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Category Archives: shows and events
Bike Lane Delivery – Honda Shows Fastport eQuad Prototype
Honda (7267.T and NYSE: HMC) today announced the establishment of Fastport, a new business dedicated to transforming the last-mile delivery industry with what it calls “innovative micromobility solutions.” 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.
“The Fastport team has worked tirelessly to create the Fastport eQuad, a zero-emission alternative to delivery vans that solves the challenge of last mile urban logistics by meeting the needs of urban residents expecting on-demand deliveries of packages, groceries and other items,” said Jose Wyszogrod, general manager and founding member of Fastport. “Drawing from the deep knowledge of Honda design and engineering talent in the U.S., the Fastport eQuad is a testament to the commitment of Honda to advancing a more sustainable future through innovative mobility solutions.” Continue reading
Posted in economy, electric vehicles, environment, milestones, mobility company, news, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, grocery deliveries, Honda Fastport eQuad Goods Delivery Prototype, Jose Wyszogrod, Ken Zino, parcel and small package deliveries, urban logistics, X @KenAutoinformed
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First Look – the 2026 Corvette ZR1X Hypercar
Chevrolet (NYSE: GM) said this morning that it is introducing an all-wheel drive Corvette with the ZR1 designation.* The 2026 Corvette ZR1X is GM rated at 1250 horsepower [footnote 1] and has electrified all-wheel drive. This makes the ZR1X the most advanced Corvette ever. With ZR1 and ZR1X, Chevrolet now has the most powerful American performance car duet of any auto manufacturer.
“From day one, we designed the mid-engine Corvette architecture with ZR1X in mind,” said General Motors senior VP Ken Morris. “This is the most revolutionary platform in Corvette history, supporting the widest range of American sports cars [3] and delivering world-class performance at every level.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, electronics, engineering, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, performance, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged 2026 Corvette ZR1X, 24 Hours of Le Mans, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Corvette E-Ray, Gemini small-block V8, Ken Morris, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed, ZR1X hypercar
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Bring Your Own Bronco Optional at Off-Roadeo
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) said today that it is now offering Bronco owners who have attended the complimentary Bronco Off-Rodeo – an immersive driving school available to new Bronco, Bronco Sport, and Bronco Raptor owners the chance to bring their own Bronco to an advanced dirt driving program so to speak.
“Ninety percent of Bronco Off-Roadeo participants say they want to return and learn even more,” said Kelsey Gerken, Bronco consumer strategy manager at Ford. “Bring Your Own Bronco gives them that chance, expanding the Off-Roadeo experience to two unique, four-hour courses that further grow a Bronco owner’s skillset.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, marketing, mobility company, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bronco consumer strategy, electronic locking differentials, Ken Zino, recovery techniques, Rock Crawl Camera, Trail Control, X @KenAutoinformed
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Ford Updates Nascent WEC Hypercar Program
Today Ford Motor (NYSE: F) during opening events prior to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans announced its chassis partner, ORECA, and its program lead, Dan Sayers. The Ford WEC Hypercar program will debut at the season-opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in less than two years.
“Bringing Ford back to the top class at Le Mans has always been a dream for many of us including our Executive Chair Bill Ford,” said Ford Motor Company President and CEO, Jim Farley. “To be able to partner with ORECA is a proud moment for Ford. We are coming back to Le Mans to win, and we aren’t making that a secret. On Sunday, it will be exactly 56 years since we last took the top step of the overall podium here. That is long enough. In 2027, we are coming with the same level of expectation, and we are entrusting ORECA to help us take on Ferrari and the other top-class teams as we did back in the 1960s.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, marketing, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Dan Sayers, Jim Farley, Ken Zino, Oreca, WEC Hypercar Mark Rushbrook, X @KenAutoinformed
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Annals of Marketing – Hilfiger Joins Cadillac Formula 1®
“Two icons. One vision. A bold new era of American motorsport,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “We’re proud to continue our Formula 1® story alongside TWG Motorsports and Cadillac. We share a vision to honor the heritage of F1® while pushing it forward – celebrating where we come from, and re-imagining where we can go. As the sport’s presence around the globe continues to soar, there’s never been a better time to dream big, and show the world what an American team can bring to the grid.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, marketing, milestones, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events
Tagged Andretti Global, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Damson Idris, Dan Towriss, Graeme Lowdon, Ken Zino, Lea Rytz Goldman, Spire Motorsports, Tommy Hilfiger, TWG Motorsports and Cadillac, Watkins Glen, Wayne Taylor Racing, X @KenAutoinformed
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Michigan Central to Get Hotel on Top Floors
Michigan Central said today that it is partnering with the Sydell Group, a joint venture with Hilton, to bring the NoMad hotel brand to Detroit. Construction of NoMad Detroit is expected to start at the end of this year, and plans are to open the hotel in the first half of 2027.
