Lincoln Continental Concept Revealed! (It is Already Headed for Production)

Take a Ford Taurus, rub it sparingly with the sad ham of luxury appliqué, and you get the Lincoln MKS. In reality, there may not have been a automobile more cynical in Ford’s repertoire given that post-Malaise downsizing of the 1980s. Finally, Lincoln has decided to erase this blight upon its name, and if the new Continental idea car is not the blocky, presidential pomp machine the fashionably tattooed were hoping for, it is undoubtedly a step away from the baleen-waterfall-stache visual grammar Lincoln has been selling of late.

Officially, the Continental is a notion. But you will see a production version next year. Our sources suggest that the new Conti will not ride on the MKS/Taurus platform, which is also shared with the Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex, but rather on an enlarged version of the CD4 platform, which underpins the Fusion and MKZ.

Ford is playing coy with regards to the concept’s powertrain specifics beyond the reality that it makes use of a 3.-liter EcoBoost V-6, a slightly enlarged variant of the 2.7 Nano. However, we hear that the 2.7 would be a base engine, at least here in the United States. China would likely get an even smaller sized 4-cylinder option. The thrilling bit is that the Continental is rumored to use the very same trick all-wheel-drive system employed in the new Ford Concentrate RS.

We presume the emphasis is on certain-footedness rather than out-and-out stoplight drags or gymkhana-fied acrobatics. Throughout the car’s unveiling at a preview in New York, FoMoCo honcho Mark Fields and Lincoln chief Kumar Galhotra repeated Lincoln’s “quiet luxury” mantra ad infinitum. So considerably so that we identified ourselves lulled into an alpha state by the sense memory of Matthew McConaughey’s laid-back twang. It is all just sounds, man. It is not even like . . . words.

One look at the back seat affirms this. Tap the underside of the chromed handle sticking out of the windowsill and the door pops open. It is a big honking door. It is a Maybach-ian, Chinese-energy-broker-grade door. The sunroof is electrochromatic—changing from opaque to clear at the press of a button—and Ford has taken out 50 patents on the seats in this point. The seats function 30-way adjustment, and a single of the joys is an outer side bolster that deflates to aid ingress and egress. Also, we want a girlfriend produced of the plush, plush carpet. Or at least a cat—a cat would almost certainly be a lot more acceptable. The complete interior therapy, resplendent in dark blue and chrome, suggests the glory of the jet age without having getting slavishly retro. We dare Lincoln not to dumb it down any much more than is necessary to pass crash standards for production, since it is as good as anything south of $ 200,000.

The exterior has its moments. In profile, it’s somewhat Mulsanne/Phantom-esque. From the rear, it’s aces. We specifically like the quad exhaust with asymmetrical outer guidelines. The front finish screams Jag-ura, with its RLX-style headlamps and XE/XJ-mimicking grille. Even though it’s a far better appear than the prior remedy, it is a lot more Euro-Japanese derivative than we’d like to see from an American brand. We do, even so, really like the peaked hood. The headlamps, by the way, are of the matrix-LED style that Audi can’t sell to us maybe an American organization futzing with the tech can lastly get it legalized.

All in all, the new Continental comes off as a slightly mixed bag. That is an improvement more than the MKS, which was not the sort of bag that James Brown would ever have been pleased to own brand-new. But this Continental? He may well just have liked this.

View Photographs View Photographs

Lincoln Continental Concept Revealed! (It is Already Headed for Production)

Here’s Your 1st Look at the Production Acura NSX [w/ Video]

We’ve seen a number of concept versions, we’ve seen it in camo, we’ve observed it throughout testing, and we’ve even seen it burned to a crisp. Now we’re ultimately seeing (some of) it in the flesh: Here’s your first peek at the production-ready 2016 Acura NSX that will debut at the Detroit auto show subsequent month. Hello, beautiful!

Acura has been teasing the NSX for an agonizingly long time. The excitement is palpable—buyers in the U.K. have already snapped up that country’s whole allotment of preorders despite being aware of virtually nothing at all about its production characteristics, the final spec of its drivetrain, or when specifically it will in fact hit the streets.

---

---

Acura will officially unveil this new-generation NSX at the North American International Auto Show on January 12. It is slated to go on sale “sometime in 2015.” As far as we’re concerned, “sometime” can not come soon adequate.

[embedded content material]

Other Stories You May well Like

---

Here’s Your 1st Look at the Production Acura NSX [w/ Video]

Sergio Marchionne Promises Not to Screw Up Ferrari, Plans to Increase Production

Whew, what a relief: Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has told CNBC that Ferrari, which is now below his direct manage, “is in very good hands with FCA,” adding, “As long as we don’t screw up the DNA of Ferrari.”

The worry among Ferraristi is that Sergio, coming from the globe of mass production, would try to go all Lamborghini on the prancing horse and expand production to meet ever-growing demand. Ferrari has in no way operated as a regular automotive brand might, where they sell as many vehicles as possible in the interest of profits and all that jazz. Ferrari, on the other hand, has actively restricted production and kept rates extremely high—resulting in huge profits anyway. In doing so, the business has engendered unparalleled demand not only for its pricey vehicles, but also for Scuderia-branded merchandise and the life style its goods support.

