by Ken Zino | Jun 16, 2010
Volkswagen of America held a party yesterday for its bigger and cheaper Jetta in New York City. By all accounts, everybody had a swell time at the unveiling of the 2011 version of a sedan that dates back to 1979 when a trunk was grafted onto a hatchback Golf model. An...
by Ken Zino | Jun 16, 2010
The European car market took a sharp turn for the worse in May. Registrations declined 9% from a year earlier as “cash for clunkers” schemes that were in place last year expired. It was the second straight monthly decline. The latest trend has negative financial...
by Ken Zino | Jun 15, 2010
The picture is worth more than any further words can possibly add, I think. However, readers, er viewers, are encouraged to supply a caption of their own – if they can add some humor to the subject, say Wind Spill! Tagged with: auto humor | humor | ken zino |...
by Ken Zino | Jun 15, 2010
Funny thing about incremental gains in automobiles, they eventually add to something big. Last year was something big for Hyundai Motor America as it picked up more than one percentage point of U.S. market share during the worst business climate since the Great...
by Ken Zino | Jun 14, 2010
BMW of North America is recalling 2008-2011 1-Series cars because the front seat belt pretensioner, if it goes off in an accident, could ignite the insulation surrounding it. BMW told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a terse filing that it would...
by Ken Zino | Jun 14, 2010
Technologies available right now could significantly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars, and light trucks without compromising performance or safety, or so claims a new report by the National Research Council. The problem is that technologies endorsed would...
by Ken Zino | Jun 11, 2010
Volkswagen AG has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it is recalling more than 15,000 of its 2009 model Routan minivans because of a possible wiring routing problem that could cause fires. There are no reports of accidents or injuries...
by Ken Zino | Jun 11, 2010
Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne sent an e-mail today to surviving employees on the anniversary of its emerging from a “quick rinse” bankruptcy one year ago. The company is still losing money and is struggling with an aging product line, poor quality and numerous...
by Ken Zino | Jun 11, 2010
It was 40 years ago this weekend that Porsche claimed its first overall win at the world’s oldest endurance race, the 24 hours of Le Mans. Hans Herrmann and Richard Atwood driving number 23 were first across the finish line in a 917 KH from Porsche Salzburg. Gerard...
by Ken Zino | Jun 11, 2010
The German central government has rejected Opel’s application for loan guarantees, in spite of the fact that €8.5 billion was given to other automakers last year in the European Union to help them get through tough economic times. Opel received nothing. Opel is...
by Ken Zino | Jun 10, 2010
A couple of days ago an internal GM memo was sent to Chevrolet employees asking them to remember the importance of “consistency” while communicating the popular brand, which is deeply embedded in the U.S. car culture. However, it’s also global...
by Ken Zino | Jun 10, 2010
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has approved legislation (S. 1938), to offer “incentive grants” to states that enact laws to combat distracted driving. The problem is that the bill does nothing to stop the epidemic of distracted driving...
