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

Ford Offering $2,000 Discounts To Customers Who Buy In-Stock Vehicles

Ford is offering hefty discounts to customers who have an MY2021 custom order on hold but are instead willing to pick up an in-stock vehicle. Models not eligible are the Bronco, Maverick, F-150 Tremor, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit. It follows on from the news that Ford will punish dealerships who sell Broncos to those who haven’t placed a reservation.

2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia And Stelvio Get New Veloce Trim And More Standard Features

Alfa Romeo has announced updates for the 2022 model year Giulia sedan and Stelvio, including the addition of the “Veloce” trim level, which replaces the Ti Sport trim, for both the Giulia and the Stelvio. There are also improvements to the standard driver-aid technologies offered, more convenience features, and a new Dark appearance package for a more menacing look. No changes to the performance or output have been made.

Nissan Enters Rebelle Rally With 2022 Frontier Inspired By 1980s Nissan Hardbody Off-Roading Champ

Team Wild Grace is entering the 2021 Rebelle Rally with a retro-inspired 2022 Nissan Frontier. The livery of the truck is inspired by the champion off-road racing Nissan Hardbody of the 1980s. The rally will take place over eight days and cover more than 1,500 miles (2,414 km) of California, Nevada, And Arizona.

Elon Musk Says Tesla’s Beta Testers Are Ignoring Their NDAs

In light of some rather interestingly worded NDAs that had to be signed by Tesla’s FSD Beta testers, Elon Musk has claimed that he doesn’t know why there’s an NDA. He went on to say, “We probably don’t need it. People don’t seem to listen to me [and] just ignore it anyway.”

Ford Mustang Mach-E Getting A Slight Boost In Range For 2022MY

An order guide for the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E confirmed that the usable capacity of standard range models now sits at 70 kWh, as opposed to 68 kWh of the 2021 model. The extended range models see a similar jump for the 2022MY, from 88 kWh to 91 kWh. This should mean slightly better range figures for the latest Mach-E.

F1 To Race In Qatar In November, Filling Previously Unconfirmed Calendar Spot

Formula 1 will race at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit for the first time, later this year. The 57-lap race will start a Middle Eastern triple-header, with Saudi Arabia joining the F1 calendar, and the season closer taking place in Abu Dhabi. Qatar will become a permanent fixture on the calendar from 2023, with a 10-year deal signed with F1.

Tesla Model S P100D Destroyed By Fire At Georgia Service Center

A Tesla Model S P100D was destroyed after catching fire at a service center in Marietta, Georgia, earlier in the week. Details are sketchy, but it appears to have been battery-related, with Fire crews lifting the EV onto wooden blocks so they could get better access to the battery and direct a strong stream of water into it to stop the flames and cool the battery.

What Else Is Making The News

Jeremy Clarkson Refutes Newspaper Headlines 

Several news outlets had reported that Clarkson had been on the receiving end of some angry protesters who had dumped a mountain of earth over his Range Rover. Clarkson took to Twitter to dispel these theories and instead claimed it was part of an elaborate prank for a show hosted by British TV stars Ant & Dec.

Australia Opens Its Borders

Australia is set to open its borders after 18 months. It comes as the nation has seen its vaccination drive ramp up. The changes will allow Australian citizens and permanent residents to travel abroad once 80 percent of the local adult population is vaccinated. meaning the country’s eight states and territories may reopen on different schedules. In automotive news, it was reported that Australia’s strict closed border policy was one driving reason behind VinFast selling their recently purchased Australian test track.