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Of Detroit’s three automakers, Ford may have emerged the strongest from the economic crisis, but its luxury division, Lincoln, isn’t looking too rosy these days.

While Cadillac has been steadily rejuvenating itself with exciting new vehicles, Buick has reinvented itself from a stodgy old-man’s brand into a fresh face of entry-level luxury, and even Chrysler has a strategy in place by pairing up with Lancia, Lincoln appears to be spiraling downwards. The days of luxury behemoths like the Town Car and Navigator are behind us, and the brand’s latest products have failed to fill the void.

Sources anticipate Lincoln’s sales will drop below 80,000 units this year, but a plan is reportedly in place to nearly double that number by 2015.

So how does Lincoln expect to get there? According to reports, through a large cash injection from its parent company. Sources state that Ford is preparing to invest $1 billion into Lincoln over the coming years.

So what will Lincoln get for all those zeros? As many as seven new products. The Navigator will reportedly be phased out by 2016, and the MKT is tipped to be dropped in favor of a luxury version of the Ford Explorer. A Focus-based C-segment sedan and crossover are also in the works, along with a new MKS sedan.

Dearborn reportedly plans to differentiate new Lincolns from their Blue Oval-badged counterparts with fresh sheetmetal, higher specification levels and stronger engines. Will that be enough? It had better be, as Lincoln is reportedly asking its dealers – many of which lost their Mercury lines when that brand was shuttered last year – to invest heavily in their showrooms as an integral component in bringing Lincoln up to the level at which it can compete with its German rivals.

Ford pumping $1 billion into Lincoln revival

Recently, we learned that sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvettes are out to get us, and now it seems that our beloved GPS has turned on us. Consumer Reports calls it “Death by GPS”, and it’s a term that refers to folks who wind up in dangerous or fatal situations because they blindly follow the directions provided by their electronic navigational aid.

A Canadian couple was recently in the news when their GPS led them astray and into a remote part of Northern Nevada. The husband set out for help while the wife remained with their vehicle for seven weeks until being discovered (still alive) by a group of hunters.

We live in an age where we rely quite heavily on the technology around us. It’s no surprise then that we put blind faith in our personal devices, yet we should take a step back to see them for what they really are. The GPS is a tool to aid with navigation, yet it’s not an infallible machine. Data (and a clear line of sight to orbiting satellites) is a major requirement for a navigation unit to function at its best. More remote areas have less data because of the infrequent amount of traffic they receive, thus a navigation unit would have less information with which to provide feedback.

If you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle, and you’re heading into unfamiliar territory, it’s a good idea to remember that your navigation system is part of a team. Your brain should also be part of that team. Click past the jump to watch a CBS News clip discussing the “Death by GPS” phenomenon.

Continue reading Stranded Canadian couple latest victims of “Death by GPS”

Stranded Canadian couple latest victims of “Death by GPS”

The Bugatti Veyron has sufficiently proven itself to be king of the road, but what happens when you run out of road? The earth’s surface is, after all, covered in more water than it is land, let alone paved portions thereof. Ben Walsh’s solution? This Bugatti-inspired speedboat design.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Walsh was largely responsible for the interior on the Cadillac Converj concept, and has since left GM’s Advanced Design studio for an interior design position at PSA Peugeot Citroën. So he clearly has a passion for French cars, but for this project has set his sights on the exclusive Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu edition.

Like other boat designs we’ve reported on, this example isn’t likely to ever see production, but it’s beautiful. It takes the Veyron’s aluminum and carbon fiber construction and applies it to the form of a 30-foot speedboat that’s vaguely reminiscent of the spaceships from Star Wars (Episode I) and Flight of the Navigator. The rear shot best illustrates the connection to the Veyron. The boat’s single propeller indicates a single engine, but when you’re packing a 1,000-horsepower, quad-turbo W16, do you really need more than one? Have a closer look in the high-resolution image gallery below, and at the car that served as its inspiration in the gallery below that.

Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu speedboat concept by Ben Walsh

Audi may be the king when it comes to premium vehicles fitted with all-wheel drive. Lincoln, however, must be taking notes because its customers prefer their luxified-Fords with the four-wheel motion as well. Every model in the automaker’s current lineup is available with all-wheel drive, and lots of folks are checking that particular box on the order form.

It seems 2011 will go down as Lincoln’s assault on four powered wheels. So far this year, 72 percent of MKT customers have opted for AWD while 62 percent of those purchasing the MKX have done the same. Of course, as you move into the automaker’s sedans these numbers begin to fall, which is to be expected. Still, 46 percent of MKS shoppers choose the all-wheel-drive version and a quarter of MKZ sedans purchased are prepped for bad-weather driving.

Let’s not forget the Navigator (yep, they still make it), which gets all-wheel drive 62 percent of the time.

Lincoln is enjoying this shift in consumer desire, as all-wheel-drive vehicles command anywhere from $1,850 to $6,890 extra when compared to their non-AWD counterparts. Full press release from Lincoln after the jump.

[Source: Lincoln]

Continue reading All-wheel drive finds favor with Lincoln buyers

All-wheel drive finds favor with Lincoln buyers

Ford hasn’t said much about its supply situation in the wake of the earthquake in Japan, but now the automaker has no choice but to spill the beans. The Detroit News reports that Ford will shut down its Louisville, Kentucky plant next week due to a parts shortage. The facility produces the Ford Expedition, Ford Super Duty trucks, and the Lincoln Navigator. Ford sales analyst George Pipas did not identify the part that was in short supply, though he did add that high gas prices have helped slow sales of these vehicles anyway.

Ford will also shut down its Flat Rock, Michigan plant, where the Mustang is produced, because the automaker already has a 116-day supply of the pony car. In Europe, Ford will idle the Genk, Belgium plant that produces the Mondeo, S Max and Galaxy minivan to help prevent future shortages.

Ford announced that events in Japan could further affect future production, but at this point it isn’t interested in divulging the extent of its supply issues. Ford is actively searching for other parts sources wherever possible.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford to idle first plant as a result of Japan disaster

Due to a pigment shortage stemming from the March 11 earthquake in Japan, Ford has had to stop taking new orders for cars in Tuxedo Black, and is limiting orders of three shades of red. Officials from Ford say they’re working on another source for the pigment as you read this, and have enough cars in each color to satisfy demand until production resumes.

The paint shortage affects the F-150 and Super Duty lines of pickups, as well as the Explorer, the Expedition, Focus, Taurus and the Lincoln MKS and Navigator. Ford’s slowdown follows General Motors, who slowed production of pickups in Shreveport, Louisiana, as well as compact cars in Europe following parts shortages.

Honda, Toyota and Nissan have all experienced slowdowns as a result of the quake, though none have had to limit color choices.

Photos copyright (C)2011 John Neff / AOL

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Ford feels Japan quake effect with shortage of red, black paint

Washington D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown finds himself in hot water over his choice of a work vehicle. According to The Washington Post, Brown ordered up a fully-loaded Lincoln Navigator L on the district’s dime ahead of his January 2 inauguration, and more than a few eyebrows have been raised at the luxury SUV’s $1,900 per month lease payment. Like most localities, our nation’s capital is facing a sizeable budget shortfall this year – currently hovering at around $400 million.

But it gets worse from there. Brown reportedly demanded a black-on-black Navigator L for his personal use, and when the first vehicle showed up with a gray interior, he insisted the problem be rectified. As a result, Washington D.C. is currently paying to lease two Navigator L models at $1,900 month each, and the one with the gray cabin apparently can’t be returned until October. Additionally, a dealer had to drive the inauguration vehicle from Coldwater, Michigan to Washington, D.C. at a cost of $1,500.

Brown, meanwhile, says that he never intended for the vehicle to be a fully loaded luxury SUV, and that he merely requested a black-on-black model. But The Washington Post reports that emails acquired via Freedom of Information Act requests show that the fully-loaded vehicle was sought per Brown’s specifications. Thanks for the tip, Brady!

