Progressive recently released a new report, “Consumers Embrace Online Car Buying” with survey data revealing consumer car shopping and buying behavior. In the past five years, online car buying has become a growing trend that more and more Americans are taking advantage of due to its haggle-free process and time-saving transactions.

The survey found that:

• Online car buyers report high satisfaction with buying, trading in, and financing their cars
  • Nearly four out of five online car shoppers (78%) report feeling highly satisfied with their shopping experience, versus 58% for in-person buyers
  • 66.5% of people who bought online traded in a vehicle compared to 49.6% of people who bought at a dealer traded in a vehicle
  •  Of those who traded in a vehicle online, 79.6% were highly satisfied (97% were highly or somewhat satisfied combined); Compared to trading it at a dealer 56.5% were highly satisfied (93.5% were highly or somewhat satisfied combined)
• Online car sales companies are posting remarkable growth – Vroom’s unit sales were up 123% year over year in their 2021 third-quarter report
• 25% of online car buyers ranked being able to find the exact car they wanted via online sites as their number one reason for shopping online.

This may indeed be the case, and my recent experience in trying to purchase a new Ford Maverick has been primarily online. However, as I have started shopping, I have found that if dealers aren't truthful with their actual inventory, shopping online is pointless. Bait and switch is a tactic as old as sales itself, and simply unfair to consumers. 

How will the shift in car buying continue to change over the next several years? The future is bright for online car marketplaces and improvements will only continue to support the trend of online car buying.

D-BOX Technologies Inc. (“D-BOX” or the "Corporation") (TSX: DBO), a world leader in haptic and immersive entertainment, is partnering with Vesaro, a British designer and manufacturer of high-quality racing simulators for the new Kindred Concepts entertainment centres. This new type of entertainment center provides an immersive, state-of-the-art Formula 1 racing simulation experience, gamified for a mass audience in a unique global licence agreement with Formula 1®. Vesaro will design, engineer, and build unique and advanced racing simulators meeting the high standards of the Formula 1 organization, which will be deployed in all Kindred Concepts centers. A first venue equipped with 60 racing simulators will be installed in the city of London, England by the end of 2022, with potentially as many as 30 venues worldwide over the next five years.

The pandemic paved the way for sim racing and the market is growing quite rapidly. The quality of racing games has greatly improved, and we are now approaching the realism of car racing both in terms of the virtual representation of established racing circuits as well as the sensations felt when driving a race car. The deployment of Kindred Concepts will undoubtedly benefit the identification and training of a new generation of Formula 1 racing drivers by allowing them to familiarise and memorise the different circuits and various race car settings, without a time limit and at a fraction of the cost of a real racing practice session.

“We really believe in this concept of Sim Racing centers and are proud to have been selected by Vesaro, our long-time partner in racing simulation. Kindred Concepts wants to bring together racing in a social environment all around the world. Each center will be supplied with state-of-the-art Vesaro simulators equipped with D-BOX haptic system, giving racing fans the best immersive social racing experience. They want to provide the best-in-class experiences, and with the strength of the Formula One brand, they are going to break barriers in competitive socialising.  Cutting-edge technology from Vesaro and D-BOX with the excitement of F1 will create an unforgettable, adrenaline-fueled experience,” declared Sébastien Mailhot, President and Chief Executive Officer at D-BOX. “This will give fans a slight idea of what it is like to sit in the cockpit of a vehicle that is capable of traveling at more than 300 km/h.”

“It was obvious for Vesaro to involve D-BOX in this project. Haptic systems are essential when it comes time to recreate the realism of a race, and D-BOX is the best in that field. Our racing simulators will bring to life the experience of driving a Formula 1 car in a stylish and fun environment, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy and get closer to the world of Formula 1,” declared Nevil Slade, Chief Executive Officer at Vesaro. “D-BOX provides experiences like we do. When people sit in our simulator, we have to wow them, and this new concept developed by Kindred Concepts is going to make them experience something special and take their breath away.”

The first center is expected to open at the One New Change center in London at the end of this year, with plans to extend to the USA, Middle East, and Asia in consideration as well.

The leading authority on commercial vehicles, Work Truck Solutions®, released its second quarter ComTrend Analysis of new and used commercial vehicles. Although there are still many supply chain challenges in the industry, certain positives were noted. 

