Temporary traffic lights in Hull's Spring Bank cause delays
"We expect work to be completed by the 25 June and the site to be completely reinstated," a spokesperson said."We thank customers for their patience whilst we work as quickly and as safely as possible." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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Times
23 minutes ago
- Times
Genesis Electrified G80 review: the ‘Korean Mercedes' of electric luxury saloons
Back in the 1990s, those in the UK chauffeuring trade began talking enthusiastically about a new car brand from the Far East that was a genuine alternative to Mercedes and BMW. A Lexus, they would tell you, is just as comfortable and spacious while being more reliable and efficient than the equivalents from Germany. Then, in the early 2000s, Alan Partridge ruined all that with his strong endorsement of 'Lexi'. But bad news for Lexus could be good news for Genesis, which chauffeurs in the 2020s must surely be describing as 'the Korean Mercedes', due to their similar focus on ride comfort, luxury interiors, customer service and quality. The poshest of all Genesi (in this country, at least) is now the Electrified G80, a fully electric executive saloon that first arrived in 2022 but has now been stretched and comprehensively updated for 2025. In size terms it sits between the BMW i5 and i7, but at £75,615 is priced to compete with the smaller Beemer (in M Sport trim) and its rival, the Mercedes EQE AMG Line. So it's pricey, yes, but not compared to the cars it hopes to unseat in the posh saloon market. And actually in terms of space for VIPs in the rear, the Electrified G80 is now much more impressive because the engineers have pushed the front and rear axles further apart — by a full 130mm, in fact — and that makes a significant difference in terms of legroom. It also means that Genesis has been able to fit a larger 95.4kWh battery in a flat pack under the floor and so, instead of needing to be charged up every 323 miles (according to the standardised lab test), it is claimed the new model will go 354 miles before it needs to be plugged in. Of course, as usual with EVs we have to warn you that ambient temperature and driving style are among the factors that can affect range, and you might not get that in the real world. I managed to get about three miles per kWh out of it on my test drive, which suggests 286 miles is more realistic. But Genesis has fitted a heat pump and battery heater as standard, so cold weather is likely to have less of an impact than with some other EVs and on motorways the front e-motor disengages to improve efficiency. For people shouting at the screen, 'But my diesel car can go 700 miles between fill-ups, and it only takes five minutes,' well, yeah, but you can't fill up at home or the office for a fraction of the price, so it's swings and roundabouts, really. Obviously an EV is not suitable for everyone, but this could save some cost-conscious businesses a lot in fleet costs over time. For long journeys there's good news, too, in that the Electrified G80 has an 800-volt electrical system — the same power level as a Porsche Taycan and twice as much as you get with most modern EVs — and that enables ultra-fast charging. Find a suitable DC public charger and you could get the battery from 10 to 80 per cent full in 25 minutes, which is enough time to fire several employees or commit adultery in the back seats. More than once, probably. All while Parker is off buying you an oat milk matcha latte. Not that Parker gets a bad deal, as driving the Electrified G80 is really rather pleasant. It has velvety suspension, as you'd expect, helped by cameras that pick up imperfections in the road and then inform the dampers about how much pressure is required at each wheel and when. The ride is helped by that extended wheelbase, as the bumps are less jarring, and having extra distance between the front and rear wheels improves stability too. Even better for those wanting a luxury experience is that it's amazingly hushed inside, thanks not only to industrial quantities of insulation behind the panels but also active noise cancellation via the Bang & Olufsen sound system. The panoramic digital screen in front of you is just that: one complete screen, spanning a huge 27 inches corner-to-corner, with pixels filling the entire thing. Other cars often have what looks like a single screen but will actually comprise two or three separate screens within a single bezel. This is the real deal. What it means is that, while you have the driver instruments behind the wheel as usual, you can also bleed information across the entire width and at one point I had a navigation map spanning the full 27 inches. That proved a bit much while driving, to be honest, but I'm sure there are more practical uses. One I didn't try is the new ability to run streaming services such as Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video, which combined with the Dolby Atmos sound system and acoustic glazing all round I'm sure makes it a pretty outstanding experience. Possibly better than many people's home set-up. The quality of audio while playing music is definitely a match for anything else out there. The touchscreen is actually so huge that operating it with prods of the finger while driving becomes impractical; I had to lean forwards and stretch to reach the far left edge. Fortunately Genesis still provides a rotary dial — finished in crystal, no less — and that proved a superior way to control the infotainment, I found. Genesis also has had the good sense to keep the climate controls physical and separate from the touchscreen, with single-touch buttons for things like the heated steering wheel, radio and