Latest news with #Vauxhalls
Glasgow Times
05-08-2025
- Glasgow Times
Driver caused £100k of damage in Glasgow car crash
Derek Bowden, 26, wrote off every vehicle during the mass collision outside Glasgow's Maryhill police office on July 29, 2024. Bowden was behind the wheel of a stolen Ford Ranger while he was under the influence. Bowden pleaded guilty today at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a string of charges which included dangerous driving, car theft and possession of a knife in a public place. The court heard that officers at the police station heard the sound of tyres screeching and a loud bang from outside at 11.10pm. Officers were alerted by members of the public to Bowden who had been in the Ford Ranger. Prosecutor Victoria Keel added: "Officers also saw extensive damage to a Mercedes. "A total of eight vehicles were damaged extensively." Maryhill Road was then closed off temporarily. READ MORE: Vulnerable OAP died after escaping Glasgow care home as firm slammed Bowden - whose breath smelled of alcohol - failed a roadside breath test and was arrested meantime. He then blew two specimens of breath which were below the legal limit at a police station. However, Bowden informed police that he had earlier smoked cannabis and later failed a drugs test. Bowden went on to refuse an alcohol blood test with a doctor despite his initial agreement. He said: "F*** off, you can charge me with whatever." A search of his person also recovered a knife with a three-inch blade in his underwear. CCTV later showed Bowden driving at excessive speed before the collision. An investigation found that the vehicle belonged to a Paul Smith who had left his vehicle earlier that day in a car park at a location called The Hut. He found that the premises had windows smashed with a brick but nothing was noted to be missing. READ MORE: Man responsible for Castlemilk murder back in dock for this reason Miss Keel stated that the damage to the eight vehicles which were "written off" cost a total of £100,500. Each individual cost of the damage to the cars ranged between £2,000 and £27,000. Vehicles included two Mercedes, two Ford Vehicles, two Vauxhalls, a Renault and a Peugeot. The fiscal depute added that Mr Smith's insurance doubled as a result of the incident. Des Ziolo, defending, told the court that it was "fortunate" no one was injured. It was also revealed that Bowden is currently serving an eight-month sentence imposed upon him at Dumbarton Sheriff Court. Sheriff John McCormick ordered that his latest 33-month sentence run consecutively. He was also disqualified from driving for eight years.
STV News
05-08-2025
- STV News
Driver caused £100,500 in damage writing off eight cars in mass crash
A driver who caused £100,500 of damage by crashing into eight cars has been jailed for 33 months. Derek Bowden, 26, wrote off every vehicle during the mass collision outside Glasgow's Maryhill police office on July 29, 2024. Bowden was behind the wheel of a stolen Ford Ranger pick-up truck while he was under the influence. On Tuesday, Bowden pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to charges including dangerous driving, car theft and possession of a knife in a public place. The court heard that officers at the police station heard the sound of tyres screeching and a loud bang from outside at 11.10pm. Officers were alerted by members of the public to Bowden, who had been in the Ford Ranger. 'Officers also saw extensive damage to a Mercedes,' Prosecutor Victoria Keel said. 'A total of eight vehicles were damaged extensively.' Maryhill Road was closed off. Bowden – whose breath smelled of alcohol – failed a roadside test and was arrested. He then provided two breath specimens, which were below the legal limit at a police station. However, Bowden informed police that he had earlier smoked cannabis and later failed a drugs test. Bowden went on to refuse an alcohol blood test with a doctor despite his initial agreement. He swore and said: 'You can charge me with whatever.' A body search discovered a knife with a three-inch blade in his underwear. CCTV later showed Bowden driving at excessive speed before the crash. An investigation found that the Ford Ranger belonged to a man who had left his vehicle earlier that day in a car park at a location called The Hut. He found that the premises had windows smashed with a brick but nothing was noted to be missing. The man's insurance has doubled as a result of the incident, the prosecutor said. Ms Keel said that the damage to the eight vehicles which were 'written off' cost a total of £100,500. The cost of the damage to each individual car ranged between £2,000 and £27,000. Vehicles included two Mercedes, two Ford Vehicles, two Vauxhalls, a Renault and a Peugeot. Des Ziolo, defending, told the court that it was 'fortunate' no one was injured. It was also revealed that Bowden is currently serving an eight-month sentence imposed upon him at Dumbarton Sheriff Court. Sheriff John McCormick ordered that his latest 33-month sentence should run consecutively. He was also disqualified from driving for eight years. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Auto Car
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
The BMW iX3 is about to make a BIG comeback
An 800V electrical architecture will mean the iX3's battery will also be able to charge at up to 400kW, enabling a 218-mile top-up in just 10 minutes from suitable chargers. Two powertrains will be available when the iX3 arrives in the UK early next year: a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive one and a dual-motor, four-wheel drive one that can deliver up to 402bhp. The second-generation iX3 also receives a new computing system that is 10 times faster than the network of chips in current BMWs. In addition, to maximise interior space within this set-up and to keep vehicle height as low as possible to aid aerodynamics, BMW will unusually bolt the front seats directly to the pack – another first for the firm. Visually, the new iX3 will draw on the original Neue Klasse models from the 1960s and return to small kidney grilles rather than the bolder, more expansive front ends that adorn the likes of the iX. The double-kidney grille will divide a large, gloss black panel on the iX3's front end – similar in style to the Vizor found on Vauxhalls. The panel is likely to conceal the sensors and cameras required by the latest generation of driver assistance systems. The rest of the car will feature a boxier, more chiselled look than today's models, with angled lights front and rear, plus a rear light bar. The reinvention continues inside the iX3, which will be the fi rst car to employ BMW's new iDrive X system.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hot electric Vauxhalls are back on the menu
Hot Vauxhalls are making a comeback, as the company's performance-focused GSE sub-brand is set to return in 2025 as a flagship fully electric range with a fresh new logo. The GSE (or 'Grand Sport Electric') badge was last revived in 2022 with plug-in hybrid variants of the Astra, Astra Sports Tourer and Grandland. The relaunch will ditch the current hybrids in favour of next-generation, battery-electric GSE models, which Vauxhall hopes will represent the peak of its all-electric ambitions. Florian Huettl, CEO of Vauxhall, said: 'The GSE sub-brand stands for particularly dynamic, exhilarating, and emotional Vauxhall models. In 2025, we will take the next important step. The new GSE models will be fully electric. This demonstrates how powerful, exciting, and inspiring battery-electric mobility can be." Vauxhall has yet to properly reveal any new cars, but teases a sporty new Mokka in the brand's eye-catching GSE relaunch trailer. The short video promises drivers fierce dynamics and 'the proverbial OMG feeling' behind the wheel. As well as getting a sportier look, added performance and bucket seats, GSE owners can look forward to 'a chassis setup that directly integrates the driver and offers exciting driving pleasure'. We're also told that the forthcoming hot electric Vauxhalls are designed to be stable when braking, cornering and at high speeds on the motorway. The revival of the GSE sub-brand is part of Vauxhall's wider ambition to go fully electric, as the brand aims to phase out new combustion models by 2028.
