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Showing posts from October, 2023

Elon Musk Enjoys Cigar As American Podcaster Joe Rogan Fires Arrow at Tesla Cybertruck To Test Its Toughness (Watch Video)

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A video going viral on social media shows American commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan firing an arrow at a Tesla Cybertruck to test its toughness. The viral clip shows Joe Rogan reportedly firing an arrow at the Tesla cybertruck to test its toughness. The 1-minute video clip also shows Tesla owner Elon Musk, who is seen enjoying a cigar. The video begins with Joe Rogan firing an arrow at a Tesla Cybertruck while Elon Musk is seen smoking a cigar.  The clip, which has gone viral on the internet, also shows Musk checking the Tesla Cybertruck after Joe Rogan’s arrow breaks.  Elon Musk Celebrates His Pet Dog Marvin’s Birthday, Shares Adorable Photo on X. Joe Rogan Fires Arrow on Tesla Cybertruck Joe Rogan fires an arrow at the cybertruck while Elon smokes a cigar. It’s arrowproof. pic.twitter.com/Z49TZwr4lj — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 31, 2023 Elon Musk Smokes Cigar WATCH: Joe Rogan fires arrow at Tesla Cybertruck to test toughness while Elon Musk puffs on cigar pic

3 themes at Auto Finance Summit

LAS VEGAS – Elevated interest rates and rising monthly payments are exacerbating affordability concerns as delinquencies rise across prime and subprime segments, while the supply situation remains mixed.    Auto Finance Summit 2023 brings together auto finance leaders to discuss issues facing the industry, including as inflationary pressures and affordability, rising cost of funds, subprime financing and the impact of still tight inventory on sales and demand.    Affordability concerns heighten   Average monthly payments are nearing $800, with the average new-vehicle transaction price $47,841 in August.    While affordability has improved industrywide, inflationary pressures are squeezing consumers’ wallets and turning some buyers from higher-priced cars. Vehicles above $50,000 in August were sitting longer on dealership lots.    Delinquencies rise   While credit availability improved in September, credit performance continues to be a watch item. In the third quarter, nearly

Piastri’s F1 Mexico GP compromised by damage from Tsunoda clash

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Piastri made contact with Yuki Tsunoda twice during a fraught battle in the second part of the race. On the second clash the AlphaTauri driver was pitched off the road when he tried to pass on the outside at Turn 1. The FIA investigated the incident, but ultimately took no further action. A few laps later Piastri was asked to let Norris by so that the British driver could attack the cars ahead in the course of his spectacular drive from 17th to fifth. Piastri meanwhile had to settle for eighth, crossing the line some 10 seconds behind Norris. “Yeah, some big moves,” he said when asked about the Tsunoda fight. “I think hard racing. “The one in the end, I’m not really sure what happened for me, I was just braking and then we touched wheels. So nothing really more than that. “I had some damage at that point. Lando was very quick compared to everyone, I think. So it didn’t make any sense to try and battle each other. Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Oscar Piastri, McLare

Tesla shares drop 5% on Panasonic battery warning

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, looks on as he attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris on June 16, 2023. Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Shares in electric vehicle maker Tesla declined nearly 5% on Monday following news that Panasonic, a longtime partner and supplier to the EV maker, had reduced battery cell production in Japan during the period ending September 2023. The updates stoked investor concerns about softening demand for EVs, especially for higher-priced EVs that may not qualify for tax breaks or other incentives from government programs in and beyond the U.S. Panasonic cells have been used in Tesla’s older, and higher-priced, Model X SUVs and Model S sedans. During Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call Oct. 18, CEO Elon Musk had cautioned shareholders that interest rates were putting pressure on the company to keep the price of its EVs lower and could hamper consumers’ abilit

Ford Is Losing Big Money On EVs

Automakers are quickly learning that electric vehicles are expensive to produce and that the demand for EVs simply isn’t there. Ford recently revealed its third-quarter earnings for 2023 and there’s bad news. Despite selling more EVs, Ford’s all-electric Model e division posted an operating loss of $1.3 billion, which builds off of the automaker’s $1.08 billion loss from the last quarter. In the third quarter of 2023, Ford’s Model e division sold a total of 20,962 electric vehicles brought on by the increase in production for the Mustang Mach-E . Ford’s electric SUV saw an impressive increase in sales, as sales of the Mustang Mach-E went up by 42.5% in the third quarter. Overall, Ford’s EV deliveries went up by 44% in the third quarter, helping the electric division post a 26% growth in year-over-year revenue to $1.8 billion. These, for the most part, are good figures, but they only tell part of the story. According to InsideEVs , Ford ’s Model e division is losing roughly $36,000

