Pininfarina has confirmed performance details of its new electric Battista, including the fact that the new road-legal hypercar can accelerate a Formula 1 car.
Announced as part of the Battista’s debut in the Middle East, Pininfarina says its launch control system allows for a 0-60mph time to be achieved in just 1.79 seconds, compared to the typical 2.1-2.7 seconds that an F1 car takes.
Furthermore, Pinfarina has said that a 0-120mph run, where permitted, could be achieved in just 4.49 seconds, while a 31-metre stopping distance from 60mph to a standstill makes the Battista the fastest braking EV in the world.
Pininfarina is best known for being a design house that has worked with a number of car brands over the years, from niche Ferrari products to mass-market Fords, but established ‘Automobili Pininfarina’ as a standalone brand.
First revealed in 2019, first customer deliveries of the Battista are said to be underway, with the model making its dynamic debut at the Dubai Autodrome following its launch in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Paolo Dellacha, Automobili Pininfarina chief product and engineering officer said: “I am proud that our new electric hyper GT delivers on the promises we made when we set out our development plan. In Battista, we have achieved performance beyond our original, extreme targets.
“Battista’s incredible technical package includes a carbon ceramic brake system, helping the Italian hyper GT become the fastest braking electric car in the world. Our discerning clients here in the UAE have been overwhelmed by the Battista driving experience, which is as breathtaking as its award-winning design.”
The Battista’s electric motors put out a remarkably 1874bhp and 2,340Nm of torque, with each car taking 1,250 hours to be produced at the brand’s factory in Cambiano, near Turin in Italy. Just 150 are being produced, priced from £1.9m each, excluding taxes.
Supermarkets are “taking advantage” of drivers by charging “far higher” fuel prices than they should be, a motoring services company has said.
The RAC accused the UK’s biggest fuel retailers of refusing to lower their pump prices despite a drop in wholesale costs.
It said supermarkets’ profit margins are around 15p per litre for petrol and diesel.
This means customers are being charged an “unnecessarily high” average price of 161.0p per litre for petrol and 184.4p for diesel.
This is only 2p per litre lower than the average for all UK forecourts.
Supermarkets normally charge around 3.5p per litre less than the UK average.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “With many people struggling to put fuel in their cars, it’s very sad to see the biggest fuel retailers taking advantage of their customers by charging far higher prices than they should be.
“This is unfortunately a perfect example of prices falling like a feather, the opposite of them rocketing up as soon as the wholesale price rises significantly.
“The supermarkets dominate UK fuel retailing, primarily because they have traditionally sold petrol and diesel at lower prices due to the large volumes they sell.
“Sadly there is now a remarkable lack of competition among the four main players which means prices are far higher than they should be.
“There are smaller, independent forecourts offering more competitive prices than supermarkets, so drivers should shop around.”
The number of new cars with a manual handbrake continues to fall, with only 13 per cent of new models featuring one.
Research from online marketplace CarGurus has found that 87 per cent of new cars are supplied with an automatic handbrake – up from 83 per cent in 2021 and 63 per cent in 2018.
With household names such as the Citroen C1, Nissan Micra and Peugeot 108 all being discontinued in the past 12 months, this has contributed further to the decline. BMW also dropped its X1, 2 Series and M4 Convertible models recently, all three of which had a manual handbrake, meaning the brand’s entire range now uses an electronic parking brake instead.
Other brands such as Volvo, Peugeot and Mercedes also no longer offer a manual handbrake on their cars, while in Audi’s line-up, it’s only the A1 that doesn’t use the electronic version.
In fact, Abarth is the only manufacturer that offers a manual handbrake across its range – and even that’s set to change later in the year when an electric 500 is introduced.
CarGurus UK editor Chris Knapman said: “The fifth instalment of our Manual Handbrake Report shows the number of new models featuring a traditional handbrake has continued to fall.’
He added that the discontinuation of some well-known models as well as the rise of the EV had contributed to the four percentage point drop over the past 12 months.
Knapman said: “Since 2018, we have seen a 24 percentage point fall in the number of new cars being fitted with a manual handbrake.
