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Giving the lion back its roar: Gilles Vidal on his time at Peugeot Following a storied career at PSA, it was announced this week that Gilles Vidal would be stepping down as Peugeot's design director after 10 years. Having helped transform the styling direction of the French brand, and overseeing some of its most eye-catching new models, including the 508 saloon and 208 hatchback, he now hands the reigns to successor Matthias Hossann and moves to Groupe Renault, where he will report to Laurens van den Acker. But what legacy does he leave for the new generation? Autocar spoke to Vidal before his departure was announced, to find out what his thoughts were on future trends, the influence of autonomy on design, and what to expect from Peugeot next. On the very day we spoke to Gilles Vidal, it became clear that the Geneva motor show, the best-loved and most open-minded of the European salons, wouldn’t be able to recover in 2021 from its shock cancellation in March, as many had hoped. Manufacturers, shaken by the pandemic upheaval and scared by the impending cost of another Geneva, had just told the organisers they would be unlikely to support next year’s event, which came as quite a shock. Wouldn’t the lack of Europe’s most-loved motor show, we media types wondered, curb the very design progress that people like Vidal have always championed? Surely car creators need motor shows to display their wares and justify their existence? The Frenchman’s reply came as another surprise… “Missing out on an event like Geneva – or Paris, with its one million visitors – is definitely a shame,” he says, “but I have to say it doesn’t matter all that much. Even if we never showed our concepts to anyone, they would still be amazing tools for investigating materials, colours and the sheer freedom of design. “In any case, we now have digital communication working at a far higher level than ever before. And we can always hold Peugeot-specific events. So even without motor shows, we still have ways of showing our work to the public. Perhaps some of us will miss the physical encounter with outside people, but it’s far from being a disaster.” Vidal should know. His impressive reputation at Peugeot is founded on a bold new design philosophy he brought to the marque soon after taking on its top design job in 2010 at the comparatively young age of 38, having worked for the 12 previous years on Citroëns. His first big design statement was a seminal Peugeot concept, a never-to-be-built roadster called the SR1, which ditched the previous ‘wide-mouthed frog’ look and gave perfect visibility to an under-the-skin move by Peugeot’s engineers towards high technology and lighter weight. But in our discussion, he surprised us again by firmly consigning the SR1 to history. “Concepts grow old very quickly,” he asserts. “A proposition like that feeds the next few years’ designs, but consumers don’t want clones that last a full design generation. Not from Peugeot, anyway. They enjoy progress. It’s true that some concepts, perhaps like the SR1, start something new. But you have to move on, and we have.” It’s clear from our first few minutes of talking that Vidal has well and truly grown into the role of a trendsetter. His first important concept may have been good, but there’s a confidence in his manner that says what comes next will be better. The past dozen or so production cars designed and released since Vidal was appointed have dealt easily with issues previously seen as tough hurdles for Peugeot – finding a beautiful new ‘selling’ shape for the problematic 508 saloon, making his unique i-Cockpit design work (six million built and counting) and turning the 3008 and 5008 SUVs into products that rival even Audi for desirability. His confidence in the role is especially evident as he briskly bats away my next fuzzy question about identifying the latest trends in car design. “There are as many trends as there are car brands,” he says shortly. “Our job is to embody the technology and efficiency of our particular cars and to fit them to the moral values of modern society. You’ve got to be clever at this to succeed. Design isn’t just a shallow form of communication; it has to have substance. We’re working to make Peugeot design reach into our factories, even to affect the way we build our cars.” How does this thirst for modernity square with the e-Legend, I ask, the tech-packed, “100% autonomous” concept that speaks 17 languages but recalls the lovely lines of the 504 Coupé, whose heyday was 50 years ago? Vidal and his team called it “retro-futuristic” when they launched it at the 2018 Paris motor show. “People want enjoyment from their cars,” he explains, “and as long as we respect that, we can take our design in any direction we want. Not every car has to be a whiteboard, driving about…” Does that mean Peugeot might contemplate a heritage model for serious production? Something along the lines of the latest Mini hatchback or Fiat 500? “It’s feasible,” Vidal allows. “The idea appeals to many customers who like old British values or dream of la dolce vita in Italy. Ideas that recognise this are clever and valid, but we’re not going to produce something like the e-Legend as you saw it. I’m not sure we would do something like the Mini or the 500, either, although we’re certainly thinking about what we could do.” Vidal approves of the retro cast to designs like the Mini and 500 for the way it reassures car buyers to take the step of moving into a new era, such as the electrification age. “We must find ways to associate positivity with the future,” he says. “Look at science-fiction movies today: they tend to be dark and threatening, entertaining but terrible. Never warm and human and positive. We need to find clever ways to make positive associations with new cars, but we’re still working.” Following Peugeot’s success with the i-Cockpit (it gets half the negative feedback of other aspects of modern cars, according to Vidal), he says he’s actively looking at getting rid of dashboards altogether – an idea made possible by the changes electrification will bring. “We can put airbags in the roof,” says Vidal, “and can make the structural changes in our new electrified platforms, so it’s feasible. We have all the bits and pieces, the components. Making the change in our factories is where the challenge really lies.” But what about daring designs, I ask? Haven’t we learned from some recent products that differentness sells? Vidal agrees, but he’s keen to make clear that it isn’t so easy to make a Nissan Juke, say, that looks different but also appeals to a wide market, including the all-important older customers who can actually afford to buy the cars. “You can’t just do crazy cars,” he explains. “You have to be aware of the risks. People see their car as a reflection of their personality and don’t want to look foolish. And they worry about being able to resell what they buy. “Still, cars like the Juke clearly show there’s more than just an appetite for special cars: people are demanding them. We must make cars that are a lot more expressive. But we must be right. We must feel where the limit is and be consistent with our brand values. It’s not a simple task.” Will the e-Legend make production? Peugeot must be getting very close to deciding whether to build a production version of its e-Legend concept, which was very much admired when it was unveiled at the Paris motor show two years ago. At the time, Peugeot’s big boss, Jean-Philippe Imparato, told Autocar that a decision wouldn’t be made about the electric “retro-futuristic” sports coupé (which recalls the company’s revered 504 Coupé, launched in 1969) until the PSA Group’s current electrification phase concluded in 2020. This must surely mean the car’s future has risen to the top of the agenda of either Imparato or someone else very important. For this story, Gilles Vidal spoke warmly about the idea of producing heritage-inspired models and told Autocar – rather carefully, we thought – that “we’re not going to build the e-Legend as you saw it”. To us, that meant we definitely won’t see the car as an autonomous vehicle that doesn’t even need to steer and speaks 17 languages. But it might leave room for the car, or something very like it, with an advanced hybrid powertrain or even all-electric power. After all, Vidal does think that such cars create a positive view of the future. And with Covid-19, perhaps that’s more necessary now than ever before.

