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Aston Martin Unveils First Street-Legal Motorcycle, Limited to 300 Units

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Aston Martin and Brough Superior have unveiled the AMB 002 Roadster, marking Aston Martin's debut in the street-legal motorcycle market. This exclusive collaboration, limited to only 300 units, seamlessly blends Aston Martin's distinctive design aesthetics with Brough Superior's advanced engineering. The AMB 002 Roadster, following the success of their track-only predecessors, the AMB 001 and AMB 001 Pro, is now ready for public roads. Featuring an entirely new 1,083cc V-twin engine producing 130 horsepower, a lightweight titanium frame, and a unique double-wishbone Fior fork setup, the bike promises a luxurious yet performance-driven riding experience. Deliveries are anticipated to commence in late 2027, with high demand expected from collectors.

The AMB 002 Roadster represents a significant milestone for both Aston Martin and Brough Superior, transforming their collaborative vision into a road-legal masterpiece. Limited to a mere 300 units, each motorcycle is meticulously hand-built, emphasizing exclusivity and craftsmanship. With a new 1,083 cubic centimeter V-twin engine generating 130 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a lightweight 419-pound frame and a balanced 50:50 weight distribution, the AMB 002 Roadster is poised to be a formidable contender in the superbike category. Its design subtly incorporates cues from Aston Martin's iconic car models such as the Vanquish, Valkyrie, and Valhalla, ensuring a cohesive brand identity for discerning collectors.

Aston Martin's Foray into Street-Legal Motorcycles

Aston Martin's venture into street-legal motorcycles with the AMB 002 Roadster signifies a strategic expansion of its luxury brand. After successfully developing track-exclusive models like the AMB 001, the shift to a road-legal variant fulfills a long-held ambition to bring the brand's engineering excellence and design philosophy to a broader audience of enthusiasts. This limited-edition motorcycle, with only 300 units available globally, is set to become a prized possession for collectors who appreciate bespoke craftsmanship and high-performance machines. The collaboration with Brough Superior, known for its exceptional motorcycle manufacturing, ensures that the AMB 002 Roadster embodies both luxury and cutting-edge performance, creating a unique synergy between automotive and motorcycle design.

The development of the AMB 002 Roadster has been a meticulous process, aimed at adapting the raw power and aesthetic appeal of its track-only predecessors for everyday road use. Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's chief creative officer, highlighted the brand's commitment to creating a bike that offers a distinctive and enjoyable riding experience on public streets. The decision to hand-build each of the 300 units underscores the exclusivity and artisanal quality that Aston Martin is renowned for. Scheduled for customer deliveries in late 2027, the AMB 002 Roadster is not merely a motorcycle; it is a statement piece, designed to appeal to the same elite clientele that collects Aston Martin's luxury cars, providing them with a two-wheeled extension of their automotive passion.

Advanced Engineering and Performance Specifications

The AMB 002 Roadster stands out with its meticulously engineered components, all designed from the ground up for optimal road performance. At its heart lies an entirely new 1,083 cubic centimeter four-stroke, water-cooled V-twin engine, specifically developed for this model. This powertrain delivers an impressive 130 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque, placing it firmly in the high-performance superbike category. The bike's overall weight is remarkably low at just 419 pounds, with a perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution—a critical engineering target that enhances its handling and agility on the road. The emphasis on bespoke parts means that no components are carried over from previous models, ensuring a truly unique and refined machine.

Further enhancing its advanced engineering, the AMB 002 Roadster features a titanium chassis that weighs a mere 11 pounds, an extraordinary feat for a road-going motorcycle. This lightweight yet robust frame contributes significantly to the bike's dynamic capabilities and overall performance. The front suspension system employs a double-wishbone Fior fork setup, a sophisticated design typically found in experimental race machinery rather than production bikes. This innovative choice provides superior handling, stability, and ride comfort, distinguishing the AMB 002 Roadster from conventional motorcycles. Together, these elements create a superbike that is not only powerful and visually striking but also engineered to deliver an unparalleled riding experience tuned for the open road rather than competitive lap times.

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Hyundai's Aggressive Push for Rugged Off-Road Vehicles: Expanding the XRT Lineup

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Hyundai is embarking on an ambitious strategy to broaden its range of rugged, off-road-capable vehicles, aiming to solidify its position in the competitive SUV segment. The company plans to transform its 'XRT' designation into a robust sub-brand, catering to consumers seeking both adventurous aesthetics and genuine trail performance.

Embracing the Wilderness: Hyundai's Vision for XRT

The Evolution of Hyundai's XRT Strategy

Hyundai is not merely content with offering a few rugged-looking SUVs; the automaker intends to develop XRT into a full-fledged sub-brand. This initiative involves extending the tough-guy treatment to more models and elevating some to the more capable XRT Pro specification. This move is a direct response to the increasing consumer demand for SUVs that project a durable, adventure-ready image, often equipped with all-terrain tires and designed to conquer unpaved paths.

Australia's Pivotal Role in XRT Expansion

Australia is set to be a key player in Hyundai's global XRT expansion. Jonathan Lam, general manager of product planning in Australia, articulated the company's intention to broaden the XRT and XRT Pro lineup beyond current offerings. He emphasized that Hyundai is seriously considering factory-built XRT and XRT Pro versions across a wide array of models, closely examining global availability and market needs.

Introducing Future Off-Road Concepts: Crater and Boulder

Beyond the current XRT range, Hyundai is exploring even more extreme off-road concepts. The "Crater" concept, for instance, hints at a potential rival to established off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler. Following this, the "Boulder" concept pushes boundaries further, showcasing a larger, body-on-frame SUV design, suggesting a future where Hyundai offers truly dedicated off-road vehicles.

