03/18/24 - The Latest Brabus S-Class 🚗, The U.S. auto industry's dirty little secret 🤫, Honda and Nissan partner on EV and safety tech 🤖

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: 

  • The Latest Brabus S-Class Is a Hybrid With 930 HP

  • Test-Driving The First Rolls-Royce EV

  • 2024 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid

• 🏭 Industry trend: The U.S. auto industry's dirty little secret, CEO Angela Chao's Fatal Tesla Accident: New Details Emerge After Weeks of Speculation

• 🤖 Auto Tech: Honda and Nissan confirm they may team up on electric cars and safety tech, GM uses AI tool to determine which truck stops should get EV chargers

The Latest Brabus S-Class Is a Hybrid With 930 HP (2 mins read)

Brabus unveils the 930 S, based on the Mercedes-AMG S63 E-Performance, boasting 930 hp and 1113.7 lb-ft of torque. It accelerates 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds, tops at 180 mph. Visual tweaks include carbon fiber and 22-inch wheels, while the interior offers lavish quilted leather. Priced at €405,000 ($441,000), it weighs 5730 pounds and claims 53.5 mpg. Read more.

Test-Driving The First Rolls-Royce EV (7 mins read)

Rolls-Royce introduces the Spectre, its first electric car, priced at around $420,000. It features a 102 kWh battery pack, two electric motors, and offers seating for four adults. Customization options are extensive. Weighing close to three tons, it accelerates to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. With a range of 262 miles, it boasts a maximum charge rate of 195 kW. Read more.

2024 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid (10 mins read)

Porsche introduces the third-generation Panamera, featuring a 2894cc twin-turbo V6 engine with 353hp, priced at $105,000 USD. A twin-turbo V8 variant, Turbo E-Hybrid, offers 680hp with an electric motor, priced at $187,000 USD. Both models come with an eight-speed double clutch transmission. Read more.

The U.S. auto industry's dirty little secret: plummeting quality (5 mins read)

IJ.D. Power's analysis reveals a doubling of car problems in the last five years due to pandemic disruptions and technological challenges. The study covers 2023 model-year vehicles, with the industry average IQS score showing a significant decline in reliability since 2010. Lexus emerges as the most reliable brand, outperforming others by at least 10% over the past decade. Land Rover tops the list for unreliability. Read more.

CEO Angela Chao's Fatal Tesla Accident: New Details Emerge After Weeks of Speculation (3 mins read)

Angela Chao's fatal Tesla accident in Texas has sparked concerns over vehicle malfunctions. Reports suggest her Tesla veered into a pond. Twelve complaints about Tesla's reverse function, including gearshift confusion and unexpected shifts between drive and reverse, add complexity. Legal proceedings in California are set to resume, with fresh evidence challenging Tesla's Autopilot technology. Read more.

Honda and Nissan confirm they may team up on electric cars, safety tech (4 mins read)

Nissan and Honda explore partnership in electric vehicles and safety tech. CEOs discuss cooperation's potential at a press conference. Possible sharing of electric components and software platforms. Global partnership to meet EU's 2035 EV deadline. No badge engineering or capital cross-holdings yet. Cultural differences acknowledged, with potential for collaboration. Read more.

GM uses AI tool to determine which truck stops should get EV chargers (4 mins read)

General Motors (GM) employs AI to determine locations for new electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers. GM's aim: simplifying processes, from manufacturing to customer experience. Collaboration with Pilot to deploy 2,000 chargers in the US. Cost concerns addressed; each charger ranges from $100,000 to $300,000. GM's data scientists utilize GIS datasets and traffic data to select optimal sites. Read more.