Latest news with #E-Tech
Auto Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Comfy and chic Renault Scenic electric SUV for under £235 a month
Spacious and very practical 381-mile range Just £233.21 a month The electric family SUV class is fit to bursting but there is one offering that has risen to the top – the Renault Scenic E-Tech. The French brand has reinvented its famous family-friendly MPV to an equally family-suitable SUV, complete with a practical interior, great tech, and keen pricing. You can get behind the wheel for as little as £233.21 a month right now, thanks to this deal from VehicleFlex through the Auto Express Find a Car service. Advertisement - Article continues below This two-year deal requires a £3,038.50 initial payment, and has a cap of 5,000 miles a year. But if you need more mileage, then that's not a problem as the broker offers an 8,000-mile-a-year deal for under £20 more a month. Most will likely go for the longer mileage deal as the Scenic makes for a great family car thanks to its long range. The 87kWh battery pack is claimed to give 381 miles before needing to be recharged, and in our tests we've found 300 miles to be a reasonable average. Meanwhile, the pack can be charged up to 150kW from a rapid-charger, meaning you can be on your way in under 40 minutes. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Scenic drives just the way you'd want a family car to – and that's quiet and comfy. It's supple around town and absorbs bumps with ease, and it's superbly refined. That said, thanks to its relative lightness (for an EV) and sharp steering, the Scenic is also good to drive on twister roads. This deal nets you the entry-level Techno, which is no bad thing as it's packed with kit as standard. Renault throws in things such as 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, a 12-inch touchscreen with a slick Google operating system, and a clever rear armrest that will keep the kids entertained on long journeys. Interior space is excellent for this type of car - there's bags of room in the rear seats, and the boot is massive at 545 litres. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Renault Scenic leasing offers from leading providers on our Renault Scenic hub page. Check out the Renault Scenic E-Tech deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data There are now very few manual cars available to buy, a trend that's been exacerbated by the rise of EVs Car Deal of the Day: Nissan's X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month Car Deal of the Day: Nissan's X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month If the Qashqai is too small for you, then the larger X-Trail is a fine alternative. It's our Deal of the Day for 25 May
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Is life a beach with the Renault 4 or another EV wipeout? We test the £27k practical electric family car - and its claim to swallow a surfboard
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside... especially at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend break. And where better to test drive the new Renault 4 E-Tech electric family car than on the edge of the wave-crashing Atlantic Ocean in sunny Portugal. Priced from £27,000, the new R4 is a contemporary reincarnation of the classic practical and economical flat-floored Renault 4, which in 1961 revolutionised the car market - selling more than 8 million in 100 countries up to 1994. Built on the same bespoke electric platform as its smaller (22cm shorter) - but funkier - 5 E-Tech supermini sibling, the new 4.14-metre-long R4 is the more practical option. From its very first unveiling by Renault CEO Luca de Meo in the presence of France's President Macron at last October's Paris Motor Show, bosses boasted of the R4's flexible seating that folds to extend load space sufficient to carry a surfboard. Ever up for a challenge, there was only one way to find out. So as well as driving it on the road, I've stopped off to test the bodacious claim... What's it like to drive? If the Renault R5 electric hatchback is the fun, funky and cheeky member of the Renault family, then the R4 is the bigger, more sensible and versatile sibling. I put it through its paces on a wide variety of roads and conditions – from fast-flowing motorways to twisty mountain routes via sweeping ocean-side highways – and found it an easy and delightful drive with enough energy to keep me fully engaged. Powered by a 52kW battery with 150hp electric motor, there is plenty of acceleration at your demand when needed – such as overtaking - with an official 0 to 62mph figure of 8.2 seconds and a top speed governed at 93mph. It also has a very good and tight turning circle of just turning circle is just 10.8m which makes for great manoeuvrability in car parks or doing U-turns. There are four driving modes including Eco, Comfort and Personal. Comfort is fine for relaxed driving. But my own preference was for Sport mode with the added engagement provided by sharpened responses and extra oomph. Paddles on the steering wheel control four levels of regenerative braking - helping keep your battery charged - with the last making it a 'one pedal' operation by acting as a brake the moment you take your foot off the accelerator. Personally, I love it and it makes for smoother