Month: December 2017

If you thought insuring a rusting Vauxhall Corsa as a 17-year-old just-passed driver was bad enough – spare a thought for Luke Skywalker.

To mark the arrival of the new film Star Wars: The Last Jedi, an insurance company has ‘used the force’ to crunch the numbers and work out just how much it would cost to get cover for the intergalactic craft in the film.

Eight ships – including the iconic Millennium Falcon – have been given full insurance quotes by InsureTheGap, considering their weight, size and pilot/owner’s profiles.

The insurer has given top speeds, but they appear not to take into account their hyper drives and ability to travel at lightspeed. We haven’t pointed that out to them, though, because that would reveal us as massive geeks…

So, which will tip even the strongest Jedi to the dark side when they see the bill? Let’s find out.

X-34 Landspeeder — £544

The X-34 Landspeeder was the first vehicle of Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker — still a moisture farmer at time of ownership.

With a low insurance cost of £544, the small hovering craft would be a wise choice for any young galactic traveller.

Khetanna — £5,483

For what looks like a bodge-job boat with Repulsorlift engines strapped on, £5,483 may seem like quite an ask.

But as intergalactic gangster Jabba the Hutt’s hang out — with space for 500 passengers, a pub on board hosting live bands, as well as cannons to fend off any space criminals – it was quite a machine and that premium actually looks like quite a bargain.

Sebulba’s Podracer — £9,545

Pod racing is the Formula One of the galaxy — albeit with slightly less-stringent safety rules.

What we have here is effectively two engines strapped to a seat to sort of form a vehicle designed for high-stakes motorsport.

Although £9,545 may seem cheap compared to others on this list, the spacecraft-to-cost ratio is pretty low, and we’re pretty sure this thing wouldn’t be civilian space-route legal.

TIE Advanced x1 — £112,932

Piloted by Sith Lord Darth Vader, the one-off TIE Advanced X1 is one of the sportier choices of spaceships in the galaxy, designed to seat one while hitting speeds of 745mph thanks to twin ion engines.

Perhaps the icon of the dark side has plenty of no claims bonus, as the insurance cover for the x1 comes in at a not-so-extortionate £112,932 despite its performance. We think the underwriters may be worried about death by lightsabre.

Slave 1 — £169,624


Galactic bounty hunter Boba Fett inherited the Slave I pursuit vessel from his father and then used it to carry out his vigilante work, until he was knocked into the jaws of the Sarlacc by Han Solo.

Despite the high-stakes work it’s used for, the spacecraft is actually one of the more reasonable to insure in the galaxy with a £169,624 annual cost.

T-65 X-Wing Starfighter — £217,323

Fast forward a few years, and Luke Skywalker has upgraded from his little Landspeeder to the agile and performance-packed T-65 X-Wing Starfighter.

Despite few modifications, Luke’s Starfighter can be seen at the heart of many space battles and as a result, would be a high-risk vehicle for insurers — hence the £217,323 premium.

Millennium Falcon — £414,533

Perhaps the most iconic ship in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon is the trusted steed of slick smuggler Han Solo and his Wookiee companion Chewbacca.

The heavily modified Corellian Light Freighter commands a hefty insurance premium of £414,533 — mostly because of the high-risk jobs undertaken by the duo over the years.

It does make Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan’s 17,000 Credit payment for a ride to Alderaan on the Falcon seem like quite the bargain, though.

Corellian Corvette — £4,643,460

The most expensive on this list to cover annually, the Corellian Corvette wouldn’t be an ideal choice for a young first-time spacecraft owner.

It’s one of the largest ships out there, capable of carrying up to 600 passengers, as well as packing a handful of Girodyne Ter58 high-output ion turbine engines that can take it to a top speed of 590mph — although you’ll need to charge up the Jedi credit card to the tune of £4,643,460 for annual cover.

Police are urging motorists to “think twice” following the conviction of a woman for causing death by dangerous driving while she was talking hands-free on a mobile phone.

Samantha Ayres, 34, of West Street, Horncastle, Lincs., collided head-on with a motorcycle while she was in the middle of a hands-free call. The rider, 26-year-old David Kirk, from Lincoln, died at the scene.

Lincolnshire Police temporary inspector of the serious collision investigation unit Ewan Gell told the Press Association: “Anything that distracts you from that singular act of driving, you should put it away to one side and think ‘I’m not going to do that until I’ve finished what I’m doing’.”

