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

2023 Toyota Prius Debuts In America With Slick Styling, 57 MPG, And Up To 220 HP

Following the reveal of the fifth-gen Prius in Japan and Europe, Toyota announced the North American model prior to its public debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The US-spec Toyota Prius comes in both self-charging hybrid (FWD / AWD) and plug-in hybrid flavors. The most stylish, efficient, and powerful Prius to date offers up to 220 hp (164 kW / 223 PS) in PHEV guise, with double the zero-emission range of its predecessor and significantly improved performance across the range.

2023 Porsche Dakar Is The Slowest 911 Since The ’80s, But We Want One So Badly

Fancy a 911 with jacked-up suspension, grippy tires, all-wheel-drive, and a roof rack? Then the perfect vehicle for you is the 2023 Porsche Dakar, or the most off-road-focused 992. At a price of $223,450 plus an extra $26k for the retro Rally Design Package, you get a modern all-terrain sportscar inspired by the rally-prepped 911s that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six with 473 hp (480 PS) allows a 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) acceleration in 3.2 seconds, although top speed is limited to 240 km/h (150 mph) due to the Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain rubber.

The Acura NSX Is Dead As The Last Type S Has Been Built

Say goodbye to the second-generation Acura NSX as the last example rolled off the production line at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio, marking the end of an era. The final model was an NSX Type S painted in Gotham Gray, with an upgraded V6 hybrid powertrain producing a combined 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS). Fingers crossed for the next chapter in the NSX bloodline that has already been confirmed, most likely in EV form.

15 Cars Including The Hyundai Ioniq 6 And Tesla Model S Get A Perfect Score In Euro NCAP Crash Tests

Euro NCAP officials must be satisfied with the automakers’ response to their stricter protocols, as all but one of the vehicles tested in the latest bunch got five-star ratings. Among the top-score earners was a large number of EVs including the Tesla Model S, the NIO ET7, the Hyundai Ioniq 6, the Nissan Ariya, the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra twins, as well as the Chinese-built smart #1 EVs. The only model that failed to excel was the DS 9 which was limited to four stars.

Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept Is An Attractive Preview Of A Future EV

Besides the all-new Prius, Toyota has another ace up its sleeve for this year’s Los Angeles Motor Show in the form of a fully electric concept. The bZ Compact SUV concept is not just a design study, as it previews a future production model that could sit below the bZ4X as an electric alternative to the similarly-sized C-HR. Indeed, the concept doesn’t look that far away from production status, adopting a silhouette that is very similar to the C-HR with styling cues from the bZ range.

Genesis X Convertible Concept Is So Beautiful You May Need To Do A Double Take

The last chapter in the Genesis X concept trilogy is quite a stunner for those who missed it. The two-door convertible bodystyle suits Genesis’ Athletic Elegance design language, while the EV underpinnings ensure zero-emission performance. Inside the 2+2 cabin, the wraparound instrument panel is combined with a mixture of recyclable wool fabric and leather for the upholstery, and an immersive audio system developed by sound master Guk-il Yu.

What Else Is Making The News

Elon Musk’s ultimatum to remaining Twitter employees

Following the mass layoffs that halved Twitter’s workforce, Elon Musk sent an ultimatum to the remaining staff asking for their commitment to an “extremely hardcore” Twitter and “working long hours at high intensity”. As reported by Engadget, Musk wrote: “If you are sure that you want to be part of the new Twitter, please click yes on the link below”. The link sent them to an online form that had to be signed by 5 PM, otherwise the employees would lose their job receiving three months’ severance pay. Talk about a friendly workplace environment.