Good morning and welcome to our weekly digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
These Are America’s Best And Worst Car Brands In New Vehicle Customer Satisfaction
With 82 out of 100, Honda came out on top in a study of automotive satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. BMW came in second with 81, Lexus was third, and Subaru and Audi rounded out the top five. Mitsubishi and Crysler scored the worst, with 71 and 70 respectively, down on the industry average of 78.
Toyota made a shock reveal, presenting fifteen new electric concepts to the world all at once. After much pushback for EV adoption, Toyota looks as if it’s got an electric option for almost every category. It includes the Toyota bZ range, comprising of the bZ4X and four new cars based on the e-TNGA architecture. There was also the Lexus RZ, an LFA-looking successor, and a large SUV, an autonomous shuttle, and EV sports cars, among many others.
2022 Mazda MX-5 Revealed With Improved Suspension For Sharper Cornering, Little Else
Mazda obviously didn’t feel the need to make too many improvements to the MX-5, because they implemented only a smattering of changes for the updated 2022 model. These include adding the Japanese automaker’s Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) technology. The tech determines the turning conditions in real-time from the difference in speed between the left and right rear wheels and applies a light brake force to generate an “anti-lift” effect for increased stability. There’s also a new color, dubbed Platinum Quartz Metallic, and a new Terracotta Nappa leather interior package.
Six More Women Come Forward With Sexual Harassment Suits Against Tesla
Six new lawsuits have been filed in Alameda County Superior Court against Tesla, claiming sexual harassment. Details of verbal and physical abuse were revealed, while the women say that they used various methods to protect themselves from harassment because of Tesla’s inaction. They stacked boxes, bought baggy clothes, skipped breaks, and asked to be moved away from their harassers. These new lawsuits join two more filed by Jessica Barraza and Erica Cloud.
All-New Kia Carens Adopts SUV Looks, Retains Family-Friendly Character
The all-new fourth-generation Kia Carens ditches its MPV looks for a more SUV/crossover approach to the three-row car. The Carens is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter petrol engine, a turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol mill, or a 1.5-liter diesel combined with a six-speed manual, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, or a six-speed torque-converter automatic, respectively. The Carens will go on sale in India and selected markets early next year.
2023 Genesis G90 Fully Revealed In Korea, Gets Twin-Turbo V6 Engine With 375 HP
The 2023 Genesis G90 has been fully unveiled for Korea, with the exterior images now complemented by detailed interior shots of the new luxury sedan. Genesis says that the 2023 G90 has been “designed to satisfy both customers who take the wheel themselves and those who are driven by chauffeurs.” It includes massage seats, a Bang & Olufsen audio system with pop-up tweeters, dual sunroofs, ambient lighting, and a fragrance system. Aside from the luxurious interior, the G90 gets a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that develops 375 hp (280 kW / 380 PS) and rear-wheel steering.
Will You Warm Up To A ‘Burnt’ 400-Mile 2022 Jeep Wagoneer For The Right Price?
A 400-mile 2022 Jeep Wagoneer sounds like a deal for anyone looking for one. And judging by the images alone, it looks in decent shape. However, the listing reveals that it has fire damage, hence why the insurer determined it to be a total loss. This is evidenced by some of the chrome trimmings across the exterior now have a slightly black tinge to them. Still, it doesn’t look like it’s a total loss and can probably be repaired.
Gone In 60-ish Seconds: Four New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s Stolen From Flat Rock Assembly Plant
Sounds like the start of a Nicolas Cage movie, but jokes aside, four Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s were stolen from the automaker’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. Shortly after the theft, two of the stolen vehicles were recovered on I-75 in Brownstown Township, around three miles (3.8 km) away, and the city of Southgate, which is around 11 miles (17.7 km) away, both in the direction of Detroit. One had heavy front-end damage, which would make sense if it was the one used to crash through the gate. Neither vehicle was occupied when it was found.
What Else Is Making The News
Ape NFT Accidentally Sold For $3,000, Not $300,000
Bored Ape NFT accidentally sells for $3,000 instead of $300,000 https://t.co/XunqKaotVP
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 13, 2021
A sought-after Bored Ape NFT sold at auction for just one-hundredth its intended price. The owner made a typo when listing the NFT online, keying in 0.75 ether instead of the 75 ether it was intended to fetch. It was the equivalent of selling the artwork for $3,000 instead of $300,000…
Man Goes Viral For Looking Like Elon Musk, Deepfake Suspected
Internet sleuths are trying to figure out if a video of a Chinese man looking like Elon Musk’s doppelganger is real or fake. Some suspect that the clip, which was originally shared to a TikTok-style app called Douyin, is actually a deepfake — a way in which technology is used to realistically superimpose someone’s face onto another’s body.