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Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Rowland targets multiple titles after Formula E breakthrough
LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - After 11 seasons that have produced 10 different champions, Formula E's new title-holder Oliver Rowland believes the all-electric series has become less of a lottery and he can break with the past. The Nissan driver, who clinched this year's crown in Berlin on July 13 with two races to spare, told reporters ahead of his home British season finale at London's ExCel this weekend that the championship was fairer now. "In the early years we had this qualifying system which was just mental, where the top six in the championship went out on a track that was one second slower than (for) the next group and then half a second slower than the next group," he said. "You could never pull away in the championship. You would basically get in the lead and then just start last in the next race." In 2021, the last year before the Season Eight change, 18 drivers remained in title contention heading into the final two rounds. Seven of the 11 championships, including the first three, have been decided in the final race. Only Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne has so far managed to defend a Formula E crown, winning back-to-back titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The current qualifying splits drivers into two groups of 11 based on championship position, with odd numbers in one group and evens in the other, before the top four from each advance to knockout duels. "It's kind of much fairer and I think you have the opportunity to see people winning more back-to-back titles," said Rowland, 32. "I think it's a little bit fairer now in terms of not being as much of a lottery. I expect that you will see the same guys towards the front and more repeat winners moving forward," said Rowland. While this year's drivers' crown is won, Nissan are fighting Porsche for the team and manufacturers' titles. Rowland said his ambition for the future, without the pressure of chasing a first title, was to try to cement himself as one of the top drivers in the series. "It's a good motivation to have, to try and win three or four (titles)," he said.
Auto Express
5 hours ago
- Auto Express
Renault 4 vs Ford Puma Gen-E: can French fancy declaw its EV rival?
There are two distinct routes that car makers can take to electrify their model line-ups. Depending on time frames and cost, some companies have been able to create bespoke electric car platforms, with scalable tech that can be adjusted to suit different requirements. That's the path Renault has chosen with the R4, a car that follows hot on the heels of the numerically larger, but physically smaller, Renault 5 supermini. Advertisement - Article continues below As the Captur is to the Clio, so the Renault 4 is to the 5, with its retro-inspired design adorning a larger SUV-style body that offers more space than the supermini's, but also features virtually identical technology on board. The second option is to electrify an existing combustion-engined platform. While Ford offers dedicated EV tech in its line-up, it has gone down this route with the new Ford Puma Gen-E, which is based on the firm's best seller, but without a trace of combustion power. In both instances, these small SUVs aim to deliver a usable range and decent everyday practicality in a package that is priced at a comparable point to the petrol-engined alternatives. But which one delivers the best overall experience? Model: Renault 4 E-Tech Techno Price: £28,995 Powertrain: 52kWh battery, 1x electric motor, 148bhp 0-62mph: 8.2 seconds Test efficiency: 4.0 miles/kWh Official range: 245 miles Annual VED: £195 Since the Renault 5 took design inspiration from the company's back catalogue, the French firm couldn't really do anything else with the SUV variant. The 4 is longer than the 5 hatchback overall and also has a longer wheelbase, so it's better suited to family duties. Power comes from the larger 52kWh battery found in the supermini, while prices are competitive: they start from £27,000 for Evolution trim, while Techno (our pick) costs £29,000 and the top-spec Iconic model in our pictures is £31,000. The Renault 4 draws design inspiration from the firm's back catalogue, but the E-Tech model is light years ahead in terms of quality. While the dash layout is identical to the R5's, the separate climate controls and stubby infotainment stalk positioned lower down on the steering column will be familiar to anyone who has driven a modern Renault. It does mean the right side of the steering wheel is a little busy, with the infotainment control, the wiper stalk and drive selector