September 2015

Toyota accelerates artificial intelligence research with collaboration

(September 6, 2015) PALO ALTO, Calif. — The research and development of intelligent vehicle and mobility technologies will get a major boost in an ambitious new collaboration between Toyota, Stanford and MIT. Toyota announced on Friday that it will be investing approximately $50 million over the next 5 years to establish joint research centers at each university. 

Seeing the San Francisco Bay area through Volvo's windshield

By Russ Heaps
Clanging Bell

(September 6, 2015) I'm not the kind of guy who turns down a carmaker's invitation to San Francisco simply because I don't much care for the place. So when I received the nod from AutoTrader to represent it at the recent Volvo event there, I cowboyed up and went.

Goodyear creates 'throwback' NASCAR tires for Darlington weekend

(September 4, 2015) AKRON, Ohio — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's three major national series, has announced it will supply a special "throwback" version of its race tires for the Labor Day weekend NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C.

Jaguar to preview its first-ever SUV, the F-PACE, at Frankfurt show

(September 4, 2015) MAHWAH, N.J. — Jaguar will celebrate its future and 80-year heritage at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show Sept.15 with a reveal of the all-new Jaguar F-PACE. The Jaguar F-PACE will be the first ever compact luxury SUV from the famous British luxury and sports car brand.

Daimler, Renault-Nissan Alliance break ground for new plant in Mexico

(September 4, 2015) AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico – Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance  broke ground this week for their joint-venture manufacturing complex, COMPAS (Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes), in Aguascalientes in central Mexico, which will build next-generation premium compact vehicles for the brands Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti.

First Lotus Evora 400 sports cars come off assembly line

(September 4, 2015) NORWICH, United Kingdom — The first Evora 400 sports cars destined for customers and dealers have driven off the assembly line and are soon to arrive at dealerships across the UK and mainland Europe. The significant occasion was marked by a small celebration with members of the engineering and manufacturing team at Lotus, who are responsible for hand-building Lotus’ fastest production car to date.

This Mack's glory days are over

This mid-1950s Mack B Model truck was discovered in retirement along the side of a highway in south-central Virginia. The B Model was manufactured from 1953 through 1966. Above is a magazine advertisement for the 1955 Mack. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Chevrolet fulfills 1 millionth Corvette restoration pledge

(September 4, 2015) BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After more than four months and 1,200 man-hours of painstaking craftsmanship, restoration of the milestone 1 millionth Corvette — a white 1992 convertible — is complete. It was unveiled this week at the National Corvette Museum, where it returns as part of the permanent exhibit. The car was damaged on Feb. 12, 2014, when it and seven other rare Corvettes tumbled into a sinkhole that opened beneath the museum’s Skydome area.

Land Rover developing see-through trailer technology

(September 3, 2015) WHITLEY, England — Land Rover is developing a see-through trailer concept that would completely remove the blind spot created when towing a caravan or trailer. This transparent view would allow the driver to clearly see vehicles coming up behind and help driver confidence by improving visibility while maneuvering.

Time Warner Cable adds 540 Ford F-150s to Its fleet

(September 3, 2015) DEARBORN, Mich. — Time Warner Cable is the latest company to add the 2015 Ford F-150 to its fleet — purchasing more than 540 trucks built by America’s truck leader.

Time Warner Cable (TWC) chose F-150 as the vehicle best suited to continue to build a work-ready, energy-saving fleet that achieves greater levels of sustainability, environmental efficiency and lower operating costs.