Outgoing Ferrari chief Luca Di Montezemolo capped production at 7000 cars per year in a bid to hold costs on new and employed Ferraris higher and limit the situations of 1 owner bumping into one more with the very same automobile. (God forbid, correct?) Marchionne desires to at some point up production to 10,000 vehicles per year to serve the rising quantity of mega-wealthy humans on the planet but has settled upon a much less frightful 7200 units in the close to term. This, of course, is where Ferrari fans get upset—to them, upping production risks screwing up Ferrari’s DNA.

---

---

Ultimately, Marchionne has some leeway right here, simply because as tempting as it may possibly be to expand sales, Ferrari in its existing form is carrying out fairly well. And that’s very good news for Fiat-Chrysler: Regardless of moving a pittance of automobiles every year compared to all round FCA sales, Ferrari contributes 12 percent of the conglomerate’s annual operating profit, according to the CNBC story. We’ll need to wait and see what Marchionne’s next move is, but we’d wager that Ferrari fans have small to be concerned about—at least until FCA’s general organization flags or its coffers start to empty.

Other Stories You May Like

---

Sergio Marchionne Promises Not to Screw Up Ferrari, Plans to Increase Production

Decadence, Aston Martin–Style: Official Photographs of Production Lagonda Supersedan Released, Such as Interior

Aston Martin has made the first suite of photos of its beautiful Lagonda hyperluxury sedan in production form. This follows the release of images of a prototype test vehicle in Oman a couple of weeks ago, which followed an embarrassing photo drop of the exact same auto by Oman Air shortly after it arrived in the Middle Eastern country. Turns out the Lagonda is just as beautiful sitting in front of a glass wall (and next to its most current predecessor) as it is bombing by way of the Omani desert.

Substantially, these photos finally show most of the Lagonda’s decadent interior, which appears to borrow heavily from the Rapide, for better or worse. Like the Rapide S, a huge transmission tunnel separates the left- and right-side seats, which all have fixed headrests. The dashboard looks the identical, dull steering wheel, flip-up navigation screen, and all. An elaborate diamond quilting pattern covers all 4 seats, and we wouldn’t doubt it if the leather was coated with pure gold. It sure appears that way.

Even though Aston is nonetheless officially mum on the details of the car’s underpinnings and powertrain (both of which we anticipate to be closely related to the Rapide S), we were able to glean a handful of key information of the Lagonda from a spokesman, especially that its crisply tailored physique is made totally from carbon fiber, and that weight stays “neutral over the Rapide S.”

Oh yeah, and that it has seen speeds of more than 175 mph throughout testing. Initial deliveries to its fortunate customers will begin in the 1st quarter of 2015 unfortunately for us and most of the rest of the world, all of the planned 150-to-200-unit production run are bound for the Middle East. Lucky sheikhs.

Other Stories You May well Like

---

Decadence, Aston Martin–Style: Official Photographs of Production Lagonda Supersedan Released, Such as Interior

Taking the All-New Ford Mustang from Sketch to Production

• The design of the 2015 Mustang is all-new yet unmistakably Mustang

• Design process for all-new Mustang started in 2009

• Once a design was selected, exterior and interior designers worked to perfect the lines throughout the all-new Mustang, resulting in the car first revealed in December 2013

PRETORIA, South Africa, 23 September 2014 - For a car designer, the chance to reimagine an icon like Ford Mustang is always exciting. Doing this for the famous Ford performance car’;s 50th anniversary, is the opportunity of a lifetime.

By mid-2009, with the substantially updated fifth-generation Ford Mustang in production, Ford designers, engineers and marketers turned their collective attention to what would come next: the design that would mark more than 5 decades of continuous Mustang development and production.

“To the people inside Ford, Mustang is considered the heart and soul of the company,” said Moray Callum, Ford Vice President of global design. “We spent a lot of time amongst the team and with customers discussing the history of Mustang and what it meant to people and concluded that we needed to move forward with a modern design that retained the essence of the brand.”

What makes a Mustang?

As Ford’;s performance leader, the basic parameters of Mustang were obvious: rear-wheel drive combined with the sound and performance of a V8 engine to create the visceral experience that Mustang drivers expect.

Part of the appeal of Mustang over the years has been the way it combines style, performance and everyday usability thanks to its 4-seat cabin and sizable trunk. These attributes had to be part of the new design. With these basic parameters, Ford designers established a footprint to work with roughly the same as the fifth generation model.

From a design standpoint, the challenge was how to design a car that was contemporary, but unmistakably Mustang. The goal was to create a Mustang with a bold, aggressive face, with chiselled detailing on the body and a more athletic stance on its tires.

The process kicks off

A typical new car program kicks off with a design brief that lays out the needs and wants for the upcoming vehicle. However, with 50 years of continuous development and production, every designer knew what to sketch and how a Mustang needs to look.