Shakuntala Devi promotions: All the times Vidya Balan impressed in a sari What do you think of her looks? (Source: Vidya Balan/Instagram | Designed by Shambhavi Dutta) With the Shankuntala Devi promotions over, we ought to pause and praise Vidya Balan’s saris. The actor has always donned saris but this time, she went the extra mile and promoted local designers as well as sustainable fashion. The results left us impressed. In one of her latest pictures, she was seen in a handwoven Bhagalpuri sari from the label Nadiya Paar. The off-white sari was replete with floral motifs. Sharing it, the actor wrote, “This @nadiyapaar saree, handwoven in Bhagalpur has hand drawn oleander flower motif printed on gauzy linen. The sari is inspired by the designers childhood memories of collecting these flowers to make garlands.” Prior to this, she had stunned in this deep purple chanderi sari from the label Deep Thee. The look was completed with a matching blouse and her tying her hair in a neat knot. She also experimented in this red shibori hands-free sari from the label Medium. It was teamed with a matching blouse and rounded out with a neat hairdo. She looked ethereal in this white Raw Mango sari which featured “hand painted botanicals transferred digitally to organza silk with a poplin cotton blouse.” Her mathematical sari featuring equations remains one of our favourites. The look was completed with a black blouse and hair tied in a bun. Balan also looked lovely in this pink linen sari from the label Anavila. We dig the contrasting blouse that elevated the look.

Coronavirus: Victoria declares state of disaster after spike in cases Melbourne's normally bustling city centre is now deserted The Australian state of Victoria has declared a state of disaster and imposed new lockdown measures after a surge in coronavirus infections. Under the new rules, which came into effect at 18:00 (08:00 GMT), residents of the state capital Melbourne are subject to a night-time curfew. There will be further restrictions on residents' ability to leave home. Australia has been more successful than many other countries in tackling Covid-19, but cases are rising in Victoria. The state - Australia's second most populous state - now accounts for many of the country's new infections in recent weeks, prompting the return of lockdown restrictions in early July. But on Sunday Premier Daniel Andrews said the measures were working but too slowly. "We must go harder. It's the only way we'll get to the other side of this," he told reporters. The new rules will remain in place until at least 13 September, Mr Andrews added. Why did the virus re-emerge in Melbourne? Melbourne returns to full lockdown On Sunday, Victoria reported 671 new coronavirus cases and seven deaths. Those increases brought the totals to 11,557 infections and 123 deaths. What are the new restrictions? The night-time curfew is being implemented across Melbourne from 20:00 to 05:00. The only valid reasons for leaving home during these hours will be work, medical care or care-giving. Melbourne residents will only be allowed to shop and exercise within 5km (three miles) of their home. Exercise outside of the home will only be allowed for one hour at a time. Only one person per household is allowed to shop for essentials at a time. DEATH RATE MYSTERY Japan's low virus death rate SUPERSPREADER EVENTS What makes a gathering a ‘superspreader’ event? WAITING FOR THE TOURISTS Voices from Spain's Costa del Sol GLOBAL SPREAD: Tracking the pandemic All students across the state are returning to home-based learning and childcare centres are closed. Restrictions will also be tightened across regional Victoria from Thursday, with restaurants, cafes, bars and gyms closing from 23:59 on Wednesday. Mr Andrews said the new lockdown rules were necessary to curb the spread of the virus To ensure these rules are observed, police will be given additional powers, Mr Andrews said. "We have got to limit the amount of movement, therefore limiting the amount of transmission of this virus. We have to clamp down on this," Mr Andrews said. Why did Victoria become the epicentre of Australia's outbreak? The country has recorded about 17,000 infections and 200 deaths so far - with the majority of these in Victoria. Initially officials felt optimistic about containing Covid-19, with lockdowns and mandatory quarantines for people entering the country. For months, most cases were coming from travellers returning from overseas, but the spike in Melbourne has proved to be a major setback. Local transmissions have become a key source of infections, putting authorities on the back foot. In early July about 300,000 people were ordered back into lockdown amid a military-assisted operation to "ring-fence" 10 areas at the centre of the outbreak. Then, about five million residents of Melbourne were told to stay at home for six weeks. Health experts say the relaxation of lockdown rules contributed to the rise in cases in Melbourne Initially, Mr Andrews pinpointed the origin of many infections to security guards who reportedly broke lockdown rules while overseeing hotel quarantines. Health experts say the relaxation of rules, complacency on social distancing and sheer bad luck have all contributed to Victoria's rise in cases. Now Mr Andrews says the current rate of community transmission - including "mystery cases" that cannot be traced back to work or home - is far too high. "And they tell us, based on the current number, cases might begin to drop off, not in days or weeks, but months," Mr Andrews said. "That's not something I'm willing to accept."

Hong Kong postpones elections for a year 'over virus concerns' Carrie Lam said there were no political motives behind her move - but opposition activists disagree The Hong Kong government has postponed September's parliamentary elections by a year, saying it is necessary amid a rise in coronavirus infections. Hong Kong is currently experiencing a spike in Covid-19 infections, and reported 121 new cases on Friday. However, the opposition has accused the government of using the pandemic as a pretext to stop people from voting. On Thursday, the government banned 12 pro-democracy candidates from running in the elections. Opposition activists had hoped to obtain a majority in the Legislative Council (LegCo) in September's poll, capitalising on anger at Beijing's imposition of a controversial national security law in Hong Kong, and fears that the territory's freedoms are being eroded. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China in 1997 under an agreement meant to guarantee a high degree of autonomy for 50 years. Pro-democracy candidates had made unprecedented gains in last year's district council elections, winning 17 out of 18 councils. On Friday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would invoke emergency powers to postpone the elections, calling it the "most difficult decision I've made over the past seven months". "This postponement is entirely made based on public safety reasons, there were no political considerations," she said. Why Hong Kong's 'third wave' is a warning to all Why people are scared of Hong Kong's new law Separately on Friday, Hong Kong police put six overseas activists on a wanted list on suspicion of violating the new national security law, media reports, including from Chinese state TV, said. Reported to be among them are high-profile activist Nathan Law, who has fled to the UK, and Simon Cheng, a former employee of the UK's Hong Kong consulate who alleges he was tortured in China and was recently granted political asylum in Britain. But Hong Kong police have refused to comment. Mr Cheng told the BBC that an arrest warrant would not stop him speaking out about issues in Hong Kong. "The totalitarian regime now criminalises me, and I would take that not as a shame but an honour," he said. How bad is the pandemic in Hong Kong? Hong Kong has had more than 100 daily new cases, for 10 days in a row. The overall numbers are still lower than those of many other places - but the spike comes after Hong Kong appeared to have contained the outbreak, with weeks of few or no local infections. Now, it's experiencing what's been described as a "third wave" of infections, and Ms Lam says she fears Hong Kong's hospitals will be overwhelmed by new cases. Health experts have told the BBC that, with the reintroduction of social distancing measures, the rate of infection appears to have slowed, and they hope Hong Kong will be back to close to zero local infections within four to six weeks. The city has introduced tough new measures to combat the virus, banning gatherings of more than two people. What's the argument for postponing elections? The territory has had more than 3,200 confirmed infections, and 27 deaths, from the virus. Ms Lam said Hong Kong's pandemic was in "its worst situation since January" and "as community spread continues, the risk of a large-scale outbreak will increase". She said that with 4.4m registered voters in Hong Kong, the elections would involve "a large-scale gathering and an immense infection risk", while social distancing measures would prevent candidates from canvassing. She also said that proceeding with elections in September would pose a particular risk to elderly voters, and that Hong Kong had many registered voters in mainland China, and overseas, who would be unable to take part in the elections while border quarantine measures were in place. The Chinese government said it supported the decision, which was made "in the interests of the public". What's the argument against delaying the polls? Opposition politicians say that, under local election laws, the polls can only be postponed by 14 days, and that a longer delay would "trigger a constitutional crisis in the city". Lawmaker Tanya Chan said she suspected pro-government politicians were more concerned about "their own election prospects" rather than "the severity of the pandemic". Some experts have suggested that measures could be put into place to make elections safer, such as reducing waiting times at polling stations - and that a delay of a whole year is not necessary. her decision, Ms Lam argued that many governments had also postponed elections by a year, including London's Mayoral elections, and local government elections in Australia's New South Wales. Her comparison was queried by journalists, who said the outbreak in Hong Kong was not as severe. London has had a total of about 35,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, compared to Hong Kong's 3,200. Meanwhile, in Australia, by-elections in Victoria went ahead as scheduled in March, as did a federal by-election in New South Wales. Singapore held its general election earlier this month with safety measures in place - and had its highest turnout in recent years. The vote demonstrated "that it is possible to protect public health even as people go about exercising their democratic right to vote", said Eugene Tan, a law professor and political commentator at Singapore Management University. How does the Legislative Council work? The Legislative Council - or LegCo - helps to make and amend Hong Kong's laws. It is made up of 70 seats - but only 35 of these seats are directly voted for by the public. File photo of the chamber of the Legislative Council Another 30 seats represent "functional constituencies" - these are voted for by smaller groups representing special interests, primarily businesses, banking and trade. Historically these sectors have been largely pro-Beijing. The last five seats are made up of district councillors who are elected by the public to sit on LegCo. This system, where only a proportion of LegCo councillors are chosen by the public, has been called undemocratic by critics but supporters of the system say it helps avoid populism and protects Hong Kong's business interests.

