Canadian Industrial Policy Actively, Successfully Pursuing EV Climate and Economic Benefits with New Mercedes, VW MOUs

Posted on 23 August 2022 by Ken Zino

Canada with abundant material resources, an advanced automotive industry with extensive production and a qualified workforce, is ideally positioned to thrive in the inevitable EV vehicle industries. These can only grow as the devastating effects of climate change from fossil-fuel use continues to increase. The Canadian Federal government not only recognizes this, but is actively pursuing an industrial policy that is beneficial for its constituents and the environment.

Free market ideologues, many of them backed by fossil-fuel providers, disdain such progressive thinking and are positively scornful of a federally directed industrial policy such as the tiny one established in the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. Not a single Republican voted for it. Continue reading →

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GM Recalls 500,000 2021-22 SUVs for Bad Seat Belts

Posted on 22 August 2022 by Ken Zino

General Motors is recalling 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats.  The safety defect covers 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. These six product lines, of course, are among the most popular and profitable SUVs sold in North America.

“The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left- or right-side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed,” was the defect cited in a mandatory NHTSA filing made public today. GM had reports of the problem going back to October of 2020. Workers at GM supplier ZF Occupant Safety Systems manufacturing plant in Mexico may have not properly followed processes and inadvertently missed the rivet forming operation. Continue reading →

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Toyota: More Today Trouble Over Hino Motors Emission Fraud

Posted on 22 August 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota: More Today Trouble Over Hino Motors Emission FraudThe Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been found more wrongdoings related to the Hino Motors engine emissions certification fraud, on top of previously announced offenses on 4 March and 2 August 2022, Hino-owner Toyota Motor said this morning in Japan.

The added “facts following were found in the emission performance deterioration endurance tests conducted by Hino on all of the company’s vehicle engine models subject to the 2016 emission regulations in Japan.” Thus the embarrassing anti-environmental aspects of the cheating scandal are still expanding. (AutoInformed: Toyota Motor FY Q1 Profit Drop Spooks Market) Continue reading →

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IndyCar: Rain Soaked Bommarito 500 Goes to Chevy

Posted on 21 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IndyCar: Rain Soaked Bommarito 500 Goes to Chevy

This was Newgarden’s third straight victory at this 1.25-mile oval.

Josef Newgarden won the rain-interrupted Bommarito Automotive Group 500 late Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway. This moved him closer to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship lead. Newgarden, from Nashville, Tennessee, drove to his series-leading fifth victory of the season in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet by 0.4708 of a second over rookie David Malukas, whose brilliant charge – as threatening as the lightning that rag-flagged show – after the race restarted in the No. 18 HMD Honda finished second – a career-best.

The Race distance is 260 laps, but the rain delay made it a 213-lap race in daylight, followed by a 47-lap all-out dash under the lights. When the race resumed at 9:05 p.m. local time, track conditions had changed significantly because of the rain-cleaned asphalt. There was better adhesion with lower temperatures after sundown. The race was a contest of strategies as well as drivers and teams. Continue reading →

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Club of 25: McLaren Solus GT revealed

Posted on 19 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Club of 25: McLaren Solus GT revealed

Click to Enlarge.

McLaren Automotive today showed the McLaren Solus GT, the realization of a concept car from the screens of virtual racing+ into what is now described as an “extreme expression of track driving engagement that will exhilarate in the real world.”

That virtual-to-reality world is tiny. A special commission for just 25 customers with all cars already sold. The single-seat, closed-cockpit track car was unveiled during Monterey Car Week in California by Michael Leiters, McLaren Automotive Chief Executive Officer. (AutoInformed:Rolex 24 – Cold Beginning to Start a Sizzling Racing Season)
 Continue reading →

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ZDX and Type S To Be Acura’s First Pure EVs in 2024

Posted on 19 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on ZDX and Type S To Be Acura’s First Full EVs in 2024

Click to Enlarge.

