Good morning and welcome to our weekly digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Elon Musk Furious After Tesla Removed From S&P 500’s Top Do-Gooder Investments
The S&P 500 ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) index had one glaring omission this year: Tesla. Predictably, this didn’t impress Elon Musk, who took to Twitter to share his displeasure over the matter. Margeret Dorn, the senior director and head of ESG indices for S&P Dow Jones, justified the move, saying that the organization couldn’t simply take the company’s word that it was taking steps to improve the world.
2023 BMW M4 CSL Is A Track-Inspired, Carbon Fiber Clad Rocket Ship Starting At $139,900
It’s been a busy week for BMW, starting with this: the reveal of the limited-edition 2023 M4 CSL. The CSL continues the theme set by its two predecessors, the E9 3.0 CSL and the E46 M3 CSL, shaving 240 lbs (109 kg) over the standard car. There’s also a healthy bump in power to the tune of 40 hp (41 PS / 30 kW) for an output of 543 hp (550 PS / 411 kW) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque. The headline weight-saving elements include a carbon-fiber roof, hood, and trunk lid. But there are multiple other areas where the M division has found ways of trimming fat, including ditching the rear seats, fitting a titanium exhaust, and even pairing down the grilles, rear lights, and climate control. The 2023 M4 CSL also has the distinction of being the fastest BMW M production car to lap the Nurburgring.
Mercedes Vision AMG Concept Previews Porsche Taycan Electric Sedan Rival Coming In 2025
On the other side of the German luxury car battle, Mercedes has equally been keeping us on our toes. The new Vision AMG concept previews an all-new electric sedan that is expected to do battle with the likes of the Porshe Taycan when it’s launched. While it shares visual similarities with the Vision EQXX, a production version will likely prioritize downforce over slipperiness.
The 2023 BMW 3-Series Facelift Proves That Good Looking Bimmers Can Exist Today
Back to BMW and the new 2023 BMW 3-Series was launched this week, which brings with it a subtle facelift. And by subtle, we mean squint, or you’ll miss it. The lights are now slimmer and less fussy, the daytime running lights are an “inverted L” shape, and the grille gets tweaked contours and double bars. In addition to new wheel designs and colors, the most significant changes are found inside. The interior is brought in line with the rest of BMW’s latest models with iDrive 8 and the Curved Display, while all U.S-market 3-Series will now be built in Mexico. However, those looking for a more practical (and we think more stylish) version of the 3-Series will be left out of luck: the Touring model sadly isn’t destined for the U.S.
New 2023 Lexus RX Shows Its Face, Debuts On June 1
Lexus will be debuting the new generation RX on June 1, promising that the upmarket SUV has “undergone a complete renewal.” Accompanying the launch date was a teaser image, giving us a glimpse of the sculpted grille and sharper LED light signatures. The RX will benefit from Lexus’ new infotainment with the 12.3-inch touchscreen as seen on the NX and the recently updated UX. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 ADAS suite will most likely come standard in all variants, in line with the automaker’s strategy.
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Mercedes Launches Exclusive Mythos Brand As It Reduces Entry-Level Range To Focus On Top-End Luxury
Mercedes will be shifting gears away from entry-level offerings and focusing more on the creme de la creme of luxury. The brand’s revamped product portfolio will consist of so-called Entry Luxury, Core Luxury, and Top-End Luxury models. At the same time, Mercedes will also introduce a highly-exclusive line of limited production collector cars under the newly announced ‘Mythos’ series that will join the Maybach, AMG, G Class, and EQ sub-brands. Mercedes has also teased four of its upcoming models. These include the Mercedes-Maybach SL, an exclusive SL Speedster as part of the Mythos series, the forthcoming EQE SUV, and an as-yet-unnamed entry-level sedan.
2023 Dodge Hornet: Everything We Know About The Tonale Clonale, From Design To Powertrains
We’re not sure how consumers will react to this one, with savvy buyers becoming harder to fool with a simple rebadge job that may have flown by in the past. However, a rebadge is precisely what the 2023 Dodge Hornet is shaping up to be, based on its Stellantis stablemate, the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Our speculative illustrations show what the new “Clonale” will look like, with a front fascia reminiscent of the Charger SRT sedan and Durango SUV and a horizontal lighting signature to help emphasize width.
The sale of a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe has broken the record for the most valuable car in the world. Sold by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection with the help of RM Sotheby’s, the 300 SLR is one of just two examples in the world. The final sale price smashed the previous $48.4 million set by a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO by a staggering $94.5 million, with the unnamed buyer (represented by Simon Kidston no less) forking out €135 million or nearly US$142.9 million. Mercedes said that the money from the sale would go toward a charity fund.
What Else Is Making The News
Top Gun Premieres In London
The long-awaited Top Gun sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” is coming to the big screen after production issues and the COVID pandemic wreaked havoc on the release schedule. However, its London premiere went smoothly, with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joining stars Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, and Jon Hamm on the red carpet.
Aston Martin Accused Of Copying Red Bull
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Red Bull Racing has announced an internal investigation after rivals Aston Martin revealed an extensive upgrade package for their car. The issue is that the updated AMR22 racing car bears a striking resemblance to the Red Bull. Aston Martin, which was then known as Racing Point, also caused uproar in 2020 when they were accused of copying the design of the 2019 Mercedes.