VW starts “goodwill” payment program for customers affected by diesel scandal

While Volkswagen may still be months away from announcing a recall in the United States for vehicles found to have “defeat device” diesel emissions cheating software ( recalls in Europe are expected to start in January 2016 ), the automaker this week announced a “Goodwill Package” that will financially compensate some owners here in the States.

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI

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The package includes a $500 prepaid Visa card that can be spent anywhere plus a $500 VW dealership card that can be used at any of the automaker’s stores. The package also includes free 24-hour roadside assistance for three years. VW says it hopes owners see this as a first step towards restoring trust.

Right now, the package is only being offered to owners of VW-branded vehicles fitted with the 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine affected by the emissions cheating scandal; but the same will be offered to Audi owners in coming days. Furthermore, owners of VW vehicles (and numerous Audis and even some Porsches) with the 3.0-liter TDI the EPA recently alleged to also have emissions cheating softwarearen’t eligible yet, as VW is still investigating the matter.

Owners of the following vehicles are eligible for the package.

VW Jetta TDI (Model Years 2009 – 2015)
VW Jetta SportWagen TDI (Model Years 2009-2014)
VW Golf TDI (Model Years 2010-2015)
VW Golf SportWagen TDI (Model Year 2015)
VW Beetle TDI and VW Beetle Convertible TDI (Model Years 2012-2015)
VW Passat TDI (Model Years 2012-2015)

Full details on the package and eligibility can be found on the special website www.vwdieselinfo.com that VW has set up for concerned owners in the U.S.

Unfortunately for VW, its troubles show no sign of abating. The automaker is still working on a fix for the 11 million cars already confirmed to have the emissions cheating software, and now there’s potentially hundreds of thousands or perhaps even millions of more vehicles affected due to the EPA’s claimed discovery of the software on VW’s 3.0-liter diesel models. On top of all this, VW has discovered that around 800,000 of its cars had their CO2 levels—and thus fuel consumption figures— understated during CO2 certification.

To keep track of our past coverage on VW's emissions cheating scandal, head to our Volkswagen news hub.

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VW identifies $2 billion in savings, will cut back on variants and trim options

In the wake of its diesel and CO2 emissions cheating scandal, the Volkswagen Group has undertaken a massive cost-cutting program that CEO Matthias Müller says will lead to anything not being absolutely necessary either getting canceled or postponed.

Production at a Volkswagen plant

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VW has already confirmed that its investment bill for 2016 will be reduced by $1 billion euros (approximately $1.05 billion), and now there are reports the automaker has identified as much as 1.9 billion euros ($2.0 billion) in cost savings.

WATCH: 2015 Lamborghini Huracán Video Road Test

Some of the savings will be brought about by reducing the number of variants and trim options, particularly for VW-branded cars. Some senior executives will also receive lower bonuses. The information was revealed to Bloomberg by Bernd Osterloh, who represents VW’s workers.

“We from the works council have long flagged the huge range of model variants and different components,” Osterloh explained. “That brings enormous complexity and adds to costs, for example, for logistics."

Other measures that we know of include canceling a new design center in Germany and a paint shop in Mexico, delaying the arrival of the next-generation VW Phaeton, and reducing the number of entries from Audi and Porsche in the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans from three cars each to two.

There are much more savings to be made, as the VW brand alone is targeting around 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) in savings all up. This is to help offset potentially billions in costs from recalls and fines as well as a possible drop in sales. According to Osterloh, production will also be scaled back to avoid building up inventories.

To view our past coverage on the VW Group's emissions cheating scandal, head to our Volkswagen news hub.

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Audi R&D chief steps down amid emissions cheating scandal

Audi R&D boss Ulrich Hackenberg has announced his resignation amid the automaker’s emissions cheating scandal where a number of Audi models, including some here in the United States, were fitted with a device to hide the true level of their emissions from regulators.

Ulrich Hackenberg

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where a number of Audi models, including some here in the United States, were fitted with a device to hide the true level of their emissions from regulators. Hackenberg, one of eight executives to be suspended after the cheating was discovered, is the second high-profile Volkswagen Group executive to step down amid the scandal, following the previous resignation of Martin Winterkorn from the role of group CEO.

Hackenberg joined Audi in 1985 as head of concept development and was influential in the gestation of a number of key models including the A4, A8 and TT. He was also in charge of a number of projects concerning the entire VW Group. For example, he led development of the automaker’s key modular platforms as well as the 261-mpg VW XL1. He was also influential in getting the VW brand to compete in the World Rally Championship, which it now dominates.

“Above all, the modular toolkit system is inseparably connected with the name of Ulrich Hackenberg,” VW Group CEO Matthias Müller said in a statement. “He had that idea already in the early nineties at Audi—today, the entire group profits from it.”

Replacing Hackenberg will be Stefan Knirsch, who currently heads Audi’s powertrain department. Knirsch will start his new role on January 1, 2016.

Stefan Knirsch

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Knirsch joined Audi’s powertrain department as a young engineer in 1990. In 1996, he moved to Porsche as a project manager where he worked as head of base engine development. He later served as head of aftersales at Porsche, and eventually headed corporate quality at the sports car marque. In 2013 he returned to Audi’s powertrain department.

“Stefan Knirsch has a broad experience of the automotive industry, and not only from the perspective of a car manufacturer, but also of a supplier,” Müller said in a separate statement. “These are excellent qualifications for his new task.”

Separately, it has also been confirmed that Müller will serve as Audi’s new chairman. He replaces Berthold Huber who will continue as deputy chairman. Rupert Stadler remains CEO of Audi.

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VW identifies $2 billion in savings, will cut back on variants and trim options

In the wake of its diesel and CO2 emissions cheating scandal, the Volkswagen Group has undertaken a massive cost-cutting program that CEO Matthias Müller says will lead to anything not being absolutely necessary either getting canceled or postponed.

Production at a Volkswagen plant

Enlarge Photo

VW has already confirmed that its investment bill for 2016 will be reduced by $1 billion euros (approximately $1.05 billion), and now there are reports the automaker has identified as much as 1.9 billion euros ($2.0 billion) in cost savings.

WATCH: 2015 Lamborghini Huracán Video Road Test

Some of the savings will be brought about by reducing the number of variants and trim options, particularly for VW-branded cars. Some senior executives will also receive lower bonuses. The information was revealed to Bloomberg by Bernd Osterloh, who represents VW’s workers.

“We from the works council have long flagged the huge range of model variants and different components,” Osterloh explained. “That brings enormous complexity and adds to costs, for example, for logistics."

Other measures that we know of include canceling a new design center in Germany and a paint shop in Mexico, delaying the arrival of the next-generation VW Phaeton, and reducing the number of entries from Audi and Porsche in the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans from three cars each to two.

There are much more savings to be made, as the VW brand alone is targeting around 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) in savings all up. This is to help offset potentially billions in costs from recalls and fines as well as a possible drop in sales. According to Osterloh, production will also be scaled back to avoid building up inventories.

To view our past coverage on the VW Group's emissions cheating scandal, head to our Volkswagen news hub.

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Federal judge extends deadline for VW's diesel fix

A federal judge has pushed back the deadline to April 21 for Volkswagen and regulators in the United States to come to an agreement on a fix for the German automaker's diesel cars.

2016 Volkswagen Beetle TDI Convertible

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Previously, the deadline was set for March 24 for VW to figure out how it will modify 600,000 cars sold in the U.S. that emit more nitrous oxide (NOx) from their tailpipes than what regulations allow.

VW has to reach an agreement that will please both the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, both of whom supported the automaker's request for an extension.

Rumors indicate that VW is aiming to reach an agreement that would allow some of its polluting vehicles to remain on the road since they may not be able to be fitted with a urea injection system that would put their emissions in line with federal guidelines.

Among the issues under debate is whether VW will have to compensate diesel buyers or if the automaker will be forced to buy back cars it sold.

The scandal covers a wide variety of cars sold under the VW, Audi, and Porsche nameplates and has rocked the German automaker's operations worldwide. Earlier this month, VW's American market chief Michael Horn stepped downafter more than 25 years with the company.

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Volkswagen USA chief Michael Horn steps down

Michael Horn has stepped down from the top role at the Volkswagen brand’s operations in the United States.

Michael Horn

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In a statement, VW said Horn is leaving to pursue other opportunities and that the move is effective immediately. Horn worked for VW since 1990 and has held many roles of increasing responsibility over his tenure. He was named President and CEO of VW USA in December 2013.

Filling in for Horn until a successor is found is Hinrich Woebcken, the former BMW executive hired to run VW’s new North American division. Woebcken was hired after his predecessor, Winfried Vahland, quit just two weeks into the new role.

