Tag Archives: auto informed

2012 Mercedes Benz C Class Sedan

Posted on 24 December 2010 by Ken Zino

While Christmas auto advertising is in full swing for “great deals” on wheels, Mercedes-Benz has released photos of a revised C-Class compact due next year. The sedan is changed on both exterior ends from a mild facelift with new bumpers, … Continue reading →

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EU Auto Production Still Well Below Pre Crisis Levels

Posted on 23 December 2010 by Ken Zino

New passenger car production in the European Union (EU) grew in the first half of this year before dropping by 5% in the third quarter, as sales slumped, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said today. The unemployment rate in … Continue reading →

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EPA Moves Ahead on Greenhouse Gas Standards

Posted on 23 December 2010 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a plan for establishing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution standards for refineries and power plants, in what appear to be victories for small businesses, farms and environmental moderates. It also signals the Obama Administration’s … Continue reading →

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Honda Recalls Accord, Pilot Models for Suspension Failures

Posted on 22 December 2010 by Ken Zino

American Honda will recall model year 2010-11 Accord and 2011 Pilot vehicles in the U.S. to prevent a potential front suspension failure. The machinery used to tighten the spindle nuts on the front axles of both vehicles, and the damper … Continue reading →

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Korean Hankook Recalls Defective Tires for Blowouts

Posted on 22 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Hankook Tire America Corporation (HTAC) is recalling imported P256/70R17S replacement tires because they failed Hankook tests for sidewall wear, which can lead to blowouts.

In a series of lawyer-written filings to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Korean tire maker said even though the imported tires conformed with U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Hankook considers the tires’ failure of internal standards that were deliberately set higher, a safety related defect. As a result, Hankook will conduct a safety recall, according to Dae-Ki Min, HTAC’s lawyer. Continue reading →

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Magna Board Says Bye-Bye Belinda Stronach. Unexpected Result of Deal that Ceded Control of the Auto Parts Giant

Posted on 22 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG; NYSE: MGA) announced late yesterday that Belinda Stronach,  daughter of Magna founder Frank Stronach, will be “resigning” from her role as Executive Vice-Chair and member of the Board of Directors, effective 31 December 2010. “The … Continue reading →

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Toyota Predicts Another Sales Gain in 2011 on Asian Boom

Posted on 21 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corp. said in Japan today that it expected strong sales in Asia to cause Toyota’s second straight year of sales growth in 2011, tallying 7.7 million vehicles, up 3% from 2010.

The leading Japanese automaker also said that in 2010 its Asian sales would exceed U.S. sales for the first time. Continue reading →

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EPA Fines DuPont $3.3 Million for TSCA Violations

Posted on 21 December 2010 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that DuPont has agreed to pay a penalty of $3.3 million to resolve 57 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) violations. DuPont failed to immediately notify EPA of research indicating “substantial risk” found … Continue reading →

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HondaJet Makes First Flight toward FAA Certification

Posted on 21 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Honda Aircraft Company announced today that it has successfully completed the first flight of its FAA-conforming HondaJet light business jet, a step that could now lead to customer deliveries during the third quarter of 2012 of the delayed aircraft. The … Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor Fined Another $32.425 Million for Safety Defects

Posted on 21 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corp. will pay $32.425 million in civil penalties as the result of two Department of Transportation Investigations into safety defects it was announced late last night by DOT. The additional penalties are on top of a previous fine … Continue reading →

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Colonel Shoup’s Sleigh Ride! North American Aerospace Defense Command Still Tracks Santa Claus

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

This sleigh ride started with a misprint: In 1955 a Sears Roebuck & Company advertisement asked kids to call Santa at what was a wrong phone number. The Santa Claus number was actually the hotline for the Commander-in-Chief of  the … Continue reading →

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Camaro Sales to Beat Mustang for First Time Since 1991!

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Call it a Bowtie blowout or another example of a GM comeback, but unless Ford pulls off a Christmas miracle later this month, Camaro will take the annual sales leadership crown from the Mustang for the first time since 1978. Continue reading →

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U.S. Navy Accepts GM Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Navy is among the first customers to take delivery of a Chevrolet Equinox  hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as part of the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative, GM said today. The Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative, subsidized by federal taxpayers, will try to promote hydrogen … Continue reading →

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BP Oil Spill Spawns Chevrolet Volt Plastic Parts

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

General Motors announced this morning that it has a process to convert the boom material used to soak up spewing oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the BP Oil spill disaster into plastic parts for its Chevrolet vehicles. The ongoing project is expected to create enough parts to supply the first year of production of the Chevrolet Volt hybrid vehicle that has just gone on sale. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Recalls 377,286 Jetta, Beetle and Rabbit Models for Fuel Leaks and Potential Underhood Fires

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen is initiating a recall of hundreds of thousands of Mexican built Jetta, Beetle and Rabbit models for fuel leaks that could lead to underhood fires. Model years 2006-2010 are affected. The affected models all have 2.5-liter engines with design … Continue reading →

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