Several hundred sketches were submitted in early 2010 incorporating many of the primary Mustang DNA cues to varying degrees. The long bonnet, short deck, bold grille, shark-front nose, fastback profile, side hockey stick contour and rear tri-bar tail lamps were reinterpreted in dozens of different ways.

Similarly, sketches of the interior featured the distinctive symmetrical instrument panel with a double brow design and large analogue gauges.

“There are a few key elements that make Mustang a Mustang. As designers, we need to edit those cues deciding which ones to retain, how to interpret them in a modern way and how to combine them to create a car that is immediately identifiable as Mustang,” added Callum. “Looking at all of the different Mustangs over the past 5 decades, those cues have appeared in some years and not in others, but the end result was still a Mustang.”

Perhaps the most prominent of those cues that did not make the final cut was the scoop, or “hockey stick” profile, on the flanks of the car. Many of the early proposals included some form of this visual feature, but ultimately it was not included in the final production model.

Throughout 2011, hundreds of initial sketches were narrowed down to a handful of proposals that would be transformed into an initial batch of clay models for evaluation in 3 dimensions. After further development, 3 themes went into the final selection phase in early 2012.

The 2015 Mustang theme is selected

By the summer of 2012 – as with all previous generations – the main Dearborn, Michigan, studio took the lead on developing the Mustang into a production car.

Designers, clay sculptors and digital modellers spent countless hours refining the lines and surfaces that create the 3 dimensional body side and the powerful hunches as well as the long-sculpted hood with a forward leaning nose that give the 2015 Mustang its unique look and personality.

Details such as the shape and size of the grille and headlamps were refined and the rear track was widened by 70 millimetres, giving the new car an even more aggressive stance.

The elimination of the front and rear bumper shelves and the use of unified side glass with the B-pillar hidden behind the rear quarter windows contribute to the new Mustang’;s more contemporary shape.

On the interior, the team paid close attention to the relationships of the various elements, and designed them in a way to achieve optimum fit and finish. The final theme was inspired by the wing of an airplane, with the double brow carved out of the wing. All the gauges, registers, toggle switches and other design elements are placed into the wing. Everything is where it needs to be for usability, just like the cockpit of an airplane. The toggle switches are a highlight of the modern centre stack.

The designers have also taken advantage of modern lighting technology at both ends of the car. Indirect LEDs illuminate the blade style tri-bar tail lamps with a uniform glow. LEDs are also used for the 3 gills mounted inboard of the high-intensity discharge headlamps, recalling the gills moulded into the headlamp buckets of the original 1965 Mustang.

Along the way, the shape of the new Mustang underwent twice as much aerodynamic testing as any previous generation.

The convertible

The convertible is clearly part of the same product family as the fastback and yet much of the bodywork is actually unique to the open-top car. Subtle but important differences in the shape of the rear bodywork give the convertible a cohesive shape of its own.

From the raised and straightened muscle line on the rear haunches to the re-contoured boot lid, the new Mustang convertible has a more linear quality whether the top is up or down, giving the car its own distinct presence on the road.

The final production design of the all-new sixth-generation Ford Mustang was revealed to the world on December 5, 2013 and it will be go on sale in the US later this year. This is also the first generation of the Mustang that will be sold across the world, including South Africa, Australia, and the UK. The all-new Mustang, with V8 and EcoBoost® engines will go on sale in South Africa late 2015.

Taking the All-New Ford Mustang from Sketch to Production

Toyota Creating Radical 3-D Head-Up Show for Production

Toyota spends $ 1 million per hour on R&D, and you ought to be thrilled to hear that not all of it is spent on boring stuff such as squeezing another mile per gallon out of tomorrow’s Prius. A single such significantly less-boring innovation is a 3-D head-up show (HUD) getting developed—and slated for production—by engineers in Silicon Valley collaborating in concert with Toyota designers primarily based in San Francisco.

To be clear, this isn’t becoming designed so you can view Godzilla smashing your windshield in scary reality. Nor will Captain America and his Avenger buddies play on a Corolla stage anytime quickly. Alternatively, Toyota’s 3-D HUD is a step forward on the path to intelligent cars that assist drivers stay away from daily-driving hardships.

No special viewing goggles are required. Like the 2-D HUDs available in the Toyota Prius and many Lexus models, the 3-D demonstrator we recently skilled provides a clear windshield image that causes no headache or eyestrain. In addition to the usual vehicle-speed details, this gizmo provides navigation assistance and visitors-hazard alerts. For example, turn arrows seem to align with the precise spot exactly where you need to have to deviate from a straight path. You’re provided an correct sense of how far away the turn is, and the arrow shortens realistically in sync with the automobile moving forward.

Also, when you’re frantically searching for a parking spot, they pop up in your HUD keyed to location, along with the time remaining on the meter. The most impressive feature offered here is real-time warning of visitors hazards before they invade your peripheral vision. When a automobile threatens to T-bone you from the left, you’ll see a vibrant red ghost image in your 3-D HUD (see below) so you can take suitable action. And when a bicyclist creeps into your blind spot, you’ll know he’s there with no checking your mirrors.