The family of David Kirk have issued a statement following the sentencing of Samantha Ayres to 3-years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving. https://t.co/lj3J5Eb5wV pic.twitter.com/hUml0Wc6kt

— Lincolnshire Police (@lincspolice) December 6, 2017

He added: “If you want to talk to somebody, want to use a mobile device or mess about with your music – in fact, anything that distracts you from doing the task in hand of driving – you should think twice about.

“We will investigate every single aspect of a crash and if that turns up, as it did in this case, evidence of a prolonged conversation and you can link that to the cause of the crash, that’s when a lot of people are going to have a problem.”

It was revealed that Ayres, a teaching assistant, had drifted across on to the other side of Baumber Road, Horsington, when the crash happened. She had been on a phone call for 27 minutes.

She was found guilty on November 29, 2017, of causing death by dangerous driving, and was sentenced today (December 6) at Lincolnshire Crown Court to three years in prison. She was also handed a four-and-a-half-year disqualification from driving.

Ayres denied prosecution claims of distracted driving, saying hitting a pothole or rut had caused her to lose control of her Ford Fiesta – although investigators found no evidence of this.

A statement from Mr Kirk’s family read: “The 7th of November 2016 changed so many lives. We lost a wonderful man, a loving husband, son, brother and the most caring father [David’s daughter] Alyssa could have wished for.”

Samantha Ayres has been sentenced today at Lincoln Crown Court to 3-years in prison after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. https://t.co/9cEaTQJh7Y pic.twitter.com/XbPXmCxpjd

— Lincolnshire Police (@lincspolice) December 6, 2017

It continued: “People say time heals, but we all wake up every morning with the same pain we felt the day it happened, hoping it was a horrible nightmare and then having to go through another day without seeing David’s cheeky smile or hearing his voice.

“Time does not heal – we as a family are just learning how to hide our true emotions and the heartache this has caused.”

At sentencing, Judge John Pini QC said: “No words are adequate to describe the profound sense of shock, desolation, pain and loss that will remain with Mr Kirk’s family forever.

“For him to lose his life in this way is as irrational as it is unfair. Nothing I say can turn the clock back. No sentence will ever begin to make amends for his death.”

The future of the motoring world is electric – and nearly all manufacturers are working on some very exciting EVs.

Electrified vehicles won’t just save you money on fuel, but they can be quicker than even the most powerful cars on sale today.

Conventionally-powered cars are quickly losing favour throughout the world, with the reputation of diesel falling day by day. That’s not to mention consumers are clambering over one another to get in an electric vehicle.

As a result, there are more electric cars on the cards than ever before. We’ve taken a look at what’s coming up, and picked out 10 of the most interesting set to hit the streets.

Honda Urban EV

Infused with retro design cues, the Honda Urban EV concept certainly looks interesting enough to convert die-hard petrol fans into electric car lovers.

However, don’t think that this is just some show-ready concept which will never see the light of day – Honda has confirmed that a production version of the Urban EV will be available in Europe in 2019.

Nissan Leaf

The bread-and-butter of the electric car world, the Nissan Leaf is the world’s best-selling electric car. It’s a package of practicality and low running costs that has found favour with a lot of buyers – and now there’s a new one!

Capable of travelling 235 miles on a single charge, it even boasts a host of semi-autonomous assistance systems make it safer than ever. It goes on sale in the new year.

Tesla Model 3

Designed to be more affordable than any Tesla currently on sale, the Model 3 is an all-electric alternative to the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. And it’s no slouch – Tesla claims that it’ll hit 60mph in around five seconds.

With an estimated range of 220 miles, it’s just as useable as any other Tesla on sale today – though an optional long-range battery can bump this up to 310 miles. Deliveries of the Model 3 are expected to commence in Europe next year, but the manufacturer has been plagued with production problems, so they’ll have to solve those first.

Jaguar I-Pace

This latest Jaguar SUV has been going through its final testing phases ahead of its full reveal next year. The I-Pace is all-electric, but has plenty of performance on its side – Jaguar claims it’ll hit 60mph in around four seconds.

The British manufacturer also says you’ll be able to recharge the I-Pace to 80 per cent in just 90 minutes with a high-power connection. Though only set to be revealed next year, it’s likely that the I-Pace will be on the streets shortly after.

Polestar 1

Polestar, once the performance arm of Volvo, has recently been revealed as a new standalone electric performance brand. Its first car is this – the Polestar 1.

A two-door, 2+2 seat grand tourer, it uses a hybrid powertrain for the best combination of low emissions and performance.

