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Report: Court puts kibosh on apartheid lawsuit against Ford, Daimler

Filed under: Government/Legal, Ford, Mercedes-Benz

Ford and Daimler logos Ford and Daimler have scored a major victory in a long-running lawsuit filed in US federal court by unnamed South African nationals. The suit alleges that both manufacturers and their subsidiaries sold their vehicles to the South African military, despite knowing that they’d be involved in violently putting down anti-apartheid protesters.

According to Reuters, South African plaintiffs filed the case under the 223-year-old Alien Torts Statute, a law which allows foreign nationals to file charges in US courts for perceived breaches of what was originally international law, but now more closely relates to violations of human rights.

And while the case – which also involves computer manufacturer IBM – has been tied up in federal courts for years, a recent case from the Supreme Court struck down a similar suit against Royal Dutch Petroleum (Shell), arguing that the ATS doesn’t apply to corporations or to conduct if it occurred outside the US. In short, the law applies to individuals, but not corporations like Ford or Daimler. A US appeals court ruled that the conditions apply in this case, potentially drawing this long-running saga to a close, as the defendants will now be allowed to request that the case be dismissed in district court.

Court puts kibosh on apartheid lawsuit against Ford, Daimler originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: New J.D. Power Initial Quality Study puts Porsche, GM in spotlight

Filed under: Car Buying, GM, Porsche

Porsche Emblem

J.D. Power and Associates has released its annual Initial Quality Study, and this year, Porsche and General Motors took the spotlight. The study, which asks new car owners to report problems experienced during the first 90 days of ownership, found that overall, the industry averages 113 problems per 100 vehicles.

Porsche managed a score of just 80 problems per 100 vehicles, while GMC took the second spot on the podium with 90. Lexus filled out the top three with 94 problems per 100 vehicles, followed by Infiniti at 95 and Chevrolet at 97. The study also looks at specific models, and found the Lexus LS to enjoy the best initial quality at 59 problems per 100 vehicles.

Interestingly enough, the report found that around two-thirds of most owner problems experienced in the first 90 days are attributable to vehicle design instead of mechanical failure. Specifically – echoing a refrain we’ve been hearing for the last few years – owners are having a hard time figuring out how to use the technology present in their new vehicles. Head over to the J.D. Power site for more information, or scroll down below for the company’s related press release.

Continue reading New J.D. Power Initial Quality Study puts Porsche, GM in spotlight

New J.D. Power Initial Quality Study puts Porsche, GM in spotlight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: Ferrari 599XX puts the seven-figure track car into perspective

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 599XX on JamesList

Ferrari 599XX on JamesList – Click above for image gallery

Anything you can do, I can do better. It might as well be the battle cry sung along the autostrada between Maranello and Sant’Agata Bolognese. Because Ferrari and Lamborghini have been at each other’s throats like the Sforzas and the Medicis for decades. So if you thought the notion of Lamborghini charging €2 million for a track-bound production version of the Sesto Elemento sounded crazy, look no further than their cross-town rivals for the precedent.

Here’s a rare Ferrari 599XX – and a sinister one at that, decked out all in black – up for sale in France. It’s one of only 30 examples made for the company’s exclusive client test driver program and packs a screaming 720-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 with all the latest wind-cheating, stop-watch trouncing technology the company’s considerable army of engineers has come up with. It’s not every day that one of these goes up for sale. In fact, this is the first one we’ve seen.

So what’s the asking price? €1,315,600 – used. (That’s about $1.9 million at current exchange rates.) You can bet it was driven hard, too. What’s more, someone will most likely snap it up in due course. And if someone can spend €1.3 million on a used Ferrari track car that’s based on an existing production model, suddenly it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to imagine Lamborghini finding 20 buyers willing to shell out €2 million on a completely new one.

Head on over to JamesList for the full listing. We’ve got the regrettably low-res images of this particular example compiled for your viewing pleasure in our gallery, but for a better look at the gaggle of 599XXs we encountered up close and personal at Miller Motorsport Park, follow the jump.

Continue reading Online Find of the Day: Ferrari 599XX puts the seven-figure track car into perspective

Online Find of the Day: Ferrari 599XX puts the seven-figure track car into perspective originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autocar puts the Renault Twizy through its paces

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Videos, Renault, Electric

2012 Renault Twizy

2012 Renault Twizy – Click above to view video at Autocar

Autocar got its hands on the 2012 Renault Twizy and took the opportunity to put the electric scooter-cum-city car through its paces. The two-seat runabout isn’t due until March, 2012, when it’ll hit the streets of Europe hoping to be the next big thing in the microcar segment.

