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Car Reviews

Electric scooter rental: How to hire an electric scooter near me

Under the new rules, people will be allowed to rent electric scooters on British public roads legally for the first time from Saturday, July 4. Users will be allowed to ride their scooter along roads, cycle tracks and bike lanes – but not motorways and pavements. The Government will not force users to undergo a training course, but it does recommend users do so. Scooters will be limited to a top speed of 15.5mph, and helmets are recommended, but not mandatory for scooter users.

How can you hire an electric scooter near you?

Under the new rules, people will be allowed to rent electric scooters and use them on public roads for the first time.

Electric scooters will be trialled to assess their effectivity, and whether they can be used as a viable alternative to public transport.

Electric scooter trials were originally planned to be limited to four “future transport zones”, but it has since been significantly widened.

The scooters could be used in Portsmouth and Southampton, Derby and Nottingham, the West Midlands and the West of England Combined Authority – which included Bristol, Bath and the Northern Arc.

READ MORE

  • Electric scooters UK: Can you ride e scooters on the road in Britain?

The trials have now been broadened to include all local areas across the UK.

It remains, however, up to local authorities to start their own trials, so if you want to get involved, contact your local council to see what their plans are.

Authorities that choose to take part in the trials will receive support from the Department of Transport in terms of what controls need to be put in place, such as the number of vehicles allowed in the area.

Companies like Bird, Lime, Spin, Wind, Voi, Ginger and Dott are all expected to offer rental scooter services as soon as possible.

READ MORE

  • Electric scooters legal: Are e scooters legal in the UK?

Currently, owners of electric scooters can only use them on private land and with the permission of the landowner,

Rachel Maclean, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, said the Government was taking the opportunity to rebuild transport in a more environmentally friendly way.

Ms Maclean said: “As we emerge from lockdown, we have a unique opportunity in transport to build back in a greener, more sustainable way that could lead to cleaner air and healthier communities across Great Britain.

“E-scooters may offer the potential for convenient, clean and cost-effective travel that may also help ease the burden on the transport network, provide another green alternative to get around and allow for social distancing. The trials will allow us to test whether they do these things.”

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Director of UK policy and Government affairs at US scooter rental company Lime, Alan Clarke, welcomed the move to introduce scooters on a large scale.

Mr Clarke said: “Today’s announcement that the UK is embracing micro mobility, with trials of e-scooters now able to begin, presents a real opportunity for change.

“E-scooters have been commonplace on roads and cities across Europe for some time, and Lime users around the world have already taken more than 150million ride, saving more than 12,000 tonnes of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), whilst helping to reduce congestion and air pollution.

“Over the coming days, weeks and months as trials start, we’re looking forward to building healthier, greener and safer cities across the UK.”

E-scooters are currently considered illegal in the UK, except for when they are used on private land.

While the use of private electric scooters will remain banned, the Government said the trials would provide an opportunity to “create the evidence necessary to guide final decisions about whether and – if so – how to fully legalise e-scooters”.

Campaigners have described the road ban as “outdated” and claim the vehicles offer an environmentally friendly alternative to cars.

YouTube star and TV presenter Emily Hartridge became the first person to be killed while using an electric scooter when she was hit by a lorry in Battersea, south London, in July last year.

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Racing

Lando Norris: Carlos Sainz deserves his Ferrari move

Lando Norris has said his McLaren team-mate Carlos Sainz is worthy of replacing Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari for the 2021 campaign.

The Scuderia moved quickly to announced the Spaniard as Ferrari’s new recruit for next season once it was confirmed Vettel would be leaving the team at the end of 2020.

The debate and discussion around Sainz since has been whether he is the right choice for Ferrari and what role he will have in the team alongside Charles Leclerc.

But, there is no doubt in Norris’ mind that Sainz is deserving of this opportunity.

2 0 / 2 0 pic.twitter.com/s2E2yaMSAP

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) July 2, 2020

“I think he deserved it, he drove very well last year,” said in the FIA press conference ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, as quoted by RaceFans.net.

“We still have a lot of driving and fun to go on this year. We’re still going to be team mates, we’re still working together, we’re still trying to get McLaren back to back to the front and doing as well as possible.

“So I still look forward to the times we have together. But I wish him all the best in the future.”

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But that is not to say that Norris wasn’t surprised to see the move for Sainz develop as he was not expecting any driver from the top three to start moving around for 2021.

