US$100 – All about car

In this April 27, 2006 file photo, we see the logo of the Robert Bosch GmbH in front of the companys headquarters in Gerlingen near Stuttgart, southwestern Germany.Thomas Kienzle / AP Robert Bosch GmbH agreed to pay 90 million euros (US$100 million) to end a probe by German prosecutors into rigged diesel engines, following much more costly settlements by its customer Volkswagen. Bosch is being fined for “negligent breach of supervision duties,” the prosecutor’s office in Stuttgart said May 23 in an emailed statement. The company supplied about 17 million engine-control devices to German and international automakers since 2008 that partly included illegal software functions, according to the statement. The unlisted German car-parts giant supplied engine-control systems to VW that were used in the engines at the heart of the diesel-emissions scandal that shattered the world’s largest automaker in September 2015. It’s also involved in ongoing probes into diesel technology at manufacturers including Fiat Chrysler and General Motors. VW has now ended all probes by German prosecutors against its units over the sale of rigged cars. It last year settled with Braunschweig investigators for 1 billion euros and Audi followed by paying 800 million euros to Munich prosecutors. The overall impact of the diesel crisis has now reached 30 billion euros at Volkswagen. The initiative to install illicit software in engines was apparently taken by employees from automakers, but investigations into the roles of individual Bosch employees are ongoing, the prosecutor’s office said. Bosch confirmed the settlement and said 2 million euros of the fine are for the alleged regulatory offense and 88 million euros for the disgorgement of economic benefits. “Bosch will continue to expand its compliance organization continuously in order to minimize the risk of violations of applicable law occurring at the company,” the company
Origin: Bosch settles German diesel-engine probe for US$100 million

A replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster crossing the block at Barrett-Jacksons Palm Beach event in April 2019.Barrett-Jackson A replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster from National Lampoon’s Family Vacation netted more than US$100,000 at auction (after fees) this past weekend in Florida, far exceeding what many expected it to sell for. Pre-event estimates may have been tempered by the fact one of the actual vehicles from the film did not sell in 2013, running up to a US$35,000 high bid. Chalk it up to a classic car market sweetening on Hollywood nostalgia or to the clever marketing by Barrett-Jackson – the car crossed the block with a bunch of suitcases and Aunt Edna lashed to the roof – but this well-done clone almost tripled that, hammering at US$91,000, before auction fees. Based off of a 1981 Ford Country Squire wagon, unlike the movie car’s 1979 donor, this Family Truckster is painted “Metallic Pea,” and doesn’t come with the Rally Fun Pack that Clark ordered. What it does come with, though, is a 5.0-litre V8 and a four-speed. A 1947 Buick 8 Custom Convertible restomod by Don Gasiunas of Toronto, sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach event April 2019. Barrett-Jackson The top-selling lot at the Palm Beach event was a 1947 Buick Super 8 convertible, highly modified with a supercharged LSA V8 by Don Gasiunas of Toronto, Ontario. It traded hands for a full US$412,500 after fees, and led three other US$250,000-plus classic customs in the top 10. It suggests the market may be switching its attention from original, factory-stock vehicles to hot rods and restomods. Late ’80s and early ’90s cars also showed growth at the Barrett-Jackson sale, buoyed by the swelling of Millennials and Gen X-ers flooding into the classic car market. In total, 632 vehicles were sold for a cumulative US$30.18
Origin: ‘National Lampoon’ station wagon clone clears US$100,000 at auction