** Lt W/ Z71 Package ** Black On Grey Leather ** New Tires ** Clean Mb Trade In on 2040-cars

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German police Corvette promotes safe aftermarket tuning

The German organization Tune It! Safe! promotes safe, legal vehicle tuning in the country, and it probably doesn't have to worry about anyone breaking the law when this Polizei-themed Chevrolet Corvette is on the scene. The Vette is on display at the Essen Motor Show and is the group's latest police-wrapped tuner car, following models like the Brabus Rocket, Mercedes-Benz CLS, and AC Schnitzer-tuned BMW 123d in years past. Tikt Performance did the tuning this time, and the German company added a full carbon-fiber body kit for the Vette, including a front lip, side sills, rear spoiler, and relatively understated wheel flares. It also installed forged wheels that measure 19-inches in front and 20-inches in back and wrapped them with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tires. To really let the coupe look the part of a proper Polizei car, the tuners included police lights from Hella and the appropriate blue-and-white wrap. Tikt left the 6.2-liter V8 alone to produce 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet, and the power routes through a seven-speed manual. Even with the stock performance, this police-themed 'Vette would still look fantastic blasting down the Autobahn with the lights flashing. World premiere at the Essen Motor Show: initiative for safe tuning starts the new campaign year with TIKT Performance Corvette A powerful look for a powerful campaign: TUNE IT! SAFE! presents innovative design and maximum precision Innovative design, maximum precision and unique performance – with an enhanced Corvette, TUNE IT! SAFE! shows that attractive, creative tuning in no way has to conflict with legal requirements. In the new campaign year, the seventh generation of a sports car icon stands as a symbol and shining example of safe automobile tuning and 100 per cent driving fun. The campaign car of the initiative for safe tuning, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Association of Automobile Tuners (VDAT) as well as numerous other organisations and institutions, sees its premiere at the Essen Motor Show (Hall 10, Stand F104). TUNE IT! SAFE! also continues its partnership with premium tyre manufacturer Hankook. Tuning specialist TIKT Performance based in Upper Bavaria is responsible for the innovative conversion of the new TUNE IT! SAFE! police car.

Bring back the Bronco! Trademarks we hope are actually (someday) future car names

Trademark filings are the tea leaves of the auto industry. Read them carefully – and interpret them correctly – and you might be previewing an automaker's future product plans. Yes, they're routinely filed to maintain the rights to an iconic name. And sometimes they're only for toys and clothing. But not always. Sometimes, the truth is right in front of us. The trademark is required because a company actually wants to use the name on a new car. With that in mind, here's a list of intriguing trademark filings we want to see go from paperwork to production reality. Trademark: Bronco Company: Ford Previous Use: The Bronco was a long-running SUV that lived from 1966-1996. It's one of America's original SUVs and was responsible for the increased popularity of the segment. Still, it's best known as O.J. Simpson's would-be getaway car. We think: The Bronco was an icon. Everyone seems to want a Wrangler-fighter – Ford used to have a good one. Enough time has passed that the O.J. police chase isn't the immediate image conjured by the Bronco anymore. Even if we're doing a wish list in no particular order, the Bronco still finds its way to the top. For now (unfortunately), it's just federal paperwork. Rumors on this one can get especially heated. The official word from a Ford spokesman is: "Companies renew trademark filings to maintain ownership and control of the mark, even if it is not currently used. Ford values the iconic Bronco name and history." Trademarks: Aviator, AV8R Company: Ford Previous Use: The Aviator was one of the shortest-run Lincolns ever, lasting for the 2003-2005 model years. It never found the sales success of the Ford Explorer, with which it shared a platform. We Think: The Aviator name no longer fits with Lincoln's naming nomenclature. Too bad, it's better than any other name Lincoln currently uses, save for its former big brother, the Navigator. Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree, though. Ford has made several customized, aviation themed-Mustangs in the past, including one called the Mustang AV8R in 2008, which had cues from the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It sold for $500,000 at auction, and the glass roof – which is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit – helped Ford popularize the feature. Trademark: EcoBeast Company: Ford Previous Use: None by major carmakers.

First privately owned Corvette Stingray blitzes 1/4 mile in 12.23 at 114.88 mph

Chevrolet's latest road rocket, the Corvette Stingray, is a very quick car. If one needs further proof of that, we recommend they take a look at this video from Hennessey of what is claimed to be the first privately owned C7 Corvette to make a pass down the quarter mile. Not just any quarter mile, mind, this black C7 blitzed its way down the tuner's primary testing dragstrip. The Chevrolet ran the quarter in just 12.23 seconds at 114.88 miles per hour. That is a very quick time for a stock car.
Equipped with the Z51 package and a six-speed automatic transmission, not only does the C7 run a solid time, but it does so with little to no drama. That won't last though, as Hennessey will likely return it to its owner with far more power - we just hope they show a drag run of the completed product. Take a look below to watch the C7's 12.23-second run on video.