Tag Archives: USA

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Florida Could Suspend Carvana’s Dealer License For Not Submitting Title Applications

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Florida could suspend Carvana’s dealer license after it has failed to transfer the titles of some vehicles sold.

Carvana was reportedly notified of the issues in an email sent by Florida authorities last week. This email is said to have included a spreadsheet that showed 300 Carvana vehicle sales dating back to 2019 that had not had their titles transferred. More than 100 of these vehicle sales occurred in Florida.

Read Also: Carvana Banned From Selling Used Cars In North Carolina Area Until 2022

State law in Florida requires retailers to apply for a title within 30 days of completing a sale. Speaking with Auto News, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said Carvana has until January 31 to submit title applications for all the vehicles it sold in 2021 before December 1.

“The department has been proactively working with Carvana to identify and assist Florida customers who have not received their title in a timely manner, and in accordance with state law,” the spokesperson added. “Florida law allows for the suspension of the dealer’s license if they fail to apply for a transfer of title in a timely manner.”

This isn’t the first time Carvana has been scrutinized for not delivering titles in time. Earlier this year it settled with Florida regulators and agreed to pay $500 each to 12 customers who had to wait three to eight months to receive titles on vehicles they purchased. In August, Carvana had its dealer license suspended for 180 days in Wake County, North Carolina for not producing titles fast enough, among other issues.

Carvana sold 244,111 vehicles in the U.S. last year, making it the country’s second-largest retailer of used vehicles. A spokeswoman from the company says Carvana has applied for around 23,500 titles in Florida over the past 12 months.

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2022 Toyota Avalon Drops AWD And TRD, Starts From $36,375 For Its Final Year

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The fifth-generation Avalon might have been introduced in 2018, but Toyota has confirmed that 2022 will mark the end of its production. Today, the automaker announced pricing for the 2022 MY alongside a few changes in the lineup.

The 2022 Toyota Avalon starts from $36,375 (excluding the $1,025 fee), making it $250 more expensive than last year’s model.

The full-size sedan is not available in AWD variants anymore, while the sporty TRD trim was also dropped from the range. The good news for prospective buyers is the addition of new safety features as standard, including the upgraded Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ package (dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, etc), and the addition of a rear-seat reminder system.

Read Also: The Toyota Avalon TRD Has Plenty Of Comfort, But Not Enough Sportiness

Just like last year, the Avalon is available with gas and hybrid powertrains. The 3.5-liter V6 produces 301 hp (224 kW / 305 PS) and 267 lb-ft (362 Nm) of torque, mated to an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox that sends power to the front axle. The hybrid combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors producing a combined 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and comes with a fuel economy rating of 44 mpg combined.

The 2022 lineup includes six trim levels, including the XSE Nightshade Edition that is visually differentiated from the glossy black accents, the 19-inch wheels, and the rear diffuser. Inside, variants are differentiated with the base XLE featuring SofTex upholstery and “engineered wood” trim, the Limited coming with perforated leather and genuine wood sourced from Yamaha, and the Touring with perforated SofTex / Ultrasuede and aluminum trim.

Read Also: Toyota Adds New Colors, Nightshade Edition To 2022 Camry

In terms of equipment, the Limited and Touring come standard with a premium 14-speaker JBL Audio system, a 10-inch Head-up display, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto / Amazon Alexa), a wireless charging pad, and a moonroof (also standard on the Nightshade, optional in XLE, XLE hybrid). The Touring is the sportiest of the bunch equipped with the electronically controlled Adaptive Variable Suspension system, and an extra driving mode (eco, normal, sport, sport+, custom)

2022 Toyota Avalon Pricing

  • Avalon XLE 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $36,375
  • Avalon XLE Hybrid 2.5-liter ECVT: $37,350
  • Avalon Limited 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $42,675
  • Avalon Limited Hybrid 2.5-liter ECVT: $43,650
  • Avalon XSE Hybrid Nightshade 2.5-liter ECVT: $40,700
  • Avalon Touring 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $43,075

*MSRP prices excluding delivery processing and handling fee of $1,025

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Single Motor Polestar 2 Coming To The U.S. From $47,200

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The single motor version of the 2022 Polestar 2 is heading to the United States from $47,200 including a $1,300 destination charge.

