Mustang Dark Horse in Rolling Road Wind Tunnel

Posted on 13 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mustang Dark Horse in Rolling Road Wind Tunnel

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Ford Motor Company released today photos of its new Mustang Dark Horse on its  vehicle-sized treadmill, aka Rolling Road Wind Tunnel (RRWT). The Rolling Road Wind Tunnel was used to help develop the all-new Mustang® Dark Horse™, which has the most downforce of any 5.0-liter Mustang when equipped with the expensive and optional Handling Package that helps the vehicle stick to the ground both on the street and on the track. (AutoInformed: Ford To Run Mustangs in GT3 and GTD Next Year; Ford Shows 2023 Mustang GT Racer before Bathurst 1000)

“The amount of air moved by our wind tunnel is enough to fill a K-Class blimp in just over 5 seconds,” said John Toth, North America Wind Tunnels Engineering Supervisor. Even by Ford standards this release is remarkably free of useful content. However, the photo is interesting to us, and maybe you? Continue reading →

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Buick Teases the 2024 Envision SUV

Posted on 13 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Buick Teases the 2024 Envision SUV

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Buick today provided a glimpse of the upcoming new 2024 Envision mid-size, two-row SUV for the US and Canada, which introduces a slightly refreshed design inside and out, and adds Super Cruise to the brand. This is the first time that Buick drivers will have the option to use Super Cruise1, the industry’s first true hands-free driver assistance system, compatible on more than 644,000 km of highways in the US. and Canada. Additional vehicle details and more information on the new 2024 Envision will be released later in the year. AutoInformed bets it will be priced ~US $34,000 to ~+$50,000 for the five trim levels.  (AutoInformed on: First Look – 2021 Buick Envision Mid-Size SUV)

The Envision is the third of five new vehicles Buick is debuting through 2024. Buick claims it has  become the fastest-growing mainstream brand in the US with sales up ~76% through May 2023. In Canada, Envision sales are up ~78.5% through May 2023. The current Envision has achieved its highest ever retail sales over the first half of 2023 and is on track to have its best sales year ever in the US and Canada as North American demand for luxury SUVs continues unabated. Continue reading →

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EPA – Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Awards

Posted on 13 June 2023 by Ken Zino

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today said the winners of the sixth annual National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Awards were in Missouri and New Jersey. The awards emphasize the accomplishments of federal agencies, states, Tribes, local partners, and developers in restoring and reusing contaminated land at federal facilities.

“EPA is honored to highlight the work and tremendous partnerships needed to address contaminated federal facilities and implement a locally driven reuse strategy to safeguard and revitalize communities and the environment,” said Barry Breen, EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. Continue reading →

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IIHS – NHTSA Misjudges Value of Truck Side-Underride Guards

Posted on 13 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IIHS - NHTSA Misjudges Value of Truck Side-Underride Guards

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) should reconsider its “dramatic underestimate” of the number of lives that could be saved by requiring side-underride guards for large trucks, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said in a recent regulatory comment made public today. Federal regulations require tractor-trailers to have underride guards on their rears, but not on their sides. (AutoInformed: IIHS: Federal Rule On Truck Under-Ride Inadequate)

“Requiring side underride guards could save more than 10 times as many lives as NHTSA projects,”* said IIHS Senior Research Engineer Matthew Brumbelow. In 2021, there were 488 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in crashes involving the side of a tractor-trailer. Continue reading →

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Le Mans – Ferrari, Corvette, Victorious in Rain

Posted on 12 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Le Mans - Ferrari, Corvette, Victorious in Rain

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After a 50-year hiatus the Italian national anthem – at one time thought to be the racing international anthem at AutoInformed – played as Ferrari was presented with the First-place trophy in the top hypercar class (LMDh). Tha was after the Rolex Clock had made two laps around its 12-hour face at the 100th running of Le Mans, aka the Circuit de la Sarthe. Last year’s winners Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, in the #8 GR010 Hybrid from Toyota’s gazoo racing held off all competitors except the red colored one with the prancing horse. After 24 relentless hours of racing, the #8 crossed the line in second place, 1 min 21.793 secs behind the winning #51 Ferrari.

