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Category Archives: shows and events
Annals of Marketing – Rolls-Royce Phantom Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossoms are celebrated in the centuries-old Japanese tradition of “Hanami” or ‘”flower viewing.” During Hanami, families and friends gather beneath the delicate pink blooms of cherry trees for picnics and celebrations, enjoying the transient beauty of the season, Rolls Royce noted today. A client in Japan wished to capture their cherished Hanami memories, spanning childhood and parenthood. Thus is the backstory of the latest custom or bespoke Phantom Cherry Blossom. This is a one-of-one Phantom commission said to be inspired by the fleeting beauty of the Sakura blooms and a Japanese client’s formative memories of this natural spectacle. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, milestones, mobility company, people, quality, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bespoke Design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ken Zino, Martina Starke, offset tatami stitch, Rolls-Royce Phantom Cherry Blossom, X @KenAutoinformed
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Honda 0 SUV Appears at Red Bull Showrun x
A prototype of the Honda 0 SUV made its global public debut today driven by Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Showrun x Powered by Honda event in Tokyo, Japan.* First seen at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the all-electric SUV, part of the Honda 0 Series, is expected to begin production at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio in 2026. The Honda and Red Bull Racing partnership is set to conclude at the end of 2025 season. Continue reading
Posted in design and styling, electric vehicles, marketing, mobility company, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Honda 0 SUV, Isack Hadjar, Ken Zino, Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen, Racing Bulls, Red Bull Showrun x, X @KenAutoinformed, Yuki Tsunoda
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Renault and Nissan Shuffle Alliance Holdings
Renault Group (Euronext: RNO) and Nissan (7201T and NSANY ADR) today announced new business projects for the evolving remains of the failed Renault Nissan Alliance. Renault Group would own 100% of Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL) by acquiring the 51% shareholding currently held by financially ailing Nissan. Nissan said it will maintain a presence in India with a focus on increasing market coverage. At its heart the shuffle involves complex product programs across global markets, once again requiring cooperation among diverse and distinct corporate cultures that have a troubled past working together. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged alpine, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, carbon neutrality in Europe, Dacia, Ivan Espinosa, Ken Zino, Luca de Meo, Mobilize, Nissan and Ampere termination, Nissan Magnite, Renault, Renault Nissan Automotive India Private, Twingo, X @KenAutoinformed
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Aston Martin Debuts Vanquish Volante
Aston Martin in Gaydon today announced the arrival of the new Vanquish Volante. It is the fastest, most powerful open top (convertible in Brit speak – AutoCrat) series production Aston Martin to date. It shares with the coupe the claim as the fastest, most powerful front-engine production car on sale today. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, electronics, engineering, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis, performance, shows and events
Tagged 5.2-liter V12 engine, Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin twin-turbocharged, Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Nissan and SK On Reveal EV Battery Deal
Nissan (7201T and NSANY ADR) and SK On said today that SK On will supply ~100GWh of U.S.-made batteries from 2028 to 2033. This is Korean SK On first partnership with a Japanese automaker.
“This agreement with SK On is a significant milestone for Nissan’s electrification journey and supports further investment in U.S. manufacturing,” said Christian Meunier, chairman, Nissan Americas. “Through this smart partnership with SK On, we can leverage their growing U.S. production capacity to deliver innovative, high-quality electric vehicles that meet the needs of our customers.” Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, energy, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Canton Assembly Plant, christian meunier, Ken Zino, nissan americas, Seok-hee Lee, sk on, X @KenAutoinformed
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CFC Reduction Induces Ozone Layer Fixing
A new MIT-led study confirms that the Antarctic ozone layer is healing as a direct result of global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs. This is significant because scientists have observed signs of ozone recovery in the past. However, the new study is the first to show, with high statistical confidence, that this recovery is due primarily to the reduction of ozone-depleting substances, instead of other influences such as natural weather variability or increased greenhouse gas emissions to the stratosphere.