[Source: Washington Post Image: Kris Connor/Getty Images]

Report: D.C. council’s Kwame Brown embroiled in Lincoln Navigator scandal

We can’t seem to get enough of Ken Block’s Gymkhana videos. The skill and exactness necessary to entertain us for but a few minutes of magical drifting confounds us, but the formula that leads to success for Block and his crew comes down to plenty of practice and preparation. And if practice is needed to create a few well-planned stunts, just imagine how much work goes into competing in Rally GB. As this post-jump video proves, even Ken Block can lose control.

In the footage, Block is, along with co-driver Alex Gelsomino, testing his Ford Focus RS rally car at the M-Sport proving grounds in some pretty inhospitable conditions. The dirt trail is covered with a few inches of slush, while the surrounding terra firma is coated with a hefty helping of snow. Block’s in-car camera shows the world-class driver slicing and dicing through the challenging course with relative ease until… well, until he loses control. Hit the jump to watch the video yourself. The incident occurs at about 1:45 into the clip, followed by a second shot at the carnage courtesy of a second camera mounted to the driver side rear quarter panel. Thankfully, it appears both driver and navigator were uninjured and the team lived to race another day – with another car.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block crashes his Ford Focus RS

Video: Ken Block crashes his Ford Focus RS

Navigon no longer makes hardware for sale in the U.S., but if you still pine for the days of the 2090S you bought from Radio Shack then they might have some software for you. The German company has released an app for Android phones (to go with its already released app for the iPhone) with a few features aimed at enhancing your journey.

Reality View Pro is meant to provide better intersection visuals, Traffic Live and red light and speed camera warnings assist with getting there quickly and without extra premiums. Google search keeps you in touch with the local action, and text-to-speech can read street names so you actually find that action.

Speaking of Google, though, since the Android OS is a Google property, most of those phones will come with Google Navigation free. If you’re looking reasons to spend $39.99 on the Navigon option, Reality View might do it – an augmented reality function that provides information overlays when you point your phone’s camera at a point of interest. The Navigon app also comes with the whole U.S. road map preloaded, so no waiting for a connection if you get thrown off course. Oh, and that $39.99 price is only for two weeks – after that it goes up to $59.99.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Navigon rolls out MobileNavigator for Android phones

Garmin has recalled a total of 1.25 million portable GPS units for a possible fire risk, with 796,000 of those sold here in the United States. According to Consumer Reports, the problem stems from a faulty battery that may cause the device to overheat while in use. So far, there have been no injuries or property damage due to the defect, and fewer than 10 units have been reported with the problem.

The recall covers Nuvi 200W, 250W, 260W and a few models in the 700 series that land in a certain date-code range and that use a specific type of printed circuit board design. The easiest way to tell if your unit falls under the recall is to head over to Garmin’s site and enter in your model’s serial number. If yours comes up as one of the unlucky few that has to be returned, Garmin will provide you with all of the necessary mailing instructions.

Interestingly, several automakers have offered cradled Garmin products in place of costlier in-dash navigation systems, some of which will be covered under the recall. Among those manufacturers, Suzuki has been the first to confirm to Autoblog that some of its models will be impacted. The company said that it is currently working with regulators to deduce which vehicles shipped with the faulty Nuvi systems and how to proceed with getting the units fixed. Stay tuned for more information.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Garmin Nuvi GPS recalled over fire risk – Suzuki threatened?

Google Maps directions are great, but when the turns are coming one after the other, it can be challenging to follow the route and simultaneously avoid mowing down passersby. Simon Jansen’s Brass Wristlet Navigator Watch offers a potential solution and puts a little piece of steampunk on your wrist.

A navigation system that delivers your route in the way proclamations were read back in ancient Rome or rally notes were read at the advent of the sport, the brass, leather and glass Wristlet needs no batteries and couldn’t be easier to use. Simply turn one of the knurled knobs to move the scroll. Head on over to the Makezine blog to get inspired; let’s see what kind of chops y’all got.

