Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
NHTSA Launches Probe Into 30 Million Vehicles Over Takata Airbag Inflators
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe that will cover a possible 30 million vehicles said to have been fitted with defective airbag inflators. NHTSA says the investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field.
2022 Honda Passport Looks Meaner And More Capable, Gains New TrailSport Edition
Honda’s 2022 Passport facelift has been revealed, and it embraces an aggressive take on the SUV with a more rugged outward appearance. There’s also a new TrailSport edition, a trim that will appear on other Hondas in the future as well. The TrailSport features wider front and rear tracks by 10mm, 18-inch wheels, a unique grille, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, and a rear skid garnish finished in silver.
2022 Mazda2 Gets A Handful Of Updates Down Under, Including New SP Variant
The Mazda 2 has been refreshed for the Australian market and features a new G15 Pure SP variant. Enhancements for the SP include a blacked-out grille, black mirrors, and black 16-inch wheels. The range of colors for the 2022 model year across the board has also been added to, including Platinum Quartz Metallic and Polymetal Grey.
BMW Doesn’t Think Its EVs Need More Than 373 Miles (600 Km) Of Range
While electric vehicles continue to win over consumers slowly, the question of range is one that continually pops up. But BMW thinks that thanks to advancing charging infrastructure, the pursuit of extraordinarily long-range options isn’t a priority; in fact, they’ve capped the development of EVs with a range no greater than 393 miles (600 km).
2022 BMW X7 Nishijin Edition Is Limited To Just Three Units In Japan
The X7 Nishijin Edition is a rather exclusive version of BMW’s flagship SUV that will be limited to just three units. Each car is finished in a color dubbed Ametrine, which combines the existing BMW shades of Amethyst and Citrine. However, the party piece is the Nishijin’s interior, which is trimmed in Nishijin-ori. This traditional hand-crafted textile is produced in the Nishijin district of Kamigyō-ku in Kyoto. Each car comes with a starting price of 16.8 million yen ($153,000).
Evergrande’s Hengchi 7 Looks Impressive Out Testing, But Will It Be Built?
As not every EV concept gets to make it to production, the question of a viable future surrounds the Evergrande Henghci 7. A prototype of the Hengchi 7 was spotted on local streets. But with the parent company on the brink of collapse, it looks unlikely that the car will ever make production.
What Else Is Making The News
Daniel Craig Says Bond Shouldn’t Be Played By A Woman
Daniel Craig thinks that better parts should be offered to women and actors of color, instead of simply recasting the fictional British agent as a woman. Speaking to Radio Times, he questioned: “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”
LG to Aquire Automotive Cybersecurity Startup Cybellum In A $240M Deal
According to TechCrunch, LG electronics is acquiring an Israeli automotive cybersecurity specialist who detects and assesses connected vehicle services vulnerabilities. Cybellum’s partners include Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan and will be an essential addition to the Korean electronics manufacturer already involved in automotive manufacturing.
The EU Proposes All Phones Get USB-C Charging — That Means You iPhone.
The European Commission is planning on forcing all electronics manufacturers into using USB-C charge ports for phones. While most Android phones are now using USB-C, Apple has held out against the switch, using their propriety Lightning connector. The Verge reports that the rules will apply to other devices like tablets, headphones, portable speakers, videogame consoles, and cameras, in addition to phones.