Many automakers chasing autonomy have settled on roughly the same hardware recipe: cameras, radar, and LiDAR, each covering for the others’ weaknesses. Tesla went the other way. Its driver-assist suite leans entirely on cameras, no radar, no LiDAR. While using a vision-only system has some advantages, it also has some drawbacks, including issues caused by dirty camera lenses.

Tesla is aware of the problem. Recent Cybercab prototypes have turned up wearing small washer jets aimed at the exterior cameras, spraying them clean as needed. A patent filing suggests the company wants to go further than a squirt of fluid.

Read: Tesla’s Model Y Robotaxis Can Squirt Now, But Yours Still Can’t

An image from the patent depicts the entire camera unit, including a tiny fluid reservoir that can spray water onto the camera’s lens. Tesla has also designed a tiny wiper blade that can sweep across the lens, ensuring it’s as clean as possible. This blade will be driven by a small wiper motor, also incorporated into the camera’s housing, Not A Tesla App notes.

It’s an innovative solution and could help to overcome some of the issues Tesla’s vision system experiences. Of course, a setup like this won’t help Tesla’s cameras in dealing with sun glare, for example, which can impact how the automated driving systems work.

It’s also unclear if all of the exterior cameras used by current Tesla models could be fitted with these units, as they are noticeably larger than just having a camera. At the very least, Tesla may be able to squeeze camera units like these into the front of its vehicles, as well as the front quarter panels, and the rear, among the most important cameras it uses to capture 360-degree images.

Of course, these camera units will be more expensive than those currently used and, with more moving parts, will also be more prone to failure. But, as Tesla seeks to achieve full autonomy, they may be necessary.

The rumor mill around Subaru’s performance division has been working overtime lately. Fans of Subaru Tecnica International have spent months chasing reports of a returning WRX STI hot hatch, but the company may also be working on a new sports coupe with a proper STI variant attached.

The Trademarks

According to CarSales, Subaru has trademarked the ACX and ACX STI nameplates with IP Australia, a callback to the ACX-II concept car from 1985. The Australian outlet leans toward a gasoline-powered application, pointing to separate “Flat Shift” and “Rev Sync” filings as supporting evidence. However, trademarks lodged elsewhere in the world tell a different story.

More: Subaru Can’t Sell You A Proper WRX STI, But It’ll Race One Against Cars With Nearly Double Its Power

The ACX, VPX, and ZPX names have already been trademarked in the US, Canada, and the UK alongside their respective STI variants. Each of those filings carries a specific description: “Automobiles and structural parts therefore electric cars.” That wording leaves little to the imagination.

Illustrations: Theottle

Of the three new names, only VPX has been paired with a Wilderness designation, which points toward something taller and more utilitarian, whether a truck, a crossover, or an SUV. ACX and ZPX arrive without that context, leaving only earlier rumors and reports to go on. One plausible home for either name is the long-rumored successor to the BRZ.

Independent digital artist Theophilus Chin has imagined that successor as a fully electric sports car, pulling design language from the Performance-E STI Concept into a modernized two-door silhouette that still reads as a BRZ.

What About ICE?

Illustrations Theottle

The ACX paperwork tilts heavily toward a zero-emission powertrain, but the ongoing Subaru-Toyota partnership leaves room for a combustion sports car to exist alongside it.

More: Subaru’s BRZ Finally Has A Turbo And AWD, Just Not In A Version You Can Buy

Subaru recently launched a widebody BRZ-based rally car running a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, built to compete in the JRC. Toyota, meanwhile, is testing a still-unidentified WRC contender with a two-door coupe profile, widely believed to be the competition version of the upcoming GR Celica.

Subaru Boxer Rally Spec.Z

The two rally cars share nothing mechanically, but there is still a path for Subaru to field a sibling to the production Toyota GR Celica when that car arrives. Whether Toyota commits to a front-engined or mid-engined layout for the road car is still unresolved.

More: Subaru Says STI Is “Not Dead”, But Its Boxer May Be

Toyota has confirmed a next-generation GR 86 is coming, but the Subaru side of that partnership may diverge, with the next BRZ potentially going fully electric and adopting the elevated stance previewed by the Sport Mobility Concept.

Nearly two decades after the last one rolled off the line, the Nissan Primera looks set for another act. While the company itself has yet to confirm the news, the nameplate has surfaced in a filing with the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE), and the document points to a very specific electric sedan.

The DOE paperwork suggests the new Primera will run purely on electrons. It also lays out the dimensions: 4,930 mm (194.1 inches) long, riding on a 2,915 mm (114.8-inch) wheelbase, which is enough to outstretch a Toyota Camry. Those numbers tally with months of speculation that the car would be a rebadged Dongfeng Nissan N7 from China.

More: Nissan’s New Electric Sedan Is As Big As A Maxima, Cheap As A Versa

According to Top Gear Philippines, working from the DOE-certified specs, the Primera will use a single electric motor good for 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of torque. Those figures match the entry-level N7 exactly. The 60 kWh battery is calibrated a touch differently and promises 500 km (311 miles) of range.

Judging from the shared footprint, we don’t expect any styling changes compared to the Nissan N7 besides a new Primera script on the tailgate. The interior will most likely be carried over as well, including the 15.6-inch infotainment display on the minimalist dashboard.