[Source: Asciimation via MakeZine Photo: Asciimation]

Google Maps goes steampunk with scrolling brass wristlet

Ford is crowing that its freshly retooled Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI is now the most flexible final assembly factory in its global network. The Wayne plant used to assemble the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator full-size SUVs but is now building pre-production examples of the 2012 Focus. One of the features touted by Ford for its new global C-segment platform is that it is driving down development cost by building 10 different bodystyles on the architecture using many of the same mechanical components.

At launch, the Wayne plant will build both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback variants, but those are expected to be joined by a new Lincoln compact and possibly variants like the Grand C-Max. Ford will also be building versions of these vehicles with conventional, hybrid and full battery electric powertrains. Over 80 percent of the equipment in the body shop is programmable and can run different body styles almost with the flip of a switch. Ford says this new flexibility will also allow it to quickly adjust its product mix to shifting market conditions.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Retooled Ford Wayne assembly plant to be company’s most flexible

Retooled Ford Wayne assembly plant to be company’s most flexible

Doesn’t it seem like only yesterday that Ford was in charge of seven different brands? Now The Blue Oval is down to two, Ford and Lincoln, after today’s sale of Volvo to Chinese automaker Geely and the pending execution of Mercury. This means more energy and money will be available to plot success for Ford and Lincoln, and according to a report in Automotive News, that means Lincoln could get “a compact, front-drive car or crossover” (Lincoln Concept C, anyone?) and perhaps a model based on the next Ford Mondeo. Not exactly what we would have expected from Ford’s luxury brand, but times change.

A small taste of what’s in store for Lincoln: the MKX will get a redesign next year, the same year that the venerable Town Car dies, and, according to AN, a brand-new MKX with a design less like the Edge will appear in 2014. The MKZ gets a new look in 2013, which could be the last year for the controversial Ford Flex/Lincoln MKT and Navigator, perhaps replaced by an Explorer-based crossover or an SUV with more chops for rough terrain. Hopefully, they’ll also rework that whole MK-Random-Letter approach to nomenclature as well.

The more germane revelation is this: Ford apparently believes Lincoln’s success is contingent on putting lots of daylight between Ford and Lincoln engineering. Lincoln models need to be more distinct from their Ford counterparts in everything from engines to styling to feature sets. That might mean a lot more luxury features and refinement could be making their way into Lincolns soon – and that’s something increasingly anxious Lincoln dealers ought to be able to get behind.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Lincoln MKT, Ford Flex to be phased out at end of 2013?

With an increasing number of new cell phones offering free, integrated turn-by-turn navigation, the days of the standalone navigation device must surely be numbered. Of course, those dedicated navigators still offer some features you can’t (yet) get elsewhere, such as the Darth Vader or Dennis Hopper voices for TomTom and downloadable vehicles for the Garmin Nuvi.

Garmin users can replace the regular old arrow that shows your direction with dozens of vehicles ranging from classics like the BMW Isetta, to space shuttles, to Bumblebee, as seen above. Does it improve the functionality of your Nuvi in any way? Of course not, but it can make the little screen more fun to look at. The Nuvi vehicle downloads are free from a non-Garmin-affiliated third party, while most of the TomTom voices cost extra. Will this sort of thing have us trading in our Droid? Not a chance.

[Source: Vehicles for Garmin Nuvi]

Vehicle downloads for Garmin Nuvi (sorta) make us want one

This was bound to happen sooner or later. Over the last ten years, Mercury’s sales numbers have plummeted, and currently, the brand only accounts for 0.8 percent of Ford Motor Company’s overall market share. In a press conference this afternoon with Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, and Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of product development, the automaker has officially announced that Mercury will be discontinued in the fourth quarter of this year.

With all of the forward momentum that Ford has been experiencing over the past few years, no brand-specific models were introduced to the Mercury lineup. What’s more, the vast majority of recent Mercury purchases were made through discounts offered to retirees, friends and family. Mercury’s dealer network (coupled with the Lincoln brand) is currently in the process of being notified about Ford’s decision, and owners are reassured that existing Mercury products can still be serviced at any Ford or (newly standalone) Lincoln dealer.

