Hello, SpeedBiters! Here's what's on the menu today:

• Sony's Afeela 1 Reservations Open

• Cybertruck Data Sparks Privacy Concerns

• New York's Congestion Fees Begin

• Ferrari's First EV Spotted Testing

• Dodge Sells One New Viper in 2024

...and more!

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo will make a dynamic debut at the Bathurst 12 Hour race later this month a year after its original unveiling at the 2023 Gran Turismo World Series finals in Barcelona. The event will also signify Genesis's entry into motorsport, with the brand already unveiling its GMR-001 prototype for the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. [GTPlanet]

The car has transformed from a symbol of freedom to a surveillance tool as evidenced by police using Tesla data to investigate the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas. Concerns about privacy and data collection practices by automakers have grown, with reports highlighting the extent of information gathered and the potential for misuse. [Carscoops]

VW committed to switching to NACS in 2025, following Ford's earlier adoption of Tesla's charging standard. The company plans to provide access to its EVs for Tesla's charging network by mid-2025, although the timeline for its sub-brands remains unspecified. [Electrek]

The Afeela 1, a Sony-designed car developed in collaboration with Honda, is available to reserve now ahead of its planned arrival on the US market in mid-2026 and priced from $89,900. The vehicle features two specifications, advanced connectivity technology, and is projected to have a 300-mile range. [GTPlanet]

The first all-electric Ferrari is expected to make its first official appearance later this year, with testing revealing an updated design and features. The vehicle will be a crossover SUV, and Ferrari aims for EVs and plug-in hybrids to account for 60% of sales by 2026. [Electrek]

Some Lexus GX owners are reporting that their vehicles' components are melting in the sun, raising concerns about the vehicle's quality. Despite the vehicle's accolades, owners have shared experiences of heat damage to parts like mirror caps and door trim, leading to discussions about potential causes and solutions. [The Drive]

Lucid Motors ended 2024 with a bang, reporting record deliveries both on a quarterly basis and for the full year, while facing challenges in brand awareness and market size. The company aims to increase sales significantly to improve its financial situation and has plans to address these issues moving forward. [InsideEVs]

Pebble has revealed its updated production-intent design for the Flow solar-electric travel trailer, which incorporates community feedback and features several upgrades aimed at enhancing user experience. Production is expected to begin in early 2025, with initial deliveries of the exclusive Founders Edition set for spring. [Electrek]

Mazda is stepping up its electrification efforts by announcing plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Japan focused exclusively on producing EV batteries that will power its first model on a dedicated electric vehicle platform. The factory, located in Iwakuni City, will supply battery modules primarily from Panasonic Energy and is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 10 GWh. [Carscoops]

MOTORSPORT

Formula 1 has announced TAG Heuer as the first individual partner as part of its 10-year deal with LVMH, replacing Rolex as the championship's official timekeeper. The partnership marks TAG Heuer's return to F1 after previously serving as timekeeper from 1992 to 2003 and highlights the brand's long-standing connection to the sport. [Motorsport​.com]

The IndyCar Series has gained significant momentum this offseason as it explores potential races in Denver and Mexico following the announcement of the Grand Prix of Arlington for 2026. Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment, indicated that while nothing is confirmed, both markets are currently being evaluated for future events. [Autosport]

The FIA, ACO, and Hypercar manufacturers are debating potential restrictions on mid-season performance updates to enhance the Balance of Performance and reduce the escalating arms race in top-class prototypes. The discussions indicate a shift towards a more structured update cycle, although no concrete plans or deadlines have been established yet. [RACER]

The long-awaited and highly anticipated NASCAR debut of Helio Castroneves will take place next month at Daytona International Speedway as Trackhouse Racing announced it will field a car for him to attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500. Castroneves, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, will be teammates with Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Daniel Suarez, with Darian Grubb serving as crew chief. [RACER]

