Category Archives: marketing

IndyCar Makes Single Car Qualifying Permanent with Tweaks

Posted on 13 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The debut of single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying in Arlington was extremely popular and well received,” claimed IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles. [Not with some driver’s and teams at the Good Ranchers 250-AutoCrat.]* “Following the event, we reached out to stakeholders to help evaluate the format and look into ways to improve an already exciting session. This slight update will provide the fastest from the Top 12 an earned advantage of choosing when they would like their run in the Fast Six, while tire selection before lining up at pit out will save time and more closely equalize the session.” [Precisely – changing track conditions and allowed tire changes for late qualifiers made a mockery of the pole position -AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz and MBUSA Post Q1 2026 Sales Drops

Posted on 13 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The first quarter was characterized by sales growth outside of China, alongside an excellent market response to our newly launched models. The new electric GLC has generated more orders in the first three months than any other electric vehicle in our history, while order intakes for the other new models, including the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, significantly exceed our expectations. Further tailwinds will come from the recently unveiled GLE and GLS, alongside the upcoming world premiere of the all-new electric C-Class. As the availability of our new products scales up, we remain highly focused on converting this strong customer interest into overall sales momentum in the coming months,” said Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Sales & Customer Experience. Continue reading →

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Porsche AG Q1 2026 Sales Drop 15%

Posted on 10 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“Following the end of the combustion-engine 718 and the strong deliveries of the fully electric Macan at market launch, our figures are below the prior‑year level but are overall in line with our expectations. Strong demand for the 911 and the high proportion of top derivatives clearly demonstrate that the core of our sports car brand remains exceptionally strong,” claimed Matthias Becker, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. “In the coming months, our focus will be on the market launch of the all‑electric Cayenne, which will be delivered to its first customers from summer onwards.” Continue reading →

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Penske Truck Rental – New Indy 500 VIP Contest

Posted on 7 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“Penske Truck Rental has always been about moving lives and businesses forward—and for true racing fans, the Indianapolis 500 is the ultimate fan destination,” said Kevin Malloy, senior vice president of rental at Penske. “This new contest celebrates the stories that move us all, and we’re honored to help two passionate fan’s dreams come true of attending this legendary race and enjoying a VIP experience.” Continue reading →

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CARFAX Report Now Predicts a Vehicle’s Future

Posted on 7 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“This marks an important milestone for CARFAX and for the people who rely on our data every day,” said Paul Nadjarian, Chief Product Officer at CARFAX. “With over 151,000 data sources and more than 35 billion records, we’re introducing a powerful new insight into a vehicle’s lifecycle. Much like a crystal ball, our future Reliability will help shoppers understand the road ahead, including what repairs to anticipate and what they may cost, and soon, insights into how long that car will last – empowering consumers to buy with confidence and help them plan ahead.” Continue reading →

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First Look – 2027 Model Year Toyota Land Cruiser

Posted on 7 April 2026 by Ken Zino

Toyota (NYSE: TM, 7203T) said today that the 2027 model-year Land Cruiser revealed last fall will have a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $57,880. [excludes $1450 Dealer Processing and Handling Fee, which can vary – AutoCrat] when it finally arrives at dealerships this spring. Land Cruiser is offered in two grades the retro-look Land Cruiser 1958 and Land Cruiser.

“Both Land Cruisers are equipped exclusively by the turbocharged i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain and a full-time four-wheel drive system. This performance hybrid powertrain is rated by Toyota at 326 net combined horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Lucid Debuts 2027 Gravity Model EV Lineup

Posted on 3 April 2026 by Ken Zino

Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) this week announced updates and enhancements to the Lucid Gravity model lineup for the 2027 model year along with the Lucid Air sedan. Both models are “soon to be joined by the mid-size Lucid Cosmos and … Continue reading →

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Ford GT Mk IV Runs Nordschleife at 6m15.977s

Posted on 2 April 2026 by Ken Zino

The Ford GT Mk IV (NYSE: F) has set the record as the fastest American OEM around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Ford Racing said today. It is at the moment the third fastest overall car to ever lap the Nordschleife. The 6:15.977 ET also means that the GT Mk IV, as a track-only vehicle classified in the prototype category, is the fastest car currently available for purchase to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Just bring money –  stacks of it – starting price of ~$1.7 million. Continue reading →

