Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Toyota Profits Plunge 42% As A Result Of Rising Costs, Supply Chain Problems
Toyota reported a 42% decline in profits for the first three months of the fiscal year, generating only 578.66 billion yen ($4.35 billion USD), compared to the 997.4 billion yen ($7.5 billion USD) it made in the same period last year. The fall is due to the limited availability of semiconductor chips, forcing the Japanese carmaker to reduce production three times in the first three months, resulting in a 10% fall in production. They plan to produce 9.7 million vehicles this year and expect stronger sales due to the high demand for new vehicles
2023 Ford Explorer Revealed In China With Overhauled Exterior And Interior
The revamped 2023 Ford Explorer has been revealed in China as the flagship of its range, with a cabin inspired by “high-tech cockpits of yachts.” A few noticeable improvements to this SUV are the wider grille, new LED headlights, Explorer inscription on the hood, and the chrome strip between the horizontal LED taillights. However, the new enormous 27-inch infotainment touchscreen is the highlight. It retains the 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged engine from the previous model. As yet, there’s no info on whether these changes will make it onto Explorer models outside of China.
Fiat Fastback Breaks Cover As A Coupe-SUV For South America
We now have a better view of the new Fiat Fastback coupe-SUV set to debut in South America, with a set of official photos being released. Based on the Fiat Pulse, the Fastback has new horizontal LED taillights in addition to the sloping roof. The interior details are unknown, but we assume they will be shared with the Plus as well. According to local media, the Fastback will have a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine with 128 horsepower.
Mahindra Scorpio-N Scores 25,000 Orders In Less Than A Minute, Causes Website To Crash
Mahindra is enjoying some remarkable sales figures of their Scorpio-N in India. The first 25,000 units were sold in less than a minute, causing the website to crash. The initial 25,000 units of “the big daddy of SUVs,” (as Mahindra likes to call it) were priced between 11.99 lakh ($15,178) and 19.49 lakh ($24,673), with the price set to rise for subsequent orders. They received over 100,000 order deposits in the first 30 minutes, totaling $22.7 million.
2024 Audi Q6 E-Tron Sportback Aims To Combine Style With An Electric Powertrain
The eagerly anticipated Audi Q6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron Sportback have been spotted testing in swirly camouflage. We can catch glimpses of their fully enclosed grilles surrounded by vertical air curtains, slim lighting units, and three-dimensional taillights. Compared to the Sportback, the base Q6 e-tron has a less dramatic roofline. The electric SUVs are anticipated to be fitted with a battery pack of about 100 kWh and a dual motor powertrain along with high-performance versions.
Opel / Vauxhall Astra Hot Hatch Coming With A Fully Electric Powertrain
After a decade hiatus, Opel and Vauxhall will return to the hot hatch scene with the upcoming fully electric Astra-e. Head of design at Vauxhall Mark Adams told TopGear about their plans to find the “sweet spot” in its styling. We anticipate that the design will borrow elements from the GS-Line trim and include a covered grille and a duo-tone finish. The Astra-e is likely to offer a compromise between performance and comfort to meet modern norms.
This Is Cadillac’s New Compact EV Crossover, Tipped To Launch In 2024
Our spies captured Cadillac’s upcoming compact EV crossover prototype, covered in extensive camouflage. The disguise does a good job, with a third brake light seen on top of the back window; However, it is difficult to make out much more. We suspect that it would have headlights and taillights will be similar to those on the Lyriq. According to GM Authority, it might have a similar performance to the Lyriq with 340 hp.
What Else Is Making The News
Twitter Denies Elon Musk’s Accusation That He Was Misled Into Signing A $44 Billion Deal
Twitter rejected Elon Musk’s claims in a court filing in Delaware that he was hoodwinked into signing the $44 billion agreement to purchase the social media firm, stating that they were “implausible and contrary to fact.” The allegations were made under wraps by Musk in a countersuit that was filed last Friday and was made public on Thursday.
CEO Of Warner Brothers Discovery Reveals Ten-Year “Reset” Plan For DCEU
Following in the footsteps of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, Warner Bros Discovery is considering a “reset” of its DC cinematic universe and assembling a team with a 10-year strategy for the franchise, said CEO David Zaslav. When asked about the decision to cancel “Batgirl” Zaslav responded, “We think that we could build a long-term, much stronger, sustainable growth business out of DC.”