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General Motors filed a lawsuit Friday in a California federal court accusing Ford of trademark infringement and unfair competition.GM says that the BlueCruise name that Ford chose for its hands-free driving technology is too similar to Super Cruise, GM’s driver-assistance system, and Cruise, GM’s autonomous vehicles division.Ford says that “cruise” is a common automotive term and that “it’s like GM trying to own the term ‘hybrid,’” providing a list of other companies with products that feature the word.In April, Ford announced that its hands-free driving system would be dubbed “BlueCruise” and would become available starting with 2021 model year F-150 trucks and Mustang Mach E crossovers. But General Motors has taken exception to Ford’s name choice. GM, along with its autonomous-taxi subsidiary Cruise, filed a lawsuit in a federal court in California on Friday in an attempt to prevent Ford from using the BlueCruise moniker, according to a report from Reuters.

General Motors says the name infringes upon GM’s trademark for its own hands-free driving system, Super Cruise, as well as its trademark for Cruise, an autonomous vehicle subdivision. In the lawsuit, GM also accuses Ford of unfair competition, requesting that the court prevent Ford from using the BlueCruise name and for Ford to cover unspecified damages. GM said in a statement that the company “had hoped to resolve the trademark infringement matter with Ford amicably” but after failing to iron out the issue, GM had “no choice but to vigorously defend our brands and protect the equity our products and technology have earned over several years in the market.” In a statement, Ford defended its name choice, calling the lawsuit “meritless and frivolous” and contending that “drivers for decades have understood what cruise control is, every automaker offers it, and ‘cruise’ is common shorthand for the capability.” Ford also provided a list of other technologies that use the word cruise, such as Hyundai’s Smart Cruise Control, contending that “GM has had zero issue with other ‘cruise’ names.” Ford compared this situation to GM trying to assert trademark ownership on a term such as hybrid or turbo.The lawsuit itself, as cited in Reuters, alleges malicious intent on Ford’s behalf, with GM arguing that “Ford knew what it was doing” and that “Ford’s decision to rebrand by using a core mark used by GM and Cruise will inevitably cause confusion.” GM originally announced the Super Cruise name back in 2012, with the technology first appearing in GM vehicles in 2017. The Cruise subsidiary has existed since 2013, with GM acquiring the self-driving brand in 2016.
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Chevy has announced pricing for the refreshed Traverse three-row SUV.It now starts at $34,895 for the base LS trim level with a V-6 engine and front-wheel drive.The top trim remains the High Country, which starts at $52,395.The Chevy Traverse enters 2022 with a revised appearance and a higher starting price, as the base L trim level has been eliminated from the lineup and the 2022 Traverse LS now kicks things off at $34,895. That’s $3900 higher than the 2021 model’s starting price but just a $500 increase when comparing equivalent trim levels.

All 2022 Traverse SUVs come standard with front-wheel drive and a 3.6-liter V-6 engine, while all-wheel drive is a $2000–$3800 option depending on trim level. The LT is one step above the LS and starts at $37,395 with cloth upholstery or at $41,095 with leather upholstery and other additional equipment.The Traverse RS features slightly sportier styling and starts at $45,395, while the Premier ($47,795) and High Country ($52,395) models bring in more luxury equipment. There is also a $995 Midnight/Sport appearance package available on the LS and LT.Like in other GM models, Chevy will be temporarily giving Traverse customers a $75 discount while models are being produced without a wireless phone charger due to the chip shortage. The refreshed Traverse was initially released as a 2021 model but GM then postponed the update until the 2022 model year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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A four-door 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition finished in Area 51 is listed on eBay for $150,000. The sold-out First Edition was limited to 7000 units, and it starts at $62,605 for the four-door. The First Edition is powered by a 330-hp twin-turbo V-6 and comes with the Sasquatch package that adds 35-inch tires. Ford’s new Bronco has started shipping to reservation holders, and included in the nearly 200,000 reserved off-road SUVs is a batch of the limited-production First Edition model. The Bronco First Edition was limited to 7000 units, and they’re all accounted for, but someone has already listed one on eBay in Long Island, NY, for an absurd price of $150,000.

eBay

eBay

Yes, you read that right: That’s an $87,395 markup over the starting price of the fully loaded four-door model. This one is equipped with the hardtop and is finished in Area 51 with the First Edition–specific Dark Space Gray and Navy Pier interior. First Editions have unique hood and side graphics and come equipped with the Sasquatch off-road package, which includes 35-inch mud-terrain tires, locking front and rear axles, high-clearance suspension and fender flares, Bilstein dampers, and more. The Lux package also comes standard, which adds things like a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and a wireless charging pad.

