Latest news with #PorscheTaycan
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Mystery as iconic carmaker ‘immediately halts ALL sales of EV in UK until further notice'
AN ICONIC carmaker has dramatically halted all sales of one of its electric vehicles in the UK. The company mysteriously told its retailers to stop selling a specific batch of the electric sports car. 3 Several main Porsche dealers have been asked to remove a selection of electric Taycan models from sale, according to Car Dealer. It follows a request from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which manages motor recalls in the UK. The problem relates to a previous recall issued in November by the DVSA which said it could pose a fire risk. According to the DSVA, the reason for that recall was: "A short circuit within the battery modules during the vehicle's service life cannot be ruled out under certain circumstances which could lead to thermal events and later to a fire in the vehicle." A new Porsche software that will detect the problem and display a warning to the vehicle owner if it occurs is due later next month. Porsche GB said in a statement: "Enhanced battery monitoring software is anticipated to become available for first generation Taycan models towards the end of June. "With its imminent arrival, we've advised our retail partners not to sell a small, specific batch of first generation Taycan models until the software update is live." The carmaker has been contacted for comment. One Porsche dealer said: "Unfortunately Porsche and the DVSA haven't put a definitive timeframe on approved Taycans so at the minute we're now having to remove all Taycans from sale for the foreseeable future. "Porsche head office have sent out a bulletin to say we need to remove them from sale and not deliver any until further notice." A number of Taycans were still up for sale on the official Porsche used website as of this morning. It is understood that the bulletin sent out to dealers was only sent yesterday. A handful of Taycan models are thought to be affected by the issue in question, but it's not known how many outside of official dealers could be impacted too. Inside Taycan Turbo GT Porsche that can hit 200mph as SunSport's Isabelle Barker is taken for a spin by Formula E safety car driver Both Porsche GB and the DVSA have previously issued 12 safety recalls on various Taycan models. This includes recalls to replace brake hoses, address problem with welding and suspension components and replacing cell blocks in the high voltage battery. DVSA issues recalls when potential safety defects could inflict serious injury or harm to drivers, passengers, or other road users. They investigate when a manufacturer identifies a defect and they can initiate a recall to fix the issue, usually at no cost to the owner. Just last November, Porsche recalled 1,000 high end luxury cars over the risk of the wheels falling off while driving. It issued a notice on three of its most popular models including the iconic 911. Owners were urged to "stop driving immediately".
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Sassoon hospital's suspended senior doctor held in 2022 kidney racket case in Pune
Pune: Police on Wednesday night arrested Dr Ajay Taware, the suspended head of Sassoon General Hospital's forensic science department, in the 2022 kidney transplant case at Ruby Hall Clinic after securing his custody from Yerawada central jail earlier in the evening. Taware, who had been in jail since his arrest on May 27, 2024, as a co-accused in the blood sample swap case linked to the Porsche Taycan car crash on May 19 last year, was the head of the Regional Authorisation Committee (RAC) for organ transplant as well as the Sassoon Authority Committee and was the medical superintendent at the time when the transplant process took place and was completed at Ruby Hall Clinic. RAC is responsible for scrutinising organ transplant papers related to the proposed donor and the receiver, sent by the hospital where the transplant is to be performed, and clearing them on establishing all credentials. "We arrested Taware based on a five-member state health department inquiry committee's report of May 2022 that has indicted him and four others in RAC for misusing their position to aid kidney swap transplant based on bogus persons and forged documents," investigating officer ACP Ganesh Ingale told TOI. "The health department's then deputy director for Nashik region, Dr Raghunath Bhoye, headed the panel." Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar, when asked why it took so long (three years) for police to arrest Taware in this case, said, "We took a review of the case again, and post-consultation and study took the call to arrest him." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo On Thursday afternoon, Ingale and his team produced Taware before judicial magistrate first class SR Badve, who ordered the doctor's remand in police custody till June 2. "A total of nine swap kidney transplants were authorised and conducted during Taware's tenure as the RAC chief and police needed time to thoroughly investigate these matters," prosecutor Digambar Khopde told the court. The prosecutor submitted that Taware by virtue of being the head of RAC and the Sassoon Authority Committee had all the hospital bodies under his control and as a medical superintendent, he was well-versed with the administrative aspects and rules, processes and documentation work relating to organ transplant. "It was RAC's responsibility to see that the papers of the donor and the receiver were genuine and that no financial transaction was involved behind the transplant proposal. Still, RAC gave its go-ahead to the organ transplant based on bogus persons and forged papers," the prosecutor said. Khopade submitted that police needed time to investigate who else were part of the process to clear the swap kidney transplant, whether money was exchanged in the process, how RAC failed to notice the difference of age between the wife of the organ receiver and the woman who posed as the wife of the receiver at the time of interview before RAC, and other aspects.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Pune doctor in Porsche row arrested in 2022 kidney racket case