Acura today announced that its first full-electric SUV coming to market in 2024 will be named the Acura ZDX. Acura will also launch with a ZDX Type S performance variant. The ZDX will be the first production model to use many of the styling themes of the new Acura design direction introduced during Monterey Car Week in the form of the Acura Precision EV Concept.

Well, yes but largish ZDX is being co-developed with GM using the highly flexible global EV platform powered by Ultium batteries. What fun for brand managers – a common platform for Cadillac and Acura SUVs? Acura eventually will launch additional EV models starting in 2026 based on the company’s own global e:Architecture. (AutoInformed: GM, Honda to Develop New EVs for Sale in 2027; Honda Prologue EV – Vapor Ware Until 2024) Continue reading →

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Covid Recovery: GM Stock Dividend Returns

Posted on 19 August 2022 by Ken Zino

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the reinstatement of a quarterly cash dividend on the company’s outstanding common stock at a rate of $0.09 per share. The first dividend will be paid on Sept. 15, 2022, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 31, 2022.

GM suspended its quarterly dividend in April of 2020 in response to uncertainty caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. While some uncertainty still exists, AutoInformed thinks that the ongoing successes of the Biden Administration’s public health and employment policies – particularly the passage of the Stop Inflation Recovery Act of 2022 – are reasons for optimism. (AutoInformed: Biden Recovery: Transportation Jobs Equal Pre-Pandemic; Biden Administration Cuts Republican Budget Deficit by 66%; President Biden Targets 50% Electric Vehicle Sales in 2030)  Continue reading →

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IMSA 2023 – Acura ARX-06 GTP Racer Revealed

Posted on 19 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IMSA 2023 - Acura ARX-06 GTP Racer Revealed

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Acura Motorsports has released the first official details for the all-new, electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car, which will make its competition debut next January at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the GTP class*. The public unveiling will take place today Friday 19 August, just hours from now at The Quail in Carmel, California.

The latest in a line of Acura endurance racing prototypes, the ARX-06 features Acura-specific bodywork and aerodynamics based around an all-new widely used ORECA LMDh chassis** with an electrified hybrid power unit – a twin-turbocharged 2.4-liter V6 internal combustion engine designed, developed and manufactured by Honda Performance Development [HPD], the racing arm for Acura Motorsports in North America. Continue reading →

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First Look – 2023 Dodge Hornet and Hornet R/T PHEV

Posted on 18 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on First Look 2023 Dodge Hornet and Hornet R/T PHEV

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The all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet is now on public view as part of industry events surrounding the Woodward Dream Cruise north of Detroit. There are three versions of the Dodge brand’s new entry in the compact utility vehicles (CUV) segment. The line consists of Hornet R/T; the Hornet GT, claimed to be the quickest, most powerful CUV under $30,000; and the Hornet GT GLH Concept, which uses optional Direct Connection performance parts upgrades.

“The Dodge brand’s electrified transformation has left the starting line, with the all-new Dodge Hornet R/T representing the first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis. Continue reading →

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Success Threatens EVs as Public Charging Lacks Juice

Posted on 17 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Success Threatens EVs as Public Charging Lacks Juice

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As electric vehicle (EV) sales grew during the past year, they added stress to an already deficient public charging infrastructure that lacks juice. Owners in high EV volume markets of California, Texas and Washington, among others, are finding the charging infrastructure inadequate and inundated with non-functioning stations. These are among the findings in the second annual J.D. Power U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Public Charging Study,SM released today.

“Public charging continues to provide challenges to overall EV adoption and current EV owners alike,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of global automotive at J.D. Power. “Not only is the availability of public charging still an obstacle, but EV owners continue to be faced with charging station equipment that is inoperable. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program promises to provide funds to states for building out their EV public charging infrastructure.”
 Continue reading →

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BMW M is Testing a High-Performance EV Prototype

Posted on 17 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW M is Testing a High-Performance EV Prototype

Amped-Up!

BMW M confirmed today that the first test drives of a so-called concept test vehicle for drive and chassis control systems are underway. A team of developers is now looking at the hardware and software solutions designed for fully electric high-performance cars.

