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Nissan has teamed up with Poison frontman and reality TV star Bret Michaels to promote its NV commercial vans as part of a new marketing campaign titled "Tough Love."

The popular rock icon even stars in a full-length music video that gives a tough new spin to the classic ‘80s power ballad "Endless Love" — complete with fire, smoke and an instrument panel-mounted Bret Michaels bobble head doll. The video is posted on YouTube and the song is available for download at NissanToughLove.com.

Using the theme "The tougher we test them, the more you love them," the campaign is directly aimed at small business owners looking for durable, efficient cargo and passenger vans.

Bret Michaels also appears in a series of videos shot at Nissan's Arizona Testing Center. Nissan commercial vehicles endure more than 6,600 tests during the development process, including being put through a heat chamber, salt spray tunnel, frame twister, shaker machine, pothole-ridden roads, and grueling brake tests.

"As one of the newest nameplates in the commercial vehicle segment, we want to bring attention to the operational efficiency of our innovative, durable Nissan NV Cargo, NV Passenger and NV200 Cargo vans, but do it in a way that gets business owners' attention," said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing and Operations, Nissan North America, Inc.

"Bret Michaels, with his reputation as an enduring icon of rock, was not only a perfect fit for the vehicles, he was also a valued collaborator in developing the "Tough Love" campaign. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he understands the needs of small business owners for trucks you can depend on."

Portland, OR -- Often, it's important to look past something's name or label to really explore what it's all about. Never has that been more true than in the case of the brand new Dodge Challenger in Scat Pack livery.

I'll get to the history in a moment, but let's take in the return of a halo car, the return to muscle-car-dom as it was meant to be. After driving the Challenger Hellcat with over 700 ponies, I wasn't sure I could be equally impressed with the remainder of the Challenger lineup. Boy, was I wrong.


What is the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack?
This is Dodge's answer to the specialized and focused Mustang Boss and to a lesser extent, Camaro SS 1LE, and what an answer it is. The Challenger has always been one of those instantly recognizable muscle cars -- one that meant business. This new iteration is no exception.

In celebrating 45 years since the first Scat Pack Club packages were introduced on Dodge vehicles, they've brought it back on the Dart, Challenger and Charger. In the past, the Scat Pack Club meant performance stage kits (three of them) that could be added to '68-'71 Challengers.

Now, the Scat Pack represents a 30% increase in power over the non-Scat Challenger. That's 113 more horses and 65 lb-ft more torque over the 5.7L mill thanks to the Scat Pack's 6.4L HEMI.

2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Price & Specs
As mentioned above, the Scat Pack adds a hefty engine to the Dodge Challenger, namely a 6.4L HEMI V8 that's good for 485 horses and 475 lb-ft of torque -- all sent out the rear wheels, blissfully.

Also - and let's all take a moment to rejoice in this fact - the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack can be had with either an 8-speed automatic or a fabulously lovely to drive 6-speed manual. That's right folks, a muscle car the way it should be: with three pedals and plenty of ponies under the hood. Oh, and it costs extra for the manual (approx. $1,000), so only true enthusiasts need apply.

The exhaust note in the Scat Pack is also something to take into consideration when looking at the lineup and deciding which particular Challenger grabs your fancy. That V8 grumble is just too good to pass up as the performance-enhanced note burbles out the dual 2.75” rectangular tips.

Of course, the sound won't be the only deciding factor, the price will, too. The 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack sits in the $40k range, and truthfully for everything it is and offers it's very well priced ad positioned in the market. Also, there is such a range of Challengers to choose from along with the corresponding price points, there really is one for everyone and every budget.

Driving the 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack
The heavens opened up as I got behind the wheel of my Sublime Green Challenger Scat Pack, placed my left foot firmly on the clutch and pressed the start-stop button to awaken the beasty 6.4L V8 beneath the hood-scooped bonnet.

Sliding the angled short-shifter into first gear, my right foot feathers the throttle just to enjoy the reverberation of the HEMI in the comfortable cabin. Grin firmly plastered on my face it's time to let this Challenger show me what it's all about. As we traverse narrow, tightly winding streets in the Portland area, the Dodge Challenger surprised me immediately by driving much smaller than it looks. Handling is so much more precise than I'd ever imagine from such a wide-bodied, straight-line-speed champion.

I was also pleasantly surprised with the ease of the transmission. The clutch is shockingly short, but in a very good way. Travel is so minimal that it's ridiculously easy to rev-match for downshifts and heel-toe action is a must as the pedals are perfectly placed for perfect shifts every time.

On the track, the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack is just as compliant with its sport-tuned suspension and large brakes.

This is a true muscle car in every sense of the word -- it even puts on a helluva a good smoke show without too much effort. Trust me.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack
Truly a tribute to their 1971 roots, the exterior of the new Dodge Challenger is downright sexy and masculine in all the right ways. Everything that was a bit “off” with the previous generation has been tweaked, trimmed, tailored and just made better. From the front fascia to the skinnier rear, I adore this new Challenger.

And inside that nip/tuck process continued. Best part about the Scat Pack interior for me? The retro ball shifter coupled to the manual transmission.

