Category: Auto News Today

Auto CENTRAL CHICAGO – March 27, 2022 Each and every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Automobile Man and Govt Producer, with equipped help from senior editor Thom Cannell from The Car Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Car Channel’s “choose” on this previous week’s automotive information, condensed into quick to digest information Nuggets.

Master More: Full versions of present day information nuggets alongside with 1000’s of internet pages of related news and views, data stored in a million-web site library printed and indexed on The Automobile Channel throughout the earlier 25 several years. Complete info can be uncovered by copying a bold headline and then inserting into any Internet site Look for Box.

Nutson’s Automotive News Wrap-up – Week Ending March 26, 2022 Down below are the previous week’s important, pertinent, semi-solution, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as
expertly crafted easy-to-recognize automotive universe information nuggets.

* Automotive consulting company AutoPacific’s most up-to-date spherical of Fuel Selling price Influence Study (FPIS) data will come amid alarmingly substantial gasoline rates and continued conflict in Ukraine. The survey, issued bi-monthly to AutoPacific’s proprietary panel of respondents, been given responses from over 650 automobile proprietors in the United States. The info expose that above 50 {cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of customers (52{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}) continue being unwilling to improve the form of vehicle they drive even with better gas selling prices. The 25{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} who say bigger fuel prices would induce them to transform the type of automobile they push say the selling price of gasoline must be about $1.00 for every gallon far more than what they are having to pay now, or a median price tag of $5.32 for every gallon in comparison to the existing median of $4.23 for each gallon. For those who now personal an SUV or crossover, almost 50 {cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} (47{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}) say they would contemplate a hybrid or plug-in hybrid SUV though 30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} would consider an all-electrical SUV if gas selling prices are as substantial or larger than now when they are browsing for their next car or truck. Below individuals situation, only 18{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of SUV or crossover proprietors would think about downsizing to a smaller sized SUV or crossover, even though a scant 7{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} would contemplate receiving out of their SUV or crossover and into a sedan or other sort of passenger motor vehicle.

* DoE factoid of the week: A investigation research for the Bureau of Transportation Figures centered on the amount of day-to-day outings taken in the United States. In 2021, 52{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of all visits, which include all modes of transportation, were being less than a few miles, with 28{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of outings a lot less than just one mile. Just 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of all excursions were higher than 50 miles. A excursion was defined as a movement that involves a continue to be of more time than 10 minutes at a place absent from home. Numerous stays of for a longer period than 10 minutes just before returning residence were being counted as a number of outings. The visits included driving, rail, transit, and air.

* A U.S. Bureau of the Census American Housing Study suggests 63{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of all occupied housing units have a garage or carport. Garages and carports usually have accessibility to electricity for parked autos, so these information are essential for electric powered motor vehicle sector investigation. Seventy-{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of new construction units (five decades aged or less) have a garage or carport. The West and Midwest areas of the country have a higher percentage of housing with garages or carports, every with around 70{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. For rental housing units, only 37{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} have a garage/carport, as compared to 78{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} for all those proudly owning housing models. The West is maximum at 76{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} and the Northeast the least expensive at 49{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} as to garage or carport accessibility. In 2021, there had been 129.93 million households in the United States.

* The Detroit Bureau reports profits of new vehicles are expected to drop once again in March and are down by double digits by the to start with a few months of 2022, according to new estimates by J.D. Electric power and LMC Automotive, even though estimates of the seasonally adjusted yearly level or SAAR has fallen to close to economic downturn concentrations. New car or truck revenue are envisioned to slide 27.8{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} as inventory levels remain at report lows. J.D. Electrical power and LMC Automotive predicted profits of new motor vehicles this thirty day period will decline 27.8{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in comparison with March 2021 when adjusted for providing times. Comparing the exact same income volume with out modifying for the range of advertising days translates to a decrease of 25{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from 2021.

* Reuters says Uber has agreed to set NYC’s yellow taxis on its journey hailing application. Two present NYC taxi hailing applications will now integrate their software program with Uber to give clients obtain to Uber and yellow cabs in just one glance. Buyers preferred this – Uber shares ended up up 5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} pre-sector. It was pointed out: Uber has pivoted from promising to “disrupt” the standard cab marketplace, to collaborating with legacy taxi operators to broaden its driver pool.