While the diminutive Renault may look like a glorified golf cart, and manages a lowly 47-mph top speed, it picks up with gusto and handles well, thanks to its mass being concentrated close to the ground. As you may imagine for a car of its size, it zips around a tight cone course with no issues.

Couple the Twizy’s impressive dynamics with an 80-mile range, and you have a viable scooter alternative for those who just can’t stand the incessant buzzing of a 50cc engine. The chances of the Twizy ever arriving in the States is nil, thanks to its microscopic girth and limited range. Head to Autocar to see the review for yourself.

Autocar puts the Renault Twizy through its paces originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 May 2011 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler puts the kybosh on Jeep dealer’s ‘Imported from Toledo’ schtick

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Jeep, Off-Road

Imported from Toledo t-shirt Chrysler has reportedly brought the hammer down on a group of Ohio Jeep dealers who cooked up their own version of the company’s “Imported from Detroit” slogan for the brand’s 70th anniversary. According to the Toledo Blade, Jeep dealers in the Buckeye State are being told the riff will weaken the impact of Chrysler’s most popular ad slogan in decades.

Chrysler has also made known that it is also not okay with word of a Wrangler with the slogan emblazoned on its doors driving on to the ice at Toledo Walleyes minor league hockey games. The slogan reportedly originated from Monroe Dodge Superstore in Monroe, Michigan (a short drive from Toledo), when owner Ralph Mahalak Jr., had 600 of the shirts printed up as part of a celebration to introduce Chrysler’s 16 new or redesigned 2011 models.

The shirts were selling for $19.41 a piece as a tribute to Jeep’s birth year, and were emblazoned with the “imported from Toledo” slogan and “Jeep 70th Anniversary.” To stave off a trademark battle, Mahalak has apparently agreed to give the shirts away to anyone who test drives a Jeep, and then kill the slogan.

[Source: Toledo Blade via Jalopnik]

Report: Chrysler puts the kybosh on Jeep dealer’s ‘Imported from Toledo’ schtick originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Suzuki Swift S-Concept puts its money where its name is

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Suzuki

Suzuki Swift S-Concept - Geneva debut

Suzuki Swift S-Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Suzuki Swift is a genuinely good car, standing as something of an exception in Suzuki’s lineup until recent additions like the SX4 and Kizashi came along. But calling it “swift” might be a bit of wishful thinking, if not a huge exaggeration. Enter the Swift S-Concept, which Suzuki has just presented at the Geneva Motor Show.

Few details have been released as to what has gone into the S-Concept and where it’s going, but anyone can tell straight off the bat that it’s a Swift taken to the extreme. In fact, it looks as close to an S2000-spec racer for the street as we’ve seen in some time, sporting 18-inch wheels, aerodynamic upgrades, Recaro racing buckets… the works.

The result looks good. Seriously good. Which is sadly probably more than we can say for its production prospects. But for the company behind such an eclipsing Pikes Peak campaign, with the right mechanical upgrades to match the sporting pretensions of its own styling, a hotter Swift could be just the ticket to inject some much-needed excitement into its range.

Check it out in the gallery of live images from the show floor below, and the stock shots in the gallery below that.

Gallery: Suzuki Swift S-Concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Suzuki Swift S-Concept

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Suzuki Swift S-Concept puts its money where its name is

Geneva 2011: Suzuki Swift S-Concept puts its money where its name is originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate puts the hammer down

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz hasn’t made a whole host of changes for the 2012 C63 AMG. Exterior styling aside, the engine has carried over unchanged, and if we’re honest, that’s perfectly fine with us. After all, the 451-horsepower 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 under the hood is a gravel-voiced honey of a powerplant, and even if you don’t add in the optional AMG Development package that boosts output to 481 hp, the end result is simply stunning.

Among the limited changes under the skin is the institution of AMG’s 7-speed Speedshift MCT gearbox derived from the cogswapper in the SL63 AMG. The transmission has a new ‘Controlled Efficiency’ mode, and combined with a new power steering pump and other small changes, Benz says the C63 gulps down about 10 percent less fuel than it did last year.

So, what’s new for 2012? There’s a new front fascia with a redesigned lower apron, grille and daytime running lamps, and the new headlamps are a bit more akin to what we see on the SL roadster. Inside, there’s a new dashboard with LCD screen, a revised three-spoke steering wheel, and an expanded range of optional tech features like lane-departure warning and internet access. Good stuff, but with a car like this, we could hardly care about appearance with such an absurdly fantastic powerplant under the hood.

The 2012 C63 AMG makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and we have a fresh batch of images of the new hotness direct from the show floor. In fact, just to tease us a bit more, the automaker even chose to debut the not-for-U.S. Estate version, which turns the awesomeness level up to 11. Click through the gallery below to see what’s what, then head on over to the jump to read about the million tiny ways in which one of our favorite sport sedans has improved for 2012.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate: Geneva 2011

Continue reading Geneva 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate puts the hammer down

Geneva 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate puts the hammer down originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’

2012 Ford C-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery

A few days after the Paris Motor Show, we had the chance to sample the Grand C-Max, Ford’s latest Euro-spec MPV destined for North American soil. Other markets around the world are ripe with these mini-minivans, but here in the States, our only C-segment MPV option is the very likable Mazda5. The long-wheelbase C-Max will drop its “Grand” nomenclature when it arrives here in North America, and the public will get its first taste of the new Ford at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Ford calls the C-Max’s seating configuration a “five-plus-two,” meaning that the interior is best suited for five passengers, and that the two rear seats are best used for small occupants. What’s more, Ford offers a unique storage solution for the middle seat in the second row, allowing it to fold down and is stow underneath the bottom cushion of the rear passenger-side chair, creating a set of two captain’s seats in the process (check out a video here). The rest of the C-Max interior is very much akin to what we’ve seen in the 2012 Focus, and we’re quite impressed with the high-quality craftsmanship that FoMoCo is putting into its latest crop of cabins.

2012 Ford C-Max Perhaps the most interesting feature of the 2012 C-Max is its hands-free liftgate. Much like a passive entry system for the driver’s door, whoever has the C-Max’s key fob on their person can simply wave their leg under the rear bumper, triggering two sensors that will open the liftgate. It’s pretty slick, and Ford tells us that this technology will me making its way to the vast majority of the company’s hatchback products.

The base powertrain in the C-Max is Ford’s 2.5-liter inline-four also found in the Fusion. In its MPV home, this mill produces 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission. The upmarket engine is an all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, rated at 180 hp and 173 lb-ft of twist, also mated to a six-speed ‘box. The C-Max is only available with front-wheel drive, and 17-inch wheels are fitted to all three trim levels – S, SE and SEL.

We’re eager to get our mitts on the U.S.-spec C-Max, and we’re crossing our fingers that American car buyers will be more receptive to smaller MPVs than in the past. Check out the 2012 C-Max for yourself in the gallery below, and follow the jump for the full suite of details.

Gallery: 2012 Ford C-Max

2012 Ford C-Max

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’

Officially Official: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Toyota

Crashed Toyota Camry

Paul Vanalfen’s crashed Toyota Camry – Click above for high-res image gallery

A new incident involving a 2008 Toyota Camry is raising concerns about unintended acceleration once again. On November 5, 66-year-old Paul Vanalfen was exiting Interstate 80 in Utah when his vehicle drove through a stop sign and struck a rock embankment, killing Vanalfen and his son’s 38 year-old fiance Charlene Lloyd at the same time. Vanalfen’s son and wife were also injured in the accident. Early reports indicate that the Camry may have continued to accelerate, even as Vanalfen did his best to stop the vehicle. Skid marks at the scene indicate that this isn’t a case of pedal misapplication, leaving investigators to conclude that a malfunction may have caused the incident.

Vanalfen’s Camry was the subject of a total of three recalls, and at this point, it’s unclear whether or not the Toyota had undergone the repairs.

Toyota, meanwhile, says that it’s too early to draw any conclusions about the cause of the incident, and that it’s assisting Utah Highway Patrol investigators any way it can. Click past the jump to read the company’s statement.

Gallery: Paul Vanalfen’s crashed Toyota Camry

Paul Vanalfen's crashed Toyota Camry

[Sources: AP via MSNBC, Toyota | Image: AP/Utah Highway Patrol]

Continue reading Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls

Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche puts all new model plans under review

Filed under: Porsche, Rumormill

Porsche Badge

According to Autocar magazine, Porsche chairman Matthias Müeller has announced that the German automakers plans for future models are currently being put on hold. This includes both a small, sub-Boxster roadster and the Cajun small crossover. The company needs to review currently proposed new models and see where they fit into the current lineup of Porsche vehicles. A business case needs to be presented and many questions have to be answered before Porsche proceeds. The planned strategic review is understood to not impact revisions of models that are currently in production.

This is not to say the vehicles won’t be built. Müeller says the ideas for both of the smaller Porsche models are still very much alive, but each design needs to make financial sense. The business cases will be presented and the questions will be answered, with a decision-due date set for the end of this year.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Porsche puts all new model plans under review originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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