Latest news with #Marseilles
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Dacia Bigster review: This budget contender is good enough to take the ‘ultimate family car' crown
It's past midday in the mountains behind Marseilles in the Bouche-du-Rhône department of France. I'm driving towards Aix-en-Provence and the screen is filled with the yellowish rocky landscape as the engine warbles gently under the bonnet. I'm looking forward to lunch, something well-cooked but simple, comforting and tasty. Ham, egg and chips, perhaps? Welcome to the new Dacia Bigster, a funny name for a ham-egg-and-chips offering in one of the most popular classes of car in Europe, the family SUV, with more than three million sold each year, taking in excess of 23 per cent of all new-car sales. It was only a matter of time before this Romanian-based company, owned and managed by Renault since 1999, grew its version of 'essentiality' into this crossover market. The latest Duster, launched last year, is already making inroads into the smaller B SUV class, while its Sandero hatchback is Europe's best-selling car. Last year Dacia sold a record 31,704 vehicles in the UK, more than Citroen, or Cupra, Honda and Mazda could manage, almost twice the sales of Fiat and making serious inroads into parent Renault's 57,967 registrations. How come? Part of the answer is provided by Denis Le Vot, Dacia's mercurial and hugely likeable chief executive. Priced to sell 'In 2019, the average cost of a car in the C-segment SUV class was €29,000 [£25,434 in historic rates], last year it was €38,000 [£32,168]. So, it was a little bit of the Covid, a little of the supply crisis, a little of energy cost, a little of the cost of the aluminium, or whatever you want,' he says. 'But cars are too expensive and people don't want to spend money on cars any more; they make choices…'. So, like some supermarket promotion, Dacia is turning the clock back five years on prices, except this isn't a promotion; this is what Dacia does. In the UK, the range starts at £24,995, rising to £26,245 for the penultimate Journey trim level and £26,495 for the top Extreme trim. You can't spend any more than £30,000, even for the most expensive model, while PCP deals start at £350 a month with a £350 deposit. These prices are where a lot of the closest rivals start for a car stripped out like a nuclear winter. Does that also apply to the Bigster? A resounding no. From the outside this is a good-looking vehicle, unthreatening, but supermarket-tough with car park-proof grey plastic panels on the sills and around the wheel arches. Heated seats... in a Dacia? And the interior? Dacia has spent the past few years asking questions, mainly of 400 German buyers (where this C-segment SUV market is strongest) what they like, what they don't, and what might convince them to buy one. I'm looking at the results now and I can see a well-designed twin-screen facia with tiles for heated seats, heated steering wheel… Hold on, heated seats on a Dacia? Le Vot bridles. 'Heated seats? Sure. Or people just walk away. These things are the 'essentiality' of the C-segment. We're not going premium, we just coldly and bluntly looked at what three million people every year are used to, and are not ready to be downgraded in any way.' There's lots of intelligent design, such as the middle-seat armrest in the rear containing cup holders and slots for smartphones, along with neat luggage restraint brackets. There's even a camping option with a double bed, as well as versatile roof bars. There's also a rear-seat tilt control in the boot so you aren't forced to dance between rear seats and the boot lid when you have a long load. Those rear seats are comfortable and spacious, with enough room for three large teenagers across the bench, which splits 40/20/40 per cent. It all feels like the Skoda promise of 'Simply Clever', although Dacia's decision to mix up the driver's seat adjustment – forward and back performed manually, with electric height and back recline – takes a little getting used to. You also still sit rather high, and the steering wheel adjustment is rather mean, but views out are expansive, the feeling of airiness boosted in the upper trim levels by a large sunroof (along with parking aids and a rear-view camera). On the road So how does Dacia's 'essentiality' translate into the driving experience? In two words, completely unexceptional. The Bigster is perfectly suited to the job of being a family troop carrier; think school runs, seaside trips, visiting relatives, shopping and more school runs. Or as Le Vot says: 'Right in the heart of the C-segment.' The major drivetrain choices are a 1.2-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine delivering 138bhp with front-wheel drive, or 127bhp with 4x4, along with a 153bhp, 1.8-litre front-drive Hybrid 155 – the only one available at the launch. This is an update on Renault's acclaimed hybrid system, with a clutchless automatic gearbox with two motors, and gears engaged with dog gears rather than conventional synchro rings. The larger-capacity, four-cylinder engine has more torque (127lb ft) than the three-cylinder 1.2 to help smooth the gear changes. The engine still booms noisily if you floor the accelerator pedal, and it requires notice in triplicate before overtaking, but driven gently this is a quiet and companionable power unit, brisk enough for a family SUV. Over a variety of road types and surfaces (and on 19-inch wheels) the ride is acceptable, although it feels slightly crashy on very broken surfaces, and slightly floaty on smoothly undulating ones. The body rolls in corners, but it's well controlled and long journeys are comfortable. The steering isn't the sharpest, but it turns nicely off the straight ahead and feels accurate and well weighted. The brake pedal has a bit of lost movement at the top of the travel, but stopping feels strong and progressive once the pads are engaged. The handling is controlled, with fine damping and a neat, confidence-inspiring feeling at the wheel underpinned with safe-and-sensible nose-on understeer. There are no industry-standard Euro NCAP crash test results yet, but quietly Dacia is expecting four stars. The Telegraph verdict What comes across strongly to anyone who has driven earlier generations of Dacia cars is just how much thought and design has gone into the Bigster. It's simply better in every respect. There is greater refinement, with less interior noise thanks to drivetrain improvements, along with more insulation and thicker window glass. The ride comfort is better, thanks to what feels like improved damping and suspension. In the facia the screens are better designed, more spread out and easier to read. Using the 'Perso' switch, with which you can also select various dynamic settings, for also turning off lane-keeping and speed limit warnings, is excellent. In the words of a sports coach, Dacia has raised its game. I think Dacia will sell the Bigster by the bucketload. The facts On test: Dacia Bigster Hybrid 155 Journey Body style: C-segment five-door SUV On sale: now How much? range from £24,995 (£29,245 as tested) How fast? 112mph, 0-62mph in 9.7sec How economical? 