Pope’s Dustered

VW has got together with Tesco to install 2,400 electric charging points at stores. VW found the average shopper spends 50 minutes a week parked in a supermarket car park. Wonder how long they’ll stay free once we’re all driving EVs! ★

ASTON Martin Bristol has teamed up with British Airways to create a limited edition DBS Superleggera Concorde to mark the 50th anniversary of the supersonic jet taking to the skies at Filton, Bristol. ★

Only 10 Concorde Editions will be made by Aston’s Q bespoke department and each will feature red, white and blue graphics to signify BA’s livery.

Other Concorde-style details include gear shift paddles made from titanium compressor blades from a Rolls-Royce Olympus engine used on the aircraft.

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One of the motors can be yours for £321,350. Contact Aston Martin Bristol for details. ★

SUBARU’S new Forester e-Boxer is on its way into showrooms – the firm’s first to feature a mild hybrid powertrain.

The firm’s trademark flat-four Boxer 2.0-litre petrol engine is fitted along with an electric motor that’s powered by a lithium-ion battery. The Forester e-Boxer can be driven up to 25mph on electric power only but for no further than a mile before it needs to charge itself up.

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That doesn’t sound much but you get a 10% fuel saving thanks to the hybrid system.

The e-Boxer is priced from £33,995. We’ll tell you more when we have one to test

drive. ★

I’VE been saying it for ages – all you require for your motoring needs is a Dacia Duster. And now Pope Francis, clearly an avid reader of this column, has one as his daily runabout around the Vatican.

In truth he was given the car by Renault and Dacia, and it’s not quite a standard one. Converted by the factory in Romania, the Papal Duster – handed over by Renault, inset – has higher ride height, a huge glass sunroof, glass sides and an especially comfy rear seat.

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Much more modest than older Popemobiles, including one based on a Range Rover.