The Grand Tour has released an extended clip from the upcoming Eurocrash special, which shows Richard Hammond crashing once again. Hammond was racing a Soviet-era open-wheel race car when a part fell off, causing the engine to blow up. Fortunately, he only suffered a hurt leg and was otherwise fine. The episode is set to premiere on June 16.
In the clip, Hammond starts off strong by quickly overtaking some cars ahead of him. He engages in a fierce battle with a bright blue car.
Vauxhall has unveiled the prices for the new Astra Electric, the latest addition to its fully electric car range. The Astra Electric will be offered in two trim levels, the sporty GS and the top-of-the-range Ultimate, with prices starting at £39,995 on the road. Order books are now open and deliveries are expected to begin later this summer.
The Astra Electric is equipped with Vauxhall’s next-generation 54kWh lithium-ion battery, which provides an improved performance and a range of up to 258 miles (WLTP). It also features Vauxhall’s most advanced technology suite, Intelli-Drive 2.0, which includes semi-autonomous lane change and intelligent speed adaption.
Later this year, Vauxhall will expand its electric lineup with the introduction of the Astra Sports Tourer Electric. With these new additions, Vauxhall will offer a total of six fully electric models in its passenger car range, in addition to its existing fully electric Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) lineup. Vauxhall aims to become an electric-only manufacturer by 2028, seven years ahead of the UK Government’s targets.
The Astra Electric showcases Vauxhall’s Bold and Pure design language, featuring the Vauxhall Vizor front end with LED headlights and sensors. The interior boasts the Pure Panel Pro infotainment system, with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch central display. The Astra Electric also introduces Intelli-Drive 2.0, Vauxhall’s latest driver assistance package, which includes features such as Advanced Intelligent Speed Adaption and semi-automated lane change assist.
The Astra Electric is powered by a 115kW (156hp) electric motor and a 54kWh battery. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and has a top speed of 106mph. The Astra Electric comes with an 11kW on-board charger as standard, allowing for a full charge from empty in 5 hours and 45 minutes using a public charger. It also supports rapid charging of up to 100kW, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in just 30 minutes.
Vauxhall offers a range of finance options for the Astra Electric, including a 0% three-year Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) route with monthly payments starting from £259. Customers who place their orders by the end of July will also receive a £500 test drive incentive. Vauxhall’s ‘Plug & Go’ offer allows customers to spread the cost of a home wallbox across the length of their vehicle finance agreement, making the switch to electric more accessible.
In the year 2000, Suzuki released the DR-Z400S, which was a perfect timing as the motorcycle industry was about to go through significant changes. The four-strokes bikes soon took over the market, and most Japanese two-stroke bikes went out of production. The DR-Z was Japan’s second-best dual-sport bike and was considered the best in its category until the release of the Honda CRF450L in 2019. Even now, the Suzuki sells for $7099, which is approximately $3000 less than the Honda, making it an excellent purchase.
AS TIMES CHANGE
Time flows, and although the DR-Z was built in a different era, it wouldn’t be that different if it were built today. Of course, the carburetor would have to go, but the motor is a compact, double-overhead-cam four-valve with electric start and a counterbalancer. It is not much different from most modern four-stroke motocross bikes. The DR-Z uses a shim and buckets to drive the valves directly, and there are other old-school design elements like the “right-side up” fork, steel tank, frame, and handlebar.
The DR-Z soon became the Suzuki off-road race team’s primary weapon out west since there were no Honda CRF450R or serious motocross four-strokes from Suzuki or Kawasaki at the time. Mike Kiedrowski won back-to-back WORCS championships in 2001 and 2002 on a Yoshimura-built DR-Z against a field of Yamaha 426s.
Despite being an exceptional bike, it’s challenging to find a dual-sport version of Kiedrowski’s DR-Z. It’s still possible but would cost a lot and still not match the modern 450s. Today, the Suzuki DR-Z400S is more of a trail bike than a competition bike. It performs reasonably well in its stock form, with only two horsepower less than a Husqvarna FE350S at peak performance.
There is a range of aftermarket parts available for the DR-Z400S, including Keihin FCR carburetors and DOT-approved knobbies. However, the main appeal of the Suzuki is its low price. It’s more effective than one might think, and with decent tires, it can keep up with more modern dual-sport bikes on moderately difficult singletrack. It has great handling and suspension, and the ergonomics are almost modern-like, giving the rider a comfortable experience.
The only significant limitation is the stock Bridgestone Trail Wing tires, which are street-oriented and unsuited for rough terrain. It would be best to equip the Suzuki with aftermarket DOT-approved knobbies, but it’s important to note that they wear out faster than stock tires, which aren’t ideal for mostly pavement riding. It might be a good idea to have an extra set of wheels with knobbies set aside for special off-road occasions.
The Suzuki DR-Z400S is an