and more efficient driving. There are also 26 advanced driver assistance systems. Official driving range is up to 247 miles – which should just about get you from London to Middlesbrough on one charge. But not the way I drive. The R4 even has its own 'nanny', which monitors your driving performance and gives a read out at the end. I was unsurprised that my 'eco' rating was a lacklustre 62 per cent. But my 'safety' rating was a satisfyingly high 88 per cent. I'll take that. The price is right Price-wise, the new R4 range is keenly pitched between £27,000 to £32,000 to attract potential buyers away from rivals in a highly competitive middle-market electric car segment. It goes toe-to-toe with cars including Tesla's Model Y, Mini's Aceman, Fiat's 600e, Citroen's e-C3, Kia's EV3, Jeep's Avenger, Vauxhall's Mokka and Ford's Puma. Exact prices will be announced later in May ahead of UK order books opening in July - first deliveries will land on these shores from September. Customers can pay £150 for a priority 'R Pass' to queue jump and pre-order a car two weeks before order-books officially open, and be at the head of the queue for deliveries. Keeping it simple Renault wants to keep things simple so there is just the one EV power option - 52kW battery with 150hp electric motor - with three trim levels: evolution, techno and iconic. A shorter-range 90 kW/120bhp version with a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery won't be offered for sale in the UK as Renault chiefs in Britain said experience from R5 sales showed demand was clearly for the more powerful longer-range example. The option of an open-top R4 with a retractable canvas roof – which opens at the touch of a button or by voice control - is set to follow later, even though it was unveiled at the same time as the standard hard-top at last October's Paris Motor Show and on show as a static example in Portugal. Renault calls the roof its 'plein sud' – translating to 'due south' – which is a nod to touring on the South of France. With roof open, the view of the sky stretches 80x92cm and extends so far back that it that can be enjoyed by all passengers, including those in the back. The entry level evolution trim runs on 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels with a large central display screen, keyless entry and a heat-pump. Techno gets an illuminated front grille, a 10.3-inch screen driver information display, a wireless smartphone charger, Google-backed sat-nav and services, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, paddle-shifter levers and 'one-pedal' driving. Top of the range iconic trim offers the full package including additional safety and comfort features such as blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, heated front seats and steering wheel and an electric tailgate. Charging to 100 per cent takes four and a half hours using an 11 kW AC charger, or 30 minutes to 80 per cent with a 100 kW DC device. The 11 kW AC bidirectional charger can replenish the batteries of your personal devices and (where possible) return excess charge to the grid when not required. The inside story Inside the smart interior I settled quickly into a comfortable driving position in sporty seats overlooking a pretty well thought out dashboard. Don't ask me about wind noise – for most of my drive I had the windows down with my elbow on the sill to enjoy the sunshine and the warm sea breeze. Yes, that relaxing. Dual horizontal screens comprising either a 7 or 10-inch digital driver information display and a 10.1-inch central touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to allow you to connect your smartphone. Google services provided with the R4 from mid-range techno trim include Google Maps, Google Assistant and a variety of apps from the Google Play store, along with wireless smartphone charging. Putting the boot in The new R4 benefits from a bigger boot than its R5 sibling. With the rear seats up there's a generous 420 litres, increasing three-fold to 1,405 litres with rear seats folded. There are also handy bag hooks and secreted storage cubby holes – including a 55-litre underfloor compartment. A low-loading sill makes it easier to lug shopping, packages or bags into the boot A hands-free power tailgate comes as standard on iconic trim models. As with the original R4, you can even sit on it – as I did – to watch the world go by or even have a picnic. But the big question to put to the test is: can it take a surfboard? I can categorically tell you that it can. And I did it myself to prove it – thanks to very helpful staff at the Surfcenter in Ericeira, which I spotted randomly on my drive. However, YOU won't be able to do it if you order a Renault 4 in the UK... Always one to go to lengths to test the claims of car makers, Ray attempts to get a surfboard into the electric Renault While it was a case of mission complete, Ray has some bad news for UK customers who are also surfing enthusiasts... Renault R4 E-Tech: Will it fit in my garage? On sale: Order books open from July 2025 First deliveries: from September 2025 Price: from £27,000 to £32,000 DIMENSIONS Length: 4.14m Width: 1.80m Height: 1.57m Wheelbase: 2.62m Wheels: 18 inch Ground clearance: 181mm Weight: from 1,410kg Boot capacity: 420 litres, extending to 1,405 litres with rear seats