Latest news with #Motors
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's when you are allowed to overtake on continuous white line during your test
AN Irish driving instructor has revealed when you are allowed to overtake on a continuous white line during your test. Novice drivers are often unsure when it's a good time to pull the manoeuvre on the day, fearing they may be marked down. 3 @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on TikTok Credit: Tiktok/Vistadrivingschool 3 And he shared when it is allowed to overtake on a continuous white line Credit: Tiktok/Vistadrivingschool @Vistadrivingschool is a popular Irish driving instructor on And he shared with his followers if they are allowed to overtake a bus or a cyclist on the day when there is a continuous white line. Motorists must not drive past the white line except in certain situations, such as avoiding an obstruction or when turning into a side road or driveway. But they can also overtake a bus or a READ MORE IN MOTORS The driving instructor said: "A continuous white line should not be crossed unless there is a hazard or obstruction. "So what about a slow-moving cyclist or a bus that has stopped to collect passengers behind you? "Yes, these are obstructions also." Under Irish road traffic law, specifically Regulation 26 of the Road Most read in Motors It states: "A driver shall not cross or straddle a continuous white line except where it is necessary to avoid an obstruction." If a bus is stopped to collect or drop off passengers and there is a continuous white line, you can legally and safely cross that line to overtake - as long as it doesn't endanger others. Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads Likewise, if a cyclist is moving very slowly and it is not possible to pass within your lane, you are allowed to cross the line briefly and safely to overtake. Another important factor is that What's more, the exception isn't allowed if you are overtaking on the brow of a hill or a bend and you do not have enough space to pull back in safely. The driving instructor added: "So make sure to use your judgement - if it is risky just do not do it. "But if it's clear and it's safe to do so, you are allowed to overtake." Driving test tip This comes after another TikToker shared the @Next_level_driving_school on TikTok shares useful tips and tricks on their page. Faded L-plates could give your driving instructor a reason to cancel your test, resulting in the loss of your test fee. He said: "It's probably best not to turn up to your test with faded L-plates, as your test might not go ahead, and it will be a waste of €85. "So make sure your L-plates are in good condition and not faded, so the tester does not have a reason not to go out on the test with you." 3 There are factors that drivers must be aware of before pulling the manoeuvre Credit: Tiktok/Vistadrivingschool
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
New Skoda Octavia vRS is a 265bhp rocket ship but also a very practical sportscar
THE Skoda Octavia is a brilliant four-door car with a big boot — and it's fun to drive. But the Octavia's boot doesn't open like a regular saloon even though it looks like one. 6 SPICE UP YOUR LIFE: With 265bhp, four doors, a big boot and a handy hatchback-style opening boot all wrapped in a sporty saloon , the Skoda Octavia vRS proves you can have your cake and eat it Credit: Skoda UK Instead the boot lid opens the same way a hatchback does, adding to its useability. The boot offers 600 litres but fold the seats down for 1,555 litres of load-lugging ability. The sporty vRS model takes all this practicality and wraps it up with the fun and excitement of a potent hot-hatch. And as we've been basking in the recent warm weather, you'll be hot in the city and on the open road looking cool, cruising in your Octavia vRS. Key Facts: Skoda Octavia vRS Cost: From €56,020 Engine: 2.0-litre, four- cylinder turbo petrol Power: 265bhp Torque: 370Nm 0-100kph: 6.4 seconds Top Speed: 250kph Economy: 40.8mpg Real world: 40mpg Emissions: 159g/km Rivals: VW Golf GTI, Cupra BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 Power comes from a 2.0-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 265bhp and 370Nm of torque. This allows the vRS to scamper from 0-100kph in 6.4seconds with a very respectable top speed of 250kph. There are hot-hatches that produce more power, but the Octavia vRS is a little ripper and it's surprisingly quick in all the driving modes — even Eco. But it's Sport mode that really brings it to life, with a fruity note from the dual exhausts and a few pops and bangs thrown in for good measure. Most read in Motors 6 THE GREAT ESTATE: Octavia vRS also comes as an even more practical sporty estate called the Combi Credit: Skoda Ireland 6 BOOT SIZE: Big boot is 600-litres and up to 1,555-litres with the seats down Credit: Skoda UK It's front-wheel drive, though, so in the wet or with a too-heavy right foot, the vRS's traction control will be working overtime to minimise wheel spin. But in the dry, grip is really good and you can opt for Dynamic Chassis Control so you can fine-tune the suspension settings to suit your driving style. However, the Sports Suspension, which drops the ride height by 15mm, comes as standard. It looks like a proper sports car too. 6 WHEELS OF MIS-FORTUNE: The 19-inch alloys feature plastic aero caps that look a bit cheap Credit: Darren Liggett 6 BUCKET SEATS: Sports seats are superb and look like they're lifted out of a rally car Credit: Skoda UK My test car was painted Race Blue Metallic and all the vRS trim consists of sports bumpers with black inserts, black mirrors and black ducktail boot spoiler, vRS chrome exhaust pipes, red brake callipers and 19-inch 'Elias' alloy wheel. However they come with plastic aero covers that, in my opinion, ruin the look of the rims and make it look cheap, especially as there is a great-looking alloy wheel below. The interior is amazing; the seats look like they have been lifted out of a Skoda Fabia WRC2 car. They're also heated and covered in lovely Alcantara trim, with red stitching, vRS badges and lots of carbon-style trim that all adds up to make the vRS Octavia feel extra sporty and special. 