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The Humbler: Pontiac’s GTO Super Bowl Ad That Was Silenced
automotive15 hours ago

The Humbler: Pontiac’s GTO Super Bowl Ad That Was Silenced

Pontiac aired a 1970 Super Bowl IV ad for the GTO that spotlighted a rarely used option called Vacuum Operated Exhaust (VOE), nicknamed 'The Humbler.' The loud, bold exhaust feature led GM to pull the commercial within a month and discontinue the VOE after only about 233 GTOs were built, with executives reportedly fearing legal trouble and negative scrutiny over promoting illegal street racing. The clip shows a brash GTO cruising a drive-in and flipping a dash knob to unleash a louder roar, a moment that's since become a curious footnote in muscle-car advertising history.

via The Autopian|
#advertising-history#automotive#gto
Kia Sets Sights on U.S. Midsize Pickup With Hybrid and Extended-Range EV by 2030
automotive1 day ago

Kia Sets Sights on U.S. Midsize Pickup With Hybrid and Extended-Range EV by 2030

Kia announced plans to offer a U.S. midsize body-on-frame pickup by 2030 with conventional hybrid and extended-range EV powertrains; a teaser image hints at a double-cab design, though EV specifics aren’t confirmed in the latest statement. The plan supports CEO Ho Sung Song’s goal of roughly 90,000 yearly sales and 7% market share in the segment by 2034, and Kia’s broader aim to reach about 1 million EVs by 2030. The truck would be Kia’s first body-on-frame model in the U.S. since the Borrego and would compete with Tacoma, Colorado, and Ranger.

via Jalopnik|
#automotive#erev#hybrid
Smokey Yunick's Hot Vapor Engine: Genius Idea, Hazardous Reality
automotive11 days ago

Smokey Yunick's Hot Vapor Engine: Genius Idea, Hazardous Reality

NASCAR innovator Smokey Yunick developed a Hot Vapor engine that heated and vaporized fuel to improve efficiency and power, transforming a Pontiac Fiero’s four-cylinder from under 100 hp and modest torque to about 250 hp and 250 lb-ft, with better fuel economy. The design relied on heating exhaust and cooling systems, a homogenizer, and ongoing pre-combustion vaporization. However, it operated on a fine line between detonation and full combustion, was highly sensitive to irregularities, posed major fire risks, and durability concerns, which prevented widespread adoption despite its potential. Modern research continues to explore waste-heat utilization in engines inspired by Yunick’s ideas.

via Jalopnik|
#automotive#automotive-engineering#engine-safety
The 1970s Sleeper: Plymouth Duster 340's Hidden Muscle
automotive11 days ago

The 1970s Sleeper: Plymouth Duster 340's Hidden Muscle

The Plymouth Duster 340 packed a high-revving 340 cubic-inch V8 into a lightweight 3,110-pound body, sprinting to 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds and reaching about 128 mph, making it one of the era’s most potent yet overlooked muscle machines. Produced from 1970–76 with over 1.33 million built, it offered strong performance at a modest launch price of around $2,547 in 1971 and was marketed more as an economy car than a brute, despite its muscle-car styling. In recent years Duster 340 values climbed from the low $30k range into the realm of about $62k, a rise partly attributed to pop-culture mentions like an HBO show titled “Duster.”

via slashgear.com|
#1970s-muscle-cars#affordable-performance#automotive
Nio plants three-brand flag in Costa Rica to kick off Latin American expansion
business11 days ago

Nio plants three-brand flag in Costa Rica to kick off Latin American expansion

Nio opened its first Costa Rica store, its first overseas location, showcasing its three-brand lineup (Nio, Onvo, Firefly) and models such as Nio ET5 Touring, EL6, EL8, and Onvo L60, with Onvo L90 pre-sales announced for EXPOMOVIL. The showroom is operated with Horizontes Cielo Azul as the national distributor, signaling a shift to an asset-light expansion in Latin America and aligning with broader overseas push (including Thailand and future Australia/New Zealand).

via CnEVPost|
#automotive#business#costa-rica
GM Vortec Engines: Power, Longevity, and the AFM Drawback
automotive12 days ago

