Author Archives: Ken Zino

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.

Porsche Showing 911 Dakar at LA. Honda Wins Baja 1000

Welcome to the confusing world of performance car and truck racing and production car and truck marketing. There are clear differences in the vehicles, but the promotional aspects are virtually identical. Continue reading

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Death of the Diesel – CARB Tightens Off-Road Equipment Regs

The amendments will require fleets to phase-out use of the oldest and highest polluting off-road diesel vehicles in California; prohibit the addition of high-emitting vehicles to a fleet; and require the use of R99 or R100 renewable diesel in off-road diesel vehicles. These vehicles are the second largest mobile source of NOx in California, only exceeded by trucks on roads and highways, aka on-road trucks. Continue reading

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Subaru Impreza at LA Auto Show 30 Years Later

The Impreza debuted 30 years ago at the 1992 Los Angeles Auto Show as a compact car with optional Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Impreza was the only vehicle at the time to offer all-wheel drive, albeit as an option long before the Subaru WRX performance car appeared with rally racing championships spanning four decades supporting it. Continue reading

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Toyota bZ Compact SUV Debuts at LA Auto Show

“We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of the Beyond Zero moniker,” said Toyota group vice president and general manager David Christ. “With an aerodynamic design coupled with intuitive tech features never before seen in a Toyota model, the bZ Concept showcases another possible vision of the very near future with our battery electric vehicles.” Continue reading

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GM Raises 2022 Earnings, Offers 2023-25 Performance Goals

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) at its annual investors’ meeting in New York City significantly raised its 2022 financial results predictions. GM now projects full-year 2022 adjusted automotive free cash flow will increase to $10-11 billion from its previous guidance of $7-9 billion. GM now projects 2022 EBIT-adjusted for the full year will be in a range of $13.5-14.5 billion, compared to its previous guidance of $13-15 billion. Continue reading

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DOT Imposes Millions in Airline Fines for Cancellations. Paltry Penalties for an Abundance of Abuses

In a mumbled ‘two cheers for US flag carriers,’ only one of the airlines fined – Frontier – is a US airline. Collectively, the airlines were only fined $7.25 million in total much to the dismay of the many consumer groups critical of airline practices. Frontier at a $2.2 million penalty paid the largest fine. Continue reading

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Chinese Government Intelligence Officer Sentenced to Prison

Yanjun Xu, 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to court documents, Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Justice Department and the FBI of course are involved in other grave national security matters that if indictments come won’t require extradition of the alleged offender and co-conspirators from Mir-a-Lago. Continue reading

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California Leading Transition to Clean Fuels, Technologies

Since California is the fourth largest economy in the world*, it will have a tremendous impact on other US States and international economic blocks as the demand created for cleaner fuels and methods will be a so-called virtuous circle that encourages innovation and then adoption of what emerges for economies of scale. Continue reading

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Big Oil Rebuff as Nel ASA, GM Unite on Renewable Hydrogen

A PEM electrolyzer and a fuel cell are largely based on the same principles. A PEM electrolyzer uses electricity and water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, while a fuel cell reverses the process, using hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water. Continue reading

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October Global Light Vehicle Sales at 7.1M Units

Year-to-date (YTD) sales are off ~1% compared to the weak covid-afflicted base of the 2021 plague. “Despite China experiencing a third consecutive month of slowing selling rates, YTD sales were up 8%.   However, North America and Europe continue to struggle YTD as supply constraints hamper performances ahead of worsening macroeconomic conditions,” LMC observed. Continue reading

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Loss of Steering Latest Tesla Model S, X Recalls

The latest recall was made public in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public today. Teslas built in Fremont CA and in use in North America, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Macau and New Zealand are covered by this safety defect. Continue reading

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President Biden at COP 27 Pledges US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis

The bold initiatives ended a week when the Climate Change and Election Denying Republican party , the GOPe-nope-dopes, were thumped in US mid-term elections that they and their propaganda outlets falsely predicted would be a red tsunami.  Continue reading

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Nissan Motor Posts ¥156.6B Profit

Consistent with what other Japanese companies said during earnings week, increased revenue and operating profit were achieved despite “a severe business environment in the first half of the fiscal year, with raw material prices rising sharply and sales volume falling below the previous year’s level due to semiconductor supply shortages and the impact of COVID-related lockdowns in Shanghai, China,” Nissan said. Continue reading

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Some Small Cars offer Small Protection in Side Impacts

IIHS created the updated side crash test after research showed that many of the real-world side impacts that still account for nearly a quarter of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities are actually more severe than the original evaluation. Continue reading

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Hyper Marketing as Mercedes-AMG ONE Sets Nordschleife Record

Mercedes-AMG is the first car manufacturer to have run the Nürburgring Nordschleife with such a hypercar and set official records there just by finishing. It does allow for hyper marketing though, so to speak. The Mercedes-AMG ONE is therefore not only the absolute fastest road-legal vehicle on the Nordschleife, but also first – for the moment in AutoInformed’s understanding until, say, McLaren, Aston Martin and Ferrari show up – in the Nürburgring “super sports car” category. Continue reading

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