But it isn’t all bad news down in Dearborn – Ford is using Mercury’s demise as a better reason to seriously beef up the Lincoln brand. Including the 2011 MKZ Hybrid and refreshed 2011 MKX, Ford is expanding the Lincoln lineup with the addition of seven all-new or wholly refreshed vehicles, including the brand’s first-ever C-segment vehicle, possibly related to the C Concept that we saw at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Furthermore, Lincoln will be offering EcoBoost powertrains across the entire lineup, including the next-generation Navigator full-size SUV. Ford is committed to making Lincoln substantially more prosperous in America, saying that the brand will house more useful features and technology than any other competitor, as well as offering the most fuel-efficient lineup of luxury vehicles.

For full details about Mercury’s demise and Lincoln’s expansion, follow the jump to read Ford’s official press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: Ford kills Mercury to expand Lincoln lineup

Officially Official: Ford kills Mercury to expand Lincoln lineup

This is what happens when you put people other than navigators into cars with ex-World Rally Championship drivers: EVO’s Chris Harris makes more than a few faces like this, while François Delecour looks like he’s on a casual Sunday hunt for Starbucks.

The camera is inside the car so you don’t get to see how Delecour throws the Porsche GT3 RS around tiny French B-roads, but in 13 minutes behind the wheel of the GT3 RS he talks to Harris about trying to enter one in the Monte Carlo Rally, about what changes he’d make to the car, requests ABS in order to drive faste, and he takes a phone call. When one remembers that Delecour’s recent Sunday drives were done much faster and often sideways, we guess it’s all right this time. Follow the jump for the video. Hat tip to Derek!

[Source: Evo]

Continue reading Video: Francois Delecour manhandles rally-handles a GT3 RS

Video: Francois Delecour manhandles rally-handles a GT3 RS

Occasional Autoblog contributor and Associate Editor at Engadget, Tim Stevens, is our go-to guy when it comes to navigating the intersection of technology and automobiles. So it’s fitting that Stevens has published a comprehensive shoot-out pitting six iPhone navigation systems against each other to see which app reigns supreme in the race from point A to B.

The review covers everything from Mapquest’s free GPS app to the far pricier Navigon MobileNavigator, along with progs that span the price spectrum from CoPilot, TomTom and AT&T. There’s a great breakdown of available features and functionality, along with initial and reoccurring costs, but in the end, only one gets the Engadget tip of the hat. Check it out.

Engadget takes six iPhone navigation systems for a spin

Taking a page from BMW’s 2001 playbook, Lexus is launching a suspense-ish thriller on May 13th that’s predicated on “the darker side of green,” all in order to promote the brand’s upcoming CT200h to that unicorn-like “young, progressive, energetic and tech-savvy buyer.” They’re calling it a film, though based on the sneak preview trailer after the jump, no celluloid appears to have been harmed in the making of “Lexus Dark Ride.”

The plot is that some opposition group is trying to swipe hybrid technology. The CT200h needs to make it to Los Angeles before dawn. Tony is the crack wheelman, you’re the navigator who’s tasked with also keeping our boy Tony from avoiding sloppiness. Go.

It may be a way for Lexus to generate buzz among a group of potential buyers that’s far younger and hipper than the normal ES350 buyer, or it may just be a way to add excitement to a car that’s… not. You decide. Watch the trailer after the jump.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading New York 2010: Lexus CT200h debuts with Darker Side of Green campaign

New York 2010: Lexus CT200h debuts with Darker Side of Green campaign

When we take a hard look at the current Lincoln lineup, we see some issues. For starters, the Navigator, MKS, MKT, MKX and MKZ aren’t exactly setting the sales charts on fire. Come to think of it, we just listed the entire Lincoln lineup. Okay, so Ford’s luxury marquee can easily be likened to a well-heeled slice of Swiss cheese, but we have proof that The Blue Oval is trying to breath new life into the brand. We loved the MKT, the 2011 MKX looks extremely promising and it looks like the four-pointed star is getting into the hybrid business as well.

The Detroit News reports that Lincoln will debut a hybrid MKZ this week at the New York Auto Show. The MKZ will likely share the same powertrain as the Ford Fusion Hybrid; a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle mill mated to an eCVT transmission, along with an electric motor drawing power from a 275-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. The MKZ hybrid will be the first battery-assisted model in the Lincoln lineup, giving Ford a luxury hybrid competitor to the Lexus HS 250h.

