Click to Enlarge.
A 911 GT3 with the Manthey Performance Kit, powered by a 375 kW (~503hp) engine, posted a lap time of 6:55.737 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife or North Loop.
This makes it exactly 4.19 seconds faster than the 911 GT3 without the kit, Porsche said today. The modifications focused on aerodynamics and chassis components. The new Performance Kit was developed between the Porsche engineers in Weissach and the Nordschleife specialists from Manthey in Meuspath. Continue reading
Click to Enlarge.
Toyota said today that the 2023 Corolla line expands with four new Hybrid grades, including a more powerful hybrid system and optional all-wheel drive. It’s a half-step to the EV future that planet earth needs to survive.
On the retrograde gasoline side of the Corolla family, LE, the most popular version, now has the 169-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine used in all other Corolla fossil fuel burners. Replacing a 139-hp 1.8-liter engine, it is quicker by two seconds to 60 mph. It is also more slightly efficient, improving on the previous engine fuel economy ratings by more than 1 mpg per gallon with a manufacturer-estimated 31 city/40 hwy 34 combined MPG. Continue reading
Click to Enlarge.
There’s an old saying in the auto media biz that brand management means logos get bigger. Buick today changed its logo while teasing a 2024 Electra EV that is coming to North America. Buick’s future EV products will use the Electra name as it transitions to an all-electric line by 2030.
The latest badge, the first tweak since 1990, will be body-mounted on the front fascia of Buick products starting next year. No longer circular, the badge incorporates a horizontal layout that builds upon Buick’s tri-shield, which has roots in David Dunbar Buick’s ancestral heraldry. Continue reading
Click to Enlarge.
Toyota Connected North America* today introduced its Cabin Awareness concept technology that uses millimeter-wave, high-resolution 4D imaging radar to help detect occupants (including some pets) in cars and has the potential to detect them if they are left behind. The 4D imaging radar sensor, mounted out of sight above a vehicle’s headliner that can detect presence of a life form in the vehicle, even after a driver exits.
It has the capability to sense micro movements, defined as a heartbeat, motion and respiration of occupants across three full seating rows, the cargo area and footwells. It also classifies all occupants according to size, posture and position – supporting advanced safety applications. Continue reading
Click to Enlarge.
The Indianapolis 500 purse record was set after a chaotic and red-flagged 106th race with winner Marcus Ericsson taking home $3.1 million from a total purse of $16,000,200.
The Chip Ganassi Racing Swedish driver’s prize in the No. 8 Huski (sic) Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda is also the largest winner’s payout ever for the claimed largest single-day sporting event. Ericsson has competed in 3 500s with a best finish of 11th in 2021. Before 2022, he had $709,934 in career 500 earnings. (AutoInformed: The Brickyard – Honda vs Chevy at Indy 500 Sunday) Continue reading
Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. In a directly related recall, Daimler Vans USA is recalling 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. In all cases, an error in the communication module’s SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system. Continue reading
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 239,000 2019-2022 Accent, 2021-2023 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles – in effect recalling a failed recall. The front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment sending metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants.
This safety defect recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new repair remedy completed. (AutoInformed: Hyundai, Kia Recall 2022 Seat Belts for Shrapnel Explosions) Continue reading
Stellantis N.V. and Toyota Motor Europe N.V. (TME) yesterday announced the expansion of their existing partnership with an agreement for a new large-size commercial van, including a battery electric version. The new vehicle marks the third body type under the agreement, completing a full LCV line-up, with compact-, mid- and now a large-size LCV. (AutoInformed>Stellantis and Samsung SDI JV to Build EV Batteries in Kokomo; Stellantis to Repay Early €6.3B Fiat Credit Facility)
Stellantis and TME’s collaboration started in 2012 with the Toyota’s mid-size LCV produced at Stellantis’ Hordain plant in France, followed in 2019 by a compact-size LCV segment, produced at Stellantis’ plant in Vigo, Spain. The large-size LCV announcement allows Toyota to complete a full LCV line-up in Europe. It also – as many such emerging agreements do – offsets the ruinous development and production costs of the ongoing electrification of offerings demanded by governments and customers. Continue reading
The 2013 500 winner Kanaan’s top lap today was 227.114 mph in the No. 1 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Teammate Marcus Ericsson was second at 227.004 in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
When the green flag drops the speculation stops this Memorial weekend at the 106th running of Indianapolis 500 starting at 11am Eastern Sunday on NBC.
