Tag Archives: Automotive Commentary

US DOT and EPA Want to Slash Fuel Economy Standards. Trump Administration Proposal Has Many Critics

Posted on 3 August 2018 by Ken Zino

The Trump Administration claimed that the new national automobile fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards will give the American people greater access to safer, more affordable vehicles that are cleaner for the environment. Continue reading →

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Ongoing Death of the Diesel: Toyota Shows Next Gen Zero Emissions Heavy-Duty Fuel-Cell Truck

Posted on 2 August 2018 by Ken Zino

Toyota put another shovel of dirt on the diesel engine grave by unveiling the second iteration of its hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck before a crowd of media and industry leaders during the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing Seminars in Northern Michigan. Continue reading →

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Death of the Diesel Continues: CARB Probe Prompts Recall of 500,000 Cummins Trucks

Posted on 2 August 2018 by Ken Zino

The recall number includes about 232,000 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles with Cummins engines that had the same SCR defect. Recalls for those vehicles were approved in July 2016 and July 2017, respectively, and are already underway. Continue reading →

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Gen Seven Lexus ES Sedan Starts at $40,075

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Ken Zino

The ES 300h is capable of delivering exceptional fuel efficiency, responsive performance and minimal emissions for an entry-level executive sedan (at these prices?). Continue reading →

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New Vehicle Sales to Slip in July?

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Ken Zino

“More notable is that incentive spending is on pace to post year-over-year declines for the first time in 54 months.” Continue reading →

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Global Warming to Be Twice as Bad as Predicted

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Ken Zino

Yet these significant observed changes are generally underestimated in climate model projections that focus on the near term. Compared to these past observations, climate models appear to underestimate long term warming and the amplification of warmth in Polar Regions. Continue reading →

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Lightweighting Avant-Garde – GM, BMW, Asahi Kasei, Mazda, Sika Automotive

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Ken Zino

The winner in the Full Vehicle category was the behemoth General Motors’ 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, which weighed in at 450 pounds (204.5 kilograms) lighter than its predecessor. GM was caught napping by Ford when it introduced its aluminum intensive F-Series –long the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. Continue reading →

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2019 Silverado 1500 has Largest Pickup Bed

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Ken Zino

“The bed is the heart and soul of any pickup,” said Tim Herrick, executive chief engineer, Full-Size Trucks, General Motors. “We’ve added so many features and benefits that it deserves its own name – Durabed.” Continue reading →

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Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes Wins Hungarian GP over Ferrari.

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Ken Zino

The upshot: Hamilton (213 points) leads the Drivers’ Championship in a Mercedes Silver Arrow by 24 points ahead of the hated Ferrari driven by Sebastian Vettel (189 points) with Bottas (132 points) in P4. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport (345 points) leads Ferrari (335 points) by a mere 10 points in the Constructors’ Championship. Continue reading →

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Daimler Signs €11 billion Credit Line

Posted on 24 July 2018 by Ken Zino

The transaction was concluded on improved terms and was significantly oversubscribed, thereby proving once again that banks prefer to lend to people and institutions that don’t really need to borrow. Continue reading →

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Auto Workers Oppose Trump Tariffs that Would Destroy Jobs

Posted on 24 July 2018 by Ken Zino

The United States directly benefits from GM’s ability to maintain a competitive edge and maximize the effectiveness of our operations on a global scale. The majority of the profits we earn from our global production and sales come back to the United States to support jobs, investments in our plants, and advanced R&D. Continue reading →

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