The Auto World

Rivian just picked up Sarah O’Brien, a new communications executive from Meta to lead its own coms department. She’ll take over the role of Chief Communications Officer. Her history includes time at Tesla and Apple and her future looks like one that’s focused on shining a light on Rivian’s latest innovations. O’Brien began working with Tesla in 2016 after more than eight years at Apple. During her time at the tech company, she had a hand in communications surrounding the Apple Watch, the iPhone, iPad, App Store, and the iTunes Music Festival. When she moved over to Tesla her focus included products like the Model 3, Solar Roof, and the Semi Truck according to a statement from Rivian . She moved on from Tesla in mid-2018 and has been at Meta ever since. At Rivian, she’ll oversee product, consumer, internal, and corporate communications. She’ll report directly to CEO RJ Scaringe and released a statement about her vision of Rivian and its future in correlation with the announcement. ...

Barbie might have a house in Malibu, but she’s heading south of the border thanks to Forza Horizon 5 . The highlight, of course, is Barbie’s 1956 Chevrolet Corvette . However, this isn’t your run of the mill model as the convertible is an electromod with a rear bench seat. The Corvette isn’t the only new addition as players will also find Ken’s 2022 GMC Hummer EV . That’s about the most Ken car ever and it’s just the tip of the GM marketing iceberg. More: Maserati And Mattel Create $330,000 Grecale Barbie Edition If you haven’t seen the trailer already, it’s filled with numerous GM products including Corvettes and Suburbans. We can also get a glimpse of the Chevrolet Blazer EV and a Volkswagen Microbus. Getting back to the game, players can get the vehicles through August 14 by opening Forza Horizon 5 and hitting the My Horizon tab. From there, you go to the Message Center and select Gifts. You then look for the message announcing the cars and then download them. As for the mo...

LEGO is celebrating the 70 th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette with an all-new set that pays tribute to the “longest running car nameplate on the market.” Since there’s no better place to start than the beginning, the LEGO Icons Chevrolet Corvette set draws inspiration from the C1. However, the company didn’t opt for the original design as they decided to base it off the 1961 Corvette. More: LEGO Unveils New 1,400-Piece 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Kit View this post on Instagram A post shared by LEGO (@lego) As a result, the car has four headlights, white wall tires, and ‘chrome’ bumpers. The two-tone design also pays homage to the iconic sports car, while the styling isn’t too shabby considering it’s recreated in brick form. Speaking of which, LEGO said the model can be built as a coupe or convertible. Buyers will also find an opening hood and trunk as well as a “detailed engine bay with a spinning radiator fan.” They’re joined...

To say that things are going badly for Lordstown Motors is to put it mildly. Now, following its decision to file for bankruptcy, it has come to light that the automaker may have accidentally sold a majority of its shares to Foxconn for pennies on the dollar. As the name suggests, Lordstown was founded in Lordstown, Ohio, and started developing electric pickups in a former GM plant. However, a number of scandals rocked the company and in 2021 it sold 10 percent of itself to Foxconn. As the electric vehicle manufacturer’s struggles continued, the deal soured, with recent reports claim that the head of a Foxconn subsidiary refused to even meet with Lordstown’s CEO after he traveled to Taiwan, per Bloomberg . Over time, the American startup’s shares slid so far that it was at risk of being delisted on the Nasdaq stock exchange, which could have torpedoed its deal with Foxconn . To keep itself listed, Lordstown performed a reverse stock split, which effectively combines shares – in th...

The historic hill climb at Pikes Peak once again demonstrated its perilous nature this year when a 1949 Ford F1 racing truck drove off the cliff due to a mechanical failure. Scott Birdsall’s endeavor to surpass his previous record resulted in a staggering 175-ft fall (over 53 meters). Miraculously, he managed to walk away from the incident without sustaining any injuries. The “Old Smokey F1,” a vintage Ford truck heavily modified with a 1,400-hp Cummins engine, has held the Pikes Peak record for diesel-powered vehicles since 2020. In an attempt to improve his previous time of 11:24.065, Birdsall encountered a brake failure just before the treacherous “lighting” corner, making the horrifying accident virtually unavoidable. Onboard camera footage captures the precise moment when the driver realized the absence of functioning brakes. More: BMW XM Gunning For Lamborghini’s Record At Pikes Peak Fails In Spectacular Fashion According to Birdsall from Chuckles Garage , he recounted t...