6 SPORTY CABIN: Loads of faux-carbon trim, red stitching and plenty of vRS badging Credit: Skoda UK The 13-inch infotainment system is user-friendly and my test car came fitted with a banging, optional Canton sound system. It's actually pretty economical, Skoda have an official figure of 41mpg. Read more on the Irish Sun And on a long motorway journey taking it very easy, I did average 40mpg. But go full Stig mode and it's certainly not as frugal.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Huge blow to Brit drivers as more than half of Britain's busiest airports hike ‘kiss & fly' parking fees
UK MOTORISTS are being slapped with price increases as more than half of Britain's busiest airports have hiked their kiss-and-fly parking fees. Out of the 20 most popular airport, 11 have upped their drop-off prices since last summer, according to car service agency RAC. 4 Many UK airports have hiked their drop-off fees Credit: Getty 4 Many airports charge over a fiver for 10 minutes of parking Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Passengers have been left stunned by the surge in prices Credit: Getty 4 Heathrow has bumped the price up by to £6, up by £1 The worst offenders now charge as much as £7 for a stop that could last less than ten minutes. These hefty drop-off charges are found at Gatwick airport, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted, which handle millions of passengers every day. Rod Dennis from the RAC blasted the charges, saying: '£7 for a stop that could be no more than 10 minutes does seem a little steep. "And the fact that these costs keep going up year after year is going to be a huge source of frustration for anyone dropping off a friend or loved one this summer.' Read more Motors Pulling up and waving someone off could cost you £7, but some airports, including Luton or Manchester, charge a fiver for five minutes. Heathrow, Edinburgh , Birmingham and Liverpool have also all bumped up their kiss-and-fly rates by £1. Cardiff Airport was previously free but has now slapped a £3 fee for 10 minutes on drop-offs for the first time. The RAC branded the move a "cash grab", with experts saying UK airports are 'taking advantage' of drivers who have little choice but to cough up. Most read in Motors In other airports in Europe, nine of the ten busiest airports don't charge a penny for drop-offs. Airports like Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle allow you to drop loved ones off for free while only Amsterdam Schiphol only charges £2.17. Travel chaos as TWO flights have mid-air emergencies within A MINUTE at major UK airport Some UK airports claim there are free park-and-ride options further away but many argue it's unrealistic for many passengers. Holidaymakers with lots of luggage or mobility issues may struggle using drop-off spots further away. Karen Dee from Airports UK tried to defend the charges, saying they help reduce 'congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution' and that they're 'mandated' by local authorities. She also argued the money supports 'a wide variety of flights'. But many stunned drivers are taking to social media to express their disbelief. One wrote: 'I collected my daughter's friend at Luton airport, dropped her off on their holiday at Stansted, collected them back at Stansted and finally back to Luton - £24 in total for about 20 minutes." Another fumed: "It's daylight robbery, you're penalised for doing a good deed." Gatwick said the charge helps cut congestion and funds green transport projects. Blue Badge holders are still exempt at Gatwick, Belfast and Southampton, but many feel the rising costs are simply punishing people for saying goodbye. Southampton insisted fees were reinvested into the airport to secure 'new routes for the region'. London City remains the only major UK airport where it's still free to drop someone off. Kiss-and-Fly Fee Increases £7 drop-off fee now charged at: Gatwick Bristol Leeds Bradford Southampton Stansted £6 drop-off fee (increased by £1) at: Heathrow Edinburgh Birmingham Liverpool Cardiff has introduced a new fee for the first time: £3 for 10 minutes Luton and Manchester are the most expensive per minute: £5 for 5 minutes
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Inside Dua Lipa's one-off 184mph Porsche 911 GT3 RS with special paint job that's set to raise £100,000s for charity
