Latest news with #GT
Top Gear
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? As you might expect with 824bhp from a twin-turbo V12, the driving experience is mostly dominated by that engine. We described full throttle in the Vanquish coupe as 'like falling horizontally towards the view', and although the Volante sacrifices a tenth of a second in the 0-62mph stakes, once you've got the roof down and can feel the wind tearing your hair out, it feels like it's even faster than its tin-topped sibling. Advertisement - Page continues below Like the coupe, the convertible gets Aston's clever new 'Boost Reserve' function to help the turbos react as quickly as possible, and while you can catch it out by burying the throttle in too high a gear, if you drop a couple of quick cogs using the wheel-mounted paddles you'll feel exactly when the turbos are fed with that stored pressure. There's serious, almost-instant shove. Excellent grip from the special Pirelli tyres too, although it's still a wild ride and is accompanied by a brutal 12-cylinder soundtrack. The drop-top Volante is all the better for hearing said sound, too. What about when you get to a corner? Okay, perhaps there's not quite as much feedback through the steering wheel as we might like, but this is a giant GT that still gets a sharp front end and changes direction very neatly. The extra weight mostly sits towards the rear of the car, so the weight distribution is closer to 50:50 than you'll find in the coupe. The steering has a decent weight to it and doesn't feel overly assisted either, while the e-diff shuffles power to keep the rear in check through bends. You get a hefty brake pedal too and awesome stopping power from the standard carbon ceramic brakes, plus there's Aston's multi-stage traction control to up the ante and remove assistance in carefully judged stages. Advertisement - Page continues below Can it still do the job of a GT? While Sport and Sport+ modes deliver noise and thunder that make the Vanquish Volante feel like a maniacal supercar, in the standard GT mode the torque curve is carefully shaped in the first four gears for slightly more relaxing acceleration that builds to a crescendo higher in the rev range. The adaptive Bilstein dampers are softened to allow for a little bit of body roll too and – when closed – the fabric roof deploys its 'multi-layered insulation' to keep road and wind noise from filling the cabin. It's a remarkably quiet cruiser, with noise cancelling tech in its tyres and that monstrous engine ticking over at 1,500rpm at motorway speeds. Probably worth noting here that you also get a 'Wet' mode, and while we didn't drive the Vanquish Volante in any rain, we'd imagine we would be quite thankful that it limits torque to just under 300lb ft. What's the ride like? The Volante's rear spring rate is up seven per cent over the coupe and the front anti roll bar is seven per cent stiffer too, but it's the same basic chassis as the hard-top and Aston says it developed them side-by-side to ensure that no compromises were made when chopping off the roof. The ride is on the firmer side particularly if you step out of GT mode, but it still copes admirably with bigger bumps in the road and there's seemingly no flex in the chassis. We're told it's around 75 per cent stiffer than the previous DBS Superleggera Volante. Of course, there's also an Individual drive mode that allows you to benefit from the softer suspension setup of GT mode and the barnstorming throttle map of Sport mode.
TimesLIVE
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Our Ford Transit Custom Sport earns its stripes
It's mostly been weather for ducks here in the Western Cape. While these winter showers bode well for the approaching summer (no bathing in waterless hand cleaner like we did in 2016) it makes everyday commuting a stressful affair. Not because of the infrastructure — the road network is light years better than what you experience in Joburg, with drainage that works and visible road markings — but because of the drivers. Cape Town motorists, even at the best of times, are not renowned for their vehicular helmsmanship, so when you introduce howling winds and squalls of sideways rain, most four-wheeled journeys become a sketchy game of Russian roulette. I have learnt to keep my driving to a minimum until the clouds dissipate and that sweet winter sun makes an appearance. Last weekend it did and, suffering from a mild case of cabin fever, I decided to hop into the Ford Transit Custom Sport that's been languishing in my driveway and go for a jaunt. Good thing I did too, because on start-up the digital instrument cluster informed me the van's 12V battery was in a low state of charge (this cold weather is tough on cells). Then, a few kilometres later, another warning flashed up alerting me that the DPF was clogged up and that I should keep on driving to initiate the 'cleaning process'. So I did. When it was finished I kept on going and soon found myself heading in the direction of Franschhoek. Usually this part of the world is best experienced behind the wheel of a grossly overpowered, decidingly antisocial two-door performance car and not a hulking great panel van. But then I remembered the Custom Sport has GT stripes running down its bonnet like a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and my impostor syndrome quickly subsided. After cruising through the little town's tourist-packed main road I hooked a short left, engaged 'Sport' mode and headed towards the summit of what has to be the Western Cape's most popular mountain pass. On the ascent, Ford's 2.0l engine makes another strong case for itself with ample torque delivery and willingness to rev. While a lot of turbodiesels kind of lose interest once you push past their torque peak, this one is more than obliging to clatter all the way up to its red line should you feel so inclined. It's meshed to an eight-speed automatic transmission that does a good enough job when left to its own devices but is also equipped with a manual override feature allowing you to take full control. Actuated by twisting the end of the right steering column stalk forward (up) or back (down), this helps with engine braking and also lets you carry a gear through a set of sweepers — something