Latest news with #Alpine
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Japan Trade Deal Offers US Automakers Relief, Not New Markets
If only Switzerland would open itself up to US chocolate exports. Oh right, it did. Even so, I'm guessing the master chocolatiers are safe in their Alpine redoubt from an American influx. On a similar note, President Donald Trump's touted victory in getting Japan to open up to US auto exports as part of Tuesday's trade deal amounts to very little of substance. It may yet carry a silver lining of sorts for Detroit. Japan hasn't levied tariffs on foreign autos for nigh on half a century. There are some formal barriers including specific standards and certification requirements. But the reason Japan doesn't buy many vehicles from the US is that it mostly doesn't want the kind of vehicles the US produces.
Auto Express
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
We asked if a hot Nissan Micra Nismo was on the way. Nissan didn't say no…
While driving a prototype of the new Nissan Micra, we challenged the brand's European top-brass about whether a high performance Micra Nismo was on the cards, and they didn't say no. Speaking to Nissan's European head of product planning Christophe Amblard, he constructively replied to our enquiry about a potential Micra Nismo hot hatchback, by telling us that Nissan is 'actively looking at all sorts of possibilities with its future product range, including widening the Nismo range. But nothing can so far be confirmed'. Advertisement - Article continues below Such a car would help bolster the Nismo name, which the Japanese company is using as one of the 'core' brands alongside Patrol and Juke. But beyond just being a branding exercise, it would also make full use of the new Micra's platform, which we know is capable of handling more power. And while Nissan isn't flush with development cash right now, the Micra's close alignment to the Renault 5 means the work that sister company Alpine's done to its A290 hot hatchback could be an efficient way of giving the Micra more power and a more focused chassis. Of course, you can't buy a Nismo Micra yet, but you can search for deals on the Alpine A290 via Auto Express's ' Find a Car ' service… The core of the Alpine's changes relate largely to the new e-motor's power, which is rated at a much more serious 217bhp in its GTS form, 69bhp more than the existing Micra. But it's not just the more powerful engine that's been fiddled with, as the chassis has also been given a wider track, bigger wheels, larger brakes and uprated suspension. So while we'll need to wait a little longer for absolute confirmation that another high performance Nismo model is on the cards, if Nissan deems it a solid business case, something built in homage to the original Nissan Micra Super Turbo could be just around the corner. That car, rather ironically, also had a secondary set of inset spot lights – just like you'll also find on an Alpine A290. Watch this space. Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews... Find a car with the experts MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant In order to boost sales, MG is announcing its own a £1,500 grant for some of its EVs Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers With a dramatic rise in sales, Mike Rutherford thinks it's only a matter of time before Chinese cars outsell all other countries in the UK Roll over diesel: EVs are now doing the big mileage in the UK Roll over diesel: EVs are now doing the big mileage in the UK The average UK electric car now covers more than 10,000 miles per year, a similar amount to the average diesel.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The 20 best luxury bath products for a soothing soak
The restorative properties of a long, hot soak have been widely extolled, which makes a luxury bath product a worthwhile indulgence – you could even frame it as a wind-down essential. From aromatherapy oils to mineral-rich salts, frothy bubble baths to spa-style scents, there's now a wealth of beautiful bath-time formulas for every mood. For aching muscles, anything containing Himalayan salt is the gold standard, while magnesium and CBD are both hugely popular for their inflammation-calming, sleep-inducing powers. Few things will transport you to an Alpine spa quite like Susanne Kaufmann's herb-steeped oils (which also make a particularly chic gift), and for something sustainably made and deeply restorative, indulge in