Road Hazard – Ford Escape Liftgate Hinge Cover Recall

Posted on 8 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is recalling ~108,762 model year 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape* compact SUVs with a Panoramic sunroof because the rear liftgate hinge covers can fall off. Ford back in the summer of 2012 had dismissed the problem as minor involving few vehicles. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls.

“A hinge cover that detaches while driving can create a distraction and/or road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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Lando Norris Wins Formula One World Drivers’ Championship

Posted on 8 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Lando Norris Wins Formula One World Drivers’ Championship

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Lando Norris took the 2025 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Championship title with a third place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He beat race winner Max Verstappen to the title by two points, ending Verstappen’s dominance of the F1 championship for four straight seasons. Oscar Piastri finished the race in second place to end the season in P3 overall.

“It feels amazing,” said Norris post-race. “I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors the whole season. It’s been a pleasure to race against both of them. It’s been an honor. I’ve learned a lot from both of them as well, so I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a long year. But we did it. And I’m so proud of everyone.” Continue reading →

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Stellantis Shows Two Autonomous Driving Vehicles

Posted on 5 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis Shows Two Autonomous Driving Vehicles

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Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI) today showed its latest automated driving technologies. This occurred at the so-called Hi-Drive Final Event in Brussels. [Hi-Drive is a European technology demonstration project dedicated to advancing vehicle automation. “The program focuses on expanding automated vehicles’ capabilities while ensuring they operate safely, reliably, and efficiently in everyday conditions.” Both cars are inarguably serious products of advanced engineering. However aesthetic appeal is lacking. – AutoCrat]*

“Hi-Drive is a great example of open innovation, giving us the opportunity to develop and test automated driving technologies with leading European partners. By working together, we can deliver practical and reliable solutions that make everyday mobility safer and easier for everyone,” said Anne Laliron, SVP of Technology Research at Stellantis. Continue reading →

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Lotus Esprit Refresh offered by Encor

Posted on 5 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Lotus Esprit Refresh offered by Encor

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Encor (sic)* today for the second time unveiled the Encor Series 1, a latter day customization of the longest selling model in the Lotus lineup – the Esprit, which was in production at the Hethel, England factory from 1976 to 2004. Now, if a customer supplies their Esprit – a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive car – Encor will refresh it. Just bring money, lots of it along with the Esprit.

“Production of the Encor Series 1 is limited to 50 individually commissioned cars worldwide. Prices begin at £430,000, excluding taxes, options and the required donor Esprit V8. Commissioning takes place either at Encor’s Chelmsford, UK HQ or via private consultation for international clients. Deliveries will begin in Q2 2026 and continue through 2027,” Encor claimed. Continue reading →

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Japanese Top Consumer Reports 2026 Automotive Report

Posted on 4 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Japanese Top Consumer Reports 2026 Automotive Report

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Each year, CR independently tests about 50 new cars at its 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut. Additionally, CR surveys its millions of members to gather data on reliability and owner satisfaction for hundreds of thousands of vehicles annually, spanning a two-decade range of model years. This extensive data enables the organization to create a comprehensive analysis of automotive quality, including brand-level rankings. Speaking to the Automotive Press Association today, CR analyzed the just published 2026 Automotive Report Card.

“We’re releasing new overall score rankings,” said Jake Fisher, CR’s Senior Director of Automotive Testing. “That’s really who makes the best cars along with new car reliability, used car reliability, which is really looking 5 to 10 year old models that are on out in the road, owner satisfaction, our road test scores, repair costs. … We have all the information for each one of the models on our website. That’s all live right now…. We are very excited that this year. We actually have the most amount of vehicles that we’ve had for a very long time. We’ve made some changes to make the survey easier to complete. … We’ve actually gone from 300,000 vehicles in the survey to 380,000 vehicles in the survey. That’s total.” Continue reading →

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Trump Mis-Administration Proposes a Weaker CAFE

