Sam’s Scrapbook by Sam Posey Now Available in the US

Posted on 17 August 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Sam's Scrapbook by Sam Posey     A release out of London today says Sam’s Scrapbook by Sam Posey is now available in the US. Sam Posey, as motorsport fans likely know, raced a huge variety of sports cars, saloons and open-wheel machines in numerous racing segments such as Can-Am, USRRC, Trans-Am, IMSA, Indy, NASCAR, Formula 5000 and Formula 1. His formidable rivals and friends include George Follmer, Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, Peter Revson, Dan Gurney, David Hobbs and Brian Redman.

Running alongside the images, Posey’s commentary is both amusing and emotional. This is a must read memoir by one of America’s racing stars. Surely it will appeal to all motorsports enthusiasts and those who are just getting to know the giant motorsports money machine. I knew Posey from my long association with the International Motor Press Association in New York. He was friendly, intellectually curious and colorful in a latter-day Connecticut Yankee kind of way at Racing’s court. Sam’s Scrapbook is a first-hand account of a golden era in racing, through pictures no outsider has seen and stories not heard. Continue reading →

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Toyota, Lexus Debut Mobile Collision Assistance App

Posted on 16 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Toyota Mobile Collision Assistance App

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Toyota and Lexus drivers now can have an assistance service available to them in the moments following a collision. Collision Assistance, a just-in-time support service, is now available to drivers within the Toyota and Lexus mobile app. The feature within the Toyota and Lexus Owners Apps offers guided instructions to help drivers navigate a post-collision repair process.

Toyota worked with CCC Intelligent Solutions, a Software as a Service* platform for the insurance economy, to develop Collison Assistance. CCC mobile technology combines guided accident documentation and access to claims and management services to assist drivers following a collision. Toyota transmits accident and vehicle telematics data to CCC to initiate the program. Collision Assistance is designed to let the customer choose how they’d like to handle the claim and repair processes, providing convenience and safety while also ensuring owners are informed about the process through completion.
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Spin E-bikes and E-scooters Linked to Google Maps

Posted on 16 August 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Spin and Google maps Spin, a mobility business of Ford Motor, is working with Google Maps to provide e-scooters and e-bikes as a transportation option on the platform in Spin’s markets*. While looking for directions, Google Maps users can locate Spin vehicles in 84 towns, cities and campuses in the United States, Canada, Germany and Spain, Spin said in a release today. (Read AutoInformed.com on Ford Buys E-Scooter Company Spin)

Google Maps users can see, in real-time, the nearest available Spin e-bike or e-scooter, including how long it will take to walk to the vehicle, as well as the estimated battery range and expected arrival time. Users will then be directed to the Spin app to pay for the vehicle, unlock it and take their ride. Spin claims integration will bring wider public awareness to Spin’s vehicle availability and point people towards a more sustainable option for short journeys in urban areas. Continue reading →

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Global Warming – EPA Raising Data Centers Energy Star Specs

Posted on 16 August 2021 by Ken Zino

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced expanded efforts to increase energy efficiency improvements among U.S. data centers. EPA has launched an updated specification for Energy Star certification of data storage products, unveiled a brand-new website designed to serve as the go-to place for data center energy efficiency resources, and will be updating its 1-100 Energy Star score for data centers. EPA rates the energy efficiency of an entire facility compared to similar facilities nationwide.

Data centers are one of the most energy-intensive building types, consuming 10 to 50 times more energy per square foot than a typical office building. In 2014, data centers in the U.S. consumed an estimated 70 billion kWh, representing about 1.8% of total U.S. electricity consumption. Based on estimates in 2016, U.S. data centers were projected to consume approximately 73 billion kWh in 2020. Continue reading →

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Brickyard Sunday – Allmendinger in Chevy Wins NASCAR Cup

Posted on 16 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -Verizon 200

Allmendinger, 39, was considered a favorite by many because of his road course background.

AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 HyperIce Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE won the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. It was part ofa great weekend for Chevrolet racing, which also won the Indy Car race on Saturday. (Brickyard Saturday – Power, Cindric Win for Penske)

The first NASCAR Cup Series road course race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was ether exciting or disastrous depending on how you view racing. A.J. Allmendinger led only the last two laps of overtime to secure his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday.

“The best part is when you’ve got Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice on the radio just going, Hey, we’re not here for friends, we’re not here for points, we’re here to win this race, so win it or basically bring it back on the hook. That kind of frees up a race car driver to go after it,” said Allmendinger. Continue reading →

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Brickyard Saturday – Power, Cindric Win for Penske

Posted on 15 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Indy Car and NASCAR at Brickyard

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Will Power took his front row starting position into a win as he led 56 of the 85-laps of The Big Machine Coolers Grand Prix on the Road Course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is the fifth win of the season for Team Chevy in INDYCAR. Moreover the race lacked the usual idiocy of allegedly professional drivers wiping out on the early laps of Indy Car races such as last week in Nashville when the Pace Car led more laps than any racing car  – and in AutoInformed’s view won the demolition derby like race.

“Roger Penske has had a rough year as far as the team goes. I’m really happy for the whole group. Because it’s not for lack of effort,” said Power. They worked really hard during the Month of May and we were all scratching our heads at the end. I’ve been here six times now (five for road course wins, one Indy 500 win) in this Victory Lane; pretty special place for me. This win goes to the whole group; they deserve it more than me.” Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Runs IndyCar and NASCAR at the Brickyard

Posted on 13 August 2021 by Ken Zino

Team Chevy drivers William Byron* in the NASCAR Cup Series and Rinus Veekay in the NTT INDYCAR Series met at the Chevrolet Simulator ahead of the NASCAR / INDYCAR weekend on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Chevrolet is the only manufacturer that will compete in both series. This week, Veekay and Byron met at the SIM DIL to share a ‘driver swap” and trade information. Continue reading →

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Hypercar Hype or Close Racing Next Week at Le Mans? Toyota vs Alpine vs Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus

Posted on 13 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Hypercar Endurance Racing Next Week at Le Mans

There are double FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) points to win.

Following three-straight Le Mans victories with its TS050 Hybrid, this year the Toyota Gazoo Racing team competes with the new GR010 Hybrid Hypercar for the first time at the Circuit de la Sarthe. (See 1 below) The team “is determined to extend its winning run.”  It faces Hypercar competition from Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, which enters two cars, as well as Alpine, which participates with a grandfathered LMP1 car at the 13.626 km Circuit de la Sarthe.

Reigning World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López, in the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, have endured calamity at Le Mans, particularly when mechanical issues denied them victory despite domination in 2019 and 2020. They go into the biggest race of the year following wins in the 6 Hours of Monza last month. (Le Mans 2018 – Wrecks, Pit Stops, Safety Car – Pick Winners. Toyota Finally Wins P1 After Years of Breakdowns with a Record 388 Laps; C’est Bien – Corvette Racing off to Le Mans 24 Hour) Continue reading →

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Nouveaux Chic? Renault Trafic Hippie Caviar Hotel

Posted on 13 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Renault Trafic Hippie Caviar Hotel

The design claims to be inspired by 5-star hotel rooms – “refined and rich in natural materials.”

Move over Tokyo Motor Show – known for its wacky concept vehicles. Here’s comes the Hippie Caviar Hotel concept built from the new Renault Trafic van. It debuts at the 2021 Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf from 28 August to 5 September 2021. It claims to be the world’s largest van and camper show. Renault Design says it “chose the new Trafic to imagine a nomadic life with all the space, comfort and modularity necessary for all journeys.”