Horn bore most of the brunt of VW’s diesel emissions cheating scandal, including facing members of Congress at a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing last October. Incredibly, the scandal is still without a solution in many parts of the globe, including in the U.S.

An initial proposal for a fix was rejected by the California Air Resources Board and Environmental Protection Agency. A federal judge has since given VW a March 24 deadline to come up with a new fix acceptable to regulators.

Furthermore, VW is facing a civil lawsuit from the Justice Department for violation of the Clean Air Act. And to make matters worse, it was revealed recently that former VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn, who stepped down following the reveal of the scandal last September, had known about the problems for more than a year prior to it becoming public.

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Former BMW exec to head VW’s North American division

Following the discovery of its diesel emissions cheating software last year by regulators in the United States, the Volkswagen Group announced a company restructuring that included the formation of a new North America division to oversee operations of the VW brand in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Hinrich J. Woebcken

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that included the formation of a new North America division to oversee operations of the VW brand in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Originally, the VW Group appointed its Skoda brand’s CEO, Winfried Vahland, to head the new post. However, within two weeks Vahland stepped down.

It’s now been announced that former BMW executive Hinrich J. Woebcken will head the division, starting April 1, 2016. He will be responsible for all activities regarding the VW brand in the region, including product development, procurement, manufacturing, marketing and sales. Each country in the region will still have its own CEO, so in the United States current head of the VW brand Michael Horn will maintain his post.

Woebcken has an engineering background and was last in charge of the commercial vehicles division at German firm Knorr Bremse. Prior to that he worked at BMW where he was in charge of procurement.

The 55-year-old German joins VW at a critical point. The automaker is yet to develop a fix for its diesel engines fitted with the “defeat device” software used to hide their true emissions from regulators. An initial proposal for a fix was recently rejected by the California Air Resources Board and Environmental Protection Agency. Furthermore, VW is also facing a civil lawsuit from the Justice Department for violation of the Clean Air Act.

To help deal with authorities here, it’s been reported by Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung that VW is about to hire former Federal Bureau of Investigation head Louis Freeh. Freeh left the FBI in 2001 and is currently a legal consultant for the private sector.

To follow our coverage on VW's diesel emissions scandal, hit this link.

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FTC sues VW over "Clean Diesel" advertising

Volkswagen can add one more lawsuit to the growing list resulting from the ongoing diesel scandal.

Volkswagen TDI 'clean diesel' television ad screencap

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resulting from the ongoing diesel scandal. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now suing the embattled German carmaker because of allegedly false claims in years of "Clean Diesel" advertising.

VW used the Clean Diesel tagline for years to sell its diesel cars and now the FTC says that constitutes false advertising. The agency in its press release said it was seeking a court order requiring VW compensate owners, as well as an injunction prevent VW from engaging in similar conduct again.

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The FTC said it will seek compensation for owners who bought or leased their TDI diesels between late 2008 and late 2015.

“Volkswagen has received the complaint and continues to cooperate with all relevant U.S. regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission," a company statement said, adding that "Our most important priority is to find a solution to the diesel emissions matter and earn back the trust of our customers and dealers as we build a better company."

Over the years, VW used the Clean Diesel tagline in print ads, on social media, and even Super Bowl spots. The FTC complaint alleges that these ads often targeted "environmentally-conscious" consumers with promises of low emissions that proved to be false.

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VW claimed its diesels met "stringent emissions requirements," were "50-state compliant" and would have high resale values, according to the FTC complaint. Of course, those cars could only meet emissions standards by cheating with the "defeat device" emissions cheating software. Some ads specifically boasted of low nitrogen-oxide emissions, the greenhouse gas at the heart of the VW scandal.

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Jordan Spieth at the Masters: Hiccup or choke?

In making a quadruple bogey at the 12th at Augusta last Sunday, did Jordan Spieth choke, or was it as he said, that he put a couple of bad swings on the ball at the wrong time?

Mental collapse: Jordan Spieth (left) and caddie Michael Greller after the final round of the US Masters. Photo: Getty Images

In making a quadruple bogey at the 12th at Augusta last Sunday, did Jordan Spieth choke, or was it as he said, that he put a couple of bad swings on the ball at the wrong time? Is there a difference?

"It depends on what you think a 'choke' is," says golfer and writer Mike Clayton, "but you would have to say it was a mental collapse." Spieth did say it, as he walked to the 13th, muttering to caddie Michael Greller: "I think we're collapsing here." By articulating it, Spieth seemed to be dealing with it in the moment, as the most famous chokers from history do not.

"I personally would never call Jordan Spieth a choker," says Noel Blundell, a sports psychologist who works predominantly with elite golfers. "He's as mentally tough as anyone out there. He's as tough as anyone who has played the game." Blundell says Spieth does not have in his golf game a Tiger Woods or Greg Norman style advantage over the rest of the field, yet he beats most of them most times. That's mental toughness.

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"But everyone is vulnerable at some stage," says Blundell. Coming to the 12th, Spieth was. He had played brilliantly on the front nine to hold a lead of five, but bogeys at 10 and 11 had trimmed it.

A little kink had appeared in his swing on short holes, making for an unintended trajectory. It was invisible to most amateur eyes, but Clayton could see it. "He was struggling all week with his swing and fighting the right shot – which is what he hit on 12," he says.

Spieth was caught in a cross current. Two bogeys had put him on edge. He should have reminded himself that he was still leading the Masters, he said. But on another channel, he was aware that par all the way would be enough. "I got too conservative," he said. "I put weak swings on three holes in a row." This is all from an interview minutes after walking off the 18th, remarkable for Spieth's temper and self-awareness. Never can there have been a more level-headed choker.

But Blundell could see something else out there. Instead of sizing up his shots from a distance, surveying the landscape and swinging the club, Spieth does all his "mental work" once he has addressed the ball. It makes for a long, tense prelude. It reminded Blundell of the agonising of Norman at Augusta in 1996, the most famous choke of all.

Blundell describes this routine as "inherently dangerous". "You can get away with it if you're playing well," he says. But a faltering finish to the third round suggested to Blundell that Spieth might not have been playing quite well enough.

This was not Albert Park on a Wednesday afternoon. This was the back nine at Augusta on Sunday. This was the 12th, described thus in 1990 by Sports Illustrated's Ricky Reilly: "It's a hole you play with a seven iron, a sand wedge and eight weeks of scuba lessons." All the greats had blundered here at some stage.

Now Spieth did, with two ungainly hacks at the ball — the second excavating a hole in which Gina Rinehart might invest — and hitting into the water twice. Intoned a commentator: "The iron man ... " The way his voice trailed off said it all.

"He had to know it was a simple shot across the middle of the bunker and he hit a big block," says Clayton. "The pitch is a tough shot but he made an awful attempt at it."  In review, Spieth regretted not retreating to the drop zone, where at least he knew the yardages. Then with his third swing, he hit into a bunker anyway. What Blundell calls Spieth's "neurological wiring", his great strength, shorted.

So seven it was, and forfeit of the Masters, too. But was it a choke? It wasn't that the Masters suddenly became too big for him; he won the tournament last year. Nor was he weighed down by a fear that this moment might not come again. He is 22, an age when most don't have a game together enough to begin to fall apart. It wasn't a long, slow, grim bleeding to death, possessed by ever more devils, either adding to a tragic history or foreshadowing one, as it was for Norman. It was hard viewing, but not macabre. Spieth's demeanour afterwards and in the days since was sombre, but did not for a minute intimate that something in him was broken.

It was over quickly. Blundell notes Spieth's peerless record of bouncing back. After his worst round this year, a 79 at the Northern Trust Open, he shot 68 the next day. At Augusta, he made birdies at 13 and 15, and although they weren't enough to salvage the tournament, they were enough to consign the 12th to ruled-off history.

"Really it was a one-hole disaster," says Clayton. "In his defence, he led the whole way on a brutal course played under brutal conditions. He shouldered all the pressure. The rest just sat on him hoping he would falter."

Against all indications, he did. Technically, he choked. Viscerally, it felt like something more than a hiccup, but less than a full-scale gasping, gagging self-strangulation. Let's call it a gulp and do as Spieth already appears to have done, leave it at that.

Jason Day bounces back from mental fatigue of the Masters with share of Hilton Head golf lead

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Danny Willett wins US Masters

Englishman dons the green jacket after defending champion Jordan Spieth imploded on the 12th hole on the final day at Augusta.

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HILTON HEAD: World No.1 Jason Day has cast aside his Masters disappointment to be in a three-way tie for the lead after the second round of the RBC Heritage PGA Tour event in South Carolina.

The Australian, who failed to mount a final-round charge at Augusta National, carded a two-under-par 69 on Friday at Hilton Head to be six under overall at the halfway mark with Americans Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman.

Day, bidding for his third PGA Tour title in a month, fired a four-under 67 in the opening round.

