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Mark Wahlberg Buys Second Ohio GM Dealership, Renames It Mark Wahlberg Buick-GMC

Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg has diverted some of the revenue from his acting career into several business ventures, including a Chevrolet dealership he bought two years ago in Columbus, Ohio.

Now, it looks like Wahlberg has acquired a taste for GM car dealerships as he bought another one, a Buick-GMC store located right across the street from Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet.

As with the first acquisition, Wahlberg partnered with Michigan dealer Jay Feldman to purchase the Haydocy Buick-GMC dealership, which has been promptly renamed Mark Wahlberg Buick-GMC. The transaction also included an Airstream and RV dealership in Columbus, which from now on is known as Mark Wahlberg Airstream & RV.

Watch: Mark Wahlberg Checks Out The Mercedes-AMG One

“Columbus has been so welcoming and it just made sense to grow our automotive platform here,” Wahlberg said in a statement cited by AutoNews. “The Haydocy family has been wonderful to work with during this transition and Jay and I are looking forward to doing big things here,” the actor added.

Wahlberg’s associate Jay Feldman, who is CEO of Feldman Automotive Group, said that purchasing the Buick-GMC store across the street from Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet was “a perfect fit” and that they love the Columbus market.

Wahlberg and Feldman met in 2013 in Detroit while the actor was filming the fourth installment of the Transformers movie series. In addition to car dealerships, they also are business partners in several Wahlburgers restaurants. Wahlberg’s business portfolio also includes a movie production company, health and wellness company, and a water brand.

Photo credits: Google Street View

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BMW, Honda, Ford, VW To Remain Neutral On Trump’s New Emissions Rule

BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda will not take a position on legal challenges to the Trump administration’s decision to weaken fuel economy standards introduced while Barack Obama was president.

The Trump administration recently finalized the rollback of U.S. vehicle emissions standards. Under the Obama administration, car manufacturers were required to make 5 per cent increases in efficiency across their models through 2026, but now, these required efficiency improvements have been reduced to 1.5 per cent annually.

Read More: 23 States Sue Trump Administration Over Lower Fuel Economy Standards

Auto News reports that on Monday, BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda will ask a U.S. Appeals Court in Washington for permission to be heard in a court challenge over the new regulations “to ensure that any remedy imposed by this court is both appropriate and achievable.” The four automakers finalized a voluntary agreement with California in July 2019 on vehicle emissions rules.

In a statement issued on Friday, Volkswagen said its “preference continues to be one set of national standards that’s achieved through an agreement between the federal government and California.”

A group of 23 U.S. states, including California has challenged the Trump vehicle rule and while some automakers are taking a neutral stance on the regulation changes, others are supporting the move. For example, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Toyota have sided with the Trump administration on the rollback.

These automakers have also sided with the government in a separate lawsuit to determine if the federal government can strip California of the ability to set its own zero-emission vehicle requirements.

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, BMW M2 CS And Mercedes-AMG A45 S Go To War

In spite of having different layouts, the BMW M2 CS, Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 and Mercedes-AMG A45 S offer similar straight-line performance, but which one is faster at the track?

That’s what we are about to find out, as AutoBildSportsCars put them at the Lausitzring with an experienced driver at the helm to see how they fared against the clock.

Watch Also: Did The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Just Beat The 992 Carrera S On The Track?

Before placing your bets, let’s run down each car’s specs, starting with the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, which boasts a mid-engine and rear-wheel drive layout. Power comes from a 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-six, with 394 HP (399 PS / 294 kW) and 308 lb-ft (418 Nm) of torque that’s hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission. From nought to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) it needs 4.3 seconds, and it maxes out at 182 mph (293 km/h).

The M2 CS has its engine at the front, and it’s a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six that pushes out 444 HP (450 PS / 331 kW) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque. It’s matched to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT, for a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint in 4.0 and 3.8 seconds respectively, and a top speed of up to 174 mph (280 km/h).