Kentaro Oguchi, the director of Toyota’s Mountain View, California, InfoTechnology Center where the 3-D HUD is beneath improvement, is mum about when this technology will come to salable fruition. He did reveal that perform started 2 years ago, that the actual HUD image projector was developed by Toyota, and that no specific patches or windshield overlays are needed. 3 types of sensors will accumulate the details needed to operate the 3-D HUD: phased-array radar to collect speed and position of objects (cars, pedestrians, hazards) near the automobile, cameras to reveal their shape and form, and lidar (light detecting and ranging) gear to accurately decide distances to intersections and objects the HUD will depict.

---

---

Toyota is creating 1 smaller sized, lighter, less expensive, and far more robust sensor that combines the above functions in a single handy device. Toyota also will tempt its customers with automatic steering, braking, and acceleration capabilities when these are ready for production. (But not full autonomy, as the automaker has vowed that it will not construct an autonomous vehicle.) Do not be surprised, even so, if the 3-D HUD that arrives at the identical time and supplies a far more informative view of the path ahead steals some of the thunder from these gadgets.

Toyota Creating Radical 3-D Head-Up Show for Production

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Location Slow Automobile Production

A lady died when her vehicle became stranded in 3 feet of water in suburban Detroit, right after heavy rain across southeastern Michigan left numerous roads impassable.

Fearing a lot more motorists could turn out to be stranded a day soon after a storm dumped more than 6 inches of rain in some locations in and around Detroit, the state warned commuters against driving in impacted areas Tuesday morning.

Warren Mayor James Fouts said roughly 1,000 automobiles had been abandoned in floodwaters in the suburb exactly where numerous roads were closed right after 5.2 inches of rain fell Monday. He stated he was searching for state support for residents dealing with the “overwhelming” and “catastrophic” flooding.

Fouts said a lady apparently died of cardiac arrest when her automobile got stuck in floods. He did not name the lady or say when she died.

The Associated Press left a message for Fouts searching for far more data.

National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Thompson stated the rainfall peaked in suburban Detroit at 6.25 inches. He stated 4.57 inches fell at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, breaking the earlier record for Aug. 11 at the airport of 2.06 inches in 1964.

“The Detroit metro area … had a lengthy period of rainfall and there had been some embedded thunderstorms that enhanced the rainfall rates,” Thompson stated.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms have been expected, with about 1/4-inch a lot more of rain forecast.

Portions of Interstates 75, 94, 696 and the Lodge and Southfield freeways had been closed Tuesday morning. Other roadways remained below water, while mud, debris and vehicles blocked traffic elsewhere. Motorists were stranded on flooded roads in the Flint location.

Michigan State Police troopers assisted stranded motorists and cleared abandoned autos. The state Division of Transportation assessed damage to roadways and utilized front-finish loaders Tuesday morning to clear mud from some freeways.

Lt. Michael Shaw said a dive group was checking Interstate 94 at Michigan Avenue and planned to verify the interchange for interstates 696 and 275. He mentioned there had been no reports of people missing in the floods, but that police wanted to be certain.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who was in the Upper Peninsula on Tuesday morning, said extra state troopers, road crews and other resources would assist in the recovery and cleanup. He planned to survey the impacted region by plane Tuesday.

“We’ve taken a dramatic series of actions,” Snyder told WWJ-AM.

In the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo was closed soon after heavy rains and flooding broken facilities and equipment, like the Arctic Ring of Life exhibit that houses polar bears, seals and arctic foxes.

“All animals are safe and there are no concerns with animal welfare at this time,” the zoo said in a statement.

Auto Manufacturing Affected

The record-setting rainfall slowed vehicle production and closed some facilities, automakers stated.

General Motors closed its Tech Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren on Tuesday simply because of flood damage. The company told the 19,000 engineers, designers and other individuals who function at the 330-acre campus to keep home although facilities are cleaned.

GM spokesman Bill Grotz mentioned the flooding didn’t appear to cause extreme harm to the historic campus, which was developed in the early 1950s by architect Eero Saarinen.

GM said production at local plants wasn’t affected. But flooding did trigger slowdowns at Detroit’s other 2 automakers.

4 Chrysler plants — such as one particular in Detroit and 3 in the suburbs of Warren and Sterling Heights — have been flooded.

The company halted operations at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant at 9 p.m. Monday evening. Chrysler mentioned road closings caused by flooding have slowed deliveries and caused higher absenteeism.

3 other Chrysler plants were running Tuesday morning, but at a slow rate.

Ford also slowed production Monday at 4 suburban Detroit plants in Dearborn, Wayne and Sterling Heights. Assembly plants in Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky, have been also impacted since of flooding at Michigan-based suppliers.

Ford mentioned all of its plants were running typically Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may possibly not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Location Slow Automobile Production

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Area Slow Automobile Production

A lady died when her car became stranded in 3 feet of water in suburban Detroit, soon after heavy rain across southeastern Michigan left several roads impassable.

Fearing far more motorists could grow to be stranded a day after a storm dumped far more than 6 inches of rain in some areas in and around Detroit, the state warned commuters against driving in affected areas Tuesday morning.