Mentally fatigued: Jason Day has come back from the anguish of the Masters to share the lead after the first day of the RBC Heritage PGA Tour event. Photo: Jae C. Hong

He is fighting off the Masters fatigue and finding success again at Harbour Town golf links.

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"I felt like I was kind of punch drunk a little bit," he said of Thursday's start. "But came out today a lot more alert and on top of it."

That's bad news for the rest of the field because Day has shown there aren't many who can match him when he's playing like this.

"I may be a little bit mentally fatigued, but it's not an excuse," he said. "I need to get out there and hit the shots and focus."

Scotland's Russell Knox, Englishman Luke Donald and another American Patton Kizzire shared fourth place at five under. Knox shot a 65, the best round of the tournament so far.

Past tournament champion Matt Kuchar topped the group at four under after a 71.

Day hit the shots he needed on Friday at the most crucial times.

Starting on the 10th hole, a shot behind opening-round leaders Donald and Branden Grace, Day could not get going in chilly, damp conditions. He kick-started the round with a birdie on the windswept, lighthouse 18th, rolling in a 10-footer.

Birdies on the second and third moved him on top. When he fell a stroke behind Chappell with a bogey on the par-5 fifth - Day hit his drive out of bounds - he recovered with a birdie on No.6.

Day felt the weight of the past few weeks of winning golf on the fifth green as he lined up the four-foot putt needed to limit the damage from his bad drive. That's when he channelled the mindset he's had since last summer when he won the PGA Championship.

"Moments like that, where you get to a breaking point, where you go, 'OK, I'm starting to lose focus now.' Because I was playing great, but it went out of bounds. I can't think about it. I've just got to keep pushing on."

Aaron Baddeley was the next-best placed Australian, four strokes behind day, at two under after rounds of 71 and 69, followed by Geoff Ogilvy (-1), Mark Leishman (+1) and John Senden (+2).

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FCA Confirms Diesel, Hybrid Versions Of Next-Gen Jeep Wrangler

Jeep is hard at work developing its next-generation Wrangler , which is expected to feature some substantial changes aimed at improving fuel economy.

2016 Jeep Wrangler

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, which is expected to feature some substantial changes aimed at improving fuel economy.  We now know that among those changes will be availability of diesel and hybrid powertrains.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] confirmed the changes in a presentation made to investors this week. The presentation also outlined plans to delay Alfa Romeo’s product schedule, plus plans to ramp up SUV and pickup truck production at other FCA brands.

But getting back to FCA’s plans for diesel and hybrid Wranglers, FCA says it needs to offer these “advanced powertrains” to meet tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations. The new Wrangler will arrive sometime in 2017.

Soon after launch, it will receive some efficiency tweaks such as a mild hybrid system, where brake energy is recovered to charge up a battery that can be used to power ancillary features such as the air conditioner. Towards the end of the decade, a diesel-powered Wrangler will arrive. And around 2022 we’ll be seeing a proper gasoline-electric Wrangler hybrid.

Other initiatives FCA will employ to improve the economy of its fleet include building lighter vehicles by utilizing high-strength steels and other lightweight materials; adding active aero systems to reduce drag; and adding fuel-saving electronic features such as axle disconnect technology and electronic power steering.

Production of the new Wrangler is on track to start at the current model’s plant in Toledo, Ohio in 2017, meaning the new off-roader should arrive as a 2018 model. This time around, there will also be a pickup variant.

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Mercedes Unveils Next-Generation Four-Cylinder Diesel

Despite the interest of late in electrified cars, the major automakers know internal combustion engines, including diesels, will continue to be the powertrain of choice for most customers around the globe for the foreseeable future.

Despite the interest of late in electrified cars, the major automakers know internal combustion engines, including diesels, will continue to be the powertrain of choice for most customers around the globe for the foreseeable future. That’s why they are continuing to optimize internal combustion engines alongside hybrid and electric car development.

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One of the leaders is Mercedes-Benz which is spending close to $3 billion on next-generation diesel technology over the coming years and this week announced a new family of modular four-cylinder diesel engines said to be cleaner, more efficient and more powerful than current units. The engines are also lighter and more compact thanks to all-aluminum construction, which is rare when it comes to diesels.

The first engine in the family is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder code named the OM 654. The engine will first appear in an E-Class sedan badged the E220d and set to go on sale in Europe this spring. The engine is said to deliver around 13 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions along with a further increase in output, with the latter now registering at 191 horsepower instead of the 167 hp of the 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel it replaces (peak torque is unchanged at 295 pound-feet). It also weighs in at 371 pounds versus the 447 lb of the older unit.

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As mentioned, the OM 654 is just the first in a new family of diesel engines. Importantly, the engines have been designed with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems. SCR reduces harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) which is at the heart of the Volkswagen Group’s emissions cheating scandal.

Mercedes says the new diesel engines will eventually feature in most of its cars and vans. The units will be offered in various output ratings and variants, for both longitudinal and transverse mounting. Unfortunately, it’s not clear when any of them will be offered in the United States.

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Audi SQ7 TDI debuts with electric compressor, 663 lb-ft of torque: Video

Despite the challenges faced by the Volkswagen Group over its diesel emissions scandal, it appears diesel isn’t a dirty word for the automaker as it's just announced a mighty V-8 diesel engine that delivers 429 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque.

Despite the challenges faced by the Volkswagen Group over its diesel emissions scandal, it appears diesel isn’t a dirty word for the automaker as it's just announced a mighty V-8 diesel engine that delivers 429 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. The engine’s first application is in a new Audi SQ7 TDI performance SUV and we’ll eventually see it used by other VW Group brands, including Bentley.

The big news is that the engine is equipped with an electric compressor, essentially a small electric motor that spins a compressor up to 70,000 rpm and provides boost pressure to the engine instantaneously. Audi previewed an early version of the technology in an RS 5 TDI concept. The latest version is slightly different as it consists of a standalone electric compressor which generates boost pressure on its own (the previous version spooled a turbocharger’s compressor at low revs).

The engine in the SQ7 TDI is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 diesel, which is mated to an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system. Two turbochargers are arranged in a sequential setup and add boost pressure in a conventional way, i.e. by relying on exhaust gasses to spool up their compressor wheels. This, of course, suffers from turbo lag at low engine speeds.

2017 Audi SQ7 TDI

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That’s where the new electric compressor comes into the equation. It sits in the air path downstream of the intercooler, close to the engine. Because it relies on an electric motor to develop boost pressure, it can be used at any time, thus making it the solution for the traditional weaknesses of the classic exhaust-gas turbocharger. It’s claimed boost pressure arrives in less than 250 milliseconds.

The result is an engine that delivers peak torque of 663 lb-ft from just 1,000 rpm and maintains this up to 3,250 rpm. This sees the SQ7 TDI accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 4.8 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

There’s other innovations on the SQ7 TDI than just the electric compressor. For example, the juice for the electric motor—approximately 10 horsepower at maximum—comes from a new 48-volt electrical subsystem instead of the typical 12-volt system found in most cars. The SQ7 TDI uses this higher-power electrical system to meet the high power and energy requirements of the electric compressor as well as a new electromechanical active roll stabilization system.

2017 Audi SQ7 TDI

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Being a top-of-the-range Audi, the SQ7 TDI is also loaded with luxuries. Examples include LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, sportily contored bumpers and door trim strips, adaptive air suspension with S-specific tuning, electrically adjustable and heated sport seats in Alcantara and leather, brushed aluminum inlays, and a multifunction sports steering wheel with shift paddles.

The SQ7 TDI will go on sale in Europe this spring. Audi is yet to mention whether we'll see the SQ7 TDI in the United States, though the automaker states that its engine is legal in the United States.

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Audi rules out diesel for A4 in U.S.

It’s being launched with just one powertrain, in this case a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.

First drive, Venice, Italy

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Audi’s all-new A4goes on sale in the spring with a starting price of $38,250, including a $950 destination charge.

While it was thought this generation of the A4 would finally get a diesel optionto match rivals offerings such as BMW’s 328d and Jaguar's new XE 20d, Audi of America President Scott Keogh said that won’t be the case.

Speaking with Automotive News (subscription required), Keogh said the decision not to offer a diesel in the A4 wasn’t a result of the diesel emissions cheating scandal afflicting several Volkswagen Group brands, one of which is Audi. Rather, he explained, the decision stems from diesel being a popular option for SUV buyers but not those of sedans.

“Every decision is a blend of a lot of things but I think the predominant thing is there was not significant market demand for the TDI sedans we had in the marketplace, A3, A6, A7 A8,” Keogh is quoted as saying. TDI is the brand name Audi uses for its diesel engines, a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.0-liter V-6.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, both engines were fitted with the “defeat device” software used to hide their true emissions levels from regulators. The VW Group has stopped sales of vehicles fitted with the engines and is yet to supply a fix that satisfies regulators. A federal judge has given the German auto giant a March 24 deadline to come up with a new fix acceptable to regulators.