Based on a front-biased all-wheel drive platform, the AMG A45 S is the king of mega hatchbacks, with a 2.0-liter turbo-four that makes 415 HP (421 PS / 310 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. The power is channeled to all four wheels via an eight-speed DCT, a setup that translates into a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) of 3.8 seconds and a 168 mph (270 km/h) top speed.

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Watch The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Hit 166 MPH On The Autobahn

We all know that electric performance cars like the Porsche Taycan Turbo S are capable of extraordinary acceleration. However, what are they like to drive at higher speeds in the German Autobahn? This video shows just how well-mannered and easy the car appears to be to drive.

While testing out the car, AutoTopNL was able to push the car through to a top speed of 267 km/h (166 mph), a very respectable figure for an electric car and more than enough for those who need a luxurious cruiser to crunch the motorway miles at high speeds.

One of the main reasons why the Taycan can hit these sorts of speeds is that, unlike many other EVs, it features a two-speed gearbox. This also explains why it is able to out-accelerate a Tesla Model S once the speeds start to build.

Watch Also: Chris Harris Left Impressed By The Porsche Taycan Turbo S

According to Porsche, the Taycan Turbo S can sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.6 seconds and has a top speed of 161 mph (260 km/h). Evidently, that top speed figure is a little understated, while independent testing has shown that the quoted 0-60 mph time is also on the conservative side.

That kind of performance is made possible thanks to the 761 PS (750 HP / 560 kW) and 1,050 Nm (774 lb-ft) of torque with Overboost enabled. What’s even more impressive is the fact that, despite those numbers, the Taycan’s battery pack provides a range of up to 412 km (256 miles) on the WLTP cycle.

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With Just 1,600 Miles, This 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series Is A Rare Find

Long before Mercedes embarked on a plan to expand its family of AMG models, there were only a select few performance-focused models from its range that received the AMG badge. The Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series was one of the very finest.

The example you’re looking at is a 2008 model and currently resides in New Jersey. It has a mere 1,600 miles (2,575 km) on the clock and looks bound to sell for a pretty penny – and there’s a good reason for that.

The first thing the CLK 63 AMG Black Series has going for it is the fact that just 500 examples were built worldwide with 349 of them said to have been sold in the United States. This car currently for sale on Bring A Trailer was delivered new by Plaza Mercedes-Benz of Pompano Beach in Florida and acquired by the current owner in 2019.

Watch Also: What Makes The Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series So Special?

Sitting at the heart of this beast is a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated M156 V8 engine rated at 500 hp at 6,800 rpm and churning out 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque through the rear wheels via a seven-speed SpeedShift automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential. While the current C63 S has just as much power, it cannot match the CLK 63 AMG’s engine for sound.

As this AMG has so few miles under its belt, it looks practically brand new. There are no reported accidents or damage (except for a scratched-up front splitter which has since been repainted) and the car is being sold with the original window sticker, owner’s manual, a car cover, a clean New Jersey title, and a clean Carfax report.

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Yellow Lamborghini Aventador Rear Ends… Another Yellow Lamborghini Aventador

Two virtually identical Lamborghini Aventador S models crashed into each other in Singapore last weekend, local media reports.

According to RedChili21, the incident occurred on Sunday, June 7 when the two Aventador Ss were driving in unison through the city’s streets. It is claimed that one of the Lamborghinis was stopped at an intersection when it was rear-ended by the second.

Read Also: Lamborghini Aventador Wrecked In Singapore Rollover Crash

While the owners of the two cars quickly removed their license plates, members at the SG Road Vigilante – SGRV group on Facebook identified the two cars. In the wake of the incident, a video of one of the Aventadors speeding through a roundabout and cutting off a car on May 24 has emerged.

7jun2020sembawang road#SKW27Y yellow lamborghini aventador S was involved in an accident. previously caught on…

Posted by SG Road Vigilante – SGRV on Sunday, June 7, 2020

The two Aventadors involved in the crash are easily identifiable because of the modifications made to them. Not only are both painted in the same shade of yellow but they are both rolling on black wheels and appear to feature similar side skirts, rear diffusers, and identical rear wings.

