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- February 2026 U.S. Vehicle Sales Forecast is Down Again
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- GM Canada – C$63M Outlay in Oshawa Assembly
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- Audi Revolut F1 Team and Fanwear Launched
- Toyota bZ Woodland Mid-Size SUV EV Priced at $45,300
- CAFE Regs Intact Post Trump Endangerment Finding Repeal
- First Look – 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Prototype
- Park Outside – More Jaguar I-PACE Battery Fire Recalls
- Magna Posts 2025 EBIT of $2,364 Million
- Trump’s EPA Kills Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding
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- Michigan Governor Whitmer on Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
- Porsche Motorsport Daytona Victory on Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run
- UAW Ford Department Director VP Laura Dickerson on Trump's Ford Plant Visit on Whitmer Stands in Stark Contrast to Trump at Detroit Auto Show
- Ken Zino on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
- Laverne Oliver on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
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Category Archives: design and styling
World Premiere – New Toyota Land Cruiser FJ
“Launched originally as the Toyota BJ in 1951, the Land Cruiser immediately became the first vehicle to climb to the sixth station of Mount Fuji. Since then, it has fulfilled its mission of delivering safety and security to all types of people in places that only the Land Cruiser can reach. Developed and refined based on global, real-world customer usage, it provides reliability, durability, and off-road performance that allows people to go anywhere and everywhere and return safely. This concept has been carried forward and continues to evolve to this day. With cumulative sales of about 12.15 million units [footnote 1] in over 190 countries and regions around the world, the Land Cruiser has supported the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere. It is a flagship Toyota model that has been developed and refined by customers around the world for over 70 years,” Toyota said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, concept, design and styling, electric vehicles, engineering, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Japan Mobility Show 2025, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Koto-ku, land cruiser, Land Cruiser FJ, Tokyo Big Sight, Toyota BJ, X @KenAutoinformed
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First Look – 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT
Ford Motor Company(NYSE: F) said today that it is introducing the 2026 Mustang Mach-E® GT California Special. It’s a special edition as an optional package that brings a heritage-inspired design to the Mustang family’s newest member. In the 1960s, California dealers were responsible for a large portion of all Mustang sales and wanted their contributions to the vehicle’s success commemorated through a unique package. In 1968, the original California Special was born. The coupe’s original red and black accents and aero features would define the trim package for years. Just over 4000 of the original California Special Mustang vehicles were built. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, electric vehicles, marketing, milestones, new vehicle
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Special, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Kristen Keenan, Mustang Mach-E, Stefan Taylor, the 2026 Mustang Mach-E® GT California Special, X @KenAutoinformed
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Genesis Opens California Design Studio
“At Genesis, design is brand and brand is design,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis. “Genesis Design California is the embodiment of this. It embraces our distinct Korean identity creating a space that inspires creativity. I cannot wait to see that inspiration come to life in the team’s work.” Continue reading
Posted in concept, design and styling, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Genesis Design California in El Segundo, José Muñoz, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Luc Donckerwolke, X @KenAutoinformed
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Chevrolet Bolt Returns as 2027 Model at ~$30,000
“The Chevrolet Bolt was the industry’s first affordable mass-market, long-range EV and it commanded one of GM’s most loyal customer bases thanks to its price, versatility and practicality,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Global Chevrolet. “After production ended, we heard our customer’s feedback and their love for this product. So the Bolt is coming back, by popular demand and better than ever, for a limited time. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, connected vehicles, design and styling, electric vehicles, electronics, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles, transportation
Tagged 2027 Bolt, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bolt and Equinox EV, DC public fast charging, Global Chevrolet, Google Maps, Google Play, Hey Google’ voice assistance, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, nacs charging port, Scott Bell, Super Cruise, U.S. Department of Energy, vehicle-to-home power, X @KenAutoinformed, X76 electric drive unit
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Audi of America Debuts 2026 A6 Sedan
“Embodying the most quintessential parts of the Audi brand’s DNA, the 2026 A6 sedan arrives in America with an all-new modern and sophisticated design inside and out. Engine performance has been improved and, with its enhanced dynamic capabilities, the all-new A6 is both quicker and better handling than the previous generation. The latest driver-centric infotainment and lighting technologies have also been incorporated including the handsome Audi digital stage MMI and customizable light signatures. In totality, the 9th generation A6 marks a step change for the upper mid-size business segment and redefines Audi brand DNA for a new generation of luxury owners; simultaneously improving both driver engagement with the road and extending refinement for everyday driving,” Audi said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, marketing, new vehicle, shows and events
Tagged Audi 2026 A6 Sedan, Audi MMI panoramic display, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, X @KenAutoinformed
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Caterham Competitor – New Zenos E10 RZ
Zenos Cars today revealed in engineering prototype form the new Zenos E10 RZ. Zenos Cars is a partnership between former Caterham Cars CEO Ansar Ali and COO Mark Edwards. They both also worked together at Lotus. Ali and Edwards have more than 30 years of experience in the niche sports car sector. The Zenos name is a combination of ‘Zen’ to represent purity, and ‘os,’ roughly Latin for ‘vertebra.’