“It was always likely that the expected 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars would spell the end of the manual handbrake – the question now is whether it can even last until then.”
Peugeot’s well-loved 205 GTI has been given a modern-day update, ‘reimagining’ this iconic 1980s hot hatch.
Courtesy of restoration specialists Tolman Engineering, the 205 GTI has been enhanced with a number of modern upgrades, with the first customer ‘Tolman Edition’ now being revealed.
The firm says it bolsters the model with ‘contemporary performance, reliability and convenience features to enjoy driving it today and every day’.
Customers are able to choose between 1.6- and 1.9-litre engines, with this first customer car being the latter, and has been upgraded to offer more low-down torque and a revised cylinder head and new cams.
The result being more than 200bhp – a sharp increase on the 130bhp the 205 GTI came with from the factory.
A revised throttle is also said to offer a keener response along with improved starting in hot and cold conditions, while a Tolman exhaust and Quaife differential have been fitted to enhance the way the 205 drives.
Modern convenience features are also available, including LED lighting, an LCD dashboard and an integrated infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Customers can also have the seats retrimmed, electric windows fitted and an Alcantara steering wheel to give the Peugeot a sportier feel.
Chris Tolman, founder of Tolman Engineering, said: “Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, for me and I’m sure many others, 205 GTIs were a first taste in performance cars; something rewarding, responsive and engaging.
“We wanted to recreate that feeling of being at one with the road, a car you can just jump in and simply enjoy driving hard. Current hot hatches surpass these cars in so many areas but despite having loads of power and incredible dynamics, they fail to rekindle that emotional involvement that made us feel special with the 205.”
The Warwickshire firm says it has access to a number of donor 205 GTIs in both left- and right-hand-drive, or customers can use their own cars, and that all upgrades can be reversed and put back to standard. After this, Tolman says 700 hours are spent modifying the car with both performance and convenience updates.
Prices for a Peugeot 205 GTI Tolman Edition start from £55,000.
James Baggott has taken delivery of the long-awaited Audi RS4 long termer and has already fallen in love.
Britain’s love of a pokey-engine-in-an-estate-car combination could easily rival its affection for fish and chips or cheese and pickle sandwiches.
As pairings go, a performance engine with the space to carry large loads in the boot is hard to argue with and I’ll freely admit I’m one of the admirers.
So when Audi offered us the chance to take custody of a potent RS4 for a few months I elbowed my way to the front of the keys queue.
This current model has been around since late 2019 and still looks and feels remarkably fresh – but what I, and you probably, really care about is the monster under the bonnet.
The 3.0-litre engine is twin-turbocharged which produces 444bhp and 600Nm of torque. That helps this family-friendly wagon hit 60mph in 4.1 seconds.
With a three-month-old in the clan, the combination of boot space and comfort when I have the team on board, compared to the option for some fun when they’re not, really was one I was looking forward to.
It’s been a long wait to get it, though. Audi let me choose the specification for our car back in February and I’ve only just taken delivery.
New car order times are a lot longer these days, thanks to a shortage of chips (micro, not potato) and just like everyone else I’ve been waiting patiently for my car to arrive.
That gave me plenty of time to pore over the spec I’d picked. I really wanted a green one, but that colour had dropped off the options list when I played around with the configurator, but the Nardo grey option was a very acceptable second choice.
The base price for the car is a rather prickly £76,800, but I’ve added £8,200 to that total with a few options. Highlights included a head-up display for £1,095, 20-inch wheels at £2,000 and the RS Sport exhaust system adding a further £1,250.
The best choice was the RS Sport suspension with dynamic ride control. While it might have added an extra £2k to the price, I’ve already found it makes for a wonderful ride.
I picked the car up from Portsmouth Audi where salesman Drew Pilcher showed me around the car. The showroom has recently had a makeover and I must admit it felt quite special pulling the cover back in the handover bay, even if the car wasn’t really mine.
Still, that won’t stop me from enjoying it over the next few months. First impressions are this is a car that I will really fall in love with. It’s frighteningly rapid when it wants to be, but also incredibly comfortable.
