Category Archives: people

Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run

Posted on 19 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Cadillac Racing completed a three-day test at the “Roar Before the 24” at last weekend’s sessions  prior to the running of the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona this weekend in a twice-around-the-clock race on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course. Cadillac’s cars were first and third fastest in an early session, with a Porsche in between.

No big deal, though. First, with 20 overall victories by Porsche race cars, four additional wins as an engine manufacturer and one noteworthy  triumph in 1959, Porsche is inarguably the most successful manufacturer running sports car endurance races where the drivers have to know how to turn right as well as left. Added to this are more than 40 class victories at the famous 24-hour classic in Florida.** The Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team aims to continue this success. The Top Ten GTP cars were only separated by ~1 second when practice ended. Continue reading →

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Cadillac Formula 1® – Checo Perez Completes First Track Laps

Posted on 19 January 2026 by Ken Zino

A Cadillac Formula 1 Team Filming Day happened this past Friday at the Silverstone track in England. The team was at the  track during a pre-season promotional day as it continues preparations for its debut Formula 1® campaign during 2026. The car ran entirely in black at Silverstone, with the final 2026 Cadillac Formula 1® Team livery set to be revealed on Sunday 8 February 2026 , via a globally televised championship broadcast during the Australian Grand Prix. [Let’s hope black isn’t symbolic of the first season of real racing – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Global Warming – Michigan Studying Geologic Hydrogen

Posted on 16 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“Michigan is a leader in clean-energy solutions,” said Governor Whitmer. “This initiative will uncover more about Michigan’s geologic hydrogen stores, which have the potential to attract long-term investments in our state and create thousands of good paying jobs for Michiganders. Together, we’re building the future of clean energy in Michigan.” [Whether this prompts an Invasion by the Trump Administration remains to be seen – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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Whitmer Stands in Stark Contrast to Trump at Detroit Auto Show

Posted on 15 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke at the Detroit Auto Show today, discussing the impact of tariffs on Michigan’s economy, the importance of innovation and collaboration, and actions the state must take in 2026 to continue attracting business and creating good-paying local jobs amidst what was respectfully termed “national uncertainty.”

Unlike President Trump’s treatment of an autoworker during his Ford Motor River Rouge Plant visit in Dearborn, Michigan this week, where The Man Who Would Be King was caught on video flipping off a Ford worker [with the map of Manhattan – AutoCrat] while using gutter profanity, Whitmer was poised, pleasant, well-informed and inarguably committed to helping workers with a track record that proves it. Whitmer even had an announcement that will be good for all Michiganders, notwithstanding social status, wealth or power. Continue reading →

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IMSA 2026 – Cadillac Racing Entering Fourth Year in GTP

Posted on 15 January 2026 by Ken Zino

The so-called Roar Before the 24 this week leads into the IMSA* season-opening 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 24-25. Cadillac Racing with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing and Cadillac Whelen has revealed the liveries of its three Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) racecars that will contest the nine-race 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Cadillac Racing, with four overall victories among 12 podiums in what is arguably North America’s premier endurance race, sees the return of Wayne Taylor Racing for its second season as a Cadillac factory team and Action Express Racing for its 15th consecutive year campaigning a GM prototype in IMSA. Cadillac is entering its fourth year of running in the GTP class. Continue reading →

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Ford Carhartt Partnership on Products, Workforce Expansion

Posted on 13 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“The multi-year strategic partnership is designed to create long-term impact in three critical areas for the Essential Economy: workforce development, community building and durable products that help strengthen and support the skilled trades,” said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company CEO, and Linda Hubbard, Carhartt CEO. Continue reading →

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Rolls-Royce – 2025 Trends, Innovations, and Achievements

Posted on 12 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“Our clients’ increasing interest and engagement in more ambitious commissions are realized in our joint pursuit of perfection. Every motor car is a singular expression of its owner’s vision, and together they reflect the spirit of innovation, craft, and cultural fluency that defines Rolls-Royce today,” said Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Continue reading →

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Porsche Laments the Death of Hans Herrmann

Posted on 12 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG is mourning the loss of Hans Herrmann. The former racing driver passed away on 9 January 2026, at the age of 97. During his motorsport career, he achieved more than 80 overall and class victories, the vast majority of them for Porsche. Herrmann not only competed in all major endurance races and European hill climb championship events, but also conducted countless test drives at the Weissach Development Center. Above all, Hermann was instrumental in making Porsche a serious competitor in endurance racing.

“The passing of Hans Herrmann has deeply affected us all,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “He was one of Porsche AG’s most successful factory racing drivers. With the victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 in the Porsche 917, Richard Attwood and he made history.” Continue reading →

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EPA Administrator and Trump Booster Zeldin Praises Himself

Posted on 31 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The EPA Office of the Administrator sent this “bulletin” out at 10:00 AM EST this morning.