Representative image PUNE: Pune police arrested on Wednesday night Dr Ajay Taware, the suspended head of Sassoon General Hospital's forensic science department, in the 2022 kidney transplant case at Ruby Hall Clinic after securing his custody from Yerawada Central Jail earlier the same evening, reports Vishwas Kothari & Asseem Shaikh. On Thursday afternoon, investigating officer ACP Ganesh Ingale produced Taware before judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) SR Badve, who ordered the doctor remanded in police custody till June 2. Taware, who was in jail since his arrest on May 27, 2024 as a co-accused in the blood sample swap case linked to the May 19, 2024 Porsche Taycan car crash, was the head of the Regional Authorisation Committee (RAC) for Organ Transplant as well as the Sassoon Authority Committee and was medical superintendent at the time when the transplant process took place and was completed at Ruby Hall Clinic. "We arrested Taware based on a five-member state health department inquiry committee's report of May 2022 that has indicted him and four others in the RAC for misusing their position to aid kidney swap transplant based on bogus persons and forged documents. The department's then deputy director for the Nashik region, Dr Raghunath Bhoye, headed the inquiry panel," Ingale said. Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar, when asked why it took so long (three years) for the police to arrest Taware in this case, said, "We undertook a review of the case again and post-consultation and study took the call to arrest him." With inputs from Gitesh Shelke
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
I tested 16 cars in a day – there was only one that scored a perfect 10
Driving has always been a way for my mind to relax. I love learning a car and working out where it's strong and where it isn't. So, you can imagine I jumped at the chance to spend a whole day driving a variety of cars at The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)'s annual test day. Over the course of seven and a half hours I drove a total of 16 cars from city cars to super cars, from classics to SUVs. Driving some of these beauties truly brightened up what was a rather dull and overcast day. I've marked all the cars with a score out of 10 – with one hitting full marks. I've marked every single one I tested out of 10 – scroll down to find which vehicle hit the perfect 10. The Leapmotor is one of the cheapest electric cars on sale in the UK at the moment. It's a dinky entry into the continuously expanding electric car market. Just like the Skoda, I kept seeing fellow journalists leaping in and out of them, making them one of the two most popular cars on the day, although this could be to do with the fact there were three of them…. Nevertheless, people were queuing up and so I queued with them. On board, it was easy to see why it was so cheap for today's money, but it did at least feel solid. Driving, it's not a Porsche Taycan, but the lack of power meant you needn't worry about approaching a bend too quickly. As you would expect, physics meant it was nimble and easy to manoeuvre. One slight curiosity was the tyres had a cliff of grip, in that once you reached a certain point, the grip disappeared completely without much warning. However, when you're not going very quickly, this doesn't matter so much. Would I buy one? No. I would spend the money on a good second hand petrol car instead which was bigger, more spritely, and could go further. The Leapmotor is more of a left field third or fourth car rather than someone's primary mode of transport. If you're limited to the city, a motorbike or low mileage second hand city car from a bigger, well-known brand is probably a better bet. Speaking of bigger brands – Audi! The German brand was present with personal four-ringed favourite Audi e-Tron GT. I drove one of these last year – because Prince William has one – and found it's steering to be a revelation. Fortunately, the same characteristics had passed into the Launch Edition of the S5 saloon that came with a tasty petrol powerplant. This car, like it's electric cousin, isn't designed for track days or city driving, but storming along the autobahn at…speeds. Still, on Millbrook's alpine handling course it twisted and turned with alacrity and poise. It rode the course's bumps admirably and I felt it would probably appeal to people who both spent their time on motorways and also just like driving in general. A good effort. The Seal, from Chinese company BYD, is one of a new wave of Chinese cars looking to take on the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Porsche at the executive car game. The Seal is part of that arsenal and on the basis of my albeit short time with it, the signs are good. The car is powerful sure, but there's more to it than that. Like almost every other posh car currently on sale in the UK at the moment, it comes with a wall of touch screens. Even though I'm not a personal fan of touch screens replacing buttons, the ones in the Seal were intuitive and easy to use. Once on the move, the ride was refined, the car grippy, and a doddle to drive. Would I have preferred more steering feel? Yes, but that's not the point. The point is that these cars are a serious competitor to European big brands who have dominated this space for decades. Let's see what comes next. I've already touched on the Rocketeer MX5 for another article in the Mirror's motoring section, but writing about it again is hardly a hardship when I have such a soft spot for cars like this. I love restomods, they take a beautiful classic car and give it the convenience (and sometimes power) of a modern car. The Rocketeer MX5 takes a 1990s B-road hero and gives it a fresh six-cylinder powerplant. I was so excited to drive this MX5, it was the first car I drove after the driver's briefing in the morning. Being a convertible, you can revel in that six-cylinder