Sleeping lions, terrible pain: Amid Covid-19, a new world without tourism Airport officers wearing face masks line up as they hold flowers to welcome passengers at Bali airport, Indonesia on Friday, July 31, 2020. Indonesia's resort island of Bali reopened for domestic tourists after months of lockdown due to a new coronavirus. (AP) With no American visitors to show around the D-Day beaches or the Loire Valley’s chateaux, and no work on the immediate horizon, Paris tour guide Linda Zenou frets about how she’ll pay off a loan and continue to care for her ailing mother in the achingly lean months ahead. “My situation is going to become completely inextricable,” she said. “We have nothing to live on.” In Australia, the government of Queensland, home to the Great Barrier Reef, barred visitors from Sydney starting Saturday because of a growing outbreak in the country’s largest city. Queensland tourism official Brett Kapernick predicted the cost for some businesses would be a 40% plunge in revenue. “With this pandemic, the situation becomes fluid and therefore evolves weekly,” Kapernick said. “A week ago, we didn’t think we’d be facing a border closed to Sydney.” For growing numbers of businesses and individuals who depend on the global tourism industry, the question is not so much when the coronavirus might take its boot off their throats but whether they’ll still be around when business picks up. In trying to fend off the virus, countries that put up entry barriers to tourists have done so at a mounting and terrible cost to themselves and others. Around the world, travel amid the pandemic is becoming a story of tentative steps forward here, but punishing steps back there, of “yes” to letting back visitors from places faring somewhat better against the coronavirus but not from others where outbreaks are flaring. The result is an ever-evolving global mishmash of restrictions and quarantines and zero long-term visibility for businesses trying to make payroll and for everyone from trinket sellers to luxury hotels. “It’s now survival of the fittest,” said Johann Krige, CEO of the Kanonkop wine estate in South Africa, where the drying up of wine-tasting tourists threatens the survival of dozens of wine farms around the historic town of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town. “A lot of them are going to go under because they just don’t have sufficient cash flow,” Krige said. As the Indonesian resort island of Bali tentatively opened to domestic visitors Friday, the beaches of Da Nang, Vietnam, were deserted. The city locked down Tuesday to contain a cluster of nearly 100 cases. On Portugal’s Algarve coast, catastrophe also looms for the staffs of empty hotels, bars and restaurants losing hope that tourists will return quickly enough to keep them afloat. In a region almost entirely reliant on tourism, the unemployment rate has already jumped by 230%. And in Oxford, England, tour operator Frederick Laurie is clinging to British “stay-cationers,” optimistically describing them as “green shoots” in an otherwise bleak year. He concedes that their numbers will never make up for the ruinous plunge in foreign visitors who thronged the university town before the coronavirus chased them away. “It’s an extremely difficult time for us,” he says. His decade-old company, Footprints Tours, has seen revenues collapse by 70%. Losses globally are counted in the billions. Percentage drops in visitor numbers are often double-digits. Tourism income in South Africa was down 98% in May compared with the same month last year, the Tourism Business Council says, and over half a million jobs in its sector are at risk. Governments in countries heavily reliant on tourism are trying with bailouts to keep businesses afloat. Thailand’s Cabinet this week approved three projects together worth more than $700 million for the tourism industry. The bright spots, where they exist, are few and far between. Among them: locals who are unable or reluctant to travel are rediscovering attractions where foreign tourists used to jostle for elbow space. Animals have South Africa’s world-famous wildlife parks largely to themselves because of lockdown rules that barred international tourists and made it illegal for South Africans to travel between provinces for leisure. At the Kruger National Park, lions sleep undisturbed on the roads and roam around empty lodges. French tourist guides stage a protest regarding the impact on their sector due to the coronavirus outbreak, outside the Opera Garnier in Paris, France, Thursday, July 30, 2020. Tourism operators across Asia and Europe are making furtive and faltering advances, as well as some spectacular missteps, after travel was largely halted by the coronavirus pandemic that continues ebbing and mostly surging around the globe. ( AP ) At the Louvre Museum in Paris, it’s now possible to calmly contemplate the works. That’s a rare treat for Parisians but a nightmare for tour guides who gathered in protest again this week, dressed in black and wearing masks, to demand more financial help. Zenou, the 60-year-old guide who usually leads groups all over France, was among them. “My mother with Alzheimer’s is under my care, so I have a loan that I’m not longer sure I can pay,” she said.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2020 UK review What is it? Four years have passed since a revitalised Alfa Romeo first unleashed its fantastic Giulia Quadrifoglio on the motoring masses. How excited we were: here was Alfa’s first rear-wheel-drive model in a quarter of a century. Not only did it turn out to be a bona fide driver’s car, but it was also quite simply the best car Alfa had launched in a generation. Despite all of this, things weren’t exactly rosy in Turin over the following years. Sales struggled in Europe and the US; the Stelvio SUV with which it shared its newly developed Giorgio platform didn’t perform as well as expected; and Alfa’s plans to field seven models by 2023 were significantly pared back. Considering the billions of pounds parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had poured into the brand under charismatic former CEO Sergio Marchionne, that must have been concerning. Perhaps the forthcoming PSA Group merger will turn things around for the better. In the meantime, however, Alfa has treated the Giulia Quadrifoglio to a minor mid-life refresh. So there’s a new touchscreen infotainment system, and a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems has been introduced, too. The material quality of the cabin has also been lifted ever so slightly. An Akrapovic exhaust and exposed carbon roof are now both available as options - although our test car had neither. What's it like? Not that it mattered, as the Giulia Quadrifoglio remains as magnificent as ever. Its performance is ferocious, but not so outrageous that it feels like overkill on the public highway. With 3000rpm or so on the clock, turbo lag is all but non-existent, and an extended stomp on the throttle will keep acceleration impressively constant effectively all the way round to the rev limiter. Provided you’ve selected manual mode - as you should - you’ll then be invited to grab one of the beautifully milled, cold-to-the-touch metal shift paddles to slot the next gear home. This will almost immediately be followed by a whip crack from the exhaust, and a suitably forceful kick as the Alfa’s eight-speed gearbox slots the next ratio home. With the DNA drive mode selector set to ‘D’ for Dynamic, the Ferrari-derived V6 sounds pretty good, too, with a rich mechanical growl that’s highly suggestive of its abundant performance intent. And although that growl morphs into more of a bellow than a truly memorable operatic climax as the revs climb, it’s unlikely you’ll feel short-changed for aural drama. Nevertheless, the optional Akrapovic exhaust would probably still be an absolutely worthwhile investment. Throttle response is noticeably sharpened in D, too. That’s great when the road ahead is clear and you’re pushing it, but around town, it’s perhaps a shade too aggressive and urgent. That said, in Normal mode, that pointed response is blunted to a far more civilised level, and the gearbox remains nicely mannered, too. But really, it’s the chassis that remains the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s standout asset. With its dampers softened off (you can do this at the press of a button, even in Dynamic), the balance it strikes between ride comfort and body control is about as spot on as you can get in a 500bhp-plus sports saloon. Yes, it might trip over larger ruts and bumps pretty forcefully, but that aggression comes with the territory. The handling, meanwhile, is sublime. Our prescribed test route didn’t provide much scope to really probe the limits of its handling, but even at sensible speeds, this car feels alive in your hands. Its steering rack is exceptionally quick, with just over two full turns between locks, but it doesn’t feel nervous or overly twitchy. It just turns in with huge amounts of energy and precision, and with what feels like abundant grip, too. The tweaks to the interior are minor but combine to create a more convincing effect than they did before. Aside from the new touchscreen (which is still fairly unresponsive and lacks the graphical sophistication you find in the Alfa’s German rivals), it’s the centre console that’s changed the most. Previously, the area surrounding the gearlever and rotary dials was finished in a pretty ugly section of hard matt-effect plastic. That’s been done away with and these controls are now more cleanly integrated into the carbonfibre covering that sits on top of the transmission tunnel. It’s a subtle change, but one that was needed nonetheless. Should I buy one? Even with its lightly revamped interior, the Alfa still doesn’t quite live up to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG C63 S in terms of premium appeal. For some, its V6 soundtrack might pale in comparison to the C63's raucous V8, too. But as a driving tool, the Alfa Romeo remains an exceptional device. With a starting price of £67,195, it’s the best part of £10,000 cheaper than the Merc as well. Sure, there have been tales of classic Alfa unreliability, but even so, it’s hard to believe that the Giulia Quadrifoglio isn’t deserving of a far greater level of sales success than it currently achieves. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Location Buckinghamshire On sale Now Price £67,195 Engine V6, 2891cc, twin-turbocharged, petrol Power 503bhp at 6500rpm Torque 443lb ft at 2500rpm Gearbox 8-spd automatic Kerb weight 1580kg 0-62mph 3.9sec Top speed 191mph Economy 27.2mpg CO2 236g/km Rivals Mercedes-AMG C63 S, BMW M3

