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

Use Of Particulate Filters Could Prevent A Septillion Particles From Being Emitted In The U.S.

According to a recent study, diesel and gas vehicles sold in the U.S. emitted around 540 billion more emissions particles than their European counterparts. The only noticeable difference between the two was that cars sold on the continent had mandated particulate filters. The same report from Emissions Analytics concludes that vehicles in the U.S. are set to release more than one septillion (1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) preventable exhaust emissions particles.

Honda’s e:NS1 And e:NP1 Are The First Of 10 EVs Launching In China

The first two of 10 new electric cars to be launched in China are the e:NS1 and e:NP1. While all the details are yet to be revealed by Honda, the duo are also the first EVs from the Japanese manufacturer’s joint venture with Dongfeng. Externally they look similar to the European HR-V that was released last year, but inside, the cabin is very different from the rest of Honda’s lineup. It features a portrait screen that houses all of the crossover’s essential functions, including climate control and ambient lighting. While not much is known yet on the technical side of things, the e:NS1 and e:NP1 offer up to 510 km (317 miles) of range on the Chinese testing cycle.

2023 Ineos Grenadier Starts At £49,000 In The UK, Undercuts Land Rover Defender 110

Pricing for the much-anticipated Ineos Grenadier has been announced ahead of sales beginning in the UK next month. The 2023 Ineos Grenadier will cost from £49,000, which works out to about $61,489 at current exchange rates. The price undercuts that of a comparable Land Rover Defender 110 Hardtop, which is priced at £53,745 ($67,424).

What’s The Most Despised Car Design Feature Ever?

Even the most opinionated of us have to concede that car design is no easy task. A new car has to be sculpted to be desirable, compliant with safety regulations, practical, and feasible enough to put into production. Does that mean we give companies a free pass when they come up with atrocious designs? Absolutely not. So we ask you, what’s the most despised car design feature ever? Massive grilles? Fake vents? Imitation exhausts?

Driven: The Fiat 500 RED Is A Charming And Easy-Going Urban EV

The Fiat 500 has been a cornerstone for Fiat since it was reintroduced in its modern iteration. And while the looks may seem similar to the one it replaced, the new car introduced in 2020 is solely available as an EV. We managed to get our hands on a 2022 Fiat 500 (RED), a special trim with its unique styling and pandemic-fighting features, including a special cabin filter and UV-C lamp in the glovebox to sanitize items. But the question is, can the EV be a match for the ICE car it replaced?

Cupra Formentor VZ5 Tuned By ABT Is The New DTM Safety Car

Cupra is providing a new safety car to lead the DTM field during incidents. The Formentor VZ5 has been tuned by ABT Sportsline to go even faster — crucial for keeping pace with the pack of racecars it’ll be in front of. The Audi-sourced 2.5 liter five-cylinder engine now puts out 444 hp (331 kW / 450 PS) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque. In addition to two safety cars, Cupra will also be providing the DTM series with two race control cars, a medical car, and a leading car.

Watch A Truck Driver Thread The Needle And Narrowly Avoid Hitting Stopped School Bus After Brakes Fail

 

Disaster was averted when a truck lost its brakes in Montville, Ohio. Footage from both the truck and a school bus that was narrowly avoided shows how close the 80,000-pound truck came to calamity. The driver of the truck used his horn and lights to warn road users ahead of him but was ultimately able to maneuver the heavy vehicle without hitting either the school bus or the oncoming cars ahead of it. Despite it being a near miss, officials are still investigating the incident. They are curious about what led to the brake failure and why the 18-wheeler‘s driver decided to continue driving to a truck yard after coming to a stop.

What Else Is Making The News

Elon Musk Tells AOC To “Stop Hitting On Me”

Elon Musk decided a tweet from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about a “billionaire with an ego problem” was aimed at him, and replied, “Stop hitting on me, I’m really shy.” Ocasio-Cortez is reported to have responded with a now-deleted tweet saying she was actually referring to Mark Zuckerberg.

Miami Grand Prix Fake Marina Gets Fake Water

One of the more amusing aspects of the upcoming Miami Grand Prix is its marina, which seems to be an attempt at imitating the iconic scenes from the Monaco race. However, not only is the Marina not a real marina at all, it appears to be “filled” with fake water too.