Mercedes CLA-Class Spied Testing with a Facelift

Mercedes CLA-Class Spied Testing with a Facelift
Pope Francis Riding in Fiat 500L, Jeep Wrangler on US Tour
VW CEO Resigns in Wake of Diesel Emissions Scandal
2015 Mazda Adventure Rally Day 3: Intro
Opulence Alert: 5 Outrageous Rolls-Royce Special Editions
2016 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition Gets Tough New Look

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The Mercedes CLA-Class is getting a facelift.

Don't expect any major changes to the four-door coupe, though the front end will sport a new look thanks to a restyled front bumper and slightly overhauled grille. Although the front bumper is heavily camouflaged in our spy photos, it appears that Mercedes will equip the car with new lower air intakes. The German automaker is also concealing the headlights and tail lights, meaning they'll also likely be updated as part of the new looks.

Engines are expected to be unchanged for the facelifted CLA, while the CLA 45 AMG is also likely to get the same style makeover. Expect the facelifted Mercedes CLA-Class to arrive dealerships sometime next year. For now, check out the spy photos with some bonus pictures of the CLA Shooting Brake that the U.S. market doesn't get to buy.

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Pope Francis Riding in Fiat 500L, Jeep Wrangler on US Tour

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Pope Francis has chosen a pair of FCA vehicles for his rides around the U.S.

Travelling from the airport to the White House, Pope Francis chose to ride in a Fiat 500L, a decision that appears to be a clear statement regarding the Pope's staunch beliefs of remaining humble by avoiding unnecessary luxury as well as backing up his stance on climate change by riding in a small economical car. Pope Francis is known for choosing to ride in small economy cars, with a Ford Focus serving as his main ride around Vatican City.

His small 500L stood out among the many black armored SUVs that surrounded it, especially considering visiting dignitaries usually ride in black Cadillac limousines. "It is very easy to recognize where the pope is because it is the smallest car in the motorcade," said Father Federico Lombardi, the pope's spokesman.

The Pope will also ride around in a modified Jeep Wrangler Popemobile, which surrounds Pope Francis in glass allowing the crowds to see him. In total, six Fiat 500Ls will ferry the Pope around the three cities he is bound to visit, Washington, New York and Philadelphia.

[Source: Automotive News]

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VW CEO Resigns in Wake of Diesel Emissions Scandal

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Volkswagen CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn has officially resigned in the wake of a scandal over falsified diesel emissions.

"I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group," Winterkorn said in a statement issued announcing his resignation. "As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group," said Winterkorn.

A meeting was set for this coming Friday to discuss the CEO's contract moving into the future, but the Executive Committee of Volkswagen AG's Supervisory Board called an emergency meeting today, where the decision was made. "The Executive Committee has great respect for Chairman Professor Dr. Winterkorn's offer to resign his position and to ask that his employment agreement be terminated," reads a statement from the committee.

A successor will be named this coming Friday at the Supervisory Board meeting, with rumors pointing to current head of Porsche, Matthias Müller.

Although Winterkorn says that he accepts responsibility for the issue as the CEO, he claims to have had no knowledge of the mass deception. "I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part," he said. The Supervisory Board also cleared Winterkorn's name, as the board "notes that Professor Dr. Winterkorn had no knowledge of the manipulation of emissions data."

The scandal began when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a report claiming that VW had installed defeat devices in 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engines which allowed them to run much cleaner during emissions testing, while in everyday driving they were emitting 10 to 40 times more NOx than allowed. Since then, Volkswagen admitted to using the cheating software in roughly 11 million vehicles worldwide.

The Executive Committee also revealed that this likely won't be the only personnel change in the near future. "Internal Group investigations are continuing at a high tempo. All participants in these proceedings that has resulted in unmeasurable harm for Volkswagen, will be subject to the full consequences."

A new special board will be created by Volkswagen to fix this issue, including preparing the necessary consequences for those responsible. More details on who will run this new board will be revealed at the meeting Friday.

Winterkorn, 68, took the reigns at VW in 2007 and led the company through a turnaround that saw VW go from cutting thousands of German jobs to being one of the largest, most powerful automakers in the world. "The company's rise to global company is inextricably linked to his name," reads the statement from the Executive Committee. "The Executive Committee thanks Dr. Winterkorn for towering contributions in the past decades and for his willingness to take responsibility in this criticall phase for the company."

Discuss this story at our VW Forum

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2015 Mazda Adventure Rally Day 3: Intro

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Yesterday was a tough one at the Mazda Adventure Rally, but we survived. We had to run around British Columbia finding clues, called people about their cars and had to drive like hell to get to the final destination on time. Was it all worth it?

The Mazda Adventure Rally isn't your typical ride and drive event. In fact, it's hard to tell exactly what it is. It's not quite the same as a happy-go-lucky first drive event, where we get to leisurely take our time with the cars we're testing. It's much more serious than that. With up to $10,000 at stake for charity, it's about winning and losing.

Yesterday it felt like we did more losing than winning. As you may recall, we had some difficulty identifying the model year of a truck, and resorted to calling the owner of the vehicle for help. Sadly their hypothesis of their truck being a '50 was incorrect. Apparently it was definitely a '55 as evidenced by its open drive shaft (or so the other members of the rally say.) It turns out many people did the same thing, and were all outraged that someone wouldn't know the year of the vehicle they were using for a promotional billboard.

