Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

GM nailed again, this time $10 billion lawsuit

As if the recall of 20 million cars and a new CEO isn’t enough turmoil, GM is now being sued for $10 billion. The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, details GM hurt its customers by concealing defects. The result: devaluation of many late-model vehicles by about $500 to $2,600 in resale value. The news agency, Reuters reported the plaintiff is Anna Andrews, a California resident and GM customer. Andrews is seeking class-action status for people who owned or leased GM vehicles sold between the company’s bankruptcy and April 1, 2014 It’s the first legal claim that GM owes customers some compensation for damaging its brand and reputation — a total exceeding $10 billion, to be paid to

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Tracy Morgan improves, sense of humor back

Tracy Morgan, the actor and comedian who suffered multiple injuries June 7 in a New Jersey highway crash that killed one of his friends, has been upgraded to fair condition. “His personality is certainly starting to come back as well,” Lewis Kay, Morgan’s spokesperson, said. Morgan, 45, the former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star suffered broken ribs and a broken leg on the New Jersey Turnpike. The crash killed comedian James McNair and seriously injured two others. Prosecutors say Walmart driver Kevin Roper’s truck hit Morgan’s limo. Roper has pleaded not guilty to death by auto and assault by auto charges. A criminal complaint alleges Roper hadn’t slept for more than 24 hours before the accident when he

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General Motors: low spark in massive recall rate

The latest chapter in the omnipresent woes of General Motors revealed that four months after the company began recalling 2.6 million small cars to fix ignition switches, only seven percent of the vehicles have been repaired. The reason: Switch maker Delphi has had delays in making the part for cars that are no longer being produced. General Motors reported through June 12, nearly 177,000 cars have been repaired and another 423,000 parts kits have been shipped to dealers worldwide. Spokesman Kevin Kelly said Delphi had only one assembly line building replacement switches, which slowed parts distribution. Kelly added the company now has two lines and a third will be running in late July or early August. General Motors expects to

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Miracle on Snow: Michael Schumacher out of coma

Michael Schumacher, who sustained serious head injuries nearly six months ago in a skiing accident in France, is out of his coma and has been transferred from a hospital in France to a hospital near his home in Switzerland. Schumacher, 45, the most accomplished driver in Formula One history, has been in a Grenoble hospital since his accident Dec. 29, 2013. He left the French hospital Monday morning. Schumacher “is not in a coma anymore,” his manager, Sabine Kehm, said. Kehm gave no further details of Schumacher’s condition or medical outlook. But she added Schumacher will “continue his long phase of rehabilitation.” Darcy Christen, a spokeswoman for Lausanne University Hospital, confirmed Schumacher was admitted. But she stressed the facility wants

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Elio Motors suffers further setback, debut in late 2015?

The future of the much-discussed Elio Motors three-wheeler has been further delayed — likely for more than a year — according to several website reports. The Dubai-based news portal, AirHerald.com report funding issues have stalled the pending start of manufacturer’s production site in Shreveport, Louisiana. The dilemma may push back the public debut of the vehicle to at least September, 2015. Officials at Elio Motors had hoped production of the $6,800 car would be last March. In addition to funding issues, uncertainly from regulators how three-wheel vehicles should be classified have further complicated the much-anticipated car. According to AirHerald.com, Elio Motors has plans to hire 800 workers in June 2015. Elio Motors reportedly has raised more than $55 million, less

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Tracy Morgan wreck spotlights long-haul trucking woes

The crash last Saturday involving comedian Tracy Morgan, his entourage and a Walmart truck driver accused of overt fatigue, has again brought to the forefront the inherent potential dangers of long-haul trucking. Bill Briggs, writing for the website of NBC news, has filed a lengthy and compression article titled: “Tracy Morgan Crash: Why Are Some Long-Haul Truckers So Tired?” In the article, Briggs writes in part: “One year ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) installed several rules to try to keep weary truckers off highways, including mandating a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of their shift and reducing maximum workweeks to 70 hours over eight days — including a 34-hour break once per week.” “But federal transportation

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Muscle car madness: Corvette tops the power list

Muscle cars may be defined differently by different enthusiasts of the car segment. But it’s unlikely there’s a more diverse list of muscles cars than those outlined by the website autodesk.com. In an non-bylined article, the editors have chosen their list of the top-15 muscle cars still manufactured. In reverse order, the list begins with the Dodge Viper and ends with the Chevy Corvette. The list also includes some curious choices. Here’s what autodesk wrote in part about the Dodge Viper: “In January 1992, Dodge introduced the Viper to the public as a car that was unlike any other American produced car of its time. It set its own place at the muscle car table. Technically a sports car, the

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Jerry Seinfeld does coffee, cars with Jon Stewart

Eighteen-wheelers, station wagons, vintage AMC cars and Jaguars have little in common. Unless, of course, Jerry Seinfeld and one of his comedian friends are the occupants in one of the vehicles and they’re going for coffee. The fourth season of the web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” will debut June 19. It will be the first episode in a new five-season deal with the Crackle network. The new season introduction video (see below) shows Seinfeld in short clips with his guests for this season, Jon Stewart, George Wallace, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Klein and Aziz Ansari. Since its debut, the show’s premise has been simple. Seinfeld drives fellow comedians around in rare and expensive cars (and sometimes not-so rare

