Good morning and welcome to our weekly digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…
California DMV Suspends Autonomous Driving Testing Permit For The First Time Following Accident
Self-driving startup Pony.ai has become the first company to have its driverless testing permit suspended by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The accident saw one of the company’s driverless Hyundai Kona test vehicles hit a center divider and a traffic sign in Fremont, California after it made a right turn. The suspension, however, will not affect tests that involve safety testers.
Mercedes Vision EQXX EV Prototype Coming To CES 2022 Will Be The Most Efficient Benz Yet
Mercedes-Benz has dropped the first official teaser of the upcoming Vision EQXX fully electric concept car dubbed “the most efficient vehicle the brand has ever built.” The side profile silhouette looks like it’ll be a production-ready take on the Concept IAA, with four doors and a long tail. Mercedes have already confirmed that the prototype will have a remarkable real-world range in excess of 1,000 km (620 miles).
Ford Teases Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition Ahead Of Reveal
Red, white, and gold will be the colors of choice for the latest Ford GT Heritage Edition. Inspired by Alan Mann Racing, the car takes after an experimental lightweight GT 40, built as part of Ford’s pursuit of winning the Le Mans 24 hours. While we’re not sure if the tribute will see any weight reduction, a full unveiling is expected in the near future.
Why You Shouldn’t Fall For The Rumors About Dodge Replacing Challenger, Charger Hemi V8 With New Inline-Six Turbo In 2024
A report has been gaining traction that says Chrysler will “likely” replace their HEMI V8 with a new 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder for cars such as the 2024 Charger, Challenger, and Magnum. But that doesn’t make much sense, as the brand plans an imminent move towards becoming all-electric. So we reached out, and sure enough, Dodge says that in 2024, they will “transition to new platforms, new electrified muscle cars (the next generation of that platform will be a BEV, which will be shown in concept-car form Q1 or Q2 2022).”
Meet Ken Block’s New Ride, The Electric Audi S1 E-tron Quattro Hoonitron
Elektrikhana will be an electric-only take on Ken Block’s viral Gymkhana videos. And taking center stage (other than Block himself) will be the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron. The EV is inspired by the Audi Sport Quattro S1 that raced at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the ’80s and features wings, flares, and rally lights in a modern recreation.
Skoda Enyaq Coupé iV Shows Aerodynamic Shape Ahead Of January 31 Debut
Skoda will unveil its Enyaq Coupe iV to the world on January 31. Accompanying the announcement was a new teaser that shows off the sloping roof of the SUV-coupe. While we know most of the details surrounding the Enyaq Coupé, we’ll wait to see the finished car next year.
GMC Sierra Denali EV Teased, Will Be Unveiled Next Year
Yet another teaser, this time it’s for the GMC Sierra Denali EV, a new entrant in the now hotly contested world of electric trucks. Set to be unveiled next year, the electric luxury pickup will feature a unique design with little in common with the facelifted 2022 Sierra. The front end is dominated by a fully enclosed grille, which features an illuminated outline and illuminated GMC badging. It’s flanked by stylish LED headlights, which have an expressive startup sequence.
What Else Is Making The News
Mercedes-AMG Drops Appeal
Team Statement – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/tgrBjrNkcz
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 16, 2021
The Mercedes F1 team has dropped their appeal against the result of the Abu Dhabi GP. The team, in a Twitter statement, says that they will still “hold the FIA accountable.” Their concerns are with the way the Safety Car was deployed in the closing stages of Sunday’s title decider. The FIA also released a statement the previous day announcing an investigation.
Apple Gives Employees $1,000 Cash
Apple is giving its employees $1,000 in cash to buy equipment for their home offices, reports CNN. The iPhone maker is delaying a return to offices as Covid-19 cased continue to rise amidst the spread of the Omicron variant.
Keyword: Mercedes Vision EQXX, Skoda Enyaq Coupe, And GMC Sierra Denali EV Teased: Your Morning Brief