Unfortunately, it’s going to be a little while until we see this Polestar 1 hit the roads. The factory where it’s made in China isn’t even finished yet. However, it’s a staggeringly cool looking thing, so it’s definitely worth the wait.

Porsche Mission E

Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, the Mission E is the first all-electric four-seat sports car ever made by Porsche. It’s a real looker, bringing futuristic styling and next-level technology to the market.

Two electric motors combine to produce close to 600bhp, allowing it to crack 60mph in under 3.5 seconds. Porsche claims it’ll return 310 miles on a single charge. It’s expected to go on sale in 2019.

Tesla Roadster

It’s unsurprising that there’s two Teslas on this list – the company is at the forefront of electric car development, after all.

The Roadster, a progression of the very first car the manufacturer produced, has a claimed 0-60mph time of just 1.9 seconds – making it the first car to accelerate to that speed in under two seconds.

It’s also claimed to have a 620-mile range – close to double that of conventional electric vehicles. You’ve got a little while to wait before you see whether these claims can be verified – the Roadster isn’t set to arrive until 2020.

Honda Sports EV

Here’s another retro-styled electric car from Honda that took the Tokyo Motor Show by storm. It sits on the same platform as the Urban EV, making it a compact two-seater alternative.

One of the best features is its illuminated bonnet badge – something rarely used on cars. Whether or not this will carry through to the production version remains to be seen, though that’s not likely to happen until 2020.

Aston Martin RapideE

The RapideE will be the first all-electric car made by Aston Martin – a huge step forward for what is a very combustion-engine proud company.

Set to enter production in 2019, it’s going to be limited to just 155 cars, but shows an indication of the British manufacturer’s move towards electrification.

The four-door sports car’s conventional V12 engine will be replaced by an all-electric powertrain. Don’t fear it will lack performance, though. Given the crest on the front of the car, expect it to still offer a huge amount of thrills.

Mini Electric

The regular Mini has proved to be hugely popular, offering involving driving characteristics and character in spades.

Now an all-electric Mini, which uses a lithium battery for the best possible range, will be arriving in 2019. Built at the firm’s Oxford plant, the fact it looks like a conventional car could prove popular with buyers.

Iconic French sports car manufacturer Alpine is back after 22 years. Thanks to backing from Renault, the Alpine A110 features the very latest technology – helping it take on rivals such as the Porsche 718 Cayman and Alfa Romeo 4C.

Why should you be excited? Well, it’s a grand return for a historic marque, which is why we’ve picked out the key information you need to know about the new A110.

What’s powering the A110?

The Alpine uses a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine which develops 249bhp. Power is sent to the rear wheels only – in true Alpine tradition – though there’s no manual gearbox to be heard of, just a seven-speed automatic.

Alpine claims that the A110 can hit 60mph in just 4.3 seconds, before hitting a limited top speed of 156mph – that matches the acceleration figures for Alfa’s 4C.

For more performance, add lightness

The Alpine incorporates a huge amount of measures designed to make it as light as possible. For instance, the seats weigh just 13.1kg each, and the entire framework is made from aluminium.

In all, the A110 weighs under 1,110kg – the Porsche Cayman, in contrast, weighs in at 1,355kg unladen.

There’s a lot of tech in the cabin

Despite the weight saving, you still get satellite navigation, climate control and cruise control in the A110, so it’s not a completely bare place to be.

Those lightweight sports seats are leather-trimmed too, while the dash has been finished in carbon fibre – it’s still a special cabin to sit in.

A shade closer

Buyers have just three colours to choose from with the new A110 – Alpine Blue, Noir Profound or Blanc Solaire. Though limited in number, all available shades look excellent on the Alpine, as do the standard 18-inch forged aluminium wheels.

At the back, there’s a standard active sports exhaust which not only looks the part, but is sure to add a lot of character to the car’s sound.

A limited first run

The initial run of Alpines – called Premier Editions – is limited to just 1,955 examples, mirroring the brand’s beginnings in 1955. All of them sold out within five minutes of going on sale.

However, don’t despair if you want an A110 of your own – it goes on general sale next year, though prices are yet to be announced.

Lamborghini has taken the wraps off its controversial Urus 4×4 – but not everyone thinks it looks bellissimo.
While an off-roader from a traditional sports car manufacturer is always going to raise eyebrows, it seems the internet is aghast at everything from the door handles to the new Italian car’s name.