“This new renovation of The Station brings together iconic American companies like Ford and Hilton at a location that’s truly a historic hub for U.S. travel,” said Josh Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central. “We love the notion of two 100-plus-year-old companies collaborating to create a venue that promises to be a major boost not only for Michigan Central but for the city of Detroit as well.” Continue reading
More IndyCar Cheating Penalties Coming to Detroit
IndyCar this morning announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Sunday, 1 June on the Streets of Detroit. Ironically the violations are both on Honda powered cars. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, news analysis, racing, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, Chip Ganassi Racing, Colton Herta, Graham Rahal, IndyCar cheating, Ken Zino, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, X @KenAutoinformed
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Belle Macchine – Italian Automotive Design at BMW
Today BMW said that on 7 June, the “Belle Macchine. Italian Automotive Design at BMW” exhibition will open its doors at the BMW Museum. The exhibition extends over five platforms and ramps within the BMW Museum’s “Bowl.” It starts with … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, concept, design and styling, shows and events
Tagged Anna Schleypen, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BMW 2800 GTS Frua and BMW Nazca M12 by Fabrizio Giugiaro, BMW 3000 V8, BMW Garmisch concept car by Marcello Gandini, BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, Glas, Ken Zino, Klaus-Anton Altenbuchner, X @KenAutoinformed
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Antonio Filosa New Stellantis CEO
Stellantis will now hold an Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting, which will be called in the coming days for Antonio Filosa to be elected to the Board to serve as an executive director of the Company. “Meanwhile, to give him full authority and ensure an efficient transition, the Board has granted him CEO powers effective June 23.”
John Elkann will continue in his role as Executive Chairman when Antonio Filosa takes up his position as Chief Executive Officer on June 23. At that time, Antonio Filosa will also announce Stellantis’ new leadership team. Continue reading
Palou Wins the Indy 500 Ways to Cheat
What’s sometimes billed as the greatest spectacle in racing has turned from the drama high-speed oval racing to farce as rampant cheating has emerged in the Indy500 and the IndyCar Series. On Sunday Three-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou earned the first oval victory of his career winning the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.*
“Best milk I’ve ever tasted,” Palou said on the Victory Podium after a gulp from the traditional winner’s bottle of milk. “It tastes so good. What an amazing feeling.” In AutoInformed’s view the milk is sour. Both the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis Motor Speed are owned by Roger Penske via Penske Entertainment. Penske cars have participated in the cheating for more than one year. Moreover, there is no independent review organization to deal with the inherent conflict of interest of Penske, or what has emerged as rampant cheating that is endemic in IndyCar. Both Chevy and Honda powered teams are involved in modifying the Dallara supplied race cars. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged Andretti Global IndyCar cheating, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Callum Ilott, Dallara-supplied Energy Management System cheating, Ken Zino, Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson, Penske Racing IndyCar cheating, PREMA Racing IndyCar cheating, X @KenAutoinformed
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Memorial Day 2025
Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, known as Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day. Today, Memorial Day honors the more than 1 million men and women who have died in military service since the Civil War began in 1861.
Congress, by a joint resolution approved on 11 May 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people might unite in prayer. Continue reading
Newgarden Leads Final Indy 500 Practice
Josef Newgarden led the final practice for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with a top lap of 225.687 mph in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indy 500s. However, due to the Team Penske Cheating Scandal, he’ll need to do it from the 33rd starting spot. Newgarden and Team Penske teammate Will Power were moved to the rear of the field Monday due to a modified attenuator on their respective cars that violated IndyCar rules Sunday during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. The record for the deepest starting spot of a “500” winner is 28th, by Ray Harroun in the inaugural race in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936. Continue reading
Posted in news, news analysis, performance, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged 2025 Indy 500 final practice, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Devlin DeFrancesco, Graham Rahal, indycar, Ken Zino, Oscar Mayer Pit Stop Challenge, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Robert Shwartzman, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Scott Dixon, Team Penske, X @KenAutoinformed
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BMW Teases New 2026 M2 CS
The design of the new BMW M2 CS was unveiled today as part of a the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025 23 on Lake Como.
“The official communication launch of the BMW M2 CS, including all technical data, will take place on 28 May 2025, 00:01 CEST,” BMW said.
We do have fuel consumption and emissions figures at combined: 10.0 l/100 km [28.3 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 226 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G. Continue reading
IndyCar – Penske Fires Senior Leadership Team
Team Penske announced today the departures of IndyCar Team President, Tim Cindric, IndyCar Managing Director, Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar General Manager Kyle Moyer from the organization. The move comes from the turbulence created by an aerodynamic cheating scandal during qualifying for the 119th Indianapolis 500.
“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams. We have had organizational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down,” said Roger Penske, who owns the IndyCar Series and the Speedway. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, racing, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Josef Newgarden, Ken Zino, Penske Entertainment, roger penske, Team Penske, Will Power, X @KenAutoinformed
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Nissan Shows All-New Third-Generation LEAF
Nissan Motor Company (7201T and NSANY ADR) today unveiled the all-new 2026 LEAF. The all-new LEAF will reach U.S. Nissan dealerships in the Fall, with other markets to follow, subject to the of the man who would be King, aka Donald Trump. The all-new Nissan LEAF will be assembled for the U.S. and Canada markets alongside the Ariya at Nissan’s Tochigi plant in Japan.
“Completely reimagined with clean, dynamic body lines, the third-generation LEAF combines a sleek profile with an SUV-like stance. Inside, a refined, minimalist cabin is optimized for roominess, comfort and wellbeing to accommodate all of life’s journeys. With over 15 years of proven dependability and the customer insights of almost 700,000 global sales, the all-new LEAF builds on the model’s DNA of reliable, affordable and attractive EV ownership, delivering strong value for the mass-market,” Nissan said. Continue reading →