“It has been a historic year at EPA, and we look forward to even more victories in the year ahead,” said Trump crony Lee Michael Zeldin, administration of the EPA since 29 January 2025 at the beginning of the Second Trump administration. Following are Zeldon’s assertions edited for space. [As with EPA fuel mileage ratings, and Zeldin’s dismissal of Global Warming and Climate Change your observed results and therefore opinions on these boasts may vary significantly- AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Porsche – Happy Birthday Hans-Joachim Stuck

Posted on 30 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“Hans-Joachim Stuck has done a great deal for Porsche. His performances over long distances, in particular his success at the wheel of the Porsche 962, still count as some of the seminal moments in Porsche motorsport history,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “We thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best for his 75th birthday.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Kia and Times Square New Year Partyers

Posted on 29 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“The Telluride signaled Kia’s arrival in the top tier of the world’s automotive manufacturers as the rarest of flagship vehicles to serve as a symbol of innovation and challenge while also being as attainable as it is attractive,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. “We are pleased to celebrate our Kia Georgia Team Members at the turn of the New Year as both the Telluride and the change in calendar are transformative points in the Kia journey. The dedication of Team Members at our plant in West Point, Georgia, is what made the Telluride the success that it is today and has helped demand grow each and every year.” Continue reading →

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Mazda Axes Advance, Production and Design Modeling Studios

Posted on 29 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC 7261.T) announced on 26 December organizational changes that eliminates its traditional Advance, Production and Design Modeling Studios, among other moves, that are effective 1 January 2026. This is part of the so-called Mazda 2030 Vision, an ongoing business recovery strategy. Results so far are slight. Consider the disastrous financial results for the first half of the Japanese fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (April 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025). Global sales volume was 609,000 units, down 3% year-over-year. The operating loss was ¥53.9 billion. The net loss attributable to owners of the parent company was ¥45.3 billion.

“The timing of the Japan-US auto tariff reduction was later than initially expected, which had an impact of ¥10.3 billion. As a result, although we aimed for break-even in the second quarter, we posted an operating loss of ¥7.8 billion. We see the second quarter result establishing a foundation for turnaround in the second half of the year,” MMC said. Continue reading →

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Detroit Auto Show 2026 – Winners of HS Poster Contest

Posted on 26 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The Detroit Auto Show (DAS) just before Christmas announced the winners of its 2026 High School Poster Contest, a statewide competition looking at the next generation of creative talent. The winners will be formally recognized during a special on-stage ceremony at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show on Sunday, January 18, at Huntington Place.*

“Open to high school students across Michigan, the contest invited young artists to submit original poster designs inspired by the Detroit Auto Show and the future of the automotive industry. The winning artwork reflects a wide range of perspectives, creativity, and technical skill, reinforcing Detroit’s role as both the automotive capital of the world and a hub for design innovation. The Detroit Auto Show received 208 entries from 47 high schools,” DAS said. Continue reading →

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Wadda You Say? Personalized Sound at Nissan, Infiniti

Posted on 15 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Nissan and Infiniti said today that the Personalized Sound app that debuted – also today – on the Google Play store is available now for download on every Nissan and Infiniti equipped with Google built-in (footnote 1) including those on the road, at no additional cost. After downloading the Personalized Sound app from the Google Play store, the program directs drivers through a hearing test by playing tones of varying loudness and pitch. The driver responds with how well they can hear each sound by tapping on the infotainment screen, and the program creates a personalized listening profile based on that individual’s hearing.

“We want to elevate every driver’s experience, whether they have a hearing impairment, are audiophiles, or simply want to get the most out of their sound system,” said Mitchell Pope, a senior product planner at Nissan who helped lead the development of Personalized Sound. Offering an individually tailored audio experience like this is a big first in the U.S. auto industry.” Continue reading →

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ICE Vehicle Mobile Apps – Wide Satisfaction Differences

Posted on 12 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM ICE App ReportSM released this week shows that owner satisfaction with mobile apps for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is more and more shaped by reliable connectivity, intuitive design, and the availability of essential features. Nearly 80% of ICE vehicle owners indicate using the OEM-provided app, “yet engagement and satisfaction remain inconsistent year-over-year. High-performing brands are pulling ahead, widening the gap with competitors,” J.D. Power said.

“Connectivity and speed continue to be the most significant challenges for ICE vehicle apps,” said Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power. “Owners want apps that work seamlessly every time, with core features that are easy to access and perform reliably. The top performers notably stand out, and this year’s scores reflect that.” Continue reading →

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