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

Stellantis Just Dropped Its Own 2JZ Twin-Turbo Straight-Six Called Hurricane With Up To 500 HP

Although the all-out electrification of Stellantis isn’t far away, the group just revealed a pair of gas-powered twin-turbo inline-six engines — you could say the brand’s own version of the 2JZ. The engines, dubbed “Hurricane”, will be available in two states of tune, with V8 power promises, but with the fuel savings from dropping a pair of cylinders. The motors can also be expected to be used in hybrid applications and serve as a bridge towards full electrification.

2023 Maserati Grecale Breaks Cover With Up To 530 HP, Electric Folgore On Its Way

The new Grecale sits below the Levante in Maserati’s line-up, with the likes of the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, and Porsche Macan in its sights. The styling follows Maserati’s design ethos, with a bold but not overly prominent grille out front and unfused lines at the back. Under the hood for most models will be a two-liter four-cylinder motor, available with either 296 HP (300PS) or 325 HP (330 PS). There’s also a “Trofeo” trim which boasts bigger brakes, a wider track, an upgraded body kit, and a V6 engine similar to that found in the MC20 that’s good enough for 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h).

2024 Ram 1500 EV: Design, Performance And Everything Else We Know So Far About The Electric Truck

Unlike The Ford F-150 Lightning or the Silverado EV, the RAM 1500 EV won’t be on forecourts for a while yet. But that isn’t stopping us from predicting what the future of the electric truck could look appear as. These speculative illustrations, penned by CarScoops’ artist Josh Byrnes, show just what an electric RAM 1500 could look like.

Report Suggests RWD Mazda6 Replacement Is Dead – At Least In Europe

Rumors had been swirling of an inline-six mid-sized sedan replacement for the Mazda 6 for quite some time. But, at least in Europe, these whispers have had cold water poured on them. Mazda’s Europe’s engineering and development lead, Joachim Kunzm, reiterated what we all knew: SUVs sell best and, therefore, are the priority. However, before we jump to too many conclusions, Kunzm’s comments may only apply to the European market, meaning there could be some hope yet for North America — fingers crossed!

Tesla Plant Faces Backlash Over Planned 15,000 Person Opening Party

Following protests at Tesla’s newly-opened Berlin Gigafactory, their Austin Plant faces objections before it even opens its doors. The controversy surrounds a party planned for the opening of the factory, with Tesla planning to host 15,000 invitees. “This grand opening is not a substitute for real community engagement,” said Paul DiFiore, a representative of the Colorado River Conservancy and the Austin-based environmental-justice group PODER.

Honda Previews New Electric SUV With e:Ny1 Prototype, Confirms America’s 2023 HR-V For Europe, and 2023 Honda HR-V For North America Will Debut On April 4

Honda gave us multiple crossover-related stories to report on this week, with confirmation that the American version of the HR-V will be revealed on April 4. Honda also teased a new electrified hybrid crossover for Europe, using the same teaser images as was used for the North American HR-V — this means it will likely fit in between the existing European HR-V and the CR-V. In CR-V news, Honda confirmed that the next generation would be electrified. The Japanese carmaker also teased the e: Ny1 prototype, which will spawn a production BEV crossover that’s likely built off a stretched Honda e platform.

Tesla Driver Stupidly Aims For The Stars With Unbelievably Reckless Jump In Los Angeles

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alex Choi (@alex.choi)

The biggest controversy to come out last week was undoubtedly the reckless behavior of a Tesla driver who decided that the public streets of San Francisco would be the perfect venue to test the flying abilities of a Tesla Model S. Predictably, a crash ensued, with the Tesla hitting some garbage cans and a parked Subaru Forester. LAPD later named a person of interest in the case: an influencer named Dominykas Zeglaitis. In a statement to Carscoops, Detective Calvin DeHesa from the LAPD said: “He is a person of interest and we would like to talk to but it’s unconfirmed whether he was driving or not. As of now, we are trying to talk to a different person that rented the vehicle.”

What Else Is Making The News

F1 Unfazed By Missile Attack Six Miles From Track, Says Saudi GP To Go Ahead

The 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is set to go ahead, despite an attack on an Aramco oil storage facility just six miles (9.6 km) away from the track. Free Practice Two was postponed for fifteen minutes as teams and drivers were updated on the situation before going ahead. Afterward, it was reported that drivers were seen having a meeting for some four hours before announcing they would go ahead with the race.

Queues Reported Around The World For New Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch

Timepiece collectors have been flocking to Swatch boutiques around the world, some queuing for hours to grab the fruit of the latest collaboration in the horological world. Swatch and Omega (both belonging to the Swatch Group) have created the MoonSwatch, a tribute to the legendary Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, at an affordable price of $260 — a fraction of what the original costs.