Warren Mayor James Fouts stated roughly 1,000 cars had been abandoned in floodwaters in the suburb where several roads had been closed right after 5.2 inches of rain fell Monday. He mentioned he was searching for state aid for residents dealing with the “overwhelming” and “catastrophic” flooding.

Fouts said a lady apparently died of cardiac arrest when her car got stuck in floods. He did not name the lady or say when she died.

The Connected Press left a message for Fouts in search of more information.

National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Thompson stated the rainfall peaked in suburban Detroit at 6.25 inches. He stated 4.57 inches fell at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, breaking the earlier record for Aug. 11 at the airport of 2.06 inches in 1964.

“The Detroit metro location … had a lengthy period of rainfall and there have been some embedded thunderstorms that enhanced the rainfall prices,” Thompson said.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms had been anticipated, with about 1/4-inch a lot more of rain forecast.

Portions of Interstates 75, 94, 696 and the Lodge and Southfield freeways were closed Tuesday morning. Other roadways remained beneath water, whilst mud, debris and autos blocked traffic elsewhere. Motorists had been stranded on flooded roads in the Flint location.

Michigan State Police troopers assisted stranded motorists and cleared abandoned cars. The state Department of Transportation assessed harm to roadways and used front-finish loaders Tuesday morning to clear mud from some freeways.

Lt. Michael Shaw said a dive group was checking Interstate 94 at Michigan Avenue and planned to check the interchange for interstates 696 and 275. He said there had been no reports of individuals missing in the floods, but that police wanted to be sure.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who was in the Upper Peninsula on Tuesday morning, said added state troopers, road crews and other sources would help in the recovery and cleanup. He planned to survey the impacted location by plane Tuesday.

“We’ve taken a dramatic series of actions,” Snyder told WWJ-AM.

In the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo was closed following heavy rains and flooding damaged facilities and equipment, such as the Arctic Ring of Life exhibit that homes polar bears, seals and arctic foxes.

“All animals are secure and there are no concerns with animal welfare at this time,” the zoo said in a statement.

Auto Manufacturing Impacted

The record-setting rainfall slowed vehicle production and closed some facilities, automakers said.

General Motors closed its Tech Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren on Tuesday because of flood harm. The business told the 19,000 engineers, designers and others who function at the 330-acre campus to remain property even though facilities are cleaned.

GM spokesman Bill Grotz mentioned the flooding didn’t appear to trigger severe damage to the historic campus, which was designed in the early 1950s by architect Eero Saarinen.

GM mentioned production at regional plants wasn’t impacted. But flooding did lead to slowdowns at Detroit’s other 2 automakers.

4 Chrysler plants — including one particular in Detroit and 3 in the suburbs of Warren and Sterling Heights — had been flooded.

The business halted operations at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant at 9 p.m. Monday evening. Chrysler mentioned road closings brought on by flooding have slowed deliveries and triggered higher absenteeism.

3 other Chrysler plants had been running Tuesday morning, but at a slow rate.

Ford also slowed production Monday at 4 suburban Detroit plants in Dearborn, Wayne and Sterling Heights. Assembly plants in Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky, were also impacted due to the fact of flooding at Michigan-primarily based suppliers.

Ford stated all of its plants have been running normally Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2014 Related Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Area Slow Automobile Production

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Location Slow Vehicle Production

A woman died when her car became stranded in 3 feet of water in suburban Detroit, after heavy rain across southeastern Michigan left several roads impassable.

Fearing far more motorists could become stranded a day after a storm dumped more than 6 inches of rain in some areas in and about Detroit, the state warned commuters against driving in impacted places Tuesday morning.

Warren Mayor James Fouts stated roughly 1,000 cars had been abandoned in floodwaters in the suburb where many roads have been closed following 5.2 inches of rain fell Monday. He mentioned he was searching for state assist for residents dealing with the “overwhelming” and “catastrophic” flooding.

Fouts stated a lady apparently died of cardiac arrest when her car got stuck in floods. He did not name the woman or say when she died.

The Associated Press left a message for Fouts searching for a lot more data.

National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Thompson stated the rainfall peaked in suburban Detroit at 6.25 inches. He mentioned 4.57 inches fell at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, breaking the earlier record for Aug. 11 at the airport of 2.06 inches in 1964.

“The Detroit metro region … had a extended period of rainfall and there had been some embedded thunderstorms that enhanced the rainfall rates,” Thompson said.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms had been expected, with about 1/4-inch much more of rain forecast.

Portions of Interstates 75, 94, 696 and the Lodge and Southfield freeways have been closed Tuesday morning. Other roadways remained below water, whilst mud, debris and autos blocked traffic elsewhere. Motorists were stranded on flooded roads in the Flint area.

Michigan State Police troopers assisted stranded motorists and cleared abandoned cars. The state Department of Transportation assessed damage to roadways and used front-end loaders Tuesday morning to clear mud from some freeways.