Like the dual-motor version of the Polestar 2, the single-motor variant has a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack but rather than producing 408 hp and 487 lb-ft (660 Nm), it is capped at 231 hp and 248 lb-ft (336 Nm). It also has an EPA-estimated maximum driving range of 265 miles (426 km), which is better than the 249-mile (400 km) range of the dual-motor version.

Read More: Polestar 2 Single-Motor Variant Announced With 260-Mile Range

When federal, state, and utility incentives are factored in, the entry-level Polestar 2 can be purchased for as little as $34,900 plus the $1,300 destination charge.

The single-motor Polestar 2 will be offered with three option packages. The first is the $3,000 Pilot Pack which adds a host of electronic driving aids. Also on offer is the $4,000 Plus Pack that includes a heat pump that can increase the range by up to 10 per cent in ideal conditions and uses thermal energy emitted by the drivetrain to heat the cabin; it also adds a full-length panoramic sunroof and a Harman-Kardon sound system.

Last but not least is the $5,000 Performance Pack that brings with it an adjustable Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, Continental tires, and gold exterior accents. A handful of other standalone options are available, such as leather upholstery for $4,000, 20-inch wheels for $1,200, and a tow bar for $1,200.

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Volvo Bringing Its 48-Volt Mild-Hybrid Tech To 2022 U.S. Models

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A plethora of Volvo’s 2022 models will be offered with 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrains in the U.S.

These models will feature B5 and B6 badges and be used by the 2022 S60, S90, XC60 and V90 Cross Country and will replace the non-hybrid T5 and T6 powertrains. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that the 2022 S60 B5, for example, returns 26 MPG city, 35 MPG highway, and 30 MPG combined, compared to the 23 city, 34 highway, and 27 combined of the outgoing 2021 model.

Read Also: Volvo’s First EV-Only Plant Will Be In America

Volvo already sells its B5 and B6 powertrains in other markets. Both use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that is turbocharged in B5 guise while the B6 variant is both turbocharged and supercharged. The B6 powertrain will be available as an option on the XC60, Car and Driver reports, and standard in the S90 sedan and V90 Cross Country wagon.

Details for the U.S.-spec models haven’t yet been confirmed, but the B5 model sold in Europe has 247 hp, slightly less than the T5 powertrain with its 250 hp. Similarly, the B6 is rated at 295 hp in Europe compared to the 316 hp of the T6.

For the XC60, fuel consumption data reveals that the B5 model provides a 1 MPG increase over the city cycle compared to the T5. Similarly, the higher-powered B6 is 1 MPG better in the city and 1 MPG more efficient over the combined cycle compared to the 2021 XC60 T6.

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Porsche Opens Its First Stand-Alone Service Center In The USA

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Porsche has just opened its first freestanding service center in the United States with a facility near the Atlanta airport.

The Porsche Service Center South Atlanta features 13 lift bays and forms part of an expansion of Porsche Cars North America headquarters at the site, which also includes a Porsche Experience Center track.

According to the German car manufacturer, the service center is a 22,000 square-foot facility, with 12,000 square-feet dedicated to servicing customer vehicles. The site also includes floor-to-ceiling windows in the customer area and takes architectural inspiration from Porsche Palm Springs, a bold dealership in California.

The service center also incorporates a 3,400 square-foot customer space with a reception area, a Porsche Driver’s Selection boutique, and a Porscheplatz lounge with a coffee bar, complete with various food and beverage options, as well as Porsche retail items.

Read Also: Porsche Vision Renndienst Interior Revealed With Center Driver’s Seat, Lounge-Like Third-Row

“Having the Service Center kick off our exciting expansion plans at our headquarters in Atlanta highlights our shared commitment to the customer experience,” president and chief executive of Porsche Cars North America, Kjell Gruner, said in a statement. “To see two dealerships come together to create a first-class and very convenient service experience is a significant milestone. We appreciate their investment and we think our customers will as well.”

The service center opened its doors on July 12 and is being operated jointly by Porsche Atlanta Perimeter and Hennessy Porsche North Atlanta.