The seats are brilliant – and have a massaging function too – and the steering is beautifully weighted. It makes a superb sound, especially on start up, with a deep, bassy rumble to that sports exhaust.
Pilcher helped set me up with the Audi app that connects to the car letting you lock and unlock the doors and a few other things too. I’m not sure it’s working properly, though, so I will have to investigate a little further before passing judgement.
I have also had to get used to frequenting my local petrol station again. The RS4 is, er, rather juicy. Around town, I’m getting about 18mpg if I’m lucky. On longer journeys, it’s more efficient thanks to 48v technology that lets it coast on motorways and an eight-speed gearbox – on one recent trip I got 33mpg, which for a performance car, is actually pretty good going. Let’s hope fuel prices don’t go up much further.
Petrol and diesel could rocket up by 12 pence a litre in March if a planned rise in fuel duty comes into force.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBD) provides independent analysis of the UK’s finances and has stated in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook for November that ‘the planned 23 per cent increase in the fuel duty rate in late-March 2023’ would add an extra ‘£5.7 billion to receipts next year.’
It added that this would result in a ‘record cash increase’ and the first time that any government has raised fuel duty ‘in cash terms’ since January 1, 2011.
The resulting hike in fuel duty would see petrol and diesel prices increase by around 12p a litre which, at current prices according to RAC Fuel Watch, would see petrol rise to 175p a litre and diesel shoot to near the £2-per-litre mark.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes: “As things stand, drivers will face an enormous hike in the cost of fuel next Spring due to fuel duty going up.
“The OBR expects to see 12p added to a litre of fuel, as a result of the current 5p duty cut coming to an end combined with its scheduled rise – something that’s not been seen for over a decade due to duty being frozen in successive Budgets.
“The Government has always made a big deal of cancelling duty rises in the past and will face colossal pressure to do the same next year – after all, a rise of these proportions would heap yet more misery on the millions of households that depend on their vehicles, most of whom will have just endured one of the costliest winters on record.”
A Treasury spokesperson told the PA news agency: “The 23% figure came from the OBR not the Treasury and it’s based on forecasts that are subject to change.
“We have not announced anything on fuel duty today, the existing 5p cut will remain in place until March 2023 (a tax cut which is worth £2.4bn) and final decisions on fuel duty rates will be made at the Spring Budget.”
Cutting speed limits on urban roads to 20mph does not significantly improve safety, a new report suggests.
Researchers analysed data from before and after the limit was introduced on 76 roads in central Belfast in 2016.
The study found “little impact on long-term outcomes” in the city.
Comparisons with streets in the surrounding area and elsewhere in Northern Ireland that retained their 30mph or 40mph limit showed there were “no statistically significant differences” in terms of the number of crashes, casualty rates or average traffic speed.
Roads with a 20mph limit did experience a reduction in traffic, according to the report published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The authors of the report, who include Professor Ruth Hunter of Queen’s University Belfast and Dr Ruth Jepson of the University of Edinburgh, noted that their research was smaller in scale than some other studies on the topic.
The report said that 20mph limits could be combined with other measures such as driver training, CCTV and police communications to “facilitate an ambitious culture change that shifts populations away from the car-dominant paradigm”.
It added that reducing speed limits is “not simply a road-safety intervention” but can be “part of the fundamental reset of the way we choose our life priorities – people before cars”.
Schemes to cut speed limits to 20mph have become increasingly popular in the UK and other parts of Europe in recent years as part of effort to reduce crashes and injuries.
The Welsh Government has committed to lowering speed limits to 20mph on all roads in the country where cars mix with pedestrians and cyclists.
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “The findings of this study are surprising as they appear to suggest that drivers on 20mph roads in Belfast hardly slowed down at all, despite the lower speed limit, which is at odds with other reports.
“It seems there is a serious problem with compliance as we would expect that even without enforcement, average speeds would drop.
“Consequently, the study may demonstrate a need for councils to find other ways to get drivers to slow down, whether that’s through enforcement or modifying road design with traffic islands, well-designed speed humps or chicanes.”
