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Triumph Motorcycles is recalling 2025 and 2026 Triumph TF450 Closed Course Competition Motorcycles because of the risk of serious injury or death from a crash hazard. The engine rocker arm on the recalled motorcycles can seize or stick and the exhaust valves can remain open or break.
Approximately ~1560 in the U.S. and ~171 sold in Canada are covered by the recall, according to United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Transport Canada. Continue reading
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The upcoming BMW iX5 Hydrogen fueled SUV is now undergoing road testing, BMW said today in Munich.* The German government subsidized program** sees BMW Group testing the third-generation fuel cell system and developing a new assembly phase at the Hydrogen Competence Center in Munich. Simultaneously preparations for mass production of the hydrogen fuel cell system are underway at the engine facility in Steyr, Austria.
“Prototype assembly is about much more than manufacturing individual components. Each phase helps us optimize processes, gain experience, and systematically share this knowledge with the teams in Steyr. In this way, we are laying the foundation for the next steps on the road to industrialization,” said Claudia Stephan, head of Technology Development and Fuel Cell Prototype Assembly at the BMW Group. Continue reading
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Aston Martin and Brough Superior announced today the AMB 002 Roadster motorcycle. This is the first road bike produced in the ongoing collaboration between the longstanding British performance brands. A manufacturing run limited to 300 motorcycles is scheduled with the first deliveries beginning during Q3 2027. [The AMB 001 (100 units) and AMB 001 Pro (88 units) superbikes were introduced in 2019 and 2022. They were built at the Brough Superior factory in Toulouse, France. Launch prices started at ~€108,000. They were insignificant rivals of BMW Motorrad – AutoCrat. Marketing babble alert on ensuing text.]*
“Having created two of the most remarkable track-only motorcycles ever built in the AMB 001 and AMB 001 Pro, it was always a long-term dream to make an Aston Martin motorcycle for the road. Combining the bold design aesthetic and pioneering engineering innovation which define Aston Martin and Brough Superior’s work to-date, the AMB 002 is the vivid expression of our shared passion for sculptural, visceral, covetable machines. It promises an ownership and riding experience unique in the world of motorcycling; an irresistible road bike for keen motorcyclists and discerning collectors alike,” said Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin. Continue reading
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Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) said today it has named Kelvin Fu as its next president, succeeding David Salters. Salters became president of then-Honda Performance Development (HPD) in 2020 and will leave HRC US to join a technology startup outside the motorsports industry.*
“When I joined HRC US, I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of leading this extraordinary organization. I am truly humbled by the opportunity. Throughout my career at HPD and HRC US, I have been fortunate to work on a wide range of programs, from the development of the NSX GT3, Acura DPi race cars, and the LMDh engine and car to building lasting partnerships with our racing teams,” said Kelvin Fu, president HRC US. Continue reading
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Stellantis said today that it is expanding the Eurorepar Car Service* offering with the launch of the new All-makes Bodyshop label, providing customers with professional bodywork and collision repair services for vehicles of all makes, models and ages.
“When customers need body or collision repairs, they want a solution that is reliable and fairly priced. With the Eurorepar Car Service All-makes Bodyshop label, we are bringing together trusted local service, qualified expertise and a broad choice of parts to help customers get their vehicles safely back on the road. It is a natural extension of the Eurorepar Car Service promise: professional care for every car, whatever the make or age,” said Cyril Billard, Stellantis Strategy, Independent Aftermarket and Channels Vice-President and Eurorepar Car Service President. Continue reading
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Scott McLaughlin drove his No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet from the pole position to victory by 1.3739 seconds over the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood. The win was the eighth of McLaughlin’s IndyCar Series career and his first since 1 September 2024, in the second race of a doubleheader weekend at the Milwaukee Mile, ending a 36-race slump.*
“My little girl [Lucy, born October 2024] hasn’t seen me win yet, and now she has,” McLaughlin said afterwards. “So, Dad’s coming home with a trophy, baby. Let’s go! These guys and girls at Team Penske have stood behind me the whole time. Congrats to Alex (Palou) on his fifth (championship), but we’re working hard to beat them, and today was a big step in the right direction,” McLaughlin said. Continue reading
Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling 239,131 model-year 2025-2026 Ram 1500s. A radio software error may cause the rearview camera image to fail. No driver warning occurs. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, which covers Rear Visibility. Failure to display a rearview image can increase the risk of a crash.
The radio software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge [as required by Federal safety regulations – AutoCrat]. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 24 September 2026. The recall is estimated to launch during Q3 of 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403 about recall is 83D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov. Continue reading
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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)* is recalling ~150,000 2024-2026 model-year Mustang pony cars. The engine compartment wiring harness ground connections may fracture and result in a loss of drive power, or loss of function in the windshield washing system, headlights, air conditioning, or engine cooling fan.
“In affected vehicles, the engine compartment wiring harness ground eyelet terminals may experience fatigue fracture. Depending on which ground eyelet fractures, this condition may result in a loss of motive power, loss of right and/or left headlamps, loss of windshield washer fluid pump function, loss of air conditioning, and/or an inoperable engine cooling fan,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading
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Labor Day weekend travelers are facing the highest gas prices* ever for this time of year, according to AAA.** The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.04 million barrels per day to 8.92 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 206.8 million barrels to 205.7 million. Gasoline production stayed the same as last week, averaging 9.8 million barrels per day.
