WeeklySA_AdminKIA BABY ELECTRIC CROSSOVER
Kia is preparing to roll out the second tranche of lower cost electric vehicles and they’ll be spearheaded by the new Kia EV3. Fresh teaser images of the baby electric crossover have been issued ahead of its full world debut on May 23, 2024.
They confirm that the smaller EV will stay faithful to the EV3 concept car revealed at the brand’s EV Day in South Korea in October 2023. Kia says the EV3 is an electric SUV that promises to bring all the style and tech of the Kia EV9, EV6 and EV5 – but at a significantly cheaper price point. The concept car has a chunky, four-square stance, not dissimilar to the Volvo XC40 and its so-called ‘mini robot’ flavour.
SUMMER READY MERC CLE 53 CAB
The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic Cabriolet arrives as AMG takes the roof off the CLE 53 for 442bhp open-top motoring. We’ve already seen the Mercedes CLE arrive as a replacement for the E-Class and C-Class Coupe, and the first CLE AMG version – the CLE 53 – arrived at the end of last year.
Now, Mercedes chops the top off the CLE 53 to deliver this, the new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Cabriolet just in time for summer. Well, summer thoughts – you won’t get one in time for this summer. Power for the CLE 53 Cabriolet comes from a Mild Hybrid powertrain with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo and 48V starter-generator producing 442bhp and 413lb/ft of torque with an overboost function giving 10 seconds of 442lb/ft of torque, enough to hit 62mph in 4.4 seconds. Power goes to all four wheels through a nine-speed ‘box.
FERRARI SUPER GT
The new Ferrari 12Cilindri is revealed and, as its name suggests, it comes with a naturally aspirated V12 good for 819bhp. Just the other day, we learnt that the upcoming Aston Martin Vanquish will come with a new V12 engine, despite the downsizing of cylinder counts across the industry.
Now, the new Ferrari 12Cilindri is revealed as a super GT with an almost new V12 delivering a whopping 819bhp and 500lb/ft of torque. And it does it with natural aspiration. Yes, the replacement for the 812 Superfast – revealed as a Coupe and Spider – manages to meet emissions targets for the foreseeable future with an almost new 6.5-litre V12 with Titanium con rods, lighter crankshafts, and a valvetrain using F1 tech with a ‘Diamond-Like-Carbon’ coating.
GRINDING NOISES AT STELLANTIS
Workers at Stellantis’ Warren Stamping Plant in suburban Detroit voted on Monday to authorize a strike over health and safety grievances. Monday’s vote came after the union said Stellantis hadn’t resolved complaints related to ventilation fans, ergonomic matting, personal protective equipment, flooding, basement lighting and flooring, restrooms, oil leaks and overall sanitation. The union did not disclose how many members voted, but the authorization received 72 percent support among those who did. Negotiations are continuing. Warren Stamping supplies more than half a dozen Stellantis plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A work stoppage “could particularly impact production” of Ram pickups and the Jeep Wrangler and Wagoneer, the UAW said.
ONE MORE THING…..
Two people were killed in a tragic incident on August 25, 2023, after a semi-truck collided with two vehicles along I-35 in Rice County, Minnesota in the US. However, the startling revelation that emerged from the investigation suggests that the truck driver was engrossed in watching Netflix on his phone just moments before the crash.
The inherent danger of multitasking behind the wheel, particularly while operating a vehicle of such immense size and weight, cannot be overstated. It’s a sentiment echoed by many, questioning the rationale behind diverting attention from the road, even on seemingly monotonous stretches of the interstate.
The accused, 55-year-old Billie Joe Grimes, holding a commercial driver’s license, now faces grave charges including murder.