folded Loading height: 607mm Towing capacity: 750kg PERFORMANCE Battery: 52 kWh lithium-ion battery Drive: 110 kW/150 bhp electric motor Range: up to 247 miles Acceleration (0-62mph): 8.2 seconds Top speed: 93mph CHARGING TIMES To 100 per cent with 11 kW AC unit: 4 hrs 30 min To 80 per cent with100 kW DC unit: 30 min It does have a few niggles... The weirdest thing for me is the lack of a 'Park' button option on the drive stalk – which offers only Reverse, Neutral and Drive. To be sure of parking correctly, you have to manually pull on the electronic parking switch. Renault insists customers of the R5 (on which this system is also fitted) haven't complained and quickly get used to it. It'll also default to park automatically they said, insisting it was designed to make life easier, not to save a few bob on manufacturing costs. Me? I remain to be convinced. And I'll admit to slight paranoia every time I left the car on an incline in case it rolled away. Although there is plenty of headroom in the rear (85.3cm) once you get inside, you do have to duck down to avoid banging your head when getting over the lower than expected doorway threshold. Rear leg and kneeroom (given as 16.4 cm) still feels quite tight, especially if the driver and front passenger have set their own seats for maximum comfort. UK buyers will miss-out on the option of having a fold-down front passenger seat, which is not available here. That's a big shame. Renault should reconsider that decision. For now it means you'll have to slide that surfboard in sideways between the two front seats - or stick it on the roof. I've yet to test whether the R4 will take a ubiquitous 'Billy' book-shelf package from Ikea, but I'm hopeful. The Google-dependent sat-nav proved a bit glitchy at times, too. The Renault 4 E-Tech has real character and is still fun to drive. While it offers more practicality that its funkier R5 sibling, don't see it as a boring alterative The Cars & Motoring verdict The new Renault R4 E-Tech offers a very entertaining rounded-package for many motorists with a wide variety of demands, likes and needs. Not as funky as the R5, but almost as much fun and sufficiently more practical and flexible for the needs of modern families or leisure pleasure seekers. Small niggles aside, it's a car with real character that's fun to drive, offers more practicality that its funkier R5 sibling, but isn't so 'sensible shoes' that it becomes boring. It will appeal equally to beach boys and girls. And on that note: 'Surf's up!'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
E-Tech Resources
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 1, 2025) - E-Tech Resources Inc. (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I) ("E-Tech" or the "Company") announces the approval of its new Deferred Share Unit Plan ("DSU Plan"), which complies with Policy 4.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange. The DSU Plan was first approved by the Company's shareholders at its 2023 Annual and Special Meeting and was reapproved by shareholders at the Company's Annual and Special Meeting held on September 26, 2024. The DSU Plan is administered by the Company's Compensation Committee, and any DSUs issued to qualified participants will vest at a rate of one-third on each anniversary date of the DSU grant. For further information on the DSU Plan, refer to the Company's Management Information Circular dated August 22, 2024. The Company's Stock Option Plan and DSU Plan are a combined 10% rolling share-based compensation plan, pursuant to which an aggregate of 10% of the Company's common shares may be reserved for issuance under both plans. E-Tech currently has 2,860,000 stock options granted and outstanding, which represents 2.7% of the Company's common shares outstanding. No DSUs have yet been granted under the DSU Plan. About E-Tech Resources Inc. E-Tech is a rare earth exploration and development company focused on developing its Eureka Rare Earths Project in Namibia. The Eureka project is located approximately 250 km north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek and 140 km east of Namibia's main industrial port Walvis Bay. The project is situated next to the national B1 highway in the Erongo Region of Namibia. The Eureka deposit lies in the Southern Central Zone of the Neoproterozoic Damara Belt within Exclusive Prospecting License ("EPL") number EPL 6762, which covers farms Eureka 99 and Sukses 90. E-Tech has also entered a definitive agreement to acquire an 85% interest in the permit EPL 8748 which lies adjacent to and surrounds the Company's EPL 6762. Namibia is recognized as one of Africa's most politically stable jurisdictions, with an extremely well-established national infrastructure and a clear and transparent mining law. Cautionary Statements This press release may contain forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions relating to general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. E-Tech does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by securities laws applicable to E-Tech. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings made by E-Tech with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact Rob Randall, CFO of E-Tech Resources Inc., at (902) 442-7187. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