“The national average is $4.14, up 4 cents from last week. Continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices in the $90 per barrel range. After a record-setting August, this Labor Day weekend is on track to also set a record at the pump. The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on 3 September 2012. Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil,” AAA said in a release. Continue reading
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Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI) SUSTAINera, the division devoted to Circular Economy initiatives, today announced an expansion of its remanufactured parts portfolio, adding a Remanufactured NOx sensor to parts available globally. This is the first remanufactured NOx sensor offered by any automaker.* It will be shown – along with other remanufactured components for the first time at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, critical event for the automotive aftermarket industry. (September 8 to 12 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany.)**
“Within the SUSTAINera 4R strategy (Reman, Repair, Reuse, Recycle), Remanufacturing plays a central role, as it helps customers and repairers meet growing needs for affordable and sustainable aftermarket solutions with no compromise on quality. All the parts are restored to OEM specifications, with the same performance and warranty as genuine parts – while reducing environmental impact by saving up to 80% raw materials and enabling up to 40% of non-emitted CO2 compared to new parts, supporting a more resource-efficient approach to mobility,” Stellantis said in a release.*** Continue reading
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Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC 7261.T)* announced yesterday that the cumulative number of visitors to the Mazda Museum, the company’s corporate museum located on its headquarters grounds in Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture, has reached 2 million since its opening in May 1994. The milestone visitors were a group of 71 fifth-grade students from Ohkou Elementary School in Hiroshima who visited the museum as part of a social studies field trip.
“Congratulations on becoming the Mazda Museum’s 2 millionth visitors. I would be delighted if today’s tour inspires you to think, Cars are cool and Manufacturing is exciting,” said Mazda President and CEO Masahiro Moro, at a commemorative ceremony held on the same day. As a commemorative gift, Mazda also presented a 1:18 scale model of the MAZDA ICONIC SP to Ohkou Elementary School. Continue reading
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Lexus (NYSE: TM, 7203T) offered a world debut of an updated NX on September 1. The compact crossover hybrid model is scheduled to be introduced across global markets from the end of 2026. Presumably as a 2027 model. [However as with all global automakers, Lexus is subject to the tariff whims, resentments and revenge actions of the Trump Mis-Administration. The Lexus NX is made in Cambridge Ontario in Canada – AutoCrat.]* As of the end of July 2026, cumulative sales have reached approximately 1.9 Million units across more than 90 countries and regions, establishing the NX as a core model in the global Lexus SUV lineup.
“For the new model, the theme ‘Discover Your Edge’ guided us in our goal of keeping the NX an exciting and inspiring presence,” said Kunihiko Endo, Chief Engineer, Lexus International. [marketing babble alert- AutoCrat> We developed the NX with the desire to create a vehicle that, from the moment you get in and start driving, makes you feel as though your world and possibilities are beginning to expand. Rather than simply heading straight to your destination, you may find yourself wanting to take the long way around. What kind of vehicle could inspire that feeling? We approached development with that question constantly in mind. Continue reading
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Plunging market share for traditional giants such as Ford, Vauxhall and even top selling Volkswagen reflects an Amazon-style approach to choosing cars by British motorists, according to an analysis just released by Vehicle Data Global (VDG).*
“The decline for some of Britain’s household car brands was not driven by motorists falling out of love with those badges. Instead, it reflects broader changes in the way people buy products in general, beginning online with feature comparisons before visiting stores or dealer showrooms,” said Ben Hermer, Operations Director of VDG. Consumers now choose cars in a similar way to buying products on Amazon. And the switch to electric vehicles has added impetus to the changes by presenting cars increasingly like feature-rich consumer goods, enabling relatively unknown names to immediately compete for attention on the basis of value. Just as unknown Chinese consumer brands took off on Amazon, British motorists have catapulted names like Omoda and Jaecoo from zero to 100,000 sales in less than two years. In contrast, even 2025 market winner Volkswagen registered almost 20% fewer cars than in 2015 and names like Fiat and Citroen saw falls of 85% and 75% respectively,”said Hermer. Continue reading
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The rain challenged IndyCar* double header weekend in Milwaukee ended up being a double win for Honda on Sunday, which ended up taking both. Honda Racing Corporation took its 12th manufacturers’ title. Then, Golden Boy Spanish driver Alex Palou won the completion of both the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 on Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile after the Saturday race was delayed because of rain. [Click here for: Driver race results – AutoCrat.]
“Incredible,” Palou said. “I owe everything to this team. So proud of this team. It is great to have another championship and ready for the next one.” Palou, 29, also became the youngest driver in series history to win five titles. A.J. Foyt was 32 when he earned his fifth championship in 1967. Only Foyt, with seven, and Scott Dixon, with six, have won more IndyCar Series titles than Palou. Continue reading
Porsche Sells Its Bets on Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group
Well, the WayRay virtual reality was better than the actual results.
Porsche said today that the sale of its stakes in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group have been sold. Porsche* and the buyer consortium had signed the relevant agreements in April 2026. [Read AutoInformed.com on: Porsche Increases Investment in Start-Ups by €150 Million] The sale will generate proceeds of ~€1 billion. The Porsche AG Group will use €250 million of the proceeds to further fund its pension obligations.
“The Automotive Net Cash Flow Margin forecast published in the Half-Year Financial Report did not include any effects from divestments. Taking into account the aforementioned cash inflow and the further funding of pension obligations, the Automotive Net Cash Flow Margin for full year 2026 is expected to increase to 5.5% to 7.5% (previous forecast: 3% to 5%),” Porsche said. Continue reading →