Latest news with #FordKuga
Top Gear
a day ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
MG Cyberster - long-term review - Report No:5 2025
I want to talk about the Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid… said no-one ever. Bear with me while we jog down memory lane. Ford delivered a Kuga PHEV for a test in mid-March 2020. Over five years ago now – jeez. Doesn't time fly? I happened to take it home one evening. Advertisement - Page continues below It sticks in my memory because it came just as Covid struck. The virus was already rife across Europe and was gaining blanket news coverage in Britain, but we didn't engage lockdown until mid-March. With the stay-at-home order in place, Ford couldn't collect their shiny new Kuga, so it also stayed at home. With me. For three months. This was novel because I'd never lived with an electrified car for so long. 2020 was a different time – when EVs were rare, curious creatures. The Nissan Leaf, the Renault Zoe… that was about all you were likely to see whistling around on British roads. It might've been the sheer tedium of no regular travel, but during my once-a-week government-mandated trip to the supermarket, the Kuga was a bit of a delight. I enjoyed whooshing about with the engine off, watching the engine mpg readout click upwards into infinity. I liked the sense of re-gen braking adding otherwise wasted energy back into the battery. But most of all, I liked the reaction from other people to its peacefulness. Obviously it made the usual 'warp-hum' noises at parking speed to avoid smooshing absent-minded day-walkers in the Lidl car park. But – and perhaps this was the sense of comradery that came out of the pandemic – people seemed to appreciate this big lumbering family car moving about in such a quiet, non-polluting manner. Advertisement - Page continues below Five years later, I'm living with a pure EV for the very first time. It's my daily-driver, my airport run shuttle, my commuter, my Sunday funster, the supermarket sweeper and a pain in the backside when I spy some do-uppable furniture on Facebook marketplace and can't collect it in a two-seater drop-top.
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
Knifeman threatened to cut off victim's face after pub car park row
A knifeman threatened to cut a man's face off in a North Wales pub. Martin Pritchard targeted his victim after an incident in a car park involving Pritchard's sister. A judge today jailed Pritchard, 43, of Scott Close, Marchwiel, for 16 months for threatening a person with a knife in a public place. Caernarfon Crown Court heard the offence took place at The Black Lion Inn in Bersham, Wrexham on July 13 last year. Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell said the complainant Mark Robertson heard a commotion outside the Black Lion Inn at 8pm. He saw a Ford Kuga - with the driver who appeared to be intoxicated - and a stationary Range Rover in the car park. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here The keys were taken off the Kuga's female driver. Twenty minutes later the defendant Pritchard came into the pub and demanded the keys back, the court heard. The Kuga driver was Pritchard's sister. Mr Robertson asked Pritchard to leave but Pritchard initially refused. As he eventually left, Pritchard took out a knife and told Mr Robertson: "If you speak to me like that (again) I'll cut your f****** face off." He also said he would "slice" him, said the prosecutor Mr Rothwell. Police were called and officers found a Stanley knife believed to have belonged to Pritchard. Pritchard himself was arrested the following day. Richard Edwards, defending, said the defendant had been working at a nearby site so that was why he had the knife. He added: "The defendant had been trying to help his sister out when she bumped into another car in the car park. "That was nothing to do with the defendant but he was trying to resolve (it). He did feel a little aggrieved at the way he perceived the (pub) staff were treating him." But Mr Edwards accepted that Pritchard "did not deal with the situation properly". The court heard the father-of-three is a self-employed builder with nine full-time staff, 20 part-time staff and four apprentices. District Judge Gwyn Jones said whether to sent the defendant to jail immediately or not was a finely-balanced exercise. He has family and work responsibilities but the offence happened in a pub with children present and he has a poor record. Jailing him he said he will probably serve 40 per cent or 50 per cent of the sentence. He also made a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Mr Robertson and from entering the Black Lion for five years.
