Hot hatches, hot SUVs, and hot coffee - there's no better way to start your morning than with a fresh brew and Cold Start. Over the last day, the car scene has seen the first spy shots of Maserati's electric grand tourer, the details on the spec of every 2022 Chevy Corvette, and Tesla even hit a two million car milestone at its Fremont factory.
The cars and stories that stole the headlines, though, were hotter still. A new Civic Type R has been revealed, the US Army is testing the new Hummer EV, and Porsche has had to delay the launch of its first electric SUV. Meanwhile, Aston Martin has relaunched its brand identity with a new logo and slogan, and VW told us all about the brand's plans for hotter SUVs for the American market. Start those engines, and let's go!
2023 Honda Civic Type R Revealed
Honda revealed the brand-new Civic Type R but won't tell us just how much power it has, only saying it's more powerful than before. Instead, we got to get up close and personal with the Type R in a static environment, looking at its aesthetics and interior more than how it performs. Still, the brand's latest hot hatch impresses with a six-speed manual gearbox paired with the 2.0-liter turbo engine, which will produce more than the current 306-horsepower version. Visually, the Type R is now more grown up than before, but you still get a hood-mounted vent, a gaping grille (front-mounted intercooler FTW), a prominent rear wing, and a trio of exhaust pipes.
Click here to get to grips with the new Type R
Aston Martin Finds A New Set Of Wings
For just the eighth time in its illustrious - and often troubled - history, Aston Martin has a new logo, or rather a new take on the wing logo inspired by the Egyptian scarab, a sign of new beginnings. Digging deep into minimalism, the brand's new image looks contemporary but classy and is accompanied by a new brand slogan: Intensity. Driven.
This is the first redesign since 2003 and comes on the back of fresh Saudi investment - something much-needed as the brand seeks to leave behind a tumultuous period that has seen Tobias Moers depart as CEO in recent months.
Click here to get the lowdown on Aston's new image
US Army Testing New Hummer EV
The Hummer is synonymous with the military. After all, before it became a symbol of wealth for rappers and celebrities with poor taste, it started as a military vehicle. But today's Hummer is not the same as when it was first conceived, and it's now an electrified charge-hog aiming to attract a specific type of clientele to the electric vehicle movement. But that hasn't stopped the US Army from ordering a Hummer EV for evaluation from GM Defense that could become a new military eLRV (electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle). It remains to be seen whether the Hummer will pass military scrutiny, and if it does, in what capacity it will be used.
Get the inside scoop on the army's Hummer evaluation here
Porsche Forced To Delay Macan EV
Despite working on synthetic fuels to keep combustion alive, Porsche is pushing on towards electrifying 80% of the vehicles it sells by 2030. One of the keys to this strategy is the forthcoming Macan EV, which was scheduled to arrive in 2023. But despite test mules seemingly nearing a production-ready state, Porsche has been forced to delay the market launch of the electric crossover because of software issues - issues that are affecting the broader VW group of car companies as a whole. The Macan EV will now arrive in 2024, shortly before a new range-topping EV above the Cayenne.
Click here to find out more about Porsche's Macan EV problems
VW Wants More Horsepower For American SUVs
While chatting to CarBuzz recently, VW execs confirmed that the German marque is looking at performance variants of some of its most popular SUVs. The subcompact Taos isn't being considered, but VW has told us exclusively that the Tiguan and Atlas will get more powerful versions for the American audience. While these won't be full-blown R models, they will give the crossovers a little more oomph for those who like a little more poke. Expect to see more power arrive when the new generations of these vehicles do, two to three years from now.
Click here to see what else VW told us about its future SUV plans
