This week in 1938 brought an end to one of America’s great brands: Pierce Arrow
History
The Past Lane: The Company That Changed Automotive Advertising
Using sex to sell cars is nothing new. But it started in 1919 with a car company you might not have heard of.
First Drive: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Is More Then Just a Mileage Play
This is a big year for Toyota, and in a variety of ways. The automaker is rolling out an array of new and heavily updated products, including models such as the Crown Signia crossover, Camry sedan and 4Runner SUV. There’s also the fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma pickup which, among other things, becomes the Japanese automaker’s latest model to offer a hybrid powertrain option. Here’s what we discovered during our first drive.
General Motors Moving HQ – But Not Very Far
For the fourth time in its more than 100-year history, General Motors is moving its corporate headquarters – but it isn’t going very far. The automaker will relocate from the current, facility along the Detroit River to the city’s newest highrise 1.2 miles away. The move was driven by a variety of factors, said GM CEO Mary Barra, including the need for less office space following the COVID pandemic.
The Past Lane: Ransom Olds Built More Than Oldsmobiles and REOs
But what he built may just surprise you. Like many American entrepreneurs, Ransom E. Olds started many endeavors. Having built his first steam-powered car in 1884 and his first gasoline-powered car in 1896, Olds establishes the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. It’s...
GM Takes Another Step Toward Going Back to the Moon
General Motors is headed back to the moon — maybe. It is providing Ultium batteries as well as some experience with chassis and suspension development for the next-generation lunar terrain vehicle that just got the green light from NASA. Find out more about the project and GM’s role in it at Headlight.News.
The Past Lane: A Mid-Century Modern Small Car
In an era when Detroit’s Big Three wanted to do nothing but build ever larger cars, Nash Motors had a different idea, on ethat would prove that not everyone thought bigger was better. Read the story at Headlight.News.
California Wants to Require Automakers to Install Speed Limiters
California lawmakers are considering a bill that could require new vehicles to come with an “intelligent speed limiter” that, in most instances, would prevent motorists from driving more than 10 mph above the speed limit. Such devices have also been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board, though that has gained little traction on a federal level.
From “Ruin Porn” to High-Tech Hub: Ford Set to Reopen Long-Abandoned Michigan Central Station
When it opened 110 years ago, the Michigan Central depot was the tallest train station in the world and a showpiece for a city at its peak. Since it shut down in 1988, however, it’s been a symbol of urban decay and the decline of Detroit, in particular. Now, after a...
Headlight News for the Week of 2-19-24 Podcast: Ford Plans Low-Cost EVs, Cybertruck Rust, Rivian Teases New EV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review
Headlight News for the Week of 2-19-24 – Ford Plans Low-Cost EVs – Cybertruck Rust – Rivian Teases New EV – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review – and a Week in Automotive History.
The Past Lane: The Birth of a High-Performance Chrysler
It’s postwar America, and by the early 1950s, two-seat roadsters are everywhere. That trend leads Chrysler Corp. to develop one of its more successful models: the 1955 Chrysler C300. Check it out in The Past Lane.
The Past Lane: Ford Launches the F-Series
Having spent 47 years as America’s bestselling truck and 42 years as its bestselling vehicle, it’s hard to imagine when the Ford F-Series wasn’t so predominant. In fact, it made its debut 76 years ago this week. Headlight.News tells you it rose to prominence.