Australia is home to a seemingly never-ending array of dangerous animals and for Kerry Jenkins and her partner, one of those animals got a little too close for comfort during a drive along the Pacific Highway.

A video shared to TikTok shows that as the couple were driving home from a beach vacation with their family, a green tree snake popped out from under the bonnet. In their panic, Jenkins can be heard repeatedly telling her partner to pull over so the snake could slither away but given that there were on a two-lane highway, there were limited safe places to pull over.

As the video progresses, the force of the wind begins to fling the snake from side to side across the bonnet, making the situation even scarier. Despite Jenkins’ insistence that her partner would pull over, he wasn’t having any of it.

Warning: The video contains foul language (NSFW)

@kerryjenkins32 Soooo this happened! warning! #hitchhiker #snakesoftiktok #snakeinmycar #snake #ridealong #treesnake #stuckinmycar #burnthecar ♬ original sound – Kerry Jenkins

“I’m not f**king stop mate,” he can be heard saying with a thick Australian accent. “What, you’re gonna f**king flick it off? I ain’t. Alright, I can’t do anything, there’s nowhere I can pull over yet.”

After approximately 90 seconds, the couple reached their highway exit and began to slow down and started to pull over in the hope that the snake would slither off. However, it simply disappeared from view and the couple continued driving.

Read: Toyota Hilux Goes Airborne After Driver Loses Control And Hits Embankment

Jenkins followed up the video with a second one where the snake was found clinging to the hood but quickly escaped into the underside of the car. The couple’s son later tried to catch the snake but it escaped once again into the engine bay.

On Monday evening, Jenkins’ partner opened the bonnet to their SUV and found the snake sitting on the engine.

“My partner just popped the bonnet and he was sitting on top of the motor,” she said in the TikTok video. “My partner dropped the bonnet afraid (massive snake phobia). I opened it back up and we could see his tail sliding into a crevice.”

@kerryjenkins32

We were on holidays at Darlington Beach, 30kms north of Coffs Harbour, travelling home to Forster. We had been on the road for 250ks, 30ks from home on the Pacific Highway, when we noticed a little yellow head. I grabbed the phone & started recording. We didn’t know what to do! We assumed it would just fly off, & didn’t think it would have held on for so long. We knew the turn off wasn’t far away, & wanted to be safe off the highway before we pulled over. Once we pulled over we could see it was still hanging onto to the front grill. It slid onto the ground & then back up into the under motor. A fellow helped us look, with no success. You can see in 2nd video. We continued to drive home, and looked again on and off over the next few hours. With a torch we ended up seeing him, and my son tried to catch him and get him out and he darted back into the motor. Again unsuccessful. We waited overnight and I’ve looked again in the morning and found nothing. I would have assumed he got out and escaped. 4.13pm today 5th Dec 2022 my partner just popped the bonnet (unfortunately without videoing) and he was sitting on top of the motor, my partner dropped the bonnet afraid (massive snake phobia) I opened it back up and we could see his tail sliding back into a crevice. #windscreenviper #treesnake #ridealong #burnthecar #stuckinmycar #snakesoftiktok #hitchhiker #snake

♬ original sound – Kerry Jenkins

Stellantis says that all 14 of its brands are performing well since the merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group.

The boss of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, has previously said that each brand has a 10 year window to execute a successful business plan if they want to survive. Speaking at the Automotive News Congress in Detroit, Stellantis North America chief operating officer Mark Stewart said the early signs are good.

“Can everything survive? Everybody’s got a fighting chance, and everybody is performing, which is great,” he said. “Obviously we’ve had a lot of different names over the years, but we are a house of 14 brands and what’s incredible about bringing the brands together, it’s just that they’re highly differentiated brands. Everybody has a personality on the brand side, and to be able to fit in different parts of the market without clashing into each other, people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, how can you feed 14 children?’”

Read: Stellantis Could Build EVs In India As It Says Europe Is Too Expensive

Stewart noted that he is particularly supportive of Chrysler’s plan to go all-electric by 2028 with its first EV to land in 2025. He also said that he isn’t worried that the first electric pickup from Ram will arrive several years after those from rivals including General Motors, Ford, and Rivian.

“We are later to the party, obviously, than everybody else,” Stewart said. “We’re about two years behind putting that into the marketplace compared to others. What is critical is that we come in with leadership.”

While speaking at the Congress in Detroit, Stewart added that Stellantis’s break-even point is below 30 per cent of revenue in North America, noting that the company can weather a recession, The Detroit News reports. Rather than enforcing mass layoffs to help the company’s finances, Stewart pointed towards more efficient lighting being used at its facilities and a 5 per cent gain in efficiency with more vehicles produced as two of the ways it has reduced costs.