New owner for David Brown Automotive David Brown Automotive, the Silverstone-based maker of the highly individualistic Speedback GT and Mini Remastered models, is promising “a period of growth and exciting new model launches” following the arrival of a new majority shareholder, UK Advanced Industrials Ltd. Two UKAI principals, Richard Westley and David Roberts, are joining the DBA board while founder and former boss David Brown, who launched the company in 2013, stays on as a director and the company’s official brand ambassador. Westley is already well known as the founder of Fablink, a supplier of metal pressings and vehicle structures to the UK motor industry. Roberts is a veteran entrepreneur with a portfolio of interests in industrial and luxury goods companies. The company will have a new CEO, Eddie Kembery, who has held senior positions at Ford, Honda and Aston Martin. The current sales and marketing director, Michelle Gay, stays on and the company will retain its recently acquired Silverstone HQ. Westley said he is “thrilled to have completed this deal in what is currently a challenging environment. We feel we can add significant value to DBA through our knowledge, experience and our established network of related businesses.” Roberts said DBA “epitomises style and luxury and we look forward to developing additional marques and platforms to meet the demands of a discerning clientele. Bespoke craftsmanship is core to the David Brown Automotive brand, as is a level of customer service that sets the standard for a luxury automotive business in the UK. As the company grows and expands, its dedication to these core values will be central to everything it does.” David Brown Automotive’s launch product was the super-exclusive £600,000-plus Speedback GT, unveiled in 2013. This was joined in 2017 by a range of £90,000 Mini Remastered models that have since been in great demand, especially in south-east Asia. Brown said he’s delighted with the new ownership deal. “We have fantastic products that appeal to a global audience,” he said, “but we also have aspirations for further growth and a desire to launch exciting new products. UKAI’s investment, experience and extended group capability will underpin that and be the key to our future success.

