Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
All-Electric 2024 Lotus Eletre Is A Cayenne-Sized SUV With 600+ HP
The all-new Lotus Eletre is a sign of things to come in the Geely-owned era of the British company. The fully electric powertrain produces 592 hp in base spec, with a large battery providing a 373-mile (600 km) range. Lotus’ first SUV will be available in the UK, China, and Europe starting from 2023 with the US market launch likely following in 2024. The Eletre is also the first Lotus to be produced in China alongside two more “lifestyle EVs” coming in the next few years, while the sportscar production will remain in the UK.
Vietnamese EV Automaker VinFast Building Production Plant In North Carolina
VinFast has officially confirmed its new EV assembly plant in Chatham County, North Carolina, with construction beginning later this year. The production facility worth up to $2 billion is located in the Triangle Innovation Point mega-site and is expected to create thousands of jobs in the state. The first VinFast EV will roll off the assembly line by 2024. The recently revealed VF 8 and VF 9 SUVs that are already available to order in the US market will be built in the North Carolina plant, with VinFast expecting production numbers to reach close to 150,000 vehicles per year.
Kia Confirms EV9 Electric SUV Flagship Coming To Europe In 2023
The production version of the Kia EV9 concept will be available in Europe starting from 2023, alongside its availability in the North American and Asian markets. The model will become Kia’s new flagship in terms of footprint, design, and technology. More specifically the BMW X5-sized EV will introduce Kia’s “AutoMode” autonomous driving technology and will become the company’s first production model to receive over-the-air updates (OTA) and integrate feature-on-demand (FoD) services.
America’s Electric BMW i7 xDrive60 To Have Around 300 Miles Of EPA Range
BMW is getting ready to unveil the i7 fully electric flagship sedan on April 20 at the Beijing Auto Show but we already know many details about the model. BMW has confirmed that the US-spec i7 xDrive60 model will be offering around 300 miles (482 km) of EPA range according to estimates. It is rumored that the model will be fitted with a 120 kWh battery, combined with powerful electric motors placing it at the top of the 7-Series range in terms of power output and performance.
590-Mile 1995 Nissan 240SX Pulled From BaT Auction After Web Sleuths Uncover Shady Past
Low-mileage examples of clean-looking Japanese modern classics can hide dirty secrets as proven by a 1995 Nissan 240SX. The model was listed for sale on Bring-a-Trailer with an advertised 590 mileage (950 km) but some – including us – noticed the surprisingly weathered underside with scruffy suspension and chassis components betraying its shady past. An investigation prompted BaT to withdraw the listing and apologize to the bidders, admitting that the selling dealer even engaged in shill bidding.
Alfa Romeo To Return To Large Segments With BMW X5 SUV And 7-Series Rivals, Says Boss
Alfa Romeo wants to grow its range with two new SUVs and one sedan slotting above the Tonale, Giulia, and Stelvio, as hinted by its new CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato. The new and larger models are expected to launch in 2027, signaling Alfa Romeo’s return to the large segment as a premium automaker, targetting the BMW X5, X6, and 7-Series. The new Alfa Romeos are expected to feature fully electric powertrains, most likely benefiting from Stellantis’ EV-dedicated architectures.
2023 Ford F-150 Rattler Debuts As An Affordable Off-Road Pickup With Standard Four-Wheel Drive, And The RHD Ford F-150 Will Be Available In Australia In Mid-2023
Ford launched a new trim of its best-selling pickup in the US, the F-150 Rattler, slotting below the Raptor and Tremor off-road-focused variants. Designed for “adventure-seeking customers looking for a stylish truck with standard four-wheel drive”, the Rattler is based on the XL trim but adds rattlesnake-inspired graphics, dual exhaust pipes, and black 18-inch aluminum wheels shod in rugged all-terrain tires.
Moving to the other side of the world, Australian fans of the pickup will be able to buy the Ford F-150 in XLT and Lariat trims, starting from mid-2023. The Aussie-spec F-150 will be locally converted to right-hand drive by RMA Automotive, exclusively offered in Crew Cab bodystyle with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.
What Else Is Making The News
Dyson’s Zone Is Noise-Canceling And Air-Purifying Headphones
Dyson unveiled a new set of noise-canceling headphones called the Zone that doubles as a portable air-purifying device. A detachable visor is blowing filtered air to the nose and mouth of the user, thanks to an integrated air filtration system. While the extra feature sounds like a pandemic-inspired treat, Dyson says that the headphones were under development for the past six years, pre-existing the COVID-19 outbreak. As reported by Engadget, the idea is to protect people from pollution while they are enjoying their favorite music. Dyson will announce pricing and availability for the Zone later this year.
Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, The Absolute Best GPU, Is Now Available From $1,199 MSRP
Gamers in the US can finally get their hands on the brand new GeForce RTX 3090 Ti which is a real monster when it comes to specs. For those familiar with GPUs, the RTX 3090 Ti comes with a 24GB GDDR6X memory and 10,752 CUDA cores, boasting 78 RT-TFLOPs, 40 Shader-TFLOPs, and 320 Tensor-TFLOPs of power. Nvidia says it is 60% faster than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, allowing users to enjoy the maximum settings in any 4K game – and even 8K games on compatible displays. The GPU starts at $1,999 MSRP from Nvidia while it is also available from card providers including ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Gainward, Galax, Gigabyte, INNO3D, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac.