Koenigsegg Coming to US with Street Legal Models

Koenigsegg Coming to US with Street Legal Models
2016 Mercedes GLE 400 Details Released
Ford Helps Launch “Technology Incubator” to Explore the Future of Mobility
Chrysler Expands Takata Airbag Recall Again
Next-Gen BMW 5 Series Spied for the First Time
Uber Sued by City of Portland

Posted:

Koenigsegg is ensuring that its offerings in the U.S. will be street legal.

The Swedish automaker has already confirmed one dealership in New York, Manhattan Motors, which will also be in charge with selling the only Agera One:1 that is coming to the U.S. The One:1 won't get federal homologation, so whoever is the lucky owner will only be able to use it under "show and display" conditions. Two other Koenigsegg models will be fully certified for street use in the U.S. when they arrive next year, the Agera and the company's next model which we'll be hearing more about next year.

The automaker is also expected to reveal three more North American dealerships in the near future that will cover both U.S. and Canada, but it's exciting to hear that the North American-bound Koenigsegg models will even have smart airbags integrated, a move that other automakers such as Aston Martin and Lotus have had issues funding.

The Koenigsegg Agera is expected to be priced at around $1.65 million when it arrives in the U.S.

[Source: Car and Driver]

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2016 Mercedes GLE 400 Details Released

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Mercedes has released more information on its new GLE Coupe.

Specifications for the GLE 450 AMG Coupe have already been released, but now Mercedes is filling in the blanks when it comes to base models. The base GLE 400 comes powered by a twin-turbo V6 that makes 333 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The other powertrain option, which likely won't come to the US, is a small diesel in the GLE 350d that makes 258 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque.

The new Mercedes GLE will hit dealerships during the summer of 2015, and customers will be able to choose either the GLE 400 or the 450 AMG Coupe. Both models come with a nine-speed transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive. Also standard on all models is a power-operated tailgate, a backup camera and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The GLE 450 AMG Coupe is the first vehicle to come from Mercedes' new AMG-sport line, which positions its vehicles between the regular variants and the high-performance AMG versions. Eventually, a GLE 63 AMG will be offered.

Discuss this story at our Mercedes-Benz forum

Ford Helps Launch “Technology Incubator” to Explore the Future of Mobility

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Ford, supplier company Magna and telecommunications giant Verizon have joined forces to support a business accelerator project designed to foster innovative transportation solutions.

Called Techstars Mobility, driven by Detroit, this program aims to nurture new ideas in the mobility field. Their goal is to bring new technologies and approaches to market, things that center on connectivity and cloud computing that make it easier for people and goods to get around.

Putting their money where their proverbial mouths are this corporate trio is committing $2 million to the project plus mentors and other resources. In addition several Michigan-based venture-capital firms will be involved.

Initially 10 startup companies will be selected to participate, though less than 1 percent of applicants are accepted. Each will receive $120,000 in funding plus three months of intensive training that will teach them the ins and outs of business development, customer acquisition, recruitment techniques and more. This incubator as it's referred to is projected to run for three years and help 30 different startups.

Techstars was founded in Boulder, Colorado back in 2006. Their goal was to create a boot camp-style program to quickly get young companies on the road to success. To date they've expanded into cities like Boston, San Antonio, Chicago and London.

Discuss this story on our Ford Forum.

Chrysler Expands Takata Airbag Recall Again

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Chrysler is expanding the reach of its recall for vehicles that use airbags made by Takata.

For the second time, Chrysler is has announced that its is adding an additional 208,783 vehicles to its airbag recall. The issues stems from airbag inflators which can rupture when activated, causing pieces of shrapnel to fly out at the passengers.

Originally, the recall was only issued in Florida, Louisiana, Guam and Puerto Rico because humidity was originally believed to be the root cause. But now Chrysler has expanded it to include Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, Texas and the territories of American Samoa, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Vehicles affected include the 2003 to 2005 Dodge Ram pickup, the 2005 300, the 2005 Dodge Magnum and the 2005 Dodge Dakota.

SEE ALSO: Chrysler Expands Takata Recall

Initially it was believed that the issue was only present in cars that were sold in high humidity areas, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has since requested that automakers do a country wide recall to replace the inflators.

Honda and Toyota, two of Takata's biggest customers, have both called for an industry-wide probe on the Takata inflators to find out exactly why they have been breaking. Representative from ten automakers that use Takata airbags met on Thursday to discuss how they should proceed. The group issued a joint statement that reads, "The objective of seeking an outside expert to test these inflators is to promote the safety, security and peace of mind for all customers. Based on the initial organizing meeting today, we feel we have positive momentum and look forward to the next steps of the process."

Discuss this story at our Dodge Forum

Next-Gen BMW 5 Series Spied for the First Time

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The next-generation BMW 5 Series has begun testing on roadways.

Looking much like a smaller version of the 7 Series, AutoGuide.com's spy photographers have caught what appears to be a prototype plug-in hybrid variant of the new 5 Series testing with an extra charger cap on the front fender.

Expected to debut in 2016, the BMW 5 Series will benefit from a comprehensive lineup, ranging from a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder-equipped model to the range-topping M5. The 5 Series will go on a slight diet as well, losing around 220 lbs compared to the current model.

Discuss this story at our BMW forum

Uber Sued by City of Portland

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Uber continues to run into legal issues as it looks to expand its services worldwide.

The city of Portland, Oregon has sued Uber in hopes of stopping the company from operating just three days after it started there. Portland joins other areas including Rio de Janeiro and New Delhi, where officials have attempted to block Uber from operating. According to the city of Portland, the mobile-car booking company violates city laws because Uber and its drivers don't have the necessary permits to operate.

SEE ALSO: Uber Banned in Germany

Uber has expanded rapidly since it began in San Francisco in 2010 and is currently available in over 250 cities worldwide. Portland is alleging that Uber is in violation of more than 20 civil and criminal law provisions that require private transportation providers to have permits, decals, insurances, rates, wheelchair accessibility and record keeping. Bloomberg is reporting that in less than four hours, nearly 7,000 Portland residents signed a petition in support of Uber.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Car Reviews

Friday, 12 December 2014

Koenigsegg Coming to US with Street Legal Models

Koenigsegg Coming to US with Street Legal Models

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