Rare Mercedes Benz, purchased new by Elvis Presley, set for Bonham's auction

The article details that Presley kept the car for two years before giving it to a friend, James Leroy Robertson. The car also had another owner but was auctioned at the Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia sale at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, England, last December. The restored Mercedes has an estimated value of $230-$300,000, and is among only a handful of vehicles Presley registered in his name. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in

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Hyundai Sonata on pace to outsell Honda Accord for the first time

But Hyundai has been closing the gap, with Sonata sales increasing to 17,836 units in July, just 5,100 less than the Accord. Part of the reason the Accord is losing its edge as it ages. The current model was introduced three years ago, while the latest Sonata debuted in the U.S. early this year. Sales of the Accord have slid from 39,726 units in August last year to 23,032 in July and 22,506 in August this year. The increase in Sonata sales has resulted in a delivery backlog. Hyundai is boosting output at its plant in Alabama where the Sonata

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Dodge Caravan, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan is one of the most useful and roomy minivans available, but is it also fun to drive? Let’s face it: fun and utility are usually on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Roman Mica, contributing editor at The Weekly Driver.com, spent a week assessing the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. Here’s his first-impression video review: James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San

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Eric Clapton’s rare Ferrari 250GT for sale via Hot Wheels replica

Hot Wheels Elite, a division of Mattel, will issue a limited edition 1:18 scale diecast model of Eric Clapton’s Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso later this year as part of its “Ferrari in Music” line of replica cars. In an interview with ferrari.com earlier this year, Eric said that even as a small boy he was crazy about motor racing, and that the car he’s always most fancied is Ferrari. The replica of Clapton’s silver 250GT Berlinetta Lusso will be a “faithful” reproduction. Limited to 5,000 individually numbered pieces, it will come in a dedicated package featuring pictures, EC’s facsimile

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Bentley bizarre hood ornament impalememt potential prompts recall

As such Bentley is recalling nearly 1,500 vehicles for fear that unwitting pedestrians could become impaled on the brand’s historic “flying B” bonnet ornament. Bentley reports: “It’s been discovered that in some cases, water ingress into the internal mechanism might prevent it from retracting. The recall will affect 1,436 cars worldwide, including 620 in the United States and Canada. The bizarre defect affects three discontinued Bentley models – the Arnage, Azure and Brooklands – which were produced between 2007 and 2009 and which cost as much as $300,000. The Bentley signature miniature statue ornament is an option. David Champion, senior

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Bugatti set to replace Veyron with Galibier in 2013

The four-seat Bugatti 16C Galibier sedan is expected to go on sale in 2013 for about $1.5 million. Only 300 will be produced. The Galibier, made of carbon fiber and aluminum, will use the Veyron’s 8.0-liter W-16 engine, but will employ superchargers rather than turbochargers and will produce 800 horsepower. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars The limited-edition, two-passenger Veyron 16.4, introduced in 2005, is near the end of its 300-unit production run. So far, 260 have been built. The Veyron has 1,200 horsepower, 268 mph Super Sport edition debuted this

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BMW will test second electric car in four U.S. metro areas in 2011

The four-passenger ActiveE is based on the 1 Series Coupe and has a 32-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Introduced at the Detroit auto show in January, the ActiveE has a 100-mile range per charge. It takes 8.5 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour and has a maximum speed 90 mph. BMW‘s Mini E, its debut electric vehicle, was deployed worldwide and now including more than 600 test cars in its second year. The ActiveE is scheduled for testing only in the United States. Mini E drivers will be given preference as test pilots for the ActiveE and could switch to

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Italian newspaper reports Fiat considering selling share of Ferrari

Fiat, based in Italy, reportedly is seeking liquidity to allow it to finance the acquisition of 51 percent of Chrysler. Selling Ferrari could be the solution, according to the daily newspaper’s sources in Fiat’s headquarters in Turin. FOR MORE FERRARI INFORMATION, VISIT: Ferrari According to the report, Fiat, which owns 85 percent of Ferrari, would keep a majority 51 percent stake in the sports car unit which, it said, is worth $3.1 billion. Ferrari this week is debuting its limited edition convertible sports car at the Paris Motor Show. A Fiat spokesman denied the report, commenting to Reuters: “There are

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Mercedes-Benz named official vehicle of Luxembourg-based cycling team