He added: “Someone was going to replace [Vettel] and whoever it was, it was going to be a bit of a surprise because I didn’t think there was going to be any of the other drivers in the top three teams moving around at all.

“I knew it was obviously going to have to be someone, and I knew at that point that Carlos was going to be on the radar.

“I’m still with McLaren, so very happy with where I was. He was one of the guys which I knew could have a chance.

“But at the same time, when someone gets announced, there’s always a few days or a week prior that things kind of start off and you don’t know about them at the time.”

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Car Reviews

2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country: 6 Things We Like (and 4 Not So Much)

The 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country is a big luxury wagon with a comfortable cabin, plenty of space for your stuff and styling that at least makes it seem like it’s good to go off-road. What makes the Cross Country different from a regular V90? That would be the illusion of off-road prowess — which is mostly rugged-looking plastic cladding when it comes down to it. All-wheel drive is also standard.

Related: 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country Review: On-Road Luxe, Off-Road Looks

While you’ll probably keep this wagon’s four wheels on the pavement, that doesn’t mean it’s boring; the V90 CC is a luxurious family hauler that rivals some of Volvo’s taller SUVs. For Cars.com editor’s Aaron Bragman’s comprehensive evaluation of the V90 CC, check out his full review via the related link above. If you want the quick rundown, here are six things we like (and four not so much) about the 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country:

Things We Like

1. Sleek and Stylish Exterior

Scandanavian style looks classy on a wagon, especially one with such a sleek, long-roof shape. Volvo’s signature “Thor’s hammer” headlights are up front, and in the rear, the LED taillights climb up the D-pillars. The additional matte plastic cladding may or may not be for you, but it does add to the “off-road” feel. Inside, the dash is minimal and modern.

2. Responsive Acceleration

The V90 CC is powered by a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which puts out 316 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque. When you tap into it, acceleration is immediate and powerful. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the powertrain as a whole feels seamless and smooth.

3. Standard Safety 

The wagon comes with an arsenal of safety and driver assistance features. Blind spot warning with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with pilot assist and forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking are just a few that come standard. Volvo also has a great track record when it comes to safety, though there are not yet crash-test evaluations for either V90 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

4. User-Friendly Multimedia and Tech

Volvo’s vertically oriented touchscreen looks good on the dash, and its multimedia interface is easy to use. It’s readable and responsive, and it can be reconfigured to your liking. While it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, it also provides controls at your fingertips for things like dropping the rear head restraints for better visibility out the rear window. Volvo’s Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, an optional feature, is also configurable. The optional Advanced Package adds LED adaptive headlights with a cornering feature, headlight washer, 360-degree surround-view cameras and a head-up display for $2,450.

5. Spacious Interior 

Wagon fans know space is king, and that’s true for the V90 CC. Both front and rear seats are roomy, and three adults can sit relatively comfortably in the backseat. No third row makes for a lot of cargo space in the back — more room, even, than Volvo’s larger XC90 SUV.

6. Reasonably Priced

There’s some debate about whether Volvos fall in the same luxury category as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, or if they’re premium vehicles like Buick and Acura. The V90 CC might have a luxe interior that puts it with the upper echelon, but it has more of a premium price. Starting at $55,545 (including destination fee), the V90 CC is $10,000 less than the starting price of competing wagons like the Audi A6 Allroad or Jaguar XF Sportbrake.

More From Cars.com:

  • 2020 Volvo XC90 Review: An Aging Icon Learns New Tricks
  • When Is a Wagon Not a Wagon? When It’s Volvo’s New V60 Cross Country
  • Research the 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country
  • Shop for a 2020 Volvo V90 Cross Country

Things We Don’t

1. Gas Mileage

Fuel economy figures for the V90 CC are fair at best. It gets an EPA-estimated 20/30/24 mpg city/highway/combined. Bragman said he eked out 23.5 mpg over a week that included a lot of highway driving. However, the V90 CC does fare better in this area than its competitors. The Jaguar XF Sportbrake is rated 21/28/24 mpg and the Audi A6 Allroad is rated 20/26/22 mpg.

2. Not So Quiet Cabin

The roof rack on the top of the wagon creates a rushing sound at the top of the windshield and through the moonroof. Coupled with existing road and wind noise, the cabin can be a bit loud.

3. Too Big for the City

The turning radius of the V90 CC is rather wide, which makes it clunky and difficult to maneuver in small, city spaces. That said, it’s a good size for the suburbs.