It is understood that police arrived at the scene of the crash and both of the supercars were towed away, but not before a series of photos and videos of them were snapped by bystanders.

Photos show that the rear bumper, diffuser and one of the rear quarter panels of the front Aventador has been damaged, while the front bumper and splitter of the example that hit it has also been messed up. It also looks as though a small fire may have been triggered in the front car, as at least two men could be seen dousing it with a fire extinguisher.

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Police Release Video Showing Looters Stealing Chevrolets From GM Dealership In Missouri

Police in St. Louis, Missouri have released pictures and video showing a group of young men breaking into Don Brown Chevrolet and stealing three different vehicles.

The clip is only a minute and a half long, but it shows approximately seven different people running around the dealership and then breaking into it.

As another group of thieves apparently steals a Camaro and Tahoe, the team inside the dealership searches for keys. They rummage around multiple desks and can be seen entering a handful of vehicles inside the showroom.

Also Read: Looters Raid FCA Dealership Driving Off With Hellcats, Burn AMG GT In Mercedes Showroom

While the clip doesn’t provide much information, police said the thefts occurred shortly after 3 a.m. on June 2nd. Police added the group gained access to the building by shattering a window and then made off with three vehicles before they arrived.

The investigation is still ongoing, but security cameras managed to get a good look at several of the suspects. However, a number were wearing masks so identifying them could prove difficult.

The local Fox affiliate says the dealership was one of 55 business hit by looters and vandals following the death of George Floyd. He passed away on May 25th after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes.

The station quotes St. Louis Director of Public Safety Jimmie Edwards as saying there were more than 200 people who were “committing criminal acts in St. Louis Monday night and into Tuesday morning” and only around 25 have been arrested as of last week.

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Images St. Louis PD

Chevrolet Colorado ‘Kymera’ Feels Right At Home Tackling The Wilderness

Say hello to ‘Kymera,’ an insane off-roader built by a shop out of South Carolina dubbed Fab Fours.

Recently featured in an episode of Ridiculous Rides, Kymera started out life as a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, not that you’d be able to tell from its crazed outward appearance. In fact, it looks more like a Trophy Truck than a Colorado.

For starters, Kymera is no longer front-engined; instead, the engine sits where the bed once was. This isn’t any regular engine either, but a 5.9-liter Cummins diesel V8 that’s been fitted with a pair of turbochargers, so it now delivers 650 hp and spews out plums of black smoke whenever you touch the accelerator pedal.

Read Also: Chevrolet Colorado To Get Small Styling Update, Three New Packages For 2021MY

It’s not just the engine that makes this Colorado special.The vehicle features all-new suspension, including absolutely massive Fox shocks and springs, and also utilizes military-spec axles. What’s more, it has a rear-wheel steering system that means it is very maneuverable, despite its size.

While Kymera certainly turns heads on the roads, that’s not where it is at home. Instead, the truck is best suited to climbing up rocks along difficult off-road trails or bashing through the desert. It is the ultimate toy car and we’re sure would be an absolute ball to drive. Given how big the Fox shocks are, we imagine it rides over small rocks like a Rolls-Royce rides on the pavement. In the unlikely event that the truck does get stuck, it has a 12,000 lbs winch up front to help pull it free.

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You Can Now Buy Patrick Dempsey’s Panoz-Built 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback SVT

The 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback is a fine car in stock form, but actor and racer Patrick Dempsey wanted it significantly improved to use it as a daily driver.

To help him turn the Mustang into the pony car of his dreams, he commissioned Panoz Auto Development and JRD, the official tuner of Panoz vehicles. 3,900 hours and approximately $300,000 later, Dempsey was presented with the black Mustang you see in these photos.

Completed in 2008, the project used a number of components from both the S197 and SN95 Mustangs, including a 420 HP supercharged 4.6-liter V8, Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission, bits of the suspension and brakes, and some interior items.

