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

VW’s China-Only Lamando Is A Golf-Based Liftback With An Evil Smile

The Lamando, first unveiled in 2014 as a sleeker version of the Jetta (Sagitar) produced by the Volkswagen – SAIC venture, will get an all-new second generation in 2021. A set of photos that surfaced in China reveal that the MQB-based model adopts design cues from the ID. family with a signature evil smile on the front end and a liftback silhouette.


Marc Philipp Gemballa’s Marsien Is An 830 HP, $700k Off-Road Porsche 911

Rich people seem to like limited-edition Porsche 911 conversions more and more, so Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH gave them a new toy to crave for. The Marsien is a high-riding, all-wheel-drive, carbon-bodied take on the 911 Turbo S with design references to the Porsche 959 that took on the Paris-Dakar race. It will be produced in 40 units half of which have already sold.


Modern-Day Alfa Romeo Periscopica Digital Study Remembers One Of The Greats

The Alfa Romeo Periscopica is a digital concept car independently designed digital render by CarScoops reader Aditya Narayan as a nod to Alfa Romeo’s 111th anniversary. While it was made for our screens only, it pays homage to various Alfa Romeo race cars from the 1960s, in particular the 1967 Tipo 33 Periscopica. Its creator, Narayan currently serves as a design manager at Ford and played a role in the design of the 2016 Ford Mustang and the Mustang Mach-E.


2022 Jeep Compass Launched In U.S. Spec At Chicago Auto Show

The 2022 Jeep Compass has just been unveiled in U.S.-spec at the Chicago Auto Show, a few months after it was updated in other markets including Europe and Australia. A handful of changes distinguish the exterior of the 2022 Compass from the 2021 model including the revised front and rear fascias. More significant alterations have been made to the interior which now sports an all-new dashboard.


2022 VW Golf R and 2022 VW Golf GTI Arrive In The U.S From $44,640 And $30,540 Respectively

Full U.S. details for the Golf R and Golf GTI performance variants have been announced at the Chicago Auto Show, including pricing. Unveiled for overseas markets a number of months ago, the U.S.-spec Mk8 Golf R features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder direct-injection engine pumping out 315 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with the DSG transmission or 280 lb-ft with the six-speed manual, while offering 4Motion all-wheel drive with rear-axle torque vectoring. As for the FWD Golf GTI, it gets a 2.0-liter version of VW’s familiar EA888 inline-four cylinder engine that makes 241 hp (244 PS/179 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque, which is identical to the European model.


The 2022 BMW M240i Coupe Costs $48k, Here’s What Else You Can Get For That Money

The new 2022 BMW 2-Series has the making of our favorite current BMW. It has a proper three-box silhouette, a rear-wheel-drive platform, and those who can’t stand BMW’s new grilles will be pleased to see those on the newest BMW are landscape orientation, rather than portrait. Until the new M2 gets here next year, the most performance-focused 2-Series is the M240i xDrive, which gets a 382 hp 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six (369 hp in Europe), at a price of $48,550. By BMW standards that looks pretty decent value for the performance. But what about by everybody else’s standards? Here are five other cars to consider before you write that cheque to your BMW dealer, including two cars that are available with the one thing the M240i isn’t: a manual transmission.


Japanese Report Claims New Subaru WRX Will Have Nearly 300 HP, STI Close To 350 HP

Subaru recently confirmed that the 2022 WRX will debut later this year and while performance specifications about the car have been announced, a report out of Japan has offered us an insight as to what we can expect. This report comes courtesy of Goo-Net and asserts that the new WRX and WRX STI will both come outfitted with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 296 hp in the entry-level WRX and up to 345 hp in the WRX STI.


What Else Is Making The News


Windows Are Now Available In The Cloud

Microsoft will soon launch the Windows 365 platform, which is available in the cloud. Users can load Windows and access personalized apps, settings, and content streaming to any device (laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone) while on the go. We are curious to see if there will be any blue screens this time (no pun intended).


The Brand New LG OLED R 65″ TV Costs An Eye-Watering $100k

We all love large TVs with bright colors and crisp details but if you want the best possible result for your living room you have to reach deep in your pockets (and probably sell your belongings). The reason for that is the new LG OLED R, a rollable 65-inch 4K 120Hz TV that will be available to order in the US from August. At this price point, it comes complete with its own Dolby Atmos sound system so you don’t have to spend more money on speakers.