that assists with stability as your momentum isn't disrupted by the van's electronic brain suddenly moving up or down a cog. Keep it in fifth, for example, and it stays there while you can focus on your line. The Custom Sport's light electric power steering is great when threading through city environs but on the tighter, more technical portions of Franschhoek Pass it feels overly assisted and, in and around the centre point, pretty void of feedback. I thought Sport mode might dial some extra weight into proceedings but in reality all it does is ramp up throttle response and adopt a more aggressive shift programme. Still, given what this Ford is actually designed for, you can't hold any of this against it. Despite its utilitarian DNA, the Custom Sport performs admirably through most of this mountain road's twisty bits and disguises its heft well — better than any panel van with a 1,023kg payload has any right to. Body control is particularly polished. I was expecting to field a messy serving of pitch and roll around corners but somehow Ford's engineers have managed to keep it largely in check. Image: Supplied Though it puts up a gallant effort along the pass, the Custom Sport feels infinitely more at ease tackling the less technical asphalt ribbons that loop lazily between Villiersdorp and Worcester. With less lateral loads to worry about and that lengthy wheelbase (just over three metres) doing much to boost high-speed steadiness, this load-lugger charges on down the sleepy R43 at a rate of knots, the digital speedometer flashing three-figure velocities high enough to rack up a serious fine and/or tongue-lashing from the Breede Valley's finest. Put your foot down and you can carry a very deceptive turn of pace. You might not care — and I'm sure few prospective owners will — but the Custom Sport really does offer a modicum of dynamic performance that transcends its intended use case. While its racy exterior styling is nothing more than a frivolous sticker job, an exercise in car park peacocking, Ford's legacy of building fun-to-drive vehicles is genuine and can be felt here in spades. It's under the skin, beneath the metal and in this case helps dispel the notion that owning a practical cargo-hauler comes at the cost of driver appeal. 2025 Ford Transit Custom Sport | Update 5
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Transport Canada recall alerts: Are you driving one of the many affected vehicles?
Numerous automotive brands have issued recalls in Canada over the past two weeks. Here's a roundup of vehicle recalls provided to Transport Canada between July 8 and 21. Hyundai issued a recall affecting some 1,500 cars and SUVs from its Genesis luxury brand. Affected models include: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the instrument panel cluster display(s) not to display when the vehicle is started, resulting in owners not being able to see certain information about the vehicle, including the speedometer, fuel gauge, warning lights and malfunction telltales. 'Warnings, telltales and gauges that don't display could increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 21, said. Genesis will notify owners in writing and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to update the instrument panel cluster display software. Ford issued several recalls in recent weeks. Check them out below. One Ford recall affects a little more than 70,000 SUVs in Canada. Affected models include: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine. This recall replaces Transport Canada recalls 2022-658, 2024-160 and 2025-134. A fuel injector may crack on certain vehicles, and, if this happens, fuel could leak into the engine compartment. 'A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire,' the recall, last updated July 16, said. Ford will notify owners by mail. The final corrective actions for this recall are under development. As an interim repair, a dealer will update the engine control software to detect fuel injector leaks. Owners that have already received this software update will be informed that the interim repair is not required. Once the final repair is available, owners will need to return to a dealership. Ford also recalled the 2017 and 2018 GT supercar, with just six vehicles affected. The recall repairs completed by a Ford dealer during recall 18S29 (Transport Canada recall No. 2018-555) may not have been done correctly and a second repair is required. On these few cars, the rear wing control system could leak hydraulic fluid onto the exhaust. 'A hydraulic fluid leak onto the exhaust system could create a fire risk,' the recall, last updated July 17, said. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to update the vehicle dynamics control module software. Another Ford recall is on more than 16,000 cars, trucks, SUVs and vans from its Ford and Lincoln brands. Affected vehicles include: A software problem could cause the rear-view camera image not to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse on certain vehicles. 'A rear-view camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 9, said. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to update the SYNC software. Yet another Ford recall is on the 2025 F-150 pickup truck, with just six vehicles affected. On these few pickup trucks, the front brake hose brackets could become loose and detach, which could cause damage to the brake hose(s) by contact with the tire. If this happens, brake fluid could leak and cause reduced braking. 'Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 11, said. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the front brake hose bracket screws. Ford also recalled the 2025 Expedition, with just 11 SUVs affected. The passenger-front airbag inflator may not have been manufactured correctly on some vehicles, which could result in the airbag deploying with too much force. 'An airbag that inflates with too much force could create an increased risk of injury in a crash,' the recall, last updated July 8, said. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the passenger-front airbag module. Ford also issued a recall on multiple Ford and Lincoln vehicles models, affecting more than 100,000 cars, trucks and SUVs in Canada. More details are available at the accompanying link. Jaguar has recalled the 2021 to 2024 E-Pace, affecting 95 SUVs in Canada. The passenger-front airbag may not have been manufactured properly on certain vehicles, and it could tear in a crash. 