“We look forward to be supporting the ambitious goal of winning the Tour de France for Luxembourg with this new team”, said Gerhard Roth, Administrateur Délégué of Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg S.A. “This partnership with the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project fits well with our brand philosophy of ‘The best or nothing’.” According to the report, Mercedes-Benz will provide the new team with specially adapted cars, minibuses, trucks and and team tour buses. Nissan joined the cycling sponsorship as the second sponsor of the American team sponsored by RadioShack and featuring seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in 2010. Jaguar and Skoda,

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Lance Armstrong gets delivery of country's first Nissan Leaf

Armstrong, who has made two commercials for Nissan, a vehicle supplier to the cyclist’s cycling team, RadioShack, announced the delivery to his more than 2.6 million followers on Twitter via the following image. Nissan recently announced it’s no longer taking reservations in the U.S. for 2011 Leaf. The company had planned to keep its $99 reservation program open until December, but reservations for the 20,000 quota of cars was reached three months early. The general public is expected to begin receiving the LEAF in about three months. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James

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BMW, Rolls-Royce set to recall nearly 200,000 vehicles with braking issues

Nearly 200,000 luxury sedans from BMW and Rolls Royce and dating to 2002 are being recalled to fix a potential leak in the power-braking system. The cars included BMW 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series as well as the high-priced Phantom.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a power-steering probe of the BMW Z4 in July, following one crash and 107 complaints. The power-braking leaks create a vacuum loss that impairs a feature used when brakes are applied, BMW explained on its website. BMW will notify recalled vehicles owners by mail. Dealers will inspect the cars and replace

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Europcar joins Mercedes-Benz among auto-related cycling sponsors

The squad has been part of the professional peloton since 2000. It was previously sponsored by and had the names of Bonjour and Brioches La Boulangère. “It’s a huge relief,” said Thomas Voeckler, the squad’s captain, who was set to join another French squad, Cofidis, if the deal with Eurocar wasn’t finalized. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars “Honestly, I didn’t believe anymore that a solution would come along,” Voeckler told the website cyclingnews.com “I’m thankful to the people from Europcar who have organised everything in a period of three days.”

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GM, Tesla, Aston Martin announce recalls for potential fire hazards

Tesla Motors is recalling 439 of its electric sports cars because of a possible fire hazard involving the 12-volt electrical system is its 2010 Roadster 2.0 and Roadster 2.5 with “a 12-volt auxiliary cable.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars Tesla discovered the 12-volt cable may have been improperly routed, allowing it to be pinched or abraded. One Tesla customer reported a complained of smoke and fire in the auxiliary system but the problem was resolved without injury. And Aston Martin is recalling almost 1,100 of its 2007 and 2008 DB9,

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Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, 2011: Roman Mica’s video review

Heavy duty pick-up trucks were once the work horses of the Chevrolet fleet. They were brawny trucks used by brawny men to do brawny jobs. But that’s changing fast as more recreational buyers are opting for vehicles like the Silverado 2500 HD to haul campers, horses and boats. Chevrolet redesigned the Silverado 2500 HD in 2011 to make it even more brawny with a sturdier frame for more towing capacity. Roman Mica, contributing editor of TheWeeklyDriver.com, recently test drove the new Chevy truck. And as a sell-admitted non-truck-kind of guy, he was both surprised and not-so surprised with the Silverado

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GM recalls 300,000 Chevy Impalas for faulty seat belts

For the second time in two years, General Motors has investigated faulty seat belts in Chevrolet Impalas and this time the examination has resulted in a recall of more than 300,000 of the longstanding vehicle. The automaker said that in 2009 and 2010 Impalas, the front safety belt straps may not be not secured to the lap belt anchor pretensioner that is mounted on the side of the doors. Thus, passengers may not be properly protected. GM also said straps can separate from the anchor in a crash, no longer restraining the passenger. No injuries or deaths have been reported,

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Rare Porsche models honored for automaker’s 60th anniversary

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, Porsche Cars North America embarked on a quest to find the oldest Porsche sold in America via The Porsche Classic Search. It encouraged individuals to submit documentation their Porsche was one of the earliest in its category sold in the United States. With awards and bragging rights at stake, the entries are an impressive collection of finalists, including the oldest U.S.-retailed model found, a restored 1952 Strawberry Red 356 Cabriolet. Among the hundreds of submissions from Porsche owners across the country since last August was a rare 1952 356 Cabriolet owned by Dr.

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