Bronco First Editions come with the optional 330-hp twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. We recently tested a two-door Bronco First Edition, and it reached 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, making it quicker than a Wrangler Rubicon with Jeep’s 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6, which takes 7.4 seconds to get to 60 mph. Those who didn’t reserve a 2021 Bronco will have to wait until the 2022 model year to get their hands on the new off-roader unless they’re willing to pay this much to get the exclusive First Edition. This example has just 500 miles on the odometer, and we wish the seller—and the buyer—the best of luck. Of course, this wouldn’t be the most someone has paid for the new Bronco, as VIN001 was auctioned for more than $1 million at Barrett-Jackson earlier this year.
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The Fisker Ocean SUV will be revealed at the Los Angeles auto show in November, ahead of the start of production in 2022.The battery-electric SUV will start at $37,499, promising a range of 300 miles in addition to features like a solar roof.Fisker plans to open brand experience centers in a number of major cities in 2022, ahead of the start of production.Henrik Fisker’s EV startup will bring a production version of the battery-electric Ocean SUV to the Los Angeles auto show this fall, following its first appearance at nearly two years ago at the CES technology show. Promised to come with a 300-mile range and a $37,499 starting price,prior to any incentives, the Ocean is slated to be produced by Austria’s Magna Steyr starting next fall, using Magna’s own EV architecture.

The SUV is due to enter production in the fourth quarter of 2022, a timeline from which Fisker has not backed away from since the deal with Magna was announced, with the Los Angeles auto show later this year serving as its big debut. Testing of production prototypes is set to start later this year, with the company stating that it has 17,300 paid reservations for the SUV so far in addition to 62,000 hand-raisers, as well as fleet orders from companies including Onto, Viggo, and Credit Agricole Consumer Finance.”Our reservation and order process was designed from the outset to be transparent, to prioritize quality over quantity and to ensure our stakeholders have confidence in the commitment of our reservation holders,” said Fisker chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker. “As we get closer to launch, we will be working with our prospective owners to transition their reservations into contracted orders. We have many loyal supporters of the company waiting for their Ocean, and the reservation system is purposely designed to be fair to those who reserve with the intention to ultimately take delivery.”

Fisker

The company also plans to open six Fisker Brand Experience Centers. The first such locations will open their doors in early 2022 in Los Angeles and Munich, with the rest (likely New York, Copenhagen, Miami, and London) scheduled to open in the second half of 2022. The centers are expected to serve as analogues to various company-owned stores launched by a number of other automakers, an approach popularized by Tesla, where customers can experience the Fisker models, talk to vehicle experts, and place orders.
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Fisker the company has been on the periphery of EV startups the past few years, after briefly offering its Fisker Karma range-extended electric sedan early last decade, starting in 2011. That was a year before the Tesla Model S debuted, and for a brief time the two looked they had about equal chances of success in the marketplace. But just under 2500 examples of the Karma ended up being produced, with the effort stalling after its battery supplier entered bankruptcy. Since that time, the remains of the Karma project had been bought up by a Chinese industrial giant and rebranded as Karma Automotive, while Henrik Fisker has been plotting a return to the EV game under his own name, which has been imminent for quite some time.That return began to seem more likely almost a year ago when the company announced that it had reached a deal with Austria’s Magna International to produce the Fisker Ocean SUV.The Ocean will also arrive in a markedly different EV landscape than that of just a few years ago, as the list of competitors by late 2022 will be quite extensive. Just how Fisker will be able to distinguish itself and grab a slice of the EV pie given all the other players that will be in the game by then remains to be seen.”With less than 500 days to run before we start on-time production of the Fisker Ocean, we are simultaneously focused on crafting our customer journey,” Fisker added. “Our brand experience centers will be the primary physical touchpoint for the majority of our prospective customers. Our global rollout plans are focused on the largest metropolitan areas for electric vehicle adoption—and where we can meet the greatest number of our reservation holders.”