New Work Trucks

A look at the data  shows the average price of new commercial vehicles dropping slightly, by just over 1%, when compared to prices for Q1 2022. This seems to be good news for commercial buyers. However, when comparing new work truck prices to YoY numbers from the same quarter in 2021, they were still up more than 9%. Additionally, web leads for new commercial vehicles showed a spike as Q1 2022 ended, but the numbers “normalized” shortly thereafter leading into the second quarter. And finally, stocking levels for new commercial vehicles were up by more than two units per dealer during the most recent quarter when compared to the first quarter of 2022, suggesting that a little relief may be in sight, for both dealers and business buyers alike.   

Used Work Trucks

The median mileage for used vehicles sold was up again, although only slightly, in the second quarter of 2022; but when comparing the numbers to the same quarter in 2021, the jump was almost 30%, indicating interest in used work trucks and vans remains strong. Further indications of strong demand for used commercial vehicles was demonstrated by another jump in the average price, which went up by more than $2,000 from the prior quarter. When compared to the same quarter in 2021, the increase was much more significant, coming in at almost a 27% increase.

Commenting on the latest data, Kathryn Schifferle, CEO of Work Truck Solutions, said “The second quarter shows the continued demand for both new and used commercial vehicles. Given that these work trucks and vans fuel so many businesses throughout the entire economy, it makes sense that shoppers for these vehicles continue to search for and purchase them.” She went on to say, “Reading between the lines, the statistics also indicate that dealerships continue to have significant opportunities in this market, especially those who stay at the forefront of keeping in touch with customers and potential buyers - those are the ones who will be well positioned going forward.”  

 A racehorse drowned in a pond at a track at MGM Northfield Park in Ohio on Monday after finishing second in a harness race, the Ohio State Racing Commission confirmed on Wednesday.

Handlers were unhooking the horse named Alfred Hanover from the two-wheel race bike when a nearby tractor scared him and he ran into the pond and drowned, Freddie Hudson, CEO of the U.S. Harness Racing Alumni Association, told Cleveland TV station WKYC.

Marty Irby, the executive director of Animal Wellness Action, told Reuters that the Ron Burke-trained horse was still wearing his leg hopples when he entered the water, which prevented him from being able to swim.

Irby added that a similar type of incident had occurred at MGM Northfield in the past and track officials had previously said they would put up a barrier around the pond but did not. Construction on a fence had started on Wednesday, Irby said.

"Where else would we tolerate any athlete drowning during a sporting event without a serious investigation? The authorities should investigate this incident, and MGM Northfield should elevate their standards to protect the horses at all costs," continued Irby.

This event, though tragic, is definitely an outlier, stated Steven Wolf of Steven Wolf Consulting. 

Original Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles. Editing by Toby Davis

Extreme E, the sport for purpose electric off-road racing championship, is delighted to announce that Xbox Game Studios’ Turn 10 Studios, creators of the Forza racing franchise, is the series’ Official Gaming Partner.

As Extreme E’s Official Gaming Partner, the Forza franchise has the official license to the Extreme E ODYSSEY 21 e-SUV and access to the team liveries competing in Extreme E Season 2. Extreme E will showcase Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox consoles at all events, offering game play to race teams, drivers and VIP guests while on-site at races.

Beginning on July 19, Forza Horizon 5 players will be able to get behind the wheel of Extreme E’s ODYSSEY 21 for Series 10 of Horizon Mexico, experiencing four weeks of unmissable racing action on the Festival Playlist.

Download

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “This partnership between Extreme E and the Forza franchise has brought the Championship to a new platform and audience. It has been great to work together to bring the Extreme E ODYSSSEY 21 e-SUV to Forza Horizon 5 players who are enthusiastic about electric vehicles. We are excited for more people to see what electric vehicles are capable of and showcase the series in a new light.

“Turn 10 and the rest of the team behind the Forza games have worked hard to make this game as authentic and accessible as possible. Being a part of the largest and most comprehensive Horizon game so far is incredible for our Championship, and gives Forza’s audience an opportunity to get behind the wheel of our ODYSSEY 21s and experience the capability of our series first hand. We are excited to collaborate with such a forward-thinking group and look forward to seeing the uplifting impact on both of our communities.”

Players can check back regularly to complete new events and challenges to unlock unique variants of the ODYSSEY 21 which represent each of the ten teams currently competing in the 2022 Extreme E championship and gear up for the off-road trails ahead with Extreme E race suits. Not only that, but players can also look out for new Extreme E themed collectibles, billboards and race dressing as part of Forza Horizon 5’s Evolving World.

