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

U.S. Government To Reveal Stricter Average Fuel Economy Standards On Friday

The U.S. will reveal tougher emissions standards for passenger vehicles later this week. The move from the Biden administration will reverse rollbacks implemented by President Trump, with tougher penalties expected for automakers that fail to achieve fuel efficiency standards.

488-HP Alpina B4 Is Next Best Thing To The M4 Gran Coupe BMW Won’t Build

Fresh from its acquisition by BMW, Alpina has revealed its take on the 4-Series Gran Coupe. The B4 features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six making 488 hp (495 PS)
and 539 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque. With an eight-speed gearbox and all-wheel drive, the B4 can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h). That’s just 0.2 seconds slower to 62 mph than the BMW M3 sedan, but flat out, it is 32mph faster. As is the Alpina way, the B4 emphasizes comfort, featuring adaptive dampers and bespoke Pirelli tires. The car also gets a muscular makeover, with a deep chin spoiler and relatively light wheels at 26.5 lbs (12 kg) to help reduce unsprung and rotational mass.

2024 Audi Q6 e-tron Front End Completely Uncovered In Latest Spy Shots

The large, satin silver grille seen above belongs to the much-anticipated Audi Q6 e-tron. It marks the first time we’ve seen an undisguised look at the upcoming EV SUV. Our spy shots show a complex matrix of lighting elements, the design of which suggests some level of customizability when they’re lit. The lifted hood also shows an array of cables, suggesting that the Q6 e-tron won’t feature a frunk. Audi is expected to officially reveal the SUV before the end of 2022.

Ex-GM Manager Charged For Soliciting $5 Million Bribe To Secure Supply Contract

An ex-General Motors manager has been arrested on a federal bribery charge alleging that he solicited a $5 million bribe from a South Korean parts supplier to secure a deal with GM. Hyoung Nam So, also known as Brian, has been charged with having rigged bids on a contract to supply GM with painting, window film, and window molding parts. So has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal funds bribery, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

Formula 1 To Race Through The Streets Of Las Vegas In 2023

Formula 1 is going to Las Vegas from 2023, with the series announcing its third U.S. event, which will join Texas, and Miami on the calendar. The Las Vegas race will take place on a Saturday as opposed to F1’s usual Sunday race day. Cars will race on the famous Las Vegas Strip, on a dedicated circuit that will be 3.8 miles (6.12 km) long and consist of three main straights and 14 corners.

Buick’s New Logo Appears To Have Leaked On A Real Vehicle

Photos from the Instagram account buick_saudi_ arabia appear to show a steering wheel with an updated Buick logo. The design appears to show the three shields arranged in a straight line, as opposed to rising diagonally. The righthand stalk behind the steering wheel seems to be a gear selector, though. That differs from most American models, whose gear selectors are buttons in the center console. It also features a large instrument cluster screen, further suggesting that this is one of the brand’s next-generation models.

SsangYong Searching For New Buyer After Deal With Edison Motors Falls Through

It’s yet more bad news for beleaguered Korean carmaker SsangYong. A deal between the company and Edison Motors has fallen through, despite the two parties signing an agreement in January. SsangYong had filed for receivership in 2020 and went into court receivership in April 2021. The brand could still have a future, provided it manages to find a buyer willing to pay off its debts. SsangYong has teased the Jeep-like X200 plus the rugged J100 in both SUV and pickup forms for 2022

What Else Is Making The News

Bruce Willis Retires From Acting Due To Illness

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbu-CyELWio/

Bruce Wills is retiring from acting, having been diagnosed with aphasia — a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. The announcement was made by Willis’ daughter, Rumer, on Instagram. “Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” said Rumer.

Aston Martin Announce Vettel’s Return

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has been declared fit to race at the third round of the 2022 Formula One championship, to be held in Melbourne next week. The Aston Martin driver had missed the first two rounds of the season, having caught Covid-19, with the team’s reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg filling in.