Coronavirus: Sarajevo’s landmark hotel faces hard times amid pandemic Cars drive by The Holiday Hotel, which opened as Holiday Inn, a luxurious accommodation for world's royalty, film stars and other dignitaries who came to watch the 1984 Winter Olympics, and less than a decade later, became ground zero of the bloody siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. (AP) The bright yellow Hotel Holiday in downtown Sarajevo has seen good times and bad times in its 37-year history. Mostly, it has been a symbol of survival in the once-turbulent Bosnian capital. Now the boxy landmark is in danger once again, with the coronavirus pandemic leaving it with few guests. Bosnia, like the rest of the Balkans, has been hit hard by the virus. Cases have been rising in Bosnia since mid-May, when a strict lockdown was lifted and many people seemed to start disregarding social distancing rules and ditching masks. A window in one of the rooms of The Holiday Hotel, which opened as Holiday Inn, a luxurious accommodation for world's royalty, film stars and other dignitaries who came to watch the 1984 Winter Olympics, and less than a decade later, became ground zero of the bloody siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's, offers a view of Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. ( AP ) The country of 3.5 million has reported nearly 10,500 cases and 294 deaths, many since the restrictions were eased. Amid the pandemic, there are hardly any tourists or business travellers visiting the capital, leaving the hotel with many empty rooms. ALSO SEE | PHOTOS: Sarajevo’s landmark hotel faces hard times amid pandemic It originally opened as part of the Holiday Inn hotel chain and was luxurious accommodation for royalty, movie stars and other dignitaries who came to the 1984 Winter Olympics. FILE - In this Sunday, March 27, 1994, file photo, a Ukrainian U.N. soldier holds a weapon while protecting a tram diving through the so called Snipers Alley, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, backdropped by the Holiday Inn hotel. The Holiday Hotel, which opened as Holiday Inn, a luxurious accommodation for world's royalty, film stars and other dignitaries who came to watch the 1984 Winter Olympics, and less than a decade later, became ground zero of the bloody siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's. ( AP ) Less than a decade later, it was ground zero for the bloody siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s and an uneasy shelter for the many foreign journalists who arrived to cover the conflict. “The hotel was working all the time through the war,” said general manager Zahid Bukva, who has been employed there since it opened in 1983. “There was so much shelling and sniping aimed at our hotel, it was devastating,” he said. “There wasn’t a single window left intact here. But even then, we fought and we provided the service to these foreign journalists.” The hotel, controversial from the start because of its bright colour and Lego-like structure, was often targeted by Serbs in the nearby hills during their three-year siege of the capital that left thousands dead and injured in the capital. FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 15, 1994 file photo, three wounded Bosnian war veterans, walking with the aid of artificial limbs and pushing a legless comrade in a wheelchair, venture down one of Sarajevo's deadliest roads, called Sniper Alley, walking by the Holiday Inn hotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The Holiday Hotel, which opened as Holiday Inn, a luxurious accommodation for world's royalty, film stars and other dignitaries who came to watch the 1984 Winter Olympics, and less than a decade later, became ground zero of the bloody siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's. ( AP ) It survived several direct hits from grenades and shells, as well as constant sniper fire that prompted journalists and staff to use side doors instead of the main lobby entrance. Just before the start of the war in 1992, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic — now a convicted war criminal — used the hotel as his headquarters, surrounded by armed men wearing masks to hide their identities. They were believed to be Serbian security officers who fired their sniper rifles from the hotel at peaceful protesters in April 1992 — the incident believed to have triggered the start of the civil war that left more than 100,000 dead and millions homeless. A man walks in the lobby of the Holiday Hotel, which opened as Holiday Inn, a luxurious accommodation for world's royalty, film stars and other dignitaries who came to watch the 1984 Winter Olympics, and less than a decade later, became ground zero of the bloody siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. ( AP ) As journalists rushed to Sarajevo to cover the escalating tensions, the Holiday Inn became the place to be. At the end of a dangerous day, they often swapped their front-line experiences and stories in a ground-floor restaurant. “This hotel became something as a front line for a period,” said Kenneth Morrison, a history professor at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, who wrote a book about it. “It was used exclusively by journalists, aid workers and some diplomats,” he said. “The courage and resourcefulness of the staff during those difficult times is an incredible story in itself.” He said the hotel “faced many challenges in its relatively short history.” “It’s only 37 years old, but in many ways, the challenges it’s facing now are far more significant,” Morrison said of the pandemic. A woman rides a bicycle passing the Holiday Hotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. ( AP ) “One can only hope that this building, which survived all that’s been thrown at it, can survive this latest crisis,” he said. Hotel director Hajro Rovcanin believes it will. “The hotel survived through a lot, and I think that we will overcome this corona crisis,” he said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

Donald Trump suggests delay to 2020 US presidential election Donald Trump has called for November's presidential election to be postponed, saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results. He suggested a delay until people can "properly, securely and safely" vote. There is little evidence to support Mr Trump's claims but he has long railed against mail-in voting which he has said would be susceptible to fraud. US states want to make postal voting easier due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. In a series of tweets, Mr Trump said "universal mail-in voting" would make November's vote the "most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history" and a "great embarrassment to the USA". He suggested - without providing evidence - that mail-in voting, as it is known in the US, would be susceptible to foreign interference. "The Dems talk of foreign influence in voting, but they know that Mail-In Voting is an easy way for foreign countries to enter the race," he said. Mr Trump also said postal voting was "already proving to be a catastrophic disaster" in areas where it was being tried out. Earlier this month, six US states were planning to hold "all-mail" ballot elections this November: California, Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. These states will automatically send postal ballots to all registered voters, which then have to be sent back or dropped off on election day - although some in-person voting is still available in certain limited circumstances. Does US postal voting lead to ‘tremendous fraud’? Could Donald Trump delay the presidential election? About half of US states allow any registered voter to vote by post on request. Critics of postal voting argue that people could vote more than once via absentee ballots and in person. Mr Trump has in the past said there was a risk of "thousands and thousands of people sitting in somebody's living room, signing ballots all over the place". However, there is no evidence of widespread fraud, according to numerous nationwide and state-level studies over the years.

Audi Sport: No choice of powertrains in future RS models Audi Sport will only offer one powertrain on individual cars in future, rather than giving buyers the option of pure combustion-engined or electrified powertrains when choosing an RS model. While sibling brand Volkswagen offers GTI and GTE performance versions of its Golf, both delivering 242bhp, Audi Sport sales and marketing boss Rolf Michl has confirmed this won’t be the case for upcoming RS models. Currently, the only electrified model in the line-up is the RS6 which features a 48v mild hybrid, but plug-in hybrids and electric RS models will arrive in the next couple of years, and will become a crucial part of Audi Sport’s overall range. The first models to arrive will be a plug-in hybrid RS4 and the electric E-tron GT, both due before 2023. Michl said: “We are well-known for precise portfolio planning and we want to keep it easy for the customer. We will have one car with one engine. It doesn’t make sense to have different variants. He added: “Maybe there will be different variants for different concepts, whether they are electrified, internal combustion-engined or otherwise, but every model will have a single drivetrain.” Michl described Audi Sport’s approach to electrification as “step-by-step”. “Audi AG is positioning itself as consistently electric. The first step of electrification is already done with RS6 and there will be fully electric versions with E-tron GT. “Our main focus is performance and everyday useability. There are brilliant aspects [of electrification] for performance cars such as torque vectoring and amazing cornering speeds. Electrified performance can absolutely be emotional.”