The testing at the moment centers on a four-wheel drive system with four electric motors and an integrated driving dynamics control system. BMW claims that together they provide an unprecedented level of performance and experience. If successful – not a bad bet – it could bring another aspect to the meaning of amped-up AutoInformed opines. Continue reading →

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Up-sizing and Pricing: Chevy ZR2 Bison Now on Silverado

Posted on 16 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Up-sizing and Pricing Chevy ZR2 Bison Now on 2023 Silverado

Really?

Building from the financial success of the Colorado ZR2 Bison in 2019, Chevrolet is adding the off-road performance package to the full-size Silverado pickup in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), an off-road aftermarket manufacturer.

The first-ever Silverado ZR2 Bison special edition includes the standard: Silverado 6.2-liter V8 engine with 10-speed automatic transmission rated at 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. torque to power through tough terrains; Multimatic 40-millimeter DSSV spool-valve dampers; differently tuned springs that, with the Multimatic dampers, increase maximum front and rear suspension travel, compared to the Silverado Trail Boss; off-road chassis and suspension calibrations, including Terrain Mode, which allows one-pedal rock crawling.

Deliveries will start in 2023 with a MSRP of $78,490 after destination. This is $8,295 more than the 2022 Silverado ZR2. Is it worth the money for modest changes in specifications and no increase in output? Well, performance trucks are a hot segment – we will see what the market will reveal. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 2022 Maverick Pickups for Bad Airbags

Posted on 16 August 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Recalls 2022 Maverick Pickups for Bad Airbags

Another Ford Recall? Click to Enlarge.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 2022 Mavericks because the side-curtain air bags may not deploy properly. These Maverick pickup trucks fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, “Ejection Mitigation.” Almost 65,000 2022 model year Mavericks with build dates from February 3, 2021 through July 9, 2022 are affected. Owners won’t be notified until the last week of September. Ford is still investigating the root cause of this safety defect. The left- and right-side curtain airbags that are the problem were built in Mexico.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered the problem in June of 2022 during a FMVSS 226 compliance audit on a 2022 model year Maverick. The displacement results for the front lower primary target were 111.9 mm, which exceeds the federal regulation of 100 mm. Side curtain air bags that may not meet the displacement requirements of FMVSS 226 S4.2.1 Ejection increase the risk of injury in a crash. No warning of the existence of potential deadly problem occurs before an accident. Continue reading →

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Aston Martin DBR22 Concept Shown in California

Posted on 15 August 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Aston Martin DBR22 Concept Shown in CaliforniaAston Martin at the 2022 Monterey Car Week unveiled the DBR22 concept – a V12-powered, two-seat design in the tradition of the marque’s history of open-cockpit sports racers. The DBR22 design concept will become a production reality for a few Q by Aston Martin* customers – the custom vehicle shop at A-M. The fiber bodied, twin turbo convertible claims a tops speed of 198mph, with a zero-to-60 time of 3.4 seconds.

Q by Aston Martin this year marks a decade of building exclusive cars for the “world’s most discerning” – or is that richest – customers? There exist one-off commissions such as Aston Martin Victor, and low volume specials such as Vulcan – limited to 24 examples worldwide, and Vantage V600 – just 14, are examples of these collaborations. Continue reading →

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NHTSA: Bad Brakes on 1.7M Fords, Lincolns?

Posted on 15 August 2022 by Ken Zino

The Office of Defects Investigation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened up a formal inquiry about what could be bad brake hoses on 1.7 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles. NHTSA has received 50 complaints alleging front brake hose failures on MY 2013-2018 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ vehicles (RQ 22-004).

These vehicles were not part of the 11 August 2020, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) safety recall 20V-469 on Model Year (MY) 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles that addressed front brake hoses (jounce hoses) rupturing prematurely. The cause was due to consistent localized failures of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue during suspension and steering movement. The recall replaced both front brake jounce hoses with a new revised braid material and bled the brake system. Continue reading →

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