Overdrive Toyota's Yazeed Al Rajhi thought he had achieved the best accumulated time over the two days this time around, but it was his teammate Rokas Baciuška who took his first stage victory after being recredited time lost due to faulty refueling. [RACER]

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes has explained why the French squad opted for Mercedes power units over rival options as it transitions from a works operation to a customer team for the 2026 F1 season. The decision comes after the team struggled with engine competitiveness and aims to improve performance by reallocating resources and adopting a higher-performing power unit. [RacingNews365]

A new era of F1 will commence in 2026 when fresh technical regulations threaten to shake up the pecking order, as Red Bull team principal Christian Horner outlines the significant changes to both aero components and power units. The upcoming 2025 season is expected to be highly competitive as teams adapt to the current regulations, leading to a tighter race for dominance. [RacingNews365]

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are entering their third season paired together as team-mates at Aston Martin, with Alonso indicating that Stroll will soon take on a leadership role within the team. Alonso, who is contracted until the end of the 2026 season, expressed a desire to support Stroll as he prepares for future responsibilities. [RacingNews365]

Nico Hulkenberg has leapt to Lewis Hamilton's defence after Hamilton expressed frustration over his recent performance in qualifying. Hulkenberg acknowledged Hamilton's struggles with the current generation of cars and emphasized that even experienced drivers can be affected by competition from teammates. [RacingNews365]

FUN STUFF

New York City is now officially the first locale inside the United States to utilize "congestion pricing". The program requires drivers entering the busiest areas to pay fines, with rates varying based on vehicle type and time of day, while also facing opposition from local residents and New Jersey officials. [TheTruthAboutCars]

Vietnamese authorities are paying civilians to report road safety violations in an effort to reduce dangerous driving behaviors. The initiative offers rewards of up to 5 million VND ($200) for submitted evidence, alongside increased fines and enhanced surveillance measures to improve overall road safety. [Carscoops]

Toyota's futuristic Woven City, which is being built on the site of a former car factory in Japan, is almost ready for its first residents. The city aims to serve as a living laboratory for innovation, welcoming its first 100 residents in fall 2025, primarily employees of Toyota and its subsidiary. [The Verge - Transportation]

Continental has used CES to showcase their window projection technology that allows external displays on vehicles to convey information to onlookers. The system combines a mini projector with a darkening side window and includes AI-driven software to personalize content based on user preferences and situational data. [Carscoops]

Stellantis experienced a challenging year in 2024 with declining sales and leadership changes, but managed to sell a new Dodge Viper, which had been out of production since 2017. The sale of the Viper, alongside other long-discontinued models like the Dart and Caravan, highlights the lingering interest in these vehicles despite their absence from the market. [Jalopnik]

People started testing their durability claims and documenting the results on YouTube as soon as Cybertrucks began finding their way into owners' hands. In a recent video, Cody Detwiler, known as WhistlinDiesel, conducted a second durability test comparing the Tesla Cybertruck and a Ford F-150, resulting in significant damage to both vehicles. [Carscoops]

Rhys Herd and his R44 Performance garage has built an all-wheel-drive G87 M2 to take on the drag racing scene. The London, UK-based outfit has produced a 1,500hp version of the car, which will make its racing debut at the TX2K25 event in Texas this March. [Speedhunters]

Michael Uehli swapped out the original digital gauges from his 1992 Nissan 300ZX for a custom layout inspired by Street Fighter II, which creatively displays driving information using iconic characters and their actions. The layout, designed by GasketFuka, is available for other digital gauge screens and offers various themes beyond Street Fighter. [The Drive]

The Dolomite Sprint has for a long time been one of those old Triumphs you just never, ever see, despite its historical significance and once notable popularity. The article highlights a rare survivor of this model, a late 1980 car that has undergone extensive restoration and is now being offered for sale at £30,000. [PistonHeads​.com]

That's all for today! We would love to hear your feedback, so just reply to this message to let us know what you thought about this issue. See you next time!