4. Tall Beltline

For those who drive or ride with an elbow up on the windowsill, the tall beltline in this wagon makes for an awkward and uncomfortable riding position.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

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Racing

Red Bull keeping beady eye on Mercedes over DAS

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has said a close eye is being kept on Mercedes with their potential DAS usage in Austria this weekend.

Mercedes introduced the innovative dual-axis steering system in the pre-season test at Barcelona and is set to be placed back under scrutiny now that Formula 1 has finally returned from its extended hiatus.

Horner said in the lead-up that the controversial topics such as DAS would all come flooding back and it appears Red Bull are ready and waiting to see if they still have grounds to launch an official protest to the FIA.

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“We are waiting to see if it is fitted to their cars,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.

“Obviously it’s a clever system and a complicated one and we’re after some clarification from the FIA as we have some questions about it.”

As for whether Red Bull would consider using DAS themselves if all is above aboard, Horner added: “It depends what it actually does and achieves.

Everything has to earn its place on the car. It’s a clever system but these rules are so complex…it’s just understanding which part of the regulations it fits in to.”

Strict protocols are in place at the Red Bull Ring in order to protect the health and safety of those present within the Formula 1 paddock.

But more surreal for Horner is that the Formula 1 roadshow is Austria for the first race of the season.

“Well we all look like we are in some kind of hospital programme with all the face masks and PPE,” Horner joked.

“But that’s all been practiced and drilled. It’s an FIA stipulation, but other than that working practices are pretty normal.

“This is day one of the season remember so it’s a little bit odd coming here halfway through the year and this effectively being the first day of the year.”

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Car Reviews

Red Bull Ring F3: Beckmann tops first practice of 2020

Trident driver David Beckmann topped the opening practice session of the 2020 FIA Formula 3 season on a drying Red Bull Ring.

The 45-minute session began on a wet track after morning rain at the Austrian Grand Prix venue, kicking off track action for this weekend’s long-awaited Formula 1 return. It also marked F3’s first competitive running since last September’s Sochi finale.

Red Bull-backed Kiwi Liam Lawson (Hitech), F3 veteran Jake Hughes (HWA) and new Prema recruit Logan Sargeant were among those to feature at the top of the timesheets in the early stages, before Beckmann moved to the fore with a 1m30.458s.

The German, who was a last-minute replacement at Trident for Devlin DeFrancesco, then became the first driver to break the 90-second barrier with a 1m29.686s with 20 minutes left.

That was beaten soon after by Matteo Nannini (Jenzer), the nephew of former grand prix ace Alessandro, who held the top spot while the field transitioned from wet to slick tyres.

Another famous racing nephew, David Schumacher (Charouz), kicked off a flurry of improvements with eight minutes left on the clock. 

Schumacher was also the first to dip beneath the 1m25s mark with six minutes to go, before Sebastian Fernandez (ART), Alex Peroni (Campos), Lawson and Clement Novalak (Carlin) all enjoyed brief stints at the top of the times.

Prema’s Oscar Piastri then went quickest on a 1m21.377s with two minutes left, and improved to a 1m20.516s less than a minute before the chequered flag.

Beckmann however managed to best the Australian driver by just 0.079s as he registered a 1m20.434s to end the first session of 2020 on top.

Behind Piastri, 16-year-old Roman Stanek, whose place at Charouz was only announced on Thursday, was third-quickest on a 1m20.963s, followed by Schumacher and Macau Grand Prix winner Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport).

Formula Regional European champion Frederik Vesti was second-best of the Prema drivers in sixth, followed by Hughes, Igor Fraga (Charouz), Fernandez and Lawson. American driver Sargeant ended up 12th-fastest in the third of the Prema-run cars.

In her first competitive FIA F3 session, Campos driver Sophia Floersch was 18th-fastest, 1.3s off the pace and one place behind teammate Peroni, who this weekend is set to race for the first time since his horrifying aerial crash at Monza last year.

Of the other famous names, Nannini was 19th-fastest, Jack Doohan – son of motorcycle racing legend Mick – was 23rd for HWA and Enzo Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time Formula 1 champion Emerson, was 29th for the same team.