Download

Another unique aspect of this update is how each season of the Festival Playlist in Series 10 is inspired by the real-world Extreme E race calendar with new challenges and Seasonal Championships taking drivers to different locations in Mexico every week where they can push the ODYSSEY 21 to its limit in Dirt and Cross Country races.

In the Summer “Island X Prix” season, players will be racing along the east coast by Playa Azul; Autumn brings the “Energy X Prix” to the city of Guanajuato; Winter accelerates the action to the “Copper X Prix” Canyon; and finally, the competition heats up for the Spring finale as competitors race through the “Desert X Prix” Baja in Dunas Blancas.

Launched on 9 November 2021, the latest chapter in the Forza Horizon series, Forza Horizon 5, is the largest and most comprehensive Horizon game to date.

Players have been getting behind the wheel and experiencing some of the most diverse landscapes ever seen in a Forza Horizon title, including a living desert, a tropical jungle, and a towering snow-capped volcano, all in an authentic and vibrant depiction of Mexico.

Racing through unique, remote landscapes – sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Extreme E travels to locations around the world which have been severely impacted by climate change. At each location, a host of world-class teams compete off-road in electric races with the aim of using sport to highlight some of the biggest environmental issues facing the planet.

Download

Tanner Foust, Neom McLaren Extreme E, said: “It’s great to hear that two forward thinking and innovative groups like Extreme E and Forza are partnering to bring the experience of driving the ODYSSEY to more people around the world. I’ve been an Ambassador and Partner with Forza for more than a decade and am constantly amazed by the driving experiences you can have in the games.

“The capability and speed of the ODYSSEY 21 will be something the Forza fans will absolutely love!”

Paavan Avadhanula, Turn 10 Studios Director of Partnerships, said: “We are very pleased to be the Official Gaming Partner of Extreme E, the leader in off-road electric racing, and have been collaborating to bring unique content to Forza Horizon 5.

“We are always looking for, and excited to bring authentic and compelling new partnerships and experiences to our Forza community, and look forward to seeing how our players engage with these electric vehicles, race suits and championships."

Download

Drive the Extreme E ODYSSEY 21 e-SUV in Forza Horizon 5 from July 19 and don’t forget to check back on the Festival Playlist every week in Series 10 where you can unlock unique team variants. Get ready to suit up for Extreme E by completing new events in the Festival Playlist and visit the Forzathon Shop every week to unlock the Extreme E race suits.

Forza Horizon 5 can be experienced on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10, Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and phones and tablets via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For more information, please visit the Forza website.

To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com

Formula E and UNICEF have today launched a campaign and short film, Take a Breath featuring Actor and UNICEF Ambassador Tom Hiddleston.

NASCAR continues to expand into the fast-growing world of college esports, announcing the fall season of its eNASCAR College iRacing Series. The four-race schedule kicks off at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, September 20 with students eligible to qualify for the season-opener through a 10-day time attack window.

“Expanding our presence in the college esports arena is important as we continue to reach new demographics and introduce them to the sport of NASCAR,” said Ray Smith, Director of Gaming and Esports at NASCAR. “We’re looking forward to building on a successful spring semester and having more students explore the many opportunities NASCAR and our partners can offer them in their college years and beyond.”

Earlier this year, NASCAR and NACE Starleague, the largest collegiate esports league in North America, launched the eNASCAR College iRacing Series, bringing competitive sim racing to colleges and universities nationwide. Students representing more than 250 universities across the United States participated in this spring’s three-race schedule.

New this fall, Xfinity joins Coca-Cola, Logitech, Playseat and Southern Computer Warehouse as a presenting sponsor of the series. Competitors will now race NASCAR Xfinity Series cars, replicating the look and feel of the real-life series that’s produced stars like Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez and Tyler Reddick.

“Our work with NASCAR has always been in the spirit of inspiring and giving back to communities,” said Matt Lederer, Comcast’s Vice President, Brand Partnerships and Amplification. “Joining the eNASCAR College iRacing Series as a presenting partner gives Xfinity the opportunity to reach a younger generation of NASCAR fans while providing new avenues to education for college students and encouraging them to explore new opportunities.”

Through the support of its partners, the eNASCAR Scholarship Fund also returns, awarding the highest finishers a combined $60,000 in scholarships.

More than 13,000 students are eligible to compete in the series through NACE Starleague, which was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership between the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and Playfly Esports. Each time attack is open to all eligible students with the top 40 students who post the fastest qualifying times advancing to the race.

