Good morning and welcome to our weekly digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
These Are America’s Best And Worst Car Brands In New Vehicle Customer Satisfaction
Honda came out on top in a study of automotive satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. The Japanese carmaker scored 82 out of 100, with BMW just behind with 81. Lexus was third, with Subaru and Audi rounding out the top five. Mitsubishi and Crysler scored the worst, with 71 and 70 respectively, down on the industry average of 78.
2022 Mazda MX-5 Revealed With Improved Suspension For Sharper Cornering, Little Else
The 2022 Mazda MX-5 has received a smattering of updates, including adding the Japanese automaker’s Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) technology. The tech determines the turning conditions in real-time from the difference in speed between the left and right rear wheels and applies a light brake force to generate an “anti-lift” effect for increased stability. There’s also a new color, dubbed Platinum Quartz Metallic, and a new Terracotta Nappa leather interior package.
The Luxurious New Range Rover SV Will Offer 1.6 Million Combinations Including Ceramic Accents And Fancy Wood Trim
Land Rover’s latest Range Rover is now available to be customized to your heart’s content thanks to the new SV variant from the brand’s Special Vehicle Operations division. Visually, the Range Rover SV is distinguished by a unique front bumper, a five-bar grille, and five horizontal bars that reside in the lower intake — but the main takeaway is that the car offers more than 1.6 million different configurations. The Range Rover SV is the first SVO vehicle to feature ceramic roundels, while the use of the material is extended to knobs on the interior. Meanwhile, there are a plethora of colors, fabrics, and interior wood options.
Volkswagen USA Invests $20 Million In Effort To Train Dealers On EVs
Volkswagen will be preparing its U.S. dealers for an increase in EV adoption by spending $20 million on training. More than 600 dealerships will be transformed into “regional hubs of EV experience.” The program will include aspects such as the installation of high-capacity chargers and training for more than 1,260 EV service technicians and dedicated EV specialists.
All-New Kia Carens Adopts SUV Looks, Retains Family-Friendly Character
The all-new fourth-generation Kia Carens has made its debut in India. It shares its platform with the Seltos and takes on a three-row crossover shape instead of the previous model’s MPV-styled looks. The Carens is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter petrol, turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol, or a 1.5-liter diesel combined with a six-speed manual, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, or a six-speed torque-converter automatic, respectively.
Citroen’s My Ami Buggy Concept Is A Wonderfully Wacky Adventure Vehicle
The My Ami Buggy concept is a rather odd take on the urban EV runabout from Citroen. It features beefier tires, a rugged exterior with bull-bars, headlight guards, extended fender flares, and rock rails. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a roof-mounted spare wheel that sits behind an auxiliary LED light bar. Oh, and it goes without doors, instead opting for rainproof canvas panels that can be folded out.
David Beckham Creates Personalized Maserati MC20 Inspired By Miami United FC
David Beckham has had a crack at creating his own personalized Maserati. The result is inspired by the kit his soccer club wears, a combination of glossy and matte back, with a bit of pink for contrast. The interior is finished in black leather and Alcantara, with pink stitching, and there’s a personalized nameplate on the center tunnel between the seats.
What Else Is Making The News
Reddit Is Going Public
The Social Media platform, Reddit, has begun the process to be listed on the stock market. As of yet, there’s no news on the number of shares, or how much they’ll be valued at, but in August the company was valued at $10bn, reports the BBC.
Man Goes Viral For Looking Like Elon Musk, Deepfake Suspected
Internet sleuths are trying to figure out if a video of a Chinese man looking like Elon Musk’s doppelganger is real or fake. Some suspect that the clip, which was originally shared to a TikTok-style app called Douyin, is actually a deepfake — a way in which technology is used to realistically superimpose someone’s face onto another’s body.
Keyword: 2022 MX-5, Range Rover SV, And Wacky Citroen Buggy Concept: Your Morning Brief