Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
President Biden just signed an executive order that will see the U.S. government’s federal fleet of more than 645,000 vehicles transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2035, with light vehicles switching sooner. After the switch, the federal government’s fleet will be the largest zero-emission vehicle fleet in the country. The current ICE fleet accounts for 7 billion pounds of greenhouses gasses and 400 million gallons of fuel. The White House Stated that the transition is already in motion, with several light police vehicles already swapped for EVs. The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, will begin field-testing the Ford Mustang Mach-E for use in law enforcement early next year. That department requires 30,000 vehicles.
Audi has announced that it will no longer offer the RS version of the Audi TT after 2022, and will offer a special ‘Heritage Edition’ Model limited to just 50 examples. The Heritage Edition will come in five colors (10 examples of each) and will give buyers an array of interior options previously unavailable to the U.S market. The limited TT RS’ will still have the same 2.5L engine but with an increased top speed of 174mph from 155mph.
Chevrolet has announced that they will be offering a super-rare variant of the Camaro dubbed the “Wild Cherry Edition.” Only 10 examples of the special edition Camaro will ever be produced, and it will be offered exclusively to the Japanese market. The Camaro received its name owing to the Wild Cherry paint that wraps the exterior of the car and is complemented by two silver racing stripes going along the hood. Only a single image of the vehicle was shown so we are yet to see what the interior will look like, but Chevy mentioned a jet black and adrenaline red color combo.
Sales figures are looking splendid for Ford after reservations for the upcoming F-150 Lightning nearly hit the 200k mark, creating a long waiting list. Ford only planned to only build 150,000 units for the next three years but has communicated that they will be ramping up production in order to meet the demand sooner. Ford has now stopped accepting reservations for the F-150 which, after a $7500 federal tax credit, will be offered at $32,474.
Chrysler’s product lineup has been pretty uneventful lately, with nothing more than the 300 and Pacifica. Stellantis has confirmed that there will be no new model for 2022 or 2023, but their latest EV crossover that was introduced in July is rumored to drop in 2024. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said that the Chrysler EV Concept was more than “just a concept” and the official preview of the architecture suggests that the crossover will have a range of 440 miles thanks to a battery capacity between 87-104kWh.
After multiple sneak peeks by spy photographers, Chinese authorities have unraveled the upcoming BMW i3. The electric sedan is apparently based on the 3-Series Long Wheelbase and will inherit an electric motor capable of producing 335hp, the same as the i4 eDrive40. The i3 will also be equipped with an 89.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack, giving the vehicle an estimated range of around 300 miles (483km). An official unveiling is yet to be scheduled, although a surprise appearance at the Beijing Auto Show in April could be a possibility.
Mercedes has been showcasing its SLR “722” around the world this past year, as they plan to run it through its courses one last time in honor of Sir Stirling Moss, the man who drove the car to victory at the 1955 Mille Miglia in just over 10 hours, a record that has never been broken. In honor of the legend, Mercedes will be making a film about the car’s final tour before it returns to the Mercedes-Benz Museum for good.
What Else Is Making News
Climber Keeps $84,000 Worth Of Jewels
A climber who found $168.700 worth of jewels will be allowed to keep half of his find, as no one came forward to claim the precious stones. The stones were being transported on an Air India flight that crashed on Mont Blanc in 1966.
McLaren Unveil Special Livery For Final Race
McLaren F1 has unveiled a special livery for the last race of 2021. It features the papaya and blue shades you’d expect but is the result of a UAE-based artist Rabab Tantawy, who will become the first female artist from the Middle East to design an F1 livery.
Keyword: Audi TT RS Bows Out, Wild Cherry Camaro, And F-150 Lightning Orders Stopped: Your Morning Brief