01/16/24 - This Incredible Website Shows You The Best Driving Roads💡, One-Of-A-Kind Pagani You've Never Heard Of 🚗, OFFICIAL: Mazda Developing New Rotary Engines 🏭

GM. Rev up your day with the latest automotive news and insights delivered to your inbox in our exclusive newsletter! What we cover in today’s edition:

• 🚗 Car reveal/review: 

  • One-Of-A-Kind Pagani You've Never Heard Of

  • The First New Lancia Since 2011 Looks Quirky And Cute

  • New Chinese Electric Off-Roader Wants To Take On The World

• 🏭 Industry trend: OFFICIAL: Mazda Developing New Rotary Engines

• 🤖 Auto Tech: Harvard develops a solid state battery that charges in minutes

• 💡 Tips: This Incredible Website Shows You The Best Driving Roads, How to buy an EV in 2024, as electric car sales slow

One-Of-A-Kind Pagani You've Never Heard Of (3 mins read)

Pagani's one-off Zonda Attack, crafted through the Unico program, is based on a Zonda 760. Owner Andy Bruce customized it with black carbon fiber, resembling the Cinque. The bespoke work, costing a considerable amount, includes tuning to 760 RS specifications with a 7.3L V12 producing 750hp. Upgrades feature a revised braking system and racier suspension. The interior blends Alcantara, leather, carbon fiber, metalwork, and tasteful wood trim. While the cost isn't specified, a seven-figure sum is assumed. Read more.

The First New Lancia Since 2011 Looks Quirky And Cute (2 mins read)

Lancia's new Ypsilon, the brand's first product since 2011, debuts undisguised in a promo video, featuring influences from Pu-Ra HPE, 037, and Stratos. Sharing underpinnings with Stellantis products, it has hybrid and electric versions. The electric variant is expected to have a 52-kilowatt-hour battery pack and 156 horsepower, making it the most powerful Ypsilon in history. The current generation, available in Italy, has a 70-hp hybridized three-cylinder engine. Read more.

New Chinese Electric Off-Roader Wants To Take On The World (2 mins read)

Chinese automaker Changan's Deepal sub-brand aims to enter Europe with the G318, a 4x4 model resembling the Land Rover Defender. The SUV, longer than the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, features a ladder-frame and is equipped with two electric motors and a 1.5-liter gasoline range extender. The G318's CLTC-rated range varies from 320 to 746 miles based on battery options. Changan plans to expand into more Asian markets, targeting an annual sales goal of 450,000 by 2024. Read more.

OFFICIAL: Mazda Developing New Rotary Engines (3 mins read)

Mazda establishes a rotary engine development department to operate from February, aiming for carbon-neutral motoring breakthroughs. The move aligns with Mazda's strategy to explore eco-friendly alternatives to EVs. The CEO acknowledges technical challenges but emphasizes the company's intentional focus beyond EVs. The rotary engine returned in June 2023 in the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV. Mazda, known for intentional EV lag, eyes solutions like hydrogen-powered engines or range-extenders, fostering excitement for potential electrified rotary-engine cars. Read more.

Harvard develops a solid state battery that charges in minutes (4 mins read)

Harvard researchers develop a solid-state battery that recharges in 10 minutes, using micron-sized silicon particles in the anode to prevent dendrite formation. The lithium metal battery, licensed to Adden Energy, retains 80% capacity after 6,000 cycles, outperforming pouch cell batteries. The challenge remains mass production at a lower cost, a potential game-changer for EVs. Read more.

This Incredible Website Shows You Where The Good Driving Roads Are (7 mins read)

Curvature, an open-source web app, helps drivers find twisty roads globally. Using OpenStreetMap data, it rates roads based on curves and offers color-coded maps. The passion project, started in 2012, aims to enhance driving experiences, emphasizing fun routes over traditional efficiency-focused navigation tools. Read more.

How to buy an EV in 2024, as electric car sales slow (7 mins read)

This article delves into the evolving landscape of the electric vehicle (EV) market in 2024, navigating challenges such as high auto loan rates and incomplete charging infrastructure. Despite obstacles, there's a promising forecast for increased EV sales, accompanied by enticing price cuts and initiatives to enhance charging infrastructure. Read more.