Strategic Flexibility in XRT Development

Hyundai's approach to expanding the XRT line emphasizes strategic flexibility. The company recognizes that it doesn't need to engineer entirely new platforms for every XRT derivative. Instead, a significant portion of the visual enhancements can be shared across models, while the more substantial XRT Pro hardware can be selectively applied to vehicles where true off-road capability is a priority. This adaptable strategy allows Hyundai to efficiently expand its rugged vehicle portfolio without incurring excessive development costs or compromising on-road performance for models that primarily appeal to visual preferences.

The Expanding XRT Vehicle Portfolio

Hyundai has already introduced several adventurous XRT variants, including those based on popular models like the Santa Fe, Palisade, Santa Cruz, and even the electric Ioniq 5. With the recent unveiling of the new Tucson XRT, and the strong likelihood of an Ioniq 9 XRT spinoff, the brand's commitment to this segment is clear. This growing lineup demonstrates Hyundai's ambition to cater to diverse customer needs within the robust SUV market.

Balancing Aesthetics and Performance

Hyundai's dual-pronged XRT strategy—offering both styling-focused XRT trims and performance-oriented XRT Pro models—reflects a keen understanding of market dynamics. While many buyers are drawn to the rugged appearance of off-road vehicles, not all require the enhanced capability that comes with significant hardware upgrades. By providing a base XRT trim, Hyundai can capitalize on the aesthetic appeal without the trade-offs in ride comfort, fuel efficiency, and on-road behavior that often accompany more extreme modifications. The XRT Pro designation, conversely, provides a platform for delivering genuine off-road prowess to those who demand it.

The Road Ahead for Hyundai's Rugged Lineup

Hyundai's strategic direction for its XRT sub-brand is becoming increasingly clear. The company aims to move beyond niche appearance packages to establish XRT as a comprehensive offering within its lineup. The XRT Pro further strengthens this commitment by ensuring that genuine off-road capability is available, distinguishing these models from standard SUVs. With the bold Crater and Boulder concepts suggesting even more dedicated off-road vehicles on the horizon, Hyundai appears poised to redefine its presence in the adventurous vehicle market, appealing to a broad spectrum of consumers from urban explorers to hardcore enthusiasts.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee Coil Spring Recall: The Third Time's The Charm

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Chrysler is once again recalling over 328,000 Grand Cherokee vehicles from the 2021-2023 model years due to a recurring issue with their rear coil springs. This marks the third attempt to rectify a manufacturing defect that could lead to the detachment of coil springs while the vehicle is in motion, posing a significant safety risk. The affected models include the Grand Cherokee L, Grand Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee 4xe, all equipped with standard coil springs. Owners who previously had their vehicles serviced under earlier recalls for the same problem are advised that they must still bring their vehicles in for this latest repair.

This ongoing recall highlights persistent quality control challenges for Jeep. Despite previous repair efforts, the core issue of improperly seated coil springs has not been fully resolved, leading to this third campaign. While the reported defect rate is low, the potential for a spring detachment at speed necessitates immediate attention from owners. Chrysler is actively working to ensure that all affected vehicles receive the correct and final remedy to prevent potential accidents and injuries, emphasizing the importance of owner cooperation in addressing this safety concern.

Affected Models and Previous Recall History

This latest recall encompasses 328,381 Jeep Grand Cherokee models produced between December 2020 and May 2023. Specifically, it targets 97,477 two-row Grand Cherokees, 215,433 three-row Grand Cherokee Ls, and 15,471 Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrids. Vehicles equipped with Quadra-Lift air suspension are not affected, as the defect is isolated to those with standard coil springs. This is the third time these vehicles have been recalled for the same underlying problem, following campaigns in June 2023 (NHTSA ID 23V413) and February 2026 (NHTSA ID 26V051). Owners whose vehicles underwent repairs during these earlier campaigns are now required to seek this new fix, regardless of prior service, indicating that previous attempts were insufficient to permanently resolve the issue.

The repeated nature of this recall raises questions about the initial assembly process and the effectiveness of prior repair protocols. The issue stems from the coil springs not being correctly seated during manufacturing, rather than a defect in the springs themselves. If improperly installed, the springs can shift out of position or detach completely, creating an unpredictable handling situation and a severe safety hazard for drivers. Although Chrysler has not reported any accidents or injuries directly linked to this defect, the potential for serious consequences if a spring detaches while driving at speed underscores the critical importance of addressing this recall promptly and effectively. Owners are encouraged to check their vehicle's VIN on the NHTSA website for eligibility and schedule the necessary repair with their dealership.

Understanding the Defect and Repair Protocol

The core problem identified by Jeep is not with the integrity of the coil springs themselves, but rather with an improper assembly process. During manufacturing, the rear coil springs were not consistently seated correctly. This manufacturing oversight can cause the springs to dislodge from their normal position or even completely detach from the vehicle while in motion. A sudden spring detachment can drastically alter a vehicle’s handling characteristics without warning, presenting a significant safety risk to occupants. Despite the severity of the potential issue, Chrysler has stated that there have been no reported accidents or injuries linked to this specific defect, suggesting that awareness and early intervention through recalls have mitigated more severe outcomes.

To rectify this persistent issue, technicians will replace both rear coil spring lower isolators with a new part, specifically part number 68668244AA. This repair will be provided at no cost to the vehicle owners. Owners can verify their vehicle's recall status by checking their VIN on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. Interim notification letters to owners are scheduled to begin by September 29, 2026, with a second round of notifications planned once parts and comprehensive repair instructions are fully available to dealerships. It is crucial for all affected owners, even those who participated in previous recall repairs, to schedule this appointment to ensure their vehicles are safely and permanently fixed, preventing any further recurrence of this assembly-related defect.

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