Latest news with #driving
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
The highs and lows of driving with a disability
disability arts 43 minutes ago Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many, symbolising freedom and independence. But everyone knows that learning to drive, comes with some hair raising, white knuckle moments, and the new TV series called License to Drive has plenty of them. Sweet Productions co-producers Robyn Paterson and Jai Productions co-producers Robyn Paterson and Jai Waite. Photo: Sweet Productions Sure to have audiences on the edge of their seats, the series provides an intimate, often laugh out loud look at the journey undertaken by a group of disabled New Zealanders from all walks of life learning to drive. Filmed around the motu, each episode follows learner drivers - alongside their driving instructors, as they experience the emotional highs and lows of getting behind the wheel. Some are nervous first-timers, others are coming back from a life-changing injury and must entirely re-learn to drive using different parts of their body. Mathias Bridgman is one of the learner drivers on the show, he's been learning to drive with his feet. We're also joined by series producer Jai White from Sweet Productions, a former Wheel Black, turned TV producer.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Bentley's New V-8 SUV is the Best Bentayga Yet
Some people get hung up counting cylinders. They believe the more a car has, the better it is. I'm not one of those people. Instead, steering, braking and balance—the management of the marriage between power and torque—matter far more when it comes to driving enjoyment. Engine size doesn't necessarily indicate driving character. The magic is in the transitions.
Top Gear
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Toyota Aygo X Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? First thing to note is that the Aygo X is not a quick car. The naturally aspirated three-cylinder kicks out a mighty 71bhp and 69lb ft of torque, and 0-62mph takes 14.9 seconds in the manual or 14.8 in the CVT, by which time you'll be tone deaf, as well as late. Does that really matter, though? Not if you're exclusively using this as a town runaround. At low speed the X is nippy enough, but get it onto a motorway and the 1.0-litre does sound strained. Even through the extra insulation that the old hatch didn't have. Advertisement - Page continues below And the thing is, as much as carmakers like to pretend that city cars live in cities, they don't. Young people bomb up and down motorways to university or college in them. The elderly sometimes want to go cross country too. And that's where a really grown-up and refined supermini like the Renault Clio comes into its own, and the Aygo X does not. Through twisty stuff it fares better, though. The Aygo X stays remarkably flat despite the taller suspension and higher centre of gravity, while the steering is nicely weighted. The turning circle is also a usefully tight 4.7m. Which gearbox should I go for? We've driven both, and our ears have now finished bleeding from trying the CVT: it's everything you hate about CVTs, people. Dreadful throttle response, migraine-inducing noise and unimpressive fuel economy. If you're medically able, buy the manual. If not, try a second-hand Renault Zoe, or a mobility scooter. The manual is a decent shift and offers more control when you only have 71bhp on tap, although the bite point was unusually high on several of our test cars. Not great for learners if that's the case across the board. Toyota reckons the manual/auto split will be around 60/40. Advertisement - Page continues below Is it comfortable? For a tall-ish car with big wheels, the Aygo X seems to ride surprisingly well, though you can hear more of what the suspension is up to than in rivals. That said, the extra ride height and taller tyres mean that you don't feel the jolts from speed humps shuddering through the chassis as badly as in the old Aygo. So, if you're too lazy to slow down for speed bumps, here's your car. Delivery drivers will adore it. It's certainly not revolutionary, but then again no part of the X's driving experience really is. It has been designed for right now. It might not have the futureproofing, the refinement or the instant torque of an EV, but it almost stands out as being a little bit fun to drive because of the lesser-spotted combustion-engine/manual gearbox combination and the circa one tonne kerb weight. Just avoid the CVT. Please. What about running costs? The little three-cylinder engine is reasonably efficient: Toyota quotes 54-56mpg for the CVT and 56-58mpg for the manual on the WLTP cycle. We managed just under 40mpg in the former and just over 40mpg in the latter on a test route that included some country lanes, motorways and busy city streets. Taking the CVT on the motorway will result in very low 40s to the gallon. And a headache. There's plenty of active safety tech on all trims too, although the incessant beeping from the lane keep assist system is far from pleasant. Happily you can turn it off with a long press of a steering wheel button. Highlights from the range the fastest 1.0 VVT-i Exclusive 5dr [Canvas] 0-62 14.9s CO2 BHP 71.1 MPG Price £20,200 the cheapest 1.0 VVT-i Pure 5dr 0-62 14.9s CO2 BHP 71.1 MPG Price £16,400
