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.

Hyundai Recalls 55,000 Vehicles for Sudden Power Loss

The fuel control valve in the high-pressure fuel pump assemblies equipped in the vehicles could allow excess fuel to enter the fuel pump due to gradual wear of the FCV plunger. An air/fuel  mixture that runs too “rich” may result in a reduction or loss of motive power at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. The problem resulted in a recall in Korea last month. According to HMC, upon detection of a fault, the vehicle entered a “limp” drive mode that limited acceleration when exceeding 60 MPH. Continue reading

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BMW Has Yet Another Airbag Shrapnel Recall

“The inflator for the driver air bag may not have been produced according to specifications by the supplier. In extremely rare cases, the air bag inflator could rupture, which could result in injury or death to vehicle occupants,” BMW claimed in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading

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Goodyear Sells Off-the-Road Tire Arm to Yokohama Rubber

“The sale of the OTR business marks an important milestone as we continue to execute against our Goodyear Forward transformation plan,” said Mark Stewart, Goodyear Chief Executive Officer and President. “We are grateful to our OTR colleagues who have driven the success of the business and are committed to working closely with Yokohama to ensure a smooth transition for customers and associates.” Continue reading

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First Look – Cadillac SOLLEI EV Concept Convertible

Cadillac today showed an all-electric, 2+2 convertible dubbed pretentiously SOLLEI. It’s derived from sun – ‘SOL’ – and leisure – ‘LEI’. the exterior is finished in “Manila Cream,” a color originally used on Cadillacs in 1957 and 1958.

“SOLLEI reimagines the discovery of travel, envisioning a personalized driving experience that connects one with the natural world around them,” said Erin Crossley, design director, Cadillac. “The concept celebrates Cadillac’s pedigree of elegant convertibles in a modern form by cultivating high luxury through design expressions and experiences.” Continue reading

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Hyundai 2025 Tucson – $29,750 to $48,485

The Tucson has a redesigned panoramic curved display that integrates an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enlarged 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. A redesigned center stack includes the addition of supplementary knobs and switches for frequent-use controls including audio volume and tuning (copying a long standing Toyota and Lexus tradition). A new dashboard tray located above the glovebox adds storage space for front-seat passengers. Continue reading

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New York Woman Arrested as South Korean Foreign Agent

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed today that Sue Mi Terry, 54, of New York City provided South Korean Intelligence Officers access, information and advocacy in exchange for luxury goods and funding. Terry was arrested yesterday and presented on criminal charges related to alleged offenses under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Terry is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate FARA and one count of failure to register under FARA. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Continue reading

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U.S. FHA – $5B More in Large Bridge Project Awards

“For too long America let bridges fall into disrepair, which left people less safe, disrupted our supply chains, and cost people time and money – but now the Biden-Harris Administration is changing that with the biggest investment in our bridges since the Eisenhower era,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “There are currently about 3,000 fewer bridges in poor condition than when our administration began, and today we are proud to announce funding to repair or replace 13 of America’s largest and economically significant bridges.” Continue reading

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Global Light Vehicle June Sales Rate at 89 Million Best in 2024

“Sales accelerated in China last month with the price war continuing, while in the US sales staggered as a result of a cyberattack affecting dealerships. Europe saw a rise in selling rates, thanks to improvements in both East and West Europe. Meanwhile, Japan recorded lagging sales in the face of supply issues and a subdued macroeconomic climate,” said the GlobalData Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading

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EPA Grant to Holcim U.S. for Clean Cement

In the U.S., Holcim is the largest cement manufacturer and a top five producer of aggregates and ready-mix concrete, with approximately 7000 employees. Holcim’s so-called Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Accelerator Project will increase the transparency of data on environmental emissions associated with the production of construction materials; generate robust EPDs with a diversity of manufacturers from across the U.S.; and drive market demand for lower carbon construction materials. These projects represent the three construction materials in Holcim’s portfolio: cement, asphalt, and ultra-high-performance concrete. Continue reading

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First look – Red Bull RB17 Hypercar

Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Oracle Red Bull Racing at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by MasterCard debuted the RB17 Hypercar. This exotic sports car designed by Group Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey – the most winning designer … Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing 2026 – Audi Formula One and bp

“Audi and bp have always worked together successfully in motorsport. We are delighted that we can take this special partnership to the next level in Formula 1. Audi stands for ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ and bp and Castrol also aspire to deliver the best technologies in the field of fuels and lubricants. This is a perfect match. It is a strong signal for Audi’s future F1 factory team that we have been able to establish this partnership at such an early stage,” said Andreas Seidl, CEO Audi F1 team. Continue reading

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New Porsche Panamera Bests Old Time at Nürburgring

“On the Nordschleife, the transverse dynamic capabilities of a car are particularly important,” said  Kern. “The new Panamera has made significant gains in this area. In technically demanding corner sequences in particular, such as between the ‘Hohe Acht’ and ‘Brünnchen’ sections of the track section, it responds with noticeably greater agility.” Continue reading

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FCA US Recalls 332,000 Vehicles for Bad Airbags

In the required filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FCA said “A disrupted connector on the buckle switch hall effect may affect the conduction on the connectors of the seat wiring and buckle which may cause the front seat air bag to not perform as expected during a crash.” The part in question was made by ZF Group in Italy as Molex part number 98817-1025. Continue reading

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Takata Airbag Shrapnel – BMW Recalls 400,000 3-Series Models

The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with a Takata inflator that can explode during deployment. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Continue reading

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IIHS Pooh-Poohs Merits of Partial Automation Systems

“Everything we’re seeing tells us that partial automation is a convenience feature like power windows or heated seats rather than a safety technology,” said IIHS President David Harkey. Continue reading

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