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

Lexus May Not Top The Sales Charts, But It Does Top Dealers’ Brand Preferences

Lexus may not have stood a chance against the big boys like Honda and Ford when it comes to sales, but that doesn’t matter, because a luxury brand is supposed to be admired, and after Lexus was rated number one in the summer 2021 National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) Dealer Attitude Survey, followed by its parent brand Toyota, it’s clear that the automaker has created some dependable vehicles.

Porsche Vision GT Digital Concept Car Paves The Way For Future Electric Sportscars

Porsche just unraveled the electric Vision GT, and before you get too excited, it might be worth noting that it is “just” a virtual racing car that will run its course on the upcoming Gran Turismo 7, set to debut on PS4 and PS5 on the 4th of March next year. While Porsche enthusiasts will only ever be able to get behind the wheel of the Vision GT on the simulator, Porsche claims that the vehicle isn’t just a radical design to wow critics, but more of a “realistic look into the future”, which could mean that the Vision GT might just be a glimpse of what is expected by Porsche ahead.

2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Is Australia’s Ultimate Version Of The Elantra

Shortly after its debut in the U.S as the Elentra, Hyndais sporty new sedan made its way to the roads down under titled the i30 Sedan N. Aussie buyers shall expect prices to start at AU$49,000 minus the on-road costs. The i30 Sedan N will be offered in 7 different colors and will inherit the same 2.0L turbocharged engine as the U.S model, with the only difference coming to the suspension to better suit local road conditions.

Why Is Almost Every Motor On Sale Basically A 2.0-Liter Inline-Four?

Lately, The 2.0L inline-four cylinder engine seems to be quite the trend amongst car manufacturers, as many of the reasonably priced models we often see on the road seem to have inherited one. According to DriveTribe, this equation isn’t a coincidence. In fact, it’s claimed that the 500cc per cylinder is a Goldilocks figure, allowing engines to work at their optimal level when in that range.

A Road-Legal 45 MPH Ferrari EV for $110k? It Nearly Happened, Until It Didn’t

With a lot of hype still revolving around the upcoming $2 million SP3 Daytona that was created in honor of the 330 P4, It looked like the Italian auto craftsman was also planning to drop their first-ever road-legal EV in retro form for a fraction of the price. The idea was brought to life whilst building the Testa Rossa J, a 70 percent scale recreation of the 1950s 250 Testa Rossa. The Testa Rossa J is currently being built The Little Car Company on behalf of Ferrari, with their blessings of course. However, if the $100k+ Testa Rossa J were to be adapted as a quadricycle would mean that Ferrari’s first road-legal EV would be a 45mph slug, but sadly, they declined.

QOTD: What’s The Worst Car Name Of All Time?

Naming a vehicle that will be loved or loathed by millions must be a daunting job, and while, for the most part, car companies do their best to make vehicles sound appealing, there have been a couple of odd ones over the years. Perhaps the common belief that cars and sex appeal go hand in hand inspired names like the Dodge Dart Swinger and the Isuzu Bighorn, but what inspired names like the Mitsubishi Lettuce or Vauxhall Adam in the compact car segment is a real head-scratcher. On the topic of head-scratchers, good luck explaining to casuals that you drive the BMW X5 XDrive350.

What Else Is Making the News

F1 Championship Rivals Level on Points, One Round To Go 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXHQlbGIHca/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

F1 championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are equal on points going into the last race of the year. The inaugural race at the Saudi Arabia circuit proved to be one of the most controversial on record, with the two challengers once again colliding, with Hamilton accusing Verstappen of brake-checking him.

Uber Will Pay $9 Million In Assualt Case

Uber will pay $9m to settle a complaint about its sexual assault and harassment reporting in California, reports the BBC. The settlement is a reduction from a potential 59m fine, but the money will help fund passenger safety promotion.