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The Ford Transit, were you unaware, just so happens to be America’s bestselling van. It has an all-wheel drive version, which also means it’s more capable—and Alabama-based camper-van builder Storyteller Overland, builder of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter–based Beast Mode, is taking advantage of that. The company is now offering a Transit-based version of its entry-level Mode van, called the Mode LT.

The Mode LT uses a Transit with a 148.0-inch wheelbase and Ford’s 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V-6, which puts out 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Storyteller Overland describes the Mode LT as a capable enough off-roader; the AWD Transit, they say, is not for “rock crawling or hyper-aggressive off-roading.” Still, it is capable enough for “leading you up to Tahoe for a weekend ski getaway or carrying you and your crew down a backcountry gravel road for a night of boondocking under the stars.”

Storyteller Overland

Storyteller does not have pictures of the Mode LT interior yet. However, the company says it will sleep three passengers. Features like the Groove Lounge and the hidden interior Halo Shower system will carry over from the Mercedes version; the Mode LT will also offer a portable cassette toilet, a microwave, a refrigerator/freezer, and a portable induction cooktop. Exterior amenities include a roof rack, a side-mount ladder, a powered awning with dimmable LEDs, and 90 watts of solar panels (which can be expanded to 600 watts).Pricing for the Storyteller Overland Mode LT starts at $153,748, making it about $4000 cheaper than their Classic Mode 4×4 with a Sprinter. Another advantage is that because the Mode LT is a Ford Transit, it has access to Ford’s massive dealer network for servicing. Buyers can place orders at a Storyteller Overland dealer. The company says Mode LT vans will begin shipping in late 2021.

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Buying a car with a salvage title can lead to a lot heartaches. But there are a number of reasons from crashes to vandalism that can brand a car with the DMV equivalent of caution tape. Investing in a car with a checkered past can also allow you to lead a champagne lifestyle on a Coors Light budget by scoring an incredible deal. The hard part is finding the right car, but that’s the kind of hard work that the Window Shop crew likes to do.Not convinced that buying a salvage car is a good idea, deputy testing director K.C. Colwell decides to minimize his outlay by buying a Chevrolet Caprice that led a former life as a police car. According to the listing, a front-end collision caused the tainted title, but the repair appears good in photos.Contributor Jonathon Ramsey isn’t fazed by spending more to get more, so he presents an E60-gen BMW M5, a car that once wore a near-$100,000 window sticker. The crew points out the many problems that plague that generation M5, but Ramsey is unmoved. A second BMW follow’s Ramsey’s. Senior editor Joey Capparella selects the rare and controversial Z3 coupe. Ones with clean titles trade for over $25,000, so Capparella’s seems like a relative deal. R&T editor John Pearley Huffman goes for a salvage-title 1965 Chevy that he thinks would make a great project. And deputy editor Tony Quiroga presents his ridiculous Maserati Biturbo with an electric drivetrain that no one can get behind. As usual, there are plenty of laughs. You might even learn something, but we make no guarantees.

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Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, a mansion currently listed for sale sits on 4.8 acres of land, providing room for five guest houses, stables, a spa, and a pool and pool house.The property has expansive garages that can house 100 vehicles, proportioned to accommodate RV or boat storage, and there are several lifts, a paint booth, a detailing room, and a dedicated washing station.The house is listed at $6.3 million by Keller Williams Realty and has been on the market for more than half a year.If you happen to have 100 cars sitting around with nowhere to store them and a few truckloads of spare cash, you should check out this 8,735-square-foot mansion in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sitting on a 4.8-acre lot, the expansive compound features a main home with four bedrooms and five bathrooms and several additional structures including garage space for 100 vehicles, making it the ideal pad for any gearhead who has trouble parting with their beloved cars.

