Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Elon Musk Says The Tesla-Hertz Deal Has Not Yet Been Signed
Hertz announced on October 25 that they will be making an initial order of 100,000 Teslas by the end of 2022. But Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on Twitter that the deal has not been confirmed yet. Since Hertz’s announcement, Tesla stocks had surged around 33%, but Musk cautioned that “Tesla is very much a production ramp problem, not a demand problem.” The company’s CEO also stated that Hertz would be purchasing at the same price as regular consumers.
2022 Audi A8 Facelift Unveiled With Visual Updates, New Trims And More Tech
Just a few days after pulling off the covers from the limited-edition A8 Horch, Audi has unveiled the facelifted 2022 A8. The new A8 features subtle visual updates, with its long body, in-your-face chrome accents, and new wheel designs. Audi hasn’t just limited their efforts to jazz up the exterior: the new A8 has been promised with an assortment of luxury and technologically improved features as well, mostly focused on offering the ultimate rear passenger experience. Sales for the model will commence in December and will be the last of its generation until the arrival of its EV successor in 2024.
2022 Honda Civic Si Will Start At $27,300, Gets EPA-Rated At 31 MPG Combined
Honda USA announced that the new Honda Civic Si will hit showrooms by the end of 2021 with an MSRP of $27,300 minus the $1015 destination charge and $200 summer tires if you opt for them. Honda calls it the ‘best handling, best equipped, and most fun-to-drive Civic Si ever’, with its 1.5L turbocharged engine producing 200 hp. The Civic Si also receives a manual transmission coupled with the Type R’s rev-matching system along with stiffer dampers and springs for a sportier driving experience. The EPA claim that the Civic Si will do 27 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined.
Tesla Performs Over-The-Air Recall On Nearly 12,000 Vehicles
According to NHTSA documents, nearly 12,000 Tesla’s with a YOM after 2017 will undergo an over-the-air recall as a recent firmware update seems to have affected the automatic emergency braking system (AEB). The software communication error is said to trigger a false forward collision warning (FCW) which could potentially activate the vehicle’s automatic emergency braking system (AEB), putting drivers at the risk of a rear-end collision. The recall will affect 11,704 vehicles in total, with all Tesla models susceptible to malfunction.
BMW Individual Matte Black X3 And X4 M Sport Editions Launched In Japan, Capped To 40 Units
To memorialize the launch of the updated X3 and X4 models in Japan, BMW has promised 40 special edition examples, with 30 of them being the X3 M40d M Sport Editions while the remainder of them will be based on the X4. The Bimmers will be offered in an exclusive Frozen Deep Gray Matte Black Paint along with a few other exterior touches as well as some additional extras for the cabin. Prices for the X3 will start 9,980,000 yen ($87,000) and X4’s will be kick off at 10,225,000 yen ($89,835).
Bugatti Rimac Is Officially In Business, With An HQ In Croatia And Mate Rimac As The CEO
A few months after Bugatti and Rimac joined hands, ‘Bugatti Rimac’ have announced they are officially open for business with Mate Rimac taking the role of active CEO. Rimac has confirmed that the Bugatti and Rimac will continue to function as two independent brands offering their own vehicles, although jointly developed projects aren’t out of the question. As the Rimac Group holds the majority stake (55%) over Porsche AG (45%) in the new venture, its supervisory board will have many high-ranking Porsche AG officials, including Oliver Blume (Chairman) and Lutz Meschke (Deputy Chairman, CFO).
Three 1990 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 Group A-Spec Continuation Units Will Be Built At $252k A Pop
With travel restrictions sparking life into the resto-mods and reproduction of classic cars, Andy Rouse Engineering confirmed that they will be releasing three continuation units of the well-celebrated 1990 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 in its original Group-A specifications by teaming up with CNC Motorsport AWS. The units will come with the complete set of exterior modifications and are powered via a turbocharged 2.0L Cosworth YB engine pushing 567HP to the rears. Starting prices will hover around 180k pounds ($252,576), with the first example to be delivered early next year.
What Else Is Making The News
Amazon Worker Fired After Woman Exits Back Of The Van
An Amazon driver has been fired after a woman was captured leaving the back of an Amazon delivery van. The viral clip appeared on TikTok and has since got over 12 million views.
Jeff Bezos Pledges $2bn To Climate Change
In other Amazon-ish news, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said his Bezos Earth Fund will spend $2bn restoring landscapes and transforming food systems, reports the BBC. He told the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow that he had grasped nature’s fragility when he travelled into space.