A pragmatic amnesty for separatists benefits Catalonia
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Top Gear
8 hours ago
- Top Gear
The new Alpine A290 Rallye is a £62k customer competition car
First Look No extra power to report, but there's upgraded running gear, racier suspension and a tweaked sound generator Skip 3 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Say hello to the Alpine A290 'Rallye'. It's the brand's first all-electric customer competition car, intended for both one-make events and open races, and will debut later this year. Though the running gear has been adapted for motorsport, the front-driven e-motor remains unchanged, maintaining a punchy 215bhp and 221lb ft of torque. Alpine has instead fettled with the ECU and revamped the monitoring systems, allowing the 52kWh battery to work more efficiently. Advertisement - Page continues below What's more, the Rallye will get a different sort of sound generator to the standard car, which tunes in with the driver's throttle inputs to make… noise. Precisely what sort of noise, we'll have to wait and see. Looks the part too, no? The body gets a roof scoop and a black bonnet with pins, finished up with a funky blue and white livery. Can't forget those 18in Evo Corse alloys either, painted in the customary shade of white and wrapped around a set of Michelin rubber. You might like Tucked behind those will be 350mm brake discs at the front and 280mm ones at the rear, hooked up to a race-bred ABS control unit. Elsewhere, the modified suspension is bolstered by ALP Racing shocks, while a ZF self-locking limited-slip diff is there to help around the twisty bits. Inside, the Rallye will get an FIA-grade welded roll cage and Sabelt bucket seats. Most important of all is the inclusion of a hydraulic handbrake - imperative for maximum slip and slide around a tight loose gravel stage. Advertisement - Page continues below Customers will have their first chance to compete at a single-race event later this year in France, where Alpine will provide technical support where needed. At certain fixtures, the manufacturer will even have its own paddock and dedicated charging infrastructure in place. Talk about getting your money's worth, eh? Money that sits in the region of €59,990 pre-VAT - or circa £62k on this side of the Chunnel. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Scotsman
Asda brings rare Scottish-grown golden raspberries to stores for the first time
Asda shoppers are set to be the first in the country to enjoy Scottish-grown golden raspberries as the rare summer fruit hits selected supermarket shelves this weekend. The berries – praised for their flavour by top Scottish chef Stevie McLaughlin – will be available for a limited time window while crop lasts in Asda stores. Asda worked with grower partners Bruce Farms and supplier Scotty Brand to bring the unique variety to market, with a limited amount of special release punnets available. The golden raspberries will grace selected UK stores while stocks last and are set to sit alongside their more popular red counterparts in store. Geoff Bruce, Director at Bruce Farms, a fourth-generation farm in Meigle, Perthshire, said: 'The golden raspberries have been a real passion project for us and it's exciting to be at the forefront of introducing something new to the Scottish soft fruit sector. 'As growers, we're always looking at ways to innovate and explore different varieties that not only thrive in our climate but also offer a unique selling point for customers. Our product development team sourced the rare 'All Gold' raspberries, and we are pleased to let consumers try them for the first time, however they will need to be quick as the crop is limited. 'It's been incredibly rewarding to see them being grown successfully here in Perthshire's rich farmland and building on our family's 125-year legacy of farming and commitment to quality.' Bringing all the flavour of traditional varieties - and more - the premium golden raspberries are said to have a delicate texture, in addition to the distinctive yellow hue that sets them apart from their red-coloured cousins. Stevie McLaughlin, Head Chef at the two Michelin-starred Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, has been incorporating the golden raspberries into his fine dining desserts – but says the fruit will work just as well in a simple home recipe. 'For me, it's always about flavour, and these golden raspberries truly delivered, a delicate understated tartness, balanced with a nice hit of Scottish earthiness,' he said. 'Perfect for a fine dining summer dessert, or equally in a simple fruit salad at home.' Partnering with Bruce Farm to take the team's golden raspberries to Asda customers is Scotty Brand, an organisation born in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, in 1948 when Albert Barlett began boiling home-grown beetroot in a tin bath to support his family. More than 75 years on, the family run brand works with farmers across Scotland, proudly championing locally grown fruit and vegetables. Andrew Young, Scotty Brand Development Manager, said: 'At Scotty Brand, we're committed to supporting Scottish growers and expanding variety of produce available to retailers and customers. 'Our long-standing partnership with Asda has enabled us to bring this exclusive new product to market, supporting growth and diversification within the sector while showcasing the exceptional quality of Scottish produce and the vital role of local, sustainable growing practices.' Ashley Connolly, Asda Scotland Local Buying Manager, said: 'It's exciting that Asda customers will be the first to be able to buy these limited-edition golden raspberries. Our partnership with Scotty Brand has continued to go from strength to strength, and by bringing this new product innovation to life is a credit to both the farm and supplier. Getting the product into Asda stores this quickly also highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting local growers as well as offering customers something new, fresh, seasonal and unique.' 1 . Contributed Andrew Young, Scotty Brand Development Manager, Geoff Bruce, Bruce Farms Director and Jon Smeaton, Asda West Dundee Trading Manager with the rare Scottish golden raspberries Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed Exclusive to Asda - Scotty Brand and Bruce Farms' Scottish Grown Golden Raspberries Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Exclusive to Asda - Scotty Brand and Bruce Farms' Scottish Grown Golden Raspberries Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Exclusive to Asda - Scotty Brand and Bruce Farms' Scottish Grown Golden Raspberries Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: ASDA
Economist
11 hours ago
- Economist
A pragmatic amnesty for separatists benefits Catalonia
BARCELONA is booming, the hotels full and taxis hard to find. The political conversation in Catalonia, one of Spain's largest and richest regions, is about the everyday issues of housing, airport expansion and immigration. The local administration is waging an international campaign to promote Catalan gastronomy on the strength of more than 50 Michelin-starred restaurants in the region. Some of the 4,000 businesses that moved their domicile to other parts of Spain are trickling back. It is all a far cry from 2017, when a separatist Catalan government plunged Spain into turmoil with an unconstitutional referendum on secession and a unilateral declaration of independence, followed by the jailing of nine of its leaders.
