Latest news with #Skoda
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
JOHN MURDOCH'S DRIVE TIME: We try out the luxury GV70 electric Genesis SUV and discover Skoda holidays survey results
The Genesis GV70's exterior shares the same handsome looks as its petrol-powered sibling apart from a re-designed front grille which cleverly hides the charging port. In this instalment of John Murdoch's Drive Time, John tries out the luxury GV70 electric SUV from Genesis and discovers how a Skoda survey found that lots of UK motorists are planning to take holidays at home this year, with Scotland a top destination. The world's top golfers had the opportunity to win a luxury Genesis GV70 at the recent Scottish Open by grabbing a hole In one at a par 3 but the talented field did not manage it. Just days later (without having to strike a ball) I got the chance to sample the all-electric GV70 SUV which was first launched in the UK back in late 2022 and, other than a price increase, it remains the same premium, stylish vehicle competing for a share of a crowded market. It is only available in Sport trim and starts at£65,105 before adding any options. It features a pair of electric motors delivering up to 483bhp in 'Boost' mode and a stonking 700Nm of torque. That combination is enough to tackle 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds. With a claimed combined range of 283 miles - or 367 around town - it remains practical as well as luxurious. The exterior shares the same handsome looks as its petrol-powered sibling apart from a re-designed front grille which cleverly hides the charging port. The cabin is superbly crafted and put together with excellent materials and the quality is excellent with room for five adults to travel in comfort. Like its siblings this model features a14.5-inch central infotainment touchscreen which can also be operated by a rotary controller dial, an eight-inch digital dash, powered leather seats, and ambient mood lighting. All controls and switches are well placed and so you can control the heating and ventilation without fuss. Heating is available for both seating rows and soft materials cover every surface, from the inside of the door handles to leather effect trim for the dashboard. On the practical side the boot, which comes as standard with a powered tailgate, offers a generous 503-litres of capacity which increases to 1678 when the 60:40 split-fold rear seats are down. There's also a useful 25-litre trunk at the front of the car which is handy for storing the charging cables. The GV70 can be sporty when you want it to be but it is really designed for luxury and comfort to spoil its passengers. Front facing cameras scan for obstacles like speed bumps and potholes and the adaptive dampers and suspension adjust to keep things smooth. Noise-cancelling technology keeps the cabin quiet even at motorway speeds and the GV70 is also handy on country roads. Three drive modes - Eco, Comfort and Sport - let you change your driving style to suit your mood and there is also e-Terrain technology to provide extra grip in mud, sand and snow. You can also save energy with the car's clever regenerative system which can be adjusted from wheel-mounted paddle-shifters. A rapid charger will take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around 18 minutes. As you would expect the GV70 comes with all the latest active and passive safety systems including a front centre airbag, smart cruise control, emergency braking and Evasive Steering Assist - which will actively help turn the car away from a potential collision. Like all Genesis models the GV70 comes with a five-year care plan including warranty, roadside assistance and servicing. FAST FACTS: Price: £65.105. Mechanical: 242bhp, electric engine driving all-four wheels via an automatic transmission. Max speed: 146mph. 0-62mph: 4.2 seconds. Range: 283 miles. Insurance group: 50. CO2 emissions: 0g/km. Bik rating: Two per cent. Warranty: Five years/unlimited mileage. Overall rating (out of 5): 4.6. In other motoring news, a survey by Skoda UK finds 83 per cent of UK motorists are keen to holiday and explore on home turf this year, with Scotland a top destination. Brits are taking holiday plans into their own hands, with 61 per cent considering going on a road trip this year because it means they can be spontaneous and stop where they choose. More than half (52 per cent) want to unleash their adventurous side and visit places they've never been before, while visiting friends and family en-route is another popular reason for taking to the road. For the journey, UK motorists say nice weather is the most important contributing factor to a good road trip, while scenic routes and the company in the car are all important as well. Cost is a key factor in the decision to jump behind the wheel, with 33 per cent saying driving is more affordable than going by plane, train or boat. More than half are happy to travel more than 300 miles for a road trip, while almost one in 10 say they'd be willing to cover 1001 miles or more. Here are the top five places to head on a road trip, according to British drivers: The Scottish Highlands (42 per cent). The Lake District, Cumbria (40 per cent). Yorkshire Dales (36 per cent). Isle of Skye, Scotland (35 per cent). St. Ives, Cornwall (35 per cent). *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