Mary Williams, chief executive of road safety charity Brake, described 20mph limits as “life-saving”, particularly for pedestrians and people riding bicycles and motorbikes.
She added: “It is a matter of physics. At speeds of 20mph or less, drivers have significantly more chance to spot hazards and stop in time.
“The difference between a 20mph limit and a 30mph limit is a doubled stopping distance.”
Euro NCAP has revealed its latest round of safety testing, with only out of 16 models failing to secure the top five-star rating.
The car safety organisation said it shows the ‘determination of manufacturers to do well’ in the tests, which was the largest group ratings to be carried out in 2022. Kicking off proceedings was the Tesla Model S – tested again after its last visit to NCAP in 2014 – which secured a five-star rating and the highest score (98 per cent) in the driver assistance category.
Toyota’s new electric bZ4X and its Subaru Solterra twin also receive the top five-star safety rating, as did Hyundai’s Ioniq 6, the new Honda Civic and the Renault Austral.
Nissan had two five-star ratings in the latest round of testing, with its new seven-seat X-Trail and electric Ariya SUVs both scoring well, as did the upcoming Toyota Corolla Cross and the latest Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
The latest wave of Chinese brands coming to Europe also reaffirmed their commitment to safety, with the new Smart #1 crossover (now produced by Geely in China), Wey Coffee 02 small SUV and Nio ET7 saloon all receiving top marks.
In fact, it was only the DS 9 saloon that didn’t score top marks, with Euro NCAP docking its rating at four stars due to a ‘penalty in the frontal offset test for being an aggressive impact partner towards other electric vehicles’.
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s secretary general, said: “Manufacturers are keen to achieve good scores in this year’s tests as next year protocols become more stringent and provide increased challenges for vehicle development.
“In 2023, in line with its Vision 2030, Euro NCAP will be focusing on a range of new aspects. For example, we are putting in place autonomous emergency braking (AEB) protocols for motorcycles as well as new scenarios in passive safety for pedestrians and cyclists, extending the area where these two vulnerable users might interact with a vehicle. This is necessary progress in safety for other road users.”
Close to one in five drivers has said that they’d delayed their recommended two-year eyesight check-up, a new survey has found.
The study also found that six per cent of drivers believed it had been more than five years since their last eye test.
The study of 2,113 drivers conducted by Glasses Direct Transitions also found that 14 per cent of drivers admitted to avoiding going to the optician for fear of losing their driving licence.
David Hutchfield, qualified optician and head of professional services from Glasses Direct said: “If you need to wear glasses for driving — indicated by a 01 code under section 12 on your driving licence — then you must also get sunglasses that adhere to your prescription and not just off-the-shelf glasses.
“Worryingly, this doesn’t seem to be common knowledge as only five per cent of drivers who are required to wear glasses (and have the code) could accurately identify it”.
Seven per cent have delayed their driving test because they’re worried about losing their independence, while a further four per cent know they need to go to the opticians but can’t afford the required changes to their prescription.
These figures also worsen with age, with the over 65s the most likely group to risk driving dangerously. The survey also found that 14 per cent of drivers had been involved in a collision or near-miss because of impaired vision on the road.
The Funky Cat is a new electric hatchback from GWM Ora, but what does this quirky-looking EV feel like to drive? James Batchelor finds out.
What is it?
Good question as it’s one we’d reckon most people will have on their lips, too. The Funky Cat comes from one of China’s leading carmakers, Great Wall Motor, while Ora is its EV-only brand. The firm hopes to finally establish itself in Europe and the UK as an alternative to more traditional brands, and the family hatchback-sized Funky Cat is its first move.
It’s on sale now from three dealers, but GWM Ora UK plans to add more showrooms and models, including a Porsche Panamera-esque electric coupe-saloon, in 2023. Does it stand a chance against an increasingly impressive pool of European EVs? We’ve been finding out.
What’s new?
Great Wall has been in the UK before with its rather underwhelming Steed pick-up, but this time around it’s going after the electric hatchback customer with its Ora brand. That’s no easy feat as this sector is dominated by the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3, Vauxhall’s Corsa-e and Mini Electric.
