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

Ford CEO Hints At New Maverick Variants, A “Stunning” Mustang, And A Redesigned Super Duty

Several exciting revelations were made for fans of the Blue Oval during yesterday’s second-quarter earnings call. Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted at new Maverick variants, which likely include the Maverick Tremor and a plug-in hybrid. We finally have a date for the new Mustang as well, with Farley announcing the debut will take place on September 14, at the North American International Auto Show.


2023 Chevrolet Colorado Grows Up, Techs Out, And Goes Turbo

The third-generation Chevrolet Colorado has bowed, and it looks like a leap forward for the mid-sized pickup. While there’s some Silverado DNA present, the 2023 Colorado manages to retain its own identity, offering a range of features that intrigue. These include an integrated storage compartment (which resides on the inside of the tailgate’s lower half), motorcycle/bicycle tire grooves, an available 110-volt outlet, and a tailgate that stops midway down to aid in transporting longer items. While choice is limited to one body style – crew cab with a short bed – there will be three levels of tune available for the new turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder.


2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Packs 310 HP, A 3-Inch Lift And 33-Inch Tires

Unsurprisingly, the new Colorado comes in a range of off-road-focused variants. Included in that is a new Trail Boss trim, but the pinnacle remains the ZR2, and the new racing-inspired ZR2 Desert Boss. The ZR2 comes with 17-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch mud terrain tires, a roughly 3-inch (76 mm) wider track, and high-clearance bumpers. That’s not all, with electronic locking diffs, a 3-inch (76 mm) lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, special cast-iron control arms, and exclusive outboard mounted shocks.


Lexus LFA Successor Could Use Twin-Turbo V8 From LC500 Endurance Racer

The Lexus Electrified Sport Concept was initially thought to be an all-electric successor to the LFA, but according to a new report, there could be an ICE offered alongside an EV version. To make matters more interesting, the proposed ICE hypercar could borrow the twin-turbo V8 used in the Lexus endurance racer. Either way, it’s a bit of a stretch given the push towards electrification, but if it were true, it could be the crown jewel of Lexus’ performance-car renaissance.


2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV Is An 580HP Electric Truck For The Police

Ford has launched its latest police vehicle, taking the form of the F-150 Lightning EV. The Special Service Vehicle (SSV) has received a number of modifications to support its new role as a police car, including a bull bar, roof-mounted warning beacons, heavy-duty seat upholstering, and a reinforced instrument panel top tray that is designed for mounting additional police equipment. The SSV pickup will be offered in standard or extended battery flavors.


Sebastian Vettel Announces Retirement From F1 After 2022 Season

 

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Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastien Vettel has announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 season. The 35-year-old had initially caused a flurry of excitement by joining social media for the first time in his career, creating a new Instagram account. However, the Aston Martin driver used the platform to make an official announcement to his followers, giving a personal and emotionally-charged explanation. In it, Vettel cites his desire to spend time with his family and that his goals have changed “away from winning races and fighting for championships.”


What Else Is Making The News


Instagram Makes U-Turn, Walks Back Changes 

Instagram is pressing pause on a wave of additions as the app seeks to emulate the success of TikTok. The changes, which included an increase in recommended video content, were heavily criticized, with photos getting less priority. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri told The Verge that the test version of the revamped app would be phased out within weeks.


Meta Has Lost $2.8 Billion On Metaverse, With No End In Sight

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has told investors that the company’s losses would continue for a number of years. Meta has reported a $2.8 billion loss for the second quarter of 2022, according to Business Today. “The Metaverse is a massive opportunity for a number of reasons. I feel even more strongly now that developing these platforms will unlock hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions over time,” said Zuckerberg.