Lt. Michael Shaw mentioned a dive group was checking Interstate 94 at Michigan Avenue and planned to check the interchange for interstates 696 and 275. He stated there had been no reports of men and women missing in the floods, but that police wanted to be positive.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who was in the Upper Peninsula on Tuesday morning, mentioned additional state troopers, road crews and other sources would help in the recovery and cleanup. He planned to survey the impacted location by plane Tuesday.

“We’ve taken a dramatic series of actions,” Snyder told WWJ-AM.

In the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo was closed right after heavy rains and flooding damaged facilities and equipment, including the Arctic Ring of Life exhibit that homes polar bears, seals and arctic foxes.

“All animals are safe and there are no concerns with animal welfare at this time,” the zoo stated in a statement.

Auto Manufacturing Impacted

The record-setting rainfall slowed vehicle production and closed some facilities, automakers said.

Common Motors closed its Tech Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren on Tuesday since of flood harm. The business told the 19,000 engineers, designers and other people who function at the 330-acre campus to remain house even though facilities are cleaned.

GM spokesman Bill Grotz mentioned the flooding didn’t appear to result in extreme damage to the historic campus, which was developed in the early 1950s by architect Eero Saarinen.

GM said production at regional plants wasn’t impacted. But flooding did result in slowdowns at Detroit’s other 2 automakers.

4 Chrysler plants — which includes one particular in Detroit and 3 in the suburbs of Warren and Sterling Heights — had been flooded.

The company halted operations at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant at 9 p.m. Monday night. Chrysler said road closings triggered by flooding have slowed deliveries and triggered higher absenteeism.

3 other Chrysler plants were operating Tuesday morning, but at a slow price.

Ford also slowed production Monday at 4 suburban Detroit plants in Dearborn, Wayne and Sterling Heights. Assembly plants in Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky, were also impacted since of flooding at Michigan-based suppliers.

Ford mentioned all of its plants were running normally Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2014 Connected Press. All rights reserved. This material might not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Location Slow Vehicle Production

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Area Slow Vehicle Production

A lady died when her automobile became stranded in 3 feet of water in suburban Detroit, soon after heavy rain across southeastern Michigan left numerous roads impassable.

Fearing much more motorists could turn out to be stranded a day right after a storm dumped far more than 6 inches of rain in some places in and around Detroit, the state warned commuters against driving in affected regions Tuesday morning.

Warren Mayor James Fouts stated roughly 1,000 automobiles had been abandoned in floodwaters in the suburb where several roads were closed right after 5.2 inches of rain fell Monday. He mentioned he was seeking state aid for residents dealing with the “overwhelming” and “catastrophic” flooding.

Fouts stated a woman apparently died of cardiac arrest when her automobile got stuck in floods. He did not name the woman or say when she died.

The Connected Press left a message for Fouts looking for far more information.

National Climate Service meteorologist Dan Thompson stated the rainfall peaked in suburban Detroit at 6.25 inches. He stated 4.57 inches fell at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, breaking the earlier record for Aug. 11 at the airport of 2.06 inches in 1964.

“The Detroit metro location … had a extended period of rainfall and there have been some embedded thunderstorms that enhanced the rainfall rates,” Thompson stated.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms had been expected, with about 1/4-inch more of rain forecast.

Portions of Interstates 75, 94, 696 and the Lodge and Southfield freeways have been closed Tuesday morning. Other roadways remained beneath water, whilst mud, debris and autos blocked visitors elsewhere. Motorists had been stranded on flooded roads in the Flint area.

Michigan State Police troopers assisted stranded motorists and cleared abandoned automobiles. The state Division of Transportation assessed harm to roadways and utilized front-finish loaders Tuesday morning to clear mud from some freeways.

Lt. Michael Shaw said a dive group was checking Interstate 94 at Michigan Avenue and planned to verify the interchange for interstates 696 and 275. He said there had been no reports of people missing in the floods, but that police wanted to be sure.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who was in the Upper Peninsula on Tuesday morning, stated further state troopers, road crews and other resources would help in the recovery and cleanup. He planned to survey the impacted area by plane Tuesday.

“We’ve taken a dramatic series of actions,” Snyder told WWJ-AM.

In the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo was closed after heavy rains and flooding broken facilities and gear, including the Arctic Ring of Life exhibit that houses polar bears, seals and arctic foxes.

“All animals are secure and there are no issues with animal welfare at this time,” the zoo mentioned in a statement.

Auto Manufacturing Impacted

The record-setting rainfall slowed automobile production and closed some facilities, automakers stated.

General Motors closed its Tech Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren on Tuesday due to the fact of flood damage. The firm told the 19,000 engineers, designers and other folks who function at the 330-acre campus to keep house even though facilities are cleaned.

GM spokesman Bill Grotz said the flooding didn’t seem to trigger serious harm to the historic campus, which was made in the early 1950s by architect Eero Saarinen.

GM mentioned production at nearby plants wasn’t impacted. But flooding did trigger slowdowns at Detroit’s other 2 automakers.

4 Chrysler plants — such as 1 in Detroit and 3 in the suburbs of Warren and Sterling Heights — had been flooded.

The organization halted operations at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant at 9 p.m. Monday evening. Chrysler stated road closings caused by flooding have slowed deliveries and caused higher absenteeism.

