Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

Hyundai Santa Cruz Passes Chevy Corvette To Become The Fastest Selling New Car In The U.S.

Hyundai’s half Tucson, half small pick-up, aka the Santa Cruz, has become the fastest-selling car in the U.S. Introduced back in April, the unique offering seems to have found favor in the hearts of Americans, as it dethroned the Corvette C8, with cars staying on dealer lots for an average of just eight days.

Facelifted 2022 Ford Fiesta Unveiled With New Digital Gauges And Smarter Looks

Ford has taken the wraps off the new facelifted Fiesta range, which includes a three-door alongside the five-door hatchback, as well as a commercial version. Exterior changes include a larger front grille, reshaped headlights, and minor changes to the taillight surrounds. Inside, there is a fully-configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that changes color and appearance according to the selected drive mode. Those who loved the last ST high-performance version will be pleased to hear the new car packs more torque with 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) on offer. Power is the same, at 197 hp (147 kW / 200 PS), and is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual and optional LSD.

Hyundai’s Adorable New Casper Goes On Sale In Korea With A Sub-$12k Price And Plenty Of Kit

Complete with a cabin that can transform into a sleeping area and a selection of colorful interior options, the new Hyundai Casper is the most affordable SUV from Hyundai. The entry-level trim starts from 13,850,000 won ($11,860) with the range-topper at 18,700,000 won ($16,010). So far the car is only offered to Korea, while an Indian launch is expected in the near future.

Mercedes Wants VW In Formula 1 And Will Make Compromises To Make It Happen

Mercedes is happy to agree to simplified engine set-ups and drop a crucial part of its F1 power unit, the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat), from 2025 or 2026. The move is being considered if it means that VW could be tempted into joining the sport. Mercedes F1 boss, Toto Wolff, spoke of other areas where compromise needs to be found, but his statements indicate that the dominant engine supplier (and team) in the modern Formula One era would welcome increased competition.

New Chevrolet Silverado HD May Get A V8 Diesel With Over 500 HP

GM is planning a significant upgrade for the 2023 Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD models. A report says that the pair will feature an updated version of the automaker’s 6.6-liter turbo-diesel Duramax V8 with as much as 505 hp and 1,085 lb-ft (1,471 Nm) of torque. These figures would better that of the most powerful Ford Power Stroke V8 and the Cummin’s inline-six diesel used by Ram.

The Tesla Model Y Passes The Moose Test With Flying Colors

Quite a few cars have failed the dreaded moose test, but the Model Y Performance had no problem dealing with it. During the 83 km/h run, the Tesla initially pushes into slight understeer before the rear-end kicks around to help the car navigate its way through without hitting any cones. It’s an impressive result and matches the 83 km/h run previously performed by a Model 3 Performance, despite the Model Y being an SUV and the Model 3 a sedan.

QOTD: Is Factory Navigation Still Relevant In The Age Of Android Auto And Apple CarPlay?

Factory sat-nav has long been a useful piece of kit, often offered as an option or in higher-end models. But in a world of Google Maps and other competing services available on our phones — all with the ability to mirror screens thanks to Android Auto and Apple Carplay — do we need factory navigation? Toyota’s Corolla Cross doesn’t even have the option anymore. What do you think?

What Else Is Making The News

Clarkson Talks More About Farming

Jeremy Clarkson appears to have gone all-in on his agricultural ambitions, as he takes The Sun around his farm, discussing the issues that plague British farmers. It appears that for season two, instead of sheep, the farm animals of choice are cows, while viewer-favorite Kaleb Cooper makes an appearance too.

SpaceX Launches Tourist Crew Into Space

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 has been launched, making it the first-ever flight crewed entirely by space tourists. Unlike previous launches by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, the Inspiration4 will orbit for the next three days at a 350-mile altitude.