Category Archives: milestones

IIHS Safety Award to Use Risky Driver Behavior Tech

Posted on 9 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Vehicle technology that can detect certain types of risky driver behavior will soon be added to the requirements for a safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Institute’s president, David Harkey, announced today during a roundtable on impaired driving organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“As part of our 30×30 vision to cut U.S. road deaths 30% by 2030, we are committed to addressing the risky – and often illegal – behavior that underlies most fatalities today,” Harkey said. “One way we plan to do that is to leverage our ratings and award programs to encourage automakers to adopt this new class of safety technology, just as we got them to improve vehicle structures, airbags and collision avoidance systems.” Continue reading →

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Togg Türkiye Debuts Two Models at IAA Mobility

Posted on 8 September 2025 by Ken Zino

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 →

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New Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Car Debuts

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“The comprehensive further development of the Mercedes-AMG GT2, unveiled at the end of 2022, combines the fundamental characteristics of the base GT2 with technology and design inspired by the current Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E PERFORMANCE. An outstanding power-to-weight ratio and numerous new aerodynamic components, such as active louvers above the front wheels, a Push2Pass function and the integrated Drag Reduction System (DRS), make the GT2 Edition W16 the most powerful Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing car of all time,” Mercedes said. Continue reading →

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Ford Performance Rebranded as Ford Racing

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“This is not a marketing exercise. This is a promise. It signals a new, more focused mission to tear down the wall between our race teams and the engineering of the vehicles you drive every day on and off road. Under one global Ford Racing banner, our engineers and designers will develop our performance road cars right alongside our race cars. The technology that survives the Baja 1000 will be in the DNA of the next F-150 Raptor. The aerodynamic lessons we learn at Daytona and Le Mans will be sculpted into the body of the next Mustang,” said Will Ford.

The move comes during a period of intense change at the upper levels of Motorsport in Formula 1, endurance racing or the World Endurance Championship, and various international and national forms of sports car racing where Ford Motor in the past has had considerable success. This could be a rite pf passage for Will moving him out of the protective family environment into bare-knuckled competitive realms. Continue reading →

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Porsche to Debut Wireless Charging on 26 Cayenne!

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche said today that it will offer an 11-kW charging system with a one-box base plate for wireless charging on its upcoming battery-electric vehicles. This at the moment appears to be breakthrough. If things go as planned, Porsche will be the first automaker to offer a convenient recharging system already in widespread use in cellphone apps.

“Ease of use, suitability for everyday use and charging infrastructure are still the decisive factors when it comes to the acceptance of electric mobility,” said Porsche Board Member for Development Dr. Michael Steiner. “We are proud that inductive charging will soon be available in series production at Porsche. Charging an electric car at home has never been so easy and convenient.” Continue reading →

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Toyota Joins Tokyo Hydrogen Fuel Venture

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM and 7203.T) announced today that it has joined “TOKYO H2,” a new project launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on 3 September aiming to make Tokyo a global leader in hydrogen. As part of this public-private initiative, the Crown has been introduced into the fuel cell taxi fleet to expand adoption.

“The Crown combines the exceptional quietness unique to a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) with spacious rear seating and excellent ease of entry and exit, delivering comfortable and a premium travel experience unmatched by conventional taxis,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Oscar Piastri to Auction Race-Used Helmet For Charity

Posted on 28 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris, also at McLaren, are the top two and only contenders for the driver’s title this year. “It’s a pleasure to donate my 2024 Bahrain GP race helmet from my personal collection to raise funds for My Room, the children’s cancer charity in Australia, that I am a proud ambassador for. I hope that it will prove a popular item and a significant sum can be generated to go directly towards the tremendous work that My Room does, supporting children and their families in any way they can. My thanks go to F1 Authentics* for their support with all the organization and I can’t wait for the auction to go live on the 7th of October,” Oscar Piastri said. Continue reading →

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Ford Charge Launches at 320 Dealerships

Posted on 28 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today in a confusingly muddled concoction of press release and social media post that “Ford Charge Launches at 320 Ford Dealerships Nationwide.