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Subaru Shows 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid SUV

Posted on 1 April 2026 by Ken Zino

As with the Subaru Forester Hybrid, the Forester Wilderness Hybrid uses an Atkinson/Miller-cycle [Delayed intake valve closing, compensated for with supercharging or other methods such as electric motors for recovering lost power – AutoCrat.] 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer® engine optimized for efficiency, paired with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery and electric motors to produce 194 horsepower. The next-generation Subaru Hybrid system uses a series-parallel configuration to integrate with the existing Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Manual Trans Return to Nissan Z

Posted on 31 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“We try to do something every year for the sports cars to keep them relevant and top-of-mind. We love working on these cars for our customers, and it’s a joy for us to continuously improve these things. We’ve been listening to our customers and talking to them. I think we’ve made a substantial improvement. The big thing everyone kept talking about is the desire for a manual transmission option for Z NISMO. It’s now here. Initially we didn’t launch with it because it’s a track-focused car,” said Paul Hawson, director of Advanced Product Planning & Strategy at Nissan North America. Continue reading →

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NYAS – Honda To Show Fastport eQuad EV Delivery Van

Posted on 30 March 2026 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor Company (7267.T and NYSE: HMC) said today that it will show the all-electric Fastport eQuad EV Hybrid at a press event on 1 April 1 at the  Test Track where the New York Auto Show is held  [Level 1 Javits’s Center -AutoCrat.]* Fastport Chief of Operations Jamie Davies will share updates and lead a walk-around and demonstration of the vehicle.

“Fastport uses the Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) swappable batteries and is a software-defined vehicle (SDV) project. The Fastport eQuad in theory will help address urban congestion and rising consumer demand for faster, more frequent deliveries,” AutoInformed previously noted. Continue reading →

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Chinese Owned Volvo Cars to Import Lynk & Co Cars in Europe

Posted on 30 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“With this new arrangement, we will leverage our commercial system to support Lynk & Co’s growth ambitions in Europe,” said Erik Severinson, chief commercial officer at Volvo Cars. “At the same time, it enables Volvo Cars and our retail partners to address a wider customer base. With the support of our retailers and our commercial organization, Lynk & Co can achieve its true potential in Europe.” Continue reading →

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Corvette Grand Sport to Share LS6 6.7L V8 with Sting Ray

Posted on 26 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Grand Sport has always been the Corvette for drivers who want the spirit of a race car in a package they can enjoy every day,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet. “With the new Grand Sport and Grand Sport X, we’ve taken that formula into the mid-engine era, pairing a heritage-rich design with the most advanced Corvette technologies we’ve ever offered. The Grand Sport model has historically acted as a high-volume player in the Corvette lineup. We expect the Stingray and Grand Sport lineup combined to account for the vast majority of Corvette sales.” Continue reading →

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U.S. New Vehicle Sales Forecast Flat in March

Posted on 25 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“After a year marked by policy-driven sales volatility, the new-vehicle market has settled into a slower rhythm in early 2026,” said Jeremy Robb, chief economist at Cox Automotive. “The pull-ahead demand created by last spring’s tariff announcements and, later, the loss of EV tax credits is (sic) now all firmly in the rear-view mirror. While the stimulus of a good tax-return season is a positive, the new-vehicle market today is being shaped by higher vehicle prices, ongoing inflationary pressures, and still-elevated interest rates.” Continue reading →

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Consumers, Not Regulators Now Rule EV Market

Posted on 25 March 2026 by Ken Zino

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) today released its analysis of the U.S. electric vehicle market for Q4 and full-year 2025. EV sales in Q4 lowest since first quarter of 2022; down year-over-year. The market reflected a major shift to actual consumer demand free of the influence of now eliminated EV incentives under the Trump mis-administration in AutoInformed’s view. Consumer satisfaction with and demand for electrified vehicles remain considerable and too large for automakers to ignore, now matter the follies of Trump appointed idolaters/regulators. Hybrids in particular remain a strong and growing segment. Continue reading →

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