Mercedes has revealed the AMG GT will be available in at least eight different colors.
While the company declined to release the names of the paint colors, the pictures show the model will be offered in a variety of hues including blue, yellow, black, red, dark red, grey, silver and white. While everyone will undoubtedly have their own favorite, the blue one looks particularly fetching thanks to the metallic accents on the grille and front spoiler.
As a refresher, the AMG GT will be launched early next year and feature a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 462 PS (339 kW) and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission which enables the coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds before hitting an electronically-limited top speed of 304 km/h (189 mph).
If that's not fast enough, the AMG GT S rewards has a more powerful twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that develops 510 PS (375 kW) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. This enables the car to run from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and hit an electronically-limited top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph).
Infiniti has announced plans to expand their "premium model range" by 60 percent by the end of the decade.
Speaking at the opening of the company's new design studio in London, Infiniti EMEA Vice President Francois Goupil de Bouillé said "Our passion for design will deliver a broad range of very distinct premium vehicles. The expansion of our product portfolio is at the core of our growth plan."
His sentiments were echoed by Infiniti executive design director Alfonso Albaisa who said "With our new generation models, we want to express all that passion plus a new romanticism, and London is a great place to find the inspiration for it. London buzzes with youthful excitement. We are here to pick up that buzz and tailor premium products so they deliver a European take on Infiniti."
Infiniti declined to say which models will be added to the lineup but reiterated the Q80 Inspiration concept previews a new range-topping sedan. The company is also working on two entry-level models - called the Q30 and QX30 - and an electric vehicle dubbed the LE.
According to a recent report, Ford is considering dropping the SVT moniker and replacing it with the 999 name.
Despite sounding like a horrible idea, a Jalopnik reader was recently asked to provide input on a possible name for a performance division from a "major automotive manufacturer." The survey went on to say the company is considering the "999" name and the division would be "responsible for designing, engineering, racing and marketing performance vehicles and performance parts."
While the 999 name certainly doesn't carry the same cachet as SVT, it does reference an early Ford race car which was named after the Empire State Express 999 locomotive.
British media has managed to obtain preliminary technical specification regarding the Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid.
Scheduled to go on sale early 2015, the plug-in hybrid C-Class will look virtually the same as the conventional model with the obvious exception of the rear charging port built into the bumper. It will also feature an active shutter grille which improves aerodynamics whenever extra engine cooling is not necessary.
Power will come from a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine developing 208 bhp (155 kW) which will work together with an electric motor built into the seven-speed automatic transmission and generating an additional 80 bhp (60 kW). The vehicle will have an estimated all-electric range of 20 miles (32 km) and will be more efficient than the S500 Plug-In Hybrid which returns 100.9 mpg UK (84 mpg US or 2.8 liters / 100 km) with CO2 emissions of 65 g/km.
Although the C350 and S500 plug-in hybrids have different engines and electric motors, the two cars share the same battery design and power electronics as a method to speed up development and spread costs. As a reminder, the bigger and heavier S500 Plug-In Hybrid mixes up a 333 bhp bi-turbo V6 3.0-liter engine with a 116 bhp electric motor.
Following the launch of the C350 Plug-In Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz will introduce an additional nine plug-in hybrids by 2017 but these won't cover the small models such as the A, B, CLA and GLA. However, further down the line, these models will also receive a similar treatment.
The Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid will be officially revealed towards the end of the year.
In the land of the Interwebz where exaggeration is the norm and idiocracy runs rampant, there lies this video: Monster Energy's Ballistic BJ Baldwin Recoil 2 - Unleashed in Ensenada, Mexico. I kid you not; this video contains the most ridiculous driving I've ever seen. Period.
Let me back up.
'Ballistic BJ Baldwin' is a five-time national off-road racing champion and driver of the Monster Energy Trophy Truck. BBB has more than 17 years of off-road racing under his belt with impressive back-to-back wins at The Best in The Desert Trophy Truck Championship in 2010 and 2011. His other wins include a 2006 and 2008 victory at the SCORE-International Trophy Truck competition. Needless to say, he lives up to his 'ballistic' title.
