Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Toyota And Honda Oppose Proposed U.S. Bill That Would Favor Union-Made EVs
Honda and Toyota are fighting a new proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at increasing the scope of tax incentives for EV buyers. The proposal would add $4,500 in incentives for union-made vehicles. No foreign carmaker currently employs workers represented by the United Auto Workers union. Honda calls the bill “unfair”, and it wants tax credits for the vehicles it builds in Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio.
2022 Nissan GT-R Unveiled In Japan, “T-spec” Edition Coming To US Priced At $138,490
Despite being 13 years old, the Nissan GT-R continues to sprout updates and new editions. There are two limited editions: the GT-R Premium Edition T-spec and the GT-R Track Edition Engineered by Nismo T-spec. The former will be available in North America in very limited numbers. The T-Spec cars are limited to just 100 units with owners being selected by a lottery. They feature numerous upgrades, as well as two new “old” colors – Midnight Purple and Millennium Jade.
2022 Mercedes-AMG C63 Spied In Sedan And Wagon Form
Spy photographers have snapped the Mercedes-AMG C63 in sedan and estate guise while testing on the Nürburgring. The most noticeable element is the Panamericana grille, while the test cars can also be seen wearing more aggressive bumpers and side skirts, as well as lightweight wheels and bigger brakes. While the numbers haven’t been finalized, the range-topping variant could deliver a power output in excess of 644 hp (480 kW / 653 PS).
Tesla Wants To Use Lasers To Zap Dirt From Windshields
Tesla likes to be different, and their innovation has been what’s driven many manufacturers to continually improve EV tech. And now they have a proposal on how to improve the humble windscreen wiper. With lasers. Yes, Lasers. On Tuesday the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office finally granted Tesla a patent for a system of clearing dirt from a windshield (and other similar surfaces) using lasers.
BYD Introduces Ocean-X Concept, Hints At A High-Performance EV
Billed as a high-performance mid-sized electric sedan, the BYD Ocean-X concept has a driving range in excess of 620 miles (1,000 km), as well as 800V charging capability. But other than the futuristic styling with a low drag coefficient of 0.21, details are scant. However, it hints at a high-performance all-wheel-drive system that will allow for 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) times of 2.9 seconds while also having a similar energy efficiency with two-wheel-drive models.
Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport Unveiled In Taiwan With Tougher Looks And Sports Suspension
The GR Sport variant of the Corolla Cross has been revealed, with a redesigned front bumper, a different grille, larger intakes with integrated fog lights, and aluminum-style skid plates. Gazoo Racing has also equipped the Corolla Cross GR Sport with new revised suspension components including spring and dampers. This edition will also feature chassis reinforcement brackets to increases rigidity.
Comparing The Duration Of A 1,000-Mile Roadtrip In Gasoline Vs Electric Cars
YouTuber Marques Brownlee decided to put EVs and the charging systems that support them to the test. To do so, he completed a 1,000-Mile Roadtrip in the US with three different cars – a gas-powered Audi Q5 as a reference, a Tesla Model S Plaid, and a Ford Mustang Mach-E. The aim was to see how much time it would take each car to make it, including stops for recharging/refueling. The Audi was fastest, with the Tesla not too far behind, being an hour and a half slower. However, the Ford, which arrived 7 hours and 32 minutes after the Q5, was the slowest.
What Else Is Making The News?
Apple Expected To Unveil New iPhones At Event Today
Apple is streaming a virtual event to be held later today. that will likely reveal the next generation of iPhones. The new range is expected to include the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. There may also be a new Series 7 Apple Watch, as well as a new generation of AirPods.
Lewis Hamilton Attends Met Gala
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The Met Gala returned for 2021, as it saw some of the world’s most famous faces attend the event at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday. Among the usual actors, models, and musicians was seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton. He’s reported to have spent $30,000 on a table, to which he invited four young Black designers as his guests.