And if the MKZ does in fact carry the same powertrain as its more pedestrian sibling in the Ford dealership, the Lincoln should have more than competitive fuel economy. The HS 250h is rated at 35 miles per gallon city and 34 miles per gallon highway, while the Fusion Hybrid manages a 41/36 mix. The MKZ is a big bigger, too, and price should be comparable. Also helping the MKZ’s case for life is the fact that Lincolns carry higher MSRPs than the typical Ford or Mercury, giving The Blue Oval a theoretically bigger margin with which to make a profit.

The down side to the MKZ hybrid is the fact that Ford is pretty well restricted on how many hybrids it can produce. Unless Ford has struck a deal to increase its hybrid powertrain output, the MKZ will simply shift the allocation of hybrids in the Ford family instead of adding to the overall totals. We’re also very interested to see if Ford strives to differentiate the MKZ from its more pedestrian siblings to better-justify the undoubtedly higher price tag that comes with the Lincoln badge. We’ll be staked out at the New York auto show for the chance to know for sure.

[Source: The Detroit News via The Truth About Cars]

Report: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will debut in New York

Remember when Congress got all up in the grilles of Detroit automaker chief executives for traveling to Washington in luxury courtesy of the companies private jets? It appears our lawmakers are less than perfect when it comes to sourcing their own cost-effective transportation, as Politico is reporting that at least 10 members of the House of Representatives have monthly vehicle leases that exceed $1,000 per month in taxpayer money.

But those leases, they’re for specialized, bulletproof SUVs to keep our elected officials safe, right? Well, not so much. A little digging from Politico shows that members of Congress just don’t know how to shop around. Of the top five lease prices listed, the most exorbitant monthly outlay at least appears to come with the best excuse. Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver pays a reported $2,900 a month for a mobile office equipped with wifi and a wheelchair lift. Representative Cleaver justifies the hefty price tag by arguing that he uses the vehicle as his mobile office, foregoing the off-site office many other representatives have. Oh, and the mobile office runs on used cooking oil.

Other congressmen have less credible excuses, but it apparently isn’t stopping them from giving it the old college try. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) $1,628 to lease a GMC Yukon. Reyes blames short lease terms and fuel efficiency regulations on the high lease prices. Meanwhile, we suspect that every other American with decent credit can choose from dozens of CUVs or SUVs with 24-month leases for less than $600 per month.

Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) rolls in a $1,230 per month Chevrolet Tahoe. A spokesperson for Cheeks Kilpatrick claims the 13th District rep. leases the vehicle because General Motors headquarters resides within her district. Ironically, Cheeks Kilpatrick’s son, Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Detroit mayor who left office in disgrace after being found guilty of perjury, caught plenty of flack a few years back for spending $1,000 per month for a taxpayer-funded Lincoln Navigator.

Rep. Harry Teague (D-N.M.), reportedly worth more than $36 million dollars, pays $1,266 per month for a Chevrolet Malibu. That’s right, folks, a Malibu. Not a bad vehicle by any stretch, but $1,266 per month? Really? Other high lease offenders include Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who rides in a $1,259 per month hybrid Toyota Highlander, Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who trolls the St. Louis streets in $1,059 a month Ford Escape hybrid and Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) with his $1,026 per month Mercury Mariner hybrid. Not to be left out, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) apparently also spends $1,143 every month for an unspecified leased vehicle, and multimillionaire Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) leases a Lexus RX400h for $843 taxpayer-funded dollars a month, reportedly arguing that he needs the vehicle’s bigger accomodations because he’s over six-feet tall and has to make an hourlong commute twice a week.

Head over to Politico to read more about congress and the expensive vehicles they lease on your dime. We’re thinking there are thousands of Autoblog readers who can help their congressmen procure a more cost effective lease vehicle than some of the ridiculous prices you just read about. Any volunteers?

[Source: Politico]

Report: Congressmen spending thousands of dollars a month to lease ordinary vehicles