3 other Chrysler plants had been running Tuesday morning, but at a slow price.

Ford also slowed production Monday at 4 suburban Detroit plants in Dearborn, Wayne and Sterling Heights. Assembly plants in Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky, have been also impacted simply because of flooding at Michigan-based suppliers.

Ford said all of its plants were operating typically Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2014 Linked Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Serious Floods Overwhelm Detroit Area Slow Vehicle Production

Severe Floods Overwhelm Detroit Area Slow Vehicle Production

A lady died when her automobile became stranded in 3 feet of water in suburban Detroit, after heavy rain across southeastern Michigan left several roads impassable.

Fearing more motorists could grow to be stranded a day right after a storm dumped far more than 6 inches of rain in some locations in and around Detroit, the state warned commuters against driving in impacted regions Tuesday morning.

Warren Mayor James Fouts stated roughly 1,000 vehicles had been abandoned in floodwaters in the suburb exactly where several roads had been closed soon after 5.2 inches of rain fell Monday. He mentioned he was searching for state assist for residents dealing with the “overwhelming” and “catastrophic” flooding.

Fouts mentioned a lady apparently died of cardiac arrest when her car got stuck in floods. He did not name the woman or say when she died.

The Connected Press left a message for Fouts in search of far more information.

National Climate Service meteorologist Dan Thompson mentioned the rainfall peaked in suburban Detroit at 6.25 inches. He stated 4.57 inches fell at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, breaking the earlier record for Aug. 11 at the airport of 2.06 inches in 1964.

“The Detroit metro area … had a long period of rainfall and there have been some embedded thunderstorms that enhanced the rainfall rates,” Thompson mentioned.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms have been anticipated, with about 1/4-inch more of rain forecast.

Portions of Interstates 75, 94, 696 and the Lodge and Southfield freeways had been closed Tuesday morning. Other roadways remained under water, although mud, debris and vehicles blocked visitors elsewhere. Motorists had been stranded on flooded roads in the Flint location.

Michigan State Police troopers assisted stranded motorists and cleared abandoned autos. The state Division of Transportation assessed harm to roadways and utilised front-finish loaders Tuesday morning to clear mud from some freeways.

Lt. Michael Shaw stated a dive team was checking Interstate 94 at Michigan Avenue and planned to verify the interchange for interstates 696 and 275. He mentioned there had been no reports of individuals missing in the floods, but that police wanted to be certain.

Gov. Rick Snyder, who was in the Upper Peninsula on Tuesday morning, mentioned extra state troopers, road crews and other sources would help in the recovery and cleanup. He planned to survey the impacted region by plane Tuesday.

“We’ve taken a dramatic series of actions,” Snyder told WWJ-AM.

In the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo was closed after heavy rains and flooding broken facilities and gear, like the Arctic Ring of Life exhibit that homes polar bears, seals and arctic foxes.

“All animals are secure and there are no concerns with animal welfare at this time,” the zoo stated in a statement.

Auto Manufacturing Impacted

The record-setting rainfall slowed vehicle production and closed some facilities, automakers mentioned.

Basic Motors closed its Tech Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren on Tuesday because of flood damage. The business told the 19,000 engineers, designers and other individuals who operate at the 330-acre campus to remain home while facilities are cleaned.

GM spokesman Bill Grotz said the flooding didn’t seem to result in serious harm to the historic campus, which was created in the early 1950s by architect Eero Saarinen.

GM said production at regional plants wasn’t affected. But flooding did result in slowdowns at Detroit’s other 2 automakers.

4 Chrysler plants — like a single in Detroit and 3 in the suburbs of Warren and Sterling Heights — were flooded.

The business halted operations at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant at 9 p.m. Monday evening. Chrysler stated road closings brought on by flooding have slowed deliveries and brought on higher absenteeism.

3 other Chrysler plants had been operating Tuesday morning, but at a slow price.

Ford also slowed production Monday at 4 suburban Detroit plants in Dearborn, Wayne and Sterling Heights. Assembly plants in Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky, have been also impacted since of flooding at Michigan-primarily based suppliers.

Ford said all of its plants had been running normally Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2014 Connected Press. All rights reserved. This material may possibly not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Severe Floods Overwhelm Detroit Area Slow Vehicle Production

2015 Ford Mustang Dealer Stock Production Imminent, Special Orders Can Be Placed 9/9

July 10, 2014 at 1:43 pm by Steve Siler | Photography by Marc Urbano

There’s no upcoming vehicle a lot more highly anticipated than the 2015 Ford Mustang. Now, thanks to a leaked Ford Dealer Bulletin published to Mustang6g.com, we’ve discovered that Job 1 production starts subsequent Monday.

That date applies to coupes, while convertibles will commence rolling off the assembly lines in Flat Rock, Michigan, on September 15. The “OK to Buy” date—the day on which dealers can accept customer orders—for coupes is September 9. Ragtop orders can be placed on October 27.

