Good morning and welcome to our weekly digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

Toyota Named Third Most Obstructive Company Towards Climate Change After ExxonMobil, Chevron

While Toyota has long argued that PHEVs and hydrogen tech may offer better long-term results in the fight against climate change than EVs, they’ve been named as the third most obstructive towards governments that set climate policies. The top spots were taken by ExxonMobil and Chevron, while other auto manufacturers mentioned were BMW (18th), Daimler (24th), and Hyundai (25th).

2023 Acura Integra Prototype Relaunches Iconic Nameplate, Will Start From Around $30,000

It’s not the swoopy two-door coupe some wanted when it was first rumored, but the new Acura Integra is coming to resurrect a nameplate from the brand’s history. It gets a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and although figures haven’t been confirmed, it sounds a lot like what is found in the 2023 Honda Civic Si. Like the Si, it sports a six-speed manual and LSD too. Design features include JewelEye LED headlights with distinctive ‘Chicane’ LED DRLs, a subtle embossed Integra script, matte-finish 19-inch split-five spoke wheels, Brembo high-performance brakes and Indy Yellow calipers.

Subaru Unveils Its First Mass-Market EV, The 2023 Solterra Crossover

Although officially labelled a prototype, what you see is 99.9 percent production-ready. The Subaru Solterra look looks almost identical to its Toyota bZX4 sibling, save for a few differences. Two versions will be offered: a front-wheel drive model with a single electric motor delivering 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and an all-wheel drive variant with an electric motor on each axle producing a combined output of 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS). Driving range will be around 330 miles (530 km) for the FWD, while the AWD version will make do with 285 miles (460 km).

Whistleblower Awarded $24 Million By NHTSA For Exposing Hyundai And Kia Engine Flaw

One whistleblower just got a rather hefty payday thanks to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA announced its first-ever payout to a whistleblower after receiving information about a safety defect on Hyundai and Kia’s Theta II engines. According to the whistleblower and ex-Hyundai engineer Kim Gwong-ho, the company refused to accept a design flaw that put these engines at the risk of seizing and catching fire. The agency slapped a combined fine of $210 million on Hyundai and Kia, of which $81 million was paid by cash. In return, the safety regulator paid 30 perent of this collection to Kim Gwong-ho, who walked away with no less than $24 million.

Bothe The 2023 Ford Mondeo And Lincoln’s New 2023 Zephyr Sedan Breaks Cover In China, But They’re Not For U.S.

Pictures of two new sedans for the Chinese market have been revealed thanks to a recent set of leaked images courtesy of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information. The Ford Mondeo bears a very close resemblance to the Evos crossover, while the 2023 Lincoln Zephyr seems to have inherited most of the traits seen on the concept Zephyr Reflection. Both are expected to be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing nearly 240 hp.

Retro-Influenced BR20 Is Ferrari’s Latest One-Off Special

Ferrari has taken the wraps off its latest one-off special. Christened the BR20, it’s based on the GTC4 Lusso but adopts a sleek, fastback design inspired by past models such as the 410 Superamerica and 500 Superfast, complete with flying buttresses and classically-styled circular rear lamps. Ferrari hasn’t disclosed who commissioned the car or what the “BR” in the name stands for, though you might speculate that the letters could be the initials of the “longstanding client” that was apparently fully involved in the design process for their very special car.

2023 Honda CR-V: Design, Powertrain, And Everything Else We Know About The Next-Gen SUV

We’ve previewed what the next generation 2023 Honda CR-V is likely to look like as it goes for a more mature approach to the design. From what we know, the next CR-V will have a longer hood and a crisp shoulder line, along with a trapezoidal grille and a horizontal spear that connects the matrix LED headlights. We expect the new SUV to be longer than its predecessor and to sport a new interior with an improved infotainment system — and Honda has confirmed that it is working with Google to integrate the latter’s in-vehicle connected service to an all-new car.

What Else Is Making The News? 

Uber Sued By Justice Department For Overcharging Disabled People 

 

The US Justice Department is suing Uber over its wait time fees. According to the DoJ, Uber charges fees for customers who need more than two minutes to get into their cars, which goes against the Americans with Disabilities Act. Uber, however, says that their policies are not in violation of the ADA and that they have refunded fees to those affected.

World’s Only USB-C iPhone Sells For $86,001

The world’s first, and so far only, USB-C iPhone has sold on eBay for a winning bid of $86,001. A robotics engineer, Ken Pillonel, replaced the iPhone X’s Lighting port with a USB-C port which was reported to be fully functional. Many had expected Apple to adopt USB-C into their smartphone, with it being present on their iPad and MacBook products. However, it now looks like the iPhone may skip USB-C altogether and go for a portless option.