SAVWIPL Recalls Kushaq, Slavia, Virtus, And Others Over Seatbelt-Related Issues
Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited has announced a recall for its recently launched lineup. The recall includes two sedans, namely Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia. It also consists of three SUVs- Skoda Kylaq, Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun. It must be noted that it is the second recall by the brand within a year. The brand has clarified that the models of the car may have seatbelt-related issues, for which the recall decision has been taken for models manufactured between December 2021 to May 2025. Skoda Kylaq The official recall document issued by SIAM reads- "This concern was identified during the ongoing quality inspection for Skoda Kushaq, Slavia, and Kylaq manufactured during the aforesaid period. 1. Rear seatbelt assembly (Left side / Right side)- Metal Base frame crack 2. Front/Rear seat belt incorrect part installed." Also, the data mentions that the recall affects 860 units of the Skoda cars (includes- Kushaq, Slavia & Kylaq) and 961 units of the Volkswagen models (Taigun & Virtus). Volkswagen Virtus While the newly launched Volkswagen Golf GTI and Taigan R Line face no trouble, as they are available as CBU. Following the recall, the brand is expected to directly reach out to the customer. Meanwhile, the existing user can also check for the recall notification for their models on the official website by entering their 17-character VIN or by visiting their nearest dealership. It must be noted that Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited also issued a recall for these car models in May due to similar seatbelt-related issues that affected a total of 47,235 units.
Auto Car
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
New Tesla Model Y squares up to Skoda Enyaq in family EV showdown!
Open gallery Model Y or Enyaq - which takes the family EV crown? Quick steering and a more rear-biased drive set-up make the Tesla seem agile Minimalist Tesla interior feels solidly built overall and provides good space Skoda's front end will tend to run wide of the apex if you push hard Skoda's cabin creates a slightly more upmarket ambience and is roomy Close Tesla's in a spot of bother. Its sales across Europe have dropped and profits have taken an even more vertiginous slump. Adding to its woes was the recent news that it was forced to issue its eighth (yes, you read that right) recall of its cubist Cybertruck, this time to remedy its propensity for shedding stainless steel bodywork. So what's going on? If you look at many of the headlines, the finger points directly at the company's controversialist CEO, Elon Musk. His appetite for attracting attention of the wrong kind certainly hasn't helped lure customers into showrooms – although it has created a cottage industry in 'not in my name' bumper stickers – but as ever the answer is, well, more complicated than that. For starters, there's the current tariff situation. Then there's the fact that Tesla is actually more of a tech company than a car firm, which brings its own challenges. Like a smartphone manufacturer, it's all about the software, and in this respect it's one of the best in the business, streets ahead of the legacy brands (and that also includes its understanding of battery chemistry). Yet this means it doesn't follow some of the tried and tested methods of the established practitioners, such as model cycles that include visually appealing mid-life refreshes designed to persuade people to part with their cash for cars that might otherwise be getting close to their sell-by date. By contrast, Tesla's line-up comes across visually as a bit old hat, as if the company has been peddling the same, unchanged product from day one. The recent Model 3 'Highland' is a case in point. It's a thoroughly overhauled car, but to the casual observer it could just as easily be the 2017 original. The same can be said of the Model S and Model X, which have both benefited from top to bottom technical titivation but are indistinguishable from their decade-old progenitors. However, the stakes are higher for the Model Y, which is the brand's best-seller and until very recently topped the sales charts across Europe. As a result, Tesla has taken a leaf out of rivals' books and delivered a facelift that will leave buyers in no doubt this is a box-fresh proposition. Speaking of which, the Tesla isn't the only family-sized all-electric EV to have gone under the knife. The Skoda Enyaq Coupé (and its more sensible SUV sibling) has always been one of our favourite protagonists in this corner of the market, and five years on from its debut the Czech machine has been treated to the industry-standard nip and tuck. Looks are clearly subjective but, to our eyes, Tesla's tweaks are more eye-catching. You can see the DNA of the original car between the A- and C-pillars, but at the front there's a Cybertruck-inspired nose complete with a pencil-thin LED light bar, while the rear features a neat-looking, indirectly lit, full-width tail-light. By contrast, Skoda has grafted its bold new 'Tech-Deck' nose onto the Enyaq, but the rest of the car's appearance has been left largely untouched. It's a similar story inside, where the Skoda looks and feels very much the same as the old car. There's a revised 13in infotainment screen that looks slicker and responds