The 2023 Kia Sportage is now the subject of a recall in the United States involving no less than 76,918 examples.

It has been revealed that the side curtain airbags may have been assembled with a twist in them during vehicle assembly at the Kia Georgia plant. Kia says this was due to a worker error and that as a result, the side curtain airbags may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

A recall notice revealed that engineers from Kia’s R&D Center attended compliance testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance of a 2023 Sportage on November 17. During the test, the driver’s side curtain airbag dud not properly deploy.

Driven: 2022 Kia Sportage GT-Line 2.0 Diesel Will Knock Your Socks Off

Impacted Kia Sportage models were produced between January 12, 2022 and November 17, 2022.

Customers of impacted vehicles will be notified by first class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealer where the side curtain airbags will be inspected and if necessary, reinstalled. The fix will be performed free of charge and any owners that have previously paid to have the issue fixed will be reimbursed.

This is not the first recall issued for the 2023 Kia Sportage. In August, the Korean car manufacturer recalled 19,701 examples produced between January 12, 2022 and August 8, 2022 because the B+ terminal nut on the battery may not have been properly torqued by the supplier during assembly. This could lead the not to loosen over time and could cause the engine to stall while driving. It could also trigger a fire due to electrical arcing at the B+ terminal.

General Motors’ electric commercial vehicle subsidiary, BrightDrop, celebrated the start of production of its electric delivery vans in Ingersoll, Ontario. The plant, known as CAMI, is the first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing factory in Canada, and brings with it the announcement that DHL will be the company’s first customer in the country.

The plant was first opened in 1989 and was behind the construction of the Chevrolet Equinox until it was retooled for electric vehicle production earlier this year. Today, the first of its new products, the BrightDrop Zevo 600 rolled off the line.

“This milestone represents GM at our best — fast, flexible and first in the industry,” said Mark Reuss, GM president. “The BrightDrop Zevo is a prime example of GM’s flexible Ultium EV architecture, which is allowing us to quickly launch a full range of electric vehicles for our customers. And, as of today, I am proud to call the CAMI EV Assembly team the first full-scale all-electric manufacturing team in Canada.”

Read: BrightDrop Zevo 600 Sets World Record As First Electric Delivery Vehicle To Make 260-Mile Journey On Single Charge

DHL Express Canada, the parcel delivery service, plans to add its first Zevo to its fleet early next year. The company is also piloting BrighDrop’s Trace eCarts, a cart for carrying packages and items has an electric motor to assist the operator.

“As the world’s most international logistics company, we understand the important role we can play in pioneering climate-friendly operations, which is why we’re so pleased to be BrightDrop’s customer in Canada,” said Andrew Williams, CEO for DHL Express Canada. “DHL made a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and as we continue to invest in our electric ground fleet worldwide.”

BrightDrop expects to be able to build 50,000 Zevo vans per year by 2025 at CAMI. The company plans to start scaled production of the Zevo 600 in January 2023, while production of the Zevo 400 (a slightly smaller electric delivery van), will start in late 2023. BrightDrop has already delivered 150 electric vans in the U.S.

“Bringing BrightDrop to Canada and starting production at CAMI is a major step to providing EVs at scale, while delivering real results to the world’s biggest brands,” said Travis Katz, BrightDrop president and CEO. “Our international expansion is proof that we can deliver exactly what our customers need where they need it. Having DHL Express Canada come onboard as a new customer shows the confidence legacy brands have in our ability to deliver.”

The Kia EV6 GT is almost here and it evidently offers almost supercar-like performance for a much lower price. In this film from Carwow we get to see it go head to head with a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. But then the script changes as the Kia exits stage left.

It’s not a wild thing to think that the Kia might be a worthy challenger in some ways. Its two electric motors develop 576 hp (429 kW) and 545 lb-ft (738 Nm) of torque.

That’s well below the 769 hp (573 kW) that the Lamborghini makes but the big bull only develops 531 lb-ft (719 Nm) of torque. Also, unlike the Kia, which puts that torque down instantly, the Aventador needs its engine at 6,750 rpm to make its peak torque. Of course, the Kia weighs more but launches harder and both play a role in its round one loss.