navigation all easily within reach. All of which you'd think is common sense, but that's a quality that seems to be missing from a few interior designers these days. Other good things include the nappa leather throughout, and the quality of the stitching, buttons, dials and so on. But it's not all good news. The front seats might look sumptuous and feature massage programmes, but after a while my bum did begin to feel a little sore and, for taller drivers, the ergonomics aren't ideal. The backrest didn't support my long spine in the right places despite much fiddling and fettling. At 6ft 4in I also felt like I was sitting up a bit too high in the car, and needed to move the seat further forward than I'd have liked, to prevent having to hunch towards the wheel, which meant my legs were cramped. If your driver is the orangutan from Cannonball Run II then this won't be an issue. On the plus side, the rear is a lovely place to be, where the quilted seats are far more accommodating and you get more time to appreciate the sheer quality of the materials around you. Add the optional second row pack and you also get electric window blinds and power closing doors. Also good is that Genesis is one of a number of carmakers now making it easier to silence the mandated speed sign recognition system, which often gets it wrong — you can do so by holding down the volume button on the steering wheel for a few seconds. Which is good news because this is not a slow car. It has 365bhp on tap and, more significantly for instant response, 516 lb ft of torque (twisting force); for context, that's the same as a diesel-powered Audi SQ5 … except the Genesis delivers it all from zero revs, so it feels even more gutsy. That results in a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds, despite the car tipping the scales at nearly two and a half tonnes. I tried the Electrified G80 in chauffeur mode, which reduces accelerator response (supposedly for a smoother ride), normal mode and sport mode and, in the last this becomes a car that feels a lot smaller and lighter than it really is; you can throw it into corners with wild abandon and it retains the creamy ride but feels more responsive, stable and locked to the road. That's largely thanks to torque vectoring, which brakes the inside wheels to help the car pivot around an apex, but our test car also had rear-wheel steering fitted to it. What we have here, then, is a luxury saloon that easily competes in terms of performance, dynamics, quality and price with the best from Germany but, like Lexus, still represents the alternative choice. A car for people who deliberately want to be a bit different. The Samsung to Mercedes' iPhone. And owning the Korean Mercedes is no bad thing … until Alan Partridge gets his hands on one.
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Iconic carmaker recalls ANOTHER 70,000 cars over worrying fault after ‘chaotic' handling of ‘stop-drive' order
ANOTHER 72,000 cars have been recalled over a worrying fault – just weeks after a 'chaotic' stop-drive order rocked the firm. The latest UK recall by Stellantis affects models from big-name brands including Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall. 2 It follows 11 reports of vehicles catching fire in France, prompting fears the problem could hit British drivers. The car giant says 28 models from Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall are affected. At the centre of the scare is a high-pressure fuel pipe with loose nuts, which can lead to leaks, and, in a worst-case scenario, an engine bay fire. A Stellantis spokesperson said: 'Having customer safety and satisfaction at the core of its values, Stellantis is voluntarily recalling an estimated 72,000 in the UK due to a potential issue with the high pressure fuel pipe. 'Some 2023-2025 Peugeot, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat vehicles may face fuel leakage at the high-pressure pipe between the high-pressure pump and the rail due to loosened nuts. "This can potentially lead to higher fuel leakage consumption and, in a worst-case scenario, to occurrences of fire in the engine.' Owners will be contacted directly and urged to contact their local dealer to book a fix. The repair involves retightening nuts and screws on the high-pressure pipe and rail, a job Stellantis says takes under 30 minutes and is free. Motorists can also check if their vehicle is affected through the brands' websites or by calling customer service lines. The latest recall piles more pressure on Stellantis, following its June stop-drive order for certain Citroën C3 and DS3 models fitted with potentially deadly airbags. That move caused chaos, with dealers under 'immense pressure.' At the time, consumer group Which? criticised the company's handling of the crisis, saying drivers were left stranded and facing huge hire car and taxi bills. Some motorists, including those with sick family members or urgent transport needs, said they had no choice but to keep driving their cars despite the risks. This new issue means thousands more drivers will now face the hassle of arranging repairs—though Stellantis insists the process will be quick and painless. In some cases, drivers were told repairs could take until 2026, leaving many stranded or still using vehicles flagged as unsafe. Dealers were later ordered to stop selling affected used models, and in July owners were told to park up immediately. Safety officials warned the airbags could explode 'in an uncontrolled manner,' posing a serious risk of injury or death. The recall comes amid a wave of other major motoring alerts in recent months, including BMW's warning over potential engine fires, Ford's notice about faulty brake hoses, and Toyota's urgent fix for defective seatbelts—highlighting the growing number of drivers caught up in recall chaos. The Department for Transport says it is monitoring Stellantis's recall process to ensure safety remains the top priority. Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item 2