We also heard other stories about getting lost at the Harper Mountain Ski Hill, like we did, but no one drove as hard as Mike to beat the time penalty.

Furthermore, we missed a scene or two in our photograph challenge, meaning we missed out on a few extra points. We drove at such high speeds, it was hard to keep an eye on the surrounding scenery to find the photos we were given.

As a result we now sit in fourth place in the rally, just one point away from finishing in the money and three points away from first place. It's not good knowing you may not finish in the top three, but it's not a place to be in. Think about it, we have nothing to lose, while the other competitors ahead of us have all the pressure on them to stay in the positions they're in. Let's put the pressure on them.

In the words of famous baseball player Yogi Berra (Who passed away today, may he rest in peace) "It ain't over, till its over."

[View the story "2015 Mazda Adventure Rally Day 3″ on Storify]

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Opulence Alert: 5 Outrageous Rolls-Royce Special Editions

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Rolls-Royce takes the world of bespoke ultra-luxury vehicles to a whole new level.

Some say that death and taxes are the only things in this world that are certain, but you can go ahead and add ridiculoud Rolls-Royce special edition models to the list. Over the years, the British automaker has created some incredible special-edition models and here's a list of just the recent ones.

Rolls-Royce Wraith – History of Rugby

The latest creation is the Rolls-Royce Wraith – History of Rugby. On the outside, the Wraith's English White paint scheme pays homage to the white rugby shirt worn at Rugby School, a tradition continued today by the England rugby team. The vehicle's signature shoulder line has been accented by a hand-applied coachline in deep green, featuring an English rose motif in red. You see, the red rose has been an evocative feature of English rugby since 1971 and you can also find the red rose embroidered on the headrests of the seats inside. Piano Black veneer is found on the dash while the center panel has been delicately inlaid with the English rose.

Rolls-Royce Wraith – Inspired by Music

The Rolls-Royce Wraith – Inspired by Music was announced featuring a Lyrical Copper exterior finish that hints at the use of copper in high-end audio systems. Most of the highlights can be found inside the cabin with re-imagined speaker grilles finished in copper with the words "Bespoke Audio" engraved in them. Copper-colored door inserts can also be seen inside while the door panniers and floor mats are made from finely-woven leather.

Of course the audio system has been thoroughly upgraded as well with a 1,300-watt 18-channel system featuring two subwoofers, seven tweeters and seven mid-range speakers. Two "exciter" speakers have also been hand-fitted in the car's headliner.

Rolls-Royce Wraith – Inspired by Fashion

This is the Rolls-Royce Wraith – Inspired by Fashion. The exterior boasts a two-tone Andalucian White and Arctic White finish and can be ordered with a choice of accent color of Jasmine, Tailored Purple or Mugello Red. Like the other special edition Rolls-Royce models, most of the changes are found in the cabin with the Inspired by Fashion Wraith boasting fine silks in the car's front and rear door pockets. There was also a unique application of wood to the dash, with the lacquering process along taking nine days to complete, according to Rolls-Royce. The Bespoke Clock was also styled exclusively to emit a pearl effect, reminiscent of silk fabrics.

Rolls-Royce Wraith – Inspired by Film

rolls-royce-wraith-inspired-by-film

With fashion and music having inspired the Rolls-Royce Wraith, next up is film. Having starred in numerous films over the years, the Rolls-Royce Wraith Inspired by Film reflects the silver screen through a unique two-tone Silver and Jubilee Silver paint scheme. On the inside, the Anthracite leather interior has been accented with Casden Tan to mimic a super hero's costume. There is also a pin sharp aluminum band through the Maccassar Ebony open pore panelling. Rolls-Royce cars have been featured in hits such as Goldfinger, The Thomas Crowne Affair and The Great Gatsby.

Rolls-Royce Serenity Phantom Extended Wheelbase

Last, but not least, is the Rolls-Royce Serenity Phantom Extended Wheelbase that debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March. The one-off special edition started in China, where Rolls-Royce sourced unspun silk thread and had it hand-dyed by the Chinese craftspeople who have been creating beautiful silks for centuries. From there, it was transported to one of Britain's oldest mills so that it could be hand-woven into just 10 meters of fabric, with the numerous colors of silk thread painstakingly blended into the highest quality wrap to result in the lustrous Smoke Green color you see above. The blossom motif was then added before the final touch of detailed petal-by-petal of crimson blossoms was hand painted directly onto the silk.

Discuss this story on our Rolls-Royce Forum

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2016 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition Gets Tough New Look

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The 2016 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition has been revealed, bringing upgraded style and tech to GM's half-ton pickup.

Elevation Edition Sierras get new looks thanks to body-color moldings, door handles, bumpers, mirror caps and a body-color grille surround. Massive 20-inch blacked out aluminum wheels and Elevation Edition badging complete the makeover. The package can only be equipped on Sierra double cab trucks.

Inside, the latest version of GMC's Intellilink is installed, which uses a 7-inch touchscreen and runs both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot is included, while all Elevation model include remote keyless entry, remote locking tailgate, outside heated power-adjustable mirrors, a 110-volt AC power outlet, black recovery hooks and a six-speaker audio system.

Pricing for the 2016 GMC Sierra Elevation Edition will be announced closer to the truck's launch in the first quarter of 2016.

Discuss this story at our GMC Sierra Forum

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Car Reviews

Wednesday, 23 September 2015