Heart inflammation observed in recently recovered COVID-19 patients: Study The results of our study provide important insights into the prevalence of cardiovascular involvement in the early convalescent stage,” the scientists wrote in the study. (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock) An analysis of 100 patients who recently recovered from novel coronavirus infection has revealed that nearly 80 per cent of them have cardiac manifestations of the disease, a finding which indicates the need for further research to understand the long-term consequences of COVID-19. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, assessed 100 patients who recently recovered from COVID-19 illness from Germany’s University Hospital Frankfurt between April and June 2020. According to the researchers, including those from the hospital, cardiac involvement was observed in 78 patients, and ongoing heart inflammation in 60 individuals. They said the reported symptoms were independent of preexisting conditions, severity and overall course of the acute illness, and time from the original diagnosis. In the study, the scientists assessed recent recovery from the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by RT-PCR assays which check for the presence of the virus from swab tests of patients’ upper respiratory tract. The researchers assessed the patients’ demographic characteristics, blood markers of heart health, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scans. They said 53 of the patients were male, and the average age was 49 years. According to the study, 67 patients recovered at home, while 33 required hospitalisation. At the time of the heart scan, the scientists said the molecule high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) was detectable in the blood samples of 71 of the 100 patients recently recovered from COVID-19, and significantly elevated in five of them. They said a total of 78 patients recently recovered from COVID-19 had abnormal CMR scan findings. The researchers also noted that heart tissue sample analysis in the patients with severe findings showed active inflammation caused by the immune system. “The results of our study provide important insights into the prevalence of cardiovascular involvement in the early convalescent stage,” the scientists wrote in the study. Citing the limitations of the study, the researchers said the findings are not validated for the use in pediatric patients 18 years and younger. They added that the research also does not represent patients during acute COVID-19 infection, or those who are completely asymptomatic with the disease.

Coronavirus: German officials 'very concerned' by rising cases Lothar Wieler warned this could be the start of a "second wave" The head of Germany's public health agency has said he is "very concerned" by rising infections in the country. "We are in the middle of a rapidly developing pandemic," Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), told reporters. Mr Wieler said Germans had become "negligent" and urged people to wear masks and respect social distancing and hygiene rules. In the past week the country has recorded 3,611 new infections. The warning comes as countries across Europe grapple with new infections and the problem of travellers moving across the continent for the summer holidays. On Tuesday Germany issued a travel warning for three regions in Spain - Aragón, Catalonia and Navarra - which have seen a recent spike in infections. UK changes travel advice for Spanish islands Spain races to save tourism as cases surge It comes after the UK imposed a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals from Spain - a move Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called "unjust". Germany announced on Monday a programme of free, mandatory coronavirus testing for travellers returning from a list of high-risk countries. The list currently includes Brazil, Turkey and the US, and officials said it will be updated daily. What did Mr Wieler say? At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Wieler asked people for the first time to wear a mask outdoors if they cannot maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres (5ft). Previously the guidance had been to wear masks indoors in public. The head of the RKI said Germans must stop the virus once again spreading "rapidly and uncontrollably" by following hygiene and distancing measures. "We don't know yet if this is the beginning of a second wave but of course it could be," Mr Wieler said. "But I am optimistic that if we follow the hygiene rules we can prevent it, it's up to us." How is the virus spreading in Germany? Overall, Germany has recorded 206,242 cases and 9,122 deaths. These numbers - in particular the death toll - are lower than many other European states, and Germany has won praise domestically and internationally for its rapid response to the pandemic and its mass testing programme. Germany divided as states lift lockdown Court overrules lockdown near German meat plant But in recent days cases have jumped. New recorded infections increased by 633 on Tuesday, nearly double Monday's rise of 340. Over the last week the country has reported an average of 557 new infections daily, compared with about 350 in early June. Moreover, the rise is widespread, with counties across the country reporting new cases. An RKI official said that only a few weeks ago nearly 150 counties were reporting no new infections, compared with only 95 counties now. How are other European countries doing? On Monday, Belgium reduced the size of its social bubbles to five people after a rise in cases. Authorities in the city of Antwerp have imposed a night-time curfew on all but essential workers and have mandated that everyone aged over 12 must wear a mask in public. Spanish officials are still hoping to get the UK to reverse or amend its quarantine order in a bid to save its embattled tourism industry. New infections remain high in the north-east, although nationally the outbreak remains under control, with few new cases emerging in other regions. Where can I now go on holiday in the UK? What are the quarantine rules for Spain and its islands? Nations in southeastern Europe are the continent's worst-affected. Kosovo reported a record rise of almost 300 new infections on Tuesday, and its public health officials have warned that hospitals and health workers are overwhelmed by the number of cases. Romania meanwhile has recorded more than 1,000 new cases for the seventh day in a row. The country now has more than 47,000 infections. Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia are also struggling to contain outbreaks. But Slovenia and Croatia have reported few infections compared to neighbouring states, and from Tuesday UK travellers can head to Slovenia without having to quarantine when they return. Meanwhile, in Malta, more than two thirds of a group of 94 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by the country's coastguard have now tested positive for the virus. The migrants - thought to be from Eritrea, Morocco and Sudan - will remain in quarantine at a reception centre.

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Robert O'Brien, key Trump adviser, tests positive for Covid-19 President Trump named O'Brien his adviser in September last year President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, has tested positive for coronavirus, the White House has confirmed. Mr O'Brien, 54, has been self-isolating and working from home. The aide has mild symptoms and there was no risk of exposure to Mr Trump or Vice-President Mike Pence, a statement said. Mr O'Brien is the highest-ranking official in Mr Trump's administration known to have tested positive. It is not clear when he and the president last met, but one administration official said it had not been for "several days". The pair appeared together two weeks ago on a trip to Miami. Coronavirus: The week when everything changed for Trump The millions of Americans 'hanging by a thread' The White House statement read: "He has mild symptoms and has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site. There is no risk of exposure to the president or the vice-president. The work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted." Some staff members told CNN they had only learned of the infection on Monday from the media. One source told Bloomberg that Mr O'Brien had been out of his office for a week and that the adviser had contracted the virus after a family event. Anyone near the president is tested regularly for Covid-19. A number of people in and around the administration have tested positive, including a military member who works as a White House valet, Mr Pence's press secretary Katie Miller, and a helicopter squadron Marine. Who is Robert O'Brien? Trained as a lawyer, he has had a long diplomatic career working for both Republicans and Democrats. He is believed to be the highest-ranking Mormon member of the Trump administration. He was picked to replace John Bolton as national security adviser last September, after Mr Bolton left amid a rancorous fallout with President Trump. Mr O'Brien shares similar views to Mr Trump on a number of issues, including criticism of the UN and opposition to the Iran nuclear deal. Mr O'Brien travelled to Paris this month to discuss foreign policy issues with European counterparts, and gave a speech in Arizona in June comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

Confirmed: former Seat design boss heads to Renault Seat design director Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos will follow his former colleague Luca De Meo to join Renault, the French brand has now confirmed. Following earlier reports, Renault has now issued a statement confirming his appointment, although no specific job title is listed. He will report to Groupe Renault's design director Laurens van den Acker, who commented on the appointment: "I am delighted to welcome Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos to the Group’s Design Department. His excellent work is widely recognised in the automotive industry and his experience, built up with several manufacturers, will strengthen our team. I am convinced that Alejandro, who already knows Groupe Renault, will be of great help in meeting the future challenges facing our brands." Seat confirmed Mesonero-Romanos' departure earlier today in a statement, saying he had "left the company at his own request" and thanking him for nine years of service. R&D boss Dr Werner Tietz will now lead the design until a new appointment is made. Former Seat president De Meo left the Spanish company back in January but has started his tenure as Renault Group CEO only this month. He was in charge of the Volkswagen Group brand’s operations for five years. Mesonero-Romanos first joined Seat's design department in 1995, where he worked on the Bolero concept car of 1998. He joined the Volkswagen Group's European design centre in 1996 to work on Audi, Seat and Volkswagen models before moving to Renault in 2001. At Renault, he worked on designs such as the Laguna Coupé. His final move before rejoining Seat in 2011 was to South Korea as the design director of Renault Samsung Motors.

