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

GM Pulls Out Of CES 2022 Amid COVID Omicron Concerns, Silverado EV To Debut Online

Just when you thought things were back on track, the Omicron variant rears its ugly head and wrecks havoc on the events industry once again. Fears have already triggered a slew of no-shows from the tech world for CES 2022, and now GM has announced that they, too, are pulling out of the show. However, the reveal of the Chevrolet Silverado EV will go ahead online on January 5. 

Software Update Glitch Causing 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Headlights To Stop Working

Nearly 37,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee L models have been recalled over a problem with their headlights. Impacted vehicles were built between December 3, 2020, and July 21, 2021, and are equipped with a smart lighting module that may have received an incomplete software update. This update could cause one or both headlights to stop functioning. It hasn’t been the first headlight recall, with an issue reported earlier this year regarding cars not fitted with automatic high-beam functionality.

Dodge Announced The Return Of Its Direct Connection Internal Tuning House

As part of Dodge’s “Never Lift” campaign of enthusiast-focused announcements, their “Direct Injection” internal tuning house makes a comeback. It’ll bring 200-plus parts, including crate engines, cylinder heads, driveshafts, diff assemblies, driveline kits, torque converter kits, widebody flare kits, and airboxes. All parts are factory-backed, and those installed by Dodge Power Brokers come with a 24-month unlimited miles parts warranty.

Game Over: Tesla Disables Gaming While Driving After Federal Probe

Tesla will no longer allow passengers to play games on the infotainment screens of its models while they are in motion. It comes after the brand’s newly-introduced “passenger play” feature came under scrutiny as it easily allowed drivers to play video games while a car was in motion. “Following the opening of a preliminary evaluation of Tesla’s ‘Passenger Play,’ Tesla informed the agency that it is changing the functionality of this feature,” the NHTSA confirmed in a statement to The New York Times. “In a new software update, ‘Passenger Play’ will now be locked and unusable when the vehicle is in motion.”

Someone Believes A 16k-Mile 2003 Ford Excursion Is Worth $100,000 – So They Bought It

We all know that the used car market has gone a bit nuts of late, but you know things are really bad when a 2003 Ford Excursion Limited recently sold for $100,000. Granted, the example has only covered 16,000 miles since new and has been extremely well-maintained. However, is that enough to justify the six figures it sold for? The jury’s still out.

QOTD: What’s The Best Looking Luxury Sedan Ever?

The sedan body style may be a dying breed, but it remains the epitome of luxury car design for many of us. You can’t beat a long bonnet, juxtaposed with a slab of practical, golf-bag swallowing trunk, and four doors in-between. Cars like the E38 BMW 7-Series, Maserati Quattroporte, and Mercedes-Benz CLS make our top three favorites. What about you?

Driven: 2022 Genesis GV70 Proves Carmaker Has Reached A New Level

The Genesis GV70 is a cut above the rest, says Carscoops’ Brad Anderson, who was able to get behind the wheel of the South Korean manufacturer’s entry-level crossover. Its unique cabin employs some of the best haptic feedback we’ve seen on a touchscreen, while storage cubbies, hidden chargers, and an overall premium feel make it an exceptional place to be. However, improvements to the drivetrain would be appreciated, as too would a change to the similarly located gear selector and infotainment knobs.

What Else Is Making The News

Former SpaceX Engineers Launch Robot Restaurant 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWbxJ0Gq0NE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Three former SpaceX engineers have made a robotic machine that can churn out a pizza every 45 seconds. The company, Stellar Pizza, has over 23 employees who used to work at Musk’s space company. The restaurant is scheduled to open in May 2022, according to Business Insider. 

TikTok More Visited Than Google 

Cloudflare, an IT security company, has announced that TikTok has garnered more hits in 2021 than Google. It’s according to Cloudflare Radar, which monitors web traffic. It’s believed that the Covid 19 pandemic has seen a huge influx in the social media website’s popularity, which now has over a billion active users.