Category Archives: design and styling

First Look – 2027 Toyota Corolla 60th Anniversary Edition

Posted on 18 August 2026 by Ken Zino

“Since its debut in Japan in 1966, the Corolla has grown from a compact car designed for a rapidly changing world into one of the most significant vehicles in Toyota history,” Toyota said in a news release.

“Along the way, Corolla helped introduce Toyota to drivers around the world, becoming a familiar presence on roads and in driveways across generations. Through six decades of change, it has continued to evolve alongside the people who drive it,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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First Look – 2027 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Posted on 17 August 2026 by Ken Zino

The new Mercedes‑Benz (MBG.DE, MBGAF OTC U.S.) C‑Class introduces the most comprehensive update to date for its best-selling sedan model family, according to a release today from MBUSA. The internal-combustion-engine powered sedan with an old tech stop/start system arrives at U.S. dealerships during the first half of 2027. [No word yet on if there will be a special Global Warming edition. The battered German luxury car makers are reeling from the effects of the Trump mis- administration Trade, Tariff and shooting wars.* MBUSA is posting sales declines and all global automakers are wrestling with the negative trade and war policies of the Trump mis-administration. Makers are also facing a marked shift in consumer presences to hybrid vehicles, as well a defection to less expensive brands – AutoCrat. See APEAL story below.] Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Cadillac V-ONE Concept Shown

Posted on 14 August 2026 by Ken Zino

Cadillac (NYSE: GM) today revealed the V-ONE, a concept study “combining the brand’s race-winning authenticity and bespoke Cadillac refinement,” at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California. Its name unites the Cadillac V-Series performance legacy with a one-of-one, single-seat Super Car articulation, the first of its kind for the GM brand. [Thus far it is the automotive equivalent of  computer vaporware – it’s not for sale. Also, production street versions would likely need a second seat – AutoCrat.]

“The Cadillac V-ONE Concept is the ultimate manifestation of a customer performance concept and is a clear sign of our ambition for the Cadillac V-Series brand in the future,” said Dominic Najafi, Executive Design Director, Global Cadillac. Continue reading →

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Aston Martin Valen Super Car Debuts in California

Posted on 14 August 2026 by Ken Zino

Aston Martin today in Monterey debuted Valen, the latest V12 special from bespoke service, Q by Aston Martin. Valen appears to be world’s most powerful front-engine production car. Valen, however, is indisputably the most powerful front-engined Aston Martin in the … Continue reading →

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Mustang Dark Horse SC Convertible Debuts

Posted on 14 August 2026 by Ken Zino

Ford Racing today introduced the new Mustang® Dark Horse® SC convertible, the first new high-performance Mustang convertible since 2013. It’s also the most powerful open-air Mustang ever. Orders open this fall, with cars arriving in dealer showrooms in spring 2027. [Just bring money – a lot of it: A Dark Horse SC sticker starts at ~$108,485. Track Pack adds ~$36,500 for a total of $144,985, There were also Track Pack Special Editions at ~$175,965. – AutoCrat]. The drop-top counterpart to the Dark Horse SC coupe brings Ford Racing engineering to the newest member of the Mustang Dark Horse family. The coupe is built for lap times. The ragtop, err convertible is set up for for open-air street driving with unlimited headroom, zero visual barriers, and the sound of a supercharged V8. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ

Posted on 11 August 2026 by Ken Zino

Cadillac today announced Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ, extending the brand’s low volume concierge-led experience to its all-electric flagship SUV. The Curated by Cadillac package for the ESCALADE IQ is $54,995. This MSRP does not include the vehicle MSRP, tax, … Continue reading →

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Center for Automotive Research on “China Speed”

Posted on 4 August 2026 by Ken Zino

“China’s automotive growth is not the result of a single technology, company or policy,” said Elizabeth Krear, President & CEO of the Center for Automotive Research. “It reflects a coordinated system designed to move quickly and build scale. North America does not need to replicate that system, but it must become more intentional about reducing complexity, accelerating collaboration and investing in the capabilities that will define the next generation of automotive leadership.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Aston Martin’s Vanquish 25

Posted on 22 July 2026 by Ken Zino

“Anyone familiar with this iconic British brand knows the provenance of the name ‘Vanquish’ in our modern history,” said Vittorio Gabba, Head of Q at Aston Martin. “25 years on from the unveiling of the very first Vanquish it is only right that we mark this nameplate’s contribution to our heritage. Vanquish 25 builds on the extraordinary achievements of the modern, third-generation Vanquish with a carefully curated package of exterior and interior features that subtly celebrate this important milestone in our history.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Mercedes-Benz Studio Los Angeles

Posted on 21 July 2026 by Ken Zino

“As one of the world’s most valuable brands, Mercedes-Benz has always stood for combining engineering excellence with emotional experiences that bring our ‘Welcome home’ promise to life. That is why we are introducing Mercedes-Benz Studios, bringing our brand into the heart of the world’s most iconic cities. Los Angeles is an important part of this global network, creating new ways for people to experience Mercedes-Benz in everyday life and making our brand feel even more accessible, personal, and welcoming,” claimed Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Sales & Customer Experience. Continue reading →

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First look – 2027 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Unequaled Value?

