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

Chevy Dealer Quoted Volt Hybrid Owner Nearly $30,000 To Replace Battery

We all know that EV batteries can be pretty pricey, but an estimate of over $30,000 for the replacement on a nine-year-old Chevrolet Volt means that a repair could be three times the car’s used value. While Snopes and the Back the Truck Up blog confirmed the figure was accurate, we reached out to GM on the matter. While they refused to comment on the estimate, they pointed out that cheaper options are available for customers with electric vehicles, such as replacements of battery modules and sections as well as refurbished battery systems.

Ariel Hipercar Is An 1,180-HP EV With A Gas Turbine Range Extender

This is the new Ariel Hipercar, and as the name suggests, it’s serious about performance. The first coupe from Ariel features 1,200 hp (1,217 PS) and 1,327 lb-ft (1,800 Nm) of torque from four electric motors (one for each wheel) in its most mental form. There’s even an optional Cosworth micro-turbine range extender that will eventually be able to run on hydrogen for true zero-emission motoring. Beside the range extender, the Hipercar features a battery range of 150 miles (241 km).

We’re Out Driving The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla And This Is What It Sounds Like

We were invited to sample the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla — the limited to 6,600 units (for the U.S.) 300-hp hot hatch that’s available in three different trims. While we can’t yet reveal our impressions behind the wheel, we can let you hear what each trim sounds like. Plus, we’ve uploaded footage from our time taking the top-spec, ultra-low-production Morizo Edition around the test track.

2023 Honda Civic Type R Makes 315 HP, Goes On Sale This Fall In The U.S.

Honda may have revealed most of the 2023 Civic Type R’s details earlier, but it kept the car’s output figures a closely-guarded secret until now. The Type R’s turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine will deliver 315 hp (235 kW/319 PS) at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque between 2,600 and 4,000 rpm, which makes it the most powerful factory-spec Honda to be offered in the U.S. Pricing will be announced later in the year, with the first cars hitting U.S. showrooms in the fall.

Cars We Scooped This Week

2024 BMW 5-Series Continues Its Striptease And Gives Us A Better Look At The Front End

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Shows More Of Its Face During Nurburgring Tests

Facelifted Porsche Cayenne Ditches Nearly All Disguise As A Debut Seems Imminent

2024 Cadillac CT6 Spied With Production Lighting Units

Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 Facelift Spied With Smaller-Than-Usual Wheels

The 2024 Mitsubishi L200 / Triton Is Shaping Up To Be A More Mature And Capable Pickup

 

2023 BMW X6 M Snapped On The Nurburgring With Updated Front Fascia

Production 2023 BMW XM Revealed In New Patent Photos With Subtle Design Changes

The BMW XM is rapidly approaching production, and thanks to new patent images, we have an even clearer look at how the new super-SUV will be styled. The overall design shares many similarities with the XM concept, although some elements, such as the grille and quad lights, have been toned down just a bit. Meanwhile, the doors feature traditional handles, and the fender flares are softer. Production of the XM will commence later this year.

Production-Spec 2023 Toyota bZ3 Electric Sedan Surfaces Early In China

Images of the production-ready 2023 Toyota bZ3 have been revealed by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The electric sedan looks similar to the concept and continues the design language that was started by the bZ4X SUV. It is understood that the bZ3 will be offered exclusively in a rear-wheel drive configuration, available with either a 135 kW (181 hp) or a 179 kW (240 hp) electric motor, with a reveal expected in November.

Driven: 2023 Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Is Worthy Of The Hype

The Polestar 2 could just be the finest electric vehicle on sale today — that’s how impressed we were left after spending a week behind the wheel of one. Despite coming from a brand that is likely to be obscure to most buyers, the Polestar scores well in all metrics, feeling like a better overall package than a Tesla Model 3, sportier than a Kia EV6, and as well-engineered as a BMW i4.

What Else Is Making The News

Max Verstappen Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau

2021 Formula One Driver’s Champion Max Verstappen has been appointed Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, a civil and military Dutch order. The appointment was made in recognition of Verstappen becoming the first-ever Dutchman to win a Formula 1 world title.

Microsoft’s Plans To Buy Activision Face Regulatory Scrutiny 

Microsoft’s plans to buy video game developer Activision Blizzard are being questioned by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. This is over concern that such a move will reduce competition in the console, subscription service, and game streaming market.