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.

The 2024 Acura TLX Sedan Arrives at Dealerships Today

A refreshed 2024 Acura TLX sedan begins arriving at Acura dealerships today with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $45,000 [1].* The simplified lineup includes the TLX with Technology Package, an optional A-Spec sport appearance package and the high-performance TLX Type S. Continue reading

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McLaren Returns to Le Mans in 2024 FIA WEC

McLaren Automotive said today it has been confirmed as a manufacturer represented in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with nominated racing partner United Autosports . It will contest the championship in the LMGT3 class with two 720S GT3 EVO cars. This means the McLaren name will return to Le Mans 29 years after winning the race on its debut appearance in 1995, completing the ‘Triple Crown’ of victories at Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix. To celebrate McLaren’s return to endurance racing, the entries will pay tribute to the debut with race numbers #59 -the race number of the winning F1 GTR – and #95, the year of the landmark win. Continue reading

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Sold Out Enzo Ferrari Saga Reissued

Based on the vigorous life of Enzo Ferrari, author – and Ferrari insider – Dal Monte uncovers an abundance of new facts about Ferrari’s origins, ambition, business practices, and private life. The book revisits all the highlights of Ferrari’s rise to greatness: his driving career in the 1920s, his management of racing teams for Alfa Romeo in the 1930s, the launch of his own company and team in the late 1940s, and his unprecedented successes building cars for the road and racetrack in the following decades. Continue reading

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Stellantis Opens its First Circular Economy Hub in Turin

Stellantis has opened its SUSTAINera Circular Economy Hub (CE Hub) at the former Fiat Mirafiori Complex in Turin, Italy. Stellantis hopes to foster its so-called Circular Economy ambitions with a 360-degree approach based on its 4R strategy: Reman, Repair, Reuse, and Recycle. The objectives of the CE Hub are to extend the life of parts and vehicles, ensuring that they last for as long as possible. When that is no longer possible, the material is collected for recycling from the re-manufacturing operations, and from the end-of-life vehicle dismantling activity, and then returned to the manufacturing loop to build new vehicles and parts. Continue reading

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Queen Elizabeth II’s Mulsanne Added to Bentley Collection

Bentley Motors today said that the most recent addition to its Heritage Collection is a custom 2020 Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, the final example of the Mulsanne handcrafted at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe. It previously resided with the Royal household. It was commissioned by the late Queen, in Barnato paint with a Twine and Cumbrian Green interior. Continue reading

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New Electric Vehicles for Nissan UK Sunderland Plant

“Exciting, electric vehicles are at the heart of our plans to achieve carbon neutrality. With electric versions of our core European models on the way, we are accelerating towards a new era for Nissan, for industry and for our customers,” said Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida. Continue reading

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Stellantis Repurchases €934M in Shares from Dongfeng

“The purchase of Stellantis common shares by Stellantis from Dongfeng was carried out under the authority granted by Stellantis’ general meeting of April 13, 2023. The share repurchase transaction with Dongfeng will not impact Stellantis’ €1.5 billion open-market share repurchase program announced February 22, 2023, which is expected to complete by the end of 2023,” Stellantis said. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Raises Pay of US Plant Workers to Resist UAW

Volkswagen of America said today it will increase the pay of its non-union Chattanooga assembly plant workers by 11%. In what is clearly a defensive move against the reformed and increasingly successful United Auto Workers union in the US, which … Continue reading

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Record Consumer Spending Spurs US November Sales

“November results indicate a robust performance with double-digit year-over-year sales growth and record consumer expenditures for the month. The consumer expenditure record was due to strong sales growth, which outweighed a 1.9% decline in transaction prices,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. “Sales growth is being enabled by improving vehicle availability. Despite the nearly six-week UAW work stoppage, retail inventory levels in November are expected to finish around 1.6 million units, a 7.5% increase from last month and 43.7% increase compared with November 2022, but still over 40% below pre-pandemic levels, King said. Continue reading

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Cruise CEO Resigns as GM Revamps Embattled Company

Cruise CEO Kyle Voght resigned on Sunday and there are media reports that the chief product officer and co-founder Daniel Can also resigned. You wouldn’t know it from the Cruise web site, which remains mute on the defections or what look to be forced resignations.   Continue reading

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Global Automotive Capacity Too High for Demand?

“With the current high-price environment as a backdrop, the progression of the Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and the potential for other external shocks, we can’t help but raise the caution flag about the prospects for the medium-term forecast and a recovery in demand to pre-pandemic levels. We had recently already trimmed the global LV forecast by an average of 7.5 million units a year throughout the forecast horizon, citing pricing pressure as the main driver. However, additional cuts to the outlook post-recovery could be on the horizon if pricing isn’t addressed,” Schuster said. Continue reading

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Tether Cyber Scam ~$9M in Crypto Seized by DOJ

The US Justice Department (DOJ) today announced the seizure of ~$9 million worth of Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar. These seized funds were traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with an organization that exploited more than 70 victims through romance scams and cryptocurrency confidence scams, widely known as “pig butchering.” Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls Super Duty F-Series Trucks

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect the front wheel hub extender retaining nuts. If the retaining nuts are loose, dealers will replace the wheel hub extender, retaining nuts, and hub assembly. Continue reading

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Stellantis and CATL MoU for Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Stellantis and CATL are considering the possibility of a joint investment in the form of a joint venture with equivalent contributions. Stellantis aims to use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to assist making its Dare Forward 2030 electrification targets. LFP has a long service life and high thermal stability. Continue reading

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UAW Sweep – Stellantis Contract Approved by Members

“The members have spoken. After years of cutbacks, months of our Stand Up campaign, and weeks on the picket line, we have turned the tide for the American autoworker,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “The Stand Up Strike was just the beginning. The UAW is back to setting the standard. Now, we take our strike muscle and our fighting spirit to the rest of the industries we represent, and to millions of non-union workers ready to Stand Up and fight for a better way of life.” Continue reading

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