Automoblog

Did You Know: The new Hennessey Performance Supercharged "H700" #Chevy Corvette C8 Stingray is fitted with a muscular belt-driven blower, pushing the standard mid-engine Stingray hard top convertible to exotic levels of power. The eighth generation C8 is shipped with a mid-mounted LT2 6.2-liter V8 engine. The naturally aspirated engine delivers 490 bhp and 465 lb-ft. of torque in stock configuration. To unleash the untapped potential of the American small-block, Hennessey's Texas-based team installs a high-performance supercharger engineered to fit the compact engine compartment, an air induction system with an air-to-water intercooler, and an enhanced cat-back exhaust system. Completed with recalibrated high-performance engine software, the "H700" boasts an explosive 708 bhp and 638 lb-ft. torque – a 44 percent increase in horsepower and 37 percent more torque over the factory rating. In terms of engine output, Hennessey’s "H700" Corvette C8 Stingray bests Chevrolet's flagship C8 Z06, which delivers a factory rated 670 bhp and 460 lb-ft. from its naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 flat-plane crank V8.

In The News: The Nissan Motor Corporation Smyrna plant reached a manufacturing milestone recently with the production of its 15 millionth vehicle, a 2024 Deep Ocean Blue Metallic Pathfinder. "Seeing the 15 millionth vehicle – a Pathfinder – roll off of our assembly line was a monumental moment for the Smyrna team," said Brian Crockett, vice president of manufacturing for the #Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant. "It's a celebration of teamwork and the collective spirit that drives us and of the community that has supported us every step of the way for the past 40-plus years." The first auto assembly plant in Tennessee, Nissan Smyrna builds the Leaf, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue, and Infiniti QX60. To date, Nissan has invested $7.1 billion USD in the Smyrna facility, which has nearly 6,000 employees. Nissan began U.S. Pathfinder assembly in 2005 at the Smyrna plant. More than one million Pathfinder vehicles have been assembled in the U.S. to date. "The Pathfinder, with its rich history and role in our lineup, symbolizes the journey we've taken together and the endless possibilities ahead," Crockett said.

In The News: Acura announced that a new SUV from the brand will debut in 2025. Known as the ADX, the forthcoming SUV will build on the success of the award-winning Integra. As described by Acura, the turbocharged ADX will be positioned as another gateway to the brand for younger buyers. “The 2025 Acura ADX will add a fourth SUV to our lineup and a new gateway model ready to build on the incredible success of Integra, helping make Acura a destination brand for a new generation of buyers,” said Emile Korkor, assistant vice president, #Acura National Sales. “With the first-ever ADX and all-electric ZDX, the Acura lineup will have SUVs covered from A to Z.” Photo: 2024 Acura Integra Type S.

In The News: Associates at the Honda Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) in Ohio recently marked the production of the 15 millionth vehicle in the more than 40-year history of the plant. Since starting production of the Accord Sedan on November 1st, 1982, MAP has produced a variety of Honda and Acura models. Today, MAP produces the Accord, Accord hybrid and the Acura TLX and Integra, including the Type S variants. "Congratulations to our associates at the Marysville Auto Plant on this significant milestone," said Bob Schwyn, senior vice president at #Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC. "These same associates will now take Honda into the next chapter of our automotive history as the first Honda plant in North America to produce a battery electric vehicle." In October 2022, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. announced a $700 million investment in its Ohio operations to create the Ohio #EV Hub, which includes MAP, the East Liberty Auto Plant, Anna Engine Plant, and the company's new joint venture battery plant currently under construction near Jeffersonville. MAP was Honda's first auto manufacturing facility in North America.

In The News: Jeep is bringing back the Tuscadero exterior paint color to celebrate 4x4 Day (i.e., today)! Back by popular demand, Tuscadero is an audacious and intense chromatic magenta. “Some 30,000 customers placed an order for Tuscadero when it first debuted in 2021,” said William F Peffer Jr, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand – North America. “We’re always looking to deliver what our customers tell us they want, so we’re ‘tickled pink’ to bring back the highly sought-after Tuscadero paint shade on Jeep Wrangler to mark 4x4 Day 2024.”  Tuscadero is part of a lengthy lineup of vivid, limited-edition colors alongside Gobi, Gecko, Chief, and Nacho. Each provides an element of additional customization for Jeep fans and customers. Tuscadero is available for the 2024 Jeep Wrangler for an MSRP of $895 on the following trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, Rubicon X, and Rubicon 392.

Photos from around the New York International Auto Show this week at the Javits Center.

In The News: The Cobra Jet EV Demonstrator has broken the world record for the fastest quarter-mile pass with a full-bodied drag car: 7.759 seconds at 180.14 mph at the NHRA: Championship Drag Racing Winter Nationals. It’s the second time the Cobra Jet EV Demonstrator has made history with the NHRA, following its original record of 8.128 seconds at 171.97 mph in 2021. The Super Cobra Jet 1800's journey from concept to record-breaker involved significant upgrades over the previous 1400-horsepower version. Among these were a custom control strategy and a cutting-edge lightweight battery system, born from the collaboration between #Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. "This beast of a machine runs on a powerhouse setup featuring four PN250DZR inverters and two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings, all optimized for unprecedented launches and performance," Ford Motor Company said in a press statement. "This leap forward wasn't just about setting records; it was about reimagining the potential of electric power in motorsports." The automaker continued, "With each record we break and every barrier we push past, we're not just racing for the thrill of competition—we're racing towards a future where the roar of an engine can be as silent as it is powerful." 

"The 2025 INFINITI Motor Company QX80 debuts with a potent turbocharged V6 that produces more power and torque than the outgoing V8," writes Alvin Reyes. "Meanwhile, the seven or eight-seat cabin is swathed in soft-touch materials and premium wood, metal, and suede." https://lnkd.in/e8S5Dnzk #INFINITI #QX80 #QX80JustRight

In The News: Two limited-production special editions will close out the 2024 model year of the Nissan GT-R. The T-spec Takumi Edition and Skyline Edition pay homage to the performance car that has been an unforgettable nameplate of the Nissan Motor Corporation lineup for decades. The T-spec Takumi Edition honors the eponymous Takumi master craftspeople responsible for hand-assembling each VR38DETT engine, a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6. The badge acknowledging the Takumi features red-etched writing, while the engine bay will house a gold VIN plate. Additionally, the T-spec Takumi Edition will feature a Midnight Purple paint job and a Mori Green interior trim. The Skyline Edition brings the iconic name from overseas to the United States, referencing the abundant beauty found in skylines across Japan. Building on the GT-R Premium, it's finished in Bayside Blue with a new Sora Blue interior color scheme. Both are expected to arrive in very limited numbers at select U.S. #Nissan dealers this summer.

In The News: Kia America has released these "teaser images" of the new K4 compact sedan, which will be revealed on Thursday, March 21st, 2024. The K4's global premiere will follow at the New York International Auto Show on March 27th, 2024.