His latest publicity stunt comes a year after the first 'Recoil' flick. Unlike Hollywood, BBB's second Recoil totally outdid the first. There's more slow-motion suspension action happening here than a Stephen King book has suspense. If you've ever wanted to see an independent front suspension and a live rear axle with a long-arm kit work, this is your video.
BBB's 800-horsepower Chevrolet Silverado trophy truck careens through the little seaside town of Ensenada, Mexico, hitting incredible jumps and diving from impossible heights. Ensenada is no stranger to trophy trucks, however, as the town is home to the Baja 1000.
There's a bit of a story line to the whole sequence, if the ridiculous action doesn't enthrall you. So follow along for the most insane seven minutes of your life.
Click past the jump to watch the original Recoil
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Needing the right tool for the job often requires ingenuity. That's exactly the case at Nissan's Stanfield, Arizona proving grounds. The team of engineers needed a truck-like vehicle to haul test gear, but something that got great gas mileage around the 3,050-acre complex.
Meet Sparky, the wild idea a few Nissan engineers cooked up while trying to solve the dilemma. The team started with a stock Nissan LEAF, the all-electric hatchback and combined it with several parts scavenged off a Nissan Frontier pickup. The combination is something of a Frankenstein, but it gets the job done.
Not using a drop of fuel, little Sparky makes his way across the grounds and helps out with testing of future Nissan products. "I needed a project for a team building activity so we can bring the team together. We had a need for a truck. Something to drive around, a shop truck," says Roland Schellenberg, one of Nissan's masterminds behind Sparky.
Helping build Sparky was Arnold Moulinet. "I went home and stayed up till like four in the morning making all kinds of designs for what would work," he says. "We basically got the stock Leaf, and after reviewing a bunch of designs of pickup trucks that we have here at Nissan, we decided to go with a Frontier bed."
Now the Nissan development team has an electrically powered mini truck that functions as park of the team. "It's something that we all put together," says Schellenberg. "We all share, so it has a little bit of everybody in there."
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Mercedes' rivals are in for some bad news - the dominant German team looks set to pull even further ahead in Singapore and beyond.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Brackley team will correct its flawed gear ratio selection ahead of the night race in the Asian city-state next weekend.
The rules dictate that the gear ratios chosen by each competitor at the start of 2014 are then frozen for the entire year - with the exception of one "joker".
Mercedes has now decided to make that "joker" ratio change for the rest of the season, beginning in Singapore.
Auto Motor und Sport reports that it was on the long straights at Monza last weekend that Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg used eighth gear for the very first time.
"It (eighth gear) was too long for all the other circuits," admitted designer Aldo Costa.
Mercedes' miscalculation will now be corrected with a shorter eighth gear for Singapore and the subsequent decisive rounds of the world championship.
Curiously, the German marque's customer, the surprisingly competitive Williams, got its gear ratio calculation right from the very beginning in 2014.
But technical boss Pat Symonds admits: "We were a little nervous at first because we thought they (Mercedes) would know their engine inside out.
"After a few races I was reassured," he added.
Symonds said that even though the eighth gear was introduced this year especially for the new turbo V6 rules, in the end it was unnecessary.
"The engines have so much torque that we could make do with a five speed gearbox," he said. "It would save a lot of weight and space.
"Unfortunately, the regulations prescribe the eighth gear - otherwise we would have never had it," said Symonds.
Audi has confirmed development of a third body style TT, after the coupe and the upcoming roadster.
Back in April at the Beijing Motor Show we saw the TT offroad concept and it seems a production version is currently in the works. Speaking at the third-gen TT's launch in Spain, Audi development chief Ulrich Hackenberg said a new body style is in the pipeline for the TT. Although an exact identity was not disclosed, Hackenberg did say the aforementioned concept "provides an insight into how we might envisage a new model in a future TT family."
