Category: Uncategorised

It’s nonetheless a punchline, normally concerning the intelligence of the motive force, plus derided for being little, however Good automobiles have served their function in the US as a small, fuel-efficient car that’s completely suited to metropolis driving when house is at a premium.

Let’s deal with the elephant within the room: a Good automobile isn’t for everybody resulting from its two-seat structure with minimal trunk house however, for people who want a easy and fuel-efficient car to get round city, it makes absolute sense. I dwell near downtown Phoenix and infrequently discover myself attempting to find avenue parking in an city setting that appears to have perpetual development. However irrespective of, my Mini Cooper is tiny, simple to maneuver and park on the road. I can’t think about utilizing something greater than a compact automobile in crowded scenes with out loads of parking spots and, for a few of us, a Good Fortwo is an efficient possibility.

Good stopped producing automobiles for the North American market after the 2019 mannequin 12 months however, with some searching, you possibly can simply observe one down like our Choose of the Day, a 2017 Good Fortwo listed on the market on ClassicCars.com by a seller in Hope Mills, North Carolina. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)

“This Good Automotive can nearly make a U-turn in a two-car storage,” the itemizing advises. “It’s very agile and nimble to maneuver round on the town or round in tight areas. To prime it off, it has all the traditional facilities we would like in a brand new automobile like AC, a semi massive infotainment system, energy steering, energy brakes, and energy home windows, it’s nearly like they didn’t spare any expense in making a reasonable Good automobile (oddly sufficient).”

Regardless of being diminutive, the NHTSA awarded the 2017 Good Fortwo a four-star general security score, a five-star score for facet crashes and a four-star rollover score. One other level of competition was the Good Fortwo is the perceived lack of inside house for the motive force and passenger.

“Now, on to the scale, I’m 6’1″ about 245 lbs. and I match on this automobile with room to spare,” the itemizing states. “So having the ability to match needs to be the final concern in relation to a Good Automotive. The truth is, as a result of the door opening is so massive it’s truly a lot simpler to get out and in of than most automobiles.”

It’s powered by a 0.9-liter DOHC 12-valve three-cylinder engine that produced a factory-rated 89 hp at 5,500 rpm and 100 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. The automated transmission sends energy to the rear wheels.

Judging by the images within the itemizing, this Fortwo is in stable form with the anticipated put on and tear from being six years previous with 66,559 miles. The white exterior is straight with none seen dents or dings, and the black inside is in good condition.

The itemizing worth for this 2017 Good Fortwo is $12,995. To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Choose of the Day.

For a lot of muscle-car followers, there’s no finer instance from Pontiac’s traditional line-up than the 1969 GTO. The second-generation Gran Turismo Omologato (1968-1972) is on many of us’ want lists for its legendary efficiency, attractiveness and timeless Pontiac styling.

After coming off the win for Motor Development’s Automobile of the 12 months in 1968, Pontiac’s stylists improved the GTO’s seems to be subtly for the 1969 mannequin yr. Aesthetic revisions included the deletion of the facet vent home windows, a mesh-look revamp to the entrance grille, purple rear-quarter side-marker lights formed like Pontiac arrowheads, and new front-parking-light, rear-taillight and rear-chrome-bumper designs. Inside, the gauges modified from blue to black.

Regardless of the ooh la la within the seems to be division, gross sales have been down from the earlier yr’s tally of 87,684 GTOs bought.

Although it was a dip, Pontiac produced a complete of 72,287 GTOs in 1969. Of these, 7,436 have been convertibles. And of these, 249 have been outfitted with the 366hp Ram Air III V-Eight engine and a four-speed handbook transmission, however not with the Decide bundle.

So, when the Dream Giveaway Storage requested us if our readers’ hearts would go thumpity-thump over a Ram Air 1969 GTO convertible, properly, you already know the reply.

Who wouldn’t wish to win a Decide in sheep’s clothes?

As Pontiac’s flagship muscle automobile, all 1969 GTOs got here with 400-cubed V-8s. Two non-obligatory, higher-performance mills have been accessible by particular order: a 366hp Ram Air III and a 370hp Ram Air IV.

A fast evaluation of the bill graciously supplied by PHS confirms a Ram Air III below the hood. Persevering with down the road, the 2 extra efficiency choices most collectors ooh and aah over are current as properly: a four-speed handbook stick and a heavy-duty Secure-T-Observe differential.