VW ID.7 Tourer electric wagon to debut in 2024

Volkswagen’s new ID.7 electric hatchback is set to spawn a wagon body style, which the automaker confirmed on Monday as the ID.7 Tourer. The ID.7 hatch is VW’s Tesla Model S rival, and is slated to reach the U.S. next year as a 2025 model. It will help to fill the void left by the discontinued Passat sedan. The ID.7 Tourer wagon will make its debut in 2024. VW hasn’t said whether it will also reach the U.S., but the automaker has hinted at the possibility with the unveiling of the ID.Space Vizzion on local soil. The 2019 concept, which served as a preview for the ID.7 Tourer, made its world debut at the Petersen Automotive Museum before showing up at the Los Angeles auto show a week later. Specifications unique to the ID.7 Tourer include a drag coefficient of 0.24 cd, which is just slightly off the sedan’s 0.23 cd rating. The lower the figure the more aerodynamically efficient a vehicle tends to be. Teaser for Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer debuting in 2024 VW has also confirmed car

2024 Porsche Cayenne, BMW X3 top TCC’s new car reviews

This week on The Car Connection, we tracked price increases on the latest 2024 models and reviewed the changes to some of the most popular mainstream and luxury crossover SUVs.  Here’s what moved us this week.   2024 new car reviews  2024 Porsche Cayenne review A test drive in the new Turbo E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid improves the practicality and performance of the Cayenne SUV; it’s a 7.2 out of 10.  2024 Volvo S90 review With divine styling and a sedate feel, the 90-Series Volvos sedans and wagons make for terrific long-distance cruisers and a high TCC Rating of 7.3 out of 10.  2024 BMW 3-Series review BMW’s 3-Series maintains its status as the sport sedan benchmark, combining an upscale cabin and luxurious moves., and a TCC Rating of 7.2 out of 10.  2024 BMW X3 review Polished, smooth, and strong, the 2024 BMW X3 easily earns a TCC Rating of 6.8 out of 10.  2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz review The compact pickup truck arrives with a new XRT appearance package for 2024, but its T

Stellantis and the UAW reach tentative contract deal to end strike

The United Auto Workers has made a tentative deal with Stellantis that follows a template set by UAW and Ford . The deals will amount to total pay hikes of more than 33% when compounding and cost-of-living are factored in. The contracts will start with an initial increase of 11%. “We look forward to welcoming our 43,000 employees back to work and resuming operations,” Stellantis said on Saturday. The Ford and Stellantis agreements will have to be ratified by all workers. U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement the Stellantis “contract is a testament to the power of unions and collective bargaining to build strong middle-class jobs.” The deal includes an agreement to reopen Stellantis’ assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, which will now build midsize trucks , Fain said in a video on social media. The trucks could compete against Ford’s Ranger and GM’s Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models. The factory was previously shuttered and became a rallying point for the uni

Geely, Baidu put AI-enabled ROBOCAR JiYue 01 onto market, starting at 249,900 yuan

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Geely Holding Group (“Geely Holding”), China’s largest privately owned automotive conglomerate, and Baidu’s joint-venture automotive robocar brand, JiYue ROBOCAR, put their first AI power all-electric ROBOCAR, the ROBOCAR JiYue 01, onto the market on October 27. The ROBOCAR JiYue 01 comes with two trim levels: the Max and the Max Performance, and features a guidance price range of 249,900 yuan to 339,900 yuan. Photo credit: JiYue The ROBOCAR JiYue 01 boasts dimensions of 4,853mm*1,990mm*1,611mm, a wheelbase of 3,000mm, and a spacious 2,161 liters of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, capable of accommodating up to 29 suitcases measuring 20 inches each. The vehicle is offered in five exterior and three interior color schemes. It follows a futuristic design philosophy inspired by robotics with most physical controls eliminated. Photo credit: JiYue The ROBOCAR JiYue 01 boasts exceptional aerodynamic design, achieving an impressively low drag coeffici

2024 Audi Q8 And SQ8 Pricing For USA Revealed

Audi’s handsome Q8 and SQ8 SUVs recently received a mid-cycle update , introducing a refreshed design, enhanced features, and several welcome revisions. The German giant has now touched down in America with a new pricing strategy. The Q8 55 TFSI is available in three separate trim levels: Premium ($73,700), Premium Plus ($77,800), and Prestige ($85,900). For 2024, all models receive Matrix LED headlights, even the base Premium derivative. This trim gets 21-inch wheels, adaptive damping, the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, and adaptive cruise control as standard. Upgrade to the Premium Plus, and the equipment list is bolstered with four-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, and a Bang & Olufsen Premium audio system with 3D sound, among other things. Lastly, we have the Prestige. It may be the priciest, but it makes up for this with standard Valcona leather, HD Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light, and remote park assist. https://ift.tt/VJX7bqL 2024 Audi Q8 And SQ8 Pric

Hino Motors announces “Strategy of Hino towards Carbon Neutrality”

