Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Rolex 24 At Daytona – Record Crowd as Porsche Beats Cadillac  

The finish of Rolex 24 At Daytona yesterday saw a record crowd watch tight racing thought the 59 car field with five cars in the fastest Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class on the lead lap when the checkered flag dropped short of the 24 hour mark. Leaving aside the officiating confusion, Porsche took the overall victory with No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, even though the drivers weren’t immediately aware of the historic triumph along with the other four cars running on the same lap after twice around the clock. Maybe the timing officials should be wearing Rolex watches. Continue reading

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Daytona Time – Rolex 24 Runs Saturday and Sunday

Friday’s one-hour practice session on the Daytona International Speedway road course saw only 6 of the 59 entered teams skip the chance to make final adjustments, scrub in some tires and practice vital pit stops for the IMSA endurance racing season opener tomorrow.

NBC network’s live coverage of the 62nd Rolex 24 begins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday – the BS stops when the green flag drops at 1:40 p.m. ET. Then, alas, coverage changes to the USA Network from 2:30-8 p.m., 10 p.m.-midnight and then again from 6 a.m.-noon Sunday. NBC has the race conclusion airing from noon-2 p.m. Sunday. Full race streaming coverage is also available on Peacock. The NFL, NHL or MLB would never treat fans like this. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Porsche AG Buys into VfB Stuttgart

“We are delighted that the Deutsche Fussball Liga has recognized our investment to be independent,” said Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman and Executive Board Member for Finance and IT at Porsche. “This gives us the opportunity to increase our stake to more than 10%. We want to contribute our know-how actively in order to keep developing the team successfully together with all our partners. We share a great tradition with VfB Stuttgart. Porsche is hereby strengthening its long-term commitment to the Stuttgart region, in which both of us have deep roots.” Continue reading

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January 2024 US Light Vehicle Sales Forecast to Drop a Tad

“After December 2023 reached the strongest sales pace in several years, January’s pace has slowed to 15.2 million units. December’s SAAR of 16.2 million was inflated by elevated discounts from manufacturers, particularly as they aimed to clear out remaining inventory of 2023 model-year vehicles. In addition, changes in the eligibility of many electric vehicles to qualify for government rebates, which took effect Jan. 1, meant many EV purchases that would have occurred in January were made in December. Since January is the month of the year when the fewest vehicles are sold, the aforementioned factors have a bigger effect on the SAAR than they would in higher volume months. In fact, while the drop in the SAAR is notable, January sales results historically are not particularly indicative of future sales performance,” says Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading

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Porsche Reveals New Macan EV at Singapore Art Week

“The new Macan is a performance-oriented SUV with a high level of practicality for everyday use, high-quality equipment and spacious configuration. Electrification has led to increased luggage space in the Macan. Depending on the model and equipment fitted, the capacity behind the rear seat bench is up to 540 liters (cargo mode). In addition, there is the ‘frunk’, a second luggage compartment under the bonnet (hood) with a capacity of 84 liters. This amounts to 136 liters more than the previous model. If the rear seat backrest is folded down completely, the rear luggage compartment capacity increases to up to 1348 liters. The maximum towing capacity of 2000 kg rounds off the highly practical qualities of the new Macan,” said Porsche. Continue reading

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Donald Trump is a Scab – UAW Endorses President Biden

“This November, we can stand up and elect someone who wants to stand with us and support our cause. Or we can elect someone who will divide us and fight us every step of the way,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “That’s what this choice is about. The question is, who do we want in that office to give us the best shot of winning? Of organizing. Of negotiating strong contracts. Of uniting the working class and winning our fair share once again, as our union has done so many times in our nation’s history. We need to know who’s going to sit in the most powerful seat in the world and help us win as a united working class,” said Fain. Continue reading

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More Biden-Harris Infrastructure Projects Funded

“With this announcement, we are advancing projects so large, complex, and ambitious that they could not get funded under the infrastructure programs that existed prior to the Biden administration,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our INFRA and Mega programs are helping build the cathedrals of American infrastructure: truly transformative projects that will change entire regions and our entire country for the better.” Continue reading

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GM and Honda Fuel Cell JV Starts Mass Production

“This is a historic day for the industry as GM and Honda are the first full fuel cell system manufacturing joint venture to begin volume production of fuel cells for transportation and beyond,” said FCSM president Suheb Haq. “We begin the process with raw materials for membrane and electrode all the way through completed systems. Ongoing investment and commitment by both companies is driving our success at FCSM. This commitment aligns with our mission of making high quality, durable and affordable hydrogen fuel cell systems for a wide range of applications and customers.” Continue reading

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Ford Recalls 1.88 Million Explorer SUVs for Trim Detachment

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~1,880,000 (~2.2 million globally) model-year 2011-2019 Explorer SUVs because the A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged. This allows the trim to detach creating a safety hazard for other vehicles, which Ford initially maintained was not a safety problem. Continue reading

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Some VW ID.4 EVs Qualify for Full Federal Tax Credit

Volkswagen Group of America said today that  model year 2023 ID.4 compact SUVs with SK On battery components and model year 24 Volkswagen ID.4 models when released with SK On components placed in service in 2024 are eligible for the full $7500 Federal Tax Credit* on a purchase by a qualifying purchaser. Model year 2023 ID.4 vehicles with LG components do not qualify. During 2023, the ID.4 was the fifth best-selling EV in the US market. Continue reading

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FAA – Record Commercial Space Operations in 2023

“Whether it’s issuing new licenses or renewing or modifying current licenses. The FAA is streamlining the process. Reducing duplicative requirements and providing useful guidance, we’ve also hired more staff to process license applications and are undertaking other improvements. Looking forward, we expect the total number of licensed commercial space operations to almost double again by 2026,” said Coleman. Continue reading

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Manheim – Used-Vehicle Prices Drop in January

Wholesale used-vehicle prices decreased 1.0% from December during the first 15 days of January, according to data just released by industry expert Manheim.* The Manheim mid-month Used Vehicle Value Index dropped to 201.9, which was down 10.2% from the full … Continue reading

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DOT – Brightline West High-Speed Rail Gets $2.5B

“Today, the Biden-Harris administration takes the next step to fulfill the promise of high-speed rail in the American West, with $2.5 billion in private activity bond authority to lay tracks, create jobs, and connect American cities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Continue reading

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Acura ZDX and ZDX Type S EVs Start at $64,500

“The arrival of the all-electric Acura ZDX demonstrates our commitment to a zero-emissions future, but more than that it represents our passion for performance in the electrified era,” claimed Emile Korkor, assistant vice president, Acura National Sales. Continue reading

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Like the Weather, Grey is Top Car Color in Old Blighty

“2023 was a bumper year for the British new car market, as buyers continued to gravitate towards familiar monochrome hues for another year – even as ever more motorists embrace new technologies. Car manufacturers have diligently expanded their offerings, with a huge selection of color options available across hundreds of models and thousands of specification options. The extensive variety allows drivers flexibility in choosing a tint that embodies their individuality and style,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
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