If placing this cool traditional GTO convertible in your driveway sounds good to you, then click on right here and enter now.

The manufacturing facility additionally put in a push-button radio, retractable headlamp covers, Rally II wheels, hood-mounted tachometer, console, energy steering and ride-and-handling bundle. You’re spot on calling this a properly optioned Ram Air GTO! Oh, restoration elements have been supplied by Ames Efficiency.

Let’s get again to the small print of how one can win this GTO.

Make a donation of $25 or extra to assist out charity and, in the event you’re fortunate, you possibly can discover this primo instance of America’s authentic super-car staring again at you from its new everlasting residence in your storage. Click on right here and enter now.

Entry banks shut at midnight on January 30, 2023. Click on right here to get double tickets in your donation of $25 or extra. The winner shall be drawn on February 9, 2023, and the awarding of the keys, the title and the GTO will happen in late February or early March of this yr. Plus, there’s $15,000 put aside to pay the federal authorities the prize tax on behalf of the winner. That is your final probability to win this uncommon Pontiac GTO. Enter now

Paperwork associated to the Tesla buyers’ class-action lawsuit are loaded onto a cart outdoors of the federal courthouse in San Francisco. (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO — Opening statements start Wednesday in a trial that can decide whether or not Tesla CEO Elon Musk cheated buyers by asserting in 2018 tweets that he had lined up financing to take the electrical automaker non-public.

A nine-person jury was seated Tuesday for the case that’s anticipated to incorporate testimony from Musk to elucidate his pondering whereas engaged in one in all his favourite actions — tweeting on the Twitter service that he now owns.

Musk’s tweets fueled a rally within the firm’s inventory value that abruptly ended per week later after it turned obvious that he didn’t have the funding for a buyout in spite of everything. Buyers then sued him, saying that Tesla shares wouldn’t have swung so broadly in worth if he had not dangled the prospect of shopping for the corporate for $420 per share.

Musk’s tweet additionally attracted the eye of securities regulators, who concluded that it was improper and that he was mendacity. In a settlement, they compelled him to pay $40 million and required him to step down as Tesla chairman.

He has since contended that he entered the settlement underneath duress and maintains that he believed he had locked up monetary backing for the buyout throughout conferences with representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund.

Even whereas he has been making main modifications at Twitter, Musk continues to function CEO at Tesla and derives most of his wealth and fame from the corporate.

The trial hinges on an Aug. 7, 2018, tweet through which Musk claimed he had lined up financing to pay for a $72 billion buyout of Tesla, which he then amplified with a follow-up assertion that made a deal appear imminent.

However the buyout by no means materialized, and now Musk must clarify his actions underneath oath in a federal courtroom in San Francisco. The category-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of buyers who owned Tesla inventory for a 10-day interval in August 2018.

The trial’s consequence could activate the jury’s interpretation of Musk’s motive for the tweets, which U.S. District Decide Edward Chen has already determined had been false.

The decide dealt Musk one other setback on Friday, when he rejected Musk’s bid to switch the trial to a federal courtroom in Texas, the place Tesla moved its headquarters in 2021. Musk had argued that unfavourable protection of his Twitter buy had poisoned the jury pool within the San Francisco Bay Space.

The problem of discovering jurors with out sturdy emotions about Musk turned evident throughout Tuesday’s painstaking choice course of.

At one level, the decide flagged some potential jurors who had expressed excessive misgivings or enthusiasm about Musk in pretrial questionnaires. Seven jurors had been questioned individually, away from the remainder of the jury pool, to scale back the possibilities of influencing the opinions of others within the courtroom.

Chen and legal professionals for each the shareholders and Musk ended up grilling seven of these jurors, who variously described Musk as “boastful,” “narcissistic,” “unpredictable,” “a bit of off his rocker,” “a mercenary” and “a genius.”

Musk’s management of Twitter — the place he has gutted the workers and alienated customers and advertisers — has confirmed unpopular amongst Tesla’s present stockholders, who’re apprehensive that he has been devoting much less time to automaker at a time of intensifying competitors.

These considerations contributed to a 65% p.c decline in Tesla’s inventory final yr that worn out greater than $700 billion in shareholder wealth — excess of the $14 billion swing in fortune that occurred between the corporate’s excessive and low inventory costs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17, 2018, the interval lined within the lawsuit.

Tesla’s inventory has break up twice since then, making that $420 value price $28 on adjusted foundation now. The shares closed final week at $122.40, down from the corporate’s November 2021 split-adjusted peak of $414.50.