This no-bake banana cheesecake will satiate your sweet cravings n love with cheesecake? Try this easy recipe. (Source: Ranveer Brar/Instagram; designed by Gargi Singh) It is always a good idea to whip up something quick and easy whenever those midnight sweet cravings strike. And what better than ending the day on a sweet note. So if you been wanting to make something delicious to satiate your sweet cravings, how about a cheesecake? And what better than a no-bake cheesecake. Weekend or not, try out this recipe for a quick treat. Chef Ranveer Brar recently shared this no-bake recipe. Take a look. Banana Cheesecake Preparation Time: 40 minutes Serves: 4 Category: Dessert Ingredients For the base 1 cup – Graham Crackers/Marie Biscuit, powdered ¼ cup – Caster sugar 1/2 cup – Butter, melted For cheese layer 1 cup – Cream cheese ½ cup – Caster sugar ½ cup – Whipped cream, stiffly beaten 2 – Bananas, sliced For pudding layer 2 cups – Milk ¼ cup – Vanilla custard powder ½ cup – Whipped cream, stiffly beaten 2 no – Bananas, mashed ALSO READ | Bring out the baker in you with this seasoned carrot cake Method *For the base, combine all the ingredients and mix well. *Take a detachable round cake tin. *Spread crumb mixture on the bottom of the tin and refrigerate till other layers are prepared. *For the cheese layer, blend cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Fold in whipped cream and keep in a cool place. *For the pudding layer, heat milk in a pot. Add custard powder and whisk till lump-free and thick. Let it cool. *Fold in whipped cream and mashed bananas. *Now take out the cake tin. Layer sliced bananas, then add cream cheese filling, then again a layer of sliced bananas and lastly the pudding. *Refrigerate for minimum two hours, and maximum overnight. *Remove and detach. Cut and serve. When are you going to make it?

Peter Green: Fleetwood Mac co-founder dies aged 73 Fleetwood Mac co-founder and influential blues rock guitarist Peter Green has died aged 73. Solicitors acting on behalf of his family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep. "A further statement will be provided in the coming days." Green, from Bethnal Green in east London, formed Fleetwood Mac with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967. They came together after Green's stint filling in for Eric Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Green and Fleetwood then convinced John McVie to join the band as bass guitarist, in part by naming the band Fleetwood Mac. He wrote the instantly recognisable instrumental track Albatross, which remains the band's only number one hit, plus two other early hits, Black Magic Woman and Oh Well. And it was under Green's direction that they produced their first three albums. The band's debut album was released in 1968. Simply called Fleetwood Mac, but also known as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, it gained widespread acclaim and reached number four in the charts. Obituary: From humble beginnings to Blues fame Green left the band after a last performance in 1970 as he struggled with his mental health. He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in hospital in the mid-70s. He married Jane Samuels in January 1978. They divorced in 1979 and share a daughter. Green was among the eight members of the band - along with Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie, Christine McVie, Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer - who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The news of his death comes days after Fleetwood Mac announced they would release a retrospective box set documenting the band's early years between 1969 and 1974. 'One of the greats' Musicians have led tributes to Green. David Coverdale, the lead singer of Whitesnake, said he was an artist he "truly loved and admired". In a tweet, he said: "I supported the original Fleetwood Mac at Redcar Jazz Club when I was in a local band... he was a breathtaking singer, guitarist and composer. I know who I will be listening to today. RIP" Mumford and Sons guitarist Winston Marshall tweeted: "RIP Peter Green. #GOAT. Man of the world, oh well, albatross, need your love so bad. Some of my favourites songs and performances of all time. Thank you for the music." Actor David Morrissey praised Green's "fantastic soulful voice" while Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler described Green as "one of the greats". And Scottish musician Midge Ure tweeted: "One of the great ones gone. You taught me well." Peter Green was one of the greatest Blues guitarists Britain ever produced. His shape-shifting riffs and long, improvisational excursions made Fleetwood Mac one of the most exciting live bands of the 1960s Blues explosion. He first picked up a hand-me-down guitar at the age of 10 and, like many of his peers, began to devour the import vinyl that trickled into the UK from the US. He studied the greats - Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and BB King - combining their tensely coiled playing style with the shimmering vibrato of The Shadows' Hank Marvin. But he actually started his professional career as a bassist, until an encounter with Eric Clapton persuaded him to ditch the instrument. "I decided to go back on lead guitar after seeing him with the Bluesbreakers. He had a Les Paul, his fingers were marvellous. The guy knew how to do a bit of evil, I guess." He later had the seemingly impossible task of taking over from Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Fans were unconvinced at first, but after a handful of incendiary performances, he won them over, earning the nickname "The Green God". Read more here. The singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, tweeted: "God bless the ineffable Peter Green, one of the unsung heroes of musical integrity, innovation and spirit. When I heard he left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 to get a real life and donate his wealth to charity, he became something of a model for me." In February this year, artists including Fleetwood, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and guitarists Jonny Lang and Andy Fairweather Low performed at the London Palladium in a gig celebrating the early years of Fleetwood Mac. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Green at number 58 in its all-time list of the 100 greatest guitarists, describing him as "Britain's most progressive blues guitarist" in his heyday.

Sophie Choudry makes salted caramel sauce makhana; try the simple recipe Sophie Choudry just whipped up a delicious salted caramel sauce. (Source: sophiechoudry/Instagram) Sophie Choudry has been whipping up delicacies of late; her food posts on Instagram are proof. This time, the actor and former VJ made dairy-free salted caramel sauce-flavoured makhana. She gave us a sneak peek into the preparation on Instagram. Take a look: Try makhana with salted caramel sauce. (Source: sophiechoudry/Instagram) If you would also like to add a twist to your regular makhana snack, why not try making the sauce at home like Sophie? Here’s a simple recipe, courtesy food blogger Lisa Bryan’s website downshiftology.com. Bryan shows how you can make the sauce with coconut milk and coconut sugar, which makes for a delicious vegan treat. Ingredients 400 ml – Coconut milk, full fat 1/2 cup – Coconut sugar 1/2 tsp – Sea salt 1 tsp – Coconut oil 1 tsp – Vanilla extract Method * In a saucepan, add coconut milk, coconut sugar and salt, and combine over medium-high flame. * Bring the sauce to boil and then lower the flame intensity immediately, keeping the sauce at a light simmer. * Let the sauce simmer for about 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally. * Once the sauce turns darker and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, remove the saucepan from the gas stove. Now stir in coconut oil and vanilla extract. * Serve the sauce warm or refrigerate. How about trying the sauce during the weekend?

