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

AMG Will Shrink Lineup, Look More Different From Mercedes’ Cars In Future, Says Report

AMG’s sticky paws are all over the current Mercedes line-up. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a model that doesn’t have an AMG edition — or at least the option for the three-letter badge. However, it seems like Mercedes-AMG will be thinning the herd to concentrate on the big-ticket items. The company’s new boss, Philipp Schiemer, told Autocar that AMG’s model range will “decrease a little bit”, keeping it in line with what the magazine suggests are industry-wide electrification trends.

Radford Unveils Type 62-2 John Player Special With 600 HP And Carbon Ceramic Brakes

Limited to just 12 examples, this very special edition of the Radford Type 62-2 is powered by a 600 hp (608 PS/447 kW) 3.5-liter supercharged V6 engine. There are larger intakes, a more pronounced splitter, and a more aggressive diffuser. It also features AP Monobloc brake calipers with carbon-ceramic rotors that are surrounded by Dymag carbon composite wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Ford Teases The All-New 2023 Ranger As The Toughest Yet

There’s a lot of expectation surrounding the up-and-coming 2023 Ford Ranger so, naturally, Ford has decided to amp it up by teasing fans with testing footage. Ford claims that the new Ranger will have “superior off-road credentials paired with dynamic driving DNA” and describes it as “the toughest, most capable, most connected, and most versatile Ranger yet” hinting at innovative features inside the cabin and on the rear bed. The new Ranger will premiere later this year, ahead of a 2022 market launch.

Italy Wants Leniency For Supercar Makers Building Combustion Engines

Italy has decided to stand in solidarity with its iconic low-volume car manufacturers. It’s reported that the nation has entered talks with the EU over a possible exemption from the proposed 2035 ban on internal combustion engines. The deal could allow small low-volume Italian carmakers to continue building gas-powered vehicles beyond the proposed cut-off date, with manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Pagani finding it more difficult to switch to only building all-electric vehicles.

Cruel Porsche Taunts Us Again With 919 Street Hypercar We Can’t Have

The 919 Street hypercar was first unveiled in November 2020, and ever since people have been begging Porsche to build it. It came back as a painful reminder of a future that will never be, on display this week at the Munich Motor Show. The concept is based on the 919 Hybrid and has a 888 hp (900 PS) four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain. Sadly, Porsche made it clear to Carscoops that a production model will never happen.

Opinion: Munich Show Reminded Us There’s More To Going Green Than Going Electric

With the Munich Motor Show now done and dusted, it was a timely reminder of what an impact a physical show and a week’s worth of automotive buzz can energize the industry. It was also a showcase of sustainability, and, says Chris, “gave manufacturers a platform to remind us that there’s far more to a vehicle’s green credentials than the CO2 it does, or doesn’t, produce.”

Driven: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Builds On Sedan’s Legacy Of Affordability And Refinement

The new Corolla Cross is a new model trading on an old name. It’s a conventionally styled crossover, with a familiar cabin, and CarScoops’ Michael Gauthier had a chance to test it out. It’s not a groundbreaking new entrant, but it doesn’t fall below the mark. And, with prices starting at a reasonable $22,195, it might just impress.

What Else Is Making The News?

Musk vs Bezos: Tesla CEO Says Former Amazon Boss Will “Sue Death”

Taking another dig at Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk replied to a tweet reporting on Bezos’ investment in an anti-aging start-up. Musk has previously been critical of Bezos filing complaints against SpaceX. “Turns out Bezos retired in order to pursue a full-time job filing lawsuits against SpaceX,” said Musk in an earlier tweet.

 

Ukraine Makes Bitcoin Legal Tender

With Ukraine making Bitcoin a legal currency, it’s the fifth country in recent weeks to do so, says CNBC. The vote was nearly unanimous and will see the nation legalize and regulate the cryptocurrency, with protections against fraud.