YOU'D normally see Dua Lipa doing Dua Lipa things on the front page or Bizarre. Not here on Motors. 4 Dua Lipa with the personalised Rennstall Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Credit: Philipp Reinhard 4 Dua designed a special swirly paint job for the 184mph Porsche Credit: PA 4 The star was blasted up Goodwood's famous hillclimb in it, in front of 100,000 fans - and the GT3 RS is being auctioned in aid of her Sunny Hill Foundation Credit: Supplied But we bagsied these pictures because the singer has designed her own car. It's a 184mph Porsche Looks tidy. READ MORE MOTORS NEWS Now she's been blasted up Goodwood's famous hillclimb in it, in front of 100,000 fans. How much was the insurance for that high-speed run, you reckon? More than a lot. Dua said: 'I love speed. Adrenalin all the way. I'm very, very lucky to have been driven in two very iconic places. I'm very, very lucky to have been driven in two very iconic places. Monaco F1. That was surreal. The whole experience was insane. Then the Goodwood hillclimb, which just blew me away. 'Monaco F1. That was surreal. The whole experience was insane. Most read in Motors "Then the Goodwood hillclimb, which just blew me away. Very, very exciting. 'I feel very lucky to get to work with the Porsche team and to create something that feels really unique and fun and to bring it down here to Goodwood.' Chinese car brand to rival Tesla with more affordable EV makes Goodwood debut The Training Season singer has previously written, directed and starred in adverts for She said: 'They have allowed me to express my creativity. 'Things that I guess I didn't really expect anyone to let me do. They were like 'Yeah, go for it, just have fun and enjoy'. Charity auction 'I think that's really the core values of the brand — being creative, living life on the edge a little bit, and just having fun. 'So that's what we are here to do — and we're having a good time doing it.' Dua's unique GT3 RS will be auctioned by Sotheby's in aid of her Sunny Hill Foundation, supporting Kosovan culture and arts. The regular car costs £193k. So double that. And double it again probably. Other familiar faces pitching up at the always-brilliant Festival of Speed included Olympic swim king He said: 'Fully got my guts inside out. So much respect for the drivers.' Colin McRae's daughter Hollie jumped in Nigel Mansell was one of NEXT year's Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from July 9-12. Book the time off work now. 4 The Training Season singer has previously written, directed and starred in adverts for Porsche's electric Macan Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Huge crisis-hit car brand to shut its flagship factory with 2,400 workers in ‘tough but necessary decision'
A STRUGGLING car manufacturer is to shut its flagship factory which employs 2,400 workers, with its boss calling it a 'tough but necessary decision'. Vehicle production at Nissan's Oppama plant in Kanagawa Prefecture south of Tokyo, will end at the end of the 2027 fiscal year, in March 2028, the Japanese automaker said today. 2 A worker assembles a vehicle on the production line of Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Japan (file image) Credit: Getty After that, all models that had been made or scheduled for production at Oppama will be made at Nissan Motor Kyushu, in Fukuoka Prefecture. The Oppama plant has been a prized symbol for Nissan Motor Corp., which rolled out its Chief Executive He promised employees will be treated fairly and responsibly, with transfer offers to other locations, or other work in the area in consultation with the trade union. Read More on Motors The plant now employs 2,400 people. 'I believe it's a vital step toward overcoming our current challenges and building a sustainable future ,' he said. 'The world is changing by the minute,' he told reporters at a news conference at Nissan's Yokohama headquarters. Espinosa said the company was in talks on possibly selling the factory land, or using it for another purpose. Most read in Motors He declined to give details. Even if a buyer is not found, the decision on ending production will not change, he added. New Nissan Leaf tested - it's bigger, better and goes further The plant's closure was expected, as the maker of the Infiniti luxury models and March subcompact has said repeatedly that it is restructuring its operations to boost its profitability, including by consolidating production sites. Nissan says the tariff policies of US President Donald Trump have hurt its bottom line. Earlier this year, Nissan said it was slashing about 15% of its global work force, or about 20,000 employees, which would include a 9,000 head count reduction announced late last year, including in China. The company has been racking up losses, hurt by slipping vehicle sales in China and elsewhere, huge restructuring costs and ballooning inventories. Earlier this year, Nissan said it's reducing the number of its auto plants to 10 from 17 to create a leaner, more resilient business. At that time, it didn't say which plants were being closed but confirmed the closures will include factories in Japan . It's also reducing production capacity to 2.5 million units from 3.5 million. The latest announcement concludes the production closures in Japan , according to Espinosa. Nissan racked up a loss of 670.9 billion yen (£3.36 billion) for the fiscal year through March, down from a 426.6 billion yen (£2.14 billion) profit recorded in the previous fiscal year. Espinosa replaced Makoto Uchida, who stepped down to take responsibility for the faltering results. 2 Nissan's electric vehicle Leaf is currently made in its Oppama factory Credit: Getty