engine note and short-throw gearbox so much more. It's small, it's nimble, it's powerful, it can be made to be as bespoke as you want. It's not mass-market but that's not the point, it's the car industry letting it's hair down, and that can only be a good thing in a market where the public mainly wants SUVs. That isn't to say the big boys from bigger brands can't have a little fan as well. Ford is one of the best at this. They've taken their Ford Mustang electric car and given it some of World Rally Championship treatment. The original car has been given more power, different tyres, different interior, a few more driving modes, and a changed set-up underneath. As a result, this car is nimbler than the vehicle it's based on despite the raised suspension and off-road tyres. I would love to have had the opportunity to take on gravel where it's rally-related modifications would have made it an absolute riot. On tarmac though, it still felt very effective. The Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida is a baby-SUV. It looks like an SUV, but is actually about the same size as a BMW 1 Series. It's small, petrol, and on this particularly overcast day, very red. I decided to test drive it after following one whilst testing another car. Taking the wheel myself, it was clear why the other pilot had decided to do two laps of the alpine course and not just the one. It was simply plain fun, felt light on its feet, had good steering feel, but never felt like it ran out of grip. I wouldn't necessarily buy it as the boot was a bit too small and it could do with being a few centimetres closer to the ground. But there will be people out there who will be taken with t his small hot-ish hatchback. A car I would most certainly recommend you buy if you have the money is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. A rival to the BYD Seal and Audi S5 above, this would be my pick of the three by far. A powerful six-cylinder engine, rear wheel drive, electric car like throttle response, and Italian charm, what's not to like? I hypermiled one of these from London to Edinburgh and back last year and having the opportunity to not worry about MPG and just enjoy one of Alfa's greatest hits was so liberating. Yes, the German and Chinese cars probably make better financial sense, but there's a charm to the Giulia. It's not naughty, but it's the alternative A24 choice. Some of it might not make sense, but it's not afraid to be open about what it is. It's a four-door Italian stallion of a car that is quite serious, but also very endearing in the way only Alfa Romeos can be. If the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a car you buy with your head, then the Mercedes is a car you buy if you've just won the lottery. At over £100,000, I think this may have been one of the most expensive cars on display. So expensive and precious were the AMG GTs on display that someone from Mercedes came with me as we wound our way around the alpine course and onto Millbrook's high speed bowl where we were limited to a speed of 100mph for safety's sake. As you would expect from a car of this price and spec, it was very plush inside. Rivals for this car include the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage. Truth be told, this was one of those cars where you would want more time to truly evaluate it, but then again, the same could be said of all of the cars present. As it was, it was lovely experience. The Mini Aceman is a family SUV, the best way to think of it is to see it as an electric version of Mini's already relatively popular Countryman that we're familiar with. What has the Aceman got going for it when you've got 20-30 minutes? Well, it's got short overhangs front and rear that should help with parking and comes with MINI's new interior styling. This interior includes BMW's new chunky steering wheel that also features in the BMW 1 Series. On the road, the MINI is actually really rather fun, keeping up gamely with much sportier cars ahead of it. You wouldn't take it on a track day, but it will hold its own. One slight fly in the ointment was the fact that music kept playing every time I touched the throttle. Interesting on first listen, but after a few weeks and you might start looking for the off switch. Ah yes, the famous BMW 1 Series. For over 10 years, the baby BMW was a rear-wheel drive hatchback. Now, the car is front-wheel drive instead. Despite the change, the car has continued to sell in large numbers and the one we had available had BMW's latest design styling. With a big boot and big seats, the 1 Series makes for an ideal family car on paper, that is if that family doesn't want an SUV. It's not too big either which should help with parking and has very light steering which will make things even easier. On the twists and turns of the alpine course, it was flat, undramatic, and capable as most BMWs often are. The interior is plush, posh, and comfortable, although the chunky and thick steering wheel wasn't to my taste, it probably wouldn't be a purchase defining matter. Another car I was reunited with was the Honda Civic Type R. Considered one of the most effective hot hatchbacks of the modern era, this car has won a significant number of motoring awards. When you get behind the wheel, it's easy to see why. The handling is taught and balanced, the chassis stiff, the gearbox a joy and the engine buzzing with a desire to be let off the leash. What's more, because this is based on a Honda Civic, it's practical too with a big boot, rear seats, and space for family-related objects. It was one of my favourite cars to drive when I had one for a week in 2023, and that assessment hasn't really changed 18 months on. The Hyundai Inster is a curious little car, and not just because its name sounds like slang for a popular social media network (guess which one). It's interesting because it's got early-2000s Fiat 500 vibes about it. When that car was launched, it was lauded for its cool looks, funky interior, charming handling, and small size. These are all characteristics I found in the Hyundai Inster. It's small-ish, it's got