Top Gear
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Ford Ranger Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? A reminder, then: in diesel form the Ford Ranger is available with the choice of two 2.0-litre turbodiesels, plus a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. The entry model gets 168bhp and 299lb ft of torque and a six-speed manual gearbox, the upper-powered version 202bhp and 369lb ft, and the twin-turbo V6 237bhp and 333lb ft, both mated to a 10-speed auto box. Zero to 62mph pickup times matter little, but you're looking at 11.6 seconds, 10.5s and 8.7s respectively as you move up the range. The V6 we tried felt perky enough when travelling light – and we doubt you're going to be flooring it fully loaded. Advertisement - Page continues below Done with the numbers yet? For now. The first thing that strikes you when you get in is the hugely commanding driving position: you really do tower above everyone else in this. Below lorry drivers but somewhere around the same height as bus drivers. It's an addictive place to sit. Prod the start/stop button and the instrument cluster cuts to a Ranger graphic together with the words 'BUILT TOUGH'. In case you weren't already aware. Still, it handles any on-road stuff with aplomb. The steering is light and disguises the weight well, and while it's best to be gentle with the throttle to avoid any jerkiness, it's pleasingly tidy around town. Threading your way around narrow streets can be terrifying due to the Ranger's sheer size, but the reversing camera and sensors are a godsend when it comes to parking. We did find the gear shifter a little fiddly when switching between D and R, mind. We tried the self-parking in the top-spec car which was a white knuckle experience. It worked fine, but parking a little far from the kerb for our high standards. You haven't got the luxury of giving yourself a wide berth in something this huge. For heading off the beaten track, there are two- and four-wheel-drive modes with low and high range options, a new 'set and forget' mode that automatically switches between the two when required, and selectable off-road driving modes that optimise the set-up depending on the terrain you're on. Plus you've got a locking rear diff, so you've really no more excuses for getting stuck in the mud. Advertisement - Page continues below Dare we ask about fuel economy? Ah, yes. Ford claims (sorry, more numbers coming up) between 27.4 and 33.2mpg for the four-pots and 28mpg for the V6, but in our experience we averaged a rather sorry 20.2 miles per gallon in the latter. Regular longer distance runs might result in a slight improvement, but it ain't going to be cheap to run. This is where the PHEV comes in, surely? Absolutely. To recap, the plug-in hybrid Ranger pairs a 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 10-speed auto gearbox, an electric motor integrated into the bellhousing and an 11.8kWh battery. Any difference in the way the hybrid drives? The addition of a battery and other electrical gubbins means the PHEV tips the scales at just over 2.5 tonnes. Yikes. In fact, the hybrid is around 300kg heavier than the diesel Ranger, so Ford has beefed up the suspension and when unladen the ride is quite firm and fidgety. The brakes can be slightly grabby too as it balances regen and friction braking, but the steering is still pleasant, and the auto gearbox is smooth. The PHEV will run in all-electric mode for 27 miles, reckons Ford, and you're able to select a mode to go EV-only, petrol-only or petrol-charging-electric. You can also leave it in auto and let the car decide, and if you do, you'll find a strong wave of torque and impressive acceleration when required. The engine itself – which initially kicks in without too much fuss – is actually from the old Focus RS or four-pot Mustangs, and it can get a little noisy when asked to work hard, but this thing still gets a payload of almost a tonne and can tow 3.5 tonnes. Oh, and there's a great bit of turbo whoosh at times too. How efficient is the PHEV? On a short on-road drive using a mix of roads and modes, we saw a very impressive 35.9mpg. Ford also reckons that the hybrid is more efficient to run than the 3.0-litre diesel even without regular charging, so combined with the tax breaks this should be much cheaper to operate even if you never plug it in. It'll also do the off-road stuff just as well as the diesels, with an 800mm wading depth, a locking rear diff, low range gearbox and all the same off-road modes. Even on road tyres we found it able to stroll through some fairly serious rough stuff.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Viewers slam Nine over 'irresponsible' trailer for new season of The Block as they spot one glaring detail - but all is not what it seems
