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Microlino 2.0 production is slated to start in March 2022 in Turin, Italy, with the first deliveries expected in April or May.The bubble car will go on sale in Switzerland first, before spreading to other western European markets.With an estimated top range of 143 miles when equipped with a 14.0-kWh battery, the Microlino 2.0 could prove to be a popular alternative to other small EVs as well as scooters and e-bikes.The bubble-shaped Microlino 2.0 is headed into production in a matter of weeks, despite delays and disruptions prompted by the pandemic. Micro Mobility Systems has revealed that production will begin in March 2022, following the model’s favorable debut at the Munich IAA Mobility show last fall.The Isetta-styled EV, designed and engineered by a Swiss company, is slated to be produced in Turin, Italy, and to go on sale in Switzerland later this year before a wider rollout in Europe. The two-seater will feature a 25-hp engine drawing power from a choice of three batteries, offering 6.0-, 10.5-, and 14.0-kWh capacities, which are expected to be good for 60, 109, and 143 miles of range, respectively.

Micro Mobility Systems says that it is already producing pre-production examples for testing and process optimization, despite some component shortages. The company projects that the first customer examples will be delivered in April or May. The configurator is expected to go live in February, with the company reporting more than 24,000 reservations in fall 2021.”Our goal was to deliver the first vehicles to customers within the end of the year [2021], but the worldwide supply-chain chaos is affecting us like many other carmakers,” the company indicated. “Despite our preparations to order crucial parts way in advance, the situation has gotten much worse and is now affecting more and more parts. Now, even commodity parts like simple connectors for the wiring harness have become scarce and have lead times of up to 50 weeks!”The company has shared short videos, including the prototype drive below and a clip revealing some of the production hardware for the Microlino, including a stamping press and assembly robots.
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The bubble car won’t actually be classified as a car in the EU but rather as a quadricycle, allowing for more liberal licensing, but its 56-mph top speed will also keep it off the autoroutes. With a starting price of around $14,000, the Microlino 2.0 could be a popular alternative to other low-ranged EVs and electric scooters, as well as some actual electric cars with similar ranges.For example, the longest-range 143-mile trim level could eclipse the ranges of some larger EVs like the Mini Cooper SE and the Mazda MX-30, but it will be far cheaper to purchase and use for in-town driving, while taking up far less parking space than even something relatively small, like a Volkswagen ID.3. These range numbers are unofficial for now, but given its modest power requirements, a small and light vehicle can stretch its range past larger EVs even with a smaller battery.”The long-anticipated online configurator is almost ready and will be launched in February, with the first test drive events following soon afterwards,” the company added. “Apart from the three editions Urban, Dolce, and Competizione that we already unveiled, we will introduce the exclusive limited-edition for the first 500 Microlinos ever produced, called Pioneer Series.”Micro Mobility Systems does not have plans to offer the Microlino 2.0 in the U.S. at the moment, and given the reception that small electric hatches have received, that may seem quite logical. The main constraint for its maker at the moment is production capacity in Turin, given the demand in Europe. It will be quite some time before the Microlino could be ready for other global markets, ones friendlier to small EVs, with the company prioritizing western Europe first.

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Ford revealed the new Mondeo at its China Design Center in Shanghai today, calling the sedan’s look “a bold new design language for China.”The new model will go on sale in China this year.If things were different and Ford hadn’t chosen to concentrate on SUVs and trucks in the U.S., this could have been the next Fusion for us.Ford killed off the Fusion mid-size sedan along with all of its other passenger cars in the U.S., but the four-door lives on in other markets. Now Ford has unveiled the new Mondeo for the China market, and it gives us an idea of what the next Fusion could have been in an alternate universe.The Mondeo follows Ford’s design language, which is also seen on the Evos and other China-market products, with a somewhat angular front end. The proportions are conventional mid-size-sedan fare, and the rear end takes cues from the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover.

Ford

Ford

Ford hasn’t released mechanical details on the new Mondeo, but we reckon it’s front-wheel drive and powered by a turbo four-cylinder gas engine of some kind. The related Lincoln Zephyr sedan, also for China, has a turbo 2.0-liter four, but the Mondeo will likely offer smaller-displacement engines as well.

Ford

There’s no chance we’ll see the Mondeo on our shores anytime soon, as Ford is committed to its SUV and truck strategy in the States. But there have been rumors of a Fusion Active lifted wagon for a while, so it’s possible that model could be related to this Mondeo if it ever comes to fruition.
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Movie cars headed to auction are not rare, but this particular example, a 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible seen in the 1988 movie Rain Man, has never been available for sale since actor Dustin Hoffman acquired it after the movie wrapped and kept it.Bonhams, presenting it at its Scottsdale auction on January 27, expects the Buick to bring in somewhere between $150,000 and $250,000.Other delightful classics up for sale that day include a 1958 AC Ace roadster, a 1989 Lamborghini Countach, and a 1965 Jaguar E-type coupe.If the Academy Awards ever handed out a prize for Best Supporting Car, the 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible seen in the 1988 movie Rain Man should at least be a contender. Hagerty said as much in a profile of this famous car a few years ago, noting that it was a sort of third character in the film. The movie also raised awareness for autism at a time when that wasn’t a common topic of discussion. Whether or not you’re interested in the car for its movie connection, you’ll have a chance to buy it when the Bonhams auction firm’s Scottsdale auction starts taking bids later this month.
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The 2022 edition of the Bonhams Scottsdale auction will feature way more classic cars along with the Roadmaster, including a 1958 AC Ace roadster (expected to go for $325,000 to $375,000), a 1989 Lamborghini Countach (up to $350,000), and a 1965 Jaguar E-type Series I 4.2 coupe (up to $275,000).