More: Nissan’s New Sedan Drives Like An EV But Runs On Gas

Nissan is staying quiet on dates, but the company has already confirmed that the N7 is bound for export markets. The model is produced at the Dongfeng Nissan Huadu plant in Guangzhou, alongside the smaller N6 and the NX8 SUV.

The DOE filing suggests that the Primera’s revival is imminent in the Philippines. It will be interesting to see whether the same name will be used in other export markets, something that makes sense as it is far more recognizable than the N7.

A Short History Lesson

The Nissan Primera debuted in 1990 as a mid-size sedan for Japan and Europe, spanning three generations until its discontinuation in 2007. Available in sedan, liftback, and wagon forms, the model built a motorsport reputation by winning the BTCC championship in 1998 and 1999.

More: Nissan’s New Terrano Is Coming For The Land Cruiser, And This Time It Has 429 HP And A Plug

While primarily a Japanese and European affair, the first two generations of the Primera were also sold in North America as the Infiniti G20 until 2002. In later years, the Altima assumed the Primera’s role in certain markets. The nameplate remains a familiar part of Nissan’s history in Europe and Asia, which helps explain the decision to bring it back.

Nissan

The Nissan Primera appears to be making a comeback after spending almost two decades in hibernation. While the automaker has yet to confirm the news, the nameplate has appeared in the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE), pointing out to a very specific electric sedan.

The details in the government filing suggest that the new Primera will have a fully electric powertrain. They also reveal the dimensions, including a Camry-beating length of 4,930 mm (194.1 inches) and a 2,915 mm (114.8-inch) wheelbase. Those specs all but confirm earlier reports and speculation that the model would be a rebadged version of the Dongfeng Nissan N7 from China.

More: Nissan’s New Electric Sedan Is As Big As A Maxima, Cheap As A Versa

As reported by Top Gear Philippines citing the DOE-certified specs, the new Primera will be fitted with a single electric motor producing 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of torque. This is identical to the entry-level N7, although the 60 kWh battery pack is slightly different, promising to offer 500 km (311 miles) of range.

Judging from the shared footprint, we don’t expect any styling changes compared to the Nissan N7 besides a new Primera script on the tailgate. The interior will most likely be carried over, including the 15.6-inch infotainment display on the minimalist dashboard.

More: Nissan’s New Sedan Drives Like An EV But Runs On Gas

While Nissan is keeping its cards closed on a specific launch date, it has been officially confirmed that the N7 will be offered in export markets. The model is produced at the Dongfeng Nissan Huadu plant in Guangzhou, alongside the smaller N6 and the NX8 SUV.

The DOE filing suggests that the Primera’s revival is imminent in the Philippines. It will be interesting to see whether the same name will be used in other export markets, something that makes sense as it is far more recognizable than the N7.

A Short History Lesson

The Nissan Primera debuted in 1990 as a mid-size sedan for Japan and Europe, spanning three generations until its discontinuation in 2007. Available in sedan, liftback, and wagon forms, the model earned motorsport fame by winning the BTCC championship in 1998 and 1999.

More: Nissan’s New Terrano Is Coming For The Land Cruiser, And This Time It Has 429 HP And A Plug

While primarily a Japanese and European staple, the first two generations of the Primera were also sold in North America as the Infiniti G20 until 2002. In recent years, the Altima took over the role of the Primera in certain markets. Still, the nameplate remains a well-remembered part of Nissan’s heritage in Europe and Asia, which explains the company’s decision to bring it back.

Nissan

It’s a question that dates back decades. Do you option your fancy sports car with or without visual flourishes like rally or racing stripes? Once you choose, changing your mind isn’t exactly an easy task. Installing or removing stripes is a painstaking process on one’s own and can cost thousands when a professional does the work.

Porsche owners might not have to make that choice in the near future. A new patent would allow them to switch from stripes to no stripes with the push of a button.

More: Tesla Files New Seat Patent For A Supercar That’s Been Sitting Since 2017

According to the newly published patent application that was first spotted by Jalopnik, Porsche’s system would use an “actively controllable, optically variable coating” applied to exterior body panels. When voltage is applied, the coating changes appearance.

The company says the technology could rely on either so-called electronic paper or paramagnetic coatings, both of which can alter their color when electricity is introduced. This kind of tech already exists, but it’s not used in this fashion.

Plenty of automakers use it for glass panels which allows the occupant to make the glass appear transparent or opaque on command. The big change here is using it on a body panel instead. According to the patent, Porsche owners would see the “rally stripes” appear when the car goes into Sport mode. Additional accents could also light up around areas like the diffuser or the side blades behind the rear wheels.

An EV Battery Indicator Too

Porsche says the idea is partly cosmetic, but there is a functional side too. The company notes that racing stripes could help identify one car from another during competition, especially when multiple identical cars are on track at the same time. Porsche also believes the same coating could act as an exterior battery gauge on EVs.

Instead of opening an app or looking at the dashboard, owners could glance at the car and instantly know how much charge remains. A panel might glow green when the battery is nearly full, yellow when it is running low, and red when it is close to empty.

While there’s no way to know for sure if or when Porsche gives this idea the green light, it’s very much the kind of tech we see popping up more and more across the bleeding edge of the industry. Sooner or later, someone will probably put it into production. Here’s hoping Porsche makes it happen and lets other automakers license the tech.

Credit: WIPO / Porsche