“The Service Center is one great way to meet the expectations of a growing customer base in the Atlanta region,” dealer principal of Hennessey Porsche North Atlanta, Peter Hennessy added. “We are thrilled to provide another service option for Porsche drivers. The location inside of the Atlanta perimeter near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport should add value to many customers by making it easy and convenient to visit.”

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VW Opposes Proposal That Would Give Union-Made EVs More Incentives

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There’s a growing consensus in the United States that the electric vehicle tax credit should be reformed, but how to go about it remains up for debate.

While a number of people are calling for the credit to be expanded and increased, one proposal is gaining attention for blatantly favoring union-made vehicles.

As noted by Automotive News, the Clean Energy for America Act includes a proposal by Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow that would give customers an incentive of up to $12,500 (£9,023 / €10,532) for buying an electric vehicle. That would be a significant increase from the current $7,500 (£5,414 / €6,320) credit, but it wouldn’t apply to EVs evenly. Instead, the full amount would be reserved for vehicles made by union workers at plants in the United States.

Also Read: U.S. Senate Panel Advances New EV Tax Credit Bill, Could Be As Much As $12,500 For Cars Under $80,000

Needless to say, that’s not sitting well with everyone as it would mean Teslas wouldn’t be eligible for the full amount despite the fact that Tesla is an American company and makes vehicles in the United States. The proposal would also impact foreign automakers, who have plants in the United States which aren’t unionized.

More interestingly, it would ‘punish’ the Mexican-made Ford Mustang Mach-E. That’s pretty notable as Stabenow represents Michigan and Ford has contributed thousands to her campaigns over the years.

A number of automakers and industry groups are understandably against the proposal as Volkswagen Group of America told the publication, “While we are encouraged by the Biden administration’s support for [EVs] and other related infrastructure, it is critical to ensure EV policies support rather than bifurcate the market, so that the U.S. remains an e-mobility leader and that it is consumers who drive choice — not the government.” The company added it supports incentives that “do not favor one automaker over another.”

While it’s easy to dismiss the proposal as a political ploy to boost unions, the Clean Energy for America Act was advanced by the Senate Finance Committee in May. However, it seems doomed as Automotive News stated it is “unlikely to be taken up by the full Senate.”

However, it brings up an interesting question, should EVs be treated differently depending on where they’re made and who makes them?

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Two Police Cars Wrecked After Cops Drag Race Each Other In Washington, D.C.

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Two police cars have been totaled in Washington, D.C. after a drag race between officers.

It is understood that the officers involved in the incident started racing each other on Anacostia Avenue near Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Garden and were traveling at up to 60 mph (96 km/h). Video taken in the immediate aftermath of the crash shows the two patrol cars crashed into each other, with one of them having smashed through the wooden fence of a house.

While the damage done to the cars doesn’t appear significant, Fox 5 DC was told that both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

Watch Also: NY Driver Doused Cops With Chemicals And Molotov Cocktail During Traffic Stop

“Yesterday two 6D scout cars were totaled because officers decided instead of fighting crime, patrolling their beats, or engaging the community – they decided to drag race each other on Anacostia Avenue at 5 pm in the evening,” 6D Commander Durriiah Habeebullah said in an emailed statement. “What does this say to all the members of MPD who are passionate about their job and work hard every day to make a difference. This is not fair to any of us.”

The four police officers are said to all be relatively new to the force. Neither local Mayor Muriel Bowser nor Chief Robert Contee have responded to requests for comment after the crash and regarding the employment status of the officers involved.

Habeebullah told Fox 5 DC that she is holding command staff responsible to have discussions with officers about the dangers of speeding and driving recklessly.

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Want This 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG? Well, You’ll First Have To Get The OK From NHTSA

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Interested in acquiring this Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG? Good – but you’ll first have to get the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s blessing.

The reason is that the rare car was imported to the United States from Germany and federalized by Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories of Houston for ‘show or display’. Therefore, any transfer of ownership must first be approved by the NHTSA. Moreover, the annual mileage will have to be kept at under 2,500 miles (4,023 km) and the new owner will also have to make it available for inspection by the safety agency until it turns 25 years old.

Read More: More Than 50 Years Of Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupes And Cabriolets; Which One’s Your Favorite?

