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FCA's U.S. sales chief sues company for wrongful retaliation

Some fresh controversy is brewing at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles as The Detroit News reports that the head of U.S. sales has filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit against the company.. Reid Bigland, who's also in charge of the Ram truck brand, alleges that FCA made him a scapegoat for wrongful sales inflation practices and fixing vehicle sales statistics, which are currently under investigation by federal agents. Bigland claims that FCA executives punished him for cooperating with the federal investigators in the case by cutting his pay by more than 90 percent, according to the lawsuit he filed. The plan apparently was to use the money saved to pay for fines following any settlements made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. So far, the lawsuit alleges that FCA cost Bigland over $1.8 million in income. "They had the largest growth in retail sales in 17 years last year and refuses to pay him," Deborah Gordon, Bigland's lawyer in the case, said to The Detroit News. "Why is that? Because he participated in the SEC investigation and they don't like what he said." Bigland claims he just cooperated with the SEC investigation by testifying about FCA's sales reporting, from the time he took the position to the period prior to being appointed the company's U.S. sales chief. "In late 2018, presumably as a way to wrap up their investigation with some result, the SEC suggested to plaintiff that he admit to some wrongdoing as to defendants' monthly sales reporting," Gordon further said in a statement as part of the lawsuit. "The SEC also suggested a resolution involving some penalty to FCA. Because (Bigland) had not engaged in any wrongdoing, and there was no wrongdoing, he declined to do so." However, exacerbating the issue is the fact that Bigland reportedly sold his shares in the company last year, prompting FCA to act against him even more. FCA came under fire recently by federal agents in at least two separate investigations, potentially exposing conspiracy and corruption between company executives and private entities. The investigations are being led independently by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI. So far, eight convictions were reportedly secured, with one including former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Vice President Alphons Iacobelli, as one of the defendants. Iacobelli was one of the former top labor-relations executives for the automaker.

Wolverine will drive weird custom Chrysler 300 in next X-Men movie

Fiat Chrysler loves a movie tie-in. Remember the Stormtrooper-spec Dodge Charger we messed around with? Then there was the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice special edition, built for Batman v. Superman. And now, it looks like the company donated a misshapen Chrysler limo for the latest film in the Wolverine series. Some movie-stalking paparazzi caught Hugh Jackman next to this odd vehicle, and you can see photos at Just Jared, a celebrity gossip site. The photogs were more concerned with the graying star, who's reprising his role as the adamantium-boned superhero for the ninth time including cameos, but we'll focus on the machine. We can see the car's rear three-quarters and not a lot else. It looks broadly based on the 300, but much longer. The Chrysler winged badge is clearly visible on the trunk, while a retro script version of the automaker's logo sits on the rear pillar. There's also an unexplained "E8" badge to the right of the driver's side taillight. And as for those lamps, it's like FCA mashed together the current 300's taillights with those from a Cadillac CT6. The trunk and rear window are the strangest elements of all. We can't figure out what's happening with the tiny rear glass, the strange curve to it, or the tiny, sloping rear deck. It's ... not pretty. From the rest of what's visible, it's clear this particular car is a limo of some kind. The front end has been modified with fat fender flares sitting over some big multispoke wheels, and the door handles have been shaved. Behind the B-pillar, it gets weird. There's a long stretch of glass and bodywork, and then a very small rear door. Ingress and egress would be tough, to say the least. There's a lot of brightwork, too, from the wheels to the thick chrome strip running below the greenhouse and onto the hood. A couple of the images give a glimpse into the interior, which is wholly different from that in the production 300. We've embedded a tweet with some of the images below. But for the full gallery, you'll need to head over to Just Jared. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Video: News Source: JustJared.comImage Credit: Marvel Studios Auto News TV/Movies Chrysler Luxury Sedan

Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and EV Buyer's Guide: Which one do you want?

If you're shopping for a new vehicle these days, there's a litany of acronyms, buzzwords, and technobabble to further complicate an already difficult decision. But if you're looking at a green powertrain, you have three basic choices to compare: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and "EV" or, electric vehicle. So what are they and which one — if any — is right for you? Research your next new vehicle using Autoblog's Car Finder. Gasoline-Electric Hybrids By now, most people are familiar with the concept of a hybrid car. Thank Toyota's Prius for that. At its most basic, a hybrid vehicle has two powertrains, one gasoline and one electric, which work together for maximum efficiency. At low speeds, the engine can shut off entirely, relying solely on the battery for propulsion. The battery is either charged as you drive by converting kinetic energy into potential energy via a complex regenerative braking system, or directly off of the gas motor. This is a very hands-off, behind-the-scenes system as all the driver has to is put in gas and drive as normal. Hybrids come in all shapes and sizes and, according to the EPA, range in fuel economy from 58 mpg for the Hyundai Ioniq Blue all the way down to 13 mpg for the Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta. Best For: Anyone who want to see their fuel consumption go down without many sacrifices. You can easily find a hybrid sedan, hatchback, crossover, SUV or even a pickup truck (i f you can find one). Best of all, a hybrid requires no special equipment to be installed at home, or added work for the driver. Hybrids do cost more than traditionally-powered competitors, so make sure to compare projected fuel savings with how much extra a hybrid will cost – it may take a surprisingly long time to break even. The EPA provides a handy calculator for this very purpose. Our Favorite Hybrids: 2017 Toyota Prius 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid Plug-In Hybrids Sometimes referred to as a PHEV, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, this is a baby-step towards full electrification. Armed with a much larger battery pack than a hybrid, PHEVs can go between 12 ( Mercedes-Benz GLE550e) and 97 ( BMW i3 w/Range Extender) miles on electricity alone depending on the model and your driving style. Like a normal hybrid, the driver is largely unaware of which power source is currently in use, even as they switch over — either because the battery is drained, or the driving circumstances require more power.