Posted on 3 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The Trump Mis-Administration today proposed [proposal < click here, thereby Making America Poor Again – AutoCrat] to reduce fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. Obviously, this would significantly raise the cost of driving a car for years to come.* It also could also damage the competitiveness of U.S. automakers in a global industry. The preliminary Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – not yet officially published in the Federal Registers as required –  would gut standards set by the Transportation Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2024. Those standards would save owners of personal vehicles an average of more than $600 in fuel costs over the life of a new vehicle.**

“Efficient vehicles save money for Americans. This proposal would raise fuel costs for millions of drivers, adding to the financial strain on families and businesses,” said Rachel Aland, transportation director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). “If this rule is finalized, U.S. automakers will be less competitive as other countries race ahead in manufacturing cleaner vehicles that cost less to drive.”*** Continue reading →

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Toyota 2026 Mirai – Cordless EV with 402 Mile Range

Posted on 3 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota 2026 Mirai – Cordless EV with 402 Mile Range

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Toyota (NYSE: TM, 7203T) said today that the 2026 model year Mirai fuel cell EV is expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships this winter with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $51,795. [MSRP Excludes Dealer Processing and Handling fee of $1195. All prices are subject to change given the whims of the Trump administration – AutoCrat].*

“The 2026 Mirai continues to pave the road ahead, combining advanced hydrogen fuel-cell technology, elegant design, and exceptional performance. It sets a high standard for eco-conscious vehicles that deliver both style and driving excitement. As a pioneer in hydrogen mobility, the Mirai brings electric energy to the forefront, offering drivers a compelling and responsible choice for the road ahead,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Subaru of America November Sales Drop 10%

Posted on 2 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Subaru of America November Sales Drop 10%

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Subaru of America (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) today reported 52,081 vehicle sales for November 2025 – a ~10% drop, and year-to-date sales of 586,154, a 3.3% decrease.* In November, Crosstrek remained the top seller for the seventh consecutive month with 16,142 vehicles sold (-4.8%). Forester sales were 13,871 vehicles sold (-6.6%), and Outback sold 13,089 vehicles (-6.5%).

“Subaru retailers keep driving exceptional experiences with programs like Subaru Love-Encore™, earning top marks for sales satisfaction. Paired with a standout vehicle lineup and the Share the Love® Event supporting charitable impact nationwide, Subaru is set to finish the year strong,” claimed Troy Poston, Senior Vice President of Sales, Subaru of America. Continue reading →

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American Honda Posts November Sales of 102,824

Posted on 2 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on American Honda Posts November Sales of 102,824

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American Honda (NYSE: HMC) said today that sales totaled 102,824 units in November. Year-to-date sales were up a meager 1.8%. An industry-wide semiconductor supply shortage was a factor. (Read AutoInformed.com on: American Honda Posts 358,848 Q3 U.S. Sales and Honda Alabama Starts Production of the 2026 Passport)

“Both the Honda and Acura brands continue to benefit from strong sales of all-new vehicles with balanced sales across light trucks and passenger cars along with a new annual sales record from electrified models,” American Honda claimed. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Increases Its CO2 Reduction Goals

Posted on 2 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The BMW Group said today that it has defined a new 2035 milestone for cutting CO2e emissions on the road to net zero. The company aims to reduce its CO2e emissions by at least 60 million metric tons compared to 2019 levels, an additional reduction of approximately 20 million tons of CO2e beyond the existing 2030 target.*

“The BMW Group has intentionally set itself the additional 2035 milestone to consistently advance its de-carbonization strategy. Global customer demand for electric vehicles alone will not be sufficient to achieve the CO2e targets set for 2030 and 2035. The comprehensive approach to reducing CO2e emissions therefore spans the entire vehicle life cycle, irrespective of the drive variant,” BMW said. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Santa Fe Recall for Bad Rear-View Cameras

Posted on 1 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling more than 143,000 model-year 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rear-view camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rear-view camera image not to display.

