Hey there car enthusiast!

Before we start, here’s a quick quiz to test your automotive nerdery.

The Roadmap:

1. The best April Fool’s pranks

2. 1.6L EcoBoost-swapped Ford Festiva

3. DIY legend Chris Cutler passes away

4. Subaru techs trash customer’s car

5. Fails

6. Electrifying Updates

   • Climate protestors now target EVs

   • Autonomous car passes driver’s license test

   • Cybertrucks put on a light show

   • This EV company spent $1.7 million on their CEO’s private jet

7. Meme Corner

Read Time: 5 minutes

The best April Fool’s pranks by automakers this year

🥇 Rimac’s Hot Hatch

Mate Rimac shared this render on his socials hinting at the potential “spiritual successor of the Yugo – in every way.”

🥈 Mercedes’ MBUX Bark Assist

Mercedes announced a new feature of their MBUX system that could “decode the barking of four-legged friends and recognize their needs.”

They went a step further by saying that the canines would be able to “operate selected vehicle functions independently” in the future.

🥉 Subaru BRZ Wilderness

Oh, how I wished this wasn’t a prank.

The BRZ Wilderness would have been a fun and affordable alternative to the Huracan Sterrato and 911 Dakar.

1.6L EcoBoost-swapped Ford Festiva

If Ford made a performance version of the Festiva in the 80’s, it would look something like this.

• The 1988 Festiva 1.3 engine was swapped with a 1.6-liter EcoBoost from a modern-day Ford Fiesta ST

• The engine has been further modified with a

  • Turbo Technics S280 turbocharger

  • Turbosmart wastegate and blow-off valve

  • TunePlus ECU tune

  • Mishimoto radiator

  • Whoosh Motorsports intercooler

• It makes around 300 horsepower, a 5x over over the original 58-hp

• The car weighs 1,500 pounds and has a host of chassis upgrades to handle the power

I bet it’s a hoot to drive!

Check out the owner’s Instagram page to learn more.

DIY legend Chris Cutler passes away

Chris was a renowned NSX enthusiast and a skilled DIYer.

His custom NSX trailer and roof tent gained a lot of internet attention, even making its way into the NFS game.

Sadly, he passed away on April 1, following a crash involving a Honda S2000.

The cause of the crash remains unclear, and police have not disclosed further details.

Subaru workers
trash customer’s car

The customer, Crandall Yopp Jr. is suing the dealership.

Here’s what happened:

• Yopp dropped off his 2022 Subaru WRX at the dealer for an oil change

• He instructs the dealer not to wash the car as it was ceramic coated

• When he got the car back, there were swirl marks on the paint, and the front license plate was bent

It gets worse…

• The car was washed offsite to cover up evidence after 2 technicians took the car for a joyride

• One of the techs used the car to learn how to drive stick, and even asked the other tech, “How long are we gonna practice for—five stalls?"

The service manager at Dan Perkins Subaru was aware of what happened, and multiple employees allegedly tried to cover up the damage by cleaning up the interior and attempting to bend the license plate back into place.

1. A 13-year-old wrecks a Lamborghini Huraca

The kid wanted to impress a friend, who was also a passenger.

While the car was heavily damaged, both occupants escaped unhurt and are facing serious charges.

2. Lane merge goes wrong

It’s clear who's at fault here.

What makes matters worse is that the guilty driver tried to blame the dash cam car driver.

3. “Ejecto seato cuz…”

Can you spot the second guy being “ejected”?

Always wear your seatbelts folks!

Climate protestors now target EVs

Protestors from the ‘Extinction Rebellion’ were dragged out of the New York International Auto Show after throwing oil on a Ford F-150 Lightning and the show floor while shouting “no EVs on a dead planet.”

They claimed that the manufacturing process of EVs still uses a lot of natural resources like steel, and its production is responsible for 11 percent of global CO2 emissions.

Autonomous Hyundai Ioniq 5 passes driver’s license test

The AAA revealed that 66 percent of Americans are afraid of autonomous vehicles.

To lower that number, Hyundai subjected its autonomous Ioniq 5 to a driving test in Las Vegas.

The examiner, Kandice Jones, has over 25 years of experience, with a pass rate of just 16%, indicating her high standards. 

The car passed with flying colors!

Cybertrucks put on a light show for a special delivery event

Tesla’s Marina Del Rey delivery center had a special event for a Cybertruck delivery.

The full video with orchestral music can be watched here.

Owners of a Cybertruck can make their own light show by heading over to GitHub, downloading the desired file, and loading it onto a Tesla via a USB.

Canoo made $886,000 but spent $1.7 million on their CEO’s private jet

EV manufacturer Canoo seems to be in deep waters.

They sold just 22 vehicles in 2023 to organizations like Walmart, Kingbee, and NASA.

While they made $886,000, they spent double the amount on private jets for their CEO.

Projections are $50 and $100 million during 2024, but it’s going to be an uphill battle for them to get there.