Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
QOTD: Who Do You Think Is Tesla’s Biggest Threat?
There’s little doubt that Tesla stole a march over traditional automakers when it came to capturing the electric car market. But it hasn’t taken the legacy auto industry long to play catchup, and many CEOs are aiming to best the American newcomer in the next few years. So, who do you see posing the greatest threat to Tesla’s electric vehicle dominance?
Zagato’s Maserati-Powered Mostro Barchetta Debuts Seven Years After The Coupe
Precisely seven years after Zagato showed us the Mostro, a limited-edition Maserati-powered coupe, the design house has decided to add a sibling to the family. The Mostro Barchetta Zagato Powered by Maserati is an open-top spin on the previous model, and arguably looks even better than the fixed-head. Just like the original, it’ll only be offered in five units, with the lucky owners now given the choice of two powerplants to select from: a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 producing 414 hp (309 kW / 420 PS), or the new biturbo 3.0-liter V6 outputting 621 hp (463 kW / 630 PS), both from Maserati.
Driven: 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 Shows Carmaker Is Serious About EVs
Although the i4 is by no means the first battery-electric vehicle from BMW, the sedan has much more mass-market appeal than the tow-in-the-water effort of the i3. It’s based around the ICE 4-Series Gran Coupe, but that doesn’t detract from the overall package. It has decent charging times and range and handles as well as you’d expect from a BMW. We even enjoyed the artificial noise from BMW’s IconicSounds system that has been developed by Hans Zimmer. Read our full review to find out what else we liked and disliked.
2024 Ford Mustang: Everything We Know About The Next Pony Car From Looks To Power
The seventh-generation Ford Mustang is soon to be unleashed to the world, and to give you an idea of what to expect, we’ve rounded up all we know about the new pony car, along with some exclusive independent illustrations. The proportions remain similar, but the reworking is through, with sharper styling incorporating a more retro vibe. Inside, the new Mustang will ditch the dual-cowl dashboard for a conventional, more driver-oriented setup and key physical buttons angled towards the driver. And, under the hood, the V8 will remain – for now. But don’t be surprised to see some electrified versions of the 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four in the future.
Olympian Motors O1 Aims To Blend New School EV-Tech With Old-School Styling
The Olympian Motors O1 is taking a very different approach to the concept of future-forward electric vehicles: they’re adopting a more retro style, with flowing wheel arches and wire-style wheels. Part of their mission was to simplify the cabin too, removing 80 percent of the buttons and switches you’d typically find. It won’t come cheap: the O1 has an asking price of $100,000, and Olympian is already taking $500 deposits — but as far as we can tell, they don’t have a planned production date.
Mercedes-Maybach SL: Here’s What To Expect From The Flagship Roadster
Earlier this month, Mercedes announced that they would be expanding their range of top-flight luxury models, with the new SL getting a Maybach makeover. Guided by the official teasers, we created a series of speculative renderings that we hope closely depict what the Mercedes-Maybach SL will look like. While the body panels will mostly carry over, the Mercedes-Maybach SL will be easy to distinguish from lesser models, with a new grille, lashings of chrome, and a new set of rims.
What Else Is Making The News
Sergio Perez Wins The Monaco Grand Prix
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Although usually not the most thrilling race on the calendar, this year’s Monaco Grand Prix served up some drama courtesy of an unexpected rain shower before the start of the race. Despite qualifying on pole, home favorite Charles Leclerc had to settle for fourth, as a botched strategy put paid to any hopes of a victory. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez managed to win from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, with Max Verstappen rounding out the top three.
Marcus Ericson Wins The Indy 500
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Although Charles Leclerc may not have won the Monaco Grand Prix, his Sauber teammate from 2018, Marcus Ericson, was able to taste victory in the Indy 500. The Swedish driver led home Mclaren’s Pato O’Ward, who had a brief shot at success after a late red flag was brought out with only two laps to go.