Ilapothecary's fragrant magnesium salts. For a real room-filling fragrance? There's always Aromatherapy Associates. Don't stop the indulgence once you emerge from the water, either. Steam-softened skin is prime for an application of relaxing body oil: choose something with lavender to maximise the soporific benefits, or try geranium for a calming spa-style scent. Whether you're hoping to encourage deeper sleep, soothe that back-to-the-gym soreness or simply elevate your evening ritual, see the Bazaar beauty team's favourite luxury bath products here. The best luxury bath products to indulge in nowAmbre Vanille Honey Bath Laura Mercier's wait-listed Honey Bath collection (complete with a deliciously ceremonial wooden honey dipper) is just as decadent as it sounds. Dreamy notes of honey and vanilla immediately create a mood of serenity, as the milk diffuses in hot water. And beyond smelling and feeling luxurious, the foaming bubbles are formulated to support your skin's natural barrier (thanks to the mineral-packed French sea water and red algae), which means you'll leave the tub feeling as hydrated as you do relaxed. £47.00 at Bath Oil Susanne Kaufmann's legendary bath-oil collection is a fan favourite, and for good reason. The latest member of the family, this carmine-red concoction is formulated with hand-harvested hayflowers, picked from the Bregenzerwald forest surrounding her Hotel Post Bezau spa retreat. The headline plant extract is said to alleviate muscle tension, while a hint of lavender amps up the soothing aroma. When poured into a hot bath, the oil will emulsify into a skin-nourishing milk, and the benefits will be felt long after your soak. £60.00 at Haze The first thing you notice when you open Joonbyrd's Violet Haze is the intoxicating aroma: notes of dark chocolate, cardamom and white lily. If you're new to this bodycare brand, don't the playful packaging fool you – Joonbyrd's founder Dr Alex Granite is one of the UK and New York's most in-demand dermatologists. So, naturally, this scrub is more than a sumptuous scent. Ultra fine sugar and chia seeds scrub away dead cells, letting the skin beneath be enveloped in plant-derived butters and oils, niacinamide and Siberian ginseng to emerge softer and more radiant. £40.00 at Wood Body Wash Modern fine fragrance brand Phlur is making waves with it approachable price points – the brand's signature scents smell far more expensive than they actually are. So, if you're not a bath person but you like the immersive experience a long, hot, aromatic soak proposes, take a steamy, well-perfumed shower instead. A crowd-pleaser with both men and women, Phlur's Somebody Wood packs a punch with bergamot, leather, saffron, sandalwood and spicy amber. $27.00 at The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash Hailey Bieber famously proclaimed her love for Naturium's Glow Getter range when she posted her pre-Met Gala bodycare routine on Instagram stories back in May. Packed with 50% glycerin, apple extract and plant-derived squalane, this multi-oil formula cleanses without stripping, protecting the skin barrier and intensively moisturising without leaving any annoying residue behind (which frees up your skin for lashing of Bieber's beloved body butter). £14.40 at Solid Soap Not just the best-looking housewarming gift in existence, Loewe's traditionally made, rope-swinging soaps are also a joy to use. New to the family, Ivy is a sweetly scented botanical aroma with a fresh, green edge. £52.00 at Bath Salts While many of the best bath products are firmly focused on sending you to sleep, Bamford's salts are more of an invigorating treat. The blend of chunky sea salt and epsom salts soothes post-workout muscles, while the peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils clear a sluggish head. $36.00 at Wilds Bubble Bath Space NK has expanded its wildly popular own-brand bath and body collection to include a couple of fragrant bubble baths. This one is inspired by the bracing aromas of the forest floor: expect cooling pine needle and juniper over a cosy base of tonka bean. £18.00 at Pie The Firewall Blend Bath & Shower Oil Beauty Pie consulted beauty brand founder and essential-oil expert Kathy Phillips to create its trio of aromatherapy bath oils, and the move paid off: these formulas are some of the most potent on the market. The Firewall Blend is the one you'll reach for when you're feeling stuffy, run-down or simply exhausted – the heavy dose of eucalyptus and