ARMLS via Zillow

Located at 11350 East Arabian Park Drive in Scottsdale, the colossal compound is situated on a private street and was built in 2006, according to the listing on Zillow listing. The extensive terracotta and wood detailing gives the mansion a certain rustic, desert charm, and the property also includes five guest houses, a separate pool house and kitchen to complement the heated pool and spa, and facilities for keeping horses, all situated around an wide, open courtyard. But the real attraction is the massive amount of automotive storage space. The garage buildings include multiple lifts if you want to get your hands greasy, as well as a paint booth and detailing room so you can prep your vehicles for the next concours d’elegance event. There is also a charging port, a wash station with water-ionizing capability, and space to store bulkier vehicles like an RV or boat. Between all of the garages combined there are 18 single doors and 13 double doors.

ARMLS via Zillow

The photos provided with the listing show the garages being put to good use. There is an interesting mix of cars—some photos depict chrome-tipped 1950s Americana, including a C1 Corvette, in front of the garages, while others show row upon row of classic Mercedes-Benzes and several old-school Ford hot rods. The seller also provides an image of two MGs parked near the lifts and a photo showing an early 2000s Ford Thunderbird and an Aston Martin DB9 parked in one of the garages reveals just how spacious they are.

11350 East Arabian Park Drive is listed for $6.3 million and has been on sale for over half a year. The price dropped by $200,000 in May, and although it still costs a ton of money, the property seems like a relative steal compared to some of the other mansions we’ve featured before, such as this $62 million house in Los Angeles that we covered last year.
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Audi is withdrawing from Formula E and DTM to focus on Le Mans and Dakar, with the RS Q e-tron set to enter the 2022 Dakar Rally early next year.The RS Q e-tron borrows two electric motors from Audi’s Formula E program with one on each axle, good for a combined 671 horsepower.The 50.0-kWh battery will be charged by a range-extender gasoline engine, the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four found in Audi’s DTM racer from the 2020 season.Audi was a dominant force in Group B rally in the mid-1980s, earning two manufacturers’ championships with the revolutionary all-wheel-drive Quattro before switching its attention to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, winning 13 times in the next 15 years and becoming the first winner with a hybrid powertrain. Audi aims to check another item off of its motorsports bucket list by conquering the grueling Dakar Rally with this hybridized off-road beast called the RS Q e-tron.

Audi

The RS Q e-tron, which will compete in the 2022 Dakar Rally in January, uses a range-extender setup that borrows bits and pieces from Audi’s other motorsports programs. If you own an EV in the U.S., you’ll know that it can be pretty hard to find chargers, and unsurprisingly it’s even trickier to spot one in the middle of the desert. As a result, the vehicle’s 50.0-kWh battery is charged instead by a gasoline engine that acts as a generator. But it’s not just any gas engine, it’s the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four from the Audi RS5 Turbo DTM, Audi’s last entry into DTM before exiting the series after the 2020 season.

Audi

Power from the battery is then sent to two electric motors, with one on each axle, taken from Audi’s Formula E program. Only minor changes differentiate the motors from the units in Audi’s e-tron FE07 car, which propelled Lucas di Grassi to a Formula E win in Puebla, Mexico earlier this year. According to Audi, the total system output is 671 horsepower, although that could end up being restricted by regulations.

The RS Q e-tron is a key part of Audi’s new motorsports direction, announced last year, which sees it leave Formula E after seven seasons to concentrate on returning to Le Mans and contesting the Dakar Rally. Three RS Q e-trons will compete in the demanding event in January, and Audi has enlisted drivers including Stéphane Peterhansel, the most successful Dakar driver ever with 14 victories, Carlos Sainz, two-time rally champ and three-time Dakar winner, and Mattias Ekström, who holds two DTM titles and one World Rallycross championship. The Dakar Rally will last two weeks, with daily stages that can be nearly 500 miles long, and will serve as a major test of the durability of Audi’s electrified drivetrain.
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