A BMW Motorcycle for Pope Leo XIV?

Posted on 9 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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BMW today said that on 3 September 2025, a specially modified BMW R 18 Transcontinental motorcycle was presented to Pope Leo XIV for his blessing and signature during a celebratory event at the Vatican. This R 18 Transcontinental bearing the Pope’s signature will be auctioned by Missio Austria via Sotheby’s in October 2025, with the proceeds going to children’s aid projects in Madagascar. Markus Flasch, the CEO of BMW Motorrad and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany, presented the motorcycle to the Pope for blessing and signing, after the general audience at the Vatican.

“What initially sounded more like a crazy idea has developed into a great charity campaign. I am happy that we at BMW Motorrad can support aid projects for children in Madagascar with our R 18 Transcontinental. I would also like to thank Pope Leo XIV for taking the time to support this project,” said Flasch. Continue reading →

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Toyota – Latest Emission Scandal Compliance Report

Posted on 9 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM, 7203T) said today that it has submitted a progress report on recurrence prevention of model certification application issues to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in compliance with the correction order issued by the ministry. This report, summarizing actions taken to date, is the fourth of a series of quarterly reports that resulted after Toyota and Group companies falsified emission compliance reports*

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda took the lead during February 2024 “in calling on Group companies to start Toyota’s company-wide TPS (Toyota Production System) training program for Certification Work. The aim of this initiative is to create a better work system through improvement. The president and other members of management continue to be on-site daily at various genba [In the Toyota production system Genba means the actual place where the work is done such as a factory floor or an engineering center. Monozukuri, below is craftsmanship or the art of manufacturing. It is used as shorthand to represent the whole history and depth of Japanese manufacturing practices. – AutoCrat]. This is being done to clarify stagnation factors in each process and to create a system to identify abnormalities,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Togg Türkiye Debuts Two Models at IAA Mobility

Posted on 8 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Mobility brand Togg* said today that it is celebrating its market entry in Germany at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, alongside the world premiere of its production-ready T10F fastback sedan. With the all-electric SUV T10X and the T10F, Togg is introducing two models to the German market, both of which achieved the top rating of five stars in the independent Euro NCAP safety assessment.

“With the T10X and T10F, we are entering the European market with confidence. Achieving five stars from Euro NCAP underlines that safety has been a top priority for us from the very beginning” said CEO Gürcan Karakaş. Starting September 29, 2025, both models will be available for online orders exclusively via Trumore, the in-house service and ordering platform of Togg. More than 70,000 users in Türkiye are already driving the flagship T10X. Continue reading →

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WEC – Porsche Penske Motorsport Finally Win

Posted on 8 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Porsche Penske Motorsport finally took its first victory of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign in monsoon conditions at Circuit of The Americas yesterday in Texas. United Autosports put McLaren in the winners’ circle in LMGT3. Corvette got thumped. Unseasonable rain in Texas resulted in the early stages of the six-hour race taking place behind the safety car, and following a red flag interruption, the competitive action finally got underway just before one-third of the distance. At the start, the front row-sitting #83 and #51 Ferraris led the 18-car Hypercar class, but the #6 Porsche driven by Laurens Vanthoor clung to third place, which became second when Philip Hanson lost more than half-a-minute due to a pit-stop delay.*

The race winning moment came close to the four-hour mark, when Kévin Estre used a tentative safety car re-start by Alessandro Pier Guidi to assume a lead he would not relinquish. Thereafter, the Frenchman kept driving hard, and each time his advantage was wiped out by a neutralization, he immediately set about rebuilding it, going on to take the checkered flag just under ten seconds clear of his nearest pursuer. Continue reading →

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BMW North America Recalls X5 PHEVs, X5 and X7 SUVs

Posted on 8 September 2025 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America is recalling some model year 2026 X5 Plug-in Hybrid, X5, and X7 vehicles. The windshield may not be sealed properly, which can allow water to enter the power distribution box or electronic control unit. Owner notification is planned to begin and end on 17 October 2025.

