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Category Archives: new vehicle
First Gen Four BMW 1 Series Made in Leipzig
The first of the fourth-generation BMW 1 Series came off the production line at BMW Group Plant Leipzig today. BMW said it was a 120 model in Alpine White for a customer in Germany.* The new BMW 1 Series is due for market launch in October 2024. When first introduced in 2007, the 1-series was a successful bet that a small hatchback doesn’t need to equate to cheap. Continue reading
Honda CR-V Fuel Cell EV – $389 a Month!
Honda this week announced lease options for the 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV, America’s first production plug-in hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. The zero-emissions compact CUV will be available in California starting 9 July, with three leasing options, at $389, $459, and $489 per month. This is a form of space age NASA advanced technology at Honda prices without the requisite trip to the moon, unless you have those views about California. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV 2025 Honda CR-V Fuel Cell Lease Pricing, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Hydrogen Fuel Credits, Ken Zino
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OPTIQ EV- Cadillac Introduces an Entry Level Compact SUV
Cadillac today revealed the new 2025 OPTIQ, an entry-level Cadillac luxury EV. OPTIQ is the least-expensive EV in lineup. This is Cadillac’s fourth EV, positioned below the barely-selling LYRIQ mid-size crossover, with a base price of ~$59,000. This fall OPTIQ joins the expensive ~$300,000+ CELESTIC sedan and the Escalade SUV (~ $130,000). Next year, the VISTIQ appears in showrooms. OPTIQ pricing starts at an estimated $54,000 for the Luxury trim, Sport will be more expensive [footnote 10],* including destination charges, excluding tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Obvious competitors include Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mercedes-EQ EQB, and Lexus RZ. Continue reading
New Porsche 911 Carrera, GTS Carrera Hybrids Debut
Porsche is offering the new 911 Carrera as a coupé at a starting price of €128,700 including VAT and country-specific equipment. Prices for the 911 Carrera GTS Coupé start at €170,600. The price of the optional aero kit package for the 911 Carrera GTS is €2713.20, including VAT and country-specific equipment. Deliveries in Germany will begin in late summer for the 911 Carrera, and in late 2024 for the 911 Carrera GTS. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, milestones, new vehicle, performance, shows and events
Tagged 2024 911 performance hybrid, 911 Carrera GTS Coupé, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, new 911 Carrera GTS, Oliver Blume
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First Level 4 Autonomous Fuel Cell EV Truck Demonstrated
Hyundai Motor Company and an autonomous driving software firm called Plus* today unveiled what’s claimed to be the first SAE Level 4 autonomous Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the U.S. at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. A Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, equipped with Plus SuperDrive™ Level 4 (SAE) autonomous driving technology, is on display at the Plus ACT Expo booth (#2044).
Ultimately, software driven vehicles can replace drivers completely so further developments put global truck makers and their customers on a collision course with driver’s unions. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, new vehicle, news analysis, public health, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Class 8 fuel cell electric trucks, Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, Ken Zino, Martin Zeilinger, PlusDrive®, SAE level 4 autonomous driving, Shawn Kerrigan
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VW Microbus Will Come to the US in Three Trims
Volkswagen of America today said that the 2025 ID. Buzz, the electric powered nostalgia marketing, Microbus* will be offered in three trims, unlike the untrimmed original owners — Pro S and Pro S Plus, along with a launch-only 1st Edition—with a 91 kWh battery and 282 horsepower for rear-wheel drive models; 4Motion® all-wheel-drive models will have maximum horsepower of 335. Range and pricing will be announced closer to launch. Continue reading
The 2025 Genesis SUV – $57,700 to $79,300
“The 2025 GV80 brings a new level of elevated cabin experience to the Genesis SUV lineup, making all occupants feel like honored guests,” said Claudia Marquez, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. “Its new 27-inch widescreen display and array of new interior colors, materials, and finishes introduce an even greater sense of elegance to GV80.” Continue reading
Toyota Tacoma Pickup Adds First Hybrid Powertrain in 2024
The all-new 2024 Tacoma with i-FORCE MAX models are expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships later this Spring. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts at $46,300 for the TRD Sport grade, excluding delivery processing and handling. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, performance
Tagged 2024 Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, i-FORCE Max TRD Off-Road, Ken Zino
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March Western European Passenger Vehicle Sales Up. But…
The Western Europe passenger vehicle (PV) selling rate slipped backwards in March, to 11.3 million units/year, with 1.3 million vehicle registrations, according to the respected GlobalData* consultancy. This is 2.5% below March of 2023. However, year-to-date (YTD) sales increased by … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, results
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, GlobalData, Ken Zino, March EU passenger vehicle sales, March Western European Passenger Vehicle Sales
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Hyundai 2025 Santa Cruz Debuts in New York
Hyundai today unveiled a revised 2025 Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle in a world debut at the New York International Auto Show. Santa Cruz has mildly redesigned exterior and interior surfaces, along with new infotainment and additional advanced driver assistance systems. The 2025 Santa Cruz arrives at Hyundai dealerships this summer.
“The development goal for freshening Santa Cruz was to give it an even bolder, stronger design. We also wanted Santa Cruz to be more capable, and the available XRT trim delivers with all-terrain tires, front tow hooks and improved off-road capability,” said José Muñoz, president and Global COO of Hyundai Motor Company. “Customers are going to appreciate all the new design details and enhancements inside and out. Santa Cruz is a true sport adventure vehicle.” Continue reading
Annals of Marketing – Honda Prologue AI Dream Generator
Honda said today it is celebrating the launch of the all-new 2024 Prologue, its first all-electric SUV, by taking families on an “unforgettable” trip powered by AI. The so-called artificial intelligence “Dream Generator” was developed for Honda in collaboration with Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab. It is said to create stories by combining user-provided inputs with AI-generated visuals to produce a custom and shareable animated film. Each member of the family is in the figurative driver’s seat as they build a Prologue adventure, say, through jungle terrain inhabited by dinosaurs, above the roads in a magic cloud world, through a microscopic garden jungle teeming with bugs or to outer space. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electronics, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, shows and events
Tagged animation cels, artificial intelligence, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Disney animation methods, Honda Dream Generator, Honda Marketing, Kate McCagg, Ken Zino, Phil Hruska
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Annals of Marketing and Racing – Cadillac Opulent Velocity
Cadillac said today that its view what the future of electric performance is contained in teaser look released of the Opulent Velocity concept vehicle. It is designed to market the past, present and future of Cadillac and its performance brand, V-Series. In marketing speak, Opulent Velocity represents the duality of the Cadillac brand defined in the name, Opulent + Velocity.
“Opulent Velocity is designed to foreshadow a zero emissions expression of performance and modern luxury leadership,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director, Cadillac Global Design. “We will share more later this year, so stay tuned.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, marketing, new vehicle, performance, racing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brandon Vivian, Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac V-Series, Ken Zino, Opulent Velocity, Sebring International Raceway
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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 →