General Motors has temporarily filled a void in its executive ranks, hiring former public-relations head Steve Harris to help manage the ongoing recall debacle.

He will rejoin the company as a consultant, arriving just weeks after GM announced the resignation of its senior vice president of global communications, Selim Bingol, who departed as the company faced criticism over its response to the crisis.

“We continue to draw from a variety of expertise to help guide our response to the ignition switch recall,” GM said in a statement.

Harris originally joined GM out of college in the ’60s, later floating around the industry before returning from Chrysler in 1999 to serve as VP of communications.
He held the top PR spot off and on for the next decade, retiring between 2003 and 2006 to run his own company and retiring again in 2009.

The company recently hired a crisis-communications expert, Jeff Eller, to help with its recall response. Former director of media affairs for the Clinton White House, Eller also handled public relations for Bridgestone/Firestone during the Ford Explorer tire controversy.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ decision to roll the SRT brand under the umbrella of Dodge will spell the end of the line for the Chrysler 300 SRT8, a new report finds.

With FCA now aligning Dodge as the company’s performance brand of choice, the SRT badge will exclusively adorn vehicles wearing the cross-hair grille. That leaves the Chrysler 300 on the outside looking in, with the SRT trim line set to be discontinued.

The exact funeral date for the 300 SRT8 is unknown at this time, but the high-performance variant is unlikely to survive the sedan’s impending refresh. Chrysler is expected to debut an updated version of the 300 at this November’s Los Angeles auto show.

Of course the news of the 300 SRT8′s untimely deaths begs one other question – what is to become of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8?

According to Car and Driver, the Grand Cherokee SRT8′s sales are strong enough to warrant a stay of execution. In fact, the Grand Cherokee is SRT’s best-selling vehicle.

However, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 will eventually follow the 300 SRT8 to the automotive grave yard, it’s just a matter of when. The grand Cherokee is due for a refresh in late 2015, so FCA could pull the plug then. If the SRT8 model makes it past 2015, it almost certainly won’t survive the Grand Cherokee’s clean sheet update in 2017.

Fans of super fast SUV won’t be completely out of luck, though. Dodge is planning to introduce an SRT version of its Journey replacement in 2017.

Photo by Mark Elias.

Ford has revealed a one-of-a-kind “Mustang 50 Years” convertible, produced for a raffle that supports multiple sclerosis research.

The Mustang GT that will be raffled is said to be the only 2015 convertible built with a performance pack and certain options from the 50 Year Limited Edition fastback, identified by a “GT 50 Years” badge on the rear decklid and a “0001 of 0001″ plate on the instrument panel.

The one-off build features Wimbledon White exterior paint, spin-finish aluminum instruments, two-tone cashmere and black leather seats, contrasting stitching throughout, and 19-inch Y-spoke wheels inspired by the chrome steel wheels of the original Mustang.

“As pleased as we are to be able to help financially with the [National Multiple Sclerosis Society's] No Opportunity Wasted research project, we also feel it’s important to help raise greater awareness of this terrific program,” said Ford’s global product development head, Raj Nair. “That we’re creating one – and only one – Mustang GT 50 Years convertible for the Society shows how much we respect and support their efforts.”

The automaker has been heavily promoting the Mustang this year to celebrate the nameplate’s 50-year anniversary. The general public will be able to purchase one of 1,964 limited-edition fastbacks, which will arrive next fall for the 2015 model year in Wimbledon White or Kona Blue.

All of the special models are powered by a 5.0-liter V8 mill, producing 420 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. The single charity model features a six-speed manual transmission, while the fastbacks can also be purchased with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

A limited number of $20 raffle tickets are currently on sale through the National MS Society’s Michigan chapter or via Ford, with the drawing scheduled for August 16.

Ford executives have reportedly dropped fresh hints that engineers are developing a performance-tuned Focus RS hatchback.

Rumors surrounding an RS build have grown stronger during the past year, with separate reports pointing to US availability and Ford’s new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine — borrowed from the 2015 Mustang — as a potential powerplant.