peppermint will clear sinuses and soothe aching muscles like nothing else. £25.00 at Z's CBD Anchoring Bath Soak Dreem Distillery is the brand leading the way when it comes to CBD tonics. It uses broad-spectrum cannabidiol, rather than the usual (and cheaper) isolate, as this keeps the terpene compounds intact and ensures you reap the full, soporific benefits of the hemp plant. These spirulina-boosted bath salts contain both epsom and Himalayan salts, alongside arnica and lavender to create a truly powerful evening ally. When it comes to loosening painful muscle tension – and decelerating a mind on overdrive – nothing we've tried has proven more effective. £80.00 at Leaf Body Scrub Aesop is loved for much more than its famously chic packaging: the brand's bodycare creations come with weighty olfactory appeal. Sensorial without ever veering into saccharine territory, this jelly body scrub leaves a soft trail of green geranium on smoothed and buffed skin. £33.00 at Hand + Body Wash Being based in Manhattan, Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz are no strangers to a small bathroom. For this reason the duo created their namesake brand with streamlined routines in mind, with products like this hand & body wash covering two bases in one formula. The super-fresh bergamot scent, meanwhile, is ideal for invigorating and energising the senses as you soak. £26.00 at Bath Soak Annee de Mamiel is an authority in aromatherapy, and her potent bath salts are some of the most intensely mood-altering we've tried. Altitude is her most well-known blend, combining eucalyptus, peppermint and pine to create a powerful, bracing aroma. With epsom, Himalayan and Dead Sea salts, this tonic will soothe aching muscles as well as an exhausted mind. £55.00 at Sleep Foaming Bath Clary sage and patchouli combine to ultra-relaxing effect in this luxury bubble bath. It foams up generously, yet leaves skin feeling cleansed and hydrated. £14.00 at Sleep Bath Soak For insomniacs who find the scent of lavender a soothing salve, these bath salts are a must-try. Boosted with chamomile and vetiver, they're sure to help you settle down for a deep, restful sleep. £26.00 at selfridgesVitality Shower Oil A well-stocked shower can deliver all the calming benefits of a lengthy soak – especially when you're armed with a deeply hydrating shower oil. Made using botanicals grown in the gardens of Heckfield Place, Wildsmith Skin's 100% natural offering is heavy on the black pepper and ginger to wake up even the most overworked of muscles. £61.00 at Oil Reportedly used by the Royal family, Olverum's heady bath oil is one to be saved for those big nights in. The herbal essential-oil blend is famously potent, with a blend of pine, verbena and lavender working to soothe both sore muscles and a weary mind. Not just a fragrant hit, it's heavily moisturising too, leaving little need for body lotion. £78.00 at Bath Oil From the duo behind beloved skincare brand Votary, Verden is a bodycare collection that places scent in the spotlight. These punchy bath oils are strong enough to fill your entire bathroom, and linger on skin for hours following a soak. Our pick is D'Orangerie: an uplifting citrus scent that never fails to pick up our mood. £85.00 at Soundly Bath and Body Oil The soporific effects of lavender and chamomile meet the mind-calming benefits of CBD in OTO's before-bed bath oil. Try using it to massage overwrought limbs too: studies suggest cannabidiol can work to alleviate muscle tension. £49.00 at Cleansing Ayurvedic Bath Soak Odacité's skin-softening soaks masterfully combine salt with scent to create the ultimate bathtime treat. Perfect for anyone who prefers citrus to lavender, the Mood Cleansing blend contains orange and lemongrass alongside invigorating epsom salts. The portable pouch is perfect for travelling with – you'll get a handful of soaks out of the contents. £27.00 at You Might Also Like 8 spring/summer 2019 nail trends to be wearing now 10 best summer shorts to wear beyond the beach 10 pairs of knee-high boots to transform your autumn look
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renault Group 2025 H1 sales results: Renault Group brands stay the course in a challenging environment