60.1mpg (WLTP Combined), 58.9mpg on test Engine & gearbox: 1.8-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol, clutchless geared automatic transmission and hybrid drive system, front-wheel drive Maximum power/torque: 153bhp @ 5,300rpm/129lb ft @ 3,000rpm CO2 emissions: 105g/km (WLTP Combined) Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles (up to 7 years/75,000 miles if annually serviced by Dacia) The rivals Suzuki Vitara, from £26,949 Smaller family crossover but similar prices starting with the Motion Mild Hybrid, front-wheel drive with a 127bhp/173lb ft, 1.4-litre mild hybrid unit and manual gearbox, giving a top speed of 121mph, 0-62mph in 9.5sec, 53.2mpg and 118g/km. Equipment isn't too sparse either. There's also a 4x4 option on top models. Nissan Qashqai, from £30,135 Similarly-sized market-leading family crossover (4,425mm long) but a lot more expensive. Two powertrains are offered: a 1.3-litre mild hybrid with manual or automatic gearbox (including optional 4x4), or 1.5-litre e-power range-extending battery power. The lowest power unit gives 122mph, 0-62mph in 10.4sec, 45mpg and 142g/km. Nicely engineered – and built in Britain.
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Banksy posts image of new lighthouse artwork believed to be in Marseille
Banksy has posted an image of a new artwork believed to be in southern French city of Marseilles, but its exact location has not been confirmed. The characteristic image, posted on the artist's Instagram account, morphs the shadow of a street bollard into the form of lighthouse. Stencilled across the image are the words: 'I want to be what you saw in me.' Banksy fan site report that the new work is in the Panier area of Marseilles, a district near the city's port that is known for its graffiti, including several works by the French street artist Invader who uses a pixelated style. Lighthouse-shaped bollards line many of the streets in Marseilles including in the Panier area. Close to the latest work, revealed on Thursday, is a tag that appears to read Yaze, which is the mark used by a Canadian graffiti artist who also goes by the name Marco the Polo and cites Banksy as an inspiration. Banksy's works have fetched millions at auction, prompting much speculation over the Bristol graffiti artist's true identity. Inspiration for the quote in the lighthouse artwork may have come from a song, Softly, by the Tennessee-based country band Lonestar that features the lyric: 'I want to be what you see in me. I want to love you the way that you love me.' A swathe of animal-themed Banksy works appeared in London last year, including a rhino seemingly mounting a silver Nissan Micra, two elephant silhouettes with their trunks stretched out towards each other, three monkeys that looked as though they were swinging on a bridge, and a gorilla on a shutter at London zoo. Since then Banksy has also posted an image of a Madonna with the baby Jesus and what looks like a bullet hole.
Reuters
12-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
US nuclear regulator begins special inspection at Quad Cities nuclear power plant
May 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has launched a special inspection at the Quad Cities Generating Station in Marseilles, Illinois, following discovery of inoperable safety-related vacuum breakers, the agency said on Monday. The two-unit nuclear plant is operated by Constellation Energy (CEG.O), opens new tab. Operators discovered that vacuum breakers intended to maintain the structural integrity of the containment system during major events were inoperable because certain valves were not reopened after testing during a recent refueling outage, according to the NRC press release. It added that the event compromised the system's ability to regulate containment pressure, warranting a special investigation, and that the system has been restored. "While this did not affect safe plant operation, an independent review of the issue by the regulator is warranted given questions related to the performance of plant personnel that compromised the ability of a safety system to fulfill its function," said Region III Administrator Jack Giessner. The NRC said its inspectors will evaluate Constellation's response, the company's understanding of the event, the scope of its assessment actions, and the adequacy of procedures and system design. Findings from the inspection will be documented in a publicly available report, which will be distributed electronically and posted on the NRC's website, it added.
Edinburgh Reporter
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hutchie 2012's triumph in Mediterranean Cup
Competitors in Toulouse included teams from France, Germany, Ireland and England. That winning feeling as Hutchison Vale 2012's lift the Mediterranean Cup The winning Hutchison Vale 2012 squad/ Captained by Evan Aitken and Noah Radcliffe Hutchie won their group on the first day in style scoring freely and not conceding a goal a to qualify for the quarter finals. Hutchison Vale started the second day where they left off winning the quarter final against accomplished London opponents 2-1 before following up by putting French rivals to the sword, 2-0 Marseilles, who had been excellent in all previous games, provided final opposition and went ahead only for Oliver Hay to equalise and take the game to penalties. In the shoot-out Noah Radcliffe, Oscar Pettigrew and Oliver Hay all stepped up to score and when 'keeper Charlie Philbin saved for Hutchison Vale the trophy was on its way back to Edinburgh. The team were sponsored by esscom Fire Protection, Cmac fire security and Gordon Bow Plant Hire. Like this: Like Related