Watch Also: Patrick Dempsey Takes Jay Leno For A Thrill Ride In Two Stunning Porsches

Dempsey later sold the car to Equus Automotive, which brought further updates to the exterior and interior. The current owner, who is based in Utah, has had it for the past three years and is now willing to part ways with it for a satisfactory amount of money. At the time of writing, and with six days until the auction ends, the highest bid on Bring A Trailer stands at $75,000.

So let’s see what you would get if you decided to bid for it – besides bragging rights for driving a car that Patrick Dempsey used to own.

On the outside, the 1965 Mustang keeps things classy with a black paint, rear wheel-arch flares to accommodate the S197 rear axle, 17-inch Torq Thrust–style wheels shod with BFGoodrich G-Force Sport tires, as well as HID headlights and LED taillights with a high-mounted third brake lamp. Upon acquiring the car from Dempsey, Equus Automotive modified the front and rear lower valances and replaced the hood and rear side window glass.

The changes made to the cabin are much more obvious and include a custom upholstered dashboard, metal pedal covers, air conditioning, power windows and door locks – all made by Panoz, with the power-window switches and climate-control buttons coming from a 2004 SVT Cobra. Equus Automotive redid the cabin with black leather seats, a modified lower console and a retro-style Becker Mexico radio with Bluetooth; plus, it also placed its logos on the modern steering wheel and headrests.

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Since it was built to be a daily driver, the 1965 Mustang restomod also features modern tech such as power rack-and-pinion steering, ABS, traction control, front and rear three-point seatbelts, a collapsible steering column, and a child-seat restraint system in the back seat. Furthermore, Panoz used computer-assisted design and custom molds to develop front and rear crumple zones, integrated side-impact protection, and a reinforced toe box for additional chassis rigidity.

The car has been driven for approximately 8,500 miles (13,679 km) since the initial build and is now offered with a complete build guide and a clean Utah title. Check out the listing and following videos for the full details.

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San Leandro Rioters Stole 50 Cars From FCA Dealer, Including Nearly Every $80k Hellcat

Following our story earlier today about the ransacking of the ‘San Leandro Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM SRT’ in California on Sunday night, more details on the aftermath have emerged.

In particular, the owner of the dealership revealed that upwards of 50 vehicles were stolen from the FCA dealership in the midst of wide-spread looting throghout the local Alameda County and other parts of the U.S.

Footage of the looting, triggered by civil unrest following the death of George Floyd while under police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, hit social media on Monday, showing several Dodge Challengers and Chargers being driven off the San Leandro dealer lot.

Read: Looters Raid FCA Dealership Driving Off With Hellcats, Burn AMG GT In Mercedes Showroom

San Leandro Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Speaking with CBS Local, the owner of the San Leandro Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership, Carlos Hidalgo, said that around 50 vehicles were stolen from the showroom and the parking lot. This included “nearly every” powerful Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Dodge Charger Hellcat model, many of which appear to have been on sale with prices ranging from just under $60,000 to upwards of $90,000. Among the vehicles stolen was a 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition painted white with a blue livery and a showroom price of $90,995.

“Right now we’re thinking 50 [vehicles] … Gone,” Hidalgo said. “We have trackers on them so we’re seeing which ones are out there. They’re running around everywhere. We tried calling the cops and they were too busy. They couldn’t respond. So, you know …”

How the looters gained access to the cars

Hidalgo says the rioters gained access to a key safe, hence why they were able to drive away with the vehicles. He had instructed employees to use the dealership’s cars to block the driveways after seeing looters ransacking a Nike store across the street. However, that was not enough to stop them from gaining access to the dealership.

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During the brazen theft, looters showed a total disregard for the vehicles and at one stage, drove a Hellcat parked in a corner into two other Hellcats on either side of it before stealing it. What’s more, a Hellcat displayed on the showroom floor was driven right through the glass front windows. Many of the Hellcat models stolen look to have been brand new and were still equipped with their front splitter guards.

“It’s not a cause for anybody. This is just bad thieves. It’s horrible,” said Hidalgo. “This is domestic terrorism brought upon to people that work. That’s not right.” Hidalgo added that the theft and damage caused to his dealership will hurt the 100 people that he employs who had already been struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.