Hendrick Motorsports to Run Camaro ZL1 at Le Mans!

Posted on 17 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports to Run Next Gen Camaro ZL1 at LeMans

It’s not this car, but Rick Hendrick did confirm one thing, “It’s going to be expensive.” More later – drivers, specs, pit stops, racing strategy…

Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR said today they will run at Le Mans in the 2023 24 hour-race as the unique Garage 56* entry. The car will be a modified version of the Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race car. At a press conference before the Sebring 12-hour IMSA race this weekend (10 a.m. ET on Peacock, 3:30 p.m. on USA) that is part of the World Endurance Championship, the collaboration of NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, IMSA, and Goodyear was announced.

Hendrick Motorsports is the all-time leader in NASCAR Cup Series championships, points-paying victories and laps led. The team is coming off its second consecutive title and has won two of the four races in 2022. Seven-time champion crew chief Chad Knaus will serve as its Garage 56 program manager. Further details, including technical elements of the car and the team’s driver lineup, will be announced at a later date. Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports did confirm one thing though, “It’s going to be expensive.” Continue reading →

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Putin’s War Clouds BMW Group Media Day

Posted on 16 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Putin’s War Clouds BMW Group Media Day

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After a successful 2021, the BMW Group said today in Munich at its annual media conference that it is speeding up technological change and pushing forward with the transformation towards sustainable mobility. The company is preparing for new technology in its so-called Neue Klasse as it continues to expand e-mobility.

Unaddressed in formal statements were two key concerns for the German auto industry – Germany’s over-dependence on Russian natural gas, and it’s dealings with totalitarian communist states including China where BMW and other German makers, suppliers and brands have extensive holdings – Audi, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, among others. Continue reading →

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US Airline Passengers Up in Jan 2022. Still Down from 2020

Posted on 16 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Airline Passengers up in Jan 2022. Still Down from 2020

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U.S. airlines carried 46.3 million scheduled service passengers in January 2022*, 33.2% more than in January 2021 and 34.0% fewer than in pre-pandemic January 2020, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 23 airlines that carry more than 90% of passengers.

Domestic passengers (41.2 million) made up 89% of total enplanements, and international passengers (5.1 million) accounted for 11% of total. Omicron concerns caused the steepest US drop from the most recent pre-pandemic corresponding month since April 2021, BTS said today.

This of course was long before Putin’s war against democracy in Ukraine and economic sanctions were imposed, with more likely. Following are BTS data points. Continue reading →

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Global Light Vehicle Sales Rate Drops in February

Posted on 16 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Global Light Vehicle Sales Rate Drops in February

Putin’s war will make things worse…

The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate dropped to 77 million units annually in February 2022, according to consultancy LMC. Even with the disruption to the world’s largest auto market due to the Chinese New Year, sales for the rest of the globe were weaker compared with the month before. Year-on-year (YoY) sales were 1% down on a poor base performance last February.

“Sales continue to be held back by supply-side issues, though underlying demand is also being eroded as the economic outlook deteriorates,” said LMC. Following are LMC observations by market. Continue reading →

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McLaren Automotive Tries the Metaverse with InfiniteWorld

Posted on 15 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on McLaren Automotive Tries the Metaverse with InfiniteWorld

An electric “future” using a gasoline hybrid motor, the technology of the past?

British super-car maker McLaren Automotive has selected InfiniteWorld, a metaverse infrastructure platform that McClaren says enables brands “to create, monetize and drive consumer engagement with digital content,” as its first official metaverse partner.

McLaren said today that it will “offer customers a deeper, more engaged digital experience, including the creation and minting of original NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and digital artwork that will represent McLaren’s luxury supercars and hypercars. Select NFTs may be offered with additional unique benefits, including access to exclusive, buyer-only experiences. All will then be made available on a McLaren marketplace.” Continue reading →

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Hyundai, Kia Recall 2022 Seat Belts for Shrapnel Explosions

Posted on 15 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Five Million Vehicles from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

Seventeen years in the making: Five Million Vehicles from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America are recalling seat belts because during a crash the front passenger-side seat-belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment sending metal fragments into the interior.

The actual incident that remains under investigation occurred in February in Singapore on a 2021 Hyundai Avante, marketed as the Elantra in the US. The Samsung supplied pre-tensioners have an undetermined problem at this time. Continue reading →

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EPA – More Funding for DERA Tribal and Insular Area Grants

Posted on 15 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on DERA Tribal and Insular Area Grants

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that $5.4 million in grant funding is expected to be awarded for Tribal and insular areas to establish lower-emission diesel projects.

In total, 12 Tribal and insular area assistance agreements are expected to be awarded as part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction (DERA*) program, which funds projects to clean up the nation’s legacy fleet of diesel engines. The projects include replacing municipal trucks, marine engines used in fishing vessels, generators used for energy production in Tribal villages and four new electric school buses. Tribal projects will occur in areas across the country. Continue reading →

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FI Braking Points – New Regs, New Limits. More Passing?

Posted on 14 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on FI Braking Points - New Regs, New Limits. More Passing?

The latest FIA regulations shave wheel diameters increase from 13 inches to 18 inches. This of course requires larger, heavier brake discs.

For the first time in almost 50 years, Brembo is supplying calipers to all ten F1 teams. When the 2022 season opens at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, nine teams will be supplied with Brembo calipers. The last will be supplied with calipers made by AP Racing, the Coventry-based company owned by the Brembo Group.

