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Watch this week's Top Gear America used-car challenge

Top Gear America is back for the penultimate episode of the first season. Used car challenges were some of the highlights of the original UK edition. In our exclusive clip, Tom Ford, Antron Brown and William Fichtner run their $7,000 sports cars in a drag race. As expected, the trio chose very different cars for the challenge. Watch the video to see if a Subaru WRX's all-wheel drive can overcome a power deficit to beat a Ford Mustang and a Chevy Corvette. Brown and Fichtner also spend some time relaxing with an old Jeep Wagoneer. Like them, we're really hoping Jeep will bring back the Wagoneer nameplate. Brown also drives a Maserati Levante, proving that not all family cars need be boring. This week's guest star is actor, rapper and former host of Pimp My Ride, Xzibit. Top Gear America airs Sundays at 8 p.m. Eastern on BBC America. Related Video: Celebrities TV/Movies Chevrolet Ford Subaru Top Gear exclusive top gear america

Autoblog Minute: Focus ST Tuner, Traffic Deaths, Audi EV SUV

Ford releases an upgrade kit for the Focus ST, 2015 shows a spike in traffic-related deaths, and the future of Audi is previewed. Autoblog's Greg Migliore recaps the week. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Ford releases an upgrade kit for the Focus ST, 2015 shows a spike in traffic-related deaths, and the future of Audi, here's a hint it's electric. I'm Greg Migliore, senior editor at Autoblog with these stories and more for your Autoblog Minute weekly recap. Own a Focus ST but suffer from horsepower envy in anticipation of the Focus RS? Not a problem. A $1,900-kit from the developers at Mountune will boost your hot hatch to 275 hp and 296 pound-feet of torque, when running on 93-octane fuel. Traffic fatalities in 2015 see the largest spike in decades. The report from National Safety Council cites more drivers putting in more miles, and distracted driving as contributing to the 14-percent hike in car-related deaths. Audi plans on releasing a fully electric SUV at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check in this Saturday for my complete weekly recap. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Frankfurt Motor Show Audi Ford Driving SUV Electric Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video ford focus st

UAW strike decision day comes as bargaining heats up

DETROIT — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is scheduled to say later on Friday whether recent intensified bargaining with the Detroit Three automakers has produced enough progress to forestall more walkouts. A video address by Fain is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT and will cover substantive bargaining updates, people familiar with the UAW's plans said. That timing is a departure from the previous two Fridays in which Fain addressed union members at about 10 a.m. Detroit time, and ordered walkouts at additional Detroit Three factories to start at noon. Fain kept automakers guessing with a social media post on Thursday afternoon that showed an image of three men in suits, their faces obscured by the logos of the Detroit automakers, standing in front of a table with roses on it. "Tune into @UAW's Facebook page at 2pm on Friday, October 6th to see who gets the rose!" Fain tweeted, a reference to the television reality show "The Bachelorette," in which the week's winners get a rose. In the UAW version, the winner offers richer contract terms, and gets a week without a new strike. People familiar with the bargaining among the UAW and Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis said talks have heated up this week after days of little movement. Ford, GM and Stellantis have made new proposals in an effort to end the escalating cycle of walkouts that threaten to undercut profits and cripple smaller suppliers already strained from months of production cuts forced by semiconductor shortages. The pressure is rising on the three automakers as EV market leader Tesla cut U.S. prices of its Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, ratcheting up its price war and further pressuring profits on all EV models that are forced to match CEO Elon Musk's aggressiveness. Ford said its latest wage offer would provide raises in excess of 20% over the life of a contract. Combined with proposed cost-of-living-adjustments, workers could see close to 30% increases in pay, people familiar with the proposal said. Fain's Friday video addresses have become must-see events since he launched coordinated strikes at GM, Ford and Stellantis plants shortly after midnight on Sept. 15. Each Friday since, Fain has kept the automakers in suspense as to whether he would order additional plants shut down, or give an automaker a pass because they had offered new concessions.