After Musk dropped the thought of a Tesla buyout, the corporate overcame a manufacturing drawback, leading to a fast upturn in automotive gross sales that triggered its inventory to soar and made Musk the world’s richest individual till he purchased Twitter. Musk dropped from the highest spot on the wealth record after a inventory market backlash to his dealing with of Twitter.

The trial is probably going to supply insights into Musk’s administration model, provided that the witness record contains a few of Tesla’s present and former prime executives and board members, together with luminaries equivalent to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and James Murdoch, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The drama could make clear Musk’s relationship along with his brother, Kimbal, who can be on the record of potential witnesses. The trial is anticipated to final till early February.

Over the weekend on the Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota confirmed it is not completed making frequent, substantive evolutions to its super-hot GR Yaris hatchback that solely simply turned three years outdated. Demonstrating the theme of “Making ever-better motorsports-bred vehicles,” the automaker introduced three new variations to the present.

The “Excessive-performance・Sébastien Ogier Version Idea” and GR Yaris RZ “Excessive-performance・Kalle Rovanperä Version Idea” had been developed with the enter of Toyota’s WRC drivers. The variations are largely beauty, but it surely’s the primary time we have seen two champions’ takes on the identical software; Ogier received the WRC crown in 2021, Rovanpera received the WRC title in 2022. Past that duo, the “GR Yaris Rally2 Idea” is a prototype constructed to Rally2 spec for privateer and buyer groups to run the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). 

Ogier’s GR Yaris provides a bigger rear stabilizer and blue brake calipers, and is available in a particular bi-tone of shiny silver with black accents on the doorways. The cabin’s received particular crimson, white, and blue stitching on the steering wheel, and the 4WD mode selector unlocks management programming unique to this trim. Rovanpera’s GR Yaris goes with a revised rear wing and unnamed aerodynamic components, crimson brake calipers, and is wearing a crimson, white, and grey camo sample. Blue and silver stitching adorn the steering wheel, shifter boot, parking brake deal with, and seats, and the 4WD mode programming displays Rovanpera’s enter. Each vehicles function uprated torque of 287 pound-feet. They will go on sale in Japan quickly, Toyota is contemplating placing the title of each purchaser on the WRC race vehicles to indicate that the shoppers “are our companions in competing within the WRC.”

The GR Yaris Rally2 Idea has one other yr of testing forward. The race division will enter it into the Japanese Rally Championship to proceed growth, and goals to finish homologation by January 2024.

Lastly, for the house owners who need to go their very own method, a wider vary of GR Yaris efficiency components are headed to the GR Storage shops in Japan beginning later this month. Low-key mods embody a brand new steering wheel, light-weight shift knob, parking brake lever, and full bucket seats. Hardcore stuff features a set of track-focused GR shocks and a carbon fiber rear stabilizer. Gadgets like a carbon fiber hood, NACA ducts, and a chilly air consumption dwell in between. 

We are able to solely hope Toyota will present the GR Corolla as a lot love — the present show included a GR Corolla Aero Idea, too. We most likely have a greater shot at getting a number of the new GR components introduced for the GR86 that will probably be launched in Japan in March, just like the aerodynamic nostril cone, rear V brace, and aerodynamic door mirror fins.

In addition to the all-new Kia Sorento, Bermaz Auto additionally previewed the Peugeot Landtrek, which can be distributed by means of native model custodian Bermaz Auto Alliance (BAASB). The French-branded pick-up truck first made its debut in February 2020 and has been sighted in Malaysia earlier than – its launch right here would be the first within the Asia Pacific area.

Basically a rebodied model of the Kaicene F70 developed by Chinese language automaker Changan Car, the Landtrek is distinguished by its vertical grille bearing the Peugeot lion and distinctive LED daytime operating mild signature on the base of the reprofiled LED headlamps.

The 2 examples of the Landtrek on show on the preview are an identical in specs and geared up with 18-inch alloy wheels, a sports activities bar, roof rails and an everyday tailgate (no help). Don’t thoughts the differing mattress liners (or lack thereof on one of many items), as the corporate says all buyer vehicles will include one.

Inside, the Landtrek’s inside is just about a carbon copy of the Changan mannequin, which isn’t a nasty factor. It’s a moderately trendy and car-like cabin, with parts that look like impressed by some Peugeot fashions. Highlights embody a digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay help) a two-spoke steering wheel and even piano key-style switches on the centre stack.