“I can’t give you any confirmation today, but let’s say there’s a strong desire,” Ford’s Europe COO, Barb Samardzich, told Auto Express. “Something like that makes a great halo car.”

The four-cylinder EcoBoost mill produces 305 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque in the Mustang, however the latest RS rumors suggest it could be retuned to produce as much as 350 horsepower. The higher output would match the limited-edition Focus RS500 that was sold in Europe for the 2011 model year.

The company is believed to be working on the RS package for the end of the current generation, suggesting it may arrive in 2016, though specific details remain unclear.

Our spy photographers have sent us an interesting photo set of a mysterious Aston Martin sedan undergoing shakedown testing in the UK.

Although not easily recognizable as an Aston Martin at first blush, our spies did some digging and discovered that the vehicle’s registration belongs to the British supercar maker. The vehicle was also spotted along Aston’s typical testing loop.

That registration also revealed that this prototype is powered by the same 5.9L V12 found under the hood of the Aston Martin Rapide S.

Of course Aston Martin isn’t saying much about the mystery prototype, but the UK’s CAR Magazine speculates that the sedan is being developed by the automaker’s Q division. Typically tasked with customizing Aston Martin’s regular production vehicles, Q has also dabbled in coach building, such as the limited production CC100.

The prototype is believed to be based on a stretched version of the Rapide’s platform. The sedan’s body work is said to be mostly constructed of carbon fiber.

The four-door could be badged as a Lagonda, although it won’t mark the official revival of the brand.

Aston’s plans for the sedan remain unknown, but an extremely limited production run seems likely. Expect a price tag to match its exclusivity.

Full-size SUVs have slipped in popularity from their height a few years ago, but Chevrolet is having no problem shifting its latest Tahoe and Suburban models.

Automakers typically consider a 40-day vehicle supply to be ideal, but both the Tahoe and Suburban are selling at much faster rates. The average Tahoe sits on a dealer’s lot for 17 days, while the average Suburban lasts just 10 days.

“The Tahoe and Suburban are the leading vehicles in the segment, and some of the best Chevrolet has ever built,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet. “The demand for these refined, functional, and technology-driven models is proof that consumers agree, as well.”

Moreover, most Tahoe and Suburban buyers are opting for high-end models. Last month 50 percent of all Thaoes sold were top-level LTZ models while 60 percent of all Suburbans delivered were LTZs. The Tahoe LTZ list from $60,785 while the Suburban LTZ commands $62,990.

Thanks to the success of the 2015 Tahoe and Suburban, Chevrolet now controls 50 percent of the full-size SUV market.

Photo by Mark Elias.

To help promote the arrival of the i3 in the US market, BMW is showing off a solar carport concept in Los Angeles.

The DesignworksUSA concept takes inspiration from the i-series vehicles, pairing raw bamboo struts with carbon elements. Built for the arid climate of California, it is a mostly open form with shade screens on each side.

The roof is covered by translucent glass-on-glass solar modules, sending electricity to the parked car via BMW’s i Wallbox Pro. The system manages energy between the car and the home, which receives surplus power when the car is gone or its battery full.

“With the solar carport concept we opted for a holistic approach: not only is the vehicle itself sustainable, but so is its energy supply,” says BMW designer Tom Allemann.”This is therefore an entirely new generation of carports that allows energy to be produced in a simple and transparent way.”

The company does not provide details regarding estimated prices or actual power output for the structure.

In general comparison, General Electric estimates that a 25 kW ‘premium’ carport built in Los Angeles could produce up to 50,146 kWh annually with a construction cost of approximately $170,000. Output would be more than enough to charge the i3′s 18.8 kWh battery, depending on how much time the vehicle spends in the carport and during which hours of the day.

Global sales of Volvo’s XC60 crossover have surpassed the 500,000 unit mark. The milestone comes just six years after the XC60 hit the market.

Launched in 2008, the XC60 now holds the distinction of being Volvo’s best-selling model worldwide. Popularity for the XC60 spiked in 2012 when it tallied over 100,000 annual sales for the first time. Last year Volvo sold 114,000 units of the XC60, and the crossover has already recorded 41,920 deliveries through April.

