QUICK READ

Electric

SPEED has always been paramount for supercar makers, and now they’re in the race of their lives to go electric before climate policy cuts their combustion engines.

That’s why the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes-benz are turning to start-ups like Oxford-based electric motor company Yasa for expertise and technology to solve the challenges of electrifying the highestperformance vehicles.

Batteries are immensely heavy and electric motors overheat if driven too hard – big problems for a niche industry that charges hundreds of thousands of dollars for lightweight cars capable of screaming round 10 laps of a track at full throttle. | Bloomberg

Teaser

SNEAK pictures of the next-gen Honda Civic Type R have been released by the brand’s official Twitter account.

The images were tweeted along with the caption: “What’s adrenaline-fuelled, camouflaged and ready for testing? The new Honda Civic #Typer! Stay tuned for more thrills.” Aside from that caption there was no info released on the upcoming hot hatch. However, we can spy some info from the pics alone.

We can see an intercooler mounted inside the front bumper, which leads us to believe that the next-gen Honda Civic Type R will be turbocharged, like its predecessor. Reports abroad suggest that the same 2.0-litre motor will be retained but that it will boast a modest power increase. | IOL Motoring

F1 in Qatar

FORMULA One will race in Qatar for the first time next month with a 10-year deal then following from 2023 once the country has hosted the 2022 soccer World Cup, the sport and local organisers have announced.

The race, scheduled for November 21 at the floodlit Losail International Circuit outside Doha, will form part of an unprecedented Middle Eastern quartet of grands prix on the 22-race 2021 calendar.

Bahrain hosted the championship opener in March while Saudi Arabia’s first race is scheduled for December 5 and Abu Dhabi ends the season on December 12.

| Reuters

Acura

HONDA have released a second teaser image for the new Acura Integra, confirming for the first time that the car will take the form of a coupe-like five-door fastback with a sleek silhouette and slim taillights inspired by the 1990s model.

Honda’s Acura division isn’t saying much else about the rebooted Integra as yet, but a full reveal can’t be too far off.

According to Australian website Drive, the new Integra is likely to share its frontwheel drive platform with the latest Honda Civic sedan. | IOL Motoring