Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Average Daily Rental Car Costs Have Shot Up $35 To $81 Only In The Past Two Years
Rental prices continue to rise as the semiconductor crisis throttles the supply of new cars. Now, travel company Kayak has revealed that rental car prices have risen 31 percent since last year, and in the previous two years, have soared from $35 to $81. The trend doesn’t look set to let up, with prices expected to rise throughout 2022.
Ford Document Confirms What We Already Knew: The 2022 F-150 Raptor R Will Have A V8
Ford has indirectly confirmed that their upcoming F-150 Raptor R will feature a V8 engine. The news was revealed with the release of their 2022 product update guide, which simply said that the “Raptor R would feature a V8 engine. We look forward to sharing more information about Raptor R soon.” That also means that being a 2022 model year truck, we can expect to see it soon!
BMW’s New Hardcore M4 Spied Again, Look Inside Proves It’ll Indeed Be Named The CSL
BMW‘s high-performance version of their M4 is virtually confirmed as being named the CSL. The revelation came about thanks to our spy photographers, who sneakily snapped a plate where the now-deleted rear seats would have been. The plaque appears to say “CSL,” which was last used on the much revered E46 M3.
Is Too Much Onboard Car Tech Making Cars Unsafe? Safety Experts Think So
While many laws exist surrounding the use of mobile phones and other devices behind the wheel, it doesn’t help that manufacturers continue to plow our new cars with so much tech — many with screens much larger than you’d ever have on a tab! The Canadian Automobile Association thinks this is an issue, as they’re planning to launch a campaign warning people about distracted driving.
The Klein Vision AirCar could be the first major step towards making flying cars a viable prospect. The company has secured a Certificate of Airworthiness from the Slovak Transport Authority, which took 70 hours of flying to achieve. It’s all powered by a 1.6-liter BMW engine, while the production version will aim to achieve 1,000 km or 621 miles of range.
What’ll Happen To Crusty Classics Now We’re All In Love With ’80s, ’90s And ’00s Stuff?
If you want proof that the 80s, 90s, and 00s are hot property, just take a look at the major auction houses. It’s not a surprising phenomenon, with those who have the money wanting to connect with cars they lusted after in their youth. But what will this mean for the older generation of classic cars? We spoke to two authorities on the market to find out.
QOTD: What’s The Worst Engine / Car Combination Ever?
Sometimes engine and car combinations just don’t make sense. Take the DeLorean DMC-12. With all that space-age styling, gullwing doors, and media hullabaloo, you’d expect it to be sporting some bespoke motor — something powerful at the very least. But no, they decided to settle on the universally unloved PRV V6, an engine with just 130 hp. What other examples can you think of?
What Else Is Making The News
Elon Musk Seemingly Offers To Help Tonga, Before Tempering Expectations
Could people from Tonga let us know if it is important for SpaceX to send over Starlink terminals?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2022
This is a hard thing for us to do right now, as we don’t have enough satellites with laser links and there are already geo sats that serve the Tonga region. That is why I’m asking for clear confirmation.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2022
The island nation of Tonga may be without internet for a month after a volcanic eruption and tsunami wrecked an undersea cable. Musk replied to a Reuters tweet, asking the people from Tonga to “let us know if it is important for SpaceX to send over Stalink terminals.” A New Zealand MP quickly replied, urging him to contribute. To that, Musk replied that it was a “hard thing for us to do right now.”
M&Ms Characters Swap High Heels For Sneakers
Finally, the change we’ve all been waiting for: M&Ms with more nuanced personalities. pic.twitter.com/CiKk4OjvRo
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) January 21, 2022
The M&Ms chocolate characters have had a few subtle changes, but the difference that has been noticed the most is in the footwear of the female characters. In it, the high heels of one of its female characters have been replaced for sneakers, while another got lower heels. In a statement to CNN, Anton Vincent, president of Mars Wrigley North America, said its new look is designed to make the female characters more “representative of the consumer.”