The race will determine how well the teams reacted after a new qualifying regime last Sunday that saw NTT P1 Award winner Scott Dixon set the fastest pole speed in 500 history – 234.046 mph. Overall, Honda powered-cars dominated last Sunday. The three cars starting in the front row also set a record at an average of 233.643 mph: Dixon – Honda, Palou – Honda, Veekay – Chevy. Continue reading
The White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that Retired General Stephen R. Lyons, former Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, will be the new Port and Supply Chain Envoy to the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force.
Retired General Lyons will take over the role from John D. Porcari. General Lyons will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the White House National Economic Council (NEC), ports, rail, trucking and other private companies across our US supply chains to continue to address bottlenecks, speed up the movement of goods, and help lower costs for people. Continue reading
Republicans continue to oppose and block the badly needed Build Back Better legislation. Many governors are embracing the future in ways they can to promote clean energy.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan today joined state and local officials and representatives from Adopt a Charger and startup electric vehicle wanna-be Rivian* at the first of ~15 EV charging sites to be installed at state parks and a fish hatchery in Michigan during the next few years. Two Rivian Waypoints (sic) chargers were unveiled at the 142-acre state park in Ottawa County.
The state park charger installations deliver on Gov. Whitmer’s announcement in 2021 of a Lake Michigan EV circuit, an electric vehicle route with reliable charging options along Lake Michigan and key tourism clusters, creating “the best new road-trip for EV owners in America.” The Lake Michigan EV Circuit is part of ongoing efforts, such as the Charge Up Michigan program, to employ green technologies throughout the state, including solar-powered amenities, carbon sequestration and numerous efficiencies. Continue reading
Click to Enlarge.
UK car production fell -11.3% in April year-on-year with 60,554 units rolling off factory lines, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The ongoing global shortage of semi-conductors, the impact of the war in Ukraine on supply chains, model changes and broader industry structural changes all contributed to a volatile month’s output.
The same applied to year-on-year export comparisons, with the closure of a major UK car plant in 2021 continuing to impact export figures, particularly to the US. 7,752 fewer cars were made in the month than a year before and the total was -14.7% below the April 2019 pre-pandemic level.
Overall car output itself down -44.5% compared to April 2018, due to shutdowns rescheduled to mitigate against the possibility of a no-deal Brexit1 as that folly continues to haunt the industry and the government with strong independence movements growing in Ireland and Scotland.2 Continue reading
Click to Enlarge.
Sales of zero emission vehicles (BEV, PHEV, & Fuel Cell) accounted for 5.8% of total vehicle sales in April 2022 (71,714 units), up 2.8 pp from a year ago and down 0.1 pp from March 2022. Sales of battery electric vehicles led the way for ZEVs, accounting for 4.52% of total sales, up 2.4 pp from March 2021.*
Pure EV Sales at All-Time Record in US, whose transaction prices are close to a $70,000 making them a new category – Luxury Clean – in AutoInformed’s view. Republicans, with a long history of backing from Big Oil, continue to block the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better plan that addresses drastic climate change and prepares the way for a cleaner future.
Continue reading
Ford Motor said today that it will put its purchasing power behind emerging clean technologies as part of the First Movers Coalition’s new aluminum sector. Ford is committing that at least 10% of its primary aluminum* purchases will have near-zero carbon emissions by 2030, a small step in the right direction of addressing planet-killing and people-killing global warming.
Led by the World Economic Forum and the US Government, the First Movers Coalition targets sectors including aluminum, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel, and trucking, which are responsible for 30% of global emissions – a proportion expected to rise to over 50% by mid-century without urgent progress on clean technology innovation. According to the World Economic Forum, aluminum represents 2% of global emissions. Continue reading
Ford Motor US Sales Drop Again in May. Shakeout Coming?
Click to enlarge.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported May 2022 U.S. sales results of 154,461 units, a decrease of -4.5% year-over-year. Car sales have declined -45% in the same period. During 2022 sales are off more than -13%.
The disappointing results came as the United Auto Workers and Ford leaders announced plans to add more than 6200 new U.S. manufacturing jobs in the Midwest, convert nearly 3000 temporary UAW-Ford workers to permanent full-time status and provide all hourly employees healthcare benefits on the first day of employment.
Ford Motor no longer bothers to hold press conferences covering monthly sales. Yesterday Jim Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer when asked at the Alliance Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference about Tesla and five other EV companies with a market cap above $20 billion – meaning the market is saying there are at least six credible new entrants – said, “We’re going to see very large consolidation and big changes. I would say new EV companies probably will get simpler and Chinese will become more important… Continue reading →