Designed by Peter Brock and intended to house a 427 CID Ford V8, the one-of-one 1965 Shelby De Tomaso P70 sports racer will star at the Amelia Island Concours in March. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ According to the European Car Manufacturers Association, Jeep sales in Western Europe last year rose 118 percent to 82,560 units as the market rose 9 percent. More at The Detroit News.
+ Johnson Controls revealed that its automotive seating and interiors business will be named Adient when it is spun off from the company in October 2016. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ The Paris daily Les Echos reports that Renault executives will face a French government emissions commission investigating possible violations. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Rico Abreu, four-feet-four and one of the fastest-rising talents in auto racing, won the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa for a second year in a row. More at Fox Sports.
+ The Porsche and Piech families, who control a majority of the voting rights in Volkswagen, continue to support CEO Matthias Mueller despite a rocky reception in Detroit last week, insiders say. More at Reuters.
+ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has denied claims that it encourages dealers to falsify sales reports as alleged in a lawsuit by a Chicago-area dealership group. More at the Washington Post.
+ The National Hot Rod Association has appointed Brad Gerber, formerly of Source Interlink Media, as vice president of sales and chief development officer. More at Racer.
+ Mercedes-Benz has killed off the short-lived AMG Sport nameplate, up-branding all the existing performance models to full-fledged AMG status. More at Carscoops.
+ Unnamed sources say British carmaker Aston Martin may build its upcoming DBX crossover in Macedonia, with the final decision due in a few weeks. More at Motor Trend.
+ The sole existing 1965 Shelby De Tomaso P70, created in partnership by Carroll Shelby and Alejandro de Tomaso, will star at the Amelia Island Concours March 11-13. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Stéphane Peterhansel of France took his 12th Dakar victory driving a Peugeot, while Toby Price won the motorcycle class, becoming the first Australian to score a Dakar victory. More at Autoblog.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from January 15 here.
Photo courtesy of Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.