More: Kia EV6 GT Commercial Tries To Spin Fact That EVs Sound Really Boring

Off of the line, the Kia rockets away from the Italian supercar but little by little it gets reeled in. The Lamborghini manages a 10.9-second quarter mile time while the Kia falls a full second behind that. Evidently, Carwow decided that the Kia was just a bit boring though as they immediately swap it out with an Audi RS e-tron GT.

The Audi makes 637 hp (475 kW) and 612 lb-ft (828 Nm) of torque and also has a pair of motors along with AWD. That certainly makes the next few races a lot closer. However, time after time, the Lamborghini eeks out the win. From a standing start, the Aventador improves on its performance in three consecutive races. Audi’s RS e-tron GT never manages better than an 11.2-second quarter mile time.

From a roll, the Aventador manages to win a half-mile race even despite starting in automatic mode during the first test. That’s significant because it’s not only giving up some time to the Audi based on the electric car’s instant torque but also because it needed time to downshift into the best gear.

Despite all of that, the Lamborghini reigns supreme in these tests. We would’ve loved to see it face the Kia for the whole thing. That would’ve been more interesting.

Image Credit: Carwow on YouTube

Almost 6,000 Chevrolet 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD trucks in the U.S. need repairs due to a suspension-related issue.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall notice reveals that Chevrolet 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD models produced between January 18, 2022 and August 12, 2022 have hex flange lock nuts used in various locations in the suspension joints that were not properly formed and heat treated by the supplier.

Read: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition Now Slated To Produce Up To 754 HP

Navistar is the manufacturer of impacted models and says that improperly produced nuts could result in joint tension over time, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. Drivers of impacted vehicles may notice a degradation in vehicle handling over time because of the issue.

Navistar began investigating a quality issue in certain hex flange lock nuts used in 2021-2022 Chevrolet Silverado medium duty vehicles on November 18, 2022 and soon decided to conduct a safety recall to address the condition in vehicles that it had produced in the field.

Dealers were notified of the recall on November 23 and owners will be alerted to the recall from January 9, 2023. Dealers will replace suspect lock nuts with ones that are made to Navistar’s specified form and surface hardness.

The issuance of this recall comes four weeks after General Motors announced it was recalling 338,725 full-size SUVs from the 2021 model year because the daytime running lights might not deactivate when the headlights are turned on. To resolve the issue, GM simply made a software update to the Body Control Module.

Some 100 cars shut down the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland over the weekend. It was one of multiple sites across the area where sideshows took place. Police have yet to announce any arrests or citations related to the incidents.

According to multiple reports, the sideshow participants and spectators shut down the bridge sometime around 1 a.m. The California Highway Patrol told The San Francisco Standard that it cleared the area by 1:19 a.m. In the interim, participants did donuts and slides across all lanes of the eastbound half of the bridge.

An Instagram account called itsthebay shows the event and indicated that there was a similar situation on the westbound half of the bridge. The only video we’ve found from the westbound half shows a Ford Mustang doing a burnout and leaving a cloud of smoke there.

More: Cops Box Massive Oakland Sideshow, Impound a Dozen Cars, Interview Hundreds

 

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A video entitled ‘Crazy Bay Area Sideshow 12.3.22 (Bay Bridge Shut Down & More!)’ showing the incident was also posted to YouTube by user Jayy Hitta. In it, we see what appears to be the same cars from the Instagram post. For the first 27 minutes or so of the video, we see sideshows taking place in other locations around the Bay Bridge. Then at the 27:54 mark, we see footage shot on the bridge itself.

Two Infinitis are joined by a Subaru BRZ for a short time. More Nissan Z cars are involved as well. A Chevrolet Silverado pickup gets in on the action as does a Pontiac G8 GT. A Cadillac CTS and a Chevrolet Camaro appear in the film as well but it seems as though they’re not on the bridge.

Californian cities have been working on reducing sideshow instances all year. In November, police handed out some 720 citations and impounded 19 cars in connection with a sideshow in San Jose. As of this writing, there’s no indication that police arrested or cited anyone in connection with the Bay Bridge incident over the weekend.

Image Credit: Jayy Hitta on YouTube

Wall Street fell in love with automotive IPOs, but the craze has recently slowed down significantly. However, it appears another could be on the horizon as VinFast has made a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on a proposed public offering of its ordinary shares.

In a statement, the automaker said they intend to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the VFS ticker symbol. However, the “number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering” has yet to be determined.

While a number of things need to be finalized before the IPO, VinFast said Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan Securities will act as the “lead book-running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the proposed offering.” BNP Paribas, HSBC Securities, Nomura Securities, WR Securities, RBC Capital Markets, and Robert W. Baird & Co will also be involved.

