April 2023

GM to stop building Bolt EV at end of year



(April 26, 2023) General Motors will discontinue the Chevrolet Bolt at the end of this year as it focuses on its new generation of electric vehicles, CEO Mary Barra said Tuesday. The automaker plans to build electric versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra at the Bolt plant in Orion Township, Mich., Automotive News reported. Employment at the plant will triple in 2024, when it reopens after a $4 billion overhaul, Barra said on GM's first-quarter earnings call.

BMW Digital Key Plus now available on Android devices



(April 26, 2023) BMW Digital Key Plus is now also available for smartphones with Android operating systems. Previously compatible only with Apple devices, now customers with compatible devices from Samsung or Google can use them to unlock, lock, and start their BMWs without getting the phone out of their pockets.
 

Hennessey transforms Raptor R into 700-hp V8-powered ‘VelociRaptoR 6x6’



(April 25, 2023) SEALY, Texas — Hennessey, the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, has transformed the range-topping Ford F-150 Raptor R into a six-wheel-drive supertruck with the announcement of its new ‘VelociRaptoR 6x6’. The ‘VelociRaptoR 6x6’, which utilizes a third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor R as its foundation, boasts an extended boxed frame and a second, fully functional, locking rear axle – tractive grip is improved by more than 50 percent.

Exclusive Bugatti Bolide enters next phase of testing



(April 24, 2023) When the Bolide was first revealed as a thought experiment in late 2020, it presented a vision of a lightweight, track-only hyper sports car delivering incomparable performance, built around the iconic W16 engine. That ambitious dream is being transformed into reality, as the Bolide prototype begins its next phase of development testing.

2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 debuts to tow, haul, tackle the trails



(April 24, 2023) DETROIT — The off-road capability synonymous with Chevrolet’s ZR2 badge debuts for the Silverado HD with the introduction of the 2024 Silverado HD ZR2 — the brand’s flagship heavy-duty off-roader. Elevating the Silverado HD’s off-road credentials to even further heights, the 2024 Silverado HD ZR2 Bison debuts as part of the Chevy trucks family as well.

Mecum auction to feature more than 300 motorcycles from collection



(April 24, 2023) WALWORTH, Wis. — This Sept. 6-9, Mecum Auctions will offer the renowned John Parham Estate Collection at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, an assemblage that includes more than 300 collector-grade, museum-worthy motorcycles and upwards of 1,000 lots of Road Art encompassing more than 6,000 pieces in total.

Mecum Houston collector car auction brings $37 million in sales



(April 22, 2023)  Mecum Auctions’ annual Houston, Texas, collector car auction spanned three days, April 13-15, and filled the NRG Center with more than 1,000 vehicles and exceptional crowds of spirited bidders and auction attendees. A 77% sell-through rate was achieved as overall total sales reached $37 million for this 12th-annual event, which broke its own record total set just last year.

The BMW i7 M70 xDrive — 650 horsepower and 3.5-seconds 0-to-60



(April 22, 2023) BMW M has introduced the most powerful purely electric model in the BMW portfolio — the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive. With two electric motors generating a maximum system output of 650 hp and an M-tuned chassis, the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive delivers a captivating blend of electric mobility and performance. The range-topping model of the new BMW 7 Series line-up will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 3.5 seconds, making it the quickest fully electric BMW model.

BMW's landfill gas-to-energy project continues to power S.C. plant



(April 21, 2023) SPARTANBURG, S.C. — For decades, the BMW Group has been using innovative technologies in its efforts to improve sustainability. It was 20 years ago that BMW Manufacturing started using recycled methane gas from a local landfill to provide electricity and hot water for the plant. The result of this groundbreaking idea: more than 9,200 tons of CO2 emissions have been reduced each year, which is equivalent to eliminating CO2 emissions from vehicles driving 23.5 million miles every year.