“The camera’s main wire harness was improperly assembled by the supplier, causing increased tension and wear in the cable’s shield line, and resulting in poor terminal contact when connected to the camera,” HMA said in the mandatory recall notification made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. [Seoyon E-Hwa Alabama is the supplier – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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F1 Driver’s Championship Goes Down to Last Race

Posted on 1 December 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on F1 Driver’s Championship Goes Down to Last Race

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Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, yesterday beating Oscar Piastri to take second place in the Drivers’ standings. Verstappen is now 12 points behind championship leader Lando Norris. A bad pit stop call – staying on track during a safety car deployment – likely hurt both McLaren drivers, with Piastri finishing second. Verstappen’s driving prowess inarguable was one again in play. Also AutoInformed opines was a heartwarming side of Max that rarely comes into view. The disqualification of both McLaren cars after the Las Vegas race made Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen tied in points, and only 24 points behind leader Lando Norris. The last race weekend of the season occurs on December 5-7 – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Visit Qatar to Be Principal Partner of Audi F1 Team )

“This year, we just had a really tough first half of the season, as everyone knows. But to still be in this fight—at the same time, I think we can be really proud of it because in the middle of the season, at some point, it was almost – not like you lose motivation – but you don’t really see a way forward of actually winning again in this season. It’s almost like you have to hope that 2026 would be better,” said Verstappen the reigning world champion since Abu Dhabi 2021 in the post-race press conference. Continue reading →

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Visit Qatar to Be Principal Partner of Audi F1 Team

Posted on 29 November 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Visit Qatar to Be Principal Partner of Audi F1 Team

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The Audi F1 Team today announced that Visit Qatar will become a principal partner upon the team’s entry into the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2026. Qatar of course is developing as a hub of sport and tourism. It holds the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix and the FIFA World Cup. The timing was propitious. Not only is it the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix weekend underway at the Lusail International Circuit in Doha with  both sprint race and a Grand Prix, but the disqualification of both McLaren cars after the Las Vegas race made Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen tied in points, and only 24 points behind leader Lando Norris. The last race weekend of the season occurs on December 5-7: – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. All three drivers could be contending there for the Driver’s Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit, United Arab Emirates. [Read AutoInformed.com on: F1 – Qatar Investment Authority Buys Into Sauber – AutoCrat]*

“The Qatar Grand Prix has grown into a valued destination on the F1 calendar. Welcoming Visit Qatar as a partner and bringing Qatar’s unique blend of culture, warmth, and innovation to F1 fans around the world is a natural next step to highlight what makes this country such a remarkable destination. Through unique fan events, cultural showcases, and digital experiences, we are excited to partner with Visit Qatar to foster global cultural connections, built through the platform of Formula 1,” said Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of the Audi F1 Team.** Continue reading →

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New Mercedes-Benz Electric CLA to start at $47,250

Posted on 28 November 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New Mercedes-Benz Electric CLA to start at $47,250

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Mercedes-Benz USA said the week that its  all-new electric CLA sedan will start at $47,250 (footnote 1)** when the first vehicles appear on U.S. roads in December, with the available volume progressively ramping up through the first quarter of 2026.*

“The compact sedan sets new standards with intuitive technologies, striking design, enhanced comfort and up to 374 miles (EPA) of electric range,” Mercedes-Benz claimed. Continue reading →

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Nissan to Test Autonomous Mobility Service in Nada Gogo

Posted on 28 November 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Nissan to Test Autonomous Mobility Service in Nada Gogo

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Nissan Motor (7201T and NSANY ADR) today announced that, in collaboration with Kobe City, it will begin a field test of an autonomous mobility service in the Nada Gogo area starting 19 January 2026.*

“The Nada Gogo area in Kobe is a renowned tourist destination, celebrated worldwide for its traditional sake brewing and rich history. Through this test, Nissan will leverage its autonomous driving technology to offer a new travel experience for visitors touring sake breweries, enhancing convenience for tourists and exploring opportunities for regional revitalization. The autonomous mobility service seeks to create new experiential value for visitors and contribute to the promotion of tourism in Kobe,” Nissan said. Continue reading →

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