Morning. Welcome to our daily digest of the weekend’s automotive news from around the globe, starting with the sad news that…

The Queen Of The ’Ring Passes Away After A Battle With Cancer

Sabine Schmitz, a much-loved personality within the car community, has passed away at the age of 51. The German racing driver and television host leaves behind a legacy that will always be remembered, calving out a name for herself in a male-dominated sport, winning the Nürburgring 24-hour touring car race twice, and reaching global recognition on BBC’s TopGear TV show.


Tesla Model Y Hits Police Patrol Car While On Autopilot

Bad news for fans of autonomy as another autopilot-related crash occurred. The Tesla smashed into a Michigan Police Patrol Car. While Tesla does say that drivers need to continue to pay attention while Autopilot is active, it calls into question whether all that use it are aware of the limitations.


The Peugeot 308 Has Been Unveiled

The striking new Peugeot 308 has been officially revealed, with two hybrid powertrains offered from the get-go. Sadly we won’t be seeing it in the US, as Stellantis has since reversed its decision to bring the French carmaker stateside.


BMW Will Make Mini It’s All-Electric Sub-Brand

Hopping on an ever-increasing bandwagon, Mini will become an all-electric car brand. The last Mini to feature an internal combustion engine will be launched in 2025. By 2030 all Minis will be EV. BMW isn’t going all-in themselves just yet, but they did announce a future EV Rolls Royce.


Prices Revealed For The 2021 Acura TLX Type S

The 2021 TLX Type S will arrive at US dealerships this May, with prices starting in the low $50,000 range. The Type S features an all-new turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 355 hp (265 kW / 360 PS) and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) of torque. Detailed pricing will be announced in the coming weeks.


Get A Load Of Hyundai’s New Space-Ship Err..Staria Minivan

Looking like nothing else in Hyundai’s range, the new Staria is billed as offering “a strikingly futuristic and mysterious exterior, resembling a spaceship”, per the Korean carmaker. We don’t know what will power it yet nor if it will be sold in North America, but all will be revealed in the coming months.


Massive Mitsubishi Heritage Auction

Could Mitsubishi be readying itself to leave the UK? That’s what some are speculating as it announced an auction of many of its heritage vehicles. In the list, you’ll find a mint Starion, some Evos, and even the first-ever registered Mitsubishi on UK roads.


GR Yaris vs. GR Supra

The folks at Carwow have another of their well-known drag races for us. This time it’s the GR Supra vs. the GR Yaris. Think that’s a little unfair? Well, the Yaris has been tuned by Litchfield to deliver 300hp and 385Nm from its 1.6-liter 3-cylinder turbo. Plus, the Yaris is AWD while the Z4, sorry, Supra, is rear-wheel drive.


What Else Is Making The News


The U.S. Bans Three More Chinese Telcos

Three companies that were asked to explain their links to the Chinese state have seen their licenses banned by the FCC US. The companies, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks, and ComNet, may be excluded from the US market after they failed to explain their links to Beijing.


A New Set Of iPads On The Horizon

Apple May Be Launching Its New iPad as early as April, as work from home and homeschooling spurs demand. The devices will have an updated processor on par with the faster M1 chip in the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, reports Bloomberg.