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Weekly Recap: Matthew McConaughey's star shines brightly for Lincoln

The commercials were a little strange at first, but the ensuing spoofs were hilarious. And all jokes aside, Matthew McConaughey has made a difference for Lincoln. Advertisements starring the Oscar winner launched in September, and the results have been impressive. The number of customers clicking on Lincoln.com to check out the MKC – the crossover McConaughey pitched – has tripled since the ads began airing, a spokesman told Autoblog. They also generated 4.4 million views on YouTube and spawned parodies by Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O'Brien, South Park and Jim Carrey on Saturday Night Live, which racked up another 15 million views. Most importantly, Lincoln's sales have increased 15 percent through November, helped significantly by the strong launch of the MKC. Without the addition of the MKC, Lincoln's sales would have been essentially flat last year. The MKC has received solid reviews from consumers and the press, though it has had several recalls. "The overwhelming response to the MKC campaign sparked truly great awareness for Lincoln," Andrew Frick, Lincoln group marketing manager, said in a statement. Now Lincoln has launched another round of spots, which kicked off New Year's Day during college football bowl games. This time, McConaughey is hawking the MKZ sedan and its hybrid sibling. The spots, called Diner and Balance, use the same artistic formula as the earlier ads, with McConaughey intoning seriously about the cars in dramatic settings. They were shot over two days in Los Angeles and were directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, a Danish filmmaker who directed the 2011 move, Drive. The ads continue Lincoln's multiyear deal with McConaughey, who has said he's been long been interested in the brand. He starred in the 2011 thriller, The Lincoln Lawyer, as a defense attorney who worked out of a Town Car, though that was before his deal with Lincoln. In one of the earlier ads, McConaughey claims: "I've been driving a Lincoln since long before anybody paid me to drive one. I didn't do it to be cool. I didn't to it to make a statement. I just liked it." That sentiment appears to have worked for the MKC's launch, and with this new advertising blitz, Lincoln hopes it carries over to the MKZ. Other News And Notes Infiniti Q30 spied in winter testing Infiniti is continuing development work on the Q30 small crossover, and we've recently captured it during winter testing.

Everything we know about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL is perhaps the most highly anticipated SUV in America. The next-gen Wrangler is expected to get a host of updates that include new front and rear end designs, as well as an all-new pickup truck variant. Here's everything we know about the next version of Jeep's iconic SUV. November 7, 2016: JL Wrangler Forums released renderings of the 2018 Wrangler, and the SUV will generally stay the course. Compared with the current Wrangler, the new one will likely have slightly more aerodynamic bodywork and LED lighting, and the truck version's bed will carry traditional Wrangler design cues. The renderings also visualize what a Wrangler without a fully removable top could be like. The loss of the removable top is currently a rumor, and FCA's well-camouflaged prototypes have not given up the secrets of the roof. View 6 Photos October 18, 2016: Images of the upcoming Wrangler JL from a supposed Jeep dealer meeting surface, revealing the SUV's updated front and rear end design. The renderings point towards the next-gen Wrangler maintaining a seven-slot grille and round headlights. The SUV, though, will obtain LED light bars on the front fenders, while the taillights get a similar design to the units found on the Renegade crossover. Overall, the renderings display a smoother shape than ever before. September 16, 2016: A report from JL Wrangler Forums indicates that the next-gen Wrangler JL would utilize aluminum on the hood, as well as on the front and rear doors. The report claims the Wrangler will get its aluminum from supplier Alcoa, in the form of the company's C6A1 high form alloy, 6022 alloy sheet, and A951, which is the company's sheet bonding technology. View 30 Photos July 20, 2016: The first images of the Wrangler pickup truck hit the web. The pickup truck appears to be riding on a long-wheelbase Wrangler and flaunts a decently sized bed. From the overhead photos, we can see that the pickup truck will have a seven-slot grille, large rear taillights that mimic ones found on Ram's trucks, and be about the same size as a Chevrolet Suburban. Oh yes, the Wrangler pickup truck does exist and it's coming. July 10, 2016: A report from Automotive News claims that the Wrangler JL will continue to have its iconic, boxy shape, but changes have been made to ensure that the SUV is better off in terms of fuel economy. What Jeep has done to improve the next-gen Wrangler's fuel efficiency, though, is still a mystery.

Stellantis suspends vehicle production in Russia

MILAN - Stellantis on Tuesday said it was suspending production at its Russian plant due to logistical difficulties and sanctions imposed on Moscow. The world's fourth-largest automaker, which produced and sold the Peugeot, Citro¸n, Opel, Jeep, and Fiat brands in Russia, has just 1% of the country's car market. It runs a van-making plant in Kaluga, around 125 miles (201 kilometres) southeast of Moscow, co-owned with Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi, which halted production at the facility earlier this month. "Given the rapid daily increase in cross sanctions and logistical difficulties, Stellantis has suspended its manufacturing operations in Kaluga to ensure full compliance with all cross sanctions and to protect its employees," Stellantis said in a statement. The plant employs 2,700 people. The company will continue to pay salaries through a local downtime scheme and by using anticipated vacation periods, Stellantis told Reuters. It said it did not know how long the stoppage would last, adding that its priority was its staff and the return of peace. Stellantis had already suspended all exports and imports of vehicles with Russia, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, moving production to western Europe. It had also said it was freezing plans for more investments in the country. Van production in Kaluga had remained just for the local market. Scores of foreign companies have announced temporary shutdowns of stores and factories in Russia or said they were leaving the country for good since Russia began what it calls "a special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24. Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares in late March said the group would have to close the Kaluga plant shortly as it was running out of parts. Separately on Tuesday, General Motors Co said it was extending its suspension of business in Russia due to the conflict and international sanctions. The U.S. automaker, which initially suspended imports into Russia and commercial activity on Feb. 28, said it was laying off most of its 66 employees and providing them with separation packages. GM does not have plants in Russia and only sold about 3,000 vehicles annually there prior to the suspension. (Additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Washington; Editing by Mark Potter and Mark Porter) Government/Legal Plants/Manufacturing Fiat Jeep Citroen Opel Peugeot