Mustang6g is the same venue that initially published 2015 Mustang coupe pricing, which starts at $ 24,425 for a base V-6 coupe and rises to $ 46,995 for the coupe-only 50 Year Limited Edition GT model. Full pricing is available here.

---

---

When will vehicles reach consumer driveways? Though far from an official confirmation, Mustang6g member 5 Oh Brian says that orders for dealer stock currently have been rolling in for weeks and that these vehicles will be released for immediate sale as soon as they arrive at dealerships. He also says that this could extremely nicely be ahead of September 9, so early adopters will want to get in touch with their local Blue Oval shop rightfreakingnow and hope that the waiting list is a brief 1.

Other Stories You May Like

---

2015 Ford Mustang Dealer Stock Production Imminent, Special Orders Can Be Placed 9/9

Dune Bug Returns: Amazing VW Beetle Dune Notion Going Into Production in 2016

When the shimmering copper Beetle Dune Notion debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, our sources at VW recommended the great Bug would arrive in dealerships within a couple of years. That robust hint has just been transformed into fact, thanks to confirmation from Volkswagen that the jacked-up compact will indeed go into production in 2016. The “front-driven off-roader” will be even supplied in convertible kind. D’ya hear that, beach bunnies?

Primarily a Beetle Turbo with a dual-clutch 6-speed automatic transmission, an added 2 inches of ground clearance, 19-inch wheels, skid plates, wheel arch extensions, a raised hood, and exclusive headlights and taillights, the Beetle Dune Concept appears quite cool. Sadly, even though, there there is no indication of how considerably of that stuff would make it onto the production version.

---

---

Volkswagen also fails to mention how considerably the Dune will cost relative to a standard Beetle, but Car magazine claims VW estimates a value bump of about €2800 (about $ 3825 at today’s exchange prices). The price tag hike would probably be a bit significantly less for Dunes that are bound for the U.S. since, properly, we’re cheap like that. Of course, that is if, in truth, any Dunes are slated for U.S. consumption.

Neither the video nor our contacts at Volkswagen of America say exactly where it will go on sale initial. If the video provides us something to go on, we’re quite confident the Dune will at least go on sale in Germany. That said, we don’t believe we’d drop a bet on it coming to America at some point, most likely sooner than later, as we’ve got a lot far more dunes—and potential Dune customers—than Germany.

Other Stories You May well Like

---

Dune Bug Returns: Amazing VW Beetle Dune Notion Going Into Production in 2016

Production Version of Stunning Lexus LF-LC May Revive SC Badge

Way before the LFA supercoupe came along, Lexus sold a diverse sort of coupe, the SC. Certain, by the finish of its life, it had morphed into a folding-hardtop convertible that was, effectively, Not Excellent, but in the mid-1990s, it was a stylish, upscale, and sporty piece. What much better name is there, then, to resurrect for the extensively anticipated production version of the wild LF-LC notion vehicle? None greater, and according to the Japanese magazine Holiday Auto, Lexus agrees. 

Now, this is far from an official confirmation, but it makes a ton of sense. Lexus, having only come kicking, screaming, and Mercedes-Benz–mimicking into this planet only in the late 1980s, does not have a enormous amount of history to draw on. Tapping the SC name traces a lineage to preceding Lexus variety-topping 2-doors.

---

---

Much better still, whilst the initial-gen SC came with either a 3.-liter inline-6 or a 4.-liter V-8, and the second-gen SC430 came only with a 4.3-liter V-8, we expect the next version to arrive packing a 500-hp-plus 5.-liter V-7 An available hybrid powertrain with an electrically assisted V-6 appears likely, as well, as does a rip-snorting F model. The best existing estimates place the car’s arrival in 2016 as a 2017 model.

Other Stories You May Like

---

Production Version of Stunning Lexus LF-LC May Revive SC Badge

Production Version of Gorgeous Lexus LF-LC May Revive SC Badge

Way just before the LFA supercoupe came along, Lexus sold a various sort of coupe, the SC. Sure, by the end of its life, it had morphed into a folding-hardtop convertible that was, well, Not Great, but in the mid-1990s, it was a stylish, upscale, and sporty piece. What greater name is there, then, to resurrect for the widely expected production version of the wild LF-LC concept auto? None much better, and according to the Japanese magazine Vacation Auto, Lexus agrees. 

Now, this is far from an official confirmation, but it tends to make a ton of sense. Lexus, having only come kicking, screaming, and Mercedes-Benz–mimicking into this planet only in the late 1980s, doesn’t have a large quantity of history to draw on. Tapping the SC name traces a lineage to previous Lexus variety-topping 2-doors.

---

---

Much better nonetheless, although the first-gen SC came with either a 3.-liter inline-6 or a 4.-liter V-8, and the second-gen SC430 came only with a 4.3-liter V-8, we anticipate the next version to arrive packing a 500-hp-plus 5.-liter V-7 An accessible hybrid powertrain with an electrically assisted V-6 appears likely, too, as does a rip-snorting F model. The ideal existing estimates place the car’s arrival in 2016 as a 2017 model.

Other Stories You Might Like

---

Production Version of Gorgeous Lexus LF-LC May Revive SC Badge