* The U.S. Postal Support announced it ordered a lot more than 10,000 new electrical shipping and delivery trucks, up from the 5,000 the agency had originally planned to invest in. It really is element of the service’s first $2.98 billion get of 50,000 new shipping and delivery cars from Oshkosh Corp. as aspect of a deal to replace its 30-year-previous fleet. The improve comes after the Biden administration criticized the Postal Service’s technical examination of emissions impacts and argued it overestimated the long-expression price of EVs.

* Push a fully electrical, luxurious motor vehicle up to the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown and basically permit the car park by itself. This situation became a truth in a demonstration of automatic valet parking at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown featuring the EQS sedan from Mercedes-EQ. Automatic valet parking technological innovation from Bosch and Mercedes-Benz is at the main of the demonstration in Los Angeles. It functions Smart PARK PILOT in the EQS from Mercedes-EQ and integration with the smartphone application as section of a holistic demonstration of the potential automobile knowledge for shoppers. The demonstration is operated in conjunction with the InterContinental Downtown Los Angeles Resort, an 889-area property positioned in the tallest creating west of Chicago. Apologies for the sarcasm, but yeah, one more occupation shed to technological know-how.

* In the meantime, the news is not all about electric powered vehicles and their batteries. Stellantis revealed its new, 3.-liter, twin-turbo, inline, 6-cylinder engine, named Hurricane, that delivers improved fuel economic system and fewer emissions than greater engines although at the very same time generates more horsepower and torque than a lot of competitors’ the natural way aspirated V-8 and boosted 6-cylinder electricity crops. Made with an inherently easy-jogging I-6 configuration and state-of-the-art technologies, the Hurricane twin-turbo’s robust base architecture permits Stellantis propulsion techniques engineers to create two distinct variants: Common Output (SO) that is optimized for gas overall economy, like the use of cooled exhaust fuel circulation (EGR), though delivering improved electricity and torque (extra than 400 hp/450 lb.-ft. of torque). Large Output (HO) that is optimized for wonderful general performance (additional than 500 hp/475 lb.-ft.) even though protecting important fuel economy throughout significant use, such as towing. The Hurricane twin-turbo achieves this V-8-rivaling performance while currently being up to 15{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} more successful than greater engines. The Hurricane twin-turbo I-6 is the main inner combustion energy plant of the potential in North America for autos working with the STLA Big and STLA Body platforms. We expect the new Hurricane engine to at some point seem in use in a hybrid setup.

* We traveled to California’s Central Coastline this past 7 days to generate the all-new 2023 Mazda CX-50. The CX-50 is an addition to the Mazda lineup and does not exchange any other design. That is, the CX-5 will go on. It truly is designed in Alabama at the joint-venture plant with Toyota. Two engines will be available. It can tow up to 3,500 lbs. and has an off-street mode. Verify back again this 7 days for a total tale.

* Ford is recalling approximately 215,000 pickup vans and large SUVs in the U.S. and Canada for the reason that brake fluid can leak, leading to for a longer time halting distances. The recall addresses the F-150 pickup from 2016 by way of 2018, as very well as Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from 2016 and 2017. All have 3.5-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engines.

* In the Bahrain Grand Prix the very first Formulation 1 race of the new 2022 season Charles LeClerc sent Ferrari its very first race earn given that 2019 forward of teammate Carlos Sainz. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton grabbed third spot more than the remaining couple laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix. This winter season, Formulation 1 introduced a new set of aerodynamic restrictions aimed at generating the cars easier to race. Those people, alongside with the present expense cap (created to shut the hole in between wealthy and very poor groups) and new management in the race director’s place of work, were a collective try to knock out many of the competitive issues that have dogged the sport for a decade or a lot more.

* We are all saddened to report the sudden passing of auto market buddy and colleague Pat Goss, who appeared on MotorWeek through forty-a person seasons, beginning with their incredibly very first episode. Goss’ Garage had been a pillar of the Motorweek system and a should-see phase for thousands and thousands of viewers who tuned in for the no-nonsense maintenance tips and incomparable vehicle know-how that Pat dispensed with easy familiarity and understated wit.