Once approved, cars fitted with the engines will be back on the market. Keogh said Audi will wait until the next-generation versions arrive to determine whether the cars continue to offer diesel options in the future.

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Lamborghini Urus Concept Makes Its First Pass At America

Still fresh from its world debut at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show this spring, Lamborghini’s Urus SUV concept made a first pass at a slew of likely American buyers this weekend at its first U.S. showing, at The Quail 2012.

The Urus is the brand's first SUV concept since the LM002 of the late 1980s, and it's on a fast track to production, if the advanced state of the concept itself is any indication.

The production version of the Urus isn't likely to be on sale before 2016, though. It's a member of a new family of SUVs being developed by various members of the Volkswagen Group from some common architectural components. The first vehicle from the new family will be the next Audi Q7, which is expected to be shown as a concept sometime in 2013.

The unibody architecture also will spawn replacements for the relatively new Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg, as well as a new SUV for Bentley, which was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in concept form.

In production, the new Lamborghini SUV will likely carry a pricetag north of $170,000, and will be the most extreme performer in its class. It's also expected to make intensive use of lightweight materials, a hallmark for the brand from its latest Aventador exotic to the limited-run, carbon-fiber Sesto Elemento shown next to the Urus at The Quail 2012. Only 20 copies of the Sesto Elemento will be built, as the company develops a new skill set with the material.

The Urus concept doesn't have a defined powertrain, but in production it could use a variant of a powertrain found in other related vehicles--perhaps a version of the new turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 found in the latest Audi and Bentley vehicles.

Key markets for the Lamborghini SUV will include China and Russia as well as the U.S.

Stay tuned to the Pebble Beach Weekend coverage by bookmarking our landing page, and by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram "MotorAuthority."

Jay Leno Looks At Lamborghini's Latest Concepts: Video

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Italian supercar builder Lamborghini , and the occasion will be honored with events worldwide, including a grand tour of Italy.

, and the occasion will be honored with events worldwide, including a grand tour of Italy. Proving that the iconic automaker has a long life ahead of it, Jay Leno spent some time viewing Lamborghini’s latest concepts at the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann and lead designer Filippo Perini were on hand to take Leno through the Urus SUV concept, which will likely see production in the coming years. While some features (like the side view cameras in lieu of mirrors) aren’t legal yet, the basic shape probably won’t change much in production form.

The exception is likely to be the concept’s 24-inch wheels, which Winkelmann views as too large for production. Expect downsizing to a more reasonable 22-inch wheel when the Urus is built, which will still give the super-SUV a commanding stance.

As for power, Lamborghini’s CEO confirmed what we’ve already heard: the standard engine is likely to be a forced-induction V-8, with a hybrid drivetrain under consideration for its fuel economy and ease of packaging in an SUV platform.

Next up was Leno’s look at Lamborghini’s limited-production, track-only Sesto Elemento, narrated by head of research and development Maurizio Reggiani. Built of carbon fiber and forged composites, the 570-horsepower supercar weighs in at just 999 kilograms (2,198 pounds).

That kind of horsepower-to-weight ratio, coupled with the car’s all-wheel-drive, gives it the ability to sprint from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in a jaw-dropping 2.3 seconds, on its way to a top speed of nearly 220 miles per hour.

You won’t get to experience the rush of the Sesto Elemento’s acceleration on the street, however; rather than adding the weight of safety features like advanced airbag systems, Lamborghini will sell the $2.2 million supercar for track use only. Only 20 examples will be built, but you’re already too late to buy one since production is reportedly sold out.

Urus SUV Is The Right Type Of Vehicle For Lamborghini's First Hybrid

More stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations rolling in across major markets around the globe have all automakers, even supercar manufacturers, rethinking their designs and manufacturing processes in an effort to become greener.

Even the likes of Ferrari and Porsche will be launching new flagships powered by hybrid drivetrains by the end of next year, but while its rivals race to launch a new generation of hybrid supercars on the market, Lamborghini is taking a different view with its green strategy.

Speaking at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said his company’s supercar line, made up of the Aventador and Gallardo models, won’t adopt a hybrid system anytime soon. The reason being that current hybrid technology is simply too big and heavy.

While the technology may not be ready for one of its supercars, Lamborghini certainly remains interested in hybrids. In fact, we could see the option offered in a production version of the Urus SUV concept, should such a vehicle be given the green light.

When asked if Lamborghini might launch a hybrid SUV, a spokesman for the company said that something like the Urus would be the right type of vehicle. Of course, a production version of the Urus isn’t expected until 2017 at the earliest, and there’s talk that even that date might have to be pushed back.

In the meantime, Lamborghini will focus on reducing the weight of its vehicles and refining its powertrains to cut emissions further. We’ve already seen this with the recent announcement of cylinder deactivation and engine stop-starton the Aventador.

According to the same spokesman, the decision behind adding these features to the Aventador is due to Lamborghini’s overall goal to reduce the CO2 emissions of its vehicles 35 percent by 2015, compared with 2009 levels.

This is something all Volkswagen Group brands are committed to, though Lamborghini is particularly focused in this area. In fact, the automaker sees boosting its environmental credibility as a company-wide task and is working on improving the efficiency of its entire operations. Another initiative was the installation of photovoltaic solar cells, which has already helped reduce the CO2 emissions of its factory by 30 percent.

Display at Lamborghini’s factory showing solar power production

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Jason Day finishes strongly at Hilton Head

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AFL plays of the round

Round four in the AFL had Stefan Martin being stretchered off, Daniel Rioli shining through a tigers defeat and Eddie Betts sealing the deal in the last 30 seconds.

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Jason Day is back to looking like the world's top-ranked golfer, following up a season-worst 79in the US PGA Tour's Heritage Classic with a three-under 68 final round.

The Queenslander finished the tournament at one under par and tied for 23rd, eight shots behind South African winner Branden Grace while Aaron Baddeley was the best-placed Australian in a tie for ninth at three under.

Grace shot a 66 to win by two shots from former world No.1 Luke Donald (71) and Russell Knox (67), claiming his first US PGA Tour title and 11th worldwide victory.

Jason Day is looking forward to his break from golf. Photo: AP

Day now starts a welcome week off after a remarkable — and gruelling — run of tournament golf that included victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC-Dell Match Play before a tie for 10th last week at the Masters.

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Day looked as though he'd have a chance to add this trophy to his case, sharing the 36-hole lead at Harbour Town Golf Links.

But his Saturday round included a double bogey and eight bogeys to drop off the pace.

"Yesterday was kind of an off day, but it's nice to get a round under par," Day said.

"I get a break now."

Day made sure to leave on a high note. He was much more on target in the final round with four birdies and finished with his third round in the 60s here.

"I've had three great rounds and just one really, really poor round that put me out of the tournament," Day said.

"I did a lot of great stuff this week, especially coming off the back end of a major and the back end of two wins."

For Day, the time off will be a welcome chance focus on fitness and strength training.

He said this stint - Day says he's been away from his Columbus, Ohio, home for all but 10 days since December 28 - has him out of sorts and leaning on bad habits that he hopes to correct.

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Minjee Lee shoots 64 to win on LPGA Tour

KAPOLEI: Australian teenager Minjee Lee has claimed her second LPGA Tour title in brilliant fashion, shooting an eight-under-par 64 final round to win the Lotte Championship by one shot.

Minjee Lee poses with her trophy. Photo: AP

The 19-year-old from Perth came from five shots back at the start of the day, playing a seven-hole stretch in six under with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 13th and four birdies, to triumph at 16-under 272 on the Ko Olina course in Hawaii.

Third-round leader Katie Burnett (70) and US Women's Open champion In Gee Chun (67) tied for second.

Minjee Lee receives a lei from a hula dancer after winning the LPGA Lotte Championship. Photo: Getty Images

Lee made an 11-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th then got up-and-down for par on the par-4 18th, holing a six-foot putt. Her first win on the LPGA Tour came at the 2015 Kingsmill Championship.

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Burnett lost a share of the lead with a three-putt bogey on the par-3 16th, then missed a six-foot birdie try on 17 and a long birdie putt on 18.

Chun missed a 20-foot birdie try on 18.

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Lamborghini Urus SUV Approved For Production In 2017

Whether you’re a fan or not, you had better get used to seeing a Lamborghini-badged SUV in your neck of the woods as a production version of 2012’s Urus SUV concept has been given the green light.

Lamborghini made the announcement at its 50th anniversary celebratory eventin Italy last week.

The sharp-edged Urus was first shown at the Beijing Auto Show a year ago and within a month of its reveal there was talk of a production version. However, the ongoing economic crisis in Europe had Lamborghini’s bosses worried and a final decision put on hold.