Also: VinFast Exports The First 999 VF 8s To The United States

The IPO is expected to come next year and this will presumably give investors time to gauge consumer reaction to the VF 8. The first batch of 999 vehicles was shipped to the United States last month and deliveries are set to begin before the end of the year.

The company has previously said they have 65,000 global orders for the VF 8 and VF 9. Deliveries of the latter are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2023, both in Vietnam and in international markets.

As a refresher, the VF 8 starts at $57,000 and can be had for as little as $42,200 if customers get a battery subscription that costs $169 per month. The larger VF 9 begins at $76,000 but has a $219 per month battery subscription that lowers the base price to $57,500.

A 2023 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster fresh off the showroom floor is being auctioned off by Copart after suffering water damage.

Given that the British sports car is currently located in Florida, it seems safe to assume that it was caught up in Hurricane Ian that battered the southeast United States in late September through to early October. A plethora of other expensive exotics have hit the auctions since the hurricane and this Aston Martin seems to be the latest.

Read: The McLaren P1 Swept Away By Hurricane Ian’s Floodwaters Is Up For Sale

A look at the photos provided by Copart indicated that the water level reached roughly one-quarter of the way up the doors. While that may not sound too bad, it was likely enough for water to make its way into the cabin of the Vantage, inevitably soaking the carpets and potentially causing other damage.

However, not all hope appears to be lost for the Vantage. Images show that at least some of the electronics still work as the digital instrument cluster appears to be in perfect working order, revealing that the car had just 29.2 miles (46.6 km) under its belt at the time of the water damage.

The Copart listing fails to mention if any damage was done to the engine or transmission but it’s possible they avoided damage and remain in good running order. Of course, buying a flood-damaged vehicle from an online auction has its risks so prospective buyers should be ready and willing to spend a lot of money repairing the car if the damage is worse than it appears.

Hyundai Mobis will use CES to unveil the new M.Vision TO and M.Vision HI concepts.

Starting with the M.Vision TO, the concept is an autonomous shuttle that features an open and airy design thanks to the extensive use of glass on everything from the doors to the roof. The company didn’t go into many specifics, but the teaser image shows the concept will have active aero flaps and external displays, which appear to show upcoming stops as well as its destination.

While we can only get a glimpse of the interior, Hyundai Mobis said the concept features resilient seats that can be folded or rotated. The company went on to say the concept has been equipped with “cameras, radars, LiDARs, e-corner modules, and MR [mixed reality] displays that are integrated into the four pillars” of the vehicle.  The e-corner modules are notable as they combine an electric motor with steering, braking, and suspension components so the wheels can turn up to 90 degrees.

Also: Hyundai Mobis Shows Off Electric M.Vision Pop And Fuel Cell M.Vision 2Go Concepts At CES 2022

The M.Vision HI concept is a more luxurious take on the same idea. It resembles a futuristic shipping container as it features a boxy design, covered wheels, and large side windows.

The windows double as displays that can be used for everything from watching movies to shopping online. To aid in the latter, the concept features “gaze-assisted remote control technology that utilizes the eyes of the user as the controller.”

Besides the concepts, Hyundai Mobis will introduce 19 newly developed technologies that are “mass-producible” and could show up in production vehicles. We’ll learn more about them next month, but the company said we can expect LED grille lighting, a hologram augmented-reality head-up display, and a “future cockpit integrated solution.”

During last month’s unveiling of the 2024 EX90, Volvo teased an entry-level crossover that will be introduced next year.

The company didn’t say anything about it, but Volvo CEO Jim Rowan revealed some details during a lengthy interview with Automotive News Europe.

While the company is keeping specifications under wraps, Rowan called the model an EX30 and said the vehicle is a “really important car for us” as it will enable them to “reach a different price demographic.” He didn’t give a number, but Volvo’s current entry-level EV is the XC40 Recharge and it starts at $53,550. That’s $17,200 more than the ICE-powered XC40 and it puts the electric crossover out of reach for a number of consumers.

Also: Volvo Appears To Tease An Entry-Level Electric SUV For 2023

Despite being relatively affordable, the model promises to have “top safety equipment, a fantastic ride, and high quality.” Rowan went on to say the smaller size will help keep costs down, while the EX30 will offer a variety of battery packs so customers can “choose the range that best fits their lifestyle and their budget.”

Rowan added the model will be offered on a subscription basis with as little as a three-month commitment. He said this will attract a “much younger demographic,” who will probably never even go to a dealership as everything will be handled online. While a three-month commitment isn’t very long, Rowan believes customers will keep their subscriptions for “much longer than three months because they like the flexibility.”