Infiniti’s lineup used to ooze cool, but the closest we get these days is the aging QX80 . A redesigned model is thankfully on the horizon and we’re getting a special look at it today. While the prototype is heavily disguised, it’s instantly recognizable and features classic styling cues such as front fender vents and a boxy design. However, there are big changes as the model adopts a more expressive front fascia with split lighting units and a massive grille. The latter also houses the company’s new logo , although it’s covered by camouflage. Further below, we can see an evolutionary intake and air curtains beneath the headlights. They’re joined by a small camera, which faces down and should aid when parking or off-roading. 2025 Infiniti QX80: Styling, Powertrains And Everything Else We Know While the body appears evolutionary, it features a streamlined design and flush-mounted door handles. The greenhouse has also been updated as there’s a more expansive second-row window as ...

The largely unpopular Toyota Camry Solara Convertible was intended to replace the drop-top Celica in North America, but the owner of the car shows in the picture drew inspiration from the Tacoma , creating a distinctive, albeit somewhat irrational, combination of various vehicle segments. Although the front of the vehicle appears similar to a typical second-generation Solara Convertible, a closer inspection of the rear exposes its peculiar pickup conversion, making it even less visually appealing than the original model. The back of the car, including the fenders, taillights, tailgate, and bumper, has been sourced from a first-generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Some alterations have been made to seamlessly blend these components with the Solara’s bodywork. Read: This Toyota Camry Solara Identifies As A BMW E60 M5 Convertible Due to the presence of the still-functional reclining soft top, the rear bed is a lot shorter than it was in the original Ford pickup, leaving enough roo...

Electrify America operates one of the largest charging networks in the United States, so their decision to embrace the North American Charging Standard (NACS) is huge news and another step towards making the Combined Charging System (CCS) the Betamax of a new generation. As announced earlier today, Electrify America and Electrify Canada will add NACS connectors to their network by 2025. The companies said the move is part of their “commitment to broaden charging solutions for electric vehicle drivers today and in the future.” Of course with Ford, GM, Volvo, and Polestar embracing Tesla’s charging standard , not adopting NACS would be detrimental to their business. While NACS is finally beginning to live up to its name, Electrify America isn’t giving up on CCS connectors. Instead, the two will coexist to “make charging as convenient as possible for EV owners.” More: EVgo Becomes Latest Firm To Embrace Tesla’s Charging Standard Following Ford And GM Since Electrify America is a s...

Donkervoort revealed the first “Bare Naked” F22 with an exposed carbon fiber bodywork which is destined for a customer in the Middle East . The optional feature shaves a few pounds from the already featherweight F22, while improving its visual appeal. Donkervoort’s Bare Naked treatment was originally introduced as a limited-edition series but is now available as a factory option for all F22 owners. According to managing director Denis Donkervoort, the option shows an “unprecedented level of popularity among the first wave of F22 clients” and is proven to have an “even stronger positive influence on values”. More: New Donkervoort F22 Breaks Cover As A 492 HP Supercar That Weighs 750kg In the Bare Naked F22, the exposed Ex-Core carbon-fiber bodywork with either a clear or a colored coat finish shaves off 10 kg (22 pounds), with another 10 kg (22 pounds) shaved by the optional carbon-fiber wheels . As a result, the supercar can tip the scales at 730 kg (1,609 pounds), compared to...

BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is a key part of Ford’s plan to get ready for a large-scale shift to EVs and the $3.5 billion project is expected to create around 2,500 jobs for the local community. But not everyone living close the planned site is ecstatic about the venture. A group of Michigan residents in Marshall, where Ford wants to open the battery park in 2026, are suing local government officials in an attempt to halt the project. The group calls itself “Committee for Marshall — Not the Megasite” and has filed a suit in Calhoun County Circuit Court claiming that the plant could pose an environmental risk to the Kalamazoo River and the agricultural lands around the city of Marshall. The Committee had filed a petition demanding a vote on the decision to rezone 741 acres of farming land as industrial for Ford’s use, but Marshall officials rejected the petition, claiming it didn’t have enough signatures. Now the anti-battery site protestors have filed a suit in an attempt to ov...

Though we’ve yet to have the pleasure ourselves, we imagine picking up your first ever brand new Ferrari after waiting a year and a half to take delivery must be an incredibly special experience, and one that throws up a lot of conflicting emotions. While your head is telling you to take it easy, and treat the car with kid gloves until you’ve got a few gentle miles on the motor and become used to the way it drives, your heart is goading you into giving the thing death the moment you leave the showroom. YouTuber Jake Paul started out in head-mode when he collected his 296 GTB, but quickly let his heart take over. And the hybrid Ferrari didn’t like it, the baby exotic suffering a minor meltdown with the odometer showing just 56 miles (90 km). After testing out the 819 hp (830 PS) 296 ’s 2.9-second zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) straight line performance, Paul decamps to a parking lot to pull off some donuts. And we’re not just talking about a couple of easy circles, these were fairly bru...