Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Combustion Engine Vehicles Still Very Important In The Global Market Says BMW CEO
With automakers staking their future on an EV-only lineup and some nations opting to impose stop-sale dates for ICE vehicles, the future looks to be all about EVs. But BMW CEO, Oliver Zipse, thinks a more pragmatic approach should be adopted. Speaking at an event in New York, Zipse highlighted the limited materials available for use in electric vehicles, as well as the increased dependency on a few countries.
2024 Chevrolet Crossover Coupe Spied In America Appears Undisguised In China
The Chevrolet Seeker, as it will be called in China, has been spied undisguised. The pre-production car looks like a dead ringer for the mysterious Chevrolet compact crossover sports coupe spied testing in the U.S. The model, which also looks like a shrunken Blazer, could preview a global entry for GM. The Chinese-market Seeker, built by the SAIC-GM joint venture, is set to debut in the third quarter of 2023. A North American variant could debut within the next year, likely under a different name.
2025 Audi Q5: Design, Engines And Everything Else We Know About The Last ICE Version
There’s a new Audi Q5 on the horizon, with the third-generation SUV likely to be introduced in 2024 as a 2025MY. It’ll be the last Q5 to feature internal combustion engines but will feature a range of hybrid options, including mild and plug-in versions. The independent illustration by CarScoops’ artist Josh Byrnes shows what we expect from Audi’s volume seller, based on what we’ve already seen from spy shots.
Ram Thinks It Can Take Advantage Of Being Late To The Electric Pickup Game
For some, Ram’s seemingly tardy approach to offering an EV runner in the truck space could be seen as Stellantis being on the backfoot. But Ram CEO Mike Koval claims that the brand is biding its time, and suggests its electric offering will push past the competition in terms of towing, hauling, charge times, and driving range. But with Rivian, Ford, and GM all preparing their trucks for delivery, while Ram’s EV truck won’t make it into production until 2024, it’s a sizeable risk for Stellantis.
We Take The 2022 Hyundai i20 N On A 1300-Mile Roadtrip
Having already tested the Hyundai i20 N on track, we decided to explore what the much-praised hot-hatch could offer on the road by taking a 1300-mile (2092 km) road trip from Perth to Esperance. Despite lacking an active suspension setup, the i20 N provided a good balance between performance and comfort — even if the seats weren’t as comfortable as we’d have hoped. There’s ample grip, with the mechanical LSD quelling understeer, and the engine pulls strong throughout the gears. It may not be as playful as a Focus ST, but it certainly presents itself as a more mature and well-rounded alternative.
If This Is What The Production Cybertruck Will Be Like Then We Don’t Want It
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The delayed Cybertruck was shown off at Tesla’s Cyber Rodeo last week, and it gave some observers the opportunity to get their first look at the prototype up close. Even though it’s just a pre-production model, the fit and finish could be a cause for concern. On display were giant panel gaps, a broken wing mirror mount, and the finish on the rear tailgate camera shield flaking off. While there’s time for issues to be ironed out before production, it wouldn’t be the first time a Tesla has shown less than confidence-inspiring build quality.
I Got Stuck With A 4WD Jeep In The Sand And It Was All My Fault
If you’re into your off-roading, the chances are you’re going to get stuck at some point — which is precisely what happened to CarScoops’ Thanos Pappas. Admittedly, it may have gone differently had momentum been kept up, and the road-oriented tires on the Jeep Compass 4xe may not have helped matters. Still, being beached in search of that perfect shot is a right of passage for many of us!
What Else Is Making The News
Elon Musk And Jack Dorsey Fund Sustainable Bitcoin Mine
Jack Dorsey — the Twitter founder, Block CEO, and Elon Musk buddy — is gazing into the future with laser eyes, and he wants you to follow him https://t.co/qoi9uNR6dP
— Bloomberg Crypto (@crypto) April 16, 2022
Away from the news that Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover bid has caused, the Tesla CEO is teaming up with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to construct a Bitcoin mine in Texas. The mine will be powered entirely by renewable resources.
Apple Readying M2 Chips
According to a report, Apple is testing a new range of “M2 Chips,” as the company continues to push for more powerful homegrown computers. The M2 Max version of the chip in testing could come with as many as 12 CPU cores, 38 graphics cores, and 64GB of memory,