all closely packed together. Model: Ford Puma Gen-E Select Price: £29,995 Powertrain: 43kWh battery, 1x electric motor, 166bhp 0-62mph: 0-62mph: 8.0 seconds Test efficiency: 4.7 miles/kWh Official range: 234 miles Annual VED: £195 While the petrol Puma offers a few engine choices and trim options, the Gen-E line-up has been kept simple. There's just one powertrain, comprising a 53kWh battery (43kWh of which is usable) and a 166bhp electric motor that sends power to the front wheels. There are only two trim options, with the Select model coming in at five pounds under £30,000 and the higher-spec Premium costing £2,000 extra. However, even the base model tested here comes with a generous list of kit. It's one thing testing electric cars in the summer months, but in winter, colder temperatures will take a chunk out of the Puma's driving range. Ford mitigates against this by fitting the Gen-E with a heat pump as standard, which is surprising because it's an option on the pricier Explorer and Capri. The Puma also comes with Ford's excellent Quickclear windscreen, but a heated steering wheel and front seats are part of a £350 option pack. Most rival EVs feature these as standard as a quick way to get warm. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View A3 Saloon View Swace Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too . The Puma is one of the best-handling small SUVs in petrol guise, and despite being around 200kg heavier, the Gen-E retains that car's fun character. In fact, the weight of the battery means it rides a bit more smoothly. It's not as comfortable as the Renault 4, though, which offers a soft edge that promotes cruising comfort. In terms of acceleration, there's not much in it, but the Puma feels punchier off the line. The Renault's cabin is carried over wholesale from the R5, so you get a modern-looking layout with plenty of tech and user-friendly details. It's a similar story with the Puma Gen-E, which features the same 12-inch touchscreen display as the petrol version, although as with that car, the screen's size and position mean that the steering wheel can end up obscuring some of the information nearest the driver. Both cars are great value for EVs, and it's worth noting that the electric Puma costs less than some of the highest-spec versions of the petrol model. Efficiency was strong for both cars, but the Renault's figure of 4.0mi/kWh was eclipsed by the Ford's, at 4.7mi/kWh. It means that while the Puma has nearly 10kWh less of usable capacity, its actual driving range is similar to that of the Renault's, at just over 200 miles on test. The Renault 4 is shorter than the Puma but has a longer wheelbase, while a wider cabin and taller roof mean it feels more spacious for back-seat passengers. A very low load lip is another benefit that the Renault carries over the Ford, but the Gen-E has the greater overall volume courtesy of its Gigabox, which is bigger than the petrol Puma's Megabox. Surprisingly, the Ford also has under-bonnet storage – the Renault doesn't. There are four-star Euro NCAP safety ratings for both cars here, with the Puma's score being carried over from the petrol version. On the R4, kit such as a door-opening warning and rear pedestrian-crossing alert when reversing are available solely on the top-spec version. The Puma only offers the latter, plus front parking sensors, adaptive cruise and blind-spot detection as part of a £950 Advanced Driver Assistance Pack. Warranty coverage is only average for the Puma, with a typical three-year/60,000-mile plan offered, although it can be extended at extra cost. For the Renault 4 there is four years and 100,000 miles of cover. As for servicing, intervals are every 24 months for both cars, although the Renault has an 18,000-mile limit. Ford includes the first five years of servicing in the price of the Puma to help reduce costs even further. What you're looking at here are possibly the two best small electric SUVs currently on sale, and choosing a winner is a tough call. However, we think that the Renault 4 has an advantage over the Ford, courtesy of its extra passenger space and slightly longer range. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The striking retro-inspired looks help the R4 to stand out from the crowd, while the user-friendly touchscreen tech is easy to live with and the boot offers a useful amount of space. We'd like to see faster DC charging, and rear space is still a little compromised, but overall the Renault 4 is a great small electric SUV. BUY A NEW RENAULT 4 NOW Fans of the petrol Puma won't be disappointed with the electrified version. The battery's extra weight hasn't impacted the handling too severely, and has actually boosted comfort a little, while no compromises have been made in terms of passenger or boot space. That does mean the back seats are still a little on the small side, but if you regularly travel two-up, then this won't be an issue. Most impressive is the efficiency that the Puma returned on test, which made up for the relatively small battery. Add in competitive pricing, and the Gen-E deserves to sell well. BUY A NEW FORD PUMA GEN-E NOW Rernault 4 Ford Puma Gen-E Our choice Renault 4 Techno Ford Puma Gen-E Select Price of our choice/price as tested £28,995/£30,995 £29,995/£29,995 POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE Powertrain 1x electric motor 1x electric motor Power 148bhp 166bhp Torque 245Nm 290Nm Transmission Single-speed/FWD Single-speed/FWD 0-62mph/top speed 8.2 seconds/93mph 8.0 seconds/99mph Battery capacity/usable 52/52kWh 53/43kWh Official range 245 miles 234 miles Test efficiency/range 4.0mi/kWh/208 miles 4.7mi/kWh/202 miles Charging 100kW (15-80% in 30 mins) 100kW (10-80% in 23 mins) DIMENSIONS Length/wheelbase 4,144/2,624mm 4,313/2,588mm Width/height 1,808/1,572mm 1,805/1,555mm Rear knee room 560-810mm 605-855mm Rear headroom/elbow room 950/1,400mm 848/1,381mm Boot space (front/seats up/down) 0/420/1,405 litres 43/556/1,283 litres Boot length/width 825/995mm 725/1,000mm Boot lip height 607mm 765mm Kerb weight/towing weight 1,462/750kg 1,563/750kg Turning circle 10.8 metres 10.5 metres COSTS/OWNERSHIP Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000 miles) £16,248/52.42% £15,126/50.43% Depreciation £12,747 £14,869 Insurance group/quote/VED 27/£576/£195 19/£663/£195 Three-year service cost £396 £0 (5 years) Annual tax liability std/higher rate £174/£347 £180/£359 Annual fuel cost (10k miles) £643 £547 Basic warranty/recovery 4yrs (100,000 miles)/3yrs 3yrs (60,000 miles)/3yrs Driver Power manufacturer position 6th 23rd NCAP Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 79/85/73/68/4 _ (2024) 75/84/70/69/4_ (2022) EQUIPMENT Metallic paint/wheel size £800/17 inches £650/18 inches Parking sensors/camera Front & rear/yes Rear/yes Spare wheel/Isofix points Repair kit/two Repair kit/two Keyless entry & go/powered tailgate Yes/no Keyless go/no Leather/heated seats No/no No/£350 Screen size/digital dashboard 10.1 inches/yes 12 inches/yes Climate control/panoramic sunroof Yes/no Yes/£1,100 USBs/wireless charging Four/no Four/yes Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Yes/yes Yes/yes Blind-spot warning/head-up display No/yes £950 pack/yes Adaptive cruise/steering assist Yes/yes £950 pack/yes Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory We take an exclusive look inside JLR's revamped Liverpool site as the brand gears up for EV production Car Deal of the Day: The Audi A3 Saloon may be posh but not at this price Car Deal of the Day: The Audi A3 Saloon may be posh but not at this price It's posh, well appointed, and refined to drive – the Audi A3 Saloon is our Deal of the Day for July 18 Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers With a dramatic rise in sales, Mike Rutherford thinks it's only a matter of time before Chinese cars outsell all other countries in the UK
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Major incident declared and 15 people taken to hospital after Eccles bus crash
A major incident was declared and 15 people taken to hospital after a bus crashed into a bridge in Greater Manchester. Emergency services were called to the scene at the junction of Barton Road and Trafford Road in Eccles just after 3pm on Monday. A major incident was declared by North West Ambulance Service shortly after the call, with 15 people taken to hospital. The major incident status was stood down at 4.22pm, the ambulance service said. A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service said: 'At 15.06 North West Ambulance Service received a call in relation to a bus collision on Barton Lane, Eccles, and declared a major incident shortly afterwards. 'The trust dispatched a number of resources, including 10 emergency ambulances, advanced paramedics, our Hazard Area Response Team (Hart) and colleagues from North West Air Ambulance. The first resource arrived on time at 15.10. 'NWAS treated 15 patients who were all taken to Salford Royal or Manchester Royal Infirmary hospitals. 'At 16.22 NWAS stood down from major incident status but continues to remain on scene. 'The area is very busy, with road closures in place; please follow @GMPSalford for the latest traffic updates.' Salford Police posted on X saying: '#INCIDENT | We are currently responding to a collision between a bus and a bridge at the junction of Barton Road and Trafford Road in Eccles. 'Emergency services are currently on scene as part of the ongoing work. 'Please avoid the area as road closures are currently in place.'
