Government trials noise detectors
IN a bid to crack down on noise pollution, the Government announced plans for ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras to be fitted with noise detectors. This would let the authorities issue fines to owners of vehicles with exhausts that breach noise limits. A seven-month trial, during which no fines are being issued, began in June; if successful, the tech will be fitted in earnest.
BACK in June, Ford announced that it would revive one of its most exciting nameplates from the late nineties: the Puma. But in a sign of how buyers’ tastes have changed, we learned that the original car’s Fiesta-based coupé feel had been replaced by one which, although still derived from the Fiesta, took the shape of a small SUV.
So rather than shrinking into a small, agile sports car, the new Puma is 46mm longer, 54mm higher and 71mm wider than the car on which it’s based. When it arrives in 2020, it will compete with the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke. Items like the curved headlights make a nod to the original Puma, as does the coupé-like roof, but otherwise the shape is pure five-seat crossover.
Inside, the dash is lifted from the Fiesta and topped off with Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment and new hi-tech digital dials. Further back, a 456-litre boot – accessed by a hands-free auto tailgate – looks set to be among the best in the class, while removable, washable seat covers add to both the car’s sensible side and its scope for personalisation.
At launch, Ford bosses were adamant that, true to the original, the new car would be top the class for driving fun. Under the bonnet will sit the tried-and-tested EcoBoost petrol engines ranging from 94bhp to 153bhp, several of which will benefit from mild-hybrid tech. At a later date, a hot ST version is likely to follow, too.
Later on in the year, Ford announced prices for the upcoming model. It confirmed that the Puma range would kick off with the Titanium trim, complete with wireless charging and massaging seats for £20,845. At launch, the £22,295 Titanium First Edition would also feature adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, plus heating for both the front seats and the steering wheel.
Another launch model, the ST-Line X First Edition, is set to cost £25,195 when order books open. Standard kit will include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, sports suspension and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
ONE thousand horsepower: the figure Ferrari declared for the SF90 Stradale when it lifted the wraps off its latest hypercar in June. While 986bhp doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as the metric output, it is no less eye-opening; power comes from a mix of a 4.0-litre V8 turbo (making 769bhp on its own) and three electric motors. The result? A 211mph top speed and 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds.
But believe it or not, this is a car with eco-credentials, too. The SF90 uses a plug-in hybrid system that allows it to travel up to 15.5 miles on electric power alone.