“If the windshield was not sealed according to specifications, then it could be possible for water to ingress at the right-hand A-pillar. If water traveled down the A-pillar, it could contact a power distribution box and an electronic control unit. Moisture exposure of the electrical components can lead to functional failures, such as headlights or door closing functions. In rare cases, this could lead to a short-circuit and, in an extreme case, could cause a thermal event [defect speak for FIRE – AutoCrat], even when the ignition is off, which could increase the risk of injury,” BMW told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in mandatory safety defect recall documents (49 CFR § 573) released today by the agency. Continue reading →

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Numerous Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Plymouth Recalls

Posted on 8 September 2025 by Ken Zino

FCA US ( part of Stellantis now) is recalling ~93,000 vehicles for various defects, including air bags, vehicle rollaways, incorrect cross car beams, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle software errors, according mandatory safety defect recall filings made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The largest recall by far covers model year 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. A software error within the hybrid control processor may result in a loss of drive power.

“Some 2022-2026 MY Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (“PHEV”) may experience an overloading of the Battery Pack Control Module (“BPCM”) microprocessor resulting in a BPCM reset. During some BPCM resets, the Hybrid Control Processor (“HCP”) incorrectly interprets a signal from the BPCM. The suspect period began on July 23, 2021, when suspect HCP software was introduced in vehicle production, and ended August 29, 2025, when suspect vehicles were maintained in plant control. Engineering and vehicle assembly plant records were used to determine the suspect period,” FCA told NHTSA. Continue reading →

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First Look – 2026 Toyota Highlander

Posted on 5 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Toyota said today that the 2026 Highlander makes all-wheel-wrive standard on gas models. There’s also a shortened grade makeup, with models available in four gas and three hybrid grades. The 2026 Highlander lineup is expected to start arriving at U.S. Toyota dealerships this coming November. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) will start at $45,270 for the gas XLE grade and $47,020 for hybrid XLE grade, excluding Dealer Processing and Handling fees.

“For over 25 years, the Toyota Highlander has earned a reputation for delivering passenger-car-like handling and control coupled with the power and versatility of a mid-size SUV. Gas models will be available in XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum grades and hybrid models will be available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Assembled in Princeton, Indiana, Toyota Highlander gas models have a manufacturer-estimated 24 MPG combined rating and hybrid models have a manufacturer-estimated 35 MPG combined rating,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Milestones – Toyota Online Selling 1 Millionth Customer

Posted on 5 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Toyota (NYSE: TM and 7203.T) said today that its on direct online selling program, dubbed SmartPath reached a milestone when Dorianne Malone, a Philadelphia-area mom and school administrator, became the 1 millionth customer to purchase a Toyota using the electronic retail technology. On 19 August when Malone arrived at Ardmore Toyota in suburban Philadelphia to purchase her brand-new RAV4 through SmartPath. What she didn’t know was that Toyota representatives were waiting with a check to pay off her vehicle in recognition of the SmartPath milestone.

“Reaching 1 million vehicles sold is a huge milestone for SmartPath and a testament to the hard work of our dealers and teams,” said John Myers, general manager of Retail Transformation for SmartPath Sales at Toyota Motor North America. “SmartPath has become a true differentiator for the Toyota brand, and we are excited to be shaping the future of the car buying experience.” Continue reading →

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New Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Car Debuts

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Mercedes-Benz (MBG.DE) said today that Mercedes-AMG Motorsport portfolio is expanding to include a Mercedes-AMG GT2 Edition W16.*

“The comprehensive further development of the Mercedes-AMG GT2, unveiled at the end of 2022, combines the fundamental characteristics of the base GT2 with technology and design inspired by the current Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E PERFORMANCE. An outstanding power-to-weight ratio and numerous new aerodynamic components, such as active louvers above the front wheels, a Push2Pass function and the integrated Drag Reduction System (DRS), make the GT2 Edition W16 the most powerful Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing car of all time,” Mercedes said. Continue reading →

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Ford Performance Rebranded as Ford Racing

