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FCA facing class-action lawsuit over Grand Cherokee shifters

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is now facing a multi-million-dollar class-action lawsuit over the recalled shifter design in the 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the 2012 to 2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Grand Cherokee owners, galvanized by Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin's fatal accident, filed the suit. According to The Wall Street Journal, the owners allege that FCA concealed the shifter's problems. On top of restitution, the class action suit is demanding a court order force FCA to issue a do-not-drive warning to owners of affected vehicles until it fixes the problem. FCA started distributing a software fix to dealers last week – according to the WSJ, the update will add more warnings about the shifter's position and will automatically kick the vehicle into park if the driver steps out. FCA's shifter problems have been bubbling under the surface as part of the company's recall issues. The US government dinged FCA with a $105 million fine last year for its recall practices (or lack thereof) last year, but things have exploded this week after Yelchin's death. The 27-year-old, best known for playing Ensign Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek film series, was killed after his 2015 Grand Cherokee rolled down his driveway and pinned the actor against a security gate. According to Jeep CEO Mike Manley, the company will dispatch engineers to analyze Yelchin's vehicle. Related Video:

Weekly Recap: Lincoln Continental serves up the style, Cadillac CT6 delivers the substance in New York

Lincoln and Cadillac grabbed the spotlight this week at the New York Auto Show in a dramatic fashion that evoked the brands' glory days. America's two luxury carmakers went toe-to-toe with their glittering reveals and plans for ambitious expansion. Both were selling their technology, style and the promise of a better future. Cadillac vs. Lincoln. At the Javits Center, 2015 seemed a lot like 1956. Neither company was interested in drawing comparisons with the other, which is fair, and accurate. They're in vastly different places in terms of sales and the pace of their turnarounds, but they hope to reach the same eventual destination at the pinnacle of the luxury-car world. Lincoln used the element of surprise to great effect with the Continental concept. A production version is still at least a year away, and the company was vague on details. Officially, we don't even know if it is front- or rear-wheel drive, though speculation abounds. Who cares? The seats can be adjusted 30 ways! The Continental also showed off a bold chrome grille that will be the new face of Lincoln. The blue bomber also rolled on blinged-out 21-inch polished aluminum wheels, used a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine and had huge LED head lights with "laser-assisted" high beams. All of this resulted in almost blinding attention. The concept drew rave reviews, stirred controversy with Bentley designers who argued Lincoln ripped them off, and most importantly, pointed a way forward for the newly determined brand that hopes to compete with Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Cadillac and Lexus. View 32 Photos Meanwhile, Cadillac showed the CT6, a finished product that will top its range and is loaded with the best and latest technologies General Motors has at its disposal. With production starting late this year, Cadillac had more specifics at the ready. Engines? Cadillac has a couple V6s and a turbo four for sure. It's working on a hybrid, and has considered a V-Series variant. It's based on a new rear-wheel-drive, aluminum-intensive chassis called Omega, features an advanced collision-mitigation system with automatic braking and has a cabin that's laden with "leathers, exotic woods and carbon fiber." It will be assembled at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck factory and goes on sale next year. At this point, Cadillac is more than willing to talk about every except for the price. The devil was not in the details for Cadillac, as evidenced by the CT6. But it wasn't for Lincoln either.

2017 Chevy Camaro Z/28 Nurburgring crash caught on video

A 2017 Chevy Camaro Z/28 prototype crashed Thursday morning during testing on the Nurburgring in Germany. The driver appears to be unharmed, and the Camaro was not severely damaged. You can see the crash happen near the 1:35 mark of the video. Everything is going fine as the camo-clad Camaro accelerates onto the 'Ring. But as the driver goes through a turn the back wheels lock up. The driver then nails the brakes, the front wheels lock up, and he careens into the rail, getting airborne in the process briefly. The driver then navigates the Camaro to the other side of the circuit. A crumpled front fender and maimed aero is the only damage. View 11 Photos Mishap aside, this is an excellent look at what we believe is the track-focused Camaro Z/28. We see the huge wing in back and smaller winglets in front reminiscent of the Corvette Z06's Z07 Performance Pack. The new Z/28 has a throaty, almost buzzy V8 sound. We predict the seven-speed manual transmission from the Corvette, and perhaps the new 10-speed automatic trans from the Camaro ZL1, will be available. This prototype has a huge, gaping grille, blacked out wheels, and an aggressive front splitter. Look for the Z/28 to go on sale next year. A General Motors spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on development testing, but noted that "safety is our overriding priority." Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Image Credit: Brian Williams / SpiedBilde Spy Photos Chrysler Coupe Performance Videos viral video chevy camaro z28