Author Archives: driveeuropenews

IED Turkey – Tuzla parking protest

Last updated 21:00 BST.

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NEWS: IED Turkey – Tuzla parking protest.

Channel delays: Strike in Le Havre this weekend cancels DFDS/LDLines Portsmouth-Le Havre services.

Weather alerts: Amber alert for heavy rain north east Spain and storms southern France.

Weather: Chilly, dry East. Warmer, unsettled west.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic, from 05:30BST.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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Random:

Random pic: on the A3 southbound between Cologne and Frankfurt, May 2013. Torrential rain – terrible for: visibility. Great for: cleaning the windscreen. Go figure.

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TURKEY. Police have destroyed a roadside bomb found in the Lice district of Diyarbakir province in the south east of the country. It is assumed to have been planted by the PKK terrorist group. Later reports say it weighed 100kg. BOSNIA. Residents in Tuzla drilled the tyres, smashed the wing mirrors and spray painted ’feel free to park here again’ on a brand new – though unlicensed – BMW X5.

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Winter’s coming.

Last updated 20:15 BST.

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Channel delays: none reported currently.

Weather alerts: Amber alert for heavy rain south east Ireland and north east Spain. Plus high winds Montenegro.

Weather: Warmest France/Spain. Fine Italy. Sunny Scandinavia.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic, from 05:30BST.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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Winter's coming.

Winter’s coming. The seasonal ferry services are finishing, mountain passes are closing and police in Scandinavia are saying it’s time to switch to winter tyres. In Finland, 1 October is Reflector Day, from when all pedestrians are required by law to carry a reflector, or wear reflective material, when walking along roads in the dark. You can imagine how Jeremy Clarkson would react to a similar law in the UK, hi-viz vests all round, but it makes sense to us that all road users should take responsibility for themselves. Pic via www.liikenneturva.fi, Finnish Road Safety.

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Tesla Model S biggest seller Norway – Oresