M1 traffic in Milton Keynes held after collision near junction 13
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The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Chery launches seven-seat plug-in hybrid at a surprising price
New Chinese brands Omoda and Jaecoo are thriving in the UK, with both selling more than 19,000 cars so far this year. So, it's no surprise that parent company Chery has decided to try with its own line of cars, starting with the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8. The Chery Tiggo 7 compact SUV starts at £29,995 for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), while the petrol model starts at £24,995. The PHEV model features Chery's Super Hybrid system, which is also found in Omoda and Jaecoo models, claiming a total petrol and electric range of 745 miles. The Super Hybrid combines an 18.4kWh battery that can power the car for 56 miles on electricity alone. After that, the car runs as a self-charging hybrid combining its 1.5l petrol engine with battery power, which is recharged by the braking system and the petrol engine. You can also recharge the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes using a 40kW charger. Prices have also just been announced for the larger, seven-seat Tiggo 8 with the plug-in hybrid version available from £33,545 – a petrol-only model will cost £28,545. The Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid uses the same battery and engine system as the Tiggo 7. Despite being a larger car, it promises identical efficiency numbers to the smaller model – and identical figures to the Jaecoo 7 that uses the same system. That means the Tiggo 8 also promises a combined petrol/electric range of 745 miles and an EV-only range of 67 miles, with the same charging speeds. As with its Omoda and Jaecoo models, Chery is promising a lot of kit for the cash in its own-brand cars, with similar trim levels. However, the Tiggo 8 has a larger 15.6in central infotainment screen – the Tiggo 7's central screen is 12.3in across – although both models are available in Aspire and Summit trims. The Tiggo 8 also promises more luxury, including a panoramic sunroof, massaging front seats and a head-up display on Summit trim. All models get a Sony-provided audio system, as they do in the Tiggo 7. Chery also promises that the cars have been specifically tuned for European roads at the company's European research and development centre near Frankfurt, Germany. All models will come with a seven-year warranty on the car, plus eight years of cover on the battery. The first deliveries are set for 1 September in time for the new 75-plate registrations.
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Living with an electric BMW iX: Is this the ultimate driving machine?
Four years after its original launch, BMW 's high-tech flagship electric car has been given a thorough upgrade. The iX may have controversial looks, but there's never been any doubt about the quality of the engineering underneath. Now I'm living with an iX to see if BMW can combine that tech with the usability needed of a big SUV, but more importantly, the driver appeal that BMW has always been known for. My car is an iX xDrive45 – xDrive is BMW-speak for 4x4, and the 45 designates the entry-level battery, which has been boosted to 94.8kWh. The original iX xDrive40 was often criticised for a lack of range, but so far, the claim of 367 miles in this bigger-battery version seems to be pretty realistic. Other tweaks include a slight refresh to the car's appearance, but out of the 'go big or go home' playbook, that oversized double-kidney grille has been highlighted – literally – with a thin strip of LED lights all the way around. BMW calls it the Iconic Glow Kidney Grille, and it costs an extra £500. You'll have your view, but I like it – I'm a geek and love the look of these new LED lighting treatments we're seeing more of these days. You'll struggle to notice the changes to the bumpers, but you will notice the new LED driving lights in the main headlamp units that are the sign of things to come with BMW's new Neue Klasse models due over the coming years. My car comes in M Sport trim and has an added black trim on the outside, smart 21in alloy wheels and sports seats with a diagonal 'M' stripe across them. I've always thought the interior of the iX was one of its strongest suits with a brilliant blend of quality, advanced style and usable tech. Let's see how I get on with all that in the coming months. Of course, this is a BMW, so there's an increased focus on performance in these latest models, both in terms of outright speed – my car claims a 0 to 62mph time of 5.1 seconds and feels every bit as quick – while the chassis has been updated to cope with the extra performance the new 45 model brings. So, let's see how the iX stacks up as the Fowler family car for the next few months. We've got lots planned, including a testing summer holiday with people and dogs on board, so we'll be putting this big BMW through the ultimate test of family life. BMW iX xDrive45 M Sport Base price: £77,400 Options: Dune Grey paint (£900), Iconic Glow Kidney Grille (£500), Sky Lounge Panoramic Glass Sunroof (£3,200), Sun Protection Glass (£500), Comfort Pack (£1,650), Technology Pack (£3,250) Total price: £87,400 Battery size: 94.8kWh Maximum claimed range: 367 miles 0-62mph: 5.1 seconds The BMW iX after week one It hasn't taken long for me to really get into the groove of running a BMW iX. In fact, it has very quickly become something that I really look forward to driving – even on the early morning station run to drop my son off. I guess that's exactly what BMW is aiming for, and it's worked. It's just an easy car to get into, simple to drive and enjoyable even on the most mundane trip. One thing I particularly like in the iX – and it's something I like about Teslas, too – is the deep front windscreen. The dashboard is set low with the lovely, curved widescreen display sitting proudly on top (there's a clear head-up display on the windscreen, too), but the view forwards is good, as is the view backwards. And my family is happy in the back with the flat floor and view out of the show-stopping Sky Lounge Panoramic Glass Sunroof (an expensive option at £3,200). The sunroof offers great views and cleverly goes from clear to opaque at the touch of a button. One thing we've all noticed is that the ride is a bit firmer than in previous iXs that we've been in. There have been some upgrades to the suspension in the latest version, but it's just given the ride a slightly harder edge – although nobody would say it's really uncomfortable. And despite having been in iXs before, the electronic door openers always flummox people – you press a button on the door handle to unlock the doors, which then tend to shut with a slight shimmy as they do without frames for the glass. That's about the only question I'd raise on the quality. Otherwise, the cabin is as plush, smart and well-made as you'd hope at this price. Among all the tech that comes either as standard or as part of the aptly-named Technology Pack (another extra at £3,250), there's one really handy feature. One thing that many people seem to loathe about modern cars is the obligatory warning chime you get if you stray just one or two mph over the speed limit. It's an EU directive that every car has these days, but BMW obviously knows it's something customers don't like. So, BMW has listened. By doing a long press on the 'Set' button on the steering wheel that you use for the adaptive cruise control, it instantly turns the speed limit warning off. Thanks, BMW – that's really impressive. What's not so good is that the EU insists it's switched back on again automatically every time you turn the car on. BMW always impresses me with the usability of its tech, too – whether it's the AI assistant that detects that I lower my window every time I leave my driveway and offers to do it automatically, or the rotary iDrive controller surrounded by useful fast keys that mean you don't have to use the touchscreen if you don't want to. There's 'hey BMW' voice control, which works well, too. So, one week in, and life is good with the BMW iX. It's proving to be an easy car to live with, and it is living up to BMW's 'driver's car' tag. It's quick, handles well, and it makes a great noise (which has been designed by Hollywood film score star Hans Zimmer). My family and I have many outings planned over the rest of the summer and beyond, and I'm now looking forward to them even more with the iX.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
More Carlisle road closures ahead of major road reopening
Overnight closures are planned for a major road before it can fully reopen to West Roundabout, which leads from Wigton Road on the A595 into Carlisle city centre, has been shut for about four months as part of the new Southern Link Road Council said the work was on track to be completed, with the roundabout reopening in early of the reopening, the road between Orton Grange roundabout and Orton Road on the A689 will be closed for two weeks from 18 August for resurfacing. It will shut from 20:00 BST to 06:00 daily with HGVs diverted via Keswick, while local traffic will go via Carlisle Southern Link Road is designed to connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 to the west of the is hoped the 5m (8km) road will ease congestion in Carlisle and connect the planned 10,000-home St Cuthbert's Garden Village to the city centre. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