Whatever. The van’s dimensions make it easy to park. As to the claims that a camper-van after repeated lockdowns can fill the urge to escape without accommodation constraints with the application of the sanitary restrictions related to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which leads to a “stress-free life” – well maybe designers were smoking something. Consider: “Hippie Caviar Hotel is our take on the nomadic hotel concept, based on connected services.” Sounds reasonable so far, but… Continue reading →

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Five Million Vehicles from Hyundai in Alabama

Posted on 13 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Five Million Vehicles from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

Seventeen years in the making… Click to Enlarge.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) team members, and politicians today celebrated the five millionth vehicle built at Hyundai’s U.S. assembly plant. HMMA reached the five million mark in less than 17 years, after starting production in May 2005.

The five millionth vehicle was a Hyundai Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle that was built on 27 July 2021. To reach this milestone, HMMA has produced 2,562,880 Sonatas, 1,489,568 Elantras, 908,779 Santa Fes, 36,989 Tucsons, and 1,784 Santa Cruzes. Continue reading →

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Lotus Emira to Make US Debut with F1 Racer Jenson Button

Posted on 12 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on the Lotus Emira

Lotus Emira with F1 driver Jenson Button at the wheel at Laguna Seca.

The Lotus Emira made its first appearance in the USA with aging Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button at Laguna Seca Raceway. Jenson – in California for Monterey Car Week – drove the Radford 62-2 – a reinterpretation of the Lotus Type 62 that recently received its world premiere ahead of making its public debut with the Emira on the Lotus stand at The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering. Jenson Button said after his drive that “This is such a great circuit, most road cars on tracks don’t work, but this does.” (AutoInformed on Renault Group to buy Lotus F1 Team; Alpine and Lotus to Study Joint Development of an Electric Sports Car as Groupe Renault Restructures) Continue reading →

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First Look – 2022 Ford GT Heritage Edition. The Last?

Posted on 12 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on the Ford GT Heritage Edition series

The 2022 Ford GT is available to order for approved customers. Production is scheduled in January.

It’s the end of the line for the Ford GT so the 2022 Ford GT Heritage Edition supercar pays homage to the 1964 Ford GT prototypes that led to America’s only Le Mans-winning supercar, with wins from 1966 to 1969, and in born-again form in 2016.

The latest Ford GT Heritage Edition is a marketing take on the original, combining Wimbledon White paint and a triple racing stripe with expensive touches including exposed carbon fiber behind blue-painted carbon fiber wheels and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara suede seats.
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July Global Sales Days Dogged by Delta, Semiconductors

Posted on 12 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on July Global Light Vehicle sales     

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The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate was 82,000,000 units/year in July, according to consultancy LMC Automotive. This continues the softening trend of recent months. “The semiconductor shortage held back the post-lockdown recovery of vehicle sales in Europe, while its impact on inventories in the US meant average transaction prices soared. Meanwhile, rising Delta variant cases threaten to worsen the outlook in parts of Asia,” LMC said in a release today. Continue reading →

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C’est Bien – Corvette Racing off to Le Mans 24 Hour

Posted on 11 August 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IMSA. Photo by Richard Prince for Chevy Racing

The #3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R driven by Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor takes the checkered flag first in the GTLM class Saturday, July 4, 2020 during the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship WeatherTech 240 on the Road Course at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The stands were empty per IMSA and Florida Covid regulations.

Corvette Racing is returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only days following its most recent IMSA race at Road America, the program heads across the Atlantic for the French endurance classic – one of the most famous and storied races still running. The twice-around-the-clock race is set for Aug. 21-22 around the 8.4-mile circuit that is a mix of permanent racetrack and public roads. Corvette Racing and other teams – including seven other entries in GTE Pro – will have nine hours of track time Sunday during the official Test Day.

This year’s Le Mans is the first time in France for the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, and this year’s race marks Corvette Racing’s return after missing the 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It ended a run of 20 consecutive years at Le Mans that started in 2000. In that time, Corvette claimed eight victories with three different generations of Corvette… all with the engine in the front. Continue reading →

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