Category Archives: performance

Mustang GTD Laps Nürburgring in under Seven Minutes

Posted on 10 December 2024 by Ken Zino

A 2025 Ford Mustang GTD completed of the 12.9-mile at the 73-turn “Green Hell” in 6:57.685 at the Nürburgring Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today.* This means Mustang GTD is only the sixth stock, production sports car to complete an officially certified sub-seven-minute lap and the fifth fastest in the production sports car class according to the Nürburgring’s records.

Mustang GTD represents the pinnacle of Mustang performance. Ford said it benefits from lessons learned by the Ford Performance Motorsports and Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 program, in particular around aerodynamics and setup for tracks such as the Nürburgring. However, Mustang GTD isn’t subject to the rules and regulations of GT3 racing, which prohibit much of the technology that allow a sub-seven-minute Nürburgring lap. Ford Motor is hardly the first company to use a speed run as a marketing ploy, however meaningless it is when the green flag waves in a real race, AutoInformed notes. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news analysis, performance, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Porsche Motorsport and Iron Dames in WEC

Posted on 3 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Porsche Motorsport said today that during 2025 with the start of the Asian Le Mans Series next weekend in Sepang (Malaysia). Four fast female drivers will compete in four top series at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R. Michelle Gatting from Denmark, Rahel Frey from Switzerland, Sarah Bovy from Belgium and Célia Martin from France will race for the Iron Dames squad in Asia, Europe and the USA. The schedule also includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Iron Dames is now in a partnership with Porsche – in essence a factory supported racing team.

“Porsche stands for a culture of equal opportunities and diversity. Encouraging women to get involved in motorsport and then supporting them in open competition is something we value highly. In this context, we’ve seen that the Iron Dames project is well-structured and was very successful in recent years,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “Since our customer teams have already celebrated victories with the Iron Dames, we’re now taking the next logical step. We’re very confident that the collaboration in all series will reap excellent results and we can highlight our contribution to supporting female racing drivers with victories and podium finishes.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, people, performance, racing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bernie Ecclestone Selling His F1 Car Collection

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

“I have been collecting these cars for more than 50 years, and I have only ever bought the best of any example. Whilst many other collectors over the years have opted for sports cars, my passion has always been for Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars,” said Ecclestone. “A Grand Prix and in particular a Formula 1 car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art.”

“I love all of my cars but the time has come for me to start thinking about what will happen to them should I no longer be here, and that is why I have decided to sell them. After collecting and owning them for so long, I would like to know where they have gone and not leave them for my wife to deal with should I not be around,” said Ecclestone. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors via Cadillac F1 Bound in 2026

Posted on 25 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The move comes after Max Verstappen took the 2024 driver’s title driving for Red Bull at Las Vegas over the past weekend. An announcement of some sort was widely rumored in the paddock. This starts another era in F1 as Cadillac would be the first new team to join F1 since 2016 and the eleventh team on the grid. In addition to the Cadillac F1 partnership with GM, TWG Global owns and operates Andretti Global, Wayne Taylor Racing, and Spire Motorsports. [It will also open up a couple of driver’s seats in the world’s most expensive motor sports series.  Seven different drivers won more than one race in 2024, which has two races remaining. Gentleman, let the driver speculation intrigue begin. Gentlewoman? – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, people, performance, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look New 2025 Acura ADX Compact SUV

Posted on 14 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Acura today unveiled the  Acura ADX, an all-new premium compact SUV. It’s targeting young buyers to the performance brand with ”an engaging driving experience, a feature-rich interior and top-class cabin and cargo space that supports their active lifestyles.” The new ADX will begin arriving at Acura dealers in early 2025 with a price range starting in the mid-$30,000 range at a time when performance is losing its appeal to younger shoppers, who are viewing car buying as a mathematical equation with lower prices winning.

