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Watford Gap providers: inside an unlikely motoring landmark

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Jimi Hendrix thought it was a nightclub, of their early days The Beatles frequently dropped in on their approach south from Liverpool and Gerry Marsden of the Pacemakers rated it as a superb place for a “quick stop and a quick nosh”.

Welcome to Watford Gap providers, positioned on either side of the M1, the southbound website being the primary motorway providers to open within the UK, again in 1959.

With its vibrant historical past as a relaxation cease for main bands within the Nineteen Sixties earlier than service stations grew to become extra widespread, Watford Gap has acquired the standing of cultural icon. (One waitress bought her e-book of autographs for £1000.)

But if you wish to expertise its vibe one final time, you’d higher be fast as a result of Roadchef, the corporate that owns it, plans to knock it down and exchange it with one thing extra in tune with the twenty first century, albeit with a show celebrating its superb previous.

“Watford Gap services is the jewel in Roadchef’s crown,” explains Amanda Mason, head of selling on the firm. “Customers have a powerful emotional attachment to it and there are nonetheless individuals residing close by who, as youngsters, would drop in to see which stars have been getting back from gigs late at evening.

But because the gateway to the north and south, each websites have to evolve. People’s causes for wanting to go to – to relaxation, to eat and to refuel or recharge – will stay the identical however we have to safe the enterprise for the long run and ensure Watford Gap is sustainable.”

Today, the distinction between the principle constructing on the southbound carriageway, which appears to be like nearly because it did 65 years in the past, and the rank of 12 sensible new 350kW high-speed Gridserve chargers serving the most recent electric cars provides weight to Mason’s argument. 

There’s no redevelopment date but however Roadchef’s plans are effectively superior. To assist guarantee the brand new facility is, as its predecessor was, a trend-setter, final yr Roadchef organised a contest amongst college students within the Innovation division at Bristol University, inviting them to ‘blue-sky’ concepts for the brand new website, exploring themes round individuals, the long run and the atmosphere.

Mason was inspired by the outcomes. “The competition has changed the way we think about what the next generation wants from a service station,” she says. “The way younger people think about driving and travel is very different from people even just a decade or so older than them.”

I’m a number of a long time older nonetheless so forgive me if I don’t wholly share her pleasure. A circus and a funfair for the children? Virtual actuality headsets that enable guests to view the standard one-arm bandit space at a Las Vegas on line casino and even the Grand National? I’m undecided about these pupil concepts, particularly when Mason tells me the 52 million prospects who go to Roadchef’s 30 service stations every year linger for lower than 20 minutes.

Motorsport

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Will Have a Roll-Down Rear Window, As It Should

Exactly every week after Toyota dropped the first teaser of the new 4Runner, the automaker is revealing a bit extra of the upcoming truck. In a picture and video launched in the present day, Toyota confirmed off the 4Runner’s roll-down rear window, one of many SUV’s signature options. The automaker additionally confirmed the 4Runner’s debut subsequent Tuesday, April 9.

 

The sixth-generation 4Runner replaces its predecessor after 15 years on sale. That’s historic in automotive phrases, however the 4Runner has enjoyed a U.S. sales surge that started in 2014 and peaked in 2021. Even final 12 months’s 109,951 U.S. gross sales, down from the 2021 peak of 144,469 items, exceeded first model-year gross sales. That’s all however extraordinary within the auto trade. 

Like the brand new Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, and Lexus GX and LX, the sixth-generation 4Runner will experience on Toyota’s TGNA-F truck platform. As ever, it will likely be a body-on-frame beast, and it ought to slot in beneath the brand new Land Cruiser in Toyota’s off-road lineup. 

We suspect that the 4Runner will share its powertrains with the brand new Tacoma pickup. That means a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as a base, with a hybrid drivetrain a potential future possibility. In the bottom Tacoma this engine makes 220 horsepower, whereas in most different fashions it will get bumped as much as 278 hp. The hybrid i-Force Max powertrain presents up 326 hp from the identical engine paired with an electrical motor.


Motorsport

The $24,999 Fisker Ocean Might Not Actually Exist

Fisker dropped a bombshell when it announced significant price cuts for the 2023 Ocean. The entry-level Ocean Sport with a $24,999 beginning MSRP (not together with vacation spot) makes it the most affordable electrical automobile within the United States. But after appreciable looking out and a dialog with Classic Fisker in Atlanta—the one dealership listed on the corporate’s web site—we discovered an issue. It appears this ultra-cheap luxurious SUV would not exist. Furthermore, the midrange Ocean Ultra at $34,999 could be a fairy story, too.