With so many Q-labeled crossovers already on sale and in development (Q1, Q8), we're wondering if there really is a need for a TT-based crossover and if there's actually room for it in Audi's ever growing lineup. More interesting would be to see a production version of the allroad shooting brake concept but Audi knows how to do business so we'll likely see a new crossover.
Until the third body style arrives, we will see the TT Roadster in about three weeks at the Paris Motor Show.
BMW is one of the biggest champions of inline-six cylinder engines but a new report is indicating the company has been flirting with V6s.
Citing company engineers, Road & Track says BMW "regularly" develops and tests their own V6 engines. The news might strike fear into the hearts of BMW fans but the engines are reportedly built to satisfy internal policies and fail to meet the company's strict standards for noise, vibration and harshness.
While we shouldn't expect to see a BMW V6 anytime soon, the company will likely be joined by a variety of competitors with new inline six-cylinder engines. Nothing is official but rumors have suggested that both Jaguar and Mercedes are developing a new range of straight sixes.
Mercedes is working on a new C-Class Coupe so our artists have created a new rendering of what the car could look like.
Drawing inspiration from the C-Class Sedan and the S-Class Coupe, the rendering shows a stylish coupe with a two-bar grille that is flanked by large air intakes and LED-infused headlights. Moving further back, we can see curvaceous bodywork, a gently sloping roofline and prominent character lines.
Engine options will carryover over from the C-Class Sedan so expect a variety of of familiar petrol and diesel options including a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 241 bhp (179 kW) and 229 lb-ft (310 Nm) torque as well as a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 329 bhp (245 kW) and 354 lb-ft (479 Nm) torque. We can also expect a high-performance C63 AMG Coupe with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that could produce approximately 444 bhp (331 kW).
Mercedes has been relatively tight-lipped about the model but it is expected to be introduced in 2015 or 2016.
The possible BMW M4 GTS has been spotted once again near the BMW M Test Center at the Nürburgring.
At a first glance it might look like the MotoGP safety car but in reality it's probably a lightweight version M4 current in the works with the "GTS" moniker. The vehicle seen here has a camouflaged front bumper hiding an additional spoiler lip meant to improve aerodynamic efficiency while at the back there's a sizeable fixed wing and in some of the spy shots will notice the car has front Recaro seats.
The standard BMW M4 Coupe weighs 1,572 kg (3,465 lbs) but the rumored M4 GTS is expected to drop below the 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs) mark by making more extensive use of aluminum components, additional carbon fiber and a stripped out interior cabin with lightweight seats. The hotter M4 will also reportedly get a sportier suspension setup and most likely a set of bespoke alloy wheels.
The BMW M4 GTS could go on sale as early as 2016 so we might see it in the second half of next year.
The 2016 Opel/Vauxhall Astra has been envisioned with a more premium exterior styling.
Opel's Astra K is set to receive a more upscale look influenced by the Monza concept and could also borrow a few styling cues from the Adam. It will be the first Astra ever to be manufactured outside Germany as we already know assembly will take place in Ellesmere Port, UK and Gliwice, Poland. It is believed the vehicle will be slightly larger than today's model which should enable a more spacious interior cabin.
According to a recent report, the new Astra is set to undergo a major diet as the hatchback will drop as much as 100 kg (220 lbs). The seventh generation could also bring an independent rear suspension which will replace the Watts link setup of the current model. A newly developed six-speed manual gearbox weighing 37 kg will most likely be available and matched with a new generation of efficient four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. The Corsa's 115 PS 1.0-liter EcoTec three-cylinder turbocharged motor will likely be on offer as well.
First to come out will be the hatchback in the second half of 2015 before going on sale early 2016. It will be followed by wagon, coupe and sedan versions while OPC versions are also in the works to sit on top of the range. Opel has previously announced the Astra will enter production in 2015 and the K generation will last until the early 2020s.