It looks like circumstances have changed, as it was also revealed at last week’s 50th anniversary celebration that development of the new SUV remains on schedule.

The SUV is to share a platform with the next-generation Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. This same platform, a variation of the Volkswagen Group’s MLB, will also be used for Bentley’s planned SUV, though production of this model hasn’t been made officialjust yet.

To extract the performance one would expect of a Lamborghini from this SUV platform, engineers are expected to use lighter carbon fiber in place of some of the steel and aluminum sections. One of these sections is believed to be a T-shaped structure extending from the central tunnel to the rear suspension hinging points.

Peak output will also likely be higher in the Lambo than in the other VW Group SUVs, with most reports suggesting about 600 horsepower. The standard powertrain is expected to be a twin-turbocharged V-8 though a plug-in hybrid has also been touted.

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Lamborghini Urus Still Awaiting Green Light, Even As Demand May Be Evaporating: Report

The Lamborghini Urus , unveiled to both fanfare and criticism, as well as comparisons to the LM002, has yet to become a production super-SUV reality.

, unveiled to both fanfare and criticism, as well as comparisons to the LM002, has yet to become a production super-SUV reality. That day may not come soon enough, according to a new report.

Inside Lamobrghini’s Sant’Agata, Italy headquarters, the plan for the Urus is said to still be in full swing. But back in Germany, at the HQ of parent company Audi, there appears to be concern over the timing of the Urus’ eventual release, and whether the market for such a special-case SUV might be drying up.

MUST SEE: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Spy Video

It’s not that buyers, expected largely to come from the Middle East, Russia, and China, as well as the U.S., aren’t there anymore—it’s that the economy isn’t, and it may be getting worse in some of the key markets, reports Autocar .

The Middle East, in particular, is an area for concern, according to the report.

Nevertheless, both Audi and Lamborghini appear to think the Urus would still be good for the combined bottom lines of both companies—provided it’s able to hit the volume targets required.

If the Urus does indeed get its green light—and the markets it’s destined for maintain desired qualities—the Lamborghini SUV could be in production and on streets around the world by 2017.

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Lamborghini Confirms Plug-In Hybrid, Turbocharged Engines For Urus SUV

Slated to be released around 2018, the Urus is expected to debut with Lamborghini’s first turbocharged engine.

The upcoming Lamborghini Urus won’t be the first SUVto come from the supercar maker, but it will have a lot of firsts for the brand.

Slated to be released around 2018, the Urus is expected to debut with Lamborghini’s first turbocharged engine. And it’ll be followed some time later with the first use of plug-in hybrid technology for the brand.

ALSO SEE: Meet The Very First Koenigsegg

“In the Urus, a turbo will be probably the right engine, because we need a really high level of torque at low rpm, and the level of torque must be really important,” said Lamborghini’s research and development chief, Maurizio Reggiani, when we caught up with him for an interview at this past month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Reggiani noted that torque is essential in a vehicle like Urus, where curb weight is less important. And while the development boss mentioned the sound of turbocharged engines as a shortcoming, he left the option open for just a little bit of special piping or tuning to bring out the right engine sounds.

Turbo engine arrives, but the sounds must be right

“The source of the sound must be the right one,” he said. “If you have a four-cylinder and use the sound of a twelve, you are ridiculous.”

The Urus, which will be produced at a far higher volume than either of the brand’s current super-sports model lines, is also expected not to be entirely steel-bodied, but to use a combination of materials, and a mix of production processes. But Reggiani woldn’t outline specifics on the SUV’s construction quite yet.

Jay Leno and Maurizio Reggiani discuss the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

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Part of what makes some decisions for this model so complex is that the Urus won’t be a poseur, or part of the delicate-bodywork, nose-lift set—and it won’t shy away from off-road ability..

A 360-degree SUV mission, plug-in and all

“We want to have a super-sport SUV that is able to be the best performing, not just on road, but also in terms of off-road capability—in terms of angle of approach, and in order to take on the most extreme conditions possible,” said Reggiani, who flashed a grin, adding: “Yeah, it will be tough—I know already—a 360-degree SUV mission.”

We’ll surely see some shared VW Group technology in the Urus. While Lamborghini has written off the possibility of hybrid technology in its super-sports cars, the Urus will offer a plug-in hybrid systemsometime after its initial launch, he confirmed.

But Reggiani clarified that TDI diesel engines won’t be part of that. Lamborghini will leave that to the other VW Group brands.

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Twin-Turbo V-8 Pegged For Lamborghini SUV

Lamborghini is developing a new SUV based on its Urus concept unveiled in 2012 .

Lamborghini Urus Concept

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. The new SUV, whatever it ends up being labeled, will enter production in 2018and is set to be the first turbocharged Lamborghini. As we previously reported, it will likely be the marque’s first hybrid, too.

At launch, the sole powertrain will be a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. The information was confirmed to Autocar by Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann and R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani. The engine is said to be a unique design, though it will likely share much in common with twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8s being used by fellow Volkswagen Group brands like Audi and Bentley.

One of the primary reasons for going with a turbocharged engine is low-end grunt. Reggiani explained that this was necessary for getting a bigger vehicle like an SUV off the line as quickly as one of Lamborghini’s supercars. It will also prove handy in off-road situations.

Prototypes are already up and running, which means we should have our first spy shots soon. Given the length between the start of production and the reveal of the Urus concept back in 2012, the look of the SUV is said to have evolved somewhat. According to Winkelmann, the production version will be bigger and more practical than the concept. Of course, there will be hardcore versions too, including a potential SuperVeloce.

Underpinning the vehicle will be the SUV version of VW’s MLB Evo platform, which made its debut in the latest Audi Q7 and has since made its way into the Bentley Bentayga. The platform will also be used for next-generation versions of the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg.

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Jason Day, Adam Scott cover lack of form on US tour

Australian golf is on track for its best - and worst - performance of the US PGA Tour play-offs era, with the brilliance of Adam Scott and Jason Day covering up their countrymen's lack of form this season.

Leading the charge: Adam Scott heads the FedEx Cup standings at the halfway point of the US PGA Tour season. Photo: Getty Images

Since its inception in 2007, no Australian has won the lucrative FedEx Cup, the season-long points race culminating in a four-event play-off series and a whopping $US10 million winner's bonus.

But with Scott leading at the halfway mark and Day second thanks to their two wins each, hopes are high for a breakthrough in 2016.

Day went close last year when he arrived at the season-ending Tour Championship as the top dog but was overhauled by Jordan Spieth.

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"I'd love to win the FedEx Cup," Day said.

"The prestige of winning it all is still in its infancy but in the future it will be something every player will wish to have on their resume."

Only the top 125 players on the points list make the play-offs, with that number reduced at each event before the 30-man Tour Championship.

Importantly those in the 125 also secure a tour card for the following season.

But while Scott and Day have dominated the first half of the season, the rest of the Australian contingent are far from securing jobs.

In 2007, 14 Australians made the play-offs - still the most ever.

Last season the number dropped to a record low of six.

This year only Scott, Day, Marc Leishman (64th on the points list), Aaron Baddeley (70th) and John Senden (120th) are currently inside the play-off mark.

Outside and looking in are Matt Jones (129th), Cameron Smith (132nd), Steven Bowditch (156th), Stuart Appleby (160th), Cameron Percy (178th), Geoff Ogilvy (187th), Rod Pampling (194th), Rhein Gibson (200th), Greg Chalmers (218th), Jarrod Lyle (223rd) and Robert Allenby (225th).

The good news is all it takes is one good week to turn fortunes around.

Baddeley's efforts are impressive given he is without tour status this season and is playing out of the past champion category, so far making the most of limited opportunities.

"I'm sure all the Aussie guys will be fighting hard for the rest of the year to play their best golf," said Baddeley. "It's not in our nature to do anything else."

While Day and Scott are resting this week, Allenby, Appleby, Baddeley, Chalmers, Gibson, Jones, Ogilvy, Pampling, Percy and Senden are teeing it up at this week's Texas Open, along with youngster Ryan Ruffels who has three events left as he attempts to earn temporary tour membership.

AAP

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe, 2018 Audi Q5, Aston Martin DB10: Car News Headlines

Mercedes-Benz is set to unveil its new C-Class Coupe at September’s 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, and alongside the regular model will be the high-performance version from Mercedes-AMG: the 2017 C63 Coupe.

2018 Audi Q5 spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

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Mercedes-Benz is set to unveil its new C-Class Coupe at September’s 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, and alongside the regular model will be the high-performance version from Mercedes-AMG: the 2017 C63 Coupe. This week the official tuner to the German luxury marque released a teaser video that revealed parts of its C63 Coupe.

