The only three Bizarrini 5300 Spyders ever produced will be among the featured attractions at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 13. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Sixty-day delinquencies on subprime auto loans hit 4.98 percent in January, matching 2009 levels, according to a study by Fitch Ratings. More at 24/7 Wall Street.
+ A U.S. District Judge has turned up the heat on Volkswagen, setting a March deadline for the automaker to identify a fix for 600,000 diesel vehicles that do not meet emissions standards. More at Reuters.
+ General Motors will produce a number of 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups with its eAssist mild-hybrid system now used on the Buick LaCrosse. More at The Detroit News.
+ NASCAR powerhouse team Stewart-Haas Racing will build and campaign Ford race cars starting in 2017, ending its affiliation with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports. More at Sporting News.
+ Nissan has disabled a mobile application for its Leaf electric car after a security researcher demonstrated that hackers could remotely access temperature controls and other functions. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ The 2017 Audi Q7 has earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, along with a superior rating in front crash prevention technology. More at Motor Trend.
+ The Lotus Evora Sport 410, with more 10 more horsepower and 154 lbs. less weight than the Evora 400, will be available in North America later this year. More at Autoblog.
+ Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo announced that two-thirds of the automaker’s products will be bybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles by 2030, compared to 5 percent now. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ According to a new study, 87 percent of drivers admit to high-risk behavior at the wheel, including texting, alcohol impairment, and failure to fasten seat belts. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ The only three Bizzarrini 5300 sports cars produced with open bodywork will form a special exhibit at the 21st annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 13. More at Classic Cars.com.
+ British Racing Drivers’ Club chairman John Grant has presented a deal to members that could result in the sale of the historic Silverstone course to the Jaguar Land Rover Group. More at Racer.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from February 22 here.
Photo by Bill McGuire for Mac’s Motor City Garage.