It has become inevitable that electric-powered cars are the way of the future. We aren't quite sure how electricity is going to be created to power these cars, but it has been almost universally accepted that batteries and motors are the way forward. Of course, people are lazy and they get concerned about things like charging times, plug variations and charging locations. BMW and Daimler have teamed up to hopefully make charging as easy and painless as possible with new wireless charging technology.
I won't go too deep into the technology behind it, but think of it as a really large version of the wireless charging technology that some cellphones use. Basically, there is a large conductive coil installed into the bottom of the car that is attached to the batteries. If you park over the top of a second large conductive coil that is attached to a power source, the car batteries will begin charging. BMW has also managed to develop this system to be extremely fast and efficient. They say that this system can fully charge the new BMW i8 in less than two hours with the current prototype system.
Another benefit of this system is the ability to build it into any flat pavement. Entire mall parking lots or even highways could theoretically be wired with conduction coils, so your car would actually be charging as you went shopping or drove to work. If electric cars are the future, this is like warping into the age of the Jetsons.
Click past the jump to read more about BMW's new Inductive Charging System.
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Subaru has another special-edition model for the BRZ. Raise your hand if you think it's becoming a tad too much. I don't mind that the company wants the sports coupe to improve its on-road presence, but there's been a lot of these lately and none of them come with the upgrade we all really want. You know, that part about improving the car's performance capabilities.
Granted, this BRZ Special Edition does have a few nice additions, especially those GT stripes that add an aggressive touch to the sports car. It's also a different touch from what we're used to. Heck, some people might think the stripes themselves are worth the "Special Edition" label attached to the model.
Add all the new exterior and interior upgrades, and they all combine to make a pretty appealing package that a lot of customers will definitely be interested in. But even with all those additions, there's still that one little piece of the puzzle that's missing, and we all know what it is (read: more power).
I'm not getting my hopes up, but then again, stranger things have happened.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Subaru BRZ Special Edition.
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Citroën has released full details and images along with a video for the Divine DS concept which will be seen in public next month at Paris Motor Show.
Although it doesn't hint at a direct production model, Citroën says the Divine DS concept "represents a vision of the future of the DS brand" which in Europe will be expanded from three to six models. The compact four-door concept seen here is 4.21 meters long, 1.98 meters wide and 1.35 meters tall and has received futuristic DS3 facelift-inspired headlights equipped with laser sequential indicators.
Facets on the rear's sloping roof open up to expose a reversing camera while the back hosts full LED taillights. The concept sits on 20-inch alloy wheels featuring a floating spoke design while inside the high-tech cabin there's a HD Touch Drive interface encompassing a large 10.4-inch multi-function touchscreen display which also acts as the rearview mirror. The cabin's elegant seats feature a DS watch strap design and have been covered in full-grain aniline leather.
Power of the Citroën Divine DS concept is provided by a Euro 6-compliant four-cylinder 1.6-liter THP turbocharged gasoline engine outputting 270 PS (199 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 330 Nm (243 lb-ft) between 1,900 and 5,500 rpm which enables the concept to have CO2 emissions of only 145 g/km.
Citroën has announced they will exhibit the Divine DS concept at Paris Motor Show starting October 2.
Additional information can be accessed from the press release below.
The Mercedes-AMG GT has been partially revealed through a series of screenshots from the upcoming video game Driveclub.
Just when everyone thought Mercedes and AMG were done with the GT's teasing game, yet another one has been released and it's the most revealing of them all. Seen here are several screenshots from the PS4-only videogame Driveclub which will feature the AMG GT as well as other products from Affalterbach such as the A45 AMG, CLA45 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, SL65 AMG and the SLS AMG Coupe Black Series.
The Mercedes-AMG GT will be revealed in full next Tuesday although there's not much left to show taking into account the ridiculous amount of teasers released over the last few months. At its heart there's a new twin-turbo V8 4.0-liter engine which will be offered in two states of tune: 462 PS in the AMG GT and 510 PS in the AMG GT-S. The latter will need 3.8 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill before topping out at 192 mph (310 km/h).