Session results (top 10):

Cla # Driver Team Time Gap
1 11 David Beckmann Trident 1’20.434  
2 1 Oscar Piastri Prema Powerteam 1’20.513 0.079
3 23 Roman Staněk Charouz Racing System 1’20.963 0.529
4 25 David Schumacher Charouz Racing System 1’21.053 0.619
5 17 Richard Verschoor MP Motorsport 1’21.129 0.695
6 2 Frederik Vesti Prema Powerteam 1’21.207 0.773
7 15 Jake Hughes HWA AG 1’21.211 0.777
8 24 Igor Fraga Charouz Racing System 1’21.218 0.784
9 9 Sebastian Fernandez ART Grand Prix 1’21.235 0.801
10 5 Liam Lawson HitechGP 1’21.281 0.847
View full results

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Car Reviews

T32 Nissan X-Trail Tuned by Impul debuts in Malaysia – SUV gets four variants, priced from RM140k to RM168k – paultan.org

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has introduced the Nissan X-Trail Tuned by Impul, which as its name suggests, kits up the third-gen SUV with a number of Impul enhancement items. The pack contains elements seen on the Impul X-Trail showcased at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Dress-up bits consist of an Impul Aerokit, which introduces dual tone front and rear aero bumper aprons as well as side skirts. The front grille also gets gloss black cladding, and a split mounted rear spoiler, also finished in gloss black, makes its way on.

The Tuned by Impul T32 facelift rides on 18-inch Impul Aura SX-50 multispoke wheels, which are fitted with 235/55 profile Continental ContiMaxContact MC6 tyres. The only mechanical change comes in the form of an Impul Sports Spring set to improve handling response. Apart from the expressive exterior and performance parts, the variant gets new Maroon Nappa leather upholstery for the interior.

The new Nissan X-Trail Tuned by IMPUL package is available for the 2.0L Hybrid, 2.5L 4WD, 2.0L 2WD MID and 2.0L 2WD versions of the SUV, the set adding RM11,000 to the cost. The sales tax exempt, on-the-road prices (without insurance, Peninsular Malaysia) of the Tuned by Impul versions are:

  • 2.0L 2WD – RM139,630
  • 2.0L 2WD MID – RM150,643
  • 2.5L 4WD – RM157,731
  • 2.0L Hybrid – RM168,451

The kit on the new Nissan X-Trail Tuned by Impul is factory fitted, and the vehicle comes standard with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, whereas the accessories come with a three-year or 100,000 km warranty (whichever comes first).


Additionally, ETCM has announced that X-Trail owners who are interested in adding on the Impul package can do so, the items being available individually at the following prices:

  • Impul Aerokit (front and rear bumper spoilers, and side skirts) – RM5,600
  • Impul 18-inch Aura SX-50 wheels (set of four) – RM5,800
  • Continental ContiMaxContact MC6 tyres (235/55 R18, set of four) – RM2,800
  • Impul Sports Springs – RM1,100
  • Gloss black split mounted rear spoiler – RM800
  • Gloss black Front grille cladding – RM700

The new variant will make its appearance at selected Nissan showrooms in the upcoming Nissan X-Trail Tuned by Impul carnival, from July 18.

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Auto News

Navnit opens 7500 sq. ft. used BMW facility in Bangalore

Navnit Motors has opened a new BMW Premium Selection outlet in Bangalore. The facility is spread over 7,500 sq. ft and is claimed to be the largest in India. 

The new facility for pre-owned BMWs is located at No. 40/66, Sonnappana Halli Bethahalasoor Post, New Airport Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 562157. It houses a 15 car display, sales and customer lounges. Customers can obtain information regarding the vehicle’s mileage, retail price, specification and dealer contact data through a virtual product presentation.

BMW offers various financing options to its Premium Selection customers as well as trade-in offers, hassle free documentation and evaluation of vehicle at their doorstep.

All cars under BMW Premium Selection are less than 5 years old and have less than 1 lakh km on their odometer. The cars come with up to 24 months warranty. Customers can also opt for roadside assistance.

At present, there are 24 BMW Premium Selection facilities in India.

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Racing

Kimi concedes next generation of Raikkonens is faster

Spending parts of his extended break karting with his children, Kimi Raikkonen has revealed he “cannot keep up” with his son Robin.

Raikkonen’s wife, Minttu, has been showing off her family’s karting exploits on social media with both children, Robin and Rianna, getting into racing.

Robin, it seems, has picked up his father’s flair for speed.

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I got it from my daddy💪🏼🏁 #ace

A post shared by Minttu Räikkönen (@mintturaikkonen) on

I got it from my daddy💪🏼🏁 #ace

A post shared by Minttu Räikkönen (@mintturaikkonen) on

So much so that Minttu said in one Instagram video that it “looks like Robin is faster”.