Different objects on the package record are powered entrance seats, dual-zone local weather management (with rear vents), a 360-degree digital camera, leather-based upholstery, a multi-info show, keyless entry and begin, six airbags, ABS, EBD, brake help, ASR (traction management), hill begin help, hill descent management and lane departure warning.

The Landtrek will solely be supplied in double-cab guise with energy coming from a 1.9 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel making 152 PS (150 hp) at 4,000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 2,800 rpm. The one transmission possibility is a six-speed automated that’s paired with a part-time four-wheel drive system, which features a rear differential lock.

As for pricing, the Landtrek is estimated to retail for RM123,000, and the pick-up truck comes absolutely imported (CBU) from China, the place it’s made at Changan’s plant in Shenzhen. Within the aggressive pick-up truck phase, would you decide the Landtrek over nameplates just like the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara and Mazda BT-50?

<!–

–>

In the case of gasoline financial system, there is a debate about engine dimension vs. engine pace. Is it higher to have an even bigger engine turning low RPMs or a small engine revving its coronary heart out? Lately, the Rubbish Time YouTube channel tried to reply that age-old gasoline consumption query whereas attempting to devour 10 minutes of your time. 

The video includes a 1996 Ford Falcon and a 1991 FSM Niki, a revised model of the Fiat 126 offered in Australia from 1989 to 1992. With the air-con on, the Falcon burns 15.7 liters of gasoline each 100 kilometers, the equal of about 15 mpg. As for the Niki, it does not have air-con. We’re additionally not likely certain what sort of gasoline mileage it will get as a result of it retains breaking down. However with a tiny 650cc two-cylinder engine and a 1,300 lb curb weight, the Niki ought to thrash the Falcon in a battle of the least. If it stays operating. 

The race is easy, drive 100 km over a mix of roads whereas maintaining with visitors. The Falcon cruises serenely, barely cracking 1,800 rpm. It by no means breaks a sweat, even on the freeway, simply maintaining with visitors.

In response to Rubbish Time, driving the Niki flat out is like being in a “caged bike” or a “wheelbarrow for people.” Removed from highly effective, its two-cylinder engine thrashes simply to keep up pace on the freeway, struggling valiantly to succeed in the pace restrict, earlier than settling again to 80 km/h (50 mph).  

Finally the race ends, and the gasoline financial system scores are tallied. The Falcon manages a good 10.77 liters per 100 km or virtually 22 mpg. Operating flat out more often than not, the Niki burned 5.6 liters per 100 km, the equal of 42 mpg.   

As for who actually wins, it could come all the way down to your choice. Would you quite spend extra on gasoline to get someplace comfortably? Or, are you the form of one that goes the most affordable route doable or enjoys the feeling of driving a gradual automobile quick? 

A 1968 Ford Mustang from Carroll Shelby’s private assortment is up for grabs. Nicknamed Black Hornet, it is scheduled to be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson on the firm’s Scottsdale, Arizona, occasion to be held Jan. 21-29.

Within the 1960s, Shelby American labored intently with Ford to develop new Mustang variants, protecting a handful of Mustangs round as growth mules. Shelby tended to provide them color-coordinated nicknames, reminiscent of Little Pink and Inexperienced Hornet. In keeping with the public sale itemizing, the Black Hornet was constructed as a modern-day tribute to the latter, however with a special colour and some different adjustments.

The Black Hornet contains a 428-cubic-inch V-8, which powers the rear wheels by way of a 4-speed guide transmission, instead of the Inexperienced Hornet’s 390-cubic-inch V-Eight and automated gearbox. The notchback coupe additionally sports activities most of the Inexperienced Hornet’s styling options, together with a twin-scoop hood and “EXP 500” badging, but it surely lacks the unique automotive’s fuel-injection system and impartial rear suspension.

The itemizing says Shelby oversaw the construct and put 213 miles on the automotive earlier than signing over possession to “his charity basis” on Dec. 29, 2008. Barrett-Jackson claims the automotive now has 564 miles on the odometer, and famous that is acknowledged as an genuine Shelby-owned Mustang within the Shelby Worldwide Registry.

What seems to be the identical automotive was listed in a 2020 Mecum Auctions catalog, and that itemizing fills in a couple of extra particulars. It says Shelby commissioned Legendary G.T. Continuation Vehicles to construct the Black Hornet, which was then donated to residence decor retailer Restoration {Hardware} for an eBay charity public sale benefitting the Carroll Shelby Kids’s Basis.

