Latest news with #A2
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Man fined after clocking near 200mph on German motorway
An unidentified motorist was caught driving at 321 kph (199 mph) on the A2 Autobahn near Burg, west of Berlin. This speed was more than 124 mph above the 120 kph (74.5 mph) speed limit for that particular section of the motorway. The driver was detected by a roadside radar stand, an 'Enforcement Trailer,' on 28 July. As a result, the motorist received a fine of 900 euros, had two points deducted from their driving licence, and was banned from driving for three months. While Germany's Autobahn is famous for its lack of universal speed limits, approximately 30 per cent of its network, including the section where the incident occurred, does have restrictions.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Speeding driver clocked doing 199mph on German autobahn
German police have clocked a Porsche driver doing 199mph (320km/h) on the autobahn, nearly three times the speed limit for that stretch of motorway. Even in a car-mad country gripped by the need for speed, the report from the A2 near Burg in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt made national headlines. Police said the motorist, whose name and age were not released, faced a €900 (£785) fine and a three-month suspension of his licence among other penalties. Germany's autobahns are the stuff of legend for many drivers, given the absence of a general speed limit. But significant parts of the motorway network do have a cap, particularly in more congested areas. Roadworks also often lead to the enforcement of temporary maximum speeds. The stretch of motorway where the driver of the Porsche Panamera, a luxury car that retails at more than €100,000, was caught on radar had an upper limit of 75mph (120 km/h). He was detected in late July, but police only released data collected from the trap this week. The A2, which runs from the Ruhr valley to Berlin's ring road, is known for lengthy traffic jams, which had cut down on major speed violations of late, local media reported. However, a Bugatti driver was clocked at 259mph on the A2 in 2021, near the state capital, Magdeburg. He allegedly even took his hands from the wheel for a few seconds and was accused of joining an illegal race – a common problem on German roads – but the case did not lead to a conviction due to lack of evidence. Racing enthusiasts, who often gather from across Europe, commonly zero in on long, straight stretches of public roads that they illegally block, and sometimes autobahn sections without a speed limit. With most of Germany on summer school holidays, police in Saxony-Anhalt are carrying out what the regional public broadcaster MDR called a 'speed camera marathon', setting up radar traps on notorious stretches of road across the state. Radars such as the one that caught the Porsche driver are mounted on mobile 'enforcement trailers'. Police had recorded hundreds of violations only this week, MDR reported. Regional police used the extraordinary case of the Porsche driver to issue an appeal to motorists. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion Geschwindigkeitsüberschreitungen, or exceeding the speed limit, 'endangers not only the driver himself but also all those on the roads', the force said in a statement. 'Respect the speed rules. That way you'll be on your way safely and avoid high fines, penalty points and driving bans.' Advocates of nationwide speed limits have long cited safety and climate concerns to make their case. The debate has failed to produce any real momentum towards new legislation though, as driving clubs and the auto lobby call the freedom of the autobahn a cherished right and part of Germany's cultural heritage.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Speeding driver clocked doing 199mph on German autobahn
German police have clocked a Porsche driver doing 199mph (320km/h) on the autobahn, nearly three times the speed limit for that stretch of motorway. Even in a car-mad country gripped by the need for speed, the report from the A2 near Burg in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt made national headlines. Police said the motorist, whose name and age were not released, faces a €900 (£785) fine and a three-month suspension of his licence among other penalties. Germany's autobahns are the stuff of myth for many drivers, given the absence of a general speed limit. But significant parts of the motorway network do have a cap, particularly in more congested areas. Roadworks also often lead to the enforcement of temporary maximum speeds. The stretch of motorway where the driver of the Porsche Panamera, a luxury car that retails at more than €100,000, was caught on radar had an upper limit of 75 mph (120 km/h). He was detected in late July, but police only released data collected from the trap this week. The A2, which runs from the Ruhr valley to Berlin's ring road, is known for lengthy traffic jams which have cut down on major speed violations of late, local media reported. However a Bugatti driver was clocked at 417 km/h on the A2 in 2021, near the state capital Magdeburg. He allegedly even took his hands from the wheel for a few seconds and was accused of joining an illegal race – a common problem on German roads – but the case did not lead to a conviction due to lack of evidence. Racing enthusiasts, who often gather from across Europe, commonly zero in on long, straight stretches of public roads that they illegally block, and sometimes autobahn sections without speed limit. With most of Germany on summer school holidays, police in Saxony-Anhalt are carrying out what the regional public broadcaster MDR called a 'speed camera marathon', setting up radar traps on notorious stretches of road across the state. Radars such as the one that caught the Porsche driver are mounted on mobile 'enforcement trailers'. Police have recorded hundreds of violations only this week, MDR reported. Regional police used the extraordinary case of the Porsche driver to issue an appeal to motorists. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion 'Geschwindigkeitsüberschreitungen, or exceeding the speed limit, 'endangers not only the driver himself but also all those on the roads', the force said in a statement. 'Respect the speed rules, that way you'll be on your way safely and avoid high fines, penalty points and driving bans.' Advocates of nationwide speed limits have long cited safety and climate concerns to make their case. The debate has failed to produce any real momentum towards new legislation though, as driving clubs and the auto lobby call the freedom of the autobahn a cherished right and part of Germany's cultural heritage.