“The start of a new generation of cars for Zenos, the marque will once again focus on innovation and ingenuity as it seeks to do more with less, in the tradition of the Great British sports cars manufacturers that inspired the company’s founding,” Zenos said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, engineering, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, people, performance, shows and events
Tagged Ansar Ali, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, British sports cars, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Lotus, Mark Edwards, X @KenAutoinformed, Zenos Cars
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GM 1940 Design Sketches Found in Rochester NY
“Nobody knows how the binder journeyed from Detroit to upstate New York. When Josh Quick found it in a barn at an estate sale, he grabbed it without thinking. It was only days later, while flipping through the pages, that Quick realized he was holding a missing piece of General Motors history,” Bob Sorokanich, senior editor, GM News posted last week.
In 2024, Josh Quick went to a farm estate sale in the small town of Conesus, about 45 minutes south of Rochester, New York, on the hunt for antique tractor parts. He thought he’d hit the jackpot. “I asked the guy, what do you want for all this stuff? He said, ‘two cases of Busch Light beer,’” Quick told GM News.
Posted in auto news, blog, concept, design and styling, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bob Sorokanich, Christo Datini, Clare MacKichan, Detroit Institute of Automobile Styling, Elwood Engel, Gene Bordinat, Joe Oros, Josh Quick, Ken Zino as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ned Nickles, Quick Speed Shop, X @KenAutoinformed
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Taurus Door Trim Recall – More than 100K Fords
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~101,944 model year 2016-2019 Taurus cars. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. Ford doesn’t say how it will fix the problem. The root cause of the recall remained a part of the assembly process until the end of Taurus production at the Chicago Assembly plant on 1 March 2019. During the first half of 2025, Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its handing of recalls.
“Applique detachment may result from incomplete adhesion of the part to door sheet-metal during installation at the vehicle assembly plant on vehicles built after a process change that stopped the use of hand rollers that aided operators in ensuring complete adhesion of the part,” Ford said on the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. [If the process isn’t broken, why change it? – AutoCrat] Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Taurus Recall 25S91, Ford Taurus recalls, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino writing as AutoCrat, NHTSA Recall 25V611 or 2V-611, X @KenAutoinformed
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Door Recall – Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling ~163,735 model year 2022-2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUVs. The so-called DLO [door Day Light Opening. Supplied by Cooper-Standard – AutoCrat] trim on the driver and passenger doors may not have been installed properly, which can allow it to detach. A DLO trim which detaches from the vehicle may create a road hazard to operators and occupants of other vehicles and can cause such vehicles to crash without prior warning. Customers may notice that the DLO trim has started to separate from the vehicle.
“The DLO trim may not have been properly secured at the vehicle assembly plant and may detach from the vehicle,” FCA said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA). Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, manufacturing, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chrysler of FCA US recalls, FCA recall 77C, Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer safety defect recalls, Ken Zino as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, NHTSA Recall ID 25V593 or 25V-593, X @KenAutoinformed
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Mercedes-AMG Hybrid Wagon Priced – Bring Money
Mercedes-Benz USA said today that 2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid* arrives at U.S. dealerships in early fall 2025, starting from $93,3502. That excludes a $1150 destination and delivery charge as well as options. AutoInformed speculates that Trump Tariff chaos had something to do with the price. Green would be an appropriate color under the circumstances. No U.S. photos or the rear interior area of the wagon were provided. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, electric vehicles, engineering, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, performance, shows and events
Tagged 2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, MBUX Superscreen Package, Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz USA, X @KenAutoinformed
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Togg Türkiye Debuts Two Models at IAA Mobility
Mobility brand Togg said today that it is celebrating its market entry in Germany at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, alongside the world premiere of its production-ready T10F fastback sedan. With the all-electric SUV T10X and the T10F, Togg is introducing two models to the German market, both of which achieved the top rating of five stars in the independent Euro NCAP safety assessment.
“With the T10X and T10F, we are entering the European market with confidence. Achieving five stars from Euro NCAP underlines that safety has been a top priority for us from the very beginning” said CEO Gürcan Karakaş. Starting September 29, 2025, both models will be available for online orders exclusively via Trumore, the in-house service and ordering platform of Togg. More than 70,000 users in Türkiye are already driving the flagship T10X. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, design and styling, electric vehicles, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Fuat Tosyali, Gürcan Karakaş, IAA Mobility 2025 Trumore, Ken Zino, Togg T10X and T10F, X @KenAutoinformed
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First Look – 2026 Toyota Highlander
“For over 25 years, the Toyota Highlander has earned a reputation for delivering passenger-car-like handling and control coupled with the power and versatility of a mid-size SUV. Gas models will be available in XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum grades and hybrid models will be available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Assembled in Princeton, Indiana, Toyota Highlander gas models have a manufacturer-estimated 24 MPG combined rating and hybrid models have a manufacturer-estimated 35 MPG combined rating,” Toyota said. Continue reading
BMW Motorrad Shows 2027 F 450 GS
BMW Motorrad USA in conjunction with its global siblings revealed the new 2027 BMW F 450 GS. It’s said to be a completely redesigned, new construction for the 48 horsepower 400 – 500 cc class.
“With the new BMW F 450 GS, BMW Motorrad presents a genuine BMW GS in the 48 hp A2 class. It embodies the essence of a GS: Get on, twist the throttle, have fun – with full control and maximum confidence. Its low weight, superior performance and perfect balance between agility and stability ensure a particularly intuitive riding experience. Thanks to its precise handling and typical GS expertise, it performs impressively both on and off the road. The F 450 GS is the perfect ‘best buddy’ for every riding situation. It is uncomplicated, robust, and always ready. It sets the benchmark for sporty adventure bikes in its class.” Markus Flasch, CEO BMW Motorrad. Continue reading →