memorable aesthetics, a brave interior, and it handles well. Unlike something like the Leapmotor, this feels like it's vying to be somebody's only car, something to rival the Ford Fiestas and VW Polos of this world. Yes, being electric, you might be less likely to take it on incredibly long road trips, but if the UK's charging infrastructure improves, then why not? One car which isn't mass-market is the Alpine A110R. This was one of my favourite cars of the entire day. Just like its Austrian comparator, the Alpine has stiff suspension, a big wing, and you're strapped into it using a four-point racing harness. This is a car through which you feel everything. There's no insulation here, you are flooded with so much information you giggle. It's a raw, enjoyable, thrilling place to be, even when you're pootling out of the carpark. Get going and once everything has warmed up, it is confidence inspiring. You feel alive and happy and confident. It's a car that needs to be worked, it doesn't give you pace on a plate, you have to work for it. What this all means is that when the car is ready, and you are too, it is incredible. Specialised as this car might be, it's incredible. The Ford Explorer is the blue oval's latest attempt at dialling into the electric SUV market. The Explorer is a large and practical box, but a comfortable and well accomplished box, however. On the road it corners flat, comfortably, and grips well. Meanwhile, the interior screens are swift and easy to use and it's got a big boot too. One slight gripe I had however, was the fact there wasn't much leg support in the seats which mean you slid about a bit if you put a bit too much angle into the steering at the wrong moment. The car still felt stuck to the road, but you didn't feel part of the seat. The MG S5 EV is MG's attempt at electric SUV, something the Anglo-Chinese company has become rather good at in recent years. Their latest car is a continuation of that success with a decent range, big boot, and not entirely unforgettable handling. The important thing here is that cars like this are not about the handling necessarily, they're about taking your loved ones from point A to point B safely and without drama. The same applies to the Ford above, they're about making you feel safe and give you plenty of practicality for your money. My only big criticism is that big cars like this need bigger ranges, maybe of up to 400 miles, and more charging facilities. The crowning jewel of the day was the Skoda Felicia convertible. Produced from between 1959 and 1964, I wasn't originally going to drive it. But then I saw others coming back from their drives with massive smiles on their faces. The first thing I was told was that to start it one had to pull out the choke to get it started. The second was just plain strange. Normally in a manual car, first gear is ahead to the left, second is direct behind, third is ahead to the right, fourth behind that and firth ahead to the right etc. In the Skoda, it was literally the opposite. First was where fifth would be, second where sixth lives. In short, instead of going from left to right along the gearbox. On the road, the Skoda was practically charming in the way only cars of a certain age can be. I came back as all the others had, with a massive smile on my face, bobble hat still intact. So, you drive 16 cars and have to decide which one is the best. In truth, there are very few cars here that you can directly compare with the other. You can't compare the MX5 with the Ford or the Mercedes with the MG for example. So, on a purely objective perspective it's hard. But the car which was the most memorable from the day was the Skoda with it's curious gearbox, blue paintwork, a novel driving dynamics.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Aviation spare firmowner's second bail plea rejected for blood sample swap Pune's Porsche crash case
1 2 3 Pune: Additional sessions judge KP Kshirsagar rejected the second bail plea of an aviation spare parts company owner arrested in the Porsche Taycan car crash case on charges of manipulating the blood alcohol test of his minor son, who was accompanying the 17-year-old car driver at the time of the accident. Pune police had arrested the accused on Aug 19, 2024. A supplementary chargesheet was filed against him and he is under judicial custody at the Yerawada Central Prison. Kshirsagar said in his order on May 23, "Prima facie, there appears no material change either in the facts or law after the rejection of the first bail application of the applicant/accused. There appears no substance in the new grounds taken by the accused for bail. There is no material on record to doubt the genuineness of the prosecution case. There appear no inherent infirmities or improbability in the prosecution case. " "From the appreciation of the material on record, it appears that the allegations against the accused are very serious, involving hatching a conspiracy for causing the disappearance of evidence of the commission of an offence with the intention of screening the offender and forgery for the purpose of interfering and misleading the investigation of the crime and thwarting the criminal justice administration system," the judge said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Artrose? Esta joelheira biônica pode ajudar a renovar seu joelho LegFix Undo He further said, "The accused and co-accused are alleged to have tampered with the evidence during the investigation stage itself and tried to mislead the investigation. There is reasonable belief that the accused may tamper with the prosecution evidence if left at liberty. Therefore, at this stage, there appears to be a necessity for further detention of the accused." Special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray pleaded to reject the bail plea of the accused because there is prima facie evidence against him to show that he gave his blood sample instead of his son. It was clear that he, along with the co-accused, hatched a conspiracy and tried to interfere and thwart the investigation and criminal justice administration system.
