in unsecured claims, according to Reuters, but that number doesn’t include claims from former Saab dealers. Naturally, the entire affair is full of lawyers and legalese. A trust formed on the Saab side will be negotiating with creditors and their affiliates in an attempt to reduce claims against Saab. This sounds like the start of a long and sordid affair…

Saab US bankruptcy plan gets legal green-light originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volkswagen WRC program to lead to street-legal Polo R?

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen Polo R WRC – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been an on-again, off-again affair with rumors of a possible R version of the Volkswagen Polo. But according to the latest from the Old World, things are looking up for the prospective pocket rocket.

The change in fortunes come down, according to Autocar, to the launch of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC, the car with which the German automaker is preparing to mount its assault on the World Rally Championship. As you can see, the rally machine carries R branding, prompting the British publication to press VW board member Ulrich Hackenberg on the renewed possibility of a production Polo R hot hatch.

Hackenberg admitted such a vehicle is more likely with the launch of the WRC Polo, but that it wouldn’t arrive before 2013. As for specs, that’s all up to speculation. Autocar figures on a version of the Polo GTI’s 1.4-liter twin-charger four with over 200 horsepower, with or without the all-wheel-drive system being developed by Audi for the A1 built on the same platform. One way or another, we’ll be watching this development as it unfolds (or doesn’t).

Volkswagen WRC program to lead to street-legal Polo R? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren to produce street-legal MP4-12C GT3? [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

mclaren mp4-12c gt3

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s a grand tradition of turning a supercar into a race car, then turning it back into a road car again. Call it “life imitating art imitating life,” or call it what you want, but we call it awesome. Ferrari, for example, did just that with the 360 Modena, which became the 360 Challenge racer and then the 360 Challenge Stradale road car. Maserati followed a similar formula with the GranTurismo, turned GranTurismo MC GT4 and back into the GranTurismo MC Stradale. McLaren’s done it too, turning the original F1 into the F1 GTR racer and then back into the hyper-exclusive F1 LM road car. And now it could be ready to do so again with the latest MP4-12C.

The racing team-turned-automaker just rolled out the new GT3 racing version of the MP4, and has grand plans to produce a new model or variant annually for the next five years. A big brother to the MP4 and successor to the F1 is reportedly set for introduction by 2014, bearing more radical styling than the rather derivative 12C (and hopefully a more dynamic name, too). But before that, we could be looking at a road-ready GT3 model.

The standard approach of less weight, more power would likely be applied to the hardcore MP4 – the same sort of formula used on the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Lamborghini Gallardo Superlegerra – to make for an even more extreme supercar. But while variations on the theme are in the pipeline, McLaren is reportedly eager to stay on the reasonable side of Porsche’s approach of endless 911 variants. Click past the break to check out McLaren’s official video covering the launch of the MP4-12C GT3.

Continue reading McLaren to produce street-legal MP4-12C GT3? [w/video]

McLaren to produce street-legal MP4-12C GT3? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Senate introduces amendment to keep youth motorbikes legal

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Motorcycle

youth dirt bike rider

In February 2009, it became illegal to sell children’s motorbikes in the United States. The reason? The amount of lead they contained exceeded the maximum allowance established by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). This law wasn’t aimed at the motorcycle industry and its youth products, but they became caught up in the issue.

Shortly thereafter, policymakers and the motorcycle industry came to a temporary agreement that put a stay of enforcement in place through the end of 2011. This workaround bought motorbike manufacturers and Capitol Hill extra time so that they could come up with a more elegant solution.

Now, that potential solution has been introduced to the floor in the form of Senate Amendment 264. Co-sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D – MN) and John Tester (D – MT), SA 264 would amend CPSIA to exclude youth off-highway vehicles from the lead law provisions.

[Source: Motorcycle-USA]

U.S. Senate introduces amendment to keep youth motorbikes legal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dodge Ram Runner kit will be street legal

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Truck, Etc., Chrysler, Off-Road

Ram Runner

Dodge Ram Runner Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s some big news buzzing around the Ram Runner Concept at the moment. We’ve known for a good while now that Chrysler is planning to offer a kit to convert any Ram 1500 pickup into the desert raiding beast seen above, but according to PickupTrucks.com, the company’s engineers have managed to pull a few stunts to make the vehicle completely street legal.

The biggest hangup was that the conversion kit widens the vehicle’s track from 68.2 inches up front and 67.5 inches out back to 77.5 and 74.5 inches respectively. In order to make everything right as rain with Jonny Law, Chrysler had to throw in a couple of illuminated fender markers in the name of safety.

That’s great news and all, but there’s more. It turns out Chrysler is mulling the notion of selling the Ram Runner as a turn-key vehicle instead of as a pile of parts available from your local dealer. If the automaker decides to go that route, you can expect the company to turn to an outside builder to convert standard Ram 1500 models into a full-blooded Ford F-150 SVT Raptor fighter.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Ram Runner

Ram Runner

Gallery: 2011 Ram Runner

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Dodge Ram Runner kit will be street legal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vauxhall shows off street legal (!) 3000-horsepower Red Victor 3

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Vauxhall, UK, Specialty, Racing

Red Victor 3 – Click above for high-res image

The drag racing world is a scary, scary place. It’s a realm where engines are built to hold together just long enough to scoot down the quarter mile before they’re torn apart and rebuilt for the next run. It’s a world where if your vehicle is turning anything close to double-digit fuel mileage, it’s not producing enough horsepower.

Typically, these types of monstrosities are little more than trailer queens that are rolled onto the strip and then back into their awaiting shuttles home. That’s not the case with the new Vauxhall Red Victor 3 – a custom-built racer that has a twin-turbocharged 8.8-liter General Motors V8 under the hood good for 3,000 horsepower.

The car uses 1967 Victor FD sheet metal, though the company says that the whole contraption is entirely street legal. How’s about them apples? The car was built specifically for the Power Festival at Silverstone (how appropriate…), which kicks off August 28. Vauxhall predicts that the car should run 240 miles per hour in the quarter at 6.5 seconds. Yup. That’s pretty quick. Hit the jump for a look at the full press blast.

[Source: Vauxhall]

Continue reading Vauxhall shows off street legal (!) 3000-horsepower Red Victor 3

Vauxhall shows off street legal (!) 3000-horsepower Red Victor 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reynard Inverter gets road legal in the UK [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, UK, Racing

Reynard Inverter – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the great things about being a gearhead in the UK is the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process. In short,
the IVA (formerly the Single Vehicle Type approval) is a set of rules that allows one-offs and very low volume vehicles to be approved if they meet only the most basic requirements of a road car. If it’s equipped with head- and taillights, turn signals, seat belts and doesn’t spew too much smoke or have any other obvious issues, you can get it registered. Lotus uses IVA to make UK street versions of its 2-Eleven track car and that’s how Reynard Racing Cars will now sell the Inverter – a race car barely adapted for the street – to liven up your daily commute.

Power is currently available from either a 1,000-cc Honda Fireblade or 1,340-cc Suzuki Hayabusa inline-four, but a variant powered by a 2.0-liter Ford Duratec is under development. With the road version weighing a mere 981 pounds, the 180 horsepower Fireblade should provide plenty of performance. The Inverter starts at £35,000 for a turn-key unit (that’s around $56,000 USD including Britain’s Value Added Tax) or you can get a rolling chassis and body starting at £14,900 (in the neighborhood of $24k). Check out video and specs after the jump.

Gallery: Reynard Inverter

[Source: Reynard Racing Cars]

Continue reading Reynard Inverter gets road legal in the UK [w/video]

Reynard Inverter gets road legal in the UK [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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