A German Touring Car Championship homologation special, the CLK DTM AMG was built in 180 examples, 100 coupes and 80 cabriolets. This one came to life in 2005 and has less than 1,600 miles (2,575 km) on the odometer, with 100 of them covered over the past six years. It sports a silver paint finish and black leather & Alcantara interior, and has a plaque that denotes its arrival in the Lone Star State in 2009. It is estimated that only five such rides are currently in North America.

Powering it is a 574 HP 5.4-liter supercharged V8 that’s hooked up to a 5G-Tronic automatic transmission. Top speed stands at over 200 mph (320 km/h) and it will hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just four seconds.

Accompanied by the original manuals, first aid kit, tool kit and battery tender, this CLK DTM AMG will go on sale at the RMSothebys Amelia Island auction on May 22.

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Tesla’s Sentry Mode Captures Another Thief On Video

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People breaking into cars is nothing new, and Teslas are no exception. A few days ago, another such incident happened near Houston, where someone broke into what’s thought to be a Model 3. And while the Tesla’s owner certainly won’t be happy, the whole ordeal was fortunately captured on camera by the car’s Sentry Mode.

The owner had just pulled up to Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe in Spring, Texas when he noticed a suspicious vehicle slowly roll past him. It turns out his suspicions were correct, because when he came back out of the restaurant, his car had been broken into and multiple personal belongings were missing.

See Also: Drone Captures Mystery Teslas Under Covers; Could They Be The Facelifted S And X?

The cameras all around the vehicle did a good job of capturing the entire incident, getting both the thief’s face and license plate on video. After he pulls away, we can see a person returning to the parking lot shocked by the broken window in the Tesla. We believe that’s the car’s owner or possibly someone who felt compelled to call the police after seeing the damage.

Regardless, if they haven’t already, it’s very likely the police have a sufficient  amount of evidence to apprehend the thief. While the license plate on his Lincoln MKZ was a temporary, and likely won’t be of much help in tracking him down, the clear shot of the criminal’s face should be a useful asset to law enforcement agencies.

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America’s All-New Western Star 49X Vocational Truck Is Here To Get Any Job Done

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Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has unveiled the all-new Western Star 49X truck in the United States.

Designed for the so-called heavy-duty vocational segment, which designates special vehicles and construction site vehicles, the 49X retains the outgoing 4900’s striking front-end design and characteristic chrome look.

Underneath the skin, though, the Western Star 49X is very different as it has been designed from the ground up to be tougher, safer and lighter. During development, Daimler Trucks also incorporated feedback from leading truck equipment manufacturers to ensure the 49X would meet their needs for a quicker, more efficient conversion.

See Also: New Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Fuel-Cell Semi Concept Previews Production Model Coming Soon

Compared to its predecessor, the new Western Star 49X is said to offer weight savings of more than 350 lbs (150 kg), starting with the all-new vocational frame promising best-in-class RBM (Resisting Bending Moment) strength rating for greater durability. The new 49X vocational truck also features a tougher cab made of steel-reinforced aluminum that’s 8 percent lighter than on the 4900, enabling more payload.

Under the signature long hood, the Western Star 49X gains the all-new 14.8-liter DD15 Gen 5 heavy-duty engine from Detroit Diesel which offers enhanced performance, uptime and reliability. The six-cylinder diesel delivers up to 505 HP and a monumental 1,850 lb-ft (2,505 Nm) of torque. Apart from the DD16, customers can also opt for Cummins’ X12 and X15 engines.

All units are mated to the all-new DT12-V or DT12-VX automated manual transmissions (AMT) with 12 forward and four reverse speeds. The truck also introduces Detroit Assurance safety equipment such as active brake assist, side guard assist, adaptive cruise control, and more.

Western Star says the 49X is its toughest truck yet, having been the most tested model in the company’s history. Daimler Trucks North America spent six years designing and validating the truck and employed testing and validation methodology never used before.

For example, DTNA’s Product Validation Engineering (PVE) team crushed the cab with 20 metric tons, performed 10,000 frame twists to replicate the lifetime of the truck, and spent over 400 hours of testing on full-vehicle and component shakers – the testing equivalent of over 800,000 miles (1,287,475 km) of use.

The all-new Western Star 49X is available for order this winter and deliveries will commence in early 2021.

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