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

Californian Politicians And Valero Trade Barbs Over Staggering Gas Prices

Californians are paying through their nose at the pump, despite gas prices falling elsewhere. At the time of writing, the average petrol price in California is $6.28 per gallon. The state blames oil companies for the discrepancies, while gas refiner and marketer Valero Energy Corp has accused government-imposed costs and specifications, as well as Californian policies that make it difficult to increase refining capacity and lower costs.

2024 Chevrolet Trax Debuts With Better Looks, More Room And A Lower Price

Chevrolet’s Trax has always been an affordable crossover SUV to tempt first-time buyers to take the plunge, but aside from its low pricing, it failed to impress. The 2024 Chevrolet Trax may go some way to rectify that, with a new design that draws from the Blazer, and an interior that doesn’t scream cheap. Plus, with the death of other models, the new Trax becomes the brand’s entry-level offering, with a starting price of $21,495 — $205 less than the outgoing model.

2024 Polestar 3 Is An Electric Luxury SUV Priced From $84k With Up To 510 HP And A 379-Mile Range

This is our first look at the all-new 2024 Polestar 3 — an electric SUV set to offer a Swedish alternative to the Porsche Cayenne. It’s the brand’s largest offering and also its most expensive, starting at $83,900 in the US market. It features a dual-motor set-up offering 483 hp (489 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) in the standard guise or 510 hp (517 PS) and 671 lb-ft (910 Nm) in Power Pack form.

2023 Lexus UX 300e Gains New Battery For 280-Mile Range Alongside Interior And Tech Upgrades

The Lexus UX 300e has been updated for the 2023MY, with a new battery extending the range by a whopping 40 percent. The outgoing model’s range of 196 miles (315 km) has been increased to a WLTP combined range figure of 280 miles (450 km) with 17-inch wheels or 273 miles (440 km) when fitted with the larger 18-inch wheels. The updates don’t stop there, with chassis improvements, a new infotainment, and an expanded safety kit that was introduced to the hybrid UX range.

Mopar Teases New Jeep And RAM Concepts For The 2022 SEMA Show

The 2022 edition of the Special Equipment Manufacturer Association (SEMA) show is around the corner, and Mopar has offered a brief glimpse at some of the models it’s bringing upgrades to. One shows us a Jeep product, which appears to be an EV, while the others images depict trucks from Ram.

2023 BMW M2 Performance Parts Will Give Civic Type R Owners Goosebumps

 

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A post shared by ᴡɪʟᴄᴏ ʙʟᴏᴋ (@wilcoblok)

Instagram’s Wilcoblok has posted a set of official-looking photos of the new M2 said to be sourced from BMW M with a range of performance parts on. They look to pick up from where the last generation Civic Type R left off, with a large wing, black strakes pointing rearward from the back of all four wheel arches, and stacked exhausts like the M4.

What Else Is Making The News

TikTok Could Venture Into E-Commerce 

TikTok could take “I bought it because of TikTok” to a whole new level as signs suggest that the social media platform may look to compete with Amazon and Walmart. The company advertised for several positions on Linkedin to grow its “Fulfillment by TikTok Shop,” with jobs surrounding warehousing, delivery, and item return options.

Woman Scammed Out Of Money By Fake Astronaut 

A Japanese woman has been scammed out of 4.4 million yen (approx $30,000) when a con artist claiming to be a Russian astronaut asked for her help to return to earth. As reported by Vice, the man told the woman he loved her and wanted to start his life in Japan but needed landing fees for his rocket.