2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S Starts at $130,825

2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S Starts at $130,825
2016 Porsche Panamera Spied Winter Testing
Chevy Spark EV Sales Expand to Maryland
GM Issues Stop-Sale on Crossovers Over Faulty Goodyear Tires
Jeff Gordon Ending Full-Time NASCAR Career
2016 Cadillac CT6 to Debut March 31

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AMG's new sports car will come with a starting price of $130,825 including delivery.

That slots it well underneath the starting price for the Porsche 911 Turbo at about $152,000, but slightly underneath the 911 GT3. It also means the new GT will be more expensive than the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe that starts under $100,000 and offers a raucous 550 hp compared to 503 from the 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 that will power the Mercedes-AMG GT S when it arrives.

But the new GT S is also likely to be capable of higher performance than the Jaguar sports car despite its big, blown V8. Mercedes engineered the GT with a seven-speed dual-clutch mounted aft of the passenger cell for better balance. The standard equipment list on the GT S looks attractive as well with an AMG selectable exhaust, an adaptive suspension, LED headlights anda a Burmester stereo system to name a few on the list.

Mercedes will also offer a "lane tracking" package that adds blind spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance as well as an "AMG Dynamic Plus" package that includes transmission and engine mounts with adjustable stiffness settings, and an AMG steering wheel.

Delivery of the GT S model to U.S. dealers will start this April followed by the less powerful GT model roughly a year later.

Discuss this story at our Mercedes AMG GT Forum

2016 Porsche Panamera Spied Winter Testing

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It might not look significantly different, but this is the new Porsche Panamera you're looking at.

Spotted winter testing by AutoGuide.com's spy photographers, the 2016 Porsche Panamera was photographed in Sweden sporting no camouflage revealing an overall sportier and more elegant shape. Based on the German automaker's new MSB platform, the 2016 Panamera will be lighter than its predecessor and will also feature new V6 and V8 engines that Porsche is currently developing.

Expect the 2016 Panamera to be offered with both rear- and all-wheel drive. The sedan model will come at launch, followed up by a Shooting Brake variant that is unlikely to come to the U.S. Also, rumor has it that a two-door coupe serving as a successor to the 928 could be in the pipeline.

Discuss this story at our luxury lifestyle forum

Chevy Spark EV Sales Expand to Maryland

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The Chevrolet Spark EV is heading to the East Coast.

The American automaker will start sales of its Spark EV this spring in Maryland, the third state that the electric compact will be sold in following launches in California and Oregon in 2013. Chevrolet says it is targeting Maryland for its "strong commuter market" as well as its widespread charging infrastructure. Pricing on the Chevrolet Spark EV will be less than $18,000 once the buyer takes into consideration the $7,500 federal tax credit and Maryland state tax credits. The 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV is priced from $27,645 including destination.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV Review

For a dealership to be authorized to sell the Spark EV, its service technicians must complete the service training certifications. In addition, Maryland Chevy dealerships that invests in the tooling and service certification will be able to sell the Spark EV. A GM spokeswoman has said that most dealerships in the Baltimore area have expressed interest in being able to sell the Spark EV.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at our Chevrolet Spark forum

GM Issues Stop-Sale on Crossovers Over Faulty Goodyear Tires

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General Motors has issues an immediate stop-sale order on three of its crossovers due to faulty tires.

About 6,500 units of the 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave are covered by the stop-sale because they all use 18-inch Goodyear Fortera HL tires. Goodyear has announced a recall of 48,500 of these tires because "very small" cracks have been found in the tread during regular testing.

Goodyear says the small cracks do not pose a safety risk.

In total, about 32,100 of these tires were made for GM Crossovers, which "will eventually lead to a non-compliance recall by GM," said a company spokesman. The crossovers involved in the stop-sale order make up 25,124 of the total number of tires made for GM. The other 16,400 tires were sold to the aftermarket.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at our GM Forum

Jeff Gordon Ending Full-Time NASCAR Career

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Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will bow out of full-time racing at the end of the 2015 season.

"I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the off-season, and I've decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship," Gordon said today.

Gordon, 43, says that its not a full retirement, leaving the door open to compete on a smaller scale in the future. "I won't use the 'R-word' because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead and there's always the possibility I'll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that. I don't foresee a day when I'll ever step away from racing," he said.

This year marks Gordon's 23rd full season of racing the number 24 car for Hendrick Motorsports. Besides winning the overall championship four times, Jeff Gordon sits in the third position when it comes to overall NASCAR race wins with 92, falling short of David Pearson at 105 and Richard Petty at 200.

"I'll explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the #24 Chevrolet," said Gordon. "I'm going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship."

2016 Cadillac CT6 to Debut March 31

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Cadillac will debut its new rear-wheel drive CT6 sedan on March 31 during a preview event ahead of the New York Auto Show.

The upcoming sedan will use a body made of mixed lightweight materials that will include aluminum and high-strength steel that will give it the proportions of a large sedan and the fuel economy of a mid-size model, Cadillac said. GM is investing $300 million in its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in order to build the new car there as part of a greater overall $12 billion investment that will see Cadillac pushing eight new products to market by 2020.

The new CT6 will sit above the XTS in Cadillac's portfolio when it arrives in late 2015 for the 2016 model year.