Continental never tyres of top work..
SKODA TAKES THE SPOILS AT SHOW
28
PREMIUM tyre manufacturer,
●
Continental, has launched its latest ultra- high performance tyre: the SportContact 7.
This year, 42 articles will be available in sizes 19 to 23 inches, with the product line being further expanded over the year.
With the new SportContact generation, Continental offers a high performance, handlingoriented, high- mileage tyre with enhanced safety capabilities.
On the racetrack, mile
● age is up 10 per cent over the previous model and wet braking distances are reduced by eight per cent.
It is also six per cent better for dry braking, and service life is 17 per cent longer. Handling and grip in both wet and dry conditions will also benefit
THE new Skoda Enyaq iV is the Parkers Car of the Year for 2022, after a convincing win the Best Large Electric Car category.
The award is the latest in a string of major industry accolades for the new electric model — winning here with a unanimous decision among the judging panel.
The judging panel at Parkers.co.uk said it was “more than being a very good electric vehicle – it’s an excellent family car, regardless of how it’s powered”.
Ford won Best
Pickup and Van from the latest advancements (test with tyre size 245/ 30 R 20).
The brand focused on improving all performance criteria to combine maximum driving pleasure with maximum safety and sustainability in the field of UUHP tyres (ultra- high performance tyre segment). The adaptive tread
● design adjusts to dry and wet roads, offering a stellar driver experience for every vehicle, and the BlackChili rubber compound has been precisely adapted to tread design for maximum grip.
The SportContact 7 was developed for passenger cars with sporty attributes and super cars. The variety of vehicles is wide- ranging, including Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio as well as the RS series from Audi and M series from BMW, and compact cars like the Ford Focus III RS and Mini Cooper S
Proace City and the Best Electric Van for the Proace Electric.
Other notable repeat winners from last year include BMW, which wins the Best Company Car award for the 330e plugin hybrid again, as does the Land Rover Defender for the Best Off- Roader, Renault with the Clio in the Best First Car category and last year’s Car of The Year, the Ford Puma, winning Best Small Family
Car.
The Volkswagen ID. 3 won Best Medium Electric Car category, reflecting the huge rise in the number of EVs.
In this case, Seat have decided to bring some Iberian flair to the seven- seater by introducing an FR variant.
This translates to a range of exterior enhancements, including a trim-specific grille with FR logo, wider, black wheel arching mouldings, black roof rails and window frames with side mirrors painted in Cosmo Grey.
Spoiler
At the rear of the Tarraco a new sporty spoiler, coast-tocoast lighting, an exclusive rear diffuser and rear logo in a handwritten style add to its allure.
The FR trim also brings with it the latest generation of infotainment s ystem helping occupants stay connected and up-to-date no matter where the road takes them.
It’s an area of the vehicle that gains increasing importance as our lives become more digital focused, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay makes using your phone in the car seamless.
It will even read your Whatsapp messages to you.
Which is all very well until you have the wrong person in the car...
My test car was a 7- speedDSG (auto) with the tried and tested 2.0 TDi 150PS unit but for many the 1.5tsi petrol will be the better option, depending on your mileage.
Basically if you do over 26,000km a year, go for the diesel — otherwise it’s petrol for you.
There will also be a plug-in hybrid version later this year — and that will be an interesting one.
Battery
Mating a 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine electr ic motor, 13kWh lithium- ion battery pack and six-speed DSG transmission, the setup produces 245PS (180kW) of power and 400Nm of torque.
The plug-in hybrid version also allows drivers to use electric only mode, giving a range of around 50km using just the energy stored in the vehicle’s battery.
For someone with a ho me charger and a short commute, say 30-40km per day, that could make real financial sense.
A new and more powerful 2.0 TDI 200PS (147kW) engine with 400Nm of torque will also be available, and uses a new seven- speed automatic DSG dual- clutch transmission ( DQ381), exclusively available with 4Drive.
On the road the car drives exactly as you would imagine.