PRESS RELEASEJuly 23, 2025 RENAULT GROUP BRANDS STAY THE COURSE IN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT Renault Group recorded an increase in its overall sales in the first half of 2025 (+1.3% vs 2024), reaching 1,169,773 vehicles sold. Internationally1, the Renault brand grew by 16.3% with the commercial success of the first models of the International Game Plan. In Europe2, in a passenger car (PC) market down by 1.0%, the Group grew by 5.4% and reached 708,106 registered vehicles. Sandero and Clio are the two top-selling vehicles. Renault: 394,278 PC (+8.4%). Renault gains a rank and becomes No. 2 in Europe (PC+LCV). Clio is the best-selling vehicle (PC+LCV) in Europe across all channels. Dacia: 308,957 PC (+1.1%). Dacia maintains its position on the European podium in terms of retail customers' sales. Sandero suffered from the market decline but remains the best-selling vehicle to retail customers since 2017. Alpine: 4,871 PC (+89.8%). The A290 boosts sales in the first half of the year. Alpine remains the leader in Europe in the two-seater sports coupé market with its A110 range. In a light commercial vehicle (LCV) market in Europe down by 13%, Renault decreased by 29% in the first half of 2025, awaiting the full diversity of the Master range. The brand maintains its second position in Europe. Renault Group continues its commercial policy by prioritizing value creation over volumes: A focus on the most profitable channel, retail customers, which represents more than 56% of sales3. In this European channel, which has been under increasing commercial pressure in recent months, Renault Group's mix remains more than 15 points above the market average, with 4 Group vehicles in the top 10 sales. A rigorous approach to residual values4, 4 to 13 points higher than European competitors. A solid order book in Europe, representing about two months of forecast sales at the end of June 2025. Renault Group relies on a complete offer to meet the market's needs in terms of energy transition. The Group's share of electrified vehicles5 has increased by more than 15 points to reach nearly 44% of sales (including 12.3% electric) in the first half of 2025: 59% of Renault's vehicles sold are electrified. Nearly one in two vehicles sold by the brand is a hybrid (HEV) (+36.2% vs H1 2024). Renault is the second brand in the hybrid market (HEV) in Europe. 100% electric vehicles represent more than 16% of its sales (+57% vs H1 2024), driven notably by the Renault 5 E-Tech, the leader in Europe in the B-segment EV. For Dacia, 23.5% of sales are electrified. Hybrid vehicle mix rose to 17.2%, up 11.8 points from H1 2024, driven by the success of Duster. Alpine's electric vehicles represent 76.0% of the brand's sales, thanks to the A290 launched at the end of 2024. In 2025, the Group is launching 7 vehicles (including the electric Renault 4 E-Tech, Dacia Bigster, and Alpine A390 for Europe, and Boreal for the international market) and 2 facelifts (Renault Austral and Renault Espace). Additionally, the Renault brand will introduce Grand Koleos and Kardian in new countries. Boulogne-Billancourt, France, July 23, 2025 Renault Brand The Renault brand shows a growth in its global sales of +2.7% compared to the first half of 2024 with 808,413 vehicles sold worldwide. Outside Europe, the brand grew by 16.3% compared to the first half of 2024, in a market up by +4.7%, driven by the commercial success of the vehicles from the Renault International Game Plan 2027. Renault is the leading French car brand worldwide, with 36% of its sales now made outside Europe. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The Insurance Savings You Expect Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You In Latin America: sales up by 24%, notably thanks to Kardian. In Brazil, sales increase by 8.8% and in Argentina by +96.7%. Renault ranks No. 1 in Colombia with a 14.6% market share. In Morocco: sales up by 48%, benefiting from the launch of Kardian. In South Korea: sales up by 150% thanks to Grand Koleos. The model has also just been launched in Mexico under the name Koleos, continuing its global deployment. In Europe, the brand gains a rank and becomes the second brand, with a market share of 6.7%. Clio is the best-selling vehicle in Europe across all channels. In a PC market down by 1.0% vs H1 2024, Renault grew by 8.4% and achieved the strongest sales growth among TOP15 brands. Concerning commercial vehicles, Renault's sales dropped by 29% due to a declining market (-13%), the end of life of Renault Express in Europe (these sales have not yet been fully compensated by Renault Kangoo), and an incomplete diversity of the New Renault Master range. The brand still maintains its second position