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

The EV Transition Is Slower Than It Seems, And Only A Few States Are Doing The Heavy Lifting In The USA

Despite carmakers seemingly embracing the transition to EVs at a rapid rate, it would appear that in the US at least, uptake of the new tech continues to lag. A study conducted by Axios shows that EVs make up less than one percent of registered vehicles in the USA and that only a very few states seem to be contributing to EV adoption.

Meyers Manx Buggy From The ’60s Returns In EV Form With A 300-Mile Range

If your idea of fun is careering through sand dunes with minimal local environmental impact, then we have good news for you: the Meyers Manx buggy is making a comeback and is ditching petrol power for an electric drivetrain. The buggy may look like the ’60s original, but the new creation has been completely reengineered and is no longer mechanically related to the VW Beetle. It features a set of rear-mounted electric motors that can send up to 202 hp (151 kW / 205 PS) of power and 240 lb-ft (325 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels, while the largest battery pack of 40 kWh gives it a 300-mile (483 km) range.

New Toyota Yaris Ativ / Vios Small Sedan Debuts In Thailand Looking Like A Baby Corolla

The fourth-generation Toyota Yaris Ativ (aka Vios) has been unveiled in Thailand. It’s larger than its predecessor and features styling that makes it look like a direct descendent of the current Corolla. Unlike the EU Yaris, this small sedan is based on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA). Under the hood is a 1.2-liter Dual VVT-iE four-cylinder engine producing 93 hp (69 kW / 94 PS) and 110 Nm (81 lb-ft) mated to a CVT gearbox. Prices range between 539,000 baht ($15,232) and 689,000 baht ($19,472).

2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport Teased As The Company’s Most Capable SUV Ever

Described as “the most rugged and capable Honda SUV ever,” the Japanese carmaker has teased the upcoming 2023 Pilot, still with a whole load of camouflage. What we can make out, though, is a more squared-off and upright design, likely borrowing cues from the updated Ridgeline. There will also be a TrailSport version designed to appeal to those who like to do some casual off-roading.

Avatr 11 Launches In China With 578 HP And Up To 422 Miles Of Range

The result of a joint venture between Changan Automobile, lithium-ion battery provider CATL, and Huawei, the Avatr 11 EV has just been launched in China. The motors have been developed by Huawei, with two driving each axel for a combined output of 578 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque, affording a 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) time of 3.98 seconds and a top speed limited to 124 mph (200 km/h). Power comes from a 90.38 kWh battery pack in the standard guise or a 116.79 kWh pack in the flagship model. The long-range version is able to achieve a range of 555 km (345 miles).

Bentley Mulliner Batur Teased As The Company’s New Coachbuilt Grand Tourer

 

Bentley Mulliner will be creating a new bespoke model, dubbed the Batur. All will be revealed at the Monterey Car Week on August 21, but in the meantime, we’ve been treated to a teaser video showing the new grille with some unique V-shaped patterns and orange accents. Further details are scant but expect it to be uber-limited and with a price tag to match.

Florida Woman Arrested For Driving Golf Cart On Interstate While Under The Influence

Golf carts are undoubtedly fun in their own right, but they’re really not meant to ply the public road. However, one Florida woman didn’t seem to let that minor detail get in the way. When arrested, 58-year-old Diane Hawk was found to be under the influence of alcohol while driving the cart on Interstate 95. Officers also noticed Hawk was slurring her speech and that she had an open bottle of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire Whiskey in her bag.

What Else Is Making The News

Tom Cruise And Christopher McQuarrie To Develop Three New Projects Together 

Tom Cruise and producer Christopher McQuarrie are said to be working on three new projects together while the filming of Mission Impossible 8 continues. One movie will be an original action flick with franchise potential, and one will be an original song and dance musical, reports Deadline Hollywood. It’s also said that they’re hoping to bring back Les Grossman, the studio exec that Crusie played in Tropic Thunder.

99 Percent Of Netflix Users Haven’t Played The Service’s Games 

CNBC reports that, based on figures by Apptopia, Netflix’s mobile games venture looks to be a failure. On average, there are 1.7 million daily users, which represents fewer than 1 percent of the platform’s user base. It comes as the platform struggles with shrinking subscriber numbers.