“The all-new Acura ADX is an exciting new gateway model for the Acura brand expanding our performance SUV lineup to four exceptional models in the most popular segments,” said Mike Langel, assistant vice president, Acura National Sales. “ADX will hit the heart of the premium compact SUV segment, which has grown significantly over the past few years.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto – Formula One’s Newest Driver

Posted on 11 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The second driver for Audi’s entry into Formula 1 in 2026 will be the 20-year old Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto. He will drive alongside German Nico Hülkenberg (37) for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber next year, which will become the Audi F1 factory team in 2026.

The experienced Hülkenberg, who was announced in April, and the promising F1 rookie Bortoleto form a Mutt and Jeff or opposite-experience driver pairing for Audi’s Formula 1 project. Bortoleto in 2023 stood out in his debut season winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship. The São Paulo native is currently leading the FIA Formula 2 Championship standings. His career began at the age of six in karting, and by twelve, he had moved to Europe with his family to pursue his Formula 1 dream. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, news analysis, people, performance, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Porsche Penske Motorsport Wins – Rename the 963 to 967?

Posted on 8 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The 2024 season was one of the most successful in Porsche’s long-distance racing history as the Porsche 963, won seven of eight possible titles together with the works team Porsche Penske Motorsport. Maybe it should be call 967 to honor the success in only the second year of racing the 963. The overall result of the 2024 season in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship was six out of six possible titles in North America, as well as the world championship crown for the works drivers Kévin Estre from France, André Lotterer from Germany and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium in the FIA WEC. Porsche missed the manufacturer’s title in the world championship with the 963 this year by two points.

‟ ‘Nobody’s perfect’ – we already used this slogan in 1983, when only one third-party manufacturer appeared in the top 10 of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport in a release celebrating the season today. It turns out that 41 years ago, Porsche publicized the Le Mans result under the ‘Nobody’s perfect’ on a now well-known poster. It depicted the racing cars from Stuttgart in the first eight places in the overall classification and in tenth place, with a Sauber BMW in between in the ninth spot. In AutoInformed’s view it also is just another example of Porsche’s sense of humor – counter the false stereotype on the lack of German humor. Remember the pink pig Porsche 917 endurance racer at Le Mans in 1971with the cuts of ham stenciled on the car? Continue reading →

Posted in engineering, news analysis, performance, racing, results, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AC Ace Classic electric at SEMA 2024 – Bring Money

Posted on 5 November 2024 by Ken Zino

AC Cars unveiled the AC Ace Classic electric at the SEMA 2024 show in Las Vegas today with electrified performance technologies partner TREMEC Electric GT. With 49 examples available for the launch, the new AC Ace Classic electric can be reserved exclusively at the SEMA show and by visiting here. Priced at $275,000 (£212,000) before tax and any personalization or custom options. It’s available as left- and right-hand drive and intended for US as well as UK clients. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, engineering, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis, performance, shows and events | Leave a comment

Honda Racing to Sell Parts to Honda and Acura Consumers

Posted on 31 October 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), the North American racing arm for Honda and Acura, today announced it will create a new business to produce performance parts for customer use for street, track and off-road applications. Formerly known as Honda Performance Development (HPD), HRC US will offer a new line of performance parts for retail customers.

“HRC US has been winning races and championships on and off road for three decades, and we’re excited to apply this experience to new lines of performance parts for Honda and Acura enthusiasts eager to augment their performance driving experience,” said Jon Ikeda, senior vice president, HRC US. “To be an HRC genuine part, it must meet our exacting standards, while functionally improving vehicle performance and the driving experience.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, performance, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

For The Record – Corvette ZR1 Hits 233 MPH

Posted on 31 October 2024 by Ken Zino

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1* is now the fastest car ever built by an American auto manufacturer. At a test track in Germany earlier this month, General Motors (NYSE: GM) President Mark Reuss drove a 2025 Corvette ZR1 233 mph, setting a top speed record for any current production car priced under $1 million. The Corvette team set this two-way average speed on the northbound and southbound straightaways of the High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg.

“Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and for Chevrolet, and also an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally,” said Reuss. “With the current generation’s switch to mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made this a real possibility. To go over there and get it done is a testament to the power of ZR1, and to the incredibly talented team that developed and built it.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, engineering, marketing, news analysis, performance, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cadillac Lyric EV SUV Gets V-Series Performance Option

Posted on 29 October 2024 by Ken Zino

Cadillac (NYSE: GM) said today that  the first electric SUV to earn the V-Series badge – the 2026 LYRIQ-V – debuts in early 2025. LYRIQ-V will appear markets around the world in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive, including the U.S., Canada, … Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Man vs Autonomous Machine Race Coming to Suzuka

Posted on 10 October 2024 by Ken Zino

The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL)* said today that a “Man vs Machine Showdown” is coming to the Suzuka Circuit in Japan next month. The exhibition race will be the first time Japanese spectators  can see a head-to-head race between human drivers and AI technology. It will take place on the Super Formula double-header season finale on November 9-10.

“In partnership with Japan Race Promotion, A2RL’s ‘Man vs Machine’ challenge will pit two Super Formula race cars against each other in a head-to-head competition. One car will be piloted by former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, A2RL’s development driver, while the other will be entirely controlled by advanced autonomous algorithms and robotics, showcasing cutting-edge technology,” A2RL said. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mattias Ekström Joins Ford Performance for 2025 Dakar Rally

Posted on 1 October 2024 by Ken Zino

“Joining the Ford Dakar program is really exciting for me,” said Mattias Ekström. “Ford and M-Sport have built a vehicle that looks, sounds, and drives awesome and we all have a common ambition to win the Dakar Rally. I have had four tries at Dakar so far and now I can say that I have some experience to be able to aim for the top. There is also a lot of knowledge and experience in the team to back up the ambition – starting with the long motorsport heritage of Ford, proven track record of M-Sport, very impressive driver line-up, smart engineers, technicians, and the rest of the team. I look forward to the first competitive outing with the Ford Raptor T1+ at Rally du Maroc and later at the Dakar Rally. I am in it to win it and I hope we will have very successful and great years ahead of us. I will do everything in my power to make it happen.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

McLaren W1 Supercar Global Reveal This Sunday

Posted on 27 September 2024 by Ken Zino

McLaren Automotive today said that the next version of its legendary ‘1’ car lineage – a new supercar named W1, will be revealed at 13:00 BST on Sunday 6 October 2024. The McLaren W1 is the successor to the McLaren F1. The W1 name “celebrates McLaren’s World Championship mindset.” The public reveal date marks the 50th anniversary of McLaren winning its first Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship, and Emerson Fittipaldi winning the 1974 World Drivers’ Championship with McLaren.

“The McLaren W1 is defined by real supercar principles and is the ultimate expression of a McLaren supercar. Born of our rich racing history and World Championship mindset, W1 pushes the boundaries of performance and is worthy of the ‘1’ name. Like its predecessors the F1 and McLaren P1™, W1 defines the rulebook of a real supercar,” Michael Leiters, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, design and styling, engineering, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

McLaren P1 $449.99! Some Assembly Required

Posted on 13 September 2024 by Ken Zino

McLaren F1™ driver, Lando Norris has completed a lap of the British racetrack, Silverstone, in a 1:1 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1. Norris successfully lasted through the twist and turns of the 5.891km (3.66 miles) track. You can buy the 1:8 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1 Lego for $449.99 (£389.99, €449.99), but some assembly is required.*

“Having worked on the original P1 program for McLaren, it’s amazing to see so many of the elements from the original McLaren P1™ brought to life so realistically by the LEGO Technic team for the full-scale model. The car was an icon of its time. I hope that through this collaboration with the LEGO Group, we are able to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers to push the boundaries of automotive innovation,” said Ben Gulliver, Test & Development Director, McLaren Automotive. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, performance, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment