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

Tesla Is Now Dominating Luxury Car Sales In The U.S.

Tesla’s dominance of the U.S. luxury vehicle space continues, with their new car registrations beating out the likes of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi during the first six months of 2022. The American EV maker registered 228,989 new cars during that period, whereas its closest competitor in the space, BMW, sold only 157,838 cars for H1 2022.

2023 Dodge Hornet Lands With Italian Looks, 285HP Electrified R/T And $29,995 Starting Price

Dodge will do battle in the crowded compact segment with this, the new 2023 Hornet. Based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet, in its top-end R/T guise, will be the brand’s first-ever electrified model, too, with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine working alongside an electric motor at the back. The plug-in hybrid will include a 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, enabling up to 30 miles (48 km) of electric-only range. The pure-ICE Hornet GT will start at $29,995 before destination charges, while the PHEV R/T will be available from $39,995 before destination.

Dodge Will Sell You A Full Carbon 1970 Charger Shell; Plymouth Barracuda And Road Runner Coming Next

If the Alfa-based Hornet hurts you as a fan of Dodge, then maybe this will make up for it: Dodge will now sell you a full carbon fiber shell for the 1970 Charger, engineered to OEM body specifications, available through Dodge’s newly expanded Direct Connection performance parts program. That’s not all, because the Plymouth Barracuda and Road Runner are also next in line for the carbon body treatment. In addition to that, a slew of carbon accessories was announced for the current-gen Challenger. You’ll even be able to buy an entire body-in-white Challenger shell for just $7,995.

Polestar Confirms O2 Roadster For Production

Polestar has confirmed that the 02 Roadster concept will be making the jump into production. The roadster will be called the Polestar 6 and is expected to arrive in 2026. A limited number of the Polestar 6 first edition models will be created to mimic the original design study. Dubbed “LA Concept”, these models will feature the same Sky Blue exterior color, 21-inch wheels, and light-colored interior of the concept.

The New Porsche 911 GT3 RS Has Leaked And It’s Full Of Extreme Aero Bits

The 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS has been leaked ahead of its unveiling at the Monterey Car Week later today. What we can see are the same extreme L-shaped hood vents that were spied on the development car, a substantial adjustable rear wing, and blade-like winglets on the wheel arches. There are lots more fine details, including some interior snaps too!

2023 Mazda3 Debuts With More Power, Improved Fuel Efficiency

The Mazda 3 has received some small but important updates for the 2023 model year. The 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine now outputs 191 hp (142 kW / 194 PS) and 186 lb-ft (252 Nm) of torque, which represents an increase of 5 hp (4 kW / 5 PS). There’s also new cylinder deactivation tech that has improved economy, while the entry-level Mazda3 2.0 sedan appears to have been dropped.

Smart #1 Brabus Shows Its Sporty Side Ahead Of August 26 Debut

Smart has released photos of its new performance EV ahead of the full reveal in China next week. We see subtle revisions to the bumper intakes and some added intakes under the bonnet. Meanwhile, there are lashings of red on the exterior, as well as duo-tone 19-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows, a large rear spoiler, and the diffuser.

What Else Is Making The News

Elon Musk Tweets He’s Buying Manchester United, Clarifies He Was Joking

Elon Musk may have fallen foul of the SEC, having tweeted that he was buying the English football club Manchester United. He later clarified that the tweet was in jest. The club, which is listed, saw shares rise 4.9 percent reports Bloomberg.

Nasa Preparing Moon Rocket For Maiden Flight 

Nasa is preparing its new rocket, Artemis, for its maiden flight on August 29. The flight will be without a crew, but the plan will be for the rocket to send astronauts back to the moon, sometime in the 2030s.