We have our first look at the next-generation Audi Q5, which at present we expect to be introduced in 2017, as a 2018 model. Unlike the current model, this new one will be sourced from a plant in Mexico.

Aston Martin’s DB10, which was built exclusively for the new James Bond movie Spectre , will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and shoot fire out of its rear. We discovered this in the extended trailer released overnight.

You'll find all of these stories and more in today's car news, right here at Motor Authority.

Mercedes-AMG’s Something Fast Is Likely The 2017 C63 Coupe: Video

2018 Audi Q5Spy Shots

Aston Martin DB10 Features In Trailer For New James Bond Movie Spectre

Toyota Negative On BatteriesBecause It Has More Experience Than Any Other Maker

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC: U.S. Won't Get Off-Road Package

BMW Pebble Beach Concept Duo Will Be M4 GTS And 3.0 CSL Hommage: Report

Next Toyota Prius Plug-In HybridTo Have 30 To 35 Miles Of Range: Source

New Tesla Roadster Due In 2019: Official

The 2015 Ford F-150 & The $10,000 Discount: Is America's Best-Selling Vehicle In Trouble?

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Artlee back in the big time to solidify Todd Willian and Mitchell Bell friendship

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Plays of the Week

From tight corners to trick shots, these are the most exciting, silly and downright crazy plays in the sport world this week.

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Mitchell Bell just couldn't bring himself to watch it. He had heard about it en route to hospital – and shed a tear in the process, mostly for the agony mixed with mild ecstasy. But actually seeing it? That was one thing he couldn't bring himself to do.

"I was sitting there and we were having a few drinks," Bell said of a sojourn in a Singleton restaurant run by one of Artlee's owners. "And it was after dinner and they said, 'How about we put on the replays? How about we put The [Country] Championships first and then we'll watch Scone?'

Back in the saddle: Mitchell Bell and Artlee team up again at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Getty Images

"They went to put on [the Luskin Star Stakes from] Scone and I said, 'No, don't bother. I don't want to watch it.' "

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Bell eventually did. With a little persuasion. Call it a cleansing experience, but it worked. Helped to erase the painful memories from almost a year ago – nursing not only a broken hand but a somewhat broken heart when hearing Artlee had romped to victory under stand-in rider Richard Bensley in a race that was supposed to be the horse's graduation into the big time.

It should have been Bell's biggest moment on horseback – and just his second stakes win – rather than that of another no-frills country saddle star such as Bensley. Them's the breaks, as they say.

"It affected Mitchell a lot," Artlee's trainer Todd Willan said. "He was upset for a long time. I don't think he watched the replay [for months].

"He listened to the race on the way [to hospital] and I think he had a tear in his eye. He might have been more happy for us. But he was definitely gutted though."

Willan and Bell shouldn't be out of place at Randwick on Saturday, the climax to the autumn carnival, where the inaugural Country Championships winner will resume in the Hall Mark Stakes.

It is one stepping stone to the Stradbroke Handicap. Another solidification of the friendship born of their days as apprentices in the Hunter and the north-west.

Willan's riding career didn't reach 100 races when it ended more than a decade ago. Bell is still going strong. But the different avenues they've walked down in the racing industry have note split what is becoming one of the most popular combinations, thanks to the deeds of Artlee.

"We've always been thereabouts and close mates," Willan said. "After the races at Muswellbrook, every meeting, him and his partner Holly stop in to have a beer as mates do.

"I actually started off my apprenticeship at Muswellbrook under Pat Farrell, and Mitchell was just up the road at Tamworth with Mark Mason. And then he was riding work with Patinack Farm in Sydney when I was at Crown Lodge."

Naturally, some heavy hitters have come calling for the ride on Artlee, predominantly when Willan had planned a snatch-and-grab mission to Flemington on Derby Day last year.

The answer was an easy one. Even if the result wasn't what the Muswellbrook trainer had hoped, claiming Artlee "wasn't a happy horse from the moment he got off the truck".

"It's not only that [loyalty], it's the trust you get as well," Bell said. "I think the trust – that's more important than anything – and then the loyalty comes from that. That's the same with my trust in him. He's a great horseman and a great trainer.

"And that loyalty Todd has shown me – especially in these big races – it's hard for a provincial rider to get up to that status."

Apart from Bell, there is only one person that regularly rides Artlee: Willan. Meticulous in his preparation honed after working at Crown Lodge, Willan wants an intimate knowledge of how his horses are going. Artlee? "Exceptional" on Tuesday.

"He knows exactly where he's at and when I get on his back that gives me confidence as well," Bell said. "It's been the highlight for me to be there [on Derby Day], especially on a day like that. It was pretty special. It was a good experience for both of us. We can take a lot out of that day."

It should hold them in good stead for the $150,000 Hall Mark Stakes, littered with classy sprinters ready to trek north for the winter riches.

Artlee is a $15 chance with Ladbrokes. On the strength of two slick barrier trial wins – one where Bell made the mad dash to Scone to ride him before fulfilling race engagements later in the day – maybe he should be shorter.

"We might be setting it a bit high, but it's been well known we'd like to go to the Stradbroke," Willan said. "He's got to warrant a start though and prove it's worth going there. There's a few lead-up races there that we'll get a good on him.

"But we've had owners knocking down the door to get horses in with us – and that's thanks to Artlee. We've always maintained a pretty high strike rate – except for this year having had no luck at all – and the 'house full' sign has been on the front gate for a while now."

2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Teased Again

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe is one of our favorite cars, particularly in high-performance Mercedes-AMG tune.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe is one of our favorite cars, particularly in high-performance Mercedes-AMG tune. It was one of the most interesting and attractive debuts of 2014, and soon it will be joined by a convertible variant, new teasers of which were released overnight.

Having already captured spy shots of the car in testing, this comes as no surprise to us—in fact, rumors of an S-Class convertible have been making the rounds ever since the debut of the Ocean Drive conceptback at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Now the car is official. It will be called an S-Class Cabriolet and be shown for the first time at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show on September 15. A showroom appearance will likely take place midway through next year, meaning we should see it arrive as a 2017 model.

Mercedes hasn’t sold an S-Class convertible since the 1960s. Like its W111 and W112 series predecessors, the new S-Class Cabriolet will offer unmistakeable, exclusive design combined with the finest materials and state-of-the-art technology.

2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

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The engine lineup should match that of the S-Class Coupe, which in the United States means a twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V-8 coming in S550 trim. Peak output should register at 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, and it is likely 4Matic all-wheel drive will come standard here. Those seeking more power will be able to opt for a Mercedes-AMG version, or perhaps versions.

We’ve already spied an S63 Cabriolet, which will pack a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 and a maximum 585 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. And there’s a good chance we’ll also see an S65 Cabrio, which will adopt the S65 Coupe's twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12. This engine is good for a staggering 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque.

If the idea of an S-Class convertible sounds a lot like an SL-Class, you're not alone, but with markedly different styling and different focuses on equipment, performance, and technology, the new S-Class Cabriolet is aiming to carve out its own niche in the high-end luxury drop-top segment. We’ll see it fully unveiled in Frankfurt in just a couple of weeks, and for more coverage on the upcoming German show simply head to our dedicated hub.

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More 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Tech Secrets Revealed

The all-new sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is set to be revealed May 16 at a special public event hosted at Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, and in the lead up Chevy has been dropping small morsels of information on the car.

The all-new sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is set to be revealed May 16 at a special public event hosted at Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, and in the lead up Chevy has been dropping small morsels of information on the car. Previously, we learned that the new Camaro will be 28 percent stifferthan the current model, 200 pounds lighter, and—in SS trim—feature General Motors Company’s [NYSE:GM] 6.2-liter LT1 V-8.

Now, Chevy has confirmed some of the tech features appearing on the new Camaro aimed at enhancing the car’s performance at the track while also making it docile around town. One feature is the Drive Mode Selector, which like the LT1 engine is borrowed from the Corvette. This modifies settings for throttle response, steering, stability control and much more, and will be an across-the-board feature on the new-generation muscle car. Owners will be able to switch through Snow/Ice, Tour, Sport and—on SS models—Track settings.

Another feature is a dual-mode exhaust system. New electronically controlled valves can bypass the mufflers under spirited acceleration, delivering improved performance and greater sound levels. And when you want to creep out of your garage in the early hours, the system keeps things as hushed as possible so you don’t get complaints from the neighbors.

Finally, Chevy has confirmed that SS buyers for the first time will be able to opt for magnetic ride control, previously available exclusively on high-end models like the ZL1.  The active damping system offers three preset programs that adjust the ride and handling balance. From there, it reads road and driver inputs at 1,000 times per second, automatically adjusting damper stiffness as required.