The executive suggested customers could be as young as 18 years old and getting a car for the first time. He said they’ll be attracted by the flexibility and “right price point” as well as the insurance and roadside assistance that is included as part of Care by Volvo.

Rowan went on to say the EX30 will be manufactured in China. It remains unclear if the crossover will also be built elsewhere, but the model is expected to ride on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture.

Besides talking about the EX30, Rowan reiterated the XC90 will be sticking around for “a while.” The EX90 is essentially its replacement, but the executive noted the interior of the United States and the interior provinces of China are taking longer to electrify. He chalked this up to a variety of factors including a lack of charging infrastructure and the fact that people living in these areas have longer commutes. As a result, the XC90 makes more sense for them.

Rowan went on to say these customers “like having the backup of a combustion engine” and explained that XC90 plug-in hybrid owners are “very comfortable buying a second car that is full electric.” In effect, it seems like they want at least one model that can travel long distances without the need for lengthy recharging sessions.

Watching Hoonigan’s Gymkhanas is like driving or reading about supercars. After each encounter you wonder how the people in charge of making the next one are going to maintain, let alone surpass, that level of excitement, energy, and innovation.

But Gymkhana 2022 delivers. Florida is the source of plenty of crazy viral videos, which together with the state’s geography makes it the perfect setting for 10 minutes of madness centered around – but not restricted to – Travis Pastrana and his 862 hp (874 PS) “Family Huckster” Subaru GL.

The heavily modified 2.3-liter turbocharged wagon features active aero and a carbon fiber body, plus some serious floor armour that allows it to slide down a set of parallel rails like a skateboard. And that’s far from the sketchiest stunt in the video which shows Pastrana jumping over a helicopter hovering between two sides of a busted bridge, tracking alongside a fighter jet and racing YouTuber Cleetus McFarland and his 3,000 hp (3,042 PS) Chevy El Camino.

We also see the Scooby pinging off its rev limiter at an indicated 165 mph (266 km/h) on a narrow, curving stretch of roadway heading down to the Florida Keys where he jumps a bridge so wildly that it looks like the car’s about to flip on landing, and drift around a monster truck balancing vertically on its front wheels.

Related: Ken Block Finally Drives The Audi S1 Hoonitron The Way It Was Meant To Be Driven

Pastrana took over from series founder Ken Block in 2020 and any doubts that the series might lose something in the transition have been firmly put to bed with the daredevil’s second outing as the Gymkhana wheelman. Even the sponsored Subaru segment at the end manages to be fun, Pastrana posing as a slimy Florida use car salesman and performing a few spins and jumps in a production 2023 WRX before giving it his seal of approval.

Apart from wondering how many tires the team got through, how badly he was hurt in the opening base jump and how badly the Family Huckster got beat up in the jump outtake at the end, we’ve got one major question: where does the series go from here?

Volkswagen USA today announced that it is rolling out a new software update for the all-electric ID.4. With it, the crossover will get improved navigation features, auto hold, an updated UX, and, intriguingly, a new 12-volt battery.

With the first improvement, users will be able to better filter their search results when they need a charge. They will be able to select only for Electrify America charging stations, on which network they get three years of fast-charging included with their purchase. They can also search for stations based on charging speeds, regardless of provider.

Additionally, the ID.4 will now also get an “Auto Hold” function with this update. This feature allows a driver to let their foot off the brake pedal after they come to a complete stop without the vehicle creeping forward. To get going again, they simply have to press the accelerator pedal. Owners will be able to turn the feature on and off through the infotainment system.

Read: VW To Introduce Plug & Charge And Auto Hold To ID.4 With OTA Update

Speaking of which, Volkswagen also updated the digital instrument screen to provide the driver with more information on the road. The screen will now get a state of charge percentage figure added to the existing battery icon. The current drive mode (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, or Traction) will also be shown on the screen, as will a trip computer that shows information about current driving data and the ambient temperature. In addition, some minor bugs have been fixed and digital security has been improved.

Curiously, as part of this update, Volkswagen says that it will reach out to owners of model year 2021 vehicles and ask them to return their ID.4 to a dealer, where a technician will replace their 12-volt battery. It does not, however, provide any information about why the battery needs replacing.

The automaker states that this “update is a prerequisite for future features,” and a spokesperson confirmed to Carscoops that the battery needs to be replaced to help ensure the proper installation of over-the-air updates in the future.