Comparing the 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack
This is a halo car, as I mentioned above. It plays along with its American rivals in the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang. Each of these cars has a loyal following, some may even call them cults. If you've always been a Challenger fan, you'll continue to be one perhaps with much more enthusiasm after getting behind the wheel of this newest edition, especially in Scat Pack trim -- I scat you not.

From GMM

Alarming news about the financial health of Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez has emerged.

Together with Eric Lux, fellow Luxembourger Lopez heads the investment company Genii Capital, which owns the Enstone based team.

After finishing a strong fourth in the last two constructors' world championships, Lotus is currently a mere eighth after a particularly difficult first half to the 2014 campaign.

And according to the Luxembourg newspaper Tageblatt, the financial news is even worse.

Accounts just filed with the commercial register for 2012 show an annual loss of almost EUR 53 million, with company equity listed as minus EUR 128 million.

The report said that just one year ago, the loss was only 55 million, while total debt is now shown at a whopping EUR 185 million.

Tageblatt also claims that although company filings are due no later than seven months after the end of the financial year, Genii only filed the accounts for 2011 and 2012 in mid-July of this year.

The accounts for 2013 have not yet been filed.

Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Demand keeps growing at a rapid pace for the Elio three-wheeler, which is set to go on sale in late 2015 at a price of US$6,800.

The number of pre-orders skyrocketed from 6,406 on December 31st of last year to more than 25,000 on July 19th, 2014. Customers made a refundable deposit of $100-$1,000.

Photo: Elio Motors

Similar to a motorcycle, the Elio puts the passenger behind the driver. It's fully boxed and features car-like seats, airbags, and seat belts.

Fuel economy is rated at 84 mpg, equal to about 2.8L/100km, which would be good enough to drive from New York to Detroit on a single tank. Top speed is 160 km/h. Buyers will be able to choose between a manual transmission and an automatic.

Production of the Elio will take place in Louisiana at a former Hummer plant.

Source : fastcoexist.com

“Crazy Leo” Urlichich, the only Canadian to compete in the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship, endured more bad luck Thursday at the very beginning of the Rally Finland.

Urlichich competes in the Drive DMACK Fiesta trophy this season. He was set to take the start of the rally in Finland with a new co-driver, Briton Darren Garrod.

However, Garrod hurt his back on a very average jump at the test stage before the rally.

“It wasn't bad at first so we got three more test runs in. I have to admit: the stage was amazing. I so loved it! There's a reason why this is the best rally in the world!” Leo said.

“But the pain got worse, but Darren decided to go through the start ramp despite severe pain, because that would allow a theoretical restart tomorrow. Here, we have to thank M-Sport Poland and Alison for their special assistance. But as the day went on we realized that there's no way we can go into the stages,” “Crazy Leo” said.

“I am very sorry to all the sponsors, fans and friends who support me. I'm beyond gutted. No one here can believe in this bad luck. But we'll be back!” Leo concluded.

Tesla's net loss widened to $61.9 million in the second quarter even though it assembled and delivered record numbers of Model S electric cars. Revenues surged nearly 90 percent.

An executive from GS Electech, a supplier to Toyota, pleaded guilty Thursday to playing a role in an international conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices on auto parts, the Department of Justice said.

An executive from GS Electech, a supplier to Toyota, pleaded guilty today to playing a role in an international conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices on auto parts, the Department of Justice said.

Aluminum wheel supplier Superior Industries International said today that its second-quarter net income tumbled 21 percent from the year-earlier period to $5 million on flat sales of $199 million.

BorgWarner, a supplier of turbochargers and emissions systems, reported a 9 percent increase in net income for the second quarter as its engine division grows and the European market -- which makes up about half of the company's customer base --...

BorgWarner reported a 9 percent increase in net income for the second quarter as its engine division grows and the European market, which makes up about half of the company's customer base, continues to recover.

Future cars and light trucks will sport more sparkling oranges and browns, soft blues and greens, and pearly whites and grays -- all inspired by the clear skies, lush lawns and warm homes found in the nation's heartland -- according to trend...

Denso, the Toyota-affiliated auto supplier, posted a 16.7 percent drop in April-June quarterly operating profit from a year earlier as domestic labor costs rose and as automakers sold more compact cars in Japan that tend to be less profitable.

More than seven years before GM began the biggest wave of auto recalls in history, an investigator for Vanguard Car Rental contacted the carmaker about a fatal rollover crash in California. Vanguard wasn't alone.

News 1 Aug, 2014

Official design sketches hint at a more aggressive look for Hyundai’s i20, to be revealed at the 2014 Paris Motor Show

Delphi Automotive Plc today reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter profits, but offered a lower forecast for the third quarter.

Delphi reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter profits as increased sales in Asia and North America offset a slumping South America and a flat Europe.

Continental has raised its full-year profit forecast for the second time in five months after second quarter earnings rose on improving vehicle demand and a strong performance by its rubber division.

Volkswagen Group has reported an impressive 14.1% increase in net profit in the second quarter, despite acknowledging competitive pressures and difficulties in some emerging markets.

Japanese automakers Mazda and Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries said they are on track for record full-year profits after strong sales in the United States powered double-digit profit growth in the April-June quarter.