MOTORING
MOTORING NEWS The latest news on all things motoring. By Nick Fletcher
SLOW DOWN CALL Road safety charity Brake and Direct Line insurance are calling for drivers to help make streets safer for kids to walk and cycle, by committing to slow down to 20mph around homes, shops and schools. Brake and Direct Line’s survey of 1,000 drivers from across the UK finds: • Nearly two thirds (64%) think traffic is too fast on some or all local roads for the safety of kids on foot and bikes and 65% want action to make walking and cycling safer around schools, homes and in town and village centres • However six in ten (63%) admit to driving at 35mph or faster in a 30 limit and 29% do this at least once a week • Two thirds (67%) explained they feel pressure from other drivers to go faster in built up areas, while a third (33%) say they give in to this pressure to make them drive faster. Five children under 16 are killed or seriously injured when walking or cycling every day in the UK. Brake says reducing vehicle speeds can make a massive difference to the safety of kids on foot and riding bikes. At 20mph, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, for example if a child runs out into the road. Brake is urging drivers everywhere to help make roads safer for kids by committing to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops, even where the limit is 30mph. “While it’s important kids and young people receive road safety education, it’s crucial that drivers take on the ultimate responsibility for protecting children on foot and bike. Our research shows there’s a contradiction in what some drivers say they want and the way they 134 behave at the wheel.”
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The Mercedes SL Class could be the ultimate car of two halves. It’s a perfect boulevard cruiser one moment, but also a snarling sports car if you want it to be. A triumph of automotive engineering, it is constructed almost entirely of aluminium, making it remarkably
The Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake could be just what many estate car buyers have been waiting for. It’s great to drive, it looks fantastic and it’s still impressively practical.
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The V6 engine stays impressively hushed and smooth in all situations, and the silky
ROAD TEST RENAULT SCENIC XMOD Renault’s new Scenic XMOD may sound as if it could be ex-Ministry Of Defence but it is just clever trendy re-packaging of the standard Scenic compact MPV, giving it a more funky street image and greater appeal to younger buyers. This idea certainly works, the XMOD attracted lots of attention and plenty of admiration during my test week. Much of the re-styling is visual, with bigger bumpers, sill guards, roof bars and fatter alloy wheels, but the XMOD also offer higher ground clearance and an advanced traction control system with three modes, called Grip Extend, to cope with tougher terrain - useful as the XMOD does not have four-wheel-drive.
On the road, the XMOD is comfortable enough, despite stiffer suspension, though the steering is slow to provide any feedback. The special traction control unit is good for extra grip on slippery surfaces, optimising braking and engine torque, but is not meant to provide the off-road capability of 4WD. My test model was an XMOD Dynamique Tom Tom, with a 1.5 litre 110 hp diesel
Starting at £17,995, the XMOD looks eye-catchingly different and taps into a more youthful market sector than the conventional Scenic. Big windows give great visibility, the higher seating position allows you to feel fully in control, Accommodation is very good, with three individual rear seats, all slidable, foldable or removable, though the latter is not a quick and simple process. Even with the rear seats in use, there is a substantial 437 litres of loadspace.
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engine, and Stop & Start, which is priced at £21,095. Top speed is 112 mph, the 0-60 mph time 12.3 seconds. Big plus-point is the outstanding fuel economy - 68.9 mpg combined. No doubt about it, the XMOD is a very attractive package for those looking for a compact MPV with a bit of visual attitude.