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Our love of SUVs is killing people in the streets

Americans are fond of supersized fast-food meals and colossal convenience-store fountain drinks, even though they're clearly bad for our health and U.S. adults keep getting fatter. We also like large vehicles, and our love affair with SUVs is killing people in the streets. According to a recent investigation by the Detroit Free Press/USA Today, the increase in SUV sales over the past several years coincides with a sharp rise in pedestrian deaths in the U.S. — up 46 percent since 2009, with nearly 6,000 people killed in 2016 alone. With SUV sales surpassing sedans in 2014 and pickups and SUVs currently accounting for 60 percent of new vehicle sales, it's no wonder Ford announced in April plans to cease U.S. sales of almost all passenger cars. And this followed Fiat Chrysler's move to virtually an all-truck, -SUV and -crossover lineup. While the Freep/USA Today investigation found that the simultaneous surge in SUV sales and pedestrian deaths comes down to vehicle size, it also points to a lack of action on the part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), even though it knew of the dangers SUVs pose to pedestrians. Also blamed are automakers dragging their feet on implementing active safety features. Using federal accident data, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) determined that there was an 81 percent increase in single-vehicle pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs between 2009 and 2016. Freep/USA Today's analysis of the same data by counting vehicles that struck and killed pedestrians instead of the number of people killed showed a 69 percent increase in SUV involvement. As far back as 2001, researchers at Rowan University forecasted a rise in pedestrian deaths as Americans began switching to SUVs. "In the United States, passenger vehicles are shifting from a fleet populated primarily by cars to a fleet dominated by light trucks and vans," the researchers wrote, with light trucks comprising SUVs.

Lister reveals first continuation Knobbly roadster at Autosport

It's been over a year since we reported on a plan to revive Lister Cars, and now the storied British racing constructor has revealed the first production continuation example of its legendary Knobbly roadster. Built to the same specifications as the original from 1958, using the same drawings and equipment, the reborn Knobbly features aluminum bodywork and a race-prepped 3.8-liter straight six out of a Jaguar D-Type and producing 330 horsepower. Revealed at the Autosport International race car show in Birmingham, the new Knobbly arrives on Lister's 60th anniversary and less than a month after the passing of its founder, Brian Lister. Only ten examples like this one will be built, all of which have already been spoken for, prompting Lister to consider an additional three examples. Each is eligible under FIA regulations to compete in vintage racing events, with performance specs quoting a 4.3-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 181 miles per hour. LISTER CARS' REBORN 'KNOBBLY' MAKES PUBLIC DEBUT AT AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL - Lister Cars' reborn 'Knobbly' racer has made its public debut at Autosport International - Built to the very same specification as the original 1958 'Knobbly' it uses the late Brian Lister's original drawings and manufacturing jigs - Lister has received an overwhelming response to its limited run of ten continuations and order books are full - Lister Cars is now considering creating three individual final editions each celebrating the racing pedigree of the 'Knobbly' in a unique and memorable way Lister Cars' reborn 'Knobbly' racer has made its public debut at Autosport International at the NEC Birmingham. Celebrating Lister's 60th anniversary, the reborn 'Knobbly' is built to the very same specification as the original 1958 'Knobbly', using the late Brian Lister's original drawings and manufacturing jigs. It is powered by a race-prepared Jaguar D-Type 3.8-litre straight-six, producing 330bhp. All 'Knobbly' models are built at Lister Cars' Cambridge factory to meet relevant FIA racing regulations, with owners able to compete in a series of Lister historic race meetings planned during 2015. Despite following an original design laid out more than 55 years ago, the reborn 'Knobbly' has performance to match modern sports cars; it can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and hit a top speed of 181mph. Lister Cars has already received an overwhelming response to its limited run and the 10 cars are now sold out.

Here's today's round of auto plant closures in response to coronavirus

More automakers have shuttered factories, as businesses everywhere work to slow the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus — and as the pandemic slows sales and disrupts parts supply chains. On Friday, the following closures were announced: • Volvo will close its factories in Sweden and the United States from March 26 to April 14. Volvo's U.S. facility, in Charleston, South Carolina, makes the S60 sedan. Its assembly plant in Torslanda, Sweden, turns out the XC90, SC60, and V90. Other Swedish facilities make engines and component parts. A Volvo factory in Ghent, Belgium, that builds the XC40 and V60 closed earlier this week and is expected to remain offline until April 6. Volvo's four factories in China have been reopened after a shutdown earlier this year. • Jaguar Land Rover announced that it will suspend production at its assembly plants in the UK over the coming week. The shutdown is expected to last until April 20. Elsewhere, production continues at the company's factories in India and Brazil, and JLR's joint-venture plant in China reopened at the end of February. • Bentley is closing its factory in Crewe, England, for four weeks, effective today. • Bugatti has put its atelier in Molsheim, France, on hiatus. No date was given for when assembly of its supercars might resume. • Mercedes-Benz on Monday will shut down its SUV factory in Alabama and its van assembly plant in South Carolina. Both will remain closed for a minimum of two weeks. Tesla yesterday revealed that it will suspend operations at its Fremont, California, vehicle assembly plant next week, on order from local officials there. Yesterday's factory closure announcements also included the U.S. assembly plants for Toyota (until April 6), Volkswagen (through March 29), Subaru (through March 29), and Hyundai (no time period specified). They join GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan, and Harley-Davidson, which earlier this week announced the suspension of production at their facilities. Plants/Manufacturing Bentley Bugatti Jaguar Land Rover Mercedes-Benz Volvo coronavirus