Indeed, Volkswagen says it plans to add the Plug & Charge to these vehicles in the future, which will allow drivers to simply rock up to a charging station, plug in, and then walk away, while all of the payment stuff will take care of itself.

“The ID.4 has been very successful for Volkswagen—both in bringing new customers into the brand and in introducing traditional ICE drivers to EVs,” said Andrew Savvas, Executive Vice President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Volkswagen North American Region. “We’re excited to upgrade the software in MY21 and certain MY22 ID.4s to enhance the user experience.”

The NHTSA says that it has 15 complaints from Jeep Compass owners saying that their vehicles are shutting off unexpectedly. The nature of the malfunction is similar enough that the NHTSA is opening a preliminary investigation to find out if the issue warrants a full-scale recall. It seems as though the issue is related to a false overheating warning.

According to documentation from the NHTSA “Vehicles experience a dashboard message stating “High Coolant Temperature” or “Coolant Temperature Too High” followed by an immediate engine shutdown.” It also called many of the incidents “self-correcting” or “temporarily corrected”.

It says that because many Jeep owners report that the vehicle would continue as normal after being restarted. In one instance, the vehicle would not restart and had to be towed. As of December 2nd, 2022, it had received 15 complaints specifically about 2019-2020 Compass models.

More: Another Recall For Jeep Gladiator And Wrangler Models, This Time For Seat Belts

One complaint from April 30th of this year seems to sum up the entire breadth of cases save for ones where the Jeep won’t restart. The owner says that “My 2019 Jeep Compass Trail Hawk shuts down either while driving or stopped. The message that appears is “Coolant Temperature Too High”.

It is a severe safety issue as it happens while idling at traffic lights. As soon as I let off the brake it stalls and displays that message. I have to put the Jeep in park, restart the engine. This also happens while driving. Sometimes I can power through.

Once it happened and another error message came up and said “Throttle Engine Service Disabled”. I have had the Jeep to an authorized Jeep service station (Kelly Jeep) many times without resolution. We are concerned about operating the vehicle.”

According to many users on MyJeepCompass, these vehicles aren’t overheating at all. For whatever reason, the ECU detects overheating and subsequently shuts off. A large number of reports there indicate the same exact issue and similar fears about safety. Have you experienced something like this in your Jeep Compass? Let us know in the comments below and keep in mind that you can submit reports directly to the NHTSA via its website.

The McLaren P1 that was famously destroyed by Hurricane Ian in Florida is back up for auction through Copart.

As you may recall, the Volcano Yellow P1 was caught in flood water just one week after the owner purchased it through Bring a Trailer. In November, the car was listed for sale on Copart and a few days ago, sold for a touch over $400,000. However, it didn’t stay sold for very long.

YouTuber TK’s Garage claims that the insurance company that took possession of the car after the hurricane wanted $800,000 for it and placed a $450,000 reserve on the auction. While bidding didn’t quite reach the $450,000 mark, it was apparently enough for the insurer to accept the offer and was officially listed as sold by Copart.

Read: Florida’s Hurricane Ian Takes Out A McLaren P1 Just One Week After Being Purchased

For whatever reason, this sale has fallen through and the hybrid hypercar has been re-listed and will remain available until December 16. At the time of writing, a bid of $259,000 had been placed. While it is unclear if the insurer has adjusted its reserve, that figure is obviously much less than the car could ultimately sell for.

If the car does sell the second time around, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for it. In all likelihood, the next owner will attempt to repair it and sell it for a profit but given that the car remained partially submerged in flood waters for quite some time, repairing it will be a huge challenge and cost an extraordinary amount of money. JK’s Garage suggests that repairing it for less than $400,000 could be extremely difficult.

Whatever the case may be, it will be nice to see someone at least attempt to try and save the car as seeing it scrapped would be a shame.

The dual-motor version of the Polestar 2 has its first over-the-air performance upgrade waiting for North American owners right now. For $1,195, a software update will add 68 hp (50 kW) and 15 lb-ft (20 Nm) of torque to the already quick sedan. Polestar says that it’ll improve numerous performance metrics and won’t require an annual subscription either.

The stock Polestar 2 dual motor develops 408 hp (304 kW) and 487 lb-ft (659 Nm) of torque. That’s a healthy set of figures already but this upgrade brings the grand totals to 476 hp (354 kW) and 502 lb-ft (679 Nm) of torque. Sprinting from 0-60 now takes just 4.2 seconds instead of 4.45 and accelerating from 50-75 mph takes 2.2 seconds instead of 2.7.