On the plus side, the Urus has a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 under the bonnet packing 641bhp, allowing the SUV to reach a top speed of 186mph – that’s quicker than the Bentley Bentayga. It also gets all manner of off-road tech designed to make it capable in all conditions, not just on the road.
However, despite the incredible technology, a lot of people aren’t liking the way the Urus looks. So what exactly has got up people’s noses?

The rear door handles

Once you’ve spotted them, they’re hard to un-see. For some reason, Lamborghini placed the handles on the rear wheel arch and they look like ugly barnacles.

With many manufacturers working hard to integrate handles into creases and curves of bodywork so they don’t ruin lines, it appears Lamborghini’s designers forgot it needed them and stuck them on at the last minute.

The name

Roughly translated, the name Urus refers to extinct wild relations of domestic cattle. We get the association with bulls – there’s one on the Lamborghini crest, after all – but this one seems just a little tenuous.

The Urus moniker sounds clunky and it’s far from the sleek Lambo names of old – evocative names like Miura, Diablo and Countach. Even Gallardo has a more panache, than the new 4×4.

The interior

It’s hard to ignore the influence that Lamborghini parent Audi has had over the Urus’ interior. The large infotainment screen looks good, but unfortunately that’s where the design appeal stops.

Lower down, the switchgear, steering settings and drive mode controllers have all been lumped together. It all looks just a little clumsy – and not particularly user-friendly.

Front radar sensor

In order to top the latest safety tests, manufacturers have to incorporate the semi-autonomous technology in their cars. This relies on sensors at the front of the car.

Most car makers tuck them away neatly in the front of the grille, but Lamborghini seems to have chosen to make it a ‘feature’.
Unfortunately, it does stick out a fair bit and makes the front end of the car look less finished than it should – we’d have liked to have seen it fit flusher with the front bumper.

Rear styling

The back of the Urus hasn’t gone down well with some many internet commentators – most labelling it fussy and over-styled.
The quad exhaust pipes appear to be angled out, rather than pointing directly rearward – a strange styling touch that will also take some getting used to.

Side profile

You’d expect a Lamborghini-made SUV to incorporate a little sleekness in its design, but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case with the Urus.

The windscreen is very upright, while the rear three quarters has a rather unfortunate hint of a Hyundai Veloster in it. Just don’t say that too loudly – it will upset the Italians.

The wheels are spinning, but the BMW isn’t going anywhere. Every revolution of the static alloys fails to be converted into forward momentum and instead acts as a spade, shovelling sand and sinking the new X3 deeper into the huge blood orange dunes.

Usually this wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but this isn’t a seaside resort, this is 25 miles from civilisation, in the Saharan desert.
We’ve spent the last hour tackling one of the toughest off-road routes I’ve ever experienced – from deep, rolling dunes to sharp, rocky trails – and the fact that only now, just a few feet from our final destination, one of my colleagues has managed to half bury a BMW is a testament to the X3’s abilities.

Nestled in a lunar landscape, beneath a carpet of stars so bright they look superimposed on the sky, is our camp. A series of Bedouin tents have popped up between the dunes, rugs laid out across the sand and a sweet smell of mint tea is wafting through the rapidly cooling air.

Over a lamb tagine and chicken kebab dinner, we chat under canvas about a day of adventure. It started off in luxury in the incredible Mandarin Oriental in Marrakesh. Outside the site’s gates, roads swarmed with the shrill of hundreds of scooters, darting in and out of battered cars and rammed-full buses. Inside, the complex is a retreat fit for a king. Huge marble arches, rich gardens and luscious lakes surround a myriad of huge villas – each with their own pools, steam rooms and Jacuzzis and bigger than most London flats.

Pampered and relaxed, we set off on our epic drive towards the Atlas Mountains, thrown head first into the madness of Marrakesh. It’s an assault on the senses, and tests defensive driving skills to the limits.

It subsides as quickly as it erupted, the roads opening up into out-of-this-world landscapes. Soon we’re crossing the Tizi n Tichka mountain pass, one mighty hairpin after another. Our X30d – with a new 260bhp, 620Nm engine – is by far the pick of the range, and on roads like this, it’s swift and enjoyable.

Morocco might only be a stone’s throw from Gibraltar and the European mainland, but it still feels a long way from home. The scenery is breathtaking, the people fascinating and the temperature testing. The roads, meanwhile, are far from ruined – fresh asphalt and comforting Armco line the Atlas Mountain passes, and the reassurance they give are welcoming.