“There’s been a lot of qualitative evidence showing that the Antarctic ozone hole is getting better. This is really the first study that has quantified confidence in the recovery of the ozone hole,” says study author Susan Solomon, the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies and Chemistry. “The conclusion is, with 95% confidence, it is recovering. Which is awesome. And it shows we can actually solve environmental problems.” Continue reading
Posted in environment, global warming, milestones, news analysis, public health, results, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, El Niño, Kane Stone, Ken Zino, Klaus Hasselmann, La Niña, massachusetts institute of technology, mit, nasa, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Nobel Prize in Physics, Peidong Wang, Susan Solomon, the Montreal Protocol, the National Science Foundation, the polar vortex, X @KenAutoinformed
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New EV Vans Coming From IVECO and Stellantis
Stellantis Pro One and IVECO (EXM: IVG), which designs, manufactures and markets light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, today announced the signing of agreements for the supply of two all-electric Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) to IVECO* for the European market. They will be based on the Stellantis Pro One mid-size and large van all-electric platforms, ranging from 2.8 to 4.25 tons Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, environment, global warming, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, IVECO, IVECO Group, Jean-Philippe Imparato, Ken Zino, Light Commercial Vehicles, Luca Sra, Stellantis Pro One, X @KenAutoinformed
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Annals of Marketing – Mercedes-Benz and FYI
“By integrating FYI RAiDiO into our vehicles, we are redefining the in-car entertainment experience. This collaboration with will.i.am and his innovative AI platform allows us to offer our customers a truly personalized and interactive journey, transforming how they connect with music, news and cultural content. This is a significant step towards the future of in-car entertainment, where technology and creativity converge to enhance the driving experience,” claimed Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, marketing, milestones, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged AI or artificial intelligence, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, FYI RAiDiO App, interactive radio stations, Ken Zino, Markus Schäfer, will.i.am, X @KenAutoinformed
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Toyota Motor Starts Crown Estate Sales in Japan
Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM and 7203.T) said today that it is starting sales of its all-new Crown Estate model in Japan. The Crown launched in 1955 with a history that has grown alongside the development of the post-war Japanese economy and Toyota. The new Crown has also advanced the “making ever-better cars” ideal through TNGA [Toyota New Global Architecture platform] and the in-house company system. In 2022, Toyota unveiled four models with different personalities, rather than just one sedan, to the world as the Crown series. The latest Crown would seem to be a natural addition to the U.S. model lineup, AutoInformed speculates. The powertrain now includes hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, electric vehicles, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Crown Estate Sales in Japan, HEV and PHEV Toyota models, Ken Zino, Toyota Crown Estate model, X @KenAutoinformed
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Toyota C-HR+, bZ4X and Lexus RZ European Debuts
Toyota Motor Corporation announced in Japan today that it will be expanding its battery electric vehicle (BEV) lineup in Europe as part of its multi-pathway approach toward achieving a carbon-neutral society. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, design and styling, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, global warming, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, e-TNGA, Ken Zino, Lexus RZ, Toyota C-HR+. bZ4X, X @KenAutoinformed
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Interlagos Lap Record – Taycan Turbo GT
A Taycan Turbo GT* set a time of 1:42.1 minutes on the 4.3-kilometer Interlagos circuit on 5 February 2025, Porsche said today. The lap time trimmed almost eight seconds off the record set by the Taycan Turbo S in 2022 (1:49.8 minutes). It was also just under a second inside an earlier production-car lap record set by the 911 Turbo S (1:43.087 minutes).
“Coming to Interlagos and getting behind the wheel of the Taycan Turbo GT right after winning the 24 Hours of Daytona was an incredible experience. I expected the strong acceleration and brutal torque but, ultimately, it was the overall performance that really impressed me,” said Porsche works driver Felipe Nasr who was at the wheel. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, engineering, milestones, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events
Tagged ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, auto industry commentary, Autodrome José Carlos Pace, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Felipe Nasr, Interlagos circuit, Ken Zino, Peter Vogel, Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, Weissach package, X @KenAutoinformed
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Annals of Off-Road Marketing – Silverado EV ZR2
Chevrolet (NYSE: GM) today unveiled the Silverado EV ZR2 off-road race truck “concept” at the Mint 400 off-road race, where the truck will also compete as part of the Hall Racing team’s lineup. The Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept joins the team’s Silverado ZR2 and Colorado ZR2 race trucks. Chad Hall will drive the all-electric off-road race truck in the Open Production EV class.
“There is no better proving ground to test the limits of our vehicles than competitive racing,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Chevrolet. “The Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept, which uses 98% GM production parts, showcases some of the best of Chevrolet to produce a beyond-capable pickup to tackle a challenging race of the Mint 400’s magnitude.” Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle, performance, racing, shows and events
Tagged 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chad Hall, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, Hall Racing, Ken Zino, Mint 400, off road EV trucks, Scott Bell, X @KenAutoinformed
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First Look – All-Electric Volvo ES90 Hatchback
Volvo Cars (VOLCAR B:STO) today debuted an all-new, fully electric ES90. With order-books open now in some markets, the ES90 is the latest addition to Volvo cars. It is the sixth fully electric model in the line, joining the EX90, EM90, EX40, EC40 and EX30 as Volvo continues to covert to full electrification.
“The ES90 combines the refined elegance of a sedan, the adaptability of a fastback, and the spacious interior and higher ground clearance associated with SUVs. It’s a versatile car that does not compromise on comfort or space. A car that allows for bigger adventures and families, striking the perfect balance between your professional and private life, and allowing you to embrace the special moments in life,” Chinese-owned Volvo Cars said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, marketing, mobility company, new vehicle, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, EC40, EM90, EX30, EX40, EX90, Geely Holding, Jim Rowan, Ken Zino, Volvo ES90, X @KenAutoinformed
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SubieEvents Returns in 2025 at Wicked Big Meet
Subaru of America today said the annual SubieEvents series will once again kick off the 2025 season with Wicked Big Meet on 8 June2024 at the Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. As the title sponsor of the series, Subaru is bringing together competitions, interactive experiences, tech seminars, giveaways, exclusive vendors, and activities for the whole family. This year, the events will welcome thousands of Subaru vehicles and enthusiasts, and take place in six cities nationwide, including a new location for SubieFest Florida at Orlando Speed World.
“The SubieEvents series has grown into an expansive celebration that has something for every member of the Subaru family. From ride-alongs to racing simulators to autograph sessions to vehicle unveilings, we know that this year’s events are on track to be some of the most exciting ever,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America. Continue reading →