As always, rain induced carnage worked its way with hapless drivers making the outcome somewhat random with roughly one-third of the race run under yellow flags with its innovative five separate safety cars deployed by class. There was a record 16-car hypercar field with competitors from Cadillac,* Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche. These race cars are now clearly as complex, exciting and as expensive as Formula One cars. Continue reading →

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Paris Air Show – Stellantis and Archer to Debut eVTOL Aircraft

Posted on 9 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis to Make Archer Electric Airplanes - photo courtesy of and copyright Archer

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Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) and Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) said today that they will host the European debut of Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL)  Aircraft at 2023 Paris Air Show. On display in Hall 5 at Le Bourget Airport during the 54th edition of the Paris Air Show starting 19 June 2023. (AutoInformed:Stellantis to Make Archer Electric Airplanes)

Archer’s Midnight aircraft will be the featured eVTOL aircraft at the Paris Air Show, positioned in the center of the Air Mobility event, which is located in Hall 5 at Le Bourget Airport. Devoted to the latest innovations and emerging technologies in eVTOL, the Paris Air Show’s Air Mobility event will bring together key participants of the emerging sector with three days of discussions on the maturation of advanced air mobility and its impact on the future of aerospace. Continue reading →

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Ford To Run Mustangs in GT3 and GTD Next Year

Posted on 9 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford To Run Mustangs in GT3 and GTD Next Year

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The Ford Mustang GT3 race car, based on the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, was unveiled today during the centenary celebration on the eve of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the reveal, Ford is trying to enter Mustang in to the global FIA GT3 racing category, subject to FIA approval. Ford’s last victory at Le Mans was in 2016 with the Ford GT. Ford also showed a new Ford Performance branding that will now be used on all its racing vehicles.

“Ford and Le Mans are bound together by history. And now we’re coming back to the most dramatic, most rewarding and most important race in the world. It is not Ford versus Ferrari anymore. It is Ford versus everyone. Going back to Le Mans is the beginning of building a global motorsports business with Mustang, just like we are doing with Bronco and Raptor off-road,” claimed Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company CEO. Continue reading →

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GM Adding Tesla Supercharger Network to Ultium Charge 360

Posted on 9 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Expanding EV Choices Increase Buying Consideration - the 2024 Equinox EV - a $30,000 Breakthrough?

The 2024 Equinox EV has technology, range, space. Quality is likely high too. Click to Enlarge.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is following Ford Motor Company expanding EV charging access to the Tesla supercharger network. GM customers will be able to access 12,000 Tesla Superchargers and growing beginning in early 2024 as part of the ongoing Ultium Charge 360 plan to expand access for residential, work and public charging.

“Our vision of the all-electric future means producing millions of world-class EVs across categories and price points, while creating an ecosystem that will accelerate mass EV adoption,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “This collaboration is a key part of our strategy and an important next step in quickly expanding access to fast chargers for our customers. Not only will it help make the transition to electric vehicles more seamless for our customers, but it could help move the industry toward a single North American charging standard.” Continue reading →

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NHTSA Issues Consumer Alert for Ford and Lincoln Fires

Posted on 8 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on NHTSA Issues Consumer Alert for Ford and Lincoln Fires

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In an urgent move The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just issued a rare CONSUMER ALERT warning that Ford Motor Company has issued a new recall for 125,322 model year 2020-2023 Ford Escape, 2022-2023 Ford Maverick and 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair vehicles for a risk of fire due to engine failure. Ford advises customers to safely park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, lose power, or see or smell smoke. Continue reading →

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Toyota to Build New Auto Battery Lab at Michigan R&D Site

Posted on 8 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota to Build New Automotive Battery Lab at Michigan R&D Site

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Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (NYSE:TM) said today that it will invest ~$50 million to construct a new laboratory facility at its North American R&D headquarters in York Township, Michigan to evaluate batteries for electric and electrified vehicles in North America. Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky are the intended customers. Operations at the new battery lab are forecast to begin in 2025. (AutoInformed: Toyota to Assemble Three-Row Electric SUV in Kentucky)

“This new investment in our North American R&D operation, which has been a key pillar of the Michigan automotive industry for more than 50 years, shows Toyota’s directional shift towards electrification for all,” said Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), Research and Development. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition

Posted on 8 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing – Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition

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The Garage 56 entry – a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – is at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race this weekend, so it was inevitable that punters will get to own a car “inspired” by the purpose-built race car. However, there appears to be remarkable restraint in the scope of the sales plan with only 56 versions planned?

