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

An All-Time Record 40.9 Million Used Vehicles Were Sold In The U.S. Last Year

In case you needed any more confirmation that the used car market is crazy, here it is: record sales in 2021, with 40.9 million used cars sold across the United States. It’s a 10 percent jump from 2020, but figures are expected to slow down in the coming years as production of new cars begins to scale up. 

Chery’s Jetour T-X Concept Looks Like A Ford Bronco And Land Rover Defender Mishmash

Jetour (a sub-brand of Chery) introduced the T-X at a brand-specific event in China. Officially a concept, the Jetour T-X looks like it has been borrowing design cues from a host of popular models, including the front end of the Ford Bronco and the greenhouse and rear of the Land Rover Defender.

Did You Know That The Dodge Caliber Came Close To Being A Rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer?

More than just a custom, this Lancer with Dodge badges shows just how close a Mitsubishi-based Caliber was to reality. It was spotted twelve years ago by a former Dodge employee, who recently shared the images since enough time had passed to avoid reprisal. We may never know just how well a Japanese-based Dodge sedan would have worked out. Still, it would have saved the brand millions of dollars in R&D. Dodge instead opted to offer the short-lived Dodge Dart (2011-2016), heavily based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which was far from a roaring success.

Poll: Which Smartphone Maker Could Build The Best EV?

With Apple rumored to be close to unveiling its electric car project, and many other smartphone makers exploring the possibility, we asked you, who would do it best? Will Apple’s track record of entering new spaces prove to make it a hit? Or will the likes of Huawei, Xiaomi, or Samsung be able to do a better job?

 

Porsche Expands 2022 Cayenne Range With New Platinum Edition Models

Porsche has launched the Platinum Edition package for both the Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe. It’ll add 21-inch Spyder Design wheels in Satin Platinum, black sports tailpipes, high gloss window trim, chalk-colored seat belts, and some aluminum trim inside. Also included are LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, a Panoramic Roof, Bose Surround Sound system, 8-way adjustable sport seats, and Porsche crests on the headrests as standard. Prices start at $79,000.

15 Forgotten Incarnations Of Famous Cars

From the four-door R33 GT-R to the Bugatti EB110 and toned-down Edsel, history is littered with the forgotten incarnations of some of the world’s most famous cars. Other standouts include the radical Ford Mustang I, and Lancer EX2000 Turbo.

What Else Is Making The News

Max Verstappen Crashes Out Of Virtual Le Mans 

Not the best start for the new year as the 2021 Formula 1 World Champion crashed out of the Le Mans Virtual 24 hour race. At around the seven-hour mark, the Dutchman lost control of the Team Readline car, which had been leading from the start. The impact was enough for the rFactor2 model to register an instant retirement.

Fedex Want To Outfit Cargo Plans With Anti-Missle Systems 

Fedex has asked the Federal Aviation Authority whether it can operate some cargo planes with lasers that throw off heat-seeking missiles. According to CNN, there’s a concern, as planes have been fired upon by portable air defense systems, such as the kind that hit a DHL Airbus A330 in 2003 after takeoff from Baghdad.