TTAC News Roundup: Nissan's LeMans Project Garaged, UAW Wants To Talk to VW, and How Much For Pep Boys?

by Aaron Cole

Updated: December 2nd, 2020 Published: December 23rd, 2015

From DNF to DNS, the Nissan GT-R LM project has finally been retired.

That, and it’s lights out for some Crown Vics, the UAW just wants to talk, Hyundai will spend more to lend more, and more … after the break.

Nissan finally axes Nismo LMP1 racer

Nissan on Tuesday quietly axed its GT-R LMP1 project by announcing the car wouldn’t compete in the World Endurance Championship series.

“The teams worked diligently to bring the vehicles up to the desired performance levels. However, the company concluded that the program would not be able to reach its ambitions and decided to focus on developing its longer term racing strategies,” according to the company.

The car, which failed to win any races and was plagued with issues all season long — including two DNF’s at LeMans — was going to be another losing effort for the company.

It’s a shame too. The front-wheel drive, twin-turbo V-6 GT-R car was more than just something different — the car was something completely radical.

Good try, Nissan.

United Auto Workers says Volkswagen won’t talk

The United Auto Workers union filed a complaint against Volkswagen on Tuesday and said the automaker is refusing to negotiate a collective contract for skilled trades workers, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

The UAW said that the automaker isn’t recognizing the union after a controversial vote this month by more than 150 workers to join the group. Volkswagen officials said they would appeal the vote, but face long odds of winning that appeal.

“Following this month’s election, we were hopeful that the company would accept the results and recommit to the principles of social responsibility that made Volkswagen a respected global brand,” Gary Casteel, secretary-treasurer of the UAW told the Free Press. “Instead, Volkswagen has refused to come to the bargaining table in violation of federal law. By refusing to engage in collective bargaining after a successful election, Volkswagen is not only doing a disservice to its employees but now is thumbing its nose at the federal government as well.”

Because Volkswagen has never done that before.

Ford recalling 313,000 cars for bad headlights

Ford will recall 313,000 Crown Victorias and Mercury Grand Marquis made between 2003 and 2005 for a faulty headlight module that could fail, Reuters reported (via Automotive News).

The defect has been linked to 11 crashes, none of which with Sajeev Mehta behind the wheel.

According to the report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated the headlights after more than 3,600 complaints were made to the agency this year. The safety administration investigated the defect in 2008, but didn’t order a recall because it couldn’t link the defect to any crashes.

ttac news roundup nissan s lemans project garaged uaw wants to talk to vw and how

Hyundai, Kia buying more of their financing arm

Hyundai and Kia are increasing their holdings in their captive financing arm, Hyundai Capital, from GE Capital, Reuters reported (via Automotive News).

The automakers are buying nearly 25 percent of the financing group from GE, with an option to buy more.

Captive financing is becoming a more popular option for new car buyers, according to credit bureau Experian.

Icahn really, really, really wants to buy Pep Boys

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said he would pay up to $1 billion to keep Bridgestone from buying Pep Boys, Reuters reported.

In the ongoing bidding war between Icahn and the Japanese tire giant, Icahn said he would pay up to $18.10 per share for the nationwide chain of 800 stores. Earlier this month Bridgestone offered more than $800 million to merge the auto parts supply chain with their 2,200 stores to create the largest worldwide chain.

Bridgestone has until 5 p.m. Thursday to counter the bid.

#Bridgestone #CarlIcahn #Chattanooga #Financing #GECapital #GT-R #Hyundai #Kia #Lm #NationalLaborRelationsBoard #Nissan #Volkswagen #Racing #PepBoys #UnitedAutoWorkers

Aaron Cole

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2 of 3 comments

VW4motion on Dec 23, 2015

Maybe that Nissan cvt didn't work to well in the LeMans project. Or could have been to many women said Ewww, in

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Compaq Deskpro on Dec 23, 2015

The issue with the Crown Vic lighting modules has been well documented on the forums for years. I had the issue on mine, the headlights would cut out of nowhere, kicking the box under the dash sometimes cause them to come back on. If not, you drive around with your high beams on. $12 in higher quality relays from Mouser and a $3 soldering iron from Harbor Freight (and a few minutes of standing on your head) takes care of it.

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Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
Tassos ONLY consider CIvics or Corollas, in their segment. NO DAMNED Hyundais, Kias, Nissans or esp Mitsus. Not even a Pretend-BMW Mazda. They may look cute but they SUCK.I always recommend Corollas to friends of mine who are not auto enthusiasts, even tho I never owed one, and owned a Civic Hatch 5 speed 1992 for 25 years. MANY follow my advice and are VERY happy. ALmost all are women.friends who believe they are auto enthusiasts would not listen to me anyway, and would never buy a Toyota. They are damned fools, on both counts.
Tassos since Oct 2016 I drive a 2007 E320 Bluetec and since April 2017 also a 2008 E320 Bluetec.Now I am in my summer palace deep in the Eurozone until end October and drive the 2008.Changing the considerable oils (10 quarts synthetic) twice cost me 80 and 70 euros. Same changes in the US on the 2007 cost me $219 at the dealers and $120 at Firestone.Changing the air filter cost 30 Euros, with labor, and there are two such filters (engine and cabin), and changing the fuel filter only 50 euros, while in the US they asked for... $400. You can safely bet I declined and told them what to do with their gold-plated filter. And when I changed it in Europe, I looked at the old one and it was clean as a whistle.A set of Continentals tires, installed etc, 300 EurosI can't remember anything else for the 2008. For the 2007, a brand new set of manual rec'd tires at Discount Tire with free rotations for life used up the $500 allowance the dealer gave me when I bought it (tires only had 5000 miles left on them then)So, as you can see, I spent less than even if I owned a Lexus instead, and probably less than all these poor devils here that brag about their alleged low cost Datsun-Mitsus and Hyundai-Kias.And that's THETRUTHABOUTCARS. My Cars,
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