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Ford Motor Company said today that Ford Performance is now rebranded to Ford Racing. William Clay ‘Will’ Ford III son of executive chair William Clay “Bill” Ford Jr. is the general manger. The move comes during a period of intense change at the upper levels of Motorsport in Formula 1, endurance racing or the World Endurance Championship, and various international and national forms of sports car racing where Ford Motor in the past has had considerable success. This could be a rite pf passage for Will moving him out of the protective family environment into bare-knuckled competitive realms.*

“This is not a marketing exercise. This is a promise. It signals a new, more focused mission to tear down the wall between our race teams and the engineering of the vehicles you drive every day on and off road. Under one global Ford Racing banner, our engineers and designers will develop our performance road cars right alongside our race cars. The technology that survives the Baja 1000 will be in the DNA of the next F-150 Raptor. The aerodynamic lessons we learn at Daytona and Le Mans will be sculpted into the body of the next Mustang,” said Will Ford. Continue reading →

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Porsche to Debut Wireless Charging on 26 Cayenne!

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Porsche (P911.DE) said today that it will offer an 11-kW charging system with a one-box base plate for wireless charging on its upcoming battery-electric vehicles. This at the moment appears to be breakthrough. If things go as planned, Porsche will be the first automaker to offer a convenient recharging system already in widespread use in cellphone apps.

“Ease of use, suitability for everyday use and charging infrastructure are still the decisive factors when it comes to the acceptance of electric mobility,” said Porsche Board Member for Development Dr. Michael Steiner. “We are proud that inductive charging will soon be available in series production at Porsche. Charging an electric car at home has never been so easy and convenient.” Continue reading →

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CARB Files Comments on DOE Climate Misinformation

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino

The California Air Resources Board today filed public comments* discrediting the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) study the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is using to eliminate federal climate programs. CARB’s comments include a detailed report calling out DOE misinformation and falsehoods one by one. (Read AutoInformed.com on: CARB Blasts Trump’s Attack on California Clean Air Act)**

“This DOE document relies on the old tobacco industry strategy of undermining established science, spreading doubt about established reality and carelessly endangering fellow human beings,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “If the endangerment finding is rolled back, it will clearly establish that the federal government is further stamping its approval on a proposal that puts profits before the health of the people the administration claims to represent.” Continue reading →

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Toyota Joins Tokyo Hydrogen Fuel Venture

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM and 7203.T) announced today that it has joined “TOKYO H2,” a new project launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on 3 September aiming to make Tokyo a global leader in hydrogen. As part of this public-private initiative, the Crown has been introduced into the fuel cell taxi fleet to expand adoption.*

“The Crown combines the exceptional quietness unique to a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) with spacious rear seating and excellent ease of entry and exit, delivering comfortable and a premium travel experience unmatched by conventional taxis,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Colton Herta joins Cadillac F1 Team

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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The Cadillac Formula 1 Team (NYSE: GM) announced today that nine-time NTT IndyCar Series race winner Colton Herta will serve as a Test Driver as it prepares to join the F1 grid for the 2026 FIA Formula 1® World Championship season.

“We are delighted to welcome Colton Herta as a Test Driver,” said Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal, Cadillac Formula 1 Team. “Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years. His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.” Continue reading →

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Halcyon Highland Heather Corniche EV to Debut

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino
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Halcyon* said today it will debut its first remastered and electrified Rolls-Royce Corniche®, the Highland Heather commission, at the Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court Palace, 5-7 September 2025. The result of an in-house design study, the Highland Heather commission** is said to be the first demonstration of Halcyon’s Rolls-Royce® remastering services. The power comes from an in-house 800V electric drivetrain.[1] Highland Heather’s name and inspiration come “from the natural majesty of Scotland’s moors while quietly paying tribute to the pioneering spirit of Rolls-Royce’s 1907 Scottish reliability trials.”

“Unveiling the result of our design study in the beautiful setting of Hampton Court Palace gives our clients a first taste of how incredible their cars will be. The passion, effort, and attention to detail that our team has poured into the Highland Heather design study have created a vehicle unlike any other. Classic elegance and a modern spark make for everything the Corniche should be, unmistakably Rolls-Royce®,” said Matthew Pearson, CEO of Halcyon.*** Continue reading →

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