The new season of The Block is airing in a matter of weeks. A new trailer dropped on the Nine renovation show's social media last week, and not everyone was happy with what they saw. Several fans on Facebook noted that hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft were shown driving without seat belts on. Both Scott and Shelley are shown behind the wheel of large trucks, racing through gorgeous outback vistas - with no belt in sight. However it appears the hosts are actually stationary and only pretending to drive, with the scenery added later with some movie magic. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Regardless some viewers were unhappy with the trailer depicting what some called 'irresponsible' driving, whether real or faked. 'Where's your seat belts?' one person asked, later adding, 'it's obviously CGI… not a good example for the youngins watching though is it'. 'How irresponsible of Channel Nine to advertise in prime time showing celebrities driving on country roads and not wearing seat belts. Clearly not aware of the road toll related to driving on rural roads' one viewer said. 'Probably should have put ya seat belts on' one more said with another adding, 'Why aren't they wearing their seat belts Nine?' 'Everyone complaining about no one wearing seatbelts - it's pretty obvious they aren't actually driving…' someone else chimed in. 'Older model Kenworth have lap belts' reasoned one viewer with another agreeing, 'they aren't actually driving'. 'You don't need to wear seat belts when you aren't actually driving lol' one person reasoned. Regardless some viewers were unhappy with the trailer depicting what some called 'irresponsible' driving, whether real or faked This year's location for the series is the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Daylesford. Daylesford is located 114km from Melbourne and its unique combination of natural beauty, historic charm and vibrant local culture provides a stunning backdrop ideal for the show. Leaked photos of one of the completed homes reveal the upcoming 2025 installment has a very similar aesthetic to a previous season of the show. While Nine is remaining tight-lipped on the official name, whispers around the network suggest the new series could easily be branded as a sequel to the 2022 'Tree Change' season, which was set in Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges - just a short drive from this year's location. 'Honestly, the style and finish of the homes are nearly identical to what we saw in Tree Change,' the insider said. 'Same vibe, same tones, same country-chic energy.' Indeed, leaked photos of one completed property by same-sex couple Han and Can show a lot similarities, in particular the furniture. One image shows a living space complete with a large white modular lounge that takes pride of place in the room. The piece of furniture is almost identical to the couches which appeared in both Ankur and Sharon and Rachel and Ryan's living rooms back in 2022. Han and Can's living room is augmented by a plush feature wall to the rear of the lounge as well as beige curtains and some mood lighting. Meanwhile, other images show an equally spartan-yet-stylish open plan kitchen and living space, complete with a large fireplace encased in a marble feature wall. The kitchen appears to be an entertainer's delight, with the space boasting a large wine rack and a refrigerator specifically for wine. Despite being similar to the 2022 season, a production insider told Daily Mail Australia that the couple's luxe fit out was very 'on trend' for the location. 'It's sleek, chic and very on-brand for Daylesford,' they said. The series, which wrapped filming on June 1, is set to premiere slightly earlier than usual, with a launch tipped for the first week of August. While fans have come to expect fiery feuds and over-the-top drama, insiders say this season is shaping up to be very different. 'There's actually much less conflict this year,' one well-placed insider said. 'But that doesn't mean it's boring. There's a charm and warmth to this season that will surprise long-term fans.' However, the source added that not everyone is convinced that producers have fully tapped into the healthy holistic living vibe Daylesford is known for. 'There was a lot of talk early on that the season might embrace living off the land, healthy eating and holistic living, which the town is so well known for,' the insider said.