'An airbag that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash,' the recall, last updated July 17, said. Jaguar will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the passenger-front airbag module. Land Rover has issued a recall related to the Jaguar one above. In this case, the recall is on the 2021 to 2025 Evoque, with more than 3,000 SUVs affected in Canada. On certain vehicles, the passenger-front airbag may not have been manufactured properly, and it could tear in a crash. 'An airbag that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash,' the recall, lasted updated July 16, said. Land Rover will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the passenger-front airbag module. Mercedes-Benz has recalled the 2021 to 2023 Metris van, affecting some 1,500 vehicles. There could be a problem with the connection of the infotainment system on certain vans, which could result in the rear-view camera image not displaying when the transmission is shifted into reverse. 'A rear-view camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 16, said. Mercedes-Benz will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to secure the connection of the infotainment system. Volkswagen has recalled a car and an SUV model from its Audi luxury brand. A little more than 700 vehicles are impacted. Affected models include: This recall only affects plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. This recall replaces Transport Canada recall No. 2025-064, and vehicles that were repaired under that recall don't require this repair. The high-voltage battery could overheat on some vehicles, and the battery could create smoke or heat, which can melt or damage the battery and nearby parts. 'A battery that overheats can create a fire risk,' the recall, last updated July 11, said. To reduce the safety risk, Audi advises owners not to charge their vehicle until the recall repairs have been completed. Audi will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to install an advanced diagnostic software that will monitor the high-voltage battery and warn them if it detects a problem. Owners who see this warning should contact a dealership to arrange replacement of the affected high-voltage battery module. Volkswagen has also issued a recall on several models from its mainstream brand. Nearly 300 SUVs are affected. Affected vehicles include: Certain bolt(s) on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension may not have been tightened properly on some vehicles, which could result in the bolt(s) loosening and causing a loss of control. 'A loss of control could increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 11, said. Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the affected bolt(s). Volvo has recalled a vehicle from its Polestar EV brand. The recall is on the 2025 Polestar 3, with 1,100 vehicles affected. Water could leak into the connector between the engine bay wiring harness and the front bumper wiring harness on some vehicles. This could cause a loss of power steering and/or certain driver assistance systems may not work properly, including the pedestrian warning system and parking assistance system. This problem could also cause the vehicle not to start, the parking brake not to release and/or different warnings to display. 'A loss of power steering assist would result in a sudden increase in steering effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, driver assistance systems that don't work properly could increase the risk of a crash and/or injury,' the recall, last updated July 16, said. Polestar will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the front bumper wiring harness and connector on the engine bay wiring harness. Toyota has recalled the 2024 and 2025 Tacoma, affecting a little more than 11,000 pickup trucks. This recall only affects certain 4WD vehicles equipped with 16-inch brakes and 17-inch or 18-inch Toyota wheels. This recall replaces Transport Canada recall 2025-051 and vehicles that were repaired under that recall don't require this repair. Under certain conditions, the rear brake hoses could become damaged, and, over time, the brake hoses could fail and cause a brake fluid leak. This could result in reduced braking. 'Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 8, said. Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to replace the rear brake hoses. Nissan has recalled more than 37,000 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles over a potential engine failure problem. More details are available at the accompanying link. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a recall on the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with nearly 200 SUVs affected. This recall affects both the Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L models. On certain vehicles, the connector for the blower motor may have been damaged and the connector could fail and could cause the windshield defrost system not to work properly. 'A windshield defroster that doesn't work may cause reduced visibility and increase the risk of a crash,' the recall, last updated July 11, said. The automaker will notify owners in writing and advise them to take their vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the blower motor. General Motors issued a recall affecting several pickup truck models, with fewer than 200 vehicles affected. Affected vehicles include: The side curtain airbag inflators could be defective on some trucks, and the driver and/or passenger side curtain airbag inflator(s) could deploy without a crash. If this happens, parts could be propelled toward vehicle occupants. 'An airbag inflator that ruptures can create a risk of injury,' the recall, last updated July 8, said. GM will notify owners by mail and advise them to take their truck to a dealership to replace both side curtain airbag modules. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
News18
4 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Kane Williamson's Big Praise For Shubman Gill: 'I Always Thought Captaincy...'
