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

Whistleblower Awarded $24 Million By NHTSA For Exposing Hyundai And Kia Engine Flaw

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced their first-ever payout to a whistleblower after receiving information about a safety defect on Hyundai and Kia’s Theta II engines. According to the whistleblower and ex-Hyundai engineer Kim Gwong-ho, the company refused to accept a design flaw that put these engines at the risk of seizing and catching fire. The NHTSA slapped a combined fine of $210 million on Hyundai and Kia, of which $81 million was paid by cash. In return, the safety regulator paid 30% of this collection to whistleblower Kim Gwong-ho, who walked away with a sum of $24 million.

2023 Ford Mondeo Leaked In China Revealing Production Model’s Styling

While our spy photographers managed to get a glimpse of a camouflaged Mondeo in testing, a recent set of leaked images courtesy of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information revealed the 2023 Ford Mondeo in all its glory. With a very close resemblance to the Ford Evos crossover, the Mondeo is a mid-sized sedan with a slightly longer wheelbase than the Evos and is expected to be sold only within China. Final engine specs are unconfirmed, but the Ecoboost 245 badge in the rear suggests a 2.0L 4-cylinder similar to that in the Evos.

Lincoln’s New 2023 Zephyr Sedan Breaks Cover In China, But It Ain’t For U.S.

On the topic of China, sedans, and leaks, Lincoln joins the party after photos of their production 2023 Lincoln Zephyr were released prior to its originally scheduled debut at the Guangzhou Motor Show. What’s even more exciting is that the production Zephyr seems to have inherited most of the traits seen on the concept Zephyr reflection, with just a few things mellowed down in the name of practicality. The Zephyr is expected to be powered via a 2.0L turbocharged engine producing nearly 240HP, and if all of this seems a little too familiar, it’s because these specs (and design) are pretty much the same as that on the 2023 Ford Mondeo, above.

Over 165 Customers Sue Hertz For Allegedly Being Falsely Accused Of Driving Stolen Rentals, Landing Some In Jail

American car rental Hertz is being sued by over 165 of their customers who allege that the company had falsely reported the vehicles as stolen, leading to a series of arrests and even resulting in jail time for some. Hertz deemed the claims as “meritless” as a bankruptcy court is set to hear the arguments regarding the claims, and said that most of the cases were a result of customers failing to communicate with the company, but multiple reports show how these arrests have been potentially life-threatening for seemingly innocent individuals.

2023 Subaru Solterra EV Debuts November 17th In Los Angeles

Subaru has confirmed that the Solterra, their new electric crossover, will make its official debut at the L.A. Auto Show on the 17th of November. Subaru described the Solterra as “quiet, spacious and comfortably equipped,” but those who expect the Solterra to be a regular road-going vehicle will do well to remember that Subaru comes with a rich history of off-roading, and was quick to comment that the Solterra is “off-road and all-weather capable.” Subaru has been hush about the specifications of the Solterra, but its design looks identical to that of the Toyota BZ4X as they were both developed as a joint project.

2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Looks Just As Mean As We’d Hoped

After a successful comeback since its retirement in 1996, the Bronco nameplate has been the highlight of many automotive stories. And with the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor on the horizon, we expect similar fanfare. Until then, The Bronco Nation has released pictures of a prototype Raptor with just a light camouflage. Noticeable differences show the Bronco Raptor with wide wheel arches to house its larger 37-inch off-road tires, as well as a much higher ride height for improved ground clearance. The Bronco Nation suggests the Raptor will not inherit the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 on the current range-topping models but will be equipped with the more powerful 3.5L twin-turbo Ecoboost from the F-150 Raptor.

What Else Is Making The News?

Millions Hit By Robinhood Data Breach

Over seven million users of the US share-trading app, Robinhood, have been subjected to a security breach, as the company has rejected a ransom demand. The company does not believe that the most sensitive data it gathers, such as US social security numbers and financial information, was revealed, reports the BBC.

Japanese Train Driver Sues Over 49 Cents

A Japanese train driver is suing over being docked 56 yen ($0.49). The train operator fined the driver for a work mix-up that caused a one-minute delay. The driver, who was on the wrong platform to take over from another operator, argues that he was piloting an empty train; therefore, the delay caused no disruption. He’s suing for 2.2 million yen ($19,407), reports Soranews24.