Fisker has not returned a number of requests for remark, and we spent 20 minutes listening to Fisker’s maintain music whereas looking for a gross sales session. As a last-ditch effort, we despatched an e-mail request for 2023 Ocean Sport info by way of the corporate’s web site, and have not acquired a reply. However, even with communication roadblocks and the potential for a Fisker bankruptcy, a $25,000 Ocean remains to be tempting.

The solely success we had in getting info got here from talking to a specialist at Classic Fisker. He did not mince phrases concerning the $25,000 Ocean Sport.

“I would caution you and other customers—Sports don’t exist right now,” he mentioned. “The $25,000 Sports, they’re not even here in the US right now. The Ultras at $35,000, they don’t exist in the US right now.”

There is a caveat to the Ocean Ultra. The specialist did say Fisker had Ultras within the nationwide stock, however all of them had some degree of choices that raised the value significantly. And if 2023 Sports do find yourself arriving within the US now, in 2024, they’d probably be by way of the Port of Baltimore, which is currently impacted by the collapse of the Key Bridge.

“The base MSRP is not reflective of the optioned MSRP,” he defined. “When you look at this sitting inventory, there are no base Ultras available.”

This conflicts with Fisker’s press launch on the value drop for 2023 fashions, which states some automobiles “come equipped with as much as $7,000 worth of additional options—such as colors, 22-inch wheels, interiors, and other options—included in the discounted price.” But within the tremendous print, Fisker additionally states that “pricing is subject to change and will be based on your final vehicle configuration.”

So, what do you have to do in case you nonetheless need to roll the cube on a reduced 2023 Ocean? For starters, neglect goals of an ultra-cheap luxurious SUV and goal in the direction of an optioned-up Ultra or an Extreme, which will get the most important worth reduce of the bunch at $37,499. Based on what the specialist at Classic Fisker advised us, that worth is also a pipe dream relying on the choices put in. But, there are Oceans accessible—roughly 1,000 to 1,500 in response to the dealership.

“We’re here to service customers in the state of Georgia, obviously we’ll address customers that want to call us from all over the country and do our best to help,” he advised us. “If you’re out of state and want to purchase a car, you’re welcome to contact Fisker directly, which is what the majority of customers are doing, and you can purchase any of the available inventory.”

If Fisker company responds to our requests for remark, we’ll replace this story.

Motorsport

Ford Bronco Base Trim Is Dead For 2024, Cheapest Model Now Over $40k

Ford dropped the base Bronco and increased prices on most of the remaining trim levels for 2024. That means after 2023, there will no longer be a model available for less than $40,000. Additionally, Ford has already switched its online configurator over to the new model year. So the best opportunity to find a new 2023 base model is through existing dealer inventory. 

The Big Bend is now the price leader of the Ford Bronco family and the only trim level that doesn’t see a price hike. It starts at $41,025, including a $1,895 destination fee. Options include a 10-speed automatic transmission and the 222A Mid Package with popular features like remote start, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assist. The Sasquatch package is available for an extra $8,660, as are a multitude of roof choices and appearance options. 

Stepping up to the Black Diamond model now costs $44,525. It also includes a choice of a seven-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission and the same options as the Big Bend while adding additional off-road equipment like heavy-duty bash plates and rock rails. 

Trim Level 2023  2024
Big Bend $41,025 $41,025
Black Diamond $43,395 $44,525
Heritage Edition $44,305 $49,750
Outer Banks $48,245 $49,835
Badlands $50,040 $51,290
Everglades $56,540 $57,415
Wildtrak $60,670 $61,920
Heritage Limited Edition $69,445 $71,580
Raptor $88,475 $91,730

Returning this year is the Bronco Heritage Edition, which starts at $49,750. It adds classic styling cues taken from the original Ford Bronco, including a white hardtop, white grille, and unique body graphics. The Sasquatch package is standard on the Heritage model, as are other features which were options on the Big Bend and Black Diamond trim levels. 

Both the Outer Banks and Badlands models add luxury features like leather seats and a 12-inch touchscreen with Sync 4 and enhanced voice recognition. The Badlands adds more off-road capability with features like a front stabilizer disconnect, electronic locking axels, and advanced on-demand four-wheel drive. 

For the truly adventurous, the trail-ready Everglades model includes a factory-installed WARN winch, snorkel, and 35-inch mud-terrain tires. Both the Wildtrak and Heritage Limited Edition add a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with up to 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque.  