Times
31 minutes ago
- Times
Eye tests for ageing drivers will do far more than make roads safer
Proposals to introduce compulsory eye tests for older drivers have caused quite a stir among Times readers. As I write there are more than 2,200 comments below the article reflecting a spectrum of opinion ranging from 'it's a no-brainer' to 'this is overt ageism'. I am all for the move, not just because it should make our roads safer but because there are potential medical benefits too. There are already strict rules regarding eyesight and driving (see below), but these are both poorly enforced and widely ignored. There is no requirement for most drivers to have their eyesight checked after they take their driving test, when they will be asked to read a number plate 20m away. And this is rarely checked again, with older people who have to renew from the age of 70 simply declaring that they can still pass the number plate test. • Drivers over 70 who fail eye tests face ban in road safety overhaul Estimates vary as to just how many drivers can't see well enough to meet the legal requirements, but a recent roadside survey carried out by police forces across England, Scotland and Wales involving the testing of 900 motorists found that 1 in 45 of them failed the number plate test, suggesting there are close to one million people on our roads who cannot see well enough to drive safely. And, because eye health deteriorates with age, most of them will be older people (the average age of those who failed in the survey was 69). • Read more expert advice on healthy living, fitness and wellbeing The sort of gradual loss that occurs in some eye conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, can be surprisingly easy to miss, and failing the test would have come as a surprise to some. However, I suspect others would have known that their vision was marginal, not least those who required glasses or contact lenses to reach the DVLA standard, but were driving without them. Not wearing your specs when you need them to drive is little different to jumping behind the wheel after drinking too much alcohol and, in my opinion, should be treated just as harshly. However, it's not all about road safety. Regular eye tests not only help you optimise your vision for everyday life but they can also detect worrying health problems before they would otherwise come to light. Some of these are rare, like the patient of mine whose optometrist spotted an early melanoma on her retina, but others are really quite common and can be broadly divided into eye conditions that can lead to visual loss, and changes that reflect problems elsewhere in your body. Eye problems that can have an insidious onset and are often only picked up in routine eye checks include early cataracts (clouding of the lenses), macular degeneration (retinal damage that can lead to loss of central vision) and, perhaps most worrying of all for drivers, glaucoma, as it is common, easily missed and can lead to irreversible visual loss. It is a leading cause of blindness in the UK. The term glaucoma embraces a number of conditions that are typically associated with raised pressure within the eyeball and damage to the delicate optic nerve that takes signals from the retina to the brain. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, as many as 1 in 20 people over 40 in the UK will have abnormally high pressure in their eyes, normally only detectable by measurements during an eye test. Most won't go on to develop glaucoma, but in those that do, the earlier treatment (like pressure-lowering eye drops) is started, the greater the chance of preserving vision. • Read more advice from Dr Mark Porter The back of the eye allows direct visualisation of both nerves and tiny blood vessels, and changes in the appearance of either can give clues to more distant problems including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, diabetes (type 1 and 2) and even brain tumours. So regular eye checks — for everyone, not just older drivers — could improve road safety, help to prevent and treat some common types of visual loss, and pick up silent threats to your health. And they are often free. Eligibility varies slightly depending on where you live, but as a rough guide adults should be eligible for a free check if over 60 (40 if you have a close relative with glaucoma) or you have existing visual impairment (registered partially sighted or blind), diabetes or glaucoma. Two-yearly tests are free for all adults in Scotland. I had my last check a few months ago and all was fine. However, while my long-range vision is good, my near vision is getting worse. Or to put it another way, the road ahead of me may be crystal clear, but my dash is starting to become blurred. And if I was to use my readers to get a clear view of the dash, the road ahead would be fuzzy. All easily fixed with varifocals, albeit not free of charge … • You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a current standard car number plate from 20m.• You must meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least 6/12 — that is being able to read the 5th line down on a standard Snellen eye chart test (normal vision 6/6 or '20/20' would be the 7th line down) — again, with glasses or contact lenses if necessary, using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.• You must also have an adequate field of vision — your optometrist can tell you more about this and do a test.