Bonhams

But it’s the “I’m an excellent driver” Roadmaster that attracted our attention. Bonhams expects the Buick to fetch between $150,000 and $250,000 when the bids are all said and done. Not bad for a vehicle that sold for $3150 when it was new (around $34,045 in today’s money), especially considering that similar Roadmasters, ones that were not once the conveyance of actors Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, usually go for around $80,000.

Bonhams

The 1949 Buick Roadmaster has a 320-cubic-inch inline-eight-cylinder engine. It produces 150 horsepower that goes through a two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission to the wheels. The car features an independent front suspension and four hydraulic drum brakes.

Bonhams

The vehicle that will be sold at the Bonhams Scottsdale auction on January 27 is one of two that were used in the filming of Rain Man. Hoffman, who played the character Raymond Babbitt in the film, acquired the car after shooting wrapped. Bonhams said it has “remained in Hoffman’s ownership” but has been restored by Larry Payne of Glendora, California. Since the car hasn’t been seen much in the decades since Hoffman got it—it was shown at a 1989 Buick Car Club event—it looks pristine. It’s time to let someone else drive it anywhere they want, as slow as they want.

Bonhams

Rain Man was awarded Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989. Hoffman also won for Best Actor. “The Buick’s been in storage too long,” Hoffman said in a statement. “It should be driven, enjoyed, and cherished.”The auction will be January 27 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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The 2022 Porsche Cayenne Platinum Edition is available in SUV and coupe body styles.The least expensive Cayenne Platinum Edition starts at $80,350.The Platinum Edition kit is available on Cayenne, Cayenne S, and Cayenne E-Hybrid models.Porsche’s flagship Panamera is no longer the only vehicle from the German brand to sprout a stylish Platinum Edition trim. Now the Cayenne welcomes the Platinum Edition kit to its SUV and coupe body styles for 2022 as well. Despite its moniker, the Platinum Edition of Porsche’s mid-sizer does not include any bits of the previous metal it’s named after, just attractive platinum-painted details. In the case of its Cayenne Platinum Edition, Porsche applies a coat of Satin Platinum paint to a number of the vehicle’s badges, as well as its fascia-mounted intake treatment and its distinct 21-inch wheels. Black exhaust tips and window trim add an extra hint of menace to the model.
Looking to add some color to your Cayenne Platinum Edition? Then we hope you like dark brown or blue, otherwise, you’re looking at variants of black, white, or light gray (Chalk in Porsche-speak). Regardless of its exterior hue, the Cayenne Platinum Edition comes fitted with Chalk-colored seatbelts, textured aluminum interior trim, and model-specific brushed-aluminum kick plates. With a starting price of $80,350, the Platinum Edition SUV costs $10,000 more than its run-of-the-mill counterpart (the Platinum Edition coupe, meanwhile, starts at $84,650, or $5800 more than the standard Cayenne coupe). The extra coin, however, nets the Platinum Edition a number of goodies that Porsche charges extra for in lesser Cayennes. This includes swiveling LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, Bose premium audio, eight-way power sport seats, and ambient interior lighting. The highest-priced Platinum models are the E-Hybrid coupe at $95,150 and the Cayenne S coupe at $96,950.Look for the 2022 Porsche Cayenne Platinum Edition SUV and coupe to go on sale this summer in 335-hp Cayenne, 434-hp Cayenne S, and 455-hp Cayenne E-Hybrid forms.
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Hyundai has announced it’s recalling 26,413 2020 Sonata and Elantra sedans and 2020–2021 Santa Fe SUVs to fix a windshield problem.Improper bonding of the windshield because of faulty clearcoat paint means that the windshield could detach in a crash.No accidents or injuries have yet been reported as a result, and owners of affected vehicles will be notified to bring their vehicles in for the recall starting February 25.Hyundai will recall 26,413 of its 2020 and 2021 vehicles because the windshield may be improperly attached and could come loose in a crash. A recall report filed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains that the use of “non-conforming” flow additive mixed into clearcoat paint from a supplier, Axalta, may have caused “inadequate adhesion of the front windshield to the vehicle structure.” According to the report, drivers of affected Hyundais may notice wind noise or water leaking from the windshield. The recall involves 8256 2021 Elantra, 8561 2020 and 2021 Santa Fe, and 9596 2021 Sonata vehicles assembled beginning October 29, 2020. The report states that Hyundai stopped using the “suspect nonconforming clearcoat paint” on vehicles after December 16, 2020, and that there have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of the windshield issue.Hyundai will notify owners of the affected vehicles on February 25 and will remove and reinstall the windshields at no charge. In the meantime, owners can check the NHTSA recalls website to see if their vehicle is one of those being recalled.

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