in the European LCV market. Renault continues its electrification strategy with two engine offerings. For electric vehicles, sales increased by 57% in a European market up by +24,9%, driven notably by the Renault 5 E-Tech electric, the best-selling B-segment electric vehicle in Europe with nearly 49,000 vehicles sold since its launch. Renault is the leading brand in France for electric vehicles. Regarding hybrid offerings, Renault confirms its second place in the European hybrid (HEV) market. The brand recorded a growth of more than 36%. The full hybrid E-Tech technology now represents more than 41% of Renault's PC sales, and the brand is approaching the symbolic milestone of one million full hybrid E-Tech vehicles sold. In the C and higher segments, which represent 40.1% of the sales mix in the first half of 2025 (+0.4 points), and notably in the C-SUV and D-SUV segments, the Renault brand is accelerating (+52% compared to the first half of 2024), driven particularly by Austral, Espace, and Rafale. In the second half of the year, Renault will continue to build on its solid foundations with new launches. In Europe, the brand will continue its electric offensive with the €25,000 version of Renault 5 E-Tech and the commercial debut of Renault 4 E-Tech. In hybrids, Renault launched the facelifted versions of Austral and Espace in the spring and introduced two new-generation full hybrid engines this summer, including the new 160 E-Tech full hybrid engine, which equips the New Captur and New Symbioz. Internationally, the brand will benefit from the launch of Boreal, unveiled on July 10, which deployment in more than 70 countries will begin at the end of 2025 in Brazil. At the same time, New Koleos and Kardian will continue their expansion into new markets. Dacia Brand In the first half of 2025, the brand's global sales (356,084 units) slightly declined compared to the first half of 2024 (-0.7%), due to Duster in Turkey now being sold under the Renault brand. However, it still holds a PC+LCV market share of 4.1%. With 151,948 vehicles sold worldwide in the first half of 2025, Dacia Sandero remains the best-selling model in Europe this year (PC), across all customer channels. Sandero has been the best-selling vehicle to retail customers in Europe since 2017. With 108,510 units sold worldwide, Dacia Duster remains the No. 1 SUV sold to retail customers in Europe. The 3rd generation of Duster has recorded nearly 200,000 orders since its launch a year ago. Dacia Spring recorded 19,452 vehicles sold in the first half of 2025, an increase of 62.5% compared to the first half of 2024. In total, more than 180,000 customers have become Spring owners since its launch, which remains the most accessible 100% electric offering on the market. Dacia Jogger recorded 42,381 units sold worldwide, down compared to the first half of 2024, in the non-SUV C-segment also in decline. Dacia Bigster, for which orders have been open since January 2025, has recorded a remarkable performance since its launch with 17,329 registered units. For this model, 69% of sales are in the hybrid 155 engine, and 88% in the highest trims (Extreme and Journey). Finally, Bigster is a real asset for customer acquisition with 80% of its French customers coming from competitors. In Europe, in the PC market, Dacia's sales increased by 1.1% with a total of 308,957 registrations and a market share of 4.5% (up by 0.1 point). The brand maintains its 9th place in the PC market and its 10th place in the PC+LCV market. Furthermore, Dacia strengthens its position on the European podium of retail customer sales, thanks to its 5 models, and with the best market conquest and loyalty rates. The brand continues its electrification and recorded 23.5% of its registrations in electrified engines in the first half of 2025, up by 14.4 points compared to the first half of 2024. Hybrid vehicles represent 17.2% of its sales, up by 11.8 points, notably thanks to the successful Duster hybrid. Spring sales increased bringing the share of electric vehicles to 6.2% of Dacia's total sales (+2.6 points vs H1 2024). Alpine Brand Alpine continues its growth in the first half of 2025 with 5,015 registrations, up by 85% compared to the first half of 2024. The A290 boosts the brand's sales with 3,699 registrations worldwide. The very first Alpine city car, elected Car of the Year 2025, recorded 2,327 registrations in France. In the two-seater sports coupé market, Alpine confirms its leading position in