Kane Williamson praises Shubman Gill's leadership in India's Test team, noting his impressive batting despite captaincy pressures. Gill succeeded Rohit Sharma. New Zealand star Kane Williamson is impressed by how well Shubman Gill has taken over India's Test captaincy without letting it affect his primary skill, batting. Williamson, who worked with Gill at Gujarat Titans (GT), said he always thought leadership sat well with the Punjab batter, who is 'wise beyond his years'. Gill took over the much-scrutinised job after Rohit Sharma called quits on his Test career in May. Under him, India are trailing 2-1 against England in the five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but the losses have been closely-fought and the right-hander has been consistent with the bat, scoring a chart-topping 607 runs. 'He's responded beautifully, hasn't he?" Williamson told The Times of India. 'I always thought captaincy sits well with Shubman. I know happening in a franchise space is slightly different, you know it's a shorter sort of project versus captain in your country, which… is a lot more consuming. Whilst you're in that role, you're never out of it. It's a much larger role sort of on and off the field," he added. 'Watching Shubman operate… he's wise beyond his years and you know that responsibility is naturally something that he would look to take on. So hearing him get that opportunity was no surprise to me but you know the quality of the player is something that goes without saying. He's absolutely world-class. And all the other formats throughout… the IPL for a number of years and one day cricket I think he's top of the tree there. Test cricket really [was] a matter of time. To see him come over here and conditions that can be challenging with the Dukes from time to time, and dominate like he has, it's been amazing," Williamson said. Gill was chosen as the captain ahead of seniors like KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah (who has workload concerns) and Rishabh Pant. Although India's bad historic record in England keeps the expectations on his job slightly low, he has big shoes to fill to inspire the team in the absence of Rohit, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. Williamson on Gill: 'Valuable lessons lie ahead' Williamson ended his praise with a note of caution, saying that 'it's still early days' for Gill and now, for him, it'll be about managing his batting, captaincy and finding a balance between his values and those of head coach, Gautam Gambhir. 'The cricketer Shubman and the leadership qualities that he has… if he separates those then there is real quality in both departments and actually starting sort of embedding the things that you value, along with the head coach. Forming that really strong bond… it's really important and I think that's what we're seeing in these early stages. There are going to be really valuable lessons for him and we're looking towards the leader that he will become but it's still early days," Williamson said. India and England will play the third Test from July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester. view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 15:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Man arrested in Glasgow for holding Palestine sign
Sean Clerkin was holding a placard in capital letters that stated 'Genocide in Palestine Time to take action'. Two men among a small group of protesters held the placards that were deemed by police to breach the Act. The words Palestine and Action were in much larger text than the rest of the sign. The group Palestine Action is a proscribed organisation in the UK. (Image: GT) Two men displayed the sign and were warned by police they were 'demonstrating support for a proscribed organisation'. They were warned the way the sign was written was deliberately intended to 'circumvent the law'. When it was displayed again minutes later, as a third protester made a speech, two police officers moved in and made an arrest. (Image: Newsquest) Mr Clerkin was taken to a nearby police van amid shouts of 'let him go' from supporters. The man stated repeatedly as he was taken to the police van: 'I am not a terrorist'. The city centre protest on Friday was calling for 'an end to the proscription of Palestine Action and 'the end to genocide in Gaza And Palestine. Other protesters criticised the arrest. Mick Napier of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: 'This is the theatre of the absurd. You can't say Palestine and genocide in the same sentence." The incident follows Police Scotland charged a man under suspicion of terror offences for wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. It is understood that the 55-year-old activist was leafleting near the TRNSMT festival, in Glasgow, when police charged him. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "A 64-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an offence under the Terrorism Act for displaying a sign expressing support for a proscribed organisation.'