Competition will once again be led via iRacing.com, the official simulation partner of NASCAR, which provides one of the top online racing simulation portals and features officially-sanctioned, laser-scanned replicas of race tracks around the world.

For more information or to register, visit https://www.enascar.com or http://playflyesports.com/.

2022 eNASCAR College iRacing Series Schedule*

Fall

·       Homestead-Miami Speedway

Qualifying: September 6 - 15

Race (80 Laps): September 20 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Auto Club Speedway

Qualifying: September 30 – October 13

Race (60 Laps): October 18 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course

Qualifying: October 21 – November 3

Race (35 Laps): November 8 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Nashville Superspeedway

Qualifying: November 11 - 25

Race (80 Laps): November 29 at 8 p.m. ET

*Tentative and subject to change

Beginning Friday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, motorcyclists from across the country will unite once again for the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield, July 22-24.  

This year marks 30 years since the inaugural AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (VMD). Over the past three decades, the event has become one of the largest annual gatherings worldwide of motorcyclists, enthusiasts, swap meet vendors and collectors. It is all for a great cause serving as a fundraiser for the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization located in nearby Pickerington, Ohio, that works to preserve the history and tradition of motorcycling in the United States and features a museum.    

The 2022 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will honor AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer  and the 1987 AMA Superbike race winner at Mid-Ohio Kevin Schwantz as the event’s grand marshal. Schwantz’s legendary career includes the 1993 500cc World Championship, 25 Grand Prix wins, 21 lap records and 29 pole positions. Schwantz will sign autographs, speak to enthusiasts from the AMA Soundstage, participate in a Lap of History each day, judge the Saturday bike show and enjoy the various activities at VMD. 

“I’ve never attended VMD, so I’m very much looking forward to it,” said Schwantz. “I love vintage bikes and the whole classic-bike scene, so it should be fun – especially since we’re going to display my 1985 Yoshimura-Suzuki Superbike and 1994 No. 1 Suzuki GP bike in the AMA Hall of Fame tent!” 

The weekend will include multiple forms of racing disciplines, including road racing on the 2.4-mile, 15-turn Mid-Ohio road course, hare scrambles, motocross, pit bikes and trials. Flat track racing will be held at the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds on Saturday evening (July 23).

Along with the abundance of racing, attendees can be entertained through merchandise displays, a swap meet with approximately 1,000 vendors spread across 35 acres, and other attractions, such as the Wall of Death. Demo rides for motorcyclists with proper riding endorsements and safety gear are always a popular weekend feature. Indian and Royal Enfield will be onsite to offer rides on some of their hottest new models for those in a market for a new bike. Motorcycle owners can also take part in the “Lap for History” around the race track during the lunch break each day with a donation to the AMA Hall of Fame, or enter their motorcycle into the bike show on Saturday (July 23).

Ticket prices for the event are $60 for the weekend, $40 for admission on Friday or Saturday and $35 for Sunday ($10 additional at the gate). Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult at all events at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Garage paddock access is open to the public for free during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield. Motorhome and tent spaces are available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting midohio.com. 

Visit www.vintagemotorcycledays.com to read more about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield. Follow the event on social media with #AMAVMD.

NACON, KT Racing Studio, WRC Promoter and EKO Acropolis Rally Greece are very pleased to announce the eSports WRC World Final presented by AGON by AOC that will take place in Greece on September 7 & 8, 2022. The best players will compete on WRC 10, the official game of the FIA World Rally Championship.

For the second consecutive year, the final will take place during the Acropolis Rally. The 8 finalists will compete in the heart of the Olympic complex, at the end of the regular season, which will end on August 15^th. Among them, Sami-Joe Abi Nakhle (Lebanon - World Champ 2020) who has already won 7 out of 11 rounds and possibly Lohan "Nexl" Blanc (France - Triple World Champ 2017, 2019, 2021), who is competing to retain his title. The event will also host Race Clutch and other drivers from the reigning World Champion team.

Partners AGON by AOC, Playseat, Fanatec and FlexIT will also be present for this 7th consecutive season, organised by NACON, KT Racing, WRC Promoter and EKO Acropolis Rally Greece.
 
You can find the current general ranking via the following link: https://www.wrc.com/en/more/gaming/standings/
 
WRC 10 is already available on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam PC and Nintendo Switch™.
 
WRC Generations will be available from 13 October on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and later on Nintendo Switch™.
 
Buy WRC 10 on Steam
 
Add WRC Generations to your Steam wishlist