Europe with 1,181 A110 registrations (46% market share). In 2025, the brand will have nearly 200 Alpine Stores with a new store opening in Ireland this summer. RENAULT GROUP WORLDWIDE SALES BY BRANDS H1 2025 H1 2024 ∆ %vs. H1 2024 Renault 808,413 787,379 +2.7% PC 642,652 572,789 +12.2% LCV 165,761 214,590 -22.8% Dacia 356,084 358,526 -0.7% PC 353,804 354,350 -0.2% LCV 2,280 4,176 -45.5% Alpine 5,015 2,717 +84.6% Mobilize (1) 1,086 - Renault Group 1,169,773 1,154,882 +1.3% (1) Quadricycles are not aggregated with Total Sales RENAULT GROUP'S TOP 15 MARKETS (PC+LCV) VolumesH1 2025 Market Share (MS) ∆ MSvs. H1 2024 (units) (%) (pts) 1 FRANCE 284 ,704 27.7 +1.6 2 ITALY 105,559 11.1 -0.1 3 SPAIN 92,701 13.1 +0.7 4 GERMANY 71,681 4.7 -0.0 5 TURKEY 69,649 11.5 -3.2 6 UNITED KINGDOM 61,941 5.1 +0.0 7 BRAZIL 60,673 5.4 +0.2 8 MOROCCO 43,836 39.1 -1.5 9 BELGIUM+LUXEMBOURG 38,844 12.9 +1.8 10 ARGENTINA 31,607 10.2 +1.0 11 SOUTH KOREA 28,065 3.4 +2.0 12 POLAND 26,427 8.3 -0.3 13 ROMANIA 22,587 31.0 -6.1 14 PORTUGAL 20,816 14.9 -0.3 15 INDIA 16,031 0.6 -0.3RENAULT GROUP PRESS CONTACT Paul Jacobsoone +33 6 82 76 23 96 Rie Yamane +33 6 03 16 35 RENAULT GROUP INVESTORS RELATIONS Philippine de Schonen +33 6 13 45 68 About Renault Group Renault Group is at the forefront of a mobility that is reinventing itself. The Group relies on the complementarity of its 4 brands – Renault, Dacia, Alpine, Mobilize – and offers sustainable and innovative mobility solutions to its customers. Established in 114 countries, Renault Group sold 2.265 million vehicles in 2024. It employs more than 98,000 people who embody its Purpose every day, so that mobility brings people closer. Ready to pursue challenges both on the road and in competition, the Group is committed to an ambitious and value-generating transformation focused on the development of new technologies and services, and a new range of even more competitive, balanced, and electrified vehicles. In line with environmental challenges, Renault Group's ambition is to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040. More information : 1 Outside Europe2 ACEA scope3&4 Renault brand and Dacia brand; PC markets in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and United-Kingdom5 HEV, PHEV and EV; PC market in Europe Attachment 20250723_Renault Group_Commercial Results_H1 2025Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Deccan Herald
a day ago
- Science
- Deccan Herald
Europe's oldest lake settlement uncovered in Albania
Archaeologists working on the shores of Ohrid Lake in Albania are convinced they have uncovered the oldest human settlement built on a European lake, finding evidence of an organised hunting and farming community living up to 8,000 years ago. The team, from Switzerland and Albania, spends hours each day about three metres (9.8 feet) underwater, painstakingly retrieving wooden stilts that supported houses. They are also collecting bones of domesticated and wild animals, copper objects and ceramics, featuring detailed carvings. Albert Hafner, from the University of Bern, said similar settlements have been found in Alpine and Mediterranean regions, but the settlements in the village of Lin are half a millennium older, dating back between 6,000 and 8,000 years. "Because it is under water, the organic material is well-preserved and this allows us to find out what these people have been eating, what they have been planting," Hafner said. Multiple studies show that Lake Ohrid, shared by North Macedonia and Albania, is the oldest lake in Europe, at over one million years. The age of the findings is determined through radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology, which measures annual growth rings in trees. More than one thousand wood samples have been collected from the site, which may have hosted several hundred people. It is believed to cover around six hectares, but so far, only about 1% has been excavated after six years of work. Hafner said findings show that people who lived on the lake helped to spread agriculture and livestock to other parts of Europe. "They were still doing hunting and collecting things but the stable income for the nutrition was coming from the agriculture," he said. Albanian archaeologist Adrian Anastasi said it could take decades to fully explore the area. "(By) the way they had lived, eaten, hunted, fished and by the way the architecture was used to build their settlement we can say they were very smart for that time," Anastasi said.
