September 2021

Mustang Mach-E first all-electric vehicle to pass Michigan state police tests



(September 27, 2021) DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Pro all-electric police pilot vehicle based on the 2021 Mustang Mach-E SUV just became the first all-electric vehicle to pass the rigorous Michigan State Police 2022 model year evaluation. Testing included acceleration, top speed, braking and high-speed pursuit, as well as emergency response handling characteristics.

Volvo Cars to go leather-free in all pure electric cars




(September 27, 2021) Volvo Cars is taking an ethical stand for animal welfare in its fully electric cars. Starting with the new C40 Recharge, all new fully electric Volvo models will be completely leather-free. In coming years, Volvo Cars will launch a completely new family of pure electric cars. By 2030 it aims to offer only fully electric cars — all of them leather-free.

Powertrain manufacturer Toyota West Virginia celebrates 25 years



(September 25, 2021) BUFFALO, W. Va. — As Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) celebrates 25 years of producing engines and transmissions, a keen eye is looking down the road at the next quarter century and the excitement that exists as this plant contributes to Toyota’s mission of “Mobility for All.”

Bentley celebrates 70th anniversary of design in Crewe


1951 Bentley R-Type Continental

(September 25, 2021) CREWE, UK —  Bentley Motors is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of its own Design department at Crewe. The first Crewe-designed Bentley was the R-Type Continental in 1951, and was the responsibility of John Blatchley, the head of Styling. John’s previous experience as chief designer from Gurney-Nutting, the coachbuilders responsible for the iconic ‘Blue Train’ Bentley, meant he had a honed sense of proportion and form.

2022 Honda Passport refreshed, gets new TrailSport edition



(September 24, 2021) — TORRANCE, Calif.  — Honda this week introduced the refreshed 2022 Honda Passport with a new, more rugged exterior design that better matches its true off-road capability. Equally at home on dirt and mud-strewn trails as it is on the highway or twisting mountain roads, the adventure-ready Passport features a new, more aggressive front end and a new rear bumper with larger exhaust outlets.

Jeep pickup of the '50s



The Jeep Willys became popular after World War II and was sold in a variety of formats. This early 1950s model Jeep pickup — which can possibly be called a forerunner to the current Jeep Gladiator — was found in Nevada with a two-tone paint scheme.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)

GM to reopen plant building Colorado, Canyon pickups



(September 24, 2021) DETROIT — General Motors plans to restart production at its midsize pickup plant in Missouri next week, as planned, while seven other of the automaker's plants in North America remain idle, in part because of the global microchip shortage, according to Automotive News. The plant in Wentzville has been down since Sept. 6. It builds the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups along with the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size commercial vans.

GM invests $300 million in Momenta to deliver self-driving tech in China




(September 24, 2021) SHANGHAI — General Motors announced today it will invest $300 million in Momenta to accelerate the development of next-generation self-driving technologies for future GM vehicles in China. GM is investing aggressively in a comprehensive and highly-integrated plan to lead the transformation to a more sustainable future, guided by its vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.

New Ram special editions revealed at Texas State Fair



(September 24, 2021) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Ram has unveiled three models at the State Fair of Texas — the exclusive new 2022 Ram 1500 TRX Ignition Edition, 2022 Ram 1500 Longhorn SouthFork and the 2022 Ram 1500 (RAM) RED Edition. Each model offers truck buyers an even wider selection of exterior and interior appointments and content.