At midday we arrive in Ouarzazate, and the famous Atlas Film Studios. It’s here where Hollywood brings flicks like Gladiator and Cleopatra to life, building huge towns and cities out of wood and plaster of Paris. We drive around the sandy site in our BMWs, entering the gates of Game of Thrones, a huge city set brought to life by thousands of extras that are bussed in from the surrounding villages when they’re needed.

By dusk we’ve covered nearly 300 miles, and have taken in the stunning Anti Atlas Mountains. We filter our way through M’Hamid, the last conurbation before the desert, in a dusty convoy. To the locals we look like aliens, 15 brand new BMWs disappearing off into the darkness.
Our camp, not far from the Algerian border, is an hour of off-roading away. We play follow the leader as our X3 drifts and slips its way like a rally car across the challenging terrain. It would be great fun, if only we could see where we’re going. Just the lights of the cars in front illuminate the impenetrable darkness.

It’s this swamp of blackness that unbalances the rhythm of one of our colleagues when approaching the camp. They fail to give a sand dune the run up it deserves, beaching the BMW in a position that takes seven men and shovels to retrieve it from.

After a night listening to the chorus of exhausted snoring upsetting the local wildlife, we wake before sunrise to experience the twilight of the pre-dawn hour. Out here, far from anywhere, it’s a magical hue that gently illuminates the ripples of satsuma sand as far as the eye can see.

Over a breakfast of sickly coffee you could erect a spoon in and spicy egg omelette, we’re told today will be tougher than yesterday. Five hours of harsh off roading will be followed by a dash back across the mountains to the airport – and even leaving at dawn is pushing check-in for our 6pm flight.

Warning soon forgotten, we’re quickly back in the off-road groove, drifting the off-roader around sandy corners, and clattering over sharp rocks. As the desert eases, we experience the barren, flat, dry river beds of the Ouef Draa, Iriki Lane and Erg Chigaga, all stages of the famous Dakar Rally. Huge plumes of dust billow out of the back of the convoy, spreading rooster tails of dust high into the sky, as we chuckle at the spectacle.

As we approach Foum Zguid, on the edge of the desert, our BMW calmly tells us our nearside rear wheel has lost pressure. The X3 wasn’t lying, the rubber is well and truly past its sell by date. BMW chaperones soon arrive out of the dust and whip the ruined wheel off, and we once again make our way back on to Tarmac – after five hours of bumping and crashing, the X3 feels like it’s riding on a cloud.

Back in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, we start to make good progress, giving us time to enjoy the X3’s comfy new interior and smart multimedia system. But 100 miles in, we hear a popping and a hiss, and the now all-too familiar warning chime caused by another tyre losing pressure.
This time team BMW isn’t close, and with no phone reception we’re left waiting in the searing heat for help to arrive.

An hour later, the support car pulls up – but out jump some very worried looking PR personnel. It’s not the tyre that’s causing the frowns, but the time. We’ve got 130 miles to go, back across the challenging Atlas Mountains, and even without hold ups it looks like we’ll miss the only flight out of Marrakesh that day. What’s more, we’re not the only ones to have lost a tyre – two of our colleagues are stranded further down the road, and will need collecting en route.

And so begins a rush to the airport, quite unlike any I’ve experienced before. In a village at the foot of the mountains we find the national newspaper scribe and his snapper, marooned by a tyre that’s seemingly disintegrated. We throw their kit in the X3 and head off on a three-hour rally stage. From screeching hairpin bends to blink-and-you’ll-miss-them overtakes, the BMW takes it all in its stride.

Through sweat, tears and clenched body parts we hurtle into the Marrakesh airport car park with just minutes to spare. I throw the keys into the hands of the waiting BMW team, and we run to the check-in desk. The flight is closing, but we manage to get our boarding passes and dash to the gate.

Sat, perspiring, exhausted but elated on the plane, I look across to the newspaper hacks who’ve endured the pan-Moroccan mad dash with me, and we smile. While at times it was close, often mad, and quite frequently very scary, we made it. The BMW X3 may have two new tyres, but it’s been returned unscathed and we’re taxiing down the runway just 25 minutes after we barrelled into the airport car.

All credit to BMW. There aren’t many firms who’d put their cars, or a bunch of journalists, through what we experienced, but I’ve got more respect than ever for the X3 and the company for doing it. It’s proven it’s a truly capable car, able to transport you and your family on any adventure – and I for one am certainly looking forward to the next one.