ISSUE #001 · 22 AUGUST 2026
This Week on Tech Torque Media
Welcome to the first edition of This Week on Tech Torque Media, our weekly selection of the stories worth catching up on. This week brought major Formula 1 contract news and a packed Dutch Grand Prix build-up, alongside fresh Xbox updates, a significant UK streaming price rise and two very different EV stories — one focused on affordability, the other on the future of in-car entertainment.
Rather than repeat everything published across the site, each Saturday we’ll pick the strongest stories from the week and bring them together in one place.
EV & Technology
Hyundai IONIQ 3 UK Pricing Starts at £22,245 With 308-Mile Range
Hyundai’s new IONIQ 3 stood out this week for one simple reason: it brings a 308-mile headline range into a far more accessible part of the EV market.
Why it matters: Affordable EVs with genuinely useful range are exactly what the UK market needs if electric-car adoption is going to move beyond early adopters.
Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Brings Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to the EV Cabin
The BE 6 SPORTEQ combines a triple-screen cockpit, gaming, AI, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in a package that shows how quickly in-car entertainment is evolving.
Why it matters: EV interiors are becoming digital living spaces, and the line between automotive technology and home entertainment is getting thinner every year.
Gaming
Xbox Insider Update Adds Five New Console Features for Alpha Testers
Xbox Alpha testers started receiving a new batch of console features, including local save management, Home controls and a commemorative Day One badge.
Why it matters: Insider builds are often the clearest early look at where the Xbox dashboard and console experience are heading next.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds Is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on Day One
The co-operative survival RPG is coming to Xbox Series X|S on 15 September and will launch into Game Pass on day one.
Why it matters: Day-one additions remain one of Game Pass’s biggest strengths, and Dragonwilds adds another recognisable name to the service’s autumn line-up.
Home Entertainment
Paramount+ UK Price Rise Pushes Premium Plan to £12.99 a Month
Paramount+ increased the price of every UK subscription tier this week, with Standard rising to £9.99 and Premium reaching £12.99 per month.
Why it matters: Streaming price rises are making it harder to justify keeping every service active all year, putting value firmly back at the centre of the conversation.
Motorsport
Max Verstappen Signs New Red Bull Contract Through 2030
Max Verstappen ended months of speculation by committing his Formula 1 future to Red Bull through the end of 2030.
Why it matters: One of the biggest questions in the F1 driver market is now settled, giving Red Bull a clear long-term centrepiece around which to build.
Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying: Russell Takes Pole Ahead of Norris
George Russell took Sprint pole at Zandvoort by just 0.041s from Lando Norris, setting up a fascinating Saturday at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Why it matters: With margins this small and the Sprint format compressing the weekend, every session at Zandvoort is carrying championship significance.
Editor’s Pick
Max Verstappen Signs New Red Bull Contract Through 2030
The biggest single story of the week was Verstappen’s new Red Bull deal. It ends one of Formula 1’s longest-running contract sagas and reshapes the driver market well beyond 2026.
Why we picked it: It is the kind of story that matters beyond one race weekend — a long-term decision with implications for Red Bull, rival teams and the championship picture for years to come.
Coming Next Week
Next week we’ll continue our Dutch Grand Prix coverage, alongside the usual EV & Technology, Gaming and Home Entertainment desks. We’ll also be watching for the stories that deserve a place in Issue #002.
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