“We wanted to build on the flexibility of the current Camaro ZL1, which is great for grand touring, commuting, the drag strip and track days,” Camaro lead development engineer Aaron Link said in a statement. “The new Camaro will be even more adaptable, with up to eight vehicle attributes adjusted to fit a driver’s preference.”

Sales of the new Camaro are expected to commence this fall, making the car a 2016 model. For more details, including spy shots and video of prototypes, head to our previous post.

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Caulfield, Adelaide and then Royal Ascot on the agenda for The Quarterback

While Saturday's race meeting at Caulfield won't have the same impact as the final day of autumn racing in Sydney, it will be a significant stepping stone for Newmarket Handicap  winner The Quarterback and the lofty ambitions of his connections to race him at Royal Ascot.

Craig Newitt guides The Quarterback home in the Newmarket Handicap. Photo: Getty Images

The Quarterback, one of Australia's most gifted though sometimes inconsistent sprinters, appears ideally suited in Saturday's VOBIS Gold Stakes - a race conducted under set weights.
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In fact his trainer Robbie Griffiths believes that on paper The Quarterback is superbly placed and could well fall under the category of "a good thing".

"He would, I suppose, be extremely hard to beat if he was a horse who was capable of taking an early position in the race," he said.

"But he doesn't. So by getting back in the field he's very much prone to traffic jams and really Caulfield is not going to be his track.

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"At the weights, and purely at the weights, he will win. But as he showed the other night at Moonee Valley it's not that easy. At  Moonee Valley had he not reared and missed the start by six lengths he may have well won. But he didn't and you still need things to go right."

Griffiths, whose first group 1 success came after The Quarterback's brilliant win in the Newmarket, is firm in the belief that the sprinter warrants a trip to Royal Ascot this year.

"It's exciting for us all. It is, after all, England - the home of racing where the very best horses are on display. We'll be thrilled to make the trip," Griffiths said.

Griffiths says he's never been to England, though corrects himself by adding that he was on a plane leaving Heathrow for Ireland in the early 1990s though that was as close as the former jockey got to Ascot.

"I was on my way to Ireland. My brother Rod had a contract to ride over there and I was going
to visit him. But to take The Quarterback to England will be an exciting day," he said.

The Quarterback will have one more start after Saturday' and that will be the group 1 Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide in May just three weeks before the King's Stand Stakes at Ascot.

"And I haven't forgotten that Saturday's race at Caulfield is worth $250,000 - the value of some good group 2 and nearly group 1 races. But Adelaide will be another important stepping stone on his way to England," he said.

Bookmakers have installed The Quarterback at $2.50 favourite for Saturday.

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Spy Shots And Video

Mercedes-AMG’s rival to the likes of the BMW M4, Cadillac ATS-V Coupe and Lexus RC F has been spotted at the Nürburgring and on some of the German circuit's surrounding roads.

and on some of the German circuit's surrounding roads. The car we’re talking about is the new C63 Coupe, the high-performance version of the next-generation C-Class Coupe, which is also doing the rounds as a prototypeat present.

Both the regular coupe as well as this high-performance variant are expected to debut on the world stage at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, and right now we’re expecting the cars in showrooms by spring of next year, as 2017 models. Further down the track we can also look forward to a new C-Class Cabriolet, and it’s possible this one may also come in Mercedes-AMG flavor.

The new C63 Coupe will be mechanically similar to the C63 sedan, though the C-Class-based two-door cars benefit from a wider track as confirmed in the spy shots. The drivetrain will be identical, however, which means a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, with drive going to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential.

2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

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Peak output should remain capped at 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque for C63 trim and 503 hp and 516 lb-ft for C63 S trim. This should be enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in under 4.0 seconds for both, and once again top speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph.

Some of the visual clues that reveal this is the Mercedes-AMG version of the new C-Class Coupe include the lower ride height compared to prototypes for the regular model. We also see larger intakes up front, uprated brakes, and Mercedes-AMG’s signature square-shaped quad-exhaust tips.

Inside, you’ll find all the typical Mercedes-AMG elements including the Dynamic Select system that allows the driver to adjust a number of the dynamic vehicle settings such as suspension stiffness, throttle response and transmission programming. As for pricing, expect a premium on the $64,825 and $72,825 respective starting prices for the C63 and C63 S sedans.

Below is a video of a C63 Coupe prototype from YouTube channel cvdzijden . Mercedes-AMG has also released its own teaser shots revealing part of the car.

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2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe First Drive

Life is good.

Life is good. Life is especially good when you’re in Tuscany behind the wheel of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe.

Life gets downright magical when threading your way through hills dotted with castellos, pointing the S63 two-door down a picturesque winding two-lane and loosing the horses. Your heart races, the scenery smooths to a blur, the car dances under you.

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2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe first drive

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Disregard the traffic cameras; it’s a small price to pay for this kind of satisfaction.

Then suddenly you’re at your villa, prosecco in hand, and you just can’t stop grinning, knowing what you’ve done—and what awaits.

The S63 AMG Coupe is made for this kind of lifestyle, and because of it, the stylish full-size coupe plays in a heady realm, potentially taking the place of cars that might seem to be in a league above. The discerning driver may well skip the Bentley Continental GT Speed or the Rolls-Royce Wraith in favor of the more seductive, sportier, yet equally refined AMG Coupe.

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When it’s time to return to reality, hitting the Autostrada for the journey home, the S63 AMG welcomes you with technology that seems to preserve the magic just a bit longer. As your new memories distract you, Distronic Plus takes some of the load, following the lanes, keeping pace with traffic, even handling full stop-and-go duties in a jam. You’re free to reminisce—or plan for the next outing.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe

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Meanwhile, you and your chosen companion are swathed in comfort and luxury that equal the S63 AMG sedan’s—and even rival those hyper-luxurious British marques. The seats are intricately sewn, eminently comfortable, infinitely adjustable, and will even offer a variety of massages should you wish. All of this and more is controlled through the touchpad-and-wheel mbrace controller in the center console, with options and outputs displayed in stunning high-resolution on the central display.

You won’t want—or need—to push the limits in this über-coupe, however; its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8’s 577-horsepower, 664-pound-foot output is available at any time, smoothly slinging you toward the horizon, so why bother unsettling your passenger in the corners, anyway? AMG’s 33-percent front, 67-percent rear fixed 4Matic all-wheel-drive power distribution provides ample traction, regaining any speed given up to a more relaxed pace.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe

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Despite its size and luxury, the new S63 AMG Coupe is, at roughly 4,400 pounds, as much as 140 pounds lighter than the CL63 AMG that preceded it, a factor that helps achieve its 3.9-second 0-60 mph time. Extensive use of aluminum, carbon composite brakes, and a lithium-ion battery contribute to the lighter weight, despite increased standard features and equipment. Top speed, should you find a friendly stretch of the Autobahn in your journeys, is electronically limited to 186 mph.

Unlike the new 2015 CLS-Class, the S63 AMG doesn’t get a trick new nine-speed automatic. Instead, the familiar seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT returns, delivering smooth and precise shifts that nearly match a dual-clutch when you take control via the wheel-mounted paddles. Left to its own devices, it can shift with a range of traits, from “Controlled Efficiency,” to Sport mode. Those same modes also control the sound of the exhaust, taming it in “C” mode, or opening it up in Sport and Manual modes.

Automatic stop-start is fitted to help boost gas mileage, and in European testing helps the new S63 AMG achieve a rating of 10.1 liters per 100 kilometers—or about 23 mpg average. That figure won’t translate directly to an EPA rating, but it points toward a greener-than-you-might-expect figure.

But to be honest, if you’re counting gallons or dollars spent at the pump, you risk missing the point. This is a car that makes every drive a special occasion, whether you’re taming the Tuscan hills or letting it do most of the driving on the daily commute.

Wherever you’re going in the S63 AMG Coupe, you’ll arrive in style, comfort, and luxury—and with as much speed as you dare.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe

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Mercedes-Benz provided airfare, lodging, and food to enable Motor Authority to bring you this first drive report.

Wangaratta meeting called off after horse shows signs of strangles

Thursday's Wangaratta race meeting had to be abandoned after stewards discovered a horse close to the racecourse had been showing signs of the disease strangles.

Chief steward at the meeting, Peter Ryan, said he had been notified half an hour before arriving on-course that a horse in a farm near to the racecourse was showing all the symptoms of the highly contagious disease.

Ryan said after consultation with Racing Victoria's veterinary department it was decided to abandoned the meeting and close down the area because of the risk of the disease spreading.

He said all horses stabled and trained at Wangaratta will be closely monitored over the next 48 hours.

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Strangles is a notifiable disease.

Historically strangles was serious because it led to abscesses forming within the body which occasionally led to a fatality.

This means when a case of strangles has been confirmed, Agriculture Victoria is to be notified automatically.