Driveclub will be out exclusively on PlayStation 4 on October 7.
Lexus has announced detailed performance specifications for the 2015 RC F.
While the company has previously said the model will feature an all-new 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces more than 450 bhp (335 kW) and 383 lb-ft (518 Nm) of torque, the final numbers are 467 bhp (348 kW) and 389 lb-ft (526 Nm) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission which enables the coupe to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, run the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds and hit an electronically limited top speed of 170 mph (273 km/h).
For comparison, the BMW M4 Coupe has a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine that develops 425 bhp (316 kW) and 406 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph in as little as 3.9 seconds - with the optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission - before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
While the RC F is a tad slower to 60 mph, it costs $62,400 - excluding a $925 destination and handling charge - which makes it slightly cheaper than the M4 Coupe which begins at $64,200 - excluding a $950 destination and handling charge.
Following a report which emerged back in June, Volvo has announced the S60 long wheelbase will be sold in United States starting 2015.
Volvo unveiled the S60L late November 2013 at the Guangzhou Motor Show and at that point it was believed to be a model built in China exclusively for the local market. However, plans have changed as the model will hit the United States next year according to Volvo Car Group CEO Hakan Samuelsson.
While the Swedish-built S60 is Volvo's best-selling model in United States, the China-made S60L is estimated to be a low-volume model. The wheelbase is stretched by 80mm to 2856mm and all the added length can be found in the additional legroom available for rear passengers. Production of the model is conducted at a new factory in Chengdu.
Interestingly, Samuelsson also talked about a replacement for the S80 which promises to be a "big step forward in the sedan" and will be a surprise.
The Volvo XC90, first introduced in 2003, was a mega-hit, gaining MotorTrend's SUV of the Year in 2003, and the North American Car of the Year award. Even Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson has famously owned three of the previous-gen XC90's and has praised them for being incredibly practical and pleasant to drive. Those are some big shoes to fill for this second-gen XC90, but it seems Volvo is up to the task.
The second generation XC90 will debut in 2015 and is said to be brimming with the latest and greatest automotive technology. To celebrate the year Volvo was founded, the first 1,927 buyers who order their crossover online will get what's called the First Edition XC90. These few lucky buyers will get a fully loaded XC90, with many exclusive items that won't be found on the standard model.
If you want one of these First Edition Swede's you're gonna have to hurry. Alain Visser, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales says, "Those who want to be among the first ones to own the best SUV in the world have to act fast. The huge interest in the all-new XC90 indicates that the First Edition will sell out quickly." Whoever gets one of these First Edition models will get to own a very special version of quite possibly the best all around SUVs on the market.
Click past the jump to read more about the Volvo XC90 First Edition
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Launched in 1979 in its civilian version, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class remained largely unchanged to this day. Now an icon of the SUV market, the G-Wagon is also one of the very few vehicles to still carry its classic body and chassis configuration. The boxy Merc underwent several updates since 1990, but a beefed-up, AMG-badged version wouldn't arrive until 2006.
That first version came powered by a supercharged, 5.5-liter V-8 and dubbed G55 AMG. The G-Class received a makeover for the 2012 model, when output was increased to 536 horsepower and the nameplate switched to G63 AMG. That same year, an even more extreme version was introduced - the G65 AMG. This SUV is powered by a 6.0-liter V-12 that generates 604 ponies and 738 pound-feet. Unfortunately, we couldn't have it in the U.S. But that will change starting in 2016 as the Germans are planning on offering the G65 AMG on these shores as well.
At least that's what Automotive News claims, quoting "company sources." The outlet also adds the G65 AMG will fetch more than $250,000, nearly double the base price of the G63 AMG, which retails from $135,700. Ouch!
Note: European model pictured here.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Mercedes G65 AMG.