There’s also the small matter of the MG4 – a car built by GWM’s big Chinese rival SAIC, and one which undercuts nearly all of its competition on price and electric driving range.
What’s under the bonnet?
When GWM Ora first hinted it was bringing its Funky Cat to the UK, there was talk of a low entry price and two battery options – 48kWh and 63kWh. For the time being, however, only the smaller battery is on offer, paired with a 169bhp electric motor that powers the front wheels.
In terms of charging, an 80 per cent top-up with a standard home wallbox will take five hours and 24 minutes, while a three-phase 11kW on-street charger cuts that down to three hours and 12 minutes. The Funky Cat can only charge up to speeds of 64kW, so plug into a 100kW ultra-rapid charger and an 80 per cent fill-up will take around 45 minutes.
Lastly, you’ll be able to squeeze a claimed 193 miles out of the 48kWh battery, while 261 miles is claimed for the forthcoming 63kWh version.
What’s it like to drive?
With its cutesy, unthreatening image, it would be easy to dismiss the Funky Cat as not much cop to drive. But that’s the first surprise as it’s rather entertaining, with sharp steering, a very balanced and comfortable ride, and more than enough poke.
A 0-60mph time of just over eight seconds is nothing to write home about for an EV, but it certainly feels quicker than that, and there’s a pleasing linear feel to the way it accelerates; even selecting the ‘Sport’ setting doesn’t pin the driver to their seat.
How does it look?
It’s the styling that really marks out the Funky Cat. You see, while most electric family hatchbacks favour a modern, even futuristic look, GWM Ora has gone for a more retro look.
The huge headlamps and curvy bonnet perhaps ape a Porsche 911, and two of the four colour combinations offered have a slightly ’50s Americana flavour to them. That said, the rear light bar is more on trend, even if it does strobe like KITT from Knight Rider.
What’s it like inside?
The first surprise is how well the Funky Cat drives, and the second is how plush it is on the inside. There’s a solid feel to the interior – the doors thunk as they do in an ID.3, but the material quality far exceeds the German electric hatchback in every respect.
Most surfaces are either covered in stitched faux leather or squidgy soft-touch plastic, and the switchgear all feels good – the row of chrome ventilation controls are even Mini-like in look and feel. The Funky Cat gets two 10.25-inch screens and while there’s plenty of functionality, the menus are a little clunky and tricky to use on the move. And while we’re on the subject of things that could be better, the passenger space is more than adequate but the boot, at 228 litres, is a little on the small side.
What’s the spec like?
This is where the Funky Cat ends up having its tail between its legs, as for the time being there’s only one high-spec First Edition offered.
There’s no criticising the equipment that’s thrown in as standard, as the Funky Cat gets those screens, electrically adjustable front seats and a 360-degree parking camera. In fact, the parking aid is just the start as the Funky Cat has received a full NCAP five-star safety rating on account of its suite of safety gizmos. Features such as lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert with a braking function, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and lane change assist normally come as part of costly options pack on rivals, but not with the Funky Cat.
However, there’s a but. When the Funky Cat was first mooted for the UK, a price of £25,000 was hinted at, but this First Edition costs from £31,995. While cheaper versions are set to follow, that’s a whole heap of money for a car from an unknown brand. For comparison, an MG4 Trophy Long Range can travel further (270 miles) and costs £31,495, while a Cupra Born has a 20 per cent larger battery, is more powerful, costs just £4,500 more and is nicer to drive.
Verdict
It’s a shame GWM Ora has decided to offer such a high-spec First Edition trim level at the car’s launch, as the car’s high price relative to its 193-mile range and limited dealer network makes it a tough sell. Moreover, the car’s cutesy styling and quality interior are the only things that make it stand out in a marketplace that’s currently focused on range and affordability.
There’s a good car that drives very well beneath the lavish spec, though, and the Funky Cat – the name being a perfect example – does add a sense of fun and character to the typical family electric car that can very often come across as being a little straight-laced.
Forthcoming cheaper models will probably make more sense, but on this first impression, there is much to like about the Funky Cat.