Posted on 14 July 2026 by Ken Zino

Toyota (NYSE: TM) revealed details of the 2027 Toyota Corolla Hatchback – a compact car with high quality, durability pert driving traits and unique value in AutoInformed’s experience, which covers decades of reviews and even ownership of one. It will be in dealerships this Summer. Both are built at the Tsutsumi Plant in Aichi, Japan. Info on the 2027 Corolla Sedan will come later.

Available in SE and XSE grades, the 2027 Corolla Hatchback starts at $24,780 (SE) and $27,875 (XSE) MSRP that excludes a Dealer Processing and Handling fee of $1295. Reinforcing the value proposition is Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. The Corolla Hatchback also comes standard with ToyotaCare, a maintenance plan that covers normal factory-scheduled service for one year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first, and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years, unlimited mileage. Continue reading →

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Carry Over Pricing Planned on the 2027 Subara Solterra

Posted on 19 June 2026 by Ken Zino

Subaru of America* (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) this week said that pricing for the new 2027 Subaru Solterra EV starts at $38,495 MSRP,** the same as the outgoing model. The 2027 Subaru Solterra EV arrives at retailers nationwide this fall. However, a lot can happen given the whims, wars and tariffs of the Trump mis-administration. The 2027 Subaru Solterra EV is assembled in Gunma, Japan. We will see if the announced pricing and model lineup hold.

“The 2027 Subaru Solterra EV continues with the same lineup as the 2026 model year: Premium, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. Subaru Solterra XT models (Limited XT and Touring XT) carry over their upgraded dual-motor setup, compared to the rest of the lineup, producing 338 horsepower and supplying a zero-to-60-mph elapsed time of less than 5 seconds. Solterra Premium and Limited models are powered by dual electric motors with an output of 233 horsepower,” Subaru said in a release. Continue reading →

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First Look – The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup

Posted on 16 June 2026 by Ken Zino

“Silverado has earned truck customers’ trust over decades of hard work in the real world,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet. “With the Next-Generation 2027 Silverado 1500, we’re taking that legacy forward by building the most capable, refined and advanced Silverado lineup we’ve ever offered.” Continue reading →

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Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri Speaking on Decisions That Will Shape the Next Decade of Automotive Manufacturing

Posted on 9 June 2026 by Ken Zino

“There is no single future. We are no longer moving towards one predictable outcome. We are navigating in multiple plausible futures or paths at a time, and you see that in the different adoption curves. Across regions, you see different investment logic across companies and obviously different policy priorities by margin. Electrification is a good example. The direction is clear for the long term. But the pace and the path are not uniform, and that creates fragmentation. Product mix evolves differently by region. We are seeing that investment timing varies. Industrial policies influence footprint decisions in real time.

“Historically, success came from getting the forecast right. Today’s success comes from staying effective when the forecast is wrong. So the shift is pretty fundamental from optimizing for one expected future to building systems that can perform across several realities. So that’s a different capability and increasingly a competitive one,” said Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri. Continue reading →

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Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover Sign MOU on Tech Development

Posted on 20 May 2026 by Ken Zino

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI) and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to collaborate on product development in the United States. Under the terms of the non-binding MOU, Stellantis and … Continue reading →

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Coming Soon Chinese-Built Jeeps?

Posted on 15 May 2026 by Ken Zino

“Dongfeng Motor has always taken the transformation and revitalization of Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile Co., Ltd. (DPCA) as a key strategic priority, fully supporting and advancing its sustainable development. Through the signing of this strategic cooperation, by integrating Hubei’s industrial strengths, Stellantis’ global layout advantages and Dongfeng’s intelligent electric vehicle technologies, a new path featuring complementary strengths and win-win outcomes for all parties has been forged. This will undoubtedly inject strong momentum into DPCA’s transformation,” said Qing Yang, Dongfeng Group Chairman. Continue reading →

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