Importantly, the $1,195 price tag is a single-time charge that bucks at Mercedes-Benz’s recent release of a yearly performance subscription. Polestar takes a little dig at that system saying “The permanent upgrade is a one-time cost of $1,195, delivering exceptional value without the hassle of a subscription.”

More: Polestar Exec Says Porsche 911 Serves As Benchmark For Its Upcoming Sports Car

How To Get It

Polestar 2 owners who want the OTA upgrade can get it simply by logging into Polestar-shop.com and submitting their VIN number. No additional parts or labor is required for the extra horsepower to take effect. “This upgrade highlights how connected technologies can transform the relationship a car company has with its customers,” said Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar.

“The driving experience in Polestar 2 is something we are really proud of. It is such a fun car to drive already, but with this upgrade, we can offer even more to our customers who might be after a little extra excitement,” he continued.

Customers who are in the process of configuring a new Polestar 2 order can include the upgrade as part of their package. It’s included with the $5,500 Performance package currently available online. In addition to the increased performance output, those who select the package get 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, Öhlins adjustable dampers, and Brembo brakes. On top of that, all Polestar 2s with the hp upgrade will be supplied with updated door stickers denoting the power.

Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed on Monday that 1,920 Blue Oval dealers have signed up for the brand’s Model e Certification progra. Beginning in 2023, these dealers will enjoy exclusive EV-centered perks. The news comes at the same time that many dealers and officials are opposing the program altogether.

Ford’s Model e Certification program features two levels of commitment. The first, Model e Certified, requires any dealer that signs up to make an investment up to $500,000 and caps their electric vehicle sales at 25 units per year. The top level, Model e Certified Elite requires up to a $1.2 million investment but provides more perks for the dealer.

Both investments intend to equip the dealership itself with more EV infrastructure and training to better assist customers. Both will also be required to set no-haggle prices on EVs. Of the 1,920 dealers that signed up, 1,659 chose the Elite program said Farley at the Autonews Congress. Ford has approximately 3,000 dealers across the nation and those who declined to sign up for either program won’t be able to sell EVs beginning in 2023.

More: Ford Dealers Fight Back Against $1.2M EV Certification Calling The Practice ‘Unfair’

On Friday, we closed our first enrollment period for the voluntary Model e EV Dealer Program. As of today, 1,920 @Ford Dealers (65% of the network) have enrolled and joined Ford on its EV journey, which is focused on elevating the customer experience for #EV customers.

— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 5, 2022

Not Everyone Is On Board

According to Autonews, that restriction has officials and dealers upset. Recently, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said that he planned to ask both state authorities as well as the FTC to investigate the legality of the Model e Certification program in light of dealership franchise laws. “I’m convinced there’s a case that needs to be investigated here,” Blumenthal said… “I just think Ford is making a terrible mistake here if it persists in this approach.”

He’s far from the only critical voice. Dealership associations across the country have decried being cut out of the EV sales loop. As we noted back in early November, it seems that dealers don’t want to miss out on the lucrative sales that EVs bring with them but also don’t want to pay to improve the customer experience.

Ford, for its part, says that the program is perfectly legal nationwide. Farley says that customers come first too. “We want to work with our dealers, but there are certain things our customers want that are nonnegotiable… There’s always a better way,” he said. “But I don’t think we made, really, any big mistakes.” Dealers who didn’t sign up will have another chance to do so in 2025.

The voluntary Model e EV Dealer Program shows why @Ford is betting big on dealers. Working together, we will become the center of innovation and growth, and bring new value to customers and our Dealers.

— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 5, 2022

Toyota made its name in the performance segment long before it was building GR Corollas, GR Supras, and GR 86s. One of the cars that helped it accomplish that goal so many decades ago was the Celica. This 1977 example looks great but needs a little bit of work when you get up nice and close.

When it was new, it would’ve made somewhere around 96 horsepower (71 kW) and 120 lb-ft (162 Nm) of torque thanks to a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. Today, we’re not sure how much power it makes but it does have a newer (yet still fairly old) Toyota 22R-TE engine under the hood. When new, these 2.4-liter engines developed around 135 hp (101 kW) and 172 lb-ft (234 Nm) of torque.

That should be more than enough to get it around town with some enjoyable gusto. Power is fed to the rear wheels through five-speed manual transmission reportedly sourced from a Supra. 15-inch Data RA alloy wheels wrapped with Toyo Prozes R888 tires conceal a Wilwood big brake kit at the front. Techno Toy Tuning suspension components, Eibach springs, and KYB adjustable shocks support the car.