“With the XC60 we have shown that we have the ability to compete on equal terms with our German rivals like BMW and Audi, and it gives us strength to do the same with future models,” said Alain Visser, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars. “This is a car that is not only a success today but will continue to be one in future.”

Appropriately, the 500,000^th XC60 was sold to a customer in the United States, which is the utility vehicle’s biggest market. To date about 73,000 XC60s have been sold on these shores.

China is the XC60′s second largest market, followed by Germany, Sweden and the UK.

Just as the CLA250 blazed a new trail for Mercedes-Benz, the CLA45 is signaling a new direction for the company’s AMG in-house tuning division.

For years AMG has been improving rear-wheel Mercedes models by way of massively powerful V8 and V12 engines, but that blueprint was thrown out the window for the CLA45. For Mercedes’ latest performance sedan, the engineers in Affalterbach would have to work around the CLA’s front-wheel drive layout and four-cylinder motor.

Curious to see if AMG could still deliver a world-class performance machine with those limitations, we ordered up a CLA45 for a week-long evaluation.

What is it?
Carrying a base price of $47,450, the CLA45 represents the entry point into Mercedes-Benz’s AMG lineup. But just because the CLA45 carries a relatively modest price, don’t assume that the boys and girls at AMG have skimped on the performance front – generating 355 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque from just two liters, the CLA45 lays claim to having the most power-dense engine in production today. Other standard go-fast goodies include an all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

What’s it up against?
The CLA45 AMG is somewhat of a trailblazer for the premium compact performance segment, but it will soon be joined by Audi’s hotter A3 sedan, the S3. The CLA is actually a lot bigger than people give it credit for, so buyers could also line the CLA45 up against the Cadillac ATS, BMW 3-Series and even Mercedes-Benz’s own C-Class. If you can make do without the fancy badge, the Subaru WRX STI checks many of the same performance boxes as the CLA45, but at a discounted price.

What does it look like?
Admittedly, the CLA45 AMG looks nearly identical to the Sport Package-equipped CLA250 we tested just a few weeks ago. However, there are some subtly differences if you look closely.

Whereas our CLA250 was devoid of any bling, the CLA45 AMG is decked out with aluminum trim on its front splitter and lower rockers. The CLA45 also sports a unique rear diffusor with quad-exhaust outlets and a small decklid spoiler.

Take a peek behind the CLA45′s wheels and you’ll also notice some serious brake hardware not found on the standard CLA. And just in case anyone misses those bright red calipers (a $300 option), Mercedes had fitted the CLA45 with plenty of Turbo and AMG badges to let the world know that you’re driving something special.

And the inside?
Unfortunately for the CLA45 AMG, it borrows most of its drab interior from the regular CLA.

But let’s start with the positives. Our test car was fitted with excellent Recaro sports seats that, while expensive, provided first-rate support. Though on the aggressive side, the upper and lower bolsters are power adjustable, so finding the right fit shouldn’t be an issue for most people. And once you do find your ideal setting, the buckets fit like a well-tailored suit.

Our optional AMG performance seats were also accompanied by snazzy red seat belts. While off-putting at first, we grew to like the added ambiance they provided during our week-long evaluation of the CLA45.

The CLA45 comes with carbon fiber inlays on its twin-pod gauge cluster, which adds a nice performance touch without going over the top. Thankfully, the CLA45′s black-faced gauges are much easier to read in all lighting conditions that the white dials used in the regular CLA.

The steering wheel in the CLA45 is similar in design to the unit found in the CLA250. Our tester was fitted with an optional AMG Performance wheel that featured a more sporting “D” shape and a grippy Alcantara cover. Contrasting stitching is used on the steering wheel and throughout the CLA45′s interior when the long-winded ‘MB-Tex upper dash and door trim with top-stitching’ option is selected. Of note, the $1,500 MB-Tex package is required for the AMG Performance seats.

