This Week in Motoring: January 18, 2016

New releases at the Detroit Auto Show, the government embraces autonomous technology, a Jeep Wrangler pickup is in the works and more.

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New releases at the Detroit Auto Show, the government embraces autonomous technology, a Jeep Wrangler pickup is in the works and more.

On the Radar


The Latest in Motoring News


Straight Outta Detroit

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This week saw loads of new releases from automakers at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. Buick had the unexpected Avista. Lexus showed the stunning, production-ready LC500. Lincoln revealed their much-anticipated Continental. And that’s just a fraction of the releases we’re excited to get our mitts on this year.

Autonomous Cars (Kinda) Get Government Approval

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Speaking of Detroit, it was there that Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that the government is seeking to remove barriers for the further development of autonomous technology and will develop guidelines for it in the coming months. The government’s new support also includes a proposed $4 billion to be spent on research over the course of the next 10 years.

The Reports of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated

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Rumors of the Dodge Viper’s death have been circulating since FCA and the UAW agreed on a new contract stating that production would halt after 2017 at the Connor Avenue Assembly Plant where the Viper is currently built. But FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne has said a new version of the Viper may return, possibly on the Alfa Romeo Giorgio platform that underpins the upcoming Giulia.

The Jeep Wrangler Enthusiasts Have Been Begging For

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Marchionne has also said this week that a new Jeep Wrangler pickup will be coming to market in the near future and will be built alongside the regular Wrangler at its production facility in Toledo, Ohio, according to The Detroit News.

Porsche 911: Now Available in Green

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Porsche 911 Director Dr. Erhard Mossle revealed to Auto Express that Porsche is currently working on a plug-in hybrid version of the 911, as well as a possible all-electric version.

This Is What the DB11 Sounds Like

The long-awaited Aston Martin DB9 successor will soon be upon us, and with it comes a new 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12.


Reviews and Buying Guides


Advice from the Crew


The Last Hurrah for the Old-School American Luxury Sedan

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FCA’s most retro-inspired car isn’t the Challenger or Charger — it’s the humble 300S. Read the Review


The Find


What to Buy, Now


1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI

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We’re open to a plug-in hybrid 911, but this very rare Euro-spec 911 Carrera 2.7 with mechanical fuel injection gets our hearts pounding.

Noteworthy Reads


Motoring Stories from Around the Web


A 1997 op ed by Peter Egan in Road & Track regales the efforts of a man to save his classic cars from the horror of the salt-and-snow-strewn roads of Wisconsin.

Love it or hate it, the new Honda Ridgeline is a standout in the truck marketplace. Will that be its downfall?


Looking Ahead


What We’re Driving Now


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