More: Jay Leno Has A Look At The Original Toyota Celica

On paper, and from about 10 feet away, this looks like a really fun and eye-catching classic car. Closer up though, there’s some body damage to contend with. One of the wheel arches is broken, another needs new paint, and it’s missing windshield wipers too

A quick look at the interior shows Sparco bucket seats with racing harnesses, a roll cage, and an NR-G steering wheel. At the same time, the climate control lever is missing, the passenger window crank splines are stripped, and the center console mount is loose.

From the looks of it, the entire dashboard could use a refurbishment or replacement. Thankfully, this thing comes with a ton of extra parts from a gauge cluster to camber plates to a tape deck. It certainly looks like a lot of fun over on Bring a Trailer but it might just be too much of another person’s project to mess with. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

In the latest installment of our ongoing series, “Don’t Sign Your Crimes,” Australia’s Sammy Eyles has been charged with multiple offenses after driving an extremely shortened wheelbase car, dubbed “Silly Sid,” on public roads.

Eyles runs the Built Not Bought YouTube channel, as well as a number of associated social media channels including on TikTok and Instagram, which produce automotive entertainment content. According to Queensland police, as part of those activities, the 29-year-old bought a car that had allegedly previously been in the circus whose front and back wheels were just inches apart.

On TikTok, he posted videos of the car being driven on public roads, going through a McDonald’s drive through, and, most alarmingly, rolling over into a ditch. As a result of those videos, a number of which included Eyles being pulled over by the police after ordering fast food, authorities opened an investigation into Eyles’ online activities.

Read: British YouTuber Jailed For Dangerous Driving After Posting His Stunts Online

@sammyeyles Reply to @kazeread ♬ original sound – Sammy Eyles

On September 30, a search warrant was executed of Eyles’ property in Image Flat, and officers seized several items. The police department says that it grounded several vehicles for “allegedly being grossly defective and non-compliant.” The clown car and one other vehicle were seized.

In a video, Eyles admitted that he had filmed he and his friends driving Silly Sid on public roads and said that police took hard drives, computers, phones, and cameras, as well as the two vehicles during the September 30 raid.

“Obviously, I fucked up—I Shouldn’t have driven the car on the road. I was happy to take the fine, but then they kept digging, and digging, and digging,” said Eyles, per Australian’s News. “All my cars are off the road because they’re all bloody dangerous, apparently. You gotta just be a bit more careful about what you do online—you’re in the spotlight all the time.”

Eyles was charged with two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of Careless Driving, two counts of driving with an unrestrained passenger, as well a litany of other, related offenses.

In addition, highway patrol investigators then went to the addresses of nine people who are alleged to have participated in the videos, and issued 70 traffic infringement notices, which amount to $27,800 AUD ($18,652 USD at current exchange rates), as well as a combined 99 demerit points.

“Putting not only your own life at risk but those of your mates for the sake of social media notoriety is childish and selfish behavior,” said Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins in a statment. “Sharing these antics with his large contingent of online followers has come at a significant financial cost, both in fines and the loss of vehicles.”

@sammyeyles Testing went well… #SID ♬ original sound – Sammy Eyles

BMW revealed a comprehensive range of M Performance Parts for the new M2 at the Essen Motor Show along with a high-action clip of the car in action.

The 2023 M2 showcased in Essen is finished in a striking shade of orange with complex patterns throughout. While it doesn’t appear as though this particular color scheme is available to the public, it certainly adds to the already extremely dramatic looks of the BMW sports car, drawing your attention away from some of the more controversial styling elements by adding a few new ones.

As for the M Performance Parts themselves, they start at the front end with a new splitter finished in carbon fiber and featuring aerodynamic fins sitting on either side of the bumper. Carbon fiber trim around the front air intakes is also featured.

A range of accessories can also adorn the sides of the BMW M2 should owners wish, including new carbon fiber skirts and carbon fiber strakes behind both the front and rear wheels. M Performance graphics can also be optioned, if feel less noticeable on the road. And then we get to the rear.

Read: Here Are All The M Performance Parts For The 2023 BMW M2

Immediately catching the eye is the carbon fiber rear wing that looks like it has been ripped directly out of a JDM catalog. BMW’s designers have also crafted a rear bumper with a carbon fiber diffuser and an intriguing stacked exhaust layout complete with stainless steel headers and an all-titanium silencer system. This system also features electronically controlled flaps that can adjust the soundtrack.

Two different wheel designs are available, measuring 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear. The car at Essen has its wheels finished in M Jet Black Matte but they can also be bathed in M Frozen Gold Bronze.