more swiftly but otherwise it's business as usual. This means that, unlike in the Model Y, you do get some handy physical shortcut keys and a separate display ahead of the driver for speed and range information. As ever, the Tesla's dashboard is dominated by its centrally mounted infotainment screen, which literally controls all of the car's major functions (although, unlike in the Model 3, there is an actual column stalk for the indicators. Hallelujah!). Still, the set-up is one of the best around, proving a doddle to navigate and always responding crisply to your demands. It's sufficiently good that you almost don't miss the odd button or two. With its greater mix of rich materials and more complex dashboard and door mouldings, the Skoda's cabin looks a little more upmarket than the Model Y's, but in terms of touchy-feely perceived quality, there's little to separate the two. In fact, it's the uplift in solidity that you notice most in the starkly minimalist cabin of the Tesla. There are still some areas of the car that look a little hand-finished – the cheap LED spotlight in the boot and the thin fabric covering the A-pillar-mounted tweeters – but overall the Model Y is full of appealing materials and exhibits a tight fit and finish. The Tesla also scores strongly for space and versatility, which is surely one of the biggest considerations with cars like these. There's a large load area with plenty of underfloor storage compartments, plus the trademark 117-litre frunk. (The Skoda's bonnet lifts to reveal various EV ancillaries but no space for luggage overspill from its 570-litre boot.)Rear occupants in the Model Y also have plenty of head and leg room, while a powered reclining backrest and completely flat floor add to the feeling of comfort. What's more, the addition of a small touchscreen now allows occupants to adjust the temperature and switch on their heated seats without having to issue orders to the driver. Up front, the sense of space is enhanced by the low scuttle and large windscreen, which helps deliver a more panoramic view of the road than in the Skoda. However, this Sportline-trim Enyaq hits back with heavily bolstered front seats that offer greater support. Grab the tape measure and you'll find the Enyaq pretty much matches the Model Y for accommodation. Where the Skoda edges ahead is in those thoughtful details that have become a calling card for the Czech brand, such as the umbrellas secreted in the front doors and the multitude of handy boot dividers, hooks and nets. That said, you're unlikely to run out of room for odds and ends in the Model Y, with its large, carpeted door bins, cupholders galore and a lidded cubby between the front seats that's so deep you'll need to send Lassie for help if you ever fall in. So it's even-stevens for practicality, but what about performance and poise? Once again, our two dual-motor contenders are separated by the width of a Tesla key card, but they go about their business in slightly different ways. If outright urge is your thing, though, the Model Y is a slam-dunk choice. With 375bhp and a lower, 1997kg kerb weight, the Tesla is seriously rapid and feels especially so in Sport mode, when its throttle response is even sharper. The 282bhp Enyaq, with a claimed 0-62mph of 6.7sec, is no slouch but it's left gasping in its rival's wake on a straight road. Throw some corners into the mix and there's less clear air between the two. With its quick, albeit lifeless, steering, the Tesla feels more agile – an impression exaggerated by a rear-biased power delivery that allows you to tighten your cornering line with a dose of throttle. Special mention also has to go to the new brake-by-wire set-up, which offers a firm pedal and plenty of progression. With its slower but better-weighted steering, the Skoda feels a little lazier in its reactions, its narrower-section front tyres gently squealing into safe understeer at the limit. Yet despite its heftier kerb weight, the Enyaq feels better tied down over bumpier stretches of Tarmac, containing body movements more effectively than the Tesla, which can hop and corkscrew a little when pressing on. Traction isn't a problem for either all-wheel-drive vehicle. The Skoda maintains a narrow advantage when it comes to cruising comfort. Both have firm low-speed rides – although the newly softened Tesla is much better here than its predecessor – that calm down at speed, and while each delivers decent refinement, the Enyaq does a marginally better job of isolating you from road and wind noise. You can also tailor the regen brake assistance in each – a first for Tesla – although the Model Y has a more effective one-pedal calibration. As you would expect, both cars have driver aids galore – and you'll be either fine or frustrated with that depending on your point of view. On the plus side, turning off the lane keeping assistance is a doddle in either car and the other systems are as unobtrusive as they get these days. Mind you, because the Model Y uses plenty of cameras (the Enyaq favours radar), its various warnings become increasingly inconsistent as each lens becomes coated with road grime. So we have established that each of these cars is practical, delivers all the performance you're ever likely to need and, while you're unlikely to pick either for a dawn raid on your favourite roads, they both steer and stop with admirable