VP Racing and IMSA Collaborate on New Renewable Fuel
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced that their newly engineered R80 renewable fuel is now powering IMSA’s GTP class throughout the 2023 season, starting at the Rolex 24 in Daytona last month.
“VP Racing is excited to be the official fuel for the new IMSA GTP class with our new R80 renewable fuel,” said Bruce Hendel, VP senior vice president – global sales. “We worked closely with IMSA and the OEMs to develop and deliver a new 80% renewable fuel, and now it is racetrack proven.”
Through close collaboration with IMSA and the OEMs, VP Racing engineered R80 specifically for the GTP class to deliver sustainability with performance. To ensure the highest quality components are used, VP globally sourced advanced renewable components used in the R80 formulation. This environmentally friendly, sustainable fuel is designed to help reduce emissions and provide world-class performance. GTP sports cars use a single-source hybrid powertrain and will run exclusively on renewable R80 fuel.
Enterprise and Ford Partner to Expand Collision Engineering Program
Enterprise Holdings has announced a strategic partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund to support the growth of the Collision Engineering Program (CEP). The new industry partnership will expand the CEP to a new college that will become the seventh school to offer the two-year apprenticeship model, founded by Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ranken Technical College, to attract and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the collision-repair industry. The Collision Engineering Program unites industry and education to foster pathways to rewarding careers in the automotive industry.
The Ford Fund will offer scholarships to CEP students to prevent any barriers to students' academic success. Ford Fund’s support will also fund program startup costs, instructor training and school equipment such as lab materials, and provide students access to toolkits, uniforms, PPE, certifications, tuition assistance, assessments and other student-centered resources at the new school.
With more than 110,000 new collision technicians needed between 2022 and 2026, according to the TechForce Foundation, a national public charity, the CEP is designed in collaboration with the automotive industry and encourages schools and industry leaders to work together to build a new generation of highly skilled, motivated and passionate collision-repair professionals. Throughout the program, students learn in both classrooms and modern collision engineering facilities where industry experts provide real-world education as students work toward earning their associate degree.
The CEP is also partnering with the TechForce Foundation to help administer the Ford Fund scholarships for students enrolled in the program. The program is currently active at six schools across the United States, including Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Collin College in Allen, Texas; Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas; and Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska. The seventh school that will be opened through the Ford Fund's support will be announced in the coming months.
For more information about the Collision Engineering Program, visit www.beacollisionengineer.com.
Orders Now Open for New ’23 Jeep Renegade Upland Special Edition
The ’23 Jeep Renegade is getting a bold appearance and fun-to-drive personality with the Upland trim for the ’23 model year. The special edition pairs rugged off-road looks and Jeep 4x4 performance with a well-appointed interior and upgraded content. Also, the Solar Yellow exterior paint color is back, which is available on all Renegade trims, including the Upland edition.
Based on the popular Latitude trim, the Jeep Renegade Upland has a MSRP of $595 for the package. It features a signature matte black hood decal, an off-road-ready front and rear fascia, cornering fog lamps, automatic headlamps, windshield wiper deicer, Gloss Black badging, 17-in. aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires, 7-in. thin-film transistor cluster display, premium topographic black cloth bucket seats with bronze inserts, ambient lighting, Techno-leather steering wheel, plus Uconnect 4 with a standard 8.4-in. touchscreen display and GPS navigation.
The Jeep Renegade Upland 4x4 model comes standard with a 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission. The Jeep Active Drive full-time 4x4 automatic system delivers seamless operation in and out of four-wheel drive, at any speed with no driver intervention. The Jeep Selec-Terrain system, providing four modes (Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud) for the best performance in any weather condition, is also standard.
All Renegade models are equipped with more than 70 safety and security features, including standard Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking (not available on Trailhawk or Upland), Blind-spot Monitoring and Active Lane Management System.
In addition to Solar Yellow, the 2023 Jeep Renegade Upland edition is available in Alpine White, black, Colorado Red, Slate Blue and Sting Gray for a total of six exterior color options. The Jeep Renegade Upland edition and Solar Yellow exterior color are now available for order at U.S. Jeep dealers. For more information, visit www.jeep.com.
Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation Adds New Board Members
The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members, Jacki Lutz and Kathryn Reinhardt, to its Board of Trustees.
According to AACF, Lutz is Global Head of Communications, Training & eCommerce, Auto at Sensata Technologies, and brings 14 years of marketing experience and nine years in the automotive aftermarket. Lutz sits on several other association boards including Young Auto Care Network Group, Women in Auto Care and was the past president of the Automotive Communications Council.
Reinhardt is senior vice president marketing and events for Hemmings. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket and has a track record of delivering unique and effective content and her history of planning and executing marketing campaigns. Reinhardt serves on the SEMA Board of Directors and was awarded SEMA’s Person of the Year and the Top 35 under 35 award, along with a number of other industry accolades.
Forbes Names AAM Among its 500 Best Large Employers in America for Second Consecutive Year
American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) is once again on the Forbes list of America's Best Large Employers. This award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc. The list spans 25 sectors and can be viewed on the Forbes website.
Forbes and Statista selected its list of America’s Best Large Employers 2023 through an independent survey of approximately 45,000 employees working for U.S. companies, each with more than 5,000 employees. For 2023, AAM ranked fourth in the Automotive sector, up from last year. This category includes both automakers and suppliers. This is AAM’s fourth selection as one of America's Best Large Employers, having appeared on the list in 2022, 2018 and 2017.
The survey asked respondents to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. They were also asked to provide any relevant input on other employers in their respective industries, either positive or negative. The final list ranks the 500 large employers that received the most recommendations.
Jeep and Wagoneer Brands Recognized as ‘Best of’ in Canada in 2023 AutoTrader Awards
Products from both the Jeep brand and its premium extension Wagoneer have been recognized in Canada and named winners in the 2023 AutoTrader Awards. The Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Gladiator midsize pickup were co-named as Best Vehicle for Adventure, while Wagoneer and the extended wheelbase Wagoneer L were honoured as Best Full-Size SUV.
“The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator duo offers iconic capability, a broad array of powertrains, and the rugged go-anywhere attitude that’s cemented it as the de facto choice for adventure seekers everywhere,” said Jodi Lai, editor-in-chief, AutoTrader. “Capable right out of the factory, Jeep SUVs have been helping people get to their next adventure for decades, and it’s that type of dedication to its community that proves the brand is going above and beyond to set the benchmark for its segment.”
The AutoTrader Awards launched in 2019 and, according to an Ipsos Research study, are the most trusted automotive awards in Canada. Every vehicle available for Canadians to buy is eligible for an award. A jury of 20 of the country’s foremost automotive journalists vote on the best vehicles in more than 30 segments.
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