Renderings of the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Edition were shown publicly for the first time today in France during a “Meet the Team” event at Le Mans highlighting the race program and the race car. (AutoInformed: Le Mans 2023 – NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Entry Unveiled at Daytona; NASCAR – Johnson, Rockenfeller, Button to Drive Camaro ZL1 at the 24-Hour Le Mans Race in June; Hendrick Motorsports to Run Camaro ZL1 at Le Mans!) Continue reading →

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Stellantis to Buy Back More Shares

Posted on 7 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Stellantis* (NYSE: STLA) announced today in Amsterdam that its Share Buyback Program that cancels common shares will proceed with a second tranche by an independent investment firm that makes its trading decisions concerning the timing of purchases independently of Stellantis. This will cover a maximum amount of up to €500 million starting on 7 June 2023, ending no later than 7  September 2023. Common shares purchased “will be cancelled in due course.” (AutoInformed on: Stellantis Shareholders Approve €4.2 Billion Dividend; Stellantis €1.5B Share Buyback Program Starts Tomorrow)

The purchase price per common share will be no higher than an amount equal to 110% of the market price of the shares on the NYSE, Euronext Milan or Euronext Paris (as the case may be). The market price will be calculated as the average of the highest price on each of the five days of trading prior to the date on which the acquisition is made, as shown in the official price list of the NYSE, Euronext Milan or Euronext Paris. Continue reading →

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GM to Build Full-Size Pickups at Oshawa – Maybe

Posted on 7 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Second Shift at GM Oshawa Assembly is Half Women

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General Motors says a C$280 million investment in Oshawa Assembly is coming to produce the next-generation internal combustion engine (ICE) full-size trucks. GM claims it is committed to Canadian manufacturing. Product details and the timing of GM’s future trucks are not being released at this time as contract talks later this summer loom large with a newly revived UAW. (AutoInformed on: Canadian Industrial Policy Actively, Successfully Pursuing EV Climate and Economic Benefits with New Mercedes, VW MOUs)

What role Unifor, which represents Canadian auto workers, plays in this remains to be seen. AutoInformed observes this is a bittersweet blessing for Canadian autoworkers since internal combustion engines are ultimately doomed. There are larger issues as well as the components and agreements for supplying electric vehicles are in place or at organizations that are hostile to unionized workers and even Democracies. (AutoInformed on:Chinese April Sales Soft – EV Exports Threaten Global Trade)

Continue reading →

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VW Bus Beach Party Recap – Type 2s Only Need Apply

Posted on 6 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on VW Bus Beach Party Recap

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On 2 June Volkswagen of America held the first International Volkswagen* Bus Day, in Huntington Beach, California with more than 200 people attending with their vintage models. Live broadcast and entertainment was provided by Radio Woodstock with a special musical performance by Jeremy & The Harlequins. The newly invented International Volkswagen Bus Day will continue to be celebrated each 2 June with VW bus and ID. Buzz fans worldwide – it’s hoped in the VW marketing world. (AutoInformed:Three-Row ID.Buzz Debuts on International VW Bus Day)

Volkswagen also unveiled its latest accessories concept vehicle, giving an early look at the customization potential of the ID. Buzz EV. On display alongside this point-of-sale promo was a unique art car, and a handful of vintage Microbus models from Volkswagen of America’s historic collection and some VIP guests. Continue reading →

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Ford Reshuffling with Retirements, and a Defection Announced

Posted on 6 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said in Dearborn this morning that corporate officers are retiring after three-decade careers, an executive is returning to the auto industry to lead global supply chain operations, and an under warranty new Ford Blue executive is departing to become CEO of a major transportation and logistics business. Continue reading →

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