accuracy and agility. Tesla Model Y vs Skoda Enyaq Coupe: Verdict Ultimately, then, it comes down to the numbers – and again the margins are tight, although the more cost-effective contender probably isn't the one you would expect. When it comes to claimed range, the Model Y totes a figure of 364 miles as standard, reduced to 353 miles with the optional wheels of our test car, while the Skoda stretches to 334 miles. Thanks to Tesla's mastery of battery chemistry, motor efficiency and (relatively) lightweight construction methods, the Model Y gets closer to its WLTP numbers in real-world use. Over the course of our test, it delivered an impressive efficiency return of 3.8mpkWh, whereas the Enyaq could manage only 3.4mpkWh. Then there's the thorny issue of cash. In Long Range AWD form, the Tesla's sticker price is £51,990, a scant £1330 more than the Enyaq. Yet nobody turns up to a dealer with a suitcase full of banknotes for cars like these: they plonk down a deposit and finance the rest. Put your pen to a PCP deal and over four years you'll shell out £499 a month for the Model Y and £527 for the Skoda. Again, not that much in it, but there's something significant about Tesla getting one over on a brand famed for delivering value for money. Are these cost savings enough to swing the result in favour of the Model Y? By the tightest of margins, we would say yes. Sure, Tesla has some PR issues bubbling away in the background, but as a spacious, sensible and swift family wagon that packs genuinely innovative engineering, the new Model Y makes a compelling choice. Maybe that will give Elon something to smile about. 1st. Tesla Model Y The revised Tesla Model Y fixes most of its predecessor's flaws yet retains its efficiency, performance and impressive practicality. 2nd. Skoda Enyaq Coupe It's a close-run thing for the Skoda Enyaq, which in facelifted form remains a refined, thoughtfully designed and thoroughly likeable car. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. 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BBC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
'Norwich speedway helped break Cold War barriers'
The rousing success of a Soviet speedway team at a Norwich track helped create unity at the height of the Cold War, a historian has USSR test team had toured Britain's speedway clubs in 1964 but achieved legendary status at the Soviet Russia v Norwich Stars meeting that July.A depleted squad "rode out of their skins", impressing the home crowd and local journalists, Dr Richard Mills Mills, based at the school of history at the University of East Anglia, has explored the sport's links with the Eastern Bloc for the city's inaugural Norwich History Festival. "It really was a moment where speedway broke through those Cold War divides, broke through the barriers," he added."A four-man Soviet team raced in front of a packed Firs stadium [off Cromer Road in Hellesdon], and they won the meeting."Publications like the Eastern Daily Press spoke glowingly about these riders and the way they behaved - the miraculous fact they had beaten a Norwich Stars team full of its Swedish legends."There was a realisation that many people on the other side of the barrier are just like you and me, and sport was something everyone can unite behind and get together over." The link between East Anglia and the USSR brought other benefits the 1970s, Skoda set up its headquarters at the Port of King's Lynn and brought in thousands of vehicles, including speedway bikes and tractors."You had an ironic opportunity for communist organisations, state-run factories effectively, to use speedway to market their products," added Dr Mills. "The first marketing tie-up and the first fully sponsored team in Great Britain was the Peterborough Skoda Panthers in the early 1980s. "Speedway was the tip of the iceberg but there was a whole raft of relationships -Lowestoft shipbuilders were building fishing trawlers for the Soviet Union in the 1950s, you had Norwich making various bits of machinery for factories in Siberia, and you had east German tractors coming into King's Lynn." Dr Mills said the "human legacy and historic legacy" continues to this day, with the Norwich Stars resurrected as the King's Lynn Stars at the Adrian Flux decades the club has signed multiple riders hailing from the former Eastern Bloc, including the reigning Czech Republic champion Jan Kvě Norwich History Festival, which runs to Friday, aims to present history as a living topic relevant to our theme is rebels and radicals, with the 1549 Kett's Rebellion and lesser-known uprisings among the numerous subjects in the festival calendar. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
A505 Royston crash leaves man in 80s critical
A man in his 80s is in a critical condition following a two-car services were called to the A505 northbound near Royston, Hertfordshire, at 16:55 BST on Friday, after a black Nissan Juke and a black Skoda Fabia man, in the Skoda, was taken to hospital, while a woman driving the Nissan suffered minor injuries. Both were the sole occupants of the Constabulary has appealed for any witnesses to come forward. The road has since been fully reopened. Earlier on Friday a car came off the A505 in a separate incident and crashed into a house, killing a teenager and leaving two others seriously hurt. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
