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In what has to be called a very interesting move on Toyota’s part, the automaker has hired documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, he of Supersize Me fame, to direct the first in a new series of videos under the “Fueled by Everything” banner.

The colorfully-titled “Fueled by Bulls—“ video is the first in an online series of videos that seeks to educate consumers about the benefits of hydrogen fuel in general.  The three-minute clip features ordinary, average Americans – a dairy farmer and a mechanical engineer – as they literally track cow dung as it emanates from its bovine source, all the way to its end product as the fuel that powers Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

“This project gave us the opportunity to dive into a world that most people don’t understand but has the potential to change our world,” said Spurlock in a statement. “Witnessing manure, something most of us view as being pretty disposable, being transformed into hydrogen fuel to power a car was pretty remarkable. I think this short film is pretty compelling evidence of what could be possible in the years ahead.”

Contrary to earlier reports, Spurlock will not be directing the entire “Fueled by Everything” video campaign, but rather the first video alone.  And the Toyota Mirai site on the automaker’s website will feature more than just colorful explanations of how hydrogen fuel works; it will feature the scientific how-and-why of the alternative fuel, with scientists and other specialists talking about the process behind its creation.  “We’re putting hydrogen in the spotlight for its exciting potential as a renewable fuel source,” said Toyota USA senior vice president of automotive operations Bob Carter. “This is the beginning of the road for hydrogen, but we see the potential and we’re making a long-term investment in the future.”

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The 2016 Cadillac CT6 is now official, having launched at the New York International Auto Show.  But at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show, Cadillac confirmed that the car will be offered as a plug-in electric as well.

The Cadillac CT6 PHEV comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine paired with a rear-wheel electric variable transmission and two electric motors.  That’s good for an estimated 335 horsepower and 432 lb/ft. torque, and the car also comes with an 18.4 kWh lithium-ion battery with 192 pouch cells.  No fuel economy details have been divulged, but General Motors promises more than twice the mileage of the standard, gas-powered CT6.  Electric range hasn’t been confirmed either, but Cadillac said at Shanghai that the battery would be able to hold up in “most daily commutes.”

Cadillac’s electrified and hybridized CT6 features three driving modes, namely Normal, Sport, and Hold.  The first two are self-explanatory, but the third would allow drivers to conserve on battery life, especially on low-speed city trips. In addition, drivers can utilize regen-on-demand with paddle shifters as another useful tool for saving on battery life and making the most of the car’s mileage.

The PHEV Cadillac CT6 will be released first in China sometime in 2016, with other markets, including the United States, following soon after.

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Chevrolet’s new autonomous car prototype, which launched this week at the Shanghai Auto Show, may look a bit peculiar, but having seen Mercedes’ F 015 Luxury in Motion concept a few months back, it may not look that odd after all.

The Chevrolet-FNR autonomous electric vehicle comes chock full of sensors, and also includes roof-mounted radar, both of which combine to allow for its self-driving functionalities.  And since we mentioned the Mercedes Luxury in Motion concept, Chevy’s concept does appear a bit similar in terms of its design, as well as its front seats that can swivel around so they can face the rear seats.  One unique thing about the Chevrolet-FNR is its iris recognition tech for starting the car, while gesture control allows drivers to toggle between self-driving and human driving modes.

Apart from the rather odd basic exterior design, there are other interesting elements, such as the car’s crystal laser headlights and taillights, and its dragonfly dual swing doors.  Chevrolet did not disclose the concept car’s powertrain, though it did say that it features magnetic hubless wheel electric motors that can be charged wirelessly.  For the Chevrolet-FNR’s interior, the vehicle boasts of mesh seats, comfortable headrests, and ambient lighting.

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Ford announced today that it will be investing a total of $2.5 billion in new engine and transmission facilities in Mexico, allowing the Blue Oval to join a growing number of automakers opening new plants in the country.

Ford already has an existing plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, and that’s where a new facility will rise, hosting the manufacture of a new gasoline engine for the company’s small vehicles.  The gas engine will be exported to several markets, including the U.S. and Canada, South America, and the Asia Pacific.  In addition to this, Ford also confirmed it will be expanding diesel and inline-four engine production in Mexico.  Additionally, Ford is manufacturing a new plant in Guanajuato, which will take care of the manufacture of two brand-new automatic transmissions.  The Guanajuato plant will manufacture transmissions for Fords sold in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

The confirmation of the two new facilities comes at the same time as Ford’s 90^th anniversary in Mexico; the automaker produces the Ford Fiesta and Fusion Hybrid and the Lincoln MKZ and MKZ Hybrid south of the border.  And, as is always the case when new plants open, Ford will be creating new jobs with the two plants.  The company already has 11,300 workers in Mexico, and this number will grow by 3,800 when the new plants open.

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Aluminum vehicles may not always seem like the safest vehicles around, but Ford had apparently made sure that the 2015 F-150 lives up to the company slogan of “Built Ford Tough.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had given the 2015 F-150 SuperCrew an overall rating of five stars in recently conducted crash tests.  The F-150 SuperCrew got five stars in the frontal and side crash tests, and scored four stars in the rollover test, and when all was said and done, Ford had effectively added “safer” to the list of superlatives one can use to describe the F-150.  With its aluminum body, the 2015 F-150 has already been proven to be lighter by 700 pounds and capable of better towing and fuel economy.

It did help that the 2015 F-150 does come with a wealth of safety features and improvements.  Despite the generous use of aluminum, Ford still used high-strength steel for the F-150’s frame, which did help greatly.  Its safety features include dual-stage airbags, side curtain airbags, an adaptive steering column, and more.  The truck is chock full of driver assist technologies, and its curve control feature keeps drivers on the right path.  Optional features include adaptive cruise control, active park assist, collision warning, and lane-keep assist.

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Chevrolet had been the subject of some derision and wisecracks at the Detroit Auto Show in January, when it showed off its upcoming all-electric vehicle, the Bolt.  After all, Chevy’s plug-in hybrid EV, the similarly-named Volt, has been around for much longer and now has name recall among consumers.  However, General Motors and Chevy are sticking to their guns, and won’t be renaming the Bolt despite the extreme similarity to the Volt name.

“Since unveiling the Bolt EV three months ago, the name has quickly become associated with Chevrolet,” said Chevrolet in an emailed statement to The Detroit News. “Therefore, we will use the name when the vehicle goes into production. The Bolt EV is a significant statement of Chevrolet’s commitment to electrification and the name suits this game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity.”

This is the first time GM has defended its choice of the name Bolt with certainty, as company officials didn’t appear so sure about a month after its Detroit launch.  “Some people think (Bolt) is confusing,” said GM North American President Alan Batey in February, adding that GM could “go either way” as far as the final name goes.  “People are having some fun with it. It is generating awareness, which is good. It’s so conversational.”

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Low gasoline prices have made it less and less appealing for consumers to spring for an electric car or a hybrid, and that seems to be why some carmakers are now reducing the sticker prices of their “green” vehicles.  Just as Cadillac announced the 2016 ELR will be $10,000 cheaper than its predecessor, another General Motors brand – Chevrolet – announced that it will be selling the 2015 Spark EV at only $26,820.  And that’s before tax credits come into play.

With tax credits taken into account, the new Spark EV may cost in the neighborhood of $15,000, making it an extremely affordable electric car in a market where other automakers have cut prices.  Aside from Chevy and Cadillac, Ford also announced that it is lowering the price of its 2015 Focus Electric to $29,995 (before tax), down $6,000 from before.  And the trend isn’t just confined to American cars, as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV recently got its price reduced by $6,130, dropping it to $23,845 before tax rebates kick in.  As for the Spark EV, this is the second time it’s gotten its sticker price cut, as the car’s price was reduced by $5,000 in 2013.

Buyers can also choose to lease a Spark EV at $139 per month for 39 months, with no money down required at signing.  That makes it a more affordable option than the competing Fiat 500e and Kia Soul EV, the former costing $139 per month for 36 months with $1,999 down, and the latter priced at $249 per month for 36 months with $1,999 down.

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Like other “green” cars amid the ongoing trend of low gas prices, the Cadillac ELR plug-in coupe hasn’t been a very good seller.  That appears to be the reason why the automaker announced today that it is significantly reducing pricing on the ELR for the 2016 model year.

Pricing on the 2016 Cadillac ELR is $65,995 with destination charges, which is $10,000 less than last year’s model, which cost $75,995. Buyers, however, will see a lower price tag, as Cadillac is advertising the new ELR at a price of $58,495, which already figures in the $7,500 tax credit.  And aside from being cheaper, the 2016 ELR will also be a better performer.  Thanks to a new software update, the ELR is now capable of 25 percent more horsepower and torque, while 0-60 mph times are now down by 1.5 seconds.  The car’s top speed is now at a decent 130 mph with performance package, up from last year’s 105 mph top speed.

Cadillac says that the new ELR has “moved more in the direction of sportiness,” which is in contrast to how the previous model was marketed.  But even with a sportier look and feel and better performance, the ELR is still capable of some decent mileage figures – the car can go a maximum 39 miles on its electric battery alone before the gas engine takes over.

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Further details have emerged regarding the 36-year-old man killed Sunday when the Lamborghini he was riding in crashed into a guardrail.

According to an unnamed representative of Petty Holdings, crash victim Gary Terry worked as a senior operations manager at Walt Disney World’s Exotic Driving Experience.  He also worked as a professional driving instructor for both the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

“Yesterday we lost a long-time, valued team member of the Exotic Driving Experience family,” read the statement prepared by Petty Holdings LLC. “Sr. Operations Manager and Professional driving instructor, Gary Terry, was fatally injured in an on-track incident at the Walt Disney World Speedway. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s family and friends. He will be sorely missed.’’

Reports regarding the crash state that the Lamborghini’s driver, 24-year-old Tavon Watson, wasn’t able to properly maneuver the car through one of the curves on the course, thus leading to the crash.  Watson has since been released from Celebration Hospital with minor injuries.