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Gooding to auction 2016 Shelby GT350 to benefit vets

Gooding & Company will be auctioning off a brand-new 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 on August 15 at Pebble Beach. The chance to own Dearborn's new flagship muscle car is surely enough all on its own to garner some serious bids. Combine that desirability with a hefty dose of star power and the desire to support a good cause and we're sure this particular pony car will be boosted even further. The GT350 is being sold to support the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, a program that seeks to support post-9/11 military veterans and their families as they transition into civilian life. The car's dashboard has been signed by the former president, and will be auctioned off by none other than Jay Leno – who in addition to being an unsurpassed showman and car nut is also known as a passionate supporter of American servicemen. Gooding expects the super-Stang to fetch between $75,000 and $100,000 for the cause – or roughly twice the car's $47,870 MSRP. The 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang debuted late last year at the LA Auto Show. It packs a new 5.2-liter V8 with a flat-plane crank, kicking out 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. That makes it the most powerful naturally aspirated engine Ford has ever made. "This is one of the most exotic engines ever produced by a major American manufacturer plus the fact that it's going into the most American of cars," said Jay Leno. "I am proud to help auction this car off where the proceeds will go to helping our veterans." Related Video: 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 to be Auctioned to Benefit the George W. Bush Institute's Military Service Initiative at Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions Jay Leno to present the Ford Shelby GT350 as it crosses the block on Saturday, August 15 SANTA MONICA, Calif. (August 3, 2015) – Gooding & Company, the official auction house of The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®, is thrilled to offer for sale a 2016 Ford Shelby GT350. The sale of this Shelby will benefit the George W. Bush Institute's Military Service Initiative, a charity that honors the service and sacrifice of post-9/11 veterans and military families by bridging the civilian-military divide and fostering a successful transition and reintegration from military service to civilian life. The 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 is the first vehicle to implement Ford's new race-derived flat-plane crank 5.2-liter V-8, the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine ever to grace a Ford.

Trucks, SUVs — and Camry — shine in mixed U.S. January vehicle sales

DETROIT — Automakers posted mixed U.S. new vehicle sales data for January, with American consumers continuing to abandon passenger cars for the larger pickup trucks, SUVs and crossover models that manufacturers also love because they are far more profitable. Total industry auto sales for the month rose 1 percent versus January 2016. According to Autodata Corp, which tracks industry sales, the seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of U.S. car and light truck sales in January fell to 17.12 million units from 17.44 million a year earlier. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a January SAAR of 17.2 million units. U.S. auto industry sales fell 2 percent in 2017 to 17.23 million vehicles after hitting a record high in 2016 and are expected to drop further in 2018 despite a solid economy. Interest rates are rising and around 4 million late-model used cars will return to dealer lots this year to compete with more expensive new ones. Automakers have used consumer discounts to boost sales, a growing concern for observers who say this undermines resale values and profits. Discounts declined in January, but remained above 10 percent of manufacturers' recommended prices. ""I think the industry has accepted that (sales) volumes will fall somewhat in 2018 ... and I don't think the industry is going to go over the cliff with insane incentives," Mike Jackson, chief executive officer of AutoNation Inc, told Reuters after his company, the largest U.S. auto retail chain, posted a higher quarterly net profit. Mark Wakefield, head of the North American automotive practice for consultancy AlixPartners, had a gloomier perspective. The industry's less-than-stellar sales performance for January showed "we are now past the peak," he said. "Automakers are now selling the deal instead of the vehicle," he said. "That's a tough spot to be in because that treadmill is hard to get off once you're on it." General Motors January sales rose 1.3 percent, driven by a 16 percent rise in fleet sales. Sales to consumers fell 2.4 percent. GM posted strong gains for models such as the Silverado pickup truck and Equinox crossover model, while its passenger cars continued to struggle. Ford The Blue Oval posted a 6.6 percent sales decline for January, with retail sales down 4.3 percent. Sales of Ford's F-Series pickup trucks - America's best-selling vehicle brand for decades — rose 1.6 percent. Passenger cars were down more than 23 percent.

Ford launches pair of recalls affecting fullsize sedans and Transit Connect van

Ford has announced a pair of pretty significant recalls affecting the 2010-2013 Ford Taurus and Police Interceptor, as well as their platform-mate, the Lincoln MKS. A separate recall covers the 2014 Transit Connect. The fullsize sedans include 205,000 vehicles built at Chicago Assembly over a variety of timeframes, ranging between December 1, 2009 and November 30, 2012. The vehicles, 194,889 of which were sold in the United States, have an issue with the spring controls on the interior door handles that could cause the door to open in a side-impact crash. The Transit Connect recall, meanwhile, includes 16,100 vans built between November 6, 2013 and September 20,2014 at the company's Valencia, Spain factory. In these vehicles, the seatbelt fasteners may not have been tightened properly, which could cause them to loosen over time, a condition that's obviously bad news in the event of a crash. Ford says it is not aware of any accidents, injuries or crashes in either recall. Owners will, of course, be notified and asked to report in for inspections and if necessary, free replacements. Scroll down for the full press release from Ford, which includes the complete breakdown of dates during which the affected sedans were built in Chicago. JAN 28, 2015 | DEARBORN, MICH. FORD ISSUES TWO SAFETY RECALLS Ford is issuing two safety recalls. No accidents or injuries are attributed to either of these conditions. Details are as follows: Ford issues safety recall for certain 2010-2013 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Ford Police Interceptor sedans for interior door handle issue Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 205,000 2010-2013 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Ford Police Interceptor sedans due to an issue with the spring that controls the interior door handles. If the spring is unseated, the door may become unlatched in a side-impact crash, increasing the risk of injury. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition. Affected vehicles include certain 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles built Dec. 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010 and Feb. 1, 2011 to Nov. 30, 2012 at Chicago Assembly Plant; certain 2010-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles built June 2, 2011 to Oct. 31, 2011 at Chicago Assembly Plant; and certain 2010-2013 Ford Police Interceptor sedans built Dec. 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010 and Feb. 1, 2011 to Nov. 30, 2012 at Chicago Assembly Plant.