To pursue carbon neutrality through the collaboration among industry, academia, and government, the contribution to CJPT (Commercial Japan Partnership Technology), the establishment of a new company by four companies, and further collaboration with various clients Hino Motors, Ltd. (headquartered in Hino City, Tokyo; president & CEO: Satoshi Ogiso; hereinafter referred to as “Hino”) has announced its initiatives for carbon neutrality today. Our society is faced with many issues to tackle, such as “environmental/energy issues,” “problems with logistics,” “the declining birthrate and the aging population,” and “the growth of demand for safety and reliability.” In order to deal with these issues, we think that Hino is required to offer products and solutions that would contribute to “carbon neutrality,” “labor saving,” and “safety and peace of mind.” This time, we will introduce Hino’s stance and policy for realizing a sustainable society through activities for solving the issues

Westlake using digital refunds to save resources

Westlake Financial has digitized auto loan refund payments to save time and devote more resources to core operations.    The lender signed on with corporate payouts platform Onbe to replace its check-based program for auto loan overpayment refunds with a digitally based process, according to a Westlake release.   The digital program launched in mid-July has allowed Westlake to offer instant digital payments and new payout options, including virtual cards that can be spent immediately, John Mason , senior vice president of operations at Westlake, told Auto Finance News . Customers can also receive refunds via direct deposit or physical checks, he said.   “Our new refund program provides faster speed to payment with digital delivery and custom-branded experiences featuring popular payment choices,” Mason said.    When borrowers have a balance at the end of their loan term, they must receive a refund, a process that typically involves mailing paper checks, Tracy Monson , chief

“Incredible” Rovanpera not catchable on pure driving in WRC Central Europe

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Evans must outscore Rovanpera at this weekend’s first running of the asphalt event to take the title fight to the season finale in Japan next month. The Toyota driver put up a stern fight on Friday recovering from starting the day in eighth overall to run as high as second behind his team-mate Rovanpera. But Evans was unable to match the Finn’s speed in tricky wet conditions. Evans dropped to third behind Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville by the end of stage eight, 47.2s adrift of Rovanpera. The Welshman declared Rovanpera did an “incredible job”, admitting that his rival’s pace wasn’t all down to starting first on the road in the tough conditions. “Clearly the gap is not going to be reachable by pure driving,” Evans told Autosport. “He has done an incredible job today. “Of course, he made the use of his road position but also more than that, and in fairness he has done a really great job and I couldn’t follow his speed. “From our side we have to try and fight to get back in front of T

Ford will postpone about $12 billion in EV investment

Ford workers produce the electric F-150 Lightning pickup on Dec. 13, 2022 at the automaker’s Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC). Michael Wayland | CNBC Ford Motor said Thursday that many customers in North America are no longer willing to pay a premium for an electric vehicle over an internal-combustion or hybrid alternative. As a result, it’s postponing about $12 billion in planned spending on new EV manufacturing capacity. Customers’ reluctance to pay extra for EVs has complicated Ford’s ambitious and expensive plans to sharply increase production of those vehicles. While Ford’s – and the industry’s – sales of EVs are growing, they aren’t growing at the pace Ford had expected. Ford executives emphasized that the company isn’t cutting back its spending on future electric vehicle models. But it now plans to ramp up its EV manufacturing capacity, and its spending on that capacity, more gradually than previously planned. “We’re not moving away from our second gener

2024 Chevy Tahoe Prices Increasing By $2,000

General Motors is in the midst of raising prices for most of its large SUVs and the 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe is the next model in line to get a price hike. Just like the larger Suburban, pricing for the Tahoe is going up by $2,000 for the 2024 model year. With the price increase, the 2024 Tahoe will start at $56,200 (prices don’t include destination). As a refresher, the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe used to start at $57,200. Chevy’s $2,000 increase for the Tahoe affects the entire lineup. That means the range-topping High Country trim will start at $76,400. Based on the order guide, we don’t see any major changes for the 2024 Tahoe. Chevrolet hasn’t released official information on the Tahoe’s price increase for the 2024 model year, so we don’t know why the automaker increased pricing for the large SUV. We suspect inflation plays a large role in the higher price tag, while the ongoing UAW strike , which recently hit a GM assembly plant in Texas where the Tahoe is built, probably plays a ro

Race team that worked on Ford GT40 creates electric Mustang

The U.K.’s Alan Mann Racing, a company that specializes in servicing and maintenance for classic road and race cars, particularly Fords, has expanded its operations with an electric conversion for the original Ford Mustang. Alan Mann Racing, or AMR for short, started out life in the 1960s as a British race team that fielded Fords in various events, including the Monte Carlo Rally, Tour de France Automobile, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Crucially, the team helped developed a lightweight body for the GT40 , with two examples built and raced in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, though both ended up retiring. Ford celebrated the partnership last year with a special version of its modern GT supercar . Company founder Alan Mann switched his focus to the aviation industry after Ford ended its European racing campaign in the 1970s, with the race team largely mothballed until it was revived in 2004 for historic racing. Today, AMR is run by Mann’s sons, Tom and Henry, and their electric Mustang,