July 2019

Volkswagen unveils unique concept that combines heritage with the future

(July 4, 2019) BLMONT, Calif. — Volkswagen Group of America has announced a new name and expanded role for the former Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL, and unveiled a unique vehicle concept that combines Volkswagen heritage with futuristic technology. The new Innovation and Engineering Center California (IECC) will be the largest Volkswagen vehicle research facility outside Germany.

Auto sales fall in first half of 2019 as industry heads for sixth monthly decline.

(July 3, 2019) U.S. auto sales fell the first half of 2019 and analysts don't think the rest of the year will get any easier. June sales continued the slide with only a handful of companies showing increases over last year including Hyundai and Fiat Chrysler. General Motors, Toyota, Honda and Nissan fell as the industry appeared headed to its sixth straight monthly decline. Ford does not report June sales until today.

Industry leaders publish first framework for safe automated driving systems

(July 3, 2019) Emphasizing safety by design, 11 industry leaders across the automotive and automated driving technology spectrum today published “Safety First for Automated Driving,” (SaFAD), a non-binding organized framework for the development, testing and validation of safe automated passenger vehicles.

These 11 leaders — Aptiv, Audi, Baidu, BMW, Continental, Daimler, FCA US LLC, HERE, Infineon, Intel and Volkswagen — comprise the broadest representation across the industry and have published, to date, the largest report on how to build, test and operate a safe automated vehicle.

New 2020 BMW X6 advances performance and design

(July 3, 2019) WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.  — BMW has announced the new 2020 X6 Sports Activity Coupe. More than 10 years ago, BMW combined the attributes of the Sports Activity Vehicle with the more aggressive DNA of a Coupe to create the X6 and the new Sports Activity Coupe class. Since then, over 443,000 of the extroverted BMW X6 have been purchased by customers world-wide.

Last-built C7 Corvette sets record making $2.7 million for charity

(July 2, 2019) UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Barrett-Jackson made history with the sale of the last-built C7 Chevrolet Corvette and continued to fuel the hobby with a diverse docket of collector vehicles during the 4th Annual Northeast Auction, June 26-29, at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Sales over the four-day event also continued to point to the growing popularity of Resto-Mods and late model performance vehicles.

A bullet-ridden 'bathtub' Nash



If we didn't know better we'd think this might have been the Bonnie and Clyde car. This used up bullet-ridden 1950 Nash Statesman must have been used for target practice. The radically restyled 1949-1951 Nash was called the Airflyte. Pundits quickly dubbed it the "bathtub" Nash. During the three years of the Airflyte, Nash increased sales annually from 110,00 in 1948 to 205,307 in 1951.
(Photo by Peter Hubbard)

Bentley Continental GT breaks production car record at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

(July 2, 2019) The Bentley Continental GT has reinforced its status as the "finest Grand Tourer ever produced" by claiming the outright record for a production car at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado held on June 30.

Driven by three-time champion, former “King of the Mountain’ Rhys Millen, the Continental GT conquered the 12.42-mile course in just 10:18.488 taking 8.4 seconds off the previous record and averaging an astonishing 70 mph.

Peterson Automotive Museum opens 'Disruptors' exhibit

(July 2, 2019) LOS ANGELES — The Petersen Automotive Museum has opened its newest exhibit featuring minimalist vehicles and complementary works by shoe designer Rem D Koolhaas and industrial designer Joey Ruiter.

Located in the Armand Hammer Foundation Gallery, “Disruptors” explores how each designer’s perspective upends the status quo of traditional vehicle design by eliminating complexity to create visually arresting yet completely functional automobiles and other means of transportation.

Mazda recalls some 2018 CX-9 vehicles for faulty harness

(July 2, 2019) WASHINGTON — Mazda North American Operations has a recall for a safety defect on certain 2018 Mazda CX-9 vehicles, produced from Sept. 12, 2017, through Nov. 9, 2017, affecting 7,854 U.S. vehicles.

In certain Mazda CX-9 vehicles, malfunctions can occur in the passenger frontal air bag system, turn signals, and/or the engine starting system in addition to false instrument cluster warnings. This is caused by a weak retention force of the wiring harness connector terminals, that results in an electrical communication disruption between various vehicle control modules.