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EU starts legal action against Italy over Fiat Chrysler emissions

BRUSSELS/ROME - The European Commission launched legal action against Italy on Wednesday for failing to respond to allegations of emission-test cheating by Fiat Chrysler, in a procedure that could lead to the country being taken to court. The Commission said Italy had failed to convince it that devices used to modulate emissions on Fiat Chrysler vehicles outside of narrow testing conditions were justified. "The Commission is now formally asking Italy to respond to its concerns that the manufacturer has not sufficiently justified the technical necessity – and thus the legality – of the defeat device used," the Commission said in a statement. Italy has two months to respond to the Commission's request and may be eventually taken to the European Court of Justice if the answer is found to be unconvincing. Italy had asked the European Union to postpone its plan to launch legal action against Rome over emissions at Fiat Chrysler, Transport Minister Graziano Delrio said. "Considering that after the end of the mediation process, we did not receive any request for further information ... we ask that you delay starting the infringement procedure while we await a letter asking for clarification on issues raised by your relevant offices," Delrio told EU Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, according to the ministry's statement. The European Commission has been mediating a dispute between Rome and Berlin after Germany accused Fiat Chrysler of using an illegal device in its Fiat 500X, Fiat Doblo and Jeep Renegade models. That mediation ended without fanfare in March. EU officials have become increasingly frustrated with what they see as governments colluding with the powerful car industry and the legal move is the biggest stick the European Commission has available to force nations to clamp down on diesel cars that spew out polluting nitrogen oxide (NOx). Delrio, however, said the material Italy had sent to the Commission during the mediation process showed that the vehicles' approval process was correctly performed. Under the current system, which the Commission is trying to overhaul, national regulators approve new cars and alone have the power to police manufacturers. But once a vehicle is approved in one country, it can be sold throughout the bloc. Last December, the Commission launched cases against five nations, including Germany, Britain and Spain, for failing to police the car industry adequately.

Watch a roundabout foil a driver fleeing from the cops

Roundabouts aren't just improving traffic flow and confusing the elderly, the circular intersections are helping to fight crime now as well. A Michigan scofflaw fleeing from police was thrown for a loop last week when he entered a newly-built roundabout at 90 miles per hour and flipped his car. According to WXYZ, on the evening of August 18 a police officer in Marysville, Michigan attempted to stop a tan Chrysler Concorde traveling north on Range Road with expired tags. At first, the driver of the Chrysler seemed to comply and activated his turn signal. Then, with no warning, he sped off in an attempt to escape the officer. "They proceeded northbound on Range Road, through Marysville, and entered Port Huron Township approximately 90 to 100 mph," said Marysville Police Sergeant John Stover. The chase was cut short in dramatic fashion after about four miles when the Chrysler approached the intersection of Range and Griswald to discover that it had recently been turned into a roundabout. Dashcam footage from the pursuing MPD cruiser show the fleeing driver hit the brakes coming into the roundabout, but it did him little good. The rear end of the car stepped out and bumped over the curb surrounding the traffic island. The car flipped on its side, slid into the center of the island and came to rest on its roof. The driver and his passenger – Jeffery Sharp and Nichols Belkiewicz – both have sizable rap sheets and Belkiewicz has an outstanding warrant. Thankfully no one was injured in the crash, but both men are facing numerous charges including eluding, driving with a suspended license, and firearms charges. Related Video: News Source: WXYZ Auto News Weird Car News Chrysler Driving Safety Videos Sedan Michigan police chase roundabout

2013 Ram HD and Chassis Cab pickups are ready for work [UPDATE]

Auto enthusiasts often point to the pony car wars as the last bastion of one-upsmanship among Detroit's automakers, but the truth is, the pickup wars are every bit as competitive - if not more so. Auburn Hills keeps a ready eye on what their rivals in Dearborn and Detroit are doing, and vice-versa. Today, that battle is renewed with the introduction of Ram's 2013 Heavy Duty and Chassis Cab lines at the State Fair of Texas. Why a state fair? The Banner State is the perfect battleground for pickup supremacy, as Texas accounts for one of every five pickups sold in the U.S.
Towing and hauling metrics are poised for a substantial improvement. "... and not just by a little bit."
On the HD front, Chrysler is boasting that its brand-new heavies will bring best-in-class towing, torque, payload and Gross Combined Weight Rating, but thus far, it's declining to cite what those figures are. For the moment, though, Fred Diaz, President and CEO of Ram told us at an Auburn Hills background event earlier this month that key towing and hauling metrics are poised for a substantial improvement. "And not just by a little bit. I think we're going to shock the world," said Diaz.