GM Vortec Engines: Power, Longevity, and the AFM Drawback

GM's Vortec family evolved from the mid-1980s 4.3L V6 to late-90s V8s like 5.0/5.7 and 5.3/8.1, earning praise for durable design, high-flow heads, and solid fuel economy—popular in Silverado/Sierra pickups and large GM SUVs and built off the tried-and-true small-block 350 platform, with influence on swaps and a reputation for longevity. However, later tech like Active Fuel Management (launched in 2007) brought civil backlash due to lifter noise, increased oil consumption (notably in the 5.3L) and knock-sensor issues, prompting aftermarket AFM delete solutions and discussions about reliability, ultimately leading GM to move on to EcoTec3 engines.

via Jalopnik|
#afm#automotive#engines
Mini with M3 V8: a pocket rocket that roars on track
automotive13 days ago

Mini with M3 V8: a pocket rocket that roars on track

A custom Mini Cooper nicknamed Vini packs BMW's 4.0-liter S65 V8 from the M3, mated with a Subaru rear subframe to create a rear‑drive track-day hatch that puts out about 414 hp and 295 lb-ft. The build blends a stripped interior with a carbon dash and race hardware, turning a modest hatch into a high-worse-than-its-size machine showcased on The Late Brake Show and tied to Powerflex founder ownership, making it a standout example of big‑engine-in-a‑small-car engineering.

via Jalopnik|
#automotive#engine-swap#m3-v8
Infiniti QX65 Debuts Bold Sunfire Red and Surprise Headrest Speakers
automotive15 days ago

Infiniti QX65 Debuts Bold Sunfire Red and Surprise Headrest Speakers

Infiniti's 2027 QX65 arrives with a striking Sunfire Red paint and optional headrest speakers, pairing a 268-hp turbo inline-four with AWD and up to 6,000 lb tow, while offering luxe trims, a tech-forward interior with two 12.3-inch displays, and Klipsch audio options; built in Smyrna, Tennessee and priced to undercut rivals, the QX65 aims to woo buyers even as it stops short of reviving the FX.

via Jalopnik|
#automotive#headrest-speakers#infiniti
Infiniti Unveils the 2027 QX65, a Sleek Two-Row Crossover with 6,000-Pound Tow
automotive15 days ago

Infiniti Unveils the 2027 QX65, a Sleek Two-Row Crossover with 6,000-Pound Tow

Infiniti has revealed the all-new 2027 QX65, a stylish two-row crossover powered by a 2.0L turbo VC-Turbo engine (268 hp, 286 lb-ft) with a nine-speed automatic and standard AWD. It arrives this summer in Luxe, Sport, and Autograph trims, features Google Built-In on 12.3-inch displays, wireless charging, and tri-zone climate, and seats 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row (67.7 cubic feet with seats folded) while towing up to 6,000 pounds. Pricing starts at $56,990 for the Luxe (dest included), with Sport at $57,235 and Autograph at $64,135.

via Motor1.com|
#all-wheel-drive#automotive#infiniti-qx65
Porsche's Sonderwunsch 911 S/T Salutes a Taboo Camel GT Legend
automotive15 days ago

Porsche's Sonderwunsch 911 S/T Salutes a Taboo Camel GT Legend

Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program custom-built a 2025 911 S/T inspired by a 1972 Camel GT Challenge racer (Equipe de Course Marc Dancose): Phoenix Red with Signal Yellow accents, Camel branding, and interior camel motifs; Manthey rear aero discs are included but not homologated for street use and must be removed for public-road driving; the livery uses flowing graphics rather than exact race stickers, and Porsche has not disclosed the customization cost.

via Carscoops|
#911-st#automotive#camel-gt-challenge
Ford recalls 254k+ vehicles over rearview camera and ADAS glitches
automotive17 days ago

Ford recalls 254k+ vehicles over rearview camera and ADAS glitches

Ford is recalling 254,640 Lincoln and Explorer models from 2022–2025 after the Image Processing Module A can reset, causing the rearview camera image and key ADAS features (pre-collision assist, lane-keeping, blind-spot monitoring) to fail and increasing crash risk. Owners will receive notices by March 30; updates can be sent OTA or installed at a dealer for free. Ford recall number is 26S21; VIN lookup available on NHTSA.gov starting March 25.

via USA Today|
#adas#automotive#ford