Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition Debuts

Posted on 24 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition Debuts

It won’t be this clean on pavement or dirt. Click to Enlarge

The Toyota 4Runner will reach the 40-year mark with the 2023 model year. To cash in, Toyota is offering a 4WD-only 2023 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition.

Toyota will make 4,040 of these special editions available for the US market. Over the past four decades, 4Runner has tallied more than 4 million cumulative sales, so the latest marketing push is only incremental revenue.
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BMW Group to Open Cell Manufacturing Center this Fall

Posted on 23 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW Group to Open Cell Manufacturing Center this Fall

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The BMW Group said today it will open its so-called Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CCMC) in the fall. With the emission control approval procedure now completed, the necessary conditions are in place for commissioning of “near-standard production” of lithium-ion battery cells at Parsdorf, outside of Munich.

In an area of ~15,000 square-meters, the BMW Group claims it will demonstrate industrial feasibility of future generations of high-performance battery cells. The pilot line will make it possible to analyze and fully understand cell value creation processes. “This will enable future suppliers to produce cells to the BMW Group’s own specifications and thereby further optimize battery cell production with regard to quality, output and costs. The company is currently ruling out the option of establishing its own large-scale battery cell production,” BMW said. Continue reading →

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NHTSA – Hyundai and Kia Recalls for Rollaways

Posted on 23 May 2022 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motor America are recalling 2022 Ioniq 5 vehicles and EV6s, respectively. A software error in the Shifter Control Unit (SCU) may disengage the parking mechanism, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway. NHTSA recalls: Hyundai 22V-324 and Kia 22V-322.

The potentially unsafe vehicles are equipped with a shift-by-wire system that contains a Shifter Control Unit (SCU) and a parking pawl actuator motor. If a voltage fluctuation occurs when the vehicle is off and in the parked position, the command signal from the SCU to the parking pawl actuator may be affected, resulting in the temporary disengagement of the parking mechanism and potential vehicle roll-away. An SCU software update prevents the SCU from allowing the parking pawl to be moved out of the park (P) position.

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SVRA to Sanction Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Pace GP

Posted on 20 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on SVRA to Sanction Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Pace Grand Prix

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The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival has announced that the Pace Grand Prix at the Bend this year will be sanctioned by Sportscar Vintage Racing Association. This will be its third annual event on 14-16 October 2022. The course, along the banks of the Tennessee River, will now include an infield loop and other track improvements. Practice laps begin on Thursday. Racing will take place on Friday and Saturday of the Festival. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor Group to Build EV and Battery Plant in Georgia

Posted on 20 May 2022 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor Group today said it has entered into an agreement with the State of Georgia to build its first dedicated full electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the US.

The new plant represents an investment of ~$5.54 billion. Commercial production to begin during the first half of  2025 with annual capacity of 300,000 units. With the additional EV and battery production capabilities, the Group aims to become one of the top three EV providers in the US by 2026. Continue reading →

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CARB Presents Six 2020-2021 Haagen-Smit Awards

Posted on 20 May 2022 by Ken Zino

The California Air Resources Board today honored recipients of the 2020-2021 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards, widely recognized as California’s premier award recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving air quality. The contributions of this year’s award winners will have lasting impacts for air quality and climate goals not only in California, but throughout the world, CARB said.

“The Haagen-Smit Award is our way of honoring individuals who have championed public health with innovative and far-reaching contributions to air pollution research, science, clean air technology and advocacy, policy and leadership,” CARB Chair Liane Randolph said. “From shaping our understanding of the human health impacts of toxic diesel pollution to groundbreaking work in atmospheric chemistry research, the long and distinguished careers of these six extraordinary people have changed how we address climate change and fight air pollution around the world.” Continue reading →

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BMW iX Flow Connected Directly to the Brain?

Posted on 20 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Go with the Radical E Ink Flow from BMW?

Click to Enlarge Dr. Frankenstein.

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las Vegas, the BMW Group unveiled the BMW iX Flow with (marketing babble alert> E Ink, a unique vehicle capable of changing its entire body color at the touch of a button. Delegates at the BMW Group’s rad°hub (sic) dialogue platform held at Plant Munich on 12-13 May had the opportunity to experience the enhanced color switching abilities of the BMW iX Flow up close for the first time.

“We have already introduced further improvements for the technology since CES,” said Stella Clarke, project lead of the BMW iX Flow. “Previously, the changes between color patterns only took place in a gradual transition. Now, the control electronics have been tweaked to enable instantaneous transformations, resulting in an even more stunning visual effect.” Sounds like a stoner on speed to AutoInformed. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz to Increase Focus as a Luxury Car Company

Posted on 20 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mercedes-Benz Digital ESG Touts Cutting CO2 Emissions

Striving for an operating margin target of ~14%.