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Well, it seems that the internet has been lit on fire by a set of renderings that have been posted to the Miata.net forums. While the rendering is rather attractive, what has set this apart from any other is the belief that it comes directly from a Mazda USA product engineer.
Now the rendering was posted by someone with the name "SethOfDeath" but the photo has a watermark that says Seth Elson. Jalopnik grabbed word of this and did some digging. According to a LinkedIn account, there is a Seth Elson who lives in Orange County California that is an engineer at Mazda North America. Jalops also found a twitter account named SethOfDeath that is based in Orange County and has a few references to Mazda as well. It hasn't been confirmed that this is really from a Mazda employee, but all signs are pointing in that direction.
Jalopnik reached out to Mazda about these renders but only received, "another nice rendering. You fanatics."
Judging by the renders here and the photos and spy shots we have so far, this rendering does look very close to the right proportions and shape. My only concern is the that front end seems a bit to sculpted to match the spy car.
Whatever the case, we will know what the new ND Miata looks like in just a few hours when it is revealed live.
Click past the jump to read more about the future Mazda MX-5.
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The driver of an Audi R8 GT ran a red light in an intersection and T-boned a Range Rover Evoque.
It happened several days ago on the corner of Witkoppen and Leslie in Johannesburg, South Africa where the driver of a limited-run Audi R8 GT didn't stop at a red light and caused a collision with a Range Rover Evoque. Immediately after the accident, the R8 GT driver fled the scene while the person driving the Evoque was transported to the hospital with some injuries but will be ok.
Judging by the damages sustained in the accident, both cars are likely complete wrecks and will be deemed write-offs. It is believed only about three or four R8 GTs are in Johannesburg, out of a total production of 333 coupes (and 333 Spyders).
German tuner Schmidt Revolution has released an aftermarket package for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205).
The all-new C-Class has already started to grab the attention of many tuners and the latest example is Schmidt Revolution as they have upgraded a C220 BlueTEC model. In collaboration with Carlsson, output of the four-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel engine was bumped from the series 170 PS (125 kW) to 204 PS (150 kW) while torque went up from 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) to 500 Nm (369 lb-ft).
Besides the significant power bump, Schmidt also installed a KW Variant 3 inox-line suspension which is 35mm adjustable at the front and 70mm at the back. Also changed are the wheels finished in either high glossy silver or satin black which now measure 20 inches and come wrapped around in 235/30 R20 front & 275/25 R20 rear Dunlop tires.
Following a preview earlier this month, Kia has introduced the 2015 Sorento in South Korea.
Oddly billed as the "man on the road," the Sorento has an upscale exterior with a "tiger-nose" grille that features a three-dimensional diamond pattern. The crossover also has sweptback headlights, a gently sloping roofline and a higher beltline. Other notable highlights include plastic body cladding, chrome trim and a tailgate-mounted spoiler.
The interior isn't as impressive but it features a three-spoke steering wheel, chrome trim and wood grain accents. Options apparently include heated / cooled seats, a JBL audio system and an infotainment system with GPS navigation. The model can also be equipped with a panorama sunroof that uses carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.
In South Korea, the Sorento will be offered with two different diesel engines. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 186 PS (136 kW) and 402 Nm (296 lb-ft) of torque, while the 2.2-liter unit churns out 202 PS (148 kW) and 441 Nm (325 lb-ft) of torque.
Saab's future is looking bleak as a Swedish court has tossed out NEVS' filing for what is essentially bankruptcy protection.
According to the court, NEVS plans were "vague and completely undocumented." The court went on to say "... there is no reasonably exact information about financing needs over time or regarding the timing and size of funds that may be received."
NEVS says they will appeal the decision but the rejection paves the way for the Swedish Enforcement Authority to begin selling their assets to pay suppliers. There's no certainty that is will actually happen but NEVS made the filing earlier today because they contend the "loss of such assets could obstruct finalizing" a deal to save the company.