Our gripes with the CLA45′s interior were pretty much identical to the ones we had with the CLA250 – the center stack already seems dated, the HVAC controls are out of the way and hard to read and COMAND (Mercedes’ infotainment system) is clunky to use. We also complained about a lack of storage space in the CLA250, and things are actually worse in the CLA45. The high-performance version of the CLA uses a console-mounted shifter instead of a column-mounted one, forcing Mercedes engineers to put two cup holders where there was previously one. Needless to say, both holders are small and awkwardly positioned.

Rear visibility is again an issue in the CLA45, particularly when backing out of a parking spot. The CLA45 is available with Mercedes’ self-parking PARKTRONIC technology, but a rear cross-traffic alert system is a glaring omission. The CLA45′s optional rear-view camera and Blind Spot Assist are must-have extras.

But does it go?
It’s an AMG, so the answer is obviously yes.

It takes a moment for the CLA45′s 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder to spool up, but when it does, all 355 horses pin you to the back of the seat with the gusto of a legitimate racing machine. The CLA45′s motor has somewhat of a short operating ranging – the engine pulls strong from 3,000rpm but runs out of puff just after 6,000rpm – but the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission ensures everything keeps moving along. The CLA45 defaults to Comfort mode, but we’d suggest using the more responsive Sport or Manual modes. However, even in those snappier settings, the seven-speed still lags in transitions, like when accelerating from a stop or going from reverse to drive.

So it’s safe to say the CLA45 accelerates like an AMG, but it doesn’t exactly sound like one. The CLA45 fires to life with a raspy four-cylinder note that is more akin to a tricked out Mitsubishi Evo than the V8 soundtrack we’ve come to expect from AMG. The CLA45′s AMG-tuned sport exhaust system provides a pleasing “thud” on up-shift and a rousing back-crackle on downshifts, but neither is as aurally satisfying as the noises a C63 makes. Call us old fashioned.

But the up-side to that four-cylinder soundtrack is really good fuel economy. Sipping premium fuel, the CLA45 is rated at 23 city and 31 highway. During our week with the CLA45 — which was split about two-thirds highway, one-third city – we saw a very respectable 28mpg.

We weren’t able to test the cornering limits of the CLA45′s 4MATIC all-wheel drive, but the system does an impressive job of masking the CLA’s front-wheel drive roots. During our time with the CLA45 we never experienced even a whiff of torque steer, which can sometimes still rear its ugly head even after the AWD treatment.

The CLA45′s large brakes – measuring 13.8-inches up front and 13.0 inches in the back – are able to scrub off speed just as quickly as the engine can build it. The CLA45′s steering isn’t quite as good as its anchors, but the electric power steering system is at least well-weighted and direct.

If AMG would have stopped at those performance modification, the CLA45 would be one hoot of a daily driver. However, AMG went a step too far by equipping the CLA45 with one of the stiffest suspensions we’ve ever experienced.

Not just jarring over rougher pavement, the CLA45 manages to find nooks and crannies in even the smoothest road surfaces. Calling the CLA45 uncomfortable would be an understatement – we actually suffered from back pain after spending just an hour in the driver’s seat.

Leftlane’s bottom line
The AMG treatment usually makes for a better Mercedes-Benz, but that’s not the case with the CLA45.

Outside of an exhilarating drivetrain, the CLA45 AMG is actually kind of a let down, especially when price is factored in. The base model CLA45 lists from a somewhat steep $47,450, but doesn’t include things like leather, satellite radio or even a compass. Our test car stickered for an astonishing $60,095 (or just two grand short of BMW’s new M3) and lacked typical luxury features like adaptive cruise control or cooled seats. Throw in a ride that is far too firm and the CLA45 is the first AMG product since the R63 to completely miss the mark.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG base price, $47,450. As tested, $60,095.
Black “Red Cut” Leather w/AMG Performance Seats, $3,750; Premium Package, $2,300; Multimedia Package, $2,370; PARKTRONIC with Advanced Parking Assist, $970; Panorama Sunroof, $1,480; 19″ 16-Spoke Alloy Wheel – Black, $850; Destination, $925.

Photos by Drew Johnson.