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

Toyota Has Resumed Donations To Politicians Who Objected The 2020 Presidential Election Result

Toyota has resumed funding for Republicans that had objected to certifying the results of the 2020 election. The Japanese carmaker stopped donations six months ago after it came under fire, but has now resumed donations to several Republicans. One such Republican was Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, who voted to overturn election results, signed an amicus brief supporting a Supreme Court case to throw out millions of votes, and voted against former President Donald Trump for his actions on January 6.

2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Loses V6 But Gets 416 HP Kick From 4-Cyl Electric Turbo

The new 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 ditches the twin-turbo V6 and replaces it with a 416 hp four-cylinder. Don’t be fooled, though — even though two cylinders have been sacrificed, the sports sedan still packs a punch, aided by an electric turbo. It’s the same F1-derived tech that was employed in the four-cylinder SL 43, but whereas the roadster’s ICE engine makes 375 hp (381 PS), the C43 develops 402 hp (408 PS). The 2023 C43 will be available in both sedan and wagon (the latter won’t make it over to the U.S.) and will go on sale later this year. Prices are expected to start around the $55,000 mark.

Dodge Confirms New Hornet Will Be Revealed This Summer As A Plug-in Hybrid

Following the announcement of their “Chief Donut Maker,” Dodge CEO, Tim Kuniskis, confirmed that the upcoming Hornet will be electrified. Asked whether electrified would mean all-electric or hybrid, the CEO said that the company has a lot of cars and that the Hornet will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. If previous leaks are to be believed, the Hornet will share a lot with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, suggesting that it will get the 1.5-liter turbo-four with an electric motor, possibly detuned from the 272 hp output found in the Tonale Q4. Kuniskis also confirmed that the crossover SUV will be unveiled sometime in the summer. 

TVR Griffith With Fully Electric Powertrain Confirmed For 2024

The reborn TVR Griffith will be getting an all-electric version in 2024, with the brand also announcing a new sponsorship deal with the Formula E championship. Although TVR didn’t reveal any specifications of its new EV, the car will go through some changes to the chassis to accommodate the new drivetrain and extra weight. The Griffith EV will be offered alongside the ICE variant that was originally announced in 2017 but still hasn’t hit the market, with deliveries of the latter expected in late 2023.

New Mercedes-Benz T-Class Is A Premium Small Minivan Designed For Families

The Mercedes T-Class is a new passenger version of the Citan LCV revealed last year. Like the Citan, it shares its underpinnings with the Renault Kangoo. While it looks similar to the Citan, the T-Class’ main selling point is its increased comfort and tech, while it also offers higher levels of safety equipment.

The Changan Lumin Corn Is The Latest Pint-Sized EV From China

The Wuling Mini EV is about to get some competition in the form of the new Lumin Corn. It’s been created by Changan New Energy and CATL and is available with two battery pack options. The 12.92 kWh pack provides a respectable 155 km (96 miles) of range, while the 17.65 kWh pack is good for 210 km (130 miles) from a 41 hp motor (a 48 hp unit will be available at a later date). Pricing is yet to be announced, while availability will be restricted to China.

A Lucid Air Dream Edition Was Burnt To A Crisp On A Transport Truck In Massachusetts

A Lucid Air Dream Edition was destroyed in Massachusetts thanks to a fire that broke out while it was being transported. The fire is suspected to have originated from the engine compartment of the truck transporting the Lucid, and not the car itself. However, according to the Facebook page Highway to Hell, the fire took four hours to clear because the electric vehicle’s battery pack kept catching fire. It’s reported that the EV was eventually placed in a dumpster filled with water to extinguish the flames.

What Else Is Making The News

Hacker Steals NFTs Worth $2.8 Million 

The official Instagram account of Bored Ape Yacht Club has been hacked, leading to the theft of 91 NFTs worth at least $2.8 million in total. The Instagram account was used to trick users into connecting their wallets to claim a fake LAND airdrop. When the users connected their wallets and likely approved a transaction, the website stole their NFTs.

Tesla Shares Slide Over Musk’s Twitter Takeover

Shares in Teslas have fallen, over fears that Elon Musk may be forced to sell some of his stake in the company in order to pay for his proposed takeover of Twitter. According to the BBC, Tesla had more than $125bn (£99.3bn) wiped off its market value on Tuesday.