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Sit down, Spot: Robot dog from China's Unitree tops Boston Dynamics rival in payload
Unitree Robotics introduced a quadruped robot that can hold as much as 100kg, albeit only when stationary, as Chinese companies continue to challenge Western rivals on both price and performance. Called the A2, the robot dog can withstand an adult standing and even hopping on it, according to a video published by the company on social media on Tuesday. When in motion, the unit's payload falls to 25kg, but that outperforms rival four-legged robot Spot from US-based Boston Dynamics, which has a maximum payload of 14kg, according to specifications. Unitree said the A2 was suitable for 'logistics, industrial inspection and emergency rescue' in 'extreme and complex environments'. Constructed from aluminium alloy and high-strength engineering plastic, the machine was designed for demanding environments, Unitree said. In the video, the dog somersaults down stairs, hops on two legs, spins while supporting itself on one leg and rushes down steep slopes. The unit could operate for three hours when fully loaded, which could extend to five hours when unencumbered, Unitree said. Spot has an average runtime of one and a half hours and a standby time of three hours. Both models can operate in temperatures between minus 20 and 55 degrees Celsius, but the A2 can climb a slope of 45 degrees, better than Spot's maximum of 30 degrees.
Daily Mirror
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer says cars are getting 'harder to fix' as one is 'almost impossible' to repair
Mike Brewer, who is best known for hosting Wheeler Dealers, has slammed modern cars and says they are becoming increasingly difficult to repair as he names one vehicle that is 'almost impossible' to fix Wheeler Dealers favourite Mike Brewer has singled out one motor that is "almost impossible to fix" whilst taking aim at today's vehicles. The telly star has built his reputation by snapping up second-hand cars and restoring them for profit. Yet Mike reckons contemporary motors are becoming increasingly tricky to mend. He claims the troubling trend kicked off with the Audi A2, where drivers were unable to lift the bonnet, being limited to just a "service hatch" instead. Mike reckons we're now stuck in a "disposable society" and suggests drivers are more likely to trade in their motor rather than keep it running, reports the Express. He argues people no longer show their cars the "respect" they once did. On the Talkin' Shop podcast, he said: "Back in my day or your dad's day, when you bought your new car, or your nearly new used car, you would wash it every weekend, you would, every three months, change the oil, change the filter, and hoover it out, and clean it. "We sell cars at One Automotive that are six months old, one year old, and they might come back six months later and it's never seen a car wash. Never had an oil filter, never had the screenwashed." However, Mike reckons manufacturers have deliberately made it tougher to service vehicles. He explained: "I think Audi started it with the A2 when they made that car deliberately with no bonnet. "All you could do was put water in it at the front for your screenwash. It was almost impossible to service the car yourself and then other manufacturers followed suit." Mike claims that many modern vehicles have become a "sea of plastic coverings" beneath the bonnet. He continued: "The manufacturers are saying, 'Don't touch it, leave it alone, bring it back to us and we'll charge you' or 'Don't touch it and wait for it to die'." The television specialist maintains that motors can "go on forever" if they are "looked after right". He referenced lorries which routinely clock up higher mileage as proof of longevity. Mike revealed that vintage automobiles can frequently outlast their modern counterparts when restored with contemporary components. He elaborated: "Today we have different gasket compounds, we have different water compounds, we have different rubber and viscosity in rubber, so the chances are, if you're restoring a car today, the chances are it will run much better and much longer and last forever than it would have done when it came out of the factory." The automotive authority launched his broadcasting journey on Channel 4's Driven - created to compete with BBC Top Gear - before transferring to the Discovery Channel with Wheeler Dealers. He presented 18 series of the programme. Mike has also presented programmes including Wrecks to Riches and Auto Trader. He currently presents the British Rally Championship on Sky Sports.