Stay protected. Be Nicely.

AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO – March 20, 2022; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel’s “take” on this past week’s automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.

LEARN MORE: Full versions of today’s news nuggets along with thousands of pages of relevant news and opinions, information stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 25 years. Complete information can be found by copying a bold headline and then inserting into any Site Search Box.

Nutson’s Automotive News Wrap-up – Week Ending March 19, 2022 Below are the past week’s important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as
expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive universe news nuggets.

* There are various conversations being had in the political arena around the country to temporarily suspend the tax on gasoline due to the current high per-gallon prices at the pump. Will this gas tax suspension issue lead to a new end game? That is, repeal the gas tax and in its place implement use-fees for motor vehicles. With the ever increasing electrification of private passenger cars now might be the time to make the change.

* The semiconductor chip supply shortage has led automakers to ship new vehicles to dealers with some equipment not functioning. Usually this is some customer convenience feature that can be retrofitted later. Ford is the latest to join this practice shipping Explorer vehicles without the rear seat climate control function. BMW, GM and Nissan have shipped vehicles without certain features operating.

* And, it’s not just microchip supply, so says Reuters. War in Ukraine, turmoil in London’s nickel market, the COVID surge in China and an earthquake in Japanese are the newest issues. S&P Global Mobility, formerly known as IHS Markit, slashed its forecast for global vehicle production in 2022 and 2023 by a total of more than 5 million vehicles – 2.6 million lost in each year – and warned the auto industry could lose a total of as many as 8 million vehicles this year and next if supply chain disruptions get worse.

* From Subaru: As the automotive marketplace continues to move towards electrification, Subaru is focused on how our future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace and the regulations and requirements for greenhouse gasses (GHG), zero emissions vehicles (ZEV), and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ). As part of that effort, Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification. In the meantime, a next generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform. The Subaru WRX STI and the STI brand represent the zenith of Subaru’s performance vehicles exemplifying Subaru’s unique DNA and rally heritage. As we look to the future, we also look forward to incorporating the essence of STI into our next generation of vehicles.

* The World Car Finals Powered by Brembo continues with the announcement of the Top Three in the World finalists. The winners in all six categories will be declared live at the 2022 New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. A jury of 102 distinguished international automotive journalists from 33 countries selected the finalists by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their professional work. The vote results have been tabulated by KPMG. See the finalists here: https://www.worldcarawards.com/files/2022_WCA_TOP_THREE_FINALISTS.pdf

* Volvo said it will develop a public EV charging network in partnership with Starbucks that initially will stretch from Denver to Seattle. When’s the last time you spent a bunch of time in a Starbucks? EV public chargers might be better situated at a movie theater parking lot or garage where you might want to remain parked for a few hours.

* Pirelli announced the introduction in North America of its first replacement tire developed specifically for electric vehicles: the P Zero All Season Plus with Elect marking. The new tire has low rolling resistance, designed to increase the driving range while reducing consumption. Another advantage of the Elect marking is noise reduction, for ultimate comfort and to emphasize the quiet inside the cabin. In electric cars, the engine is no longer the primary source of noise, so reducing sound frequencies produced by the tires is key to increase driving comfort. BEVS are quieter which results in the surrounding environment being more pleasant.

* Joe White for Reuters writes Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told an audience at the South by Southwest tech conference that there will be “meaningful” federal policy on autonomous vehicles developed during the 2020s. Buttigieg acknowledged the obvious: Regulators are running far behind development of AV technology. Under Buttigieg, the Transportation Department has taken some steps, such as eliminating the need for fully autonomous vehicles to have steering wheels and pedals.

