Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
Ford Pausing Production Of F-150, Bronco And Other Popular Models In Light Of The Chip Shortage
Ford’s tremendous run from 2021 may be over as they announced that the production of some of its most popular models will be paused. The culprit? You’ve guessed it: semiconductors. In total, eight different models will be affected, including the Mustang Mach-E, F-150, and Bronco.
Stellantis’ DS E-Tense Performance Concept Is An 805 Hp Supercar With Formula E Tech
The new E-Tense Performance concept from DS imagines what a Formula-E-inspired road car would look like. The headline torque figure is a frankly crazy 8,000 Nm (5,900 lb-ft) at the wheels, while the dual electric motors can output a combined 805 hp (600 kW / 815 PS). There’s also a race-inspired battery, while advanced regeneration has rendered traditional brake discs and pads obsolete, although they’re still present for safety purposes. While it may just be a one-off, DS will officially announce the performance figures of the concept car after development is finalized.
MINI Cooper Brick Lane Edition Brings British Flavor To The Streets Of Japan
Japan is getting a special run of MINIs all to itself. Only 180 three-door Cooper Hatches, 180 Cooper D Clubmans, and 300 five-door Cooper D Hatches will be made available. Known as the “Brick Lane Edition,” the new MINIs will get exclusive graphics applied to the bonnet and sides, special colors, extensive standard equipment, and unique interior touches.
Nissan To Reportedly Kill Development Of New Gas Engines Everywhere But The USA
A new report suggests that Nissan may be killing off internal combustion engine development for all markets, bar the USA. The last hold-out for Nissan combustion engines will be kept mainly for the pick-up market, while the rest of the world will see the brand shift to electric vehicles only. We reached out to Nissan for comment, and they told us that “We don’t have any immediate comment to share on this speculative report.”
Tesla Filmed Hitting Object While Full-Self Driving Beta Was Being Tested
Yet another video of Tesla’s FSD Beta system misbehaving has surfaced. Uploaded by a Tesla owner, it doesn’t just show the Model 3 making an abrupt move or near-miss — it captures the car, under the control of FSD Beta, actually hitting a bollard. It’s a small collision with no one injured and no significant damage, but it shows that the system — which is being tested by unpaid members of the public — has some rather substantial shortcomings.
2022 Jeep Wrangler Gains New High Tide Trim And Jeep Beach Special Edition
Jeep Beach Week is upon us, and with it, the automaker has released a new special edition to celebrate. The new Wrangler Jeep Beach will be limited to 500 units, with pricing starting at $49,240. It’s based on the 2022 Wrangler Hide Tide and adds a 1.5 inch (38 mm) suspension lift and 17-inch bead-lock-capable wheels wrapped in 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires. Other highlights include extended fender flares, a 4.56 rear axle ratio, and a reinforced hinge-gate.
2022 Super Bowl Car Commercials Roundup: GM Resurrects Austin Power’s Dr. Evil
Pinkies up people. Sunday, February 13, evil is back for good. #everybodyin pic.twitter.com/RPWol7WDHu
— General Motors (@GM) February 7, 2022
The Super Bowl is back on February 13th, and with over 100 million viewers, car companies will be vying for the attention of all eyes during the commercials. So far, we know that GM will be resurrecting Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers franchise, BMW has enlisted Arnold Schwarzenegger to play Zeus, and Nissan has employed the talents of Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Brie Larson, Danai Gurira, and Dave Bautista.
What Else Is Making The News
Christian Horner Bids For Mercedes Factory Tour
Christian Horner bidding £4,000 for a Merc factory tour is the level of pettiness I aspire for pic.twitter.com/84fWlotijr
— James 🏎 (@ScenarioSeven) February 6, 2022
Red Bull F1 team boss, Christian Horner, has secured himself a tour of rival team Mercedes’ factory. Horner bid £4,000 to take a tour of the Silver Arrows’ base at the Autosport Awards Charity Auction. Horner joked that he wants to take “about 20” people with him for the tour, according to RacingNews365.com.
Nvidia Calls Off Arm Acquisition
Softbank, the owners of Arm, announced that Nvidia’s attempts to acquire the firm, are now off the table. Chipmaker Arm will now explore a public offering instead. The deal was reported to be worth $40bn, but the sale had faced regulatory pushback over competition fears.
Keyword: Electric DS Supercar Concept, MINI Brick Lane Edition, And Another Tesla FSD Crash: Your Morning Brief