Raikkonen concedes he is, at least in some situations.

“I don’t know how to compare [him] – it’s to enjoy it,” the Alfa Romeo driver told Motorsport.com.

“Some days we’ll do more laps than others, but it’s like with kids, one day they like to do one thing and the next day another.

“As long as he enjoys it, that’s the main thing.

“He’s been getting a bit faster.

“With me in a rental kart, I cannot keep up any more. I need a bit more horsepower. Apart from that, it’s been good.”

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Unfortunately for Raikkonen, but fortunately for Formula 1 fans, the extended break is finally over.

More than 100 days after the season was scheduled to get underway in Australia, Formula 1 will go racing this weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

Many are predicting that this season’s best fights will be amongst the midfield drivers with Daniel Ricciardo saying up to five teams could be separated by a mere tenth of a second.

Asked for his thoughts on the midfield battle, which Alfa Romeo is expected to feature in, Raikkonen said it is all speculation until Sunday evening.

“[From] testing every year, it’s impossible to say where we are, a lot of speculation,” said the 2007 World Champion.

“But in the first race, we always see what is the real story.

“Obviously we never managed to do the first race, and now months later, we obviously are going to do it and then we’ll see where we are.

“But then there’s another thing, people are bringing updates. Who knows. We’ll see over the weekend now where we are and where everybody else is.”

Last season Alfa Romeo finished eighth in the Constructors’ Championship with 57 points.

Raikkonen recorded a best result of fourth at the Brazilian Grand Prix, a race in which his team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi finished in fifth place.

The duo’s only other double points haul came at the Austrian Grand Prix with the Finn ninth to Giovinazzi’s P10.

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Racing

Lewis Hamilton 'anticipates' Max Verstappen challenge

Lewis Hamilton is expecting a “challenging” start to the season as Mercedes take on defending Austrian GP champs Red Bull at the latter’s home circuit.

For the first time, the 2020 season will not only begin at the Red Bull Ring but will do so with a double header at Red Bull’s home track.

It is a circuit where the home team has done well in recent years with Max Verstappen beating Charles Leclerc last season while the year prior he took the chequered flag ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

Mercedes was on the podium with Valtteri Bottas in 2019 but missed out in 2018 when neither driver managed to finish the grand prix.

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Hamilton reckons this year Verstappen and Red Bull will once again be his strongest opposition for the Austrian wins.

“I mean, they looked quite strong through testing,” Hamilton, who won the 2016 Austrian GP, told Autosport.

“It was quite close between the top three teams in testing and I think Red Bull particularly being the closest to us from our understanding.

“And Max is progressing year on year, so I anticipate they’re going to be strong competitors.

“They are always very strong here at this track, so definitely going to be a challenge these two weekends.

“But I’m excited to see how that goes.”

It could, of course, depended on the track temperature which caught Mercedes out in 2019.

Last year with Europe in the midst of a heatwave when Formula 1 arrived at the Red Bull Ring, Hamilton and Bottas struggled to get the most out of their W10s.

This year the Brit believes Mercedes has designed the car to ensure it works well in all temperatures.

“We’ve not been terrible [since 2017],” he added, “but it is a challenging circuit with the height of the circuit, the temperatures that we see.

“We’ve arrived here [in previous years] and it’s usually kind of not in the perfect window of operating temperatures for our car.

“But I’d like to think we’re in a better position this year with improvements that we’ve made for this season’s car.

“So, time will tell.”

Formula 1 is holding a double header at the Red Bull Ring to start the season, the Austrian GP on July 5 and the Steiermark Grand Prix a week later on July 12.

The sport will then head to Hungary for round three with just eight grands prix confirmed to date.

F1 chief Chase Carey is hoping to add a further seven to 10 races, saying an announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

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Auto News

NHAI suffers data loss in cyberattack

According to a media report, all the data on National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) servers was lost after last week’s ransomware attack.

There could be various reasons that lead to the breach. It is said that weak cybersecurity infrastructure, lax monitoring and outdated legacy software were some of them.

According NHAI officials, while there was a loss of data on the servers and a breach in the hardware, they had a backup loaded on the mail server.

Following this cyber attack, CERTin, which handles computer security emergencies, has started rigorous monitoring. Meanwhile, the investigation to ascertain from where the attack originated is still ongoing.

Source

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