Scotsman
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Mazda reveals new CX-5 family SUV with more space
Due to arrive in showrooms in summer 2026, the new CX-5 will go head-to-head with the likes of the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson. While other manufacturers are steering towards full electrification, Mazda remains committed to a multi-pronged approach to fuels believing that's the best way to improve sustainability in the near future. As a result, the new-gen CX-5 is powered solely by a 2.5-litre e-Skyactiv G 141ps petrol engine, paired with 24V Mazda M Hybrid technology. The front-wheel version will scamper from standstill to 62mph in 10.5secs. And while it will also be available with four-wheel drive, currently there are no plans for an EV version. So what's new outside? The most noticeable change outside comes at the front where a new vertical headlight arrangement gives the CX-5 a rather more aggressive look than its predecessor. At the rear the tail-light clusters have been redesigned and now have similar styling cues to that of the larger CX-80, plus there's a set of twin exhaust pipes which give a more sporting look. Check out the tailgate and you'll notice the Mazda logo has disappeared, to be replaced by the word 'Mazda' in typeface form, similar to new models from the likes of Lexus and Skoda. As for the rest of its styling and proportions, it's all very similar to its predecessor, which is no bad thing. What about inside? Out has gone the Mazda logo from the centre of the steering wheel, to again be replaced by the word 'Mazda'. Gone too are a number of physical switchgear buttons and knobs. The vast majority of functions, unfortunately including the climate controls, are now operated via the touchscreen. There are still controls on the steering wheel, but rather than individual buttons they're now panels. From a positive perspective, it certainly means the new CX-5 is one the most minimalist Mazdas in the model range. Buyers get the choice of two touchscreen sizes, depending on which trim level they opt for. Most come with a 12.9-inch screen, but the range-topping Homura increases that to 15.6in. Both use Mazda's latest software which has been developed in conjunction with Google. What trim levels are available? There are now just four offerings — Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line and Homura — as Mazda bids to make the choices simpler for buyers. Standard kit across all four is pretty good, including LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and alloy wheels. Step-up to the Centre-Line or above and you add faux or real-leather upholstery, a power tailgate and privacy glass. Opt for the Exclusive-Line and you can have part-white leather, which personally I've always found attractive. Is the new CX-5 still as practical? Definitely. It's a tad larger than the model it'll replace, being 115mm longer, 15mm wider and 30mm taller, plus it has an extended wheelbase, all of which combine to give the new model enhanced road presence and stability. It also means good head and legroom in both the front and rear, even for taller occupants. Plus the rear doors have been designed to open wider than before to aid the fitting of child car seats. There's also an increase in boot capacity. With all five seats in place — there's a 40:20:40 split-folding bench for extra versatility — stowage is now 583-litres, significantly more than the 521-litres of the Skoda Karoq, and even more than the Nissan Qashqai's 479-litres. Not only is loading easier now thanks to a lower loading lip, but the increased capacity means the newcomer will have one of the biggest boots in its class. Engine and performance details? While there were rumours the new CX-5 would boast plug-in hybrid or full-hybrid technology, Mazda has stuck to its core principal and — certainly at launch — will only offer the SUV with its latest naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre Skyactiv G petrol engine. This replaces the previous 2.0-litre base unit. Producing 140bhp and 238Nm of torque, Mazda says the 2WD will cover 0-62mph in 10.5secs, with the 4WD version taking 0.4s longer. More important than the sheer figures is the fact the new CX-5 again promises to remain as one of the more engaging cars to drive in the mid-size SUV class, again building on Mazda's sporty nature. If there's one slight disappointment it's that the super-slick manual gearbox in the previous CX-5, which so mirrored the sportiness of the gear-change found in the iconic MX-5, is no longer. The new CX-5 is available only with a single six-speed automatic. On the positive side, the all-new CX-5 does benefit from chassis and suspension updates, which result in enhanced ride comfort and road handling. And if you really want an all-electric Mazda — remember, the fully-electric MX-30 is no longer available in the UK — you'll need to wait for the forthcoming 6e, which again is due in 2026. What about prices? Far too early to have those confirmed. But whisper it: expect it to be in the range of the current model … with perhaps even a lower entry price. Given the current range starts at around £31,500 and tops-out at £37,000, it promises to make the new CX-5 an attractive prospect for families. Related topics: Mazda
Powys County Times
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
A490 in Powys reopens after car believed to hit bridge
A road in Powys was left closed after a crash in which a car is believed to have hit a bridge on Tuesday, July 8. Dyfed Powys Police confirmed that the incident, which occurred in Churchstoke just before 7pm, involved a single vehicle. 'Dyfed-Powys Police attended to a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision on the A490, Churchstoke, at around 6.55am on Tuesday 8 July,' said the force. 'No injuries were reported. One lane was blocked until the vehicle was recovered. The vehicle involved was a silver Ford Kuga.' Police confirmed the road was later reopened.
STV News
18-06-2025
- STV News
Man charged and two in hospital after car involving car and lorry
A man has been charged and two people have been taken to hospital after a crash involving a car and lorry in the Scottish Borders. Emergency services were called to the crash on the A68 at the junction with the B6360 leading to Gattonside at around 5.05pm on Tuesday. The incident involved a silver Ford Kuga and a blue DAF CF heavy goods tipper vehicle. Two men aged 48 and 71 were taken to Borders General Hospital for treatment. The road was closed for two hours to allow for investigations to take place. A 48-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a road traffic offence, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Police Scotland is urging anyone with information regarding the crash to come forward. Police Constable Andy Ross said: 'Our enquiries into the circumstances of this crash remain ongoing. 'I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash to get in touch with us. I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time and may have dash-cam footage which could assist to contact us.' Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident number 2805 of 17 June, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