The Raptor is still the ultimate Bronco with 418 horsepower on tap from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. Starting at $91,730, it’s a serious off-road brute. For those who want to explore its full capabilities, Ford Performance teamed with Vaughn Gittin Jr. to teach owners how to drive it offroad. 

Except for the price increases and the discontinued base model, the Bronco receives very few changes for 2024. All models are now equipped with a 12.0-inch infotainment screen. The Badlands now comes standard with a powder-coated heavy-duty front bumper while the Bronco Raptor gets a new Code Orange package that adds vivid accents and body-colored fenders.

News

Triumph India Opens Pre-Bookings For New Speed 400 And Scrambler 400 X

Triumph has finally unveiled its much-anticipated Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X models, which were developed in partnership with Indian manufacturer Bajaj. These small-displacement bikes have received positive first impressions and are expected to be strong competitors in the market. The new models feature a 398cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine that delivers 40 horsepower and 26 pound-feet of torque, making them more performance-oriented than rivals like Royal Enfield. Stylistically, the bikes possess a retro-chic look with LED headlights and gold anodized inverted front forks.

The global release of the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X is expected to take place between 2023 and the start of 2024, with the Asian market being a key target. In India, the bikes will be unveiled on July 5, 2023, and deliveries will begin in August. Triumph India has already opened pre-bookings for the models, requiring a token amount of just Rs 2,000 ($24). The expected retail price is around Rs 300,000 ($3,656 USD), which suggests that the bikes will be successful in the Indian market and the rest of Asia.

Motorsport

Mercedes-Benz Teases New C 111 Concept As “Reimagined Icon”

Update: As we had been writing this text, Mercedes-Benz dropped one other teaser confirming a brand new C 111 idea is coming. A brief video reveals a digital grille that illuminates with the phrases one eleven spreading between spherical headlights.

 

Something is brewing at Mercedes-Benz, and it is associated to the household of C 111 idea vehicles from the automaker’s previous. Shared right this moment on Mercedes’ social media channels, we’re handled to a pair of photographs displaying some digital lights with spherical shapes and a curious shade of orange. And that is not all.

First, we direct your consideration to the Mercedes-Benz Instagram account. One photograph reveals a spherical digital headlight in an oval grille, with the opposite displaying a spherical taillight. Of explicit curiosity for the entrance photograph is what’s behind the grille. We’re used to seeing various levels of silver or grey from Mercedes however that is clearly an orange header with a hood line seen simply behind. The coloration is a clue, because it appears to be like very near the shade used on the early C 111 prototypes. As for the spherical lights in an oval body, there is a robust resemblance to the C 111/II, the second and arguably most well-known of the collection that debuted in 1970.

 

Without extra context, a C 111 reference to these teaser photographs can be tough to justify. However, Mercedes-Benz lately shared a number of photographs of the basic C 111/II on its social channels main as much as this teaser publish, and a few of these have very comparable angles to the teaser headlights and taillights. This cannot be a coincidence.

And then we now have the coup de grace for this teaser marketing campaign, coming not from the automaker immediately however slightly, from Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener. He additionally shared photographs of the outdated C 111 on social, then dropped a teaser of his personal whereas flat-out saying “The timeless C 111 is ready to inspire a new era of iconic luxury.”

 
 

Wagener’s publish provides a 3rd teaser picture to the combination, and it is one which leaves us with some questions. We see what seems to be H 243 lit up in a taillight housing. H243 is the generational code for the Mercedes-Benz EQA. Could this imply a brand new C 111 idea is coming that comes with points of the EQA into its design? Or does this designation imply one thing else?

For these nonetheless sussing out precisely what the C 111 is, Mercedes-Benz launched a cool orange sports activities automotive idea known as the C 111 in 1969. It was powered by a rotary engine, and in 1970 a follow-up known as the C 111/II debuted. It’s the idea most frequently seen in photographs, however the C 111 story does not finish there. A dozen C 111/II take a look at vehicles had been constructed, ending with a turbo diesel changing the Wankel engine. Things obtained loopy after that with the C 111/III getting a radical aerodynamic physique and a extra highly effective diesel engine for excessive speeds. The closing idea was the C 111/IV in 1979, packing a twin-turbo V8 and a 250-mph high velocity.

Are we on the cusp of seeing the C 111/V with an electrical powertrain? Based on these teasers, it is secure to say one thing is coming and we could have all the knowledge as quickly as Mercedes sees match to share it with the world. Stay tuned.