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Hyundai Sonata, 2015 Preview: New features, new trim

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata, which will feature a refined appearance and a stiffer body structure, among other improved features, will be priced beginning at $21,500, Hyundai has announced. The new Hyundai will include new range-topping Sport 2.0T Ultimate that offers class-above features such as hands-free Smart Trunk, Smart Cruise Control with stop/start capability, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel. Additionally, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata will offer a better ride quality, reduced noise, vibration and harshness and advanced safety and convenience features. Production of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata has begun at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery, Alabama. The first retail units should begin arriving at dealerships by the end of June. The 2015

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Best Family Cars for 2014: Mazda3 to Honda Odyssey

What are the best family cars? What defines family? And what are the needs of families, small and large? Edmunds.com and Parents magazine have combined for the past seven years to present their combined list. For 2014, their top-10 list, as usual, is divided into categories, family friendly subcompacts to large sport utility vehicles. Car experts from both organizations examined hundreds of vehicles and narrowed the selection to choices in each category to those vehicles with features that make daily family journeys easier. The criteria include: reliability, impressive mileage and ample cargo capacity. “Whether they’re taking a summer road trip or just making a grocery run, families expect a lot from their vehicles,” said Parents Editor-in-Chief Dana Points. “Safety is

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PREVIEW: 2015 Subaru BRZ adds Limited Edition

The performance-packed, low-profile designed 2015 Subaru BRZ line will include a limited edition and will have a starting price of $25,695, Subaru of America has announced. The 2015 BRZ has a sports car design: low vehicle weight, ultra-low center of gravity and precision steering, and it’s powered by a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter BOXER engine. New for 2015 is the introduction of the BRZ Series.Blue limited to 1,000 cars for the continental United States. It will offer a combination of STI-branded functional aerodynamic body design, black-painted STI-branded 17-inch wheels and unique interior trim creates. The BRZ Series.Blue will arrived Subaru dealerships in July. Subaru will offer 500 painted WR Blue Pearl and 500 in Crystal White Pearl exclusively with a 6-speed manual

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Elio Motors start date halted after funding delay

The much-hyped, three-wheel Elio has plenty of supporters and perhaps an equal number of detractors. Chalk one up for those who are cynical about the $7,500 car and its heavily touted specs. According to Louisiana news reports,  the previously announced March 2015 production start date at the former GM plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been delayed six months until September 2015. The reason: Company founder Paul Elio has announced a funding delay. The News-Star newspaper reported Stuart Lichter, an industrial developer leasing the plant, was set to invest $7.5 million in Elio Motors — in conjunction with the purchase of the facility for the same amount by Caddo’s Industrial Development Board. The proposal was approved in August, but has now

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Jerry Seinfeld is back with rare cars, comedians, coffee

Jerry Seinfeld’s passion for cars and comedy has proven the right formula for the web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The fourth season and the first in a new five-season deal with the Crackle network will debut June 19. Crackle.com, a unit of Sony (SNE) Pictures TV, reports luxury automaker Acura has extended its exclusive deal to sponsor 24 new episodes of the car & comedy mashup. “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” is an online series appearing on Crackle.com that revolves around Seinfeld driving fellow comedians around in rare and expensive cars (and sometimes not-so rare and inexpensive cars) and then going for coffee. David Letterman, Don Rickles, Seth Meyers, Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Michael Richards, Tina Fey, Chris

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PREVIEW: 2016 updated Ford F-650, F-750 series

Ford has announced its 2016 F-650/F-750 medium-duty truck lineup with a 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel. It will feature three engine power ratings, including best-in-class standard diesel horsepower and torque, and no vocational limits on top ratings. The three diesel power levels available for the 2016 Ford F-650/F-750 are: 270 horsepower/675 lb.-ft. torque (best-in-class standard); 300 horsepower /700 lb.-ft. torque; 330 horsepower/725 lb.-ft. torque. The 2016 F-650/F-750 features a bold look inside and out. Offered in Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab styles and in straight frame, dock height and a new dedicated tractor model for heavy towing applications. The turbo diesel engine is paired with commercial-grade six-speed Ford TorqShift HD automatic transmission optimized for medium-duty vocations. The second

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Ford recalls 1.4 million vehicles dating to 2006

Ford has joined General Motors in a dubious recent honors contest with the announcement of a recall of 1.4 million cars in a variety of brands and manufactured between 2006 and 2013. The biggest percent of the recalls, according to the Detroit News, involves 915,216 Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner and Ford-built Mazda Tribute CUVs. The vehicleating firm 2008 to 2011, for faulty torque sensors. The issue could could lead to sudden power steering failure. Manual steering would still be available, though. The recall includes 736,000 of the above brands built in the United States and the majority of the rest in Mexico and Canada. While suffering with a similar issue, the manufacturer is also will recall 195,527 Ford Escapes, with

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General Motors slammed with $35 million recall fine

General Motors has been fined a record $35 million in civil penalties for its inadequate handling of a recall of more than two million vehicles with ignition switch problems. The Department of Transportation said GM violated federal safety laws and its decree said GM should change how it handles review of safety issues. The GM recall includes the 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The fine stems from an investigation into the Chevrolet Cobalt and other GM cars that were found to have faulty ignition. The problem can allow an ignition switch to move out of the “run” position. It can cause air bags to fail

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