Mecum printed a pre-auction estimate of $275,000 to $325,000 for its 2020 public sale, though it is unclear if the hammer worth fell in that vary. Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson as soon as turned down a $1.9 million bid for the unique Inexperienced Hornet, and whereas this tribute automotive is not as useful as a real Shelby prototype, the connection to Carroll Shelby may imply lots to the appropriate purchaser.

• The 2023 Jeep Cherokee lineup contains solely two fashions: Altitude Lux and Trailhawk.
• The 180-hp 2.4-liter inline-four is the bottom engine, and the 270-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four is optionally available.
• Jeep says it is making ready to finish manufacturing of the current-generation Cherokee subsequent month.

Jeep has significantly decreased the Cherokee’s lineup for what seems to be the present technology’s ultimate mannequin yr. The 2023 Cherokee is now accessible in both Altitude Lux and Trailhawk trim ranges, and the one engine selections are actually the naturally aspirated 180-hp 2.4-liter inline-four and a 270-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; the earlier 3.2-liter V-6 engine has been dropped.

Pricing begins at $39,290 for the Altitude Lux and $42,890 for the Trailhawk, and each come commonplace with four-wheel drive. That is an enormous soar from the 2022 mannequin’s base value, which began at $31,590 for the front-wheel-drive Altitude; even the 2022 Altitude 4×4, although, was $6200 lower than this yr’s Altitude Lux mannequin, which does get additional tools together with leather-based seats, a heated steering wheel, and distant begin. The Trailhawk, which beforehand had the three.2-liter V-6 engine, will get a $3750 value bump over final yr.

We previously reported that the Belvedere, Illinois, plant that builds the compact SUV could be idled after February 2023. Jeep instructed us then that the Cherokees being constructed now are 2023 fashions. Reviews that Cherokee manufacturing may transfer to Mexico after the Illinois plant is idled recommend that the Cherokee’s alternative may be coming quickly. The present KL technology of the Cherokee has been on sale for the reason that 2014 mannequin yr and is overdue for a alternative.

This content material is imported from ballot. You might be able to discover the identical content material in one other format, otherwise you might be able to discover extra info, at their website online.

It is no secret that Chevrolet is constructing a hybrid C8 Corvette. It is also no secret that the mid-engine machine can have all-wheel drive. However now, we all know precisely when a debut will happen. Save the date for January 17, 2023.

That is when the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray will likely be revealed formally. Unofficially, we have already had a superb take a look at it due to a web site leak that previewed the automotive in Chevy’s on-line visualizer. The unintended leak from Chevrolet did not supply any mechanical particulars or efficiency specs, nevertheless it did verify the E-Ray title.

 

It additionally confirmed the hybrid will mix styling cues from the Z06 and Stingray fashions with some particular E-Ray touches. The facet intakes and wider stance are pure Z06, whereas the rear fascia with quad exhaust suggestions exiting the corners are Stingray options. On the entrance, the E-Ray wears its personal decrease fascia, one thing we see up shut within the new teaser video.

We do not merely glimpse the ‘Vette’s exterior, nevertheless. Transferring inside, we’re proven a brand new driving mode referred to as Stealth. There isn’t any data describing what it does, however given the hybrid powertrain beneath, we suspect it might be an electric-only mode. If that is the case, not solely would the E-Ray be the primary electrified and first all-wheel-drive manufacturing mannequin, it may additionally be the primary front-wheel-drive Corvette. That is as a result of an electrical motor is predicted to energy the entrance wheels, with the Stingray’s 6.2-liter LT2 V8 turning the rear.

The V8 already makes as much as 495 horsepower within the Corvette Stingray. An alleged data leak from 2021 claimed an approximate 150-hp acquire from the electrical powertrain, pushing whole energy output to round 650 hp. That might slot the E-Ray slightly below the Z06, although all-wheel-drive grip may make the hybrid a bit faster in straight-line sprints. However when corners crop up, the Z06 ought to stay the track-bred champion within the present Corvette lineup.

There is definitely loads of time for Chevrolet to drop extra teasers forward of the E-Ray reveal. When the covers are lifted, we can have all the main points proper right here at Motor1.com. Within the meantime, take a look at the newest new-vehicle debuts within the Rambling About Automobiles podcast, out there under.

[embedded content]