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Motorcyclist lucky to escape with life after 100-mph crash

A motorcyclist tried to run from the California Highway Patrol in San Diego in the wee hours of February 9, but things didn't quite work out as he planned. In fact, the fleeing rider is lucky to be alive after colliding with a Kia at over 100 miles per hour during, ending, rather abruptly, the pursuit. The video on The San Diego Union-Tribune below shows the collision, but you might need to watch it a few times to see what happens. The bike shoots by in a flash, and then there are suddenly sparks when the cycle hits the rear of the car. Watch the left side of shot to see the rider standing by the median after the crash. Police quickly arrive to the scene to apprehend him. The guy is wearing a helmet but understandably appears to be in pain after the high-speed accident. The crash ripped the front end off the rider's Suzuki, but the Kia's driver wasn't harmed – though clearly shaken. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, police took the motorcycle rider to the hospital to treat undisclosed injuries. What's Now: A motorcyclist going at least 100 mph slammed into the back of a car on I-805 early this morning. Remarkably, he was left standing on his own two feet before being arrested. Story: sdut.us/1TaOjDM Posted by The San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Related Video:

Nuclear deal could make Iran next big car market

Iran is a huge and hugely appealing target for Western firms - it's population is nearly the size of Germany's, it is well educated and includes a substantial middle class, and there is a built-in industrial capability. Because of the sanctions that have been in place for nearly five years now over its nuclear program, however, its citizens and domestic industry haven't been able to purchase and expand, so investment opportunities are not only manifold, they are severely undervalued. Most of the auto industry has been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the Iranian game to start. A report in Automotive News says that Iran's two automakers, Iran Khodro and SAIPA - Societe Anonyme Iranienne de Production Automobile - produced one million light vehicles last year for 77.5 million people. According to Wikipedia there were 200 vehicles per 1,000 citizens in 2012, and that was before the industry took a nosedive. That number puts it between Uruguay and Jamaica. Chery, Kia, Peugeot, and Renault were the carmakers with major operations in-country before all but Chery pulled out. In the vacuum, Chery and other Chinese automakers have thrown lots of product at the market, getting 27 models in a range of segments built or supplied there, with results that are probably best described as ambivalent among observers but financially lucrative for the Chinese. Peugeot has re-established ties, and Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, and Volkswagen were attendees at the Iran Auto Show last November. The domestic companies say that this time they want local investment that includes technology transfer, so the Western carmakers that do decide to get in will find tougher negotiators than before. Peugeot, for instance, had a 51-49 partnership with Iran Khodro before pulling out; the new agreement is a 50-50 venture. As a 'gift' to the world for a final deal that encourages global investment, Bloomberg says that the price of crude would go down by $15 per barrel. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images Earnings/Financials Government/Legal Kia Peugeot Renault iran sanctions khodro

Kia teases distinctive next K7, which previews the 2020 Cadenza

The Kia Cadenza has made a home in America for only three years, but it's already up for a serious transformation with its next facelift. Kia South Korea has begun teasing the future of the sedan called K7 in its home market, and the rather anonymous midsizer is ready to make an impact. The four sketches and short video reveal much sharper lines all over, as if the sedan has spent many nights watching YouTube makeup tutorials on how to contour. The concave grille remains, forming a hard vee instead of the angled "C" shape of the current car. Prominent edges on the lower bumper form larger, swept-back intakes, the openings connected by a full-width trim piece with unfurled origami wings at the edges. The headlights go narrow on the coming car, highlighting their jewelry and a new LED DRL pattern. In back, chrome accents are toned down, formerly soft forms adopt hard edges, while taillights with a "Z" pattern get connected by a row of red lights spanning the fascia. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. There's far more drama for the interior. The instrument panel's been reworked to look more plush and make room for a single central feature, the large infotainment screen. HVAC vents move below the screen, and sleek climate controls occupy a compact slot between the vent and a gloss black covered cubby. The shifter has been shrunk into the shape of large, cut gemstone, the entire center tunnel area adopting a luxury sheen. And we can't be certain, but it appears one of the images shows an all-digital dash cluster. Camouflaged Cadenza prototypes have been spotted roaming South Korea for the past seven months. A South Korean reveal is likely just around the corner, giving us a glimpse into what we'll see later this year.