Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Volkswagen Pays $242m To Settle Dieselgate Case In England And Wales Without Admitting Liability And Stellantis Pleading Guilty In FCA Emissions Case, Coughing Up $300 Million, Report Claims
There’s a double whammy of emissions cases, starting with Volkswagen, which has agreed to pay £193m ($242m) to settle out of court with owners in the UK and Wales affected by the dieselgate scandal. A key headline of this settlement is that it does not constitute an admission of guilt. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Stellantis is pleading guilty to criminal conduct charges and will pay around $300 million in penalties to resolve a historical emissions fraud investigation relating to the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles business.
2023 Maserati MC20 Cielo Spyder Gets Retractable Glass Roof That Changes From Clear To Fully Opaque
The 2023 Maserati MC20 Cielo Spyder is an open-top version of the pretty supercar and features a trick roof mechanism and construction that’s sure to impress onlookers. The Cielo’s roof can be retracted in just 12 seconds, but that’s not all; it can also be turned from clear to opaque with the tap of a button. The addition of the droptop has added 143 lbs (64 kg) to the MC20’s weight (now 3,395 lbs / 1,540 kg), while the performance specs remain the same as the fixed-head version, with 621 hp (630 PS) and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm) from the 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6.
ALPINA Seasons The 2023 BMW 3-Series Facelift With A Lot Of Lust
With a facelifted 3-Series range comes a new lineup of Alpinas, with the once-standalone tuning operation now under the wing of BMW. Available in both sedan and touring body styles are the petrol-powered B3 and the diesel-powered D3 S. The B3 features a revised version of the 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, with upgraded turbos, larger intercooler, and optimized air intake duct and cooling system. Output is an impressive 488 hp (364 kW / 495 PS) with 730 Nm (538 lb-ft) of torque, with a from 0-100 km/h (62mph) in 3.6 seconds for the sedan. The D3 S is slightly slower, taking 4.6 seconds for the sedan to get to 100 km/h (62 mph), with 350 hp (261 kW / 355 PS) and 730 Nm (538 lb-ft) of torque. The exteriors of both cars get the usual Alpina upgrades, including the classic multispoke rim design, and aerodynamic extensions, in addition to chassis and brake upgrades.
VW Amarok’s Latest Teaser Focuses On Its Clever Headlight Tech
The latest teaser of the 2023 VW Amarok features a video focusing on its new (but optional) matrix LED headlights. The lights benefit from the company’s IQ.Light technology with auto-dimming for oncoming traffic and street lights, as well as highlighting the covering lights, and the DRLs.
Pagani’s New Huayra NC Is Its Latest One-Off Complete With 819 HP
While there’s a new Pagani hypercar just around the corner, in typical Pagani fashion, the outgoing Huayra won’t be leaving without a fight. That fight comes in the form of the Huayra NC, a one-off with an exterior comprising blue carbon fiber, traditional gloss carbon fiber, and various painted red and white parts. The NC appears to be based around the Huayra BC Roadster but features an upgraded V12 engine that delivers 819 hp and 796 lb-ft (1,079 Nm) of torque, compared to the 791 hp and 774 lb-ft (1,049 Nm) of a ‘normal’ version.
Caterham Seven 420 CUP Is A Street-Legal Track Weapon With Manually-Adjustable Dampers
The new Seven 420 Cup may be street-legal, but it’s heavily focused on being a track day warrior, bridging the gap between the 420R and the hardcore Seven Championship racecar. It features manually adjustable Bilstein shocks, a redesigned nose with dual intakes, an optional roll-cage, a centralized petrol filler, and a new pair of LED taillights. Power is the same as the standard Seven 420, but the Cup gets a new SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox optimized for quick shifting for a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds.
What Else Is Making The News
Bombardier Global 8000 To Go Supersonic
We raised the bar before, now we take it to another level. Introducing Bombardier's #Global8000 aircraft – the fastest, farthest and smoothest flying business jet ever conceived. pic.twitter.com/adYkdu8OHM
— Bombardier (@Bombardier) May 23, 2022
Nearly two decades after Concord retired, the newly announced Bombardier Global 8000 will be the world’s fastest and longest-range purpose-built jet and is able to go supersonic. The Global 8000 will have a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 kilometers) and a top speed of Mach 0.94 when it enters service in 2025.
Kimi Raikkonen To Race NASCAR
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Retired Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen will be getting behind the wheel of a racing car again, piloting a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen in August.