Generally Agriculture Victoria will then quarantine the property where the strangles case has been identified.

In recent times, due to various prevention methods, including annual vaccinations, the disease has not had such serious consequences, however because it is highly contagious and requires that property be quarantined, it is a disease with serious economic impacts.

Thursday's discovery was a costly one for the industry, as more than a hundred horses were on their way to the meeting from all parts of the state and New South Wales.

But the lost betting revenue from Thursday's meeting was a small price to pay considering the risk to major racing communities such as Flemington, Caulfield and Cranbourne.

Arrowfield lead the way with Redoute's Choice, Snitzel still on top

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Plays of the Week

From tight corners to trick shots, these are the most exciting, silly and downright crazy plays in the sport world this week.

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Arrowfield Stud has once again led the major Hunter Valley farms by being the first to announce their 2016 stallion prices with their champion stallion Redoute's Choice - and two of his sons Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt - heading their honour roll after fantastic achievements in the current racing and breeding season.

Redoute's Choice fee stands unchanged at $110,000 inc GST and rightly so with his tally of group 1 winners now totalling 28 and his yearlings having a tremendous strike rate at the just completed Inglis Australian Easter Sales where 20 averaged $573,250 with three fetching seven-figure sums.

Snitzel has deservedly received another price increase from $88,000 to $110,000 with the former group 1 racetrack performer supplying five million-dollar yearlings at the latter sales and the sale-toppers at all three major Australian auctions. Snitzel's black-type performances keep rising with five stakes winners since January 1.

Show me the money: Capitalist's two-year-old success in the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper means his sire Written Tycoon's service fee has gone up 250 per cent. Photo: Jason McCawley

Not A Single Doubt has had a sensational 2015-16 season thus far running second behind Winx's sire - the ill-fated Street Cry - in the Champion Stallions Premiership. He also leads the premiership by individual winners with 115 of his progeny successful and winning a total of 180 races up until last Wednesday.

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He has had three group 1 winners amongst his 10 stakes winners and he had only two yearlings catalogued at Easter with one of them, a colt from Colorado Claire, bringing a record $850,000.

Not A Single Doubt's 2016 service fee has more than doubled from $33,000 to $71,500 inc GST.

Arrowfield also has three new stallions on their 2016 roster and two - Scissor Kick and Panzer Division - are also highly regarded sons of Redoute's Choice who will stand at $16,500 and $9900 respectively. The other newcomer is the Japan superstar Real Impact, a son of the brilliant Japanese based sire Deep Impact, and becomes the first son of his sire to stand in the southern hemisphere.

His price is $19,250 inc GST and Real Impact should meet with a great deal of response with the horse performing splendidly at the 2015 Championships during the Sydney autumn carnival winning the group1 George Ryder Stakes.

Arrowfield have a total of 12 stallions standing and have dropped the covering fees Animal Kingdom from $33,000 to $27,500 and Charge Forward reduces from $16,500 to $11,000.

The 2015 service fees remain the same for Dundeel ($27,500), Smart Missile ($22,000), Olympic Glory ($19,250) and Manhattan Rain ($16,500) with all four sires having excellent numbers from breeders.

"These 12 stallions represent the best lines of Danehill and the best outcross of options we can source for Australasian breeders." Arrowfield chief John Messara declared.

"We believe the three new stallions are priced very attractively with Real Impact appearing great value while Scissor Kick and Panzer Division both commence their seasons at the same prices respectively as did Not A Single Doubt and the deceased Beneteau."

Stallion increases

Three stallion increases have been announced by studs whose sires have made a great impression in 2015. Yarraman Park Stud has upped the price of last year's first season champion sire Hinchinbrook from $16,500 to $38,500 per courtesy of Press Statement's achievements and having a colt sell at the Easter Sales for $1 million. I Am Invincible will remain at $55,000 inc GST.

The Melbourne stud Woodside Park has increased Written Tycoon, the sire of Golden Slipper and Magic Millions winner Capitalist, from $19,800 to $49,500. Emirates Park's shuttle sire Artie Schiller goes from $13,200 to $22,000 after some excellent juvenile performers this season spearhead by Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper placegetter Flying Artie.

Coolmore spends big

Coolmore Stud was one of the biggest spenders at this week's Tattersall's Craven Breeze-Up Sale signing for the top two lots. On Tuesday the Irish-based stud signed for an Invincible Spirit colt for 360,000 guineas and then the following day bought a colt by shuttle sire The Factor in conjunction with US stud Stonestreet Farm. The Factor stands the southern hemisphere breeding season at Newgate Farm.

Other Australian shuttle stallions whose progeny performed well were Zoffany, who had two-year-olds sell for up to 320,000gns; Helmet, who had progeny sell for 210,000 gns and 200,000 gns; More Than Ready, a colt for 220,000 gns and an Exceed and Excel colt for 100,000 gns.

American watch

▪ Uncle Mo continued his great run of success with his three-year-old son Outwork giving him his third grade 1 winner in the Wood Memorial (8 1/2f) at Aqueduct last Saturday. He has a total of 12 stakes winners and his son Nyquist is a red hot favourite to win this year's Kentucky Derby after notching his seventh straight win in the Santa Anita Derby.

▪ US horse of the year in 2010, Zenyatta (Street Cry), lost her second foal by stallion War Front on Wednesday. A release from Lane Ends Farm and Team Zeny said: "It's with heavy hearts that we must announce the the passing of Zenyatta's 2016 colt foal by War Front." Zenyatta's first foal, Cosmic One (Bernardini), has been unplaced at her two starts; her second foal Ziconic (Tapit) was placed at her debut in February while her 2014 foal, a War Front filly, died in a paddock accident. The mare was not covered in 2015.

▪ Songbird (Megdalia d'Oro) continued her terrific form when taking out the grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks (8 1/2f) last Saturday. She goes into the Kentucky Oaks with a seven out of seven record as well and is long odds-on to win the classic for three-year-old fillies.

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive review

The whole world seems to be going turbo.

The whole world seems to be going turbo. That’s mostly a good thing.

In the case of the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, it’s a very good thing.

While it’s impossible not to love the 6.2-liter M156 V-8 that powered the last C63 AMG, the new M177 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 is a worthy successor, packing up to 503 horsepower and sharing much of its makeup with the M178 engine found in the brilliant Mercedes-AMG GT and GT S.

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In the C63 and C63 S, the engine does all the right things it does in its two-door alter ego: provides immediate thrust at nearly any RPM, keeps pulling right up to redline, and makes delicious—if slightly muted—sounds.

Paired with the smart and crisp AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed automatic transmission, the engine truly brings the AMG-adulterated C-Class platform to life, leaving the car and driver both yearning for the next curve, the next straight, the next apex.

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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On Track

When it comes down to it, a performance sedan of the Mercedes-AMG C63’s caliber needs to be able to deliver on track; the BMW M3 and M4duo certainly do, and the Cadillac ATS-Vlooks like it might just be the overdog. Audi’s S4 may do some battle with the base C63 (non-S-model), but it doesn’t really have a contender without an RS 4.

Comparing the C63 S to its nearest natural competitor, the BMW M3, is perhaps one of the most enlightening revelations for the brand-agnostic performance enthusiast: where once the BMW would have had the superior ride quality, steering feel, and sport seats, the pendulum has swung completely to Mercedes-AMG’s side.

Where the BMW feels leaden and lifeless (read: anything below about 100 mph), the C63 S feels lithe and limber. Above 100 mph, both cars are a joy to drive, but the BMW still feels more like a surgeon’s laser scalpel, while the C63 S is a back-alley switchblade—in hoonistic respects, at least.

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive, Portugal

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Turn in and the front end grips—despite what ultimately felt like a lack of tire, I never experienced any chassis-based understeer. Driver error can still induce some, but a quick dab of throttle or a more carefully trailed brake will repair the widened arc, thanks to the car’s surprisingly refined and progressive behavior at the limit.

With the AMG Dynamic Select system in Race mode (or a well-configured Individual setting), and Sport Handling mode engaged by a single press of the traction control button, the C63 S willingly hangs its tail out at a few degrees of drift, allowing the driver to keep their foot in it when getting out of corners, complementing the trailbrake-ability and offering tantalizing hints at zero-steer possibilities.

As for quibbles, there are only two, and they’re related. Fitted with relatively narrow tires, the powerful sedan feels like it’s just a bit short of the grip the chassis could use at the limit. That slight shortfall of grip also reveals itself under braking, where the front doesn’t bite quite as hard as I’d like even with the carbon ceramic brakes. That slight lack of grip is, ultimately, a well-tuned choice, however, encouraging the driver to approach or even slightly exceed the limit, communicating exactly where that line lies.

On track, the C63 S is a car that will engage, thrill, and, for the dedicated, allow room to grow as a driver.