Tag Archives: autoinformed

Finalists for Car and Truck of the Year Named by NACTOY

The North American Car of the Year finalists for 2016 are the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic and Mazda Miata MX-5. Finalists for the 2016 North American Truck/Utility of the Year are the Honda Pilot, Nissan Titan XD and the Volvo XC 90. Last year’s NACTOY winners were the Volkswagen Golf and the Ford F-150. Continue reading

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GM Offers ‘Box Delete’ on All Light Duty Pickups

This means box delete is now available on all sizes of GM pickups, an industry first. Continue reading

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Milestones:1940 Ford Pilot Model GP-No. 1

The Ford Pilot Model GP-No. 1 Pygmy design is arguably most notable as the first “jeep” prototype to have a flat slatted front grille with integrated headlights that went on to become a key design element of the standardized mass produced WWII “jeep” and subsequent commercial versions. Continue reading

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Japanese Name Mazda MX 5 Car of the Year on Pearl Harbor Day

In one of the most insensitive announcements AutoInformed has endured, Mazda Motor Corporation said today that the all-new Mazda Roadster, aka MX-5 outside Japan, has been named the 2015-2016 Car of the Year Japan. Continue reading

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Leasing at Record High in US

People continue to lease vehicles at a record pace, according to the Q3 2015 State of the Automotive Finance Market report Continue reading

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Ford Motor Out Sourcing Ad Design

Consumers will also receive a “billboard selfie” – a webcam shot of their design in the chosen location from cameras located across from the billboards. Continue reading

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Tesla Motors Recalls All Model S EVs for Bad Safety Belts

In November, a customer in Denmark said that the front passenger seat belt had become disconnected during normal use. Continue reading

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Latest Le Mans Bound Audi R18 Debuts

At the financially challenged VW Group, Audi and Porsche will each compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the WEC season’s most famous event, with only two instead of three cars. Continue reading

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November Sales – Trucks and Crossovers Way Up, Cars Down

The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) in November was a breathtaking 18.19 million units compared to 17.13 million units a year ago. Continue reading

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Subaru Beats All Time US Sales Record

Worrisome though are the remarks of Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president of Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries at the Tokyo Motor show last month. Yoshinaga told Automotive News that Subaru will cap maximum annual global production at 1.03 million vehicles. This can increase to 1.1 million vehicles using overtime. No new factories are foreseen. Is this a bluff – while Subaru talks to political entities about a new plant, or a recognition that the business is cyclical and today’s good times are limited? Continue reading

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Toyota Tundra Driver Erik Jones Wins Truck Championship

Toyota Tundra driver Erik Jones captured the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver’s championship during the last NASCAR race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jones took his first-career title by 15 points over second-place Tundra driver Tyler Reddick by winning three races this season at Iowa, Canada and Texas. Continue reading

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Kyle Busch Wins First NASCAR Sprint Cup Title for Toyota

Busch earned his first-career Sprint Cup Series title by one point over second-place driver Kevin Harvick in his No. 18 Camry by finishing highest among the championship contenders in the final round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Continue reading

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Google Frustrated with California DMV Slow Walk on Autonomous Vehicles

Google has 73 self-driving cars out of 98 in testing from ten automakers on the road in California under DMV testing rules. However, they have been involved in 17 accidents that Google claims were not the car’s fault. Continue reading

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Scion C-HR Crossover Embraces Weird

Let us hope the production wrapper looks better. Pricing, when announced, will be interesting as well. Continue reading

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Porsche Dominates Endurance Racing During 2015

Porsche had a strong season with the overall victory at the 24 Hours in Le Mans, the Manufacturers’ World Championship earned at the penultimate round in Shanghai, the drivers’ World Championship in Bahrain. Continue reading

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