February 2022

Lincoln celebrates a century of elegance and innovation


Henry and Clara Ford after purchase of Lincoln


(February 5, 2022) DEARBORN, Mich. — On Feb. 4, 1922, Henry Ford, with encouragement from his wife Clara and his son Edsel Ford, purchased The Lincoln Motor Company from distinguished inventor and automotive engineer Henry Leland for $8 million. The transaction set in motion the creation of an iconic American luxury brand.

Kia Georgia begins production of the all-new 2023 Sportage



(February 4, 2022) WEST POINT, Ga. — The Kia Georgia team officially began production of the all-new 2023 Sportage subcompact SUV at the plant’s facility in West Point, Ga,  this week. Sportage, Kia’s longest running nameplate, has undergone its most significant changes to date as part of Kia’s “Movement that inspires” transformation. Savvy and adventurous, the celebratory Sportage was jungle green in color with the X-Pro Prestige trim package.

Mecum Las Vegas 2022 motorcycle auction takes January sales to $239 million


1917 Henderson Model G

(February 4, 2021)  With January 2022 now in the rearview, Mecum Auctions has once again put its official stamp of success into the record books with total sales from the world’s largest motorcycle auction reaching a combined total of $239 million. Mecum Kissimmee 2022 — held Jan. 6-16 in Florida — saw nearly 3,000 vehicles change hands for $217 million in overall sales, while Mecum’s 31st Annual Vintage & Antique Motorcycle Auction — held in Las Vegas this past weekend — continued the auction house’s long line of highly successful events, reaching $22 million in sales for a 21% increase over last year’s Las Vegas motorcycle auction.

GM to discontinue entry-level Chevrolet Spark



(February 4, 2022) DETROIT — General Motors will discontinue the Chevrolet Spark — its smallest and lowest-priced nameplate — after this summer. Automotive News reported in July that production of the minicar was slated to end in the second half of 2022. GM had not confirmed the Spark's demise until now.

New motorcycle sales up two years running



(February 3, 2022) IRVINE, Calif. — For the second consecutive year, new motorcycle and scooter sales are up. For the full year 2021, sales of all on-road motorcycles (including scooters, on-highway, and dual) are up 14.2%. "This is the second consecutive year of significant growth across powersports," said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council. "Many new motorcyclists are joining the riding community, both on and off road. We continue to work to inspire, welcome, and integrate them so they enjoy riding for decades to come."

F-150 Lightning first electric truck to enhance home energy independence



(February 3, 2022) DEARBORN, Mich. — Truck owners are used to tapping a variety of features — torque, towing capability and more — to get things done. Now, with the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup, Ford is the first in the U.S. to offer the ability for customers to power their homes with an electric truck when the grid goes dark, providing innovative new capabilities that enhance the energy independence of its customers.

Ask Alexa — Jaguar Land Rover introduces Amazon device across lineup



(February 3, 2022) MAHWAH, N.J. — Jaguar Land Rover has announced Amazon Alexa will be available on all new and existing vehicles fitted with its advanced Pivi Pro infotainment system. Owners of compatible vehicles will be able to enjoy the benefits of intuitive voice-enabled experiences thanks to a no-cost software-over-the-air update. The seamless integration brings the familiar Alexa experience into the vehicle and provides natural voice interaction with Pivi Pro features including navigation, media playback, phone calls, and compatible smart devices.