Guilty pleasures: Cars we love but perhaps shouldn't Sometimes a car isn’t great, or even particularly good, but you can’t help liking it. Time for the Autocar team to reveal their irrational objects of desire. Kia Soul - James Attwood There’s nothing irrational about liking the new Kia Soul EV. But before an all-electric makeover infused with Kia’s new-found sense of style, in its first two generations the Soul was an odd-looking, weirdly shaped compact crossover. It was pitched as ‘urban cool’ but mostly looked a bit odd. It wasn’t even all that spacious: while the boxy shape offered plenty of head room, it had limited leg room and a deceptively small boot. It didn’t ride very well, either. Despite that, it somehow worked. It was compact, with wheel-on-each-corner handling that was amusing if not dynamic. Perhaps that ‘funky’ styling worked: I wanted to like it and was prepared to look past its flaws. Happily, the new Soul doesn’t require such blinkered thinking: it’s become the great car I always knew it could be. Rover Streetwise - Matt Prior Embarrassing Dad is an enduring television trope. “What’s this? It’s got a good beat,” says Hugh Dennis, trying to still be down with the kids. In a motoring context, Embarrassing Dad would call a car ‘Streetwise’. The 2003 Streetwise, based on the likeable but dated Rover 25, was MG Rover squeezing the remaining juices from the lemons BMW left behind when it sold the company. And it was good to drive, retaining the inherent character of the 25, a fun, nimble hatchback. So spare a thought for the Streetwise. It’s got a good beat. Ford S-Max 2.5T - Matt Saunders There were some utterly daft family cars around when I first started out reviewing. A Ford S-Max with a warbling five-cylinder Focus ST hot-hatch engine sounded pretty daft even back in the mid-noughties, but I was totally sold on the idea before I’d got near one. That Volvo engine had the accessible torque to move a heavy car, after all – and the S-Max had a chassis that deserved the compliment. Today, you could pick one up for well under £5000 and ferry the kids around in it over distances that make 25mpg seem easy to swallow. And at that price, you wouldn’t think twice about getting the engine remapped, either. I’m told you can get close to 300bhp and more than 300lb ft from it without a major mechanical overhaul.] Suzuki Jimny - Rachel Burgess Objectively, the Jimny is quite terrible. If you were to consider key desirability factors of a modern-day car, the Jimny may be one of the worst cars currently on sale: loud, inefficient and let’s not get started on the steering. Yet the day my long-term Jimny departed, I was truly sorry to see it go. Once you adjust, the Jimny is an utterly charming companion – perfect for driving around town (and, crucially, parking) and for bumbling around country roads. Its superb visibility and compactness won me over. I was happy every time I stepped into the car, although over time I learned to avoid motorways. (If you stick to 60mph in the slow lane on a still day, it’s doable but never enjoyable.) But the Jimny excels off road. That’s the reason for its existence. Driving it in a quarry was the most fun I’ve had off-roading. For that reason alone, I sincerely hope Suzuki can justify producing the Jimny for a long time to come. Aston Martin Rapide - Steve Cropley Okay, it’s at the end of its life, but I still have a soft spot for the Rapide, because of the brilliance of its styling-versus-packaging. A car so low and voluptuous shouldn’t have viable rear room, yet I (not known for either compactness or agility) can fit into one of its rear bucket seats in reasonable comfort. Better still, the car looks great. To me, it’s more identifiable than some of Aston’s more recent creations. And it certainly drives well. Sure, it’s no Nürburgring record-breaker, but it’s fast, it’s comfortable and it has lots of road presence. Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid - Kris Culmer Yes, it’s the South Korean version of the Toyota Prius that in recent years has, largely thanks to private hire drivers, become just as ubiquitous as the original hybrid hatchback. It’s very comfortable to ride in, with an impressive deal of head and leg room for what is essentially a family car, but I enjoy driving it even more. I once spent a few weeks tooling around in an early Hybrid model and thoroughly enjoyed the initial burst of acceleration from its electric motor and its relaxed demeanour thereafter, especially in hellish central London. Oddly, though, my standout memory is of how comfortable I found the driving position. Fiat Punto Evo - Mark Tisshaw For much of its long, 13-year life, any mention of the last-generation Punto was met by the words: ‘Is that still on sale?’. And it’s remarkable that it was, given how frankly unremarkable it was even when new. Ford had three different class-leading Fiesta generations on sale in that time. Yet the Punto had one saving grace. In 2010, it was renamed the Punto Evo for its first facelift, which brought with it the 1.4-litre Multiair engine (a motor I’m fond of, as you can tell from my homage to the 124 Spider). Even 10 years on, I still remember just how brilliant that engine was. It had a fantastic wide spread of torque and loved being revved to the redline. It sounded good yet always felt smooth at the same time, and no matter how much of the 133bhp and 152lb ft you used, you’d still get more than 40mpg. The rest of the car was guff, mind – but my, that engine… Volvo 360 - Richard Lane When I was very young, the Lanes were a two-Volvo household. Wild times. Dad mostly drove a 240 GL estate, and I spent much of my time being carted about in the 360, which is about as uniconic as they come. But it’s the 360 that’s the more interesting car. Consider the ingredients: only three doors, a radically sloping hatch and a rear-driven chassis complete with transaxle. All things considered, it actually was wild, and today you’d need to look at the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T to find something, er, similar in concept. While Volvo is now shifting its reputation for stolid design values, that reputation was unjust anyway. Audi A1 Citycarver - Felix Page Some will see the A1 Citycarver as nothing more than a cynical marketing ploy – a blatant attempt on Audi’s part to tap into the public’s unquenchable thirst for SUVs and convince us that its supermini has off-road ability. It doesn’t, of course. Not really. But let’s look at this oddity for what it really is: a bit of fun, and how often does Ingolstadt offer that? Save for the Ford Fiesta Active, you can’t really get this close to the sky without stepping up to a proper compact SUV. It’s hard to say how successful the Citycarver concept will be, but you don’t see many Volkswagen Polo Dunes around these days… Vauxhall Combo Life - Lawrence Allan Enthusiasts will find it easy to dismiss the Combo Life – and its fellow PSA van-with-windows siblings – as undesirable, unattractive boxes for people who have no interest in cars. They couldn’t be more wrong (although I’m not going to argue that these things are design classics). What they are is the thinking person’s family SUV. With more versatility than any jacked-up hatchback, a compact footprint and an affordable price, they’re perfect for kid carriers and lifestyle types alike. Plus, they’re easy to drive, thanks to huge mirrors, flat sides, deep windows and an innate sense that they’ve been designed to take whatever punishment you throw at them.

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