Brembo – as AutoInformed readers are likely aware – is a force in the Formula One and performance car worlds. It has hard won stopping expertise gained during 47 Formula One seasons, during which cars with Brembo brakes have won 27 Drivers’ World Championships, 31 Constructors’ World Championships and 463 Grand Prix races. The company will also supply most of the cars with hydraulics – calipers, pumps and by-wire units, as well as friction parts – carbon discs and pads. (AutoInformed: BWT Alpine F1 Team Reveals Its 2022 A522 Contender; Aston Martin’s Next Formula One car – AMR22 – Revealed, Mike Krack Leaves BMW for Aston Martin Formula One; Rolex 24 – Cold Beginning to Start a Sizzling Racing Season) Continue reading →

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Volkswagen, Ford Expand Cooperation on MEB EV Platform

Posted on 14 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen Debuts ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo

VW’s version. Ford’s is yet to come.

Volkswagen Group and Ford Motor Company and are expanding their e-mobility partnership in an attempt by both makers to trim the ruinous costs of converting to EVs. Ford said today it plans to produce another electric model for the European market based on the MEB (Modular Electric Toolkit) platform. The Dearborn-based  automaker will also double its planned MEB volume to 1.2 million units over a six-year period.

The agreement was signed as part of the strategic alliance between Volkswagen and Ford, which includes e-mobility, commercial vehicles and autonomous driving. Designed as an open vehicle platform, it’s claimed MEB allows car manufacturers to electrify a portfolio quickly and cost-effectively. (AutoInformed:Volkswagen ID.4 – Most Affordable AWD Electric Vehicle in US?) Continue reading →

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Ford to Sell 600k EVs Annually in Europe by 2026?

Posted on 14 March 2022 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor said that in Europe, it will offer ”a new generation of seven, all-electric, fully-connected passenger vehicles and vans by 2024.” It plans to sell more than 600,000 electric vehicles each year in the region by 2026. The latest EV proclamation supports the previously announced acceleration of the Ford+ plan with its global goal of 2 million+ annual production of EVs by 2026 and 10% company adjusted EBIT margin by 2026.

“It’s also about the pressing need for greater care of our planet, making a positive contribution to society and reducing emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement,” said Stuart Rowley, chair, Ford of Europe. Ford – like virtually all automakers with similar pledges – wants to achieve zero emissions for all its vehicle sales and carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics and suppliers by 2035, it said today. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Posts Record Revenues, Earnings, Profits for 2021

Posted on 10 March 2022 by Ken Zino

BMW Group ended the financial year 2021 with all-time highs for Group revenues, earnings and net profit – all of which were “significantly higher” the company said today in Munich. Deliveries were up 8.4%, to 2,521,514 units, of which 13% were electrified vehicles (328,314 units, +70.4% YOY). Group revenues rose to.€111,239 million (prev. yr.: €98,990 million, +12.4%). Group net profit reached a new all-time high of €12,463 million (prev. yr.: €3,857 million, +223.1%). Continue reading →

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Cruise CEO – It Will Be Hard to Sell a Car That Isn’t Self-Driving

Posted on 10 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Cruise CEO - It Will Be Hard to Sell a Car That Isn’t Self Driving

I can see it now – AutoInformed’s best computer coded AV of the Year is…

“It will be hard to sell a Car that isn’t self-driving,” Cruise President Kyle Vogt said today. The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer, President & Co-Founder of Cruise neatly summed up his view at a Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. General Motors owns more than 60% of Cruise.

It’s a starting but ultimately compelling proposition. Moreover, General Motors already  has a huge foray into EVs underway that analysts mired in numbers and thinking of the past  have difficulty calculating. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Buys Customizer ALPINA

Posted on 10 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW Group Buys Customizer ALPINA

ALPINA was active in BMW tuning and motorsports from the 1960s onwards and began manufacturing passenger cars based on BMW AG products in 1978.

The BMW Group said in Munich today that is buying the ALPINA brand. BMW AG and ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG* have reached an agreement to this effect that likely will secure the future of the ALPINA brand, as well as the Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH und Co. KG.

The existing cooperation will continue in a different form: The company owned by the Bovensiepen family will continue to use its engineering expertise in developing, manufacturing, and selling BMW ALPINA vehicles within the existing agreement until the end of 2025. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Debuts ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo

Posted on 9 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen Debuts ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo

The Buzz-es will come from VW Commercial Vehicles plant in Hannover.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and VW Passenger Cars today debuted the all-new ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo. The two electric vehicles mimic the design of the T1 Microbus of hippie fame.

In keeping with VW’s German-eccentric focus, the first versions will come to the European market during Q3 with an 82-kWh battery powering 201-hp electric motor with maximum torque of 229 lb.-ft.  Continue reading →

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Ford Pro Adds Charging Hardware for Commercial EV Clients

Posted on 9 March 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Pro Adds Charging Hardware for Commercial EV ClientsFord Pro claims it is aiming to create a “smooth transition for commercial customers into an electric future by providing a one-stop shop for fleet operations and investing in key areas of the business.” The latest is the launch of six new home and depot chargers to offerings. From the 11.5-kilowatt Ford Pro AC Charging Station to the 180-kilowatt modular DC fast charging systems, Ford Pro says it has created a diverse lineup of chargers.

Ford Pro Charging** hardware launches alongside the all-new 2022 Ford E-Transit shipping to dealers now and the all-new 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro that is due to start arriving this spring, providing compatibility for customers who may operate other electric vehicle makes with secure OEM data. Continue reading →

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