* Continuing for Reuters, Joe White writes: Do you know what a Level 2 automated driving system is? How about “Level 2.5?” Does Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system really enable a vehicle to fully drive itself? Don’t know? Don’t feel bad. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the U.S. auto industry’s main trade group, is “increasingly concerned about persistent confusion among consumers and policymakers over the critically important difference between partial automation (Level 2) and automated driving systems (Level 3-5), particularly as it relates to the responsibility of a human driver in the driver’s seat.” The Alliance has asked SAE International to do more to clarify its current taxonomy for automated driving systems. The Alliance’s concern coincides with a rush by automakers to deploy systems that more or less provide “Level 3” automation, defined as technology that enables vehicles to take over driving functions under limited circumstances. Tesla’s Autopilot is NOT a Level 3 system, yet. According to Tesla it is a Level 2 system. What FSD will be once it exits its Beta form is still TBD.

* Sure, you known you need to be careful when crossing a street. A new study by IIHS says at or near intersections, minivans, large vans, pickups, and SUVs (collectively known as light truck vehicles, or LTVs) were more likely than cars to be involved in crossing-roadway–vehicle-turning-left crashes versus crossing-roadway–vehicle-not-turning crashes. LTVs were also more likely involved in fatal crossing-roadway–vehicle-turning-right crashes at or near intersections versus crossing-roadway–vehicle-not-turning crashes when compared with cars. At non-intersections, LTVs were associated with increased odds of walking-along-roadway crashes relative to crossing-roadway–vehicle-not-turning crashes when compared with cars. The implication is the potentially problematic visibility of pedestrians near the front corners of these vehicles.

* Ford is recalling 157,306 F-150 pickups from 2021 model year due to a windshield wiper malfunction. At issue is a potential failing windshield wiper motor, which needs to be replaced.

* Dodge and Ram are recalling more than 370,000 vehicles because their electronic stability control (ESC) warning lights may not illuminate even if the ESC system is malfunctioning. Included in the recall are all 2021-2022 Dodge Durango SUVs, 2019-2022 Ram 2500 pickups, and 2019-2022 Ram 3500 cab chassis trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) below 10,000 lbs.

* Volkswagen is recalling its 2019-2023 Atlas and 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport utility vehicles due to an electrical issue that may trigger delayed airbag deployment or unintended low-speed braking. The recall affects 222,892 units of the midsize SUVs. VW does not yet have a fix for the problem.

* Racer magazine reports NASCAR is planning a return to Le Mans in 2023. In a collaborative effort between IMSA, NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, a modified Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will be entered in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will be a Garage 56 entry, which is reserved for highlighting innovation and technology that exists outside of the WEC regulations. The entry will not take a spot from a car on the traditional starting grid. Bill France Sr. first took a stock car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 12, 1976. Hershel McGriff owned and drove a Dodge Charger while Richard Brooks and Dick Hutcherson drove a Ford Torino owned by Junie Donlavey.

* For a NASCAR cup car to run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans it will need windshield wipers, headlights and taillights, air jacks, and rain diffuser flaps. Garage 56 was introduced in 2012 as a special single-entry class reserved for innovative cars. We’ll speculate here and suggest this NASCAR Chevrolet may even have a hybrid engine. We’ll see!

* Chip Ganassi Racing’s #02 car won the Sebring 12 Hours, the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, after an action-packed ending to the American sportscar classic. The 70th staging of the 12 Hours of Sebring represents the next endurance classic in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. A 53 car entry formed the grid for the 70th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts. That’s an increase of 16 cars from a year ago, in the second race for IMSA’s newly revamped class structure. There are few surprises with seven DPis, eight LMP2s, 10 LMP3s, 11 GTD Pro and 17 GTD cars.

* Vic Elford, Porsche 917 ace and one of the finest sports car racers, has died at the age of 86. Though outright Le Mans success eluded him, Elford twice won his class in the 24 Hours, with a Porsche 906 in 1967 and then again in a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 in 1973 before retiring to the United States. Elford was the first driver to have an average lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans) above 150 mph – he did so in a 1970 Porsche 917 LH (Long-Tail). Elford initially made his name in rallying, largely in Triumph and Ford machinery, and then joined Porsche. He won the 1967 European Rally Championship before an incredible run of success in early 1968. Elford won the Monte Carlo Rally with co-driver David Stone in a 911T then, just a week later, he took the Daytona 24 Hours, one of five drivers to share the victorious long-tailed 907.

Stay safe. Be Well.