“When my great-grandparents Rocco and Emanuela Grappone opened their Gulf gas station in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1924 with just one gas pump, they saw an opportunity to support their family by becoming part of the leap forward sweeping the country and experiencing the freedom that comes with owning a car,” said Amanda Grappone Osmer the Dealer Principal of John Grappone Ford in Bow, New Hampshire. Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars Selling New XC70 PHEV in China

Posted on 27 August 2025 by Ken Zino

The new Volvo (VOLCAR-B.STO)* XC70 SUV is Volvo Cars’ first long-range plug-in hybrid with an all-electric driving range of more than 200km (~124 miles) based on the CLTC testing cycle. This is the longest of any Volvo plug-in hybrid to date. No surprise that given its Chinese ownership customers can now pre-order the SUV in China. Yes, China – Europe, North America, and Scandinavia can wait. Volvo Cars said today it plans to bring the car to Europe at some later unspecified time. Continue reading →

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Dedicated IndyCar Game Coming from iRacing Studios

Posted on 26 August 2025 by Ken Zino

IndyCar and iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations today announced a long-term licensing agreement for iRacing Studios to produce standalone IndyCar titles for consoles and PCs. As part of the agreement, iRacing Studios will release an IndyCar title for PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam in the second half of 2026. The new product will mark the first dedicated IndyCar game in more than two decades. Continue reading →

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Formula One – Bottas and Perez to Drive for Cadillac

Posted on 26 August 2025 by Ken Zino

The Cadillac Formula 1® Team today announced the signing of two experienced drivers – 10-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas* and six-time Grand Prix winner Sergio “Checo” Perez** – to lead the team during its debut season in Formula 1® in 2026. Thus, a Finn and a Mexican will race for the American brand Cadillac next year. The nascent team will operate out of three places: Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Silverstone, UK. Clearly experience is key here: Bottas with his Mercedes background as a driver during the Lewis Hamilton glory years; Perez was a driver at Red Bull team when Verstappen ruled.

“Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent,” claimed Team Principal Graeme Lowdon. “They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1®. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life.” Continue reading →

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Penske Drives His Porsche 963 RSP

Posted on 22 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG said today that Roger Penske took the wheel of the Porsche 963 RSP,* a one-off creation bearing his initials, for the first time. The car was later showcased during Monterey Car Week in California before joining his private … Continue reading →

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Toyota, Mazda Testing EV Battery Energy-Storage System

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) said today that they have started field tests of Toyota’s Sweep Energy Storage System at Mazda’s Hiroshima Plant in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The system rapidly switches each battery’s power flow on and off, even when new batteries are connected to degraded or different capacity batteries.

“For the tests, the power system at Mazda’s headquarters campus, the only power generation system operated by an automaker in Japan, and Toyota’s system that uses batteries from electrified vehicles will be connected through their respective energy management systems. This will enable the verification of stable, high-quality, and efficient charging and discharging. In the future, the storage system will be used to regulate power supply and demand from renewable energy, which fluctuates depending on weather and time of day, contributing to carbon neutrality,” the companies said. Continue reading →

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Volvo Car USA to Offer Insurance

Posted on 20 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“By launching Volvo Car Insurance Services, we are extending Volvo Cars’ commitment to safety and simplicity well beyond the vehicle,” said Tony Nicolosi, President & CEO, Volvo Car Financial Services. “This expanded offering combines a seamless digital experience with flexible, personalized coverage options, supported by licensed insurance agents who provide expert, transparent guidance, creating a new standard for what customers should expect from automotive insurance.” Continue reading →

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MINI Expanding Proactive Care to More Markets

Posted on 20 August 2025 by Ken Zino

MINI said today that it is expanding its so-called Proactive Care service to more markets, including the U.S. eventually. The service lets the vehicle act as a digital concierge, recognizing existing and predictable service needs and proactively reaching out to the customer with proposed solutions.

“With the introduction of Proactive Care at MINI, we are now implementing our service promise ‘RELAX. WE CARE.’ in the premium segment of small and compact cars. Our offering acts as a digital concierge, proactively analyzing all service needs and providing timely support to our customers. This ensures that our customers are always well-informed and that potential needs are identified early,” says Ralf Hattler, Senior Vice President Customer Support and Aftersales. Continue reading →

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