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

Toyota Is Investing $3.4 Billion In U.S. Battery Production

Toyota, which has been accused of not doing enough to further the EV cause, will invest $3.4 billion (¥380 billion) in automotive battery advancement in the U.S. through 2030. It’s part of a $13.5 billion expenditure the automaker announced earlier this year that is intended to go toward Toyota’s global battery development budget.

Driven: The 2022 Audi S3 And A3 Are Your Fast And Sensible Baby Executive Sedans

Carscoops got behind the wheel of Audi’s latest junior exec, the A3, and its 306 hp fire-breathing brother, the S3. Does the new sedan from Audi do enough to keep up with new competition from the likes of BMW’s 2-Series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes A-Class Sedan? Follow the jump to find out.

Honda Reveals New 2022 Civic Si With 200 HP Turbo And Type R’s Rev-Matching Tech

With an Instagram teaser revealed the day before, the new Honda Civic Si broke cover yesterday. Highlights include a six-speed manual transmission which borrows rev-matching tech from its Type-R brother, and an updated 1.5-liter engine putting out 200 hp. The engine features a lighter flywheel, while the exhaust system has been refined too, and the chassis is stiffer. Meanwhile, the manual-only ‘box features 10 percent shorter throws.

Ford Patents Retractable Exhaust Tips To Improve Departure Angles In Off-Road Driving

Cars such as the Defender P525 feature shorter, stubbier tailpipes in order not to impact departure angles. But Ford seems to have taken this thinking one step further by patenting a “retractable tail pipe for vehicle exhaust system.” By sliding the exhaust tip back, Ford could improve its SUVs’ off-road capabilities without redesigning their rear end. It would also help protect drivers from bashing their off-roader’s exhaust pipes.

All-New 2022 Range Rover Teased, Will Debut On October 26

The new Range Rover will be presented online on Tuesday, October 26, at 3:40 pm EST, with order books opening the same day. In the meantime, we’ve been given two teaser images and a short video clip to whet our appetite until then. It would appear that Land Rover is sticking to tradition, with the overall silhouette and proportions looking instantly recognizable.

2023 BMW 7-Series Drops More Camo, Can Someone Put It Back On?

Does BMW want to create even more headlines with the latest 7-Series’ design? Perhaps, because if these spy shots are anything to go by, the latest Seven looks to be sporting an even larger grille, as well as quad lights. In the rear, the test car appears to retain its full-width light bar, albeit with a different design, and the back end, in general, seems to be much more squared-off than the outgoing model’s.

Clueless Truck Driver Caught Pushing VW Polo Sideways Down The Highway

Driving a truck is serious business, especially with the damage one can inflict if it’s in the wrong hands. That doesn’t stop accidents from happening, though, although this bizarre incident where a lorry was caught pushing a VW Polo down a motorway might prompt authorities to check whether the driver is cut out for the job.

What Else Is Making The News?

Facebook Could Be Renaming Itself 

Facebook will change its name next week, reports The Verge. The name change is said to be being made in line with Facebook’s increased focus on building a metaverse — a virtual world for people to delve into.

Jeremy Clarkson Invites Prince William To Diddly Squat Farm 

In his column for The Sun, Clarkson invited Prince William to his farm to help him “pick up the mountain of c**p that’s blown into the fields every day. And the old fridges that are dumped in the gateways.” Clarkson’s remarks were made in response to the Prince’s criticism of billionaires investing in space travel rather than solving the problems on earth.