Mercedes-Benz (MBG stock symbol) has hosted a strategy update on the Côte d’Azur dubbed  ‘Economics of Desire’ that outlined the future of Mercedes-Benz as a ‘pure-play’ luxury car company. The company will focus more on luxury, elevate its product portfolio, accelerate its path to a fully electric future and target structurally higher profitability, according to top executives. (AutoInformed: Mercedes-Benz Group Posts Some Strong 2021 Results)

“What has always been the core of our brand is now also the core of our strategy: the luxury segment. We are further sharpening the focus of our business model and product portfolio in order to maximize the potential of Mercedes-Benz even in challenging conditions. At the heart of that is our goal to build the world’s most desirable cars,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Continue reading →

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Lamborghini Joining IMSA GTP LMDh in 2024

Posted on 19 May 2022 by Ken Zino

Lamborghini will join the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s new Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class in 2024 with an LMDh prototype. Acura, BMW, Cadillac and Porsche previously announced plans to join the class in 2023. Lamborghini began competing in the WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class in 2016. Since 2016, Lamborghini has posted 15 victories in the WeatherTech Championship GTD class, including consecutive wins at the Rolex 24 in 2018, ‘19 and ’20.  Continue reading →

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Record Auction Price – €135m for Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

Posted on 19 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Record Auction Price - €135m for Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

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A Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe from 1955 has been sold at auction for a record price of €135 million to a private collector, Mercedes-Benz said today.

It was one of just two prototypes built at the time. Named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, it is considered to be “one of the finest examples of automotive engineering and design by automotive experts.” Continue reading →

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NHTSA Consumer Advisory – 2021 Expedition, Navigator Fires

Posted on 19 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Expediton and Lincoln Navigator Fires.

See the story below the jump for the recall link.

Ford Motor Co. is warning rental car companies and other owners of 2021 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators to park their vehicles outside due to the risk of fire. The automaker has confirmed 16 fires, mostly in vehicles that were unattended. Fourteen of these fires were in rental cars, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned today.

“Until further notice, owners of these affected vehicles should not park them inside – they should only be parked outside and away from homes and other structures. Fires have occurred in vehicles that were parked and turned off. Continue reading →

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EU Passenger Car Sales Drop 21% in April

Posted on 19 May 2022 by Ken Zino

During April 2022, new passenger car registrations in the European Union saw a significant drop (-20.6%), as supply chain issues continued to disrupt car production.

With the exception of the pandemic year in 2020, this was the weakest April result in terms of volumes sold since records began. Put another way, Russian roulette is a bad game. All major markets contributed to the region’s negative performance: Italy (-33.0%), France (-22.6%), Germany (-21.5%) and Spain (-12.1%), according to ACEA*. Continue reading →

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Europe’s Diesel Car Problem – 20% of the Market!

Posted on 18 May 2022 by Ken Zino

Europe’s diesel vehicle sales continue the counter-intuitive trend of  strength this year as the move to plug-in electrification has slowed in part because of a diminished focus on tougher CO2 targets. Another factor: diesel popularity is also due to price increases starting to negatively affect BEV buyers in particular, the respected LMC Automotive consultancy said today.

The latest diesel sales information comes at a time when 27 automakers are lobbying the EU to ban the sale of all, yes all, internal combustion vehicles by 2035 and replace them with zero emissions vehicles  – aka electric –  if  the Global Warming goals of net zero emissions are to be met by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of planet- and people-killing climate change. Continue reading →

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ASEAN Light Vehicle Sales Still Soaring in March

Posted on 17 May 2022 by Ken Zino

ASEAN LV sales continued to grow in March (+17% YoY +32% MoM), improving Q1 2021 sales by 23% YoY, according to the LMC Automotive consultancy. LMC attributed this to falling COVID-19 cases normalizing economic activity and mobility in the region. “As a result, overall ASEAN LV sales are now increased to 3.10 mn units, or a 13% YoY increase, this year,” said LMC. Toyota Group remains the dominant force in the market. Continue reading →

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CARB to Open New SoCal Headquarters to Public

Posted on 17 May 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on CARB to Open New SoCal Headquarters to Public

CARB’s new Mary D. Nichols Campus in Riverside.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said today it will host an open house of its new state-of-the-art “green” Southern California Headquarters at its Mary D. Nichols Campus in Riverside*. People are invited to tour the facility from 2- 5 p.m. as well as experience an electric zero-emission car Ride and Drive, interactive booths, a display of zero-emission trucks and buses, and what is likely the largest art collection dedicated to air quality. CARB Board Members, CARB Executive Officers, Riverside City and County Representatives will be in attendance.

“This world-class facility houses the newest advanced vehicle emissions testing laboratory in the world. The new headquarters and laboratory will enable CARB to continue its globally recognized research and achievements in reducing air pollution and fighting climate change over the coming decades. Continue reading →

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