Like Integras past, the latest model is essentially a glitzy Honda Civic. That’s no bad thing, though, as Honda’s compact car is among the best in its segment. Whereas the Civic is available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, the Integra is a hatchback-only affair. If you want to snag the most fuel-efficient variant of this entry-level luxury car, then you’ll need to stick to the base model and its smaller rolling stock. Though it may lack the racy bits of higher-end trims (pictured), the standard Integra retains those models’ 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. Alas, the car’s available six-speed manual is not offered in its entry-level guise.

• Base price: $34,695
• EPA combined/city/highway: 32/29/37 mpg

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ACURA INTEGRA

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BMW is taking another step toward a more automated future by testing humanoid robots on a European production line for the very first time. The first batch of robots is being deployed in April at BMW Plant Leipzig, located in Germany, where a small group of machines is being integrated into real manufacturing work. In its official press release, BMW says the project is meant to bring what it calls “Physical AI” into everyday vehicle production while studying how the technology could scale across its global plants.

“Physical AI” Hits The Assembly Line

The robots come from Hexagon Robotics and are being evaluated in areas such as high-voltage battery assembly and component manufacturing. These tasks can involve repetitive movements, strict safety requirements, and heavy protective equipment for workers. BMW makes it clear that humanoid robotics is intended to support employees rather than replace them, particularly in jobs that are physically demanding. BMW says its robots will learn from real experience and gradually take on more complex tasks. Systems like this can also help manufacturers react faster to unexpected disruptions. For instance, BMW recently recalled nearly 59,000 cars over a potential fire risk, and more flexible AI-driven production could make responding to – or preventing – situations like that easier in the future.

BMW Already Tried This Once

This European test isn’t the first time BMW has dabbled in the art of using humanoid robots, either. In 2025, at the BMW Spartanburg Plant in South Carolina, robots worked regular shifts on the production line, supporting the manufacture of more than 30,000 units of the BMW X3. It handled tasks related to positioning sheet metal components for welding, a process that requires both precision and endurance. BMW says the trial showed that robots trained in controlled environments could transition into real factory conditions faster than expected. That experience is now helping guide the rollout in Europe. Just imagine the possibilities if factories like BMW’s Regensburg Plant, which recorded a production high of 356,901 vehicles in 2025, had help from “Physical AI.”

BMW’s AI-Assisted Balancing Act

The Leipzig test is only one part of a much larger transformation happening across BMW’s manufacturing network. BMW definitely needs no help from humanoid robots to keep its head above water; locations like the Hams Hall Plant have survived for more than two decades and built over 7.6 million engines without the need for any AI-assistance. But with more EVs like the upcoming BMW i3 on the way, and more than 40 new models planned by 2028, having robots involved in the production process will give BMW an advantage among the German giants. That said, this strategy will only pay off if these robots serve to complete routine and dangerous tasks to increase efficiency, without making factory work redundant.

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The start of the 2026 Formula 1 season is around the corner, and I’ve been lucky enough to see several display cars that showcase the tangible changes brought by the new regulations. And while these Audi and Red Bull liveries I saw were plastered on models that won’t actually hit the track, one thing that has stood out is the size difference.

Three years ago, we wrote about a 2023 F1 car being as long as a Chevy Suburban. Now, if you’re someone who is constantly around race cars, this probably isn’t a huge revelation. To general fans, though? You betcha. A Suburban isn’t a small vehicle by any means, so to think that the world’s most advanced and best-performing race cars are as big as a family SUV that seats eight—that’s shocking.

That was then, of course, when the rules mandated wheelbases of 3,600 mm (141.7 inches). Now, the incoming regulations set the wheelbase at 3,400 mm (133.8 inches), a reduction of nearly 8 inches. It’s worth noting that wheelbase length isn’t the same as the car’s overall length, and the FIA doesn’t put any limits on that. For example, the 2023 F1 car we compared to a Suburban was the Alpine, which then measured approximately 221.3 inches, just a pinch shy of the SUV.

So what about the new cars? What do they compare to? Well, it’s still too early to do a precise comparison because teams are still playing around with aero packages, and overall length is largely dictated by how short or long the new front wings will be. But based on the 8-inch deficit as compared to the previous regs (and using the Alpine as the base), it puts a modern F1 car somewhere around 213 inches.

For continuity, I’ll stick with Bowtie SUVs. A 2025 Chevy Tahoe measures 211.3 inches, so a modern F1 car is still about two inches longer than that. Again, these are rough estimations.

Length isn’t the only measurement that’s been reduced for 2026—not even close. The new regulations have also made cars nearly 4 inches narrower. Weight has also been reduced, as well as floor width, and other major components that will drastically affect aero performance and handling. There are several good videos from Formula 1.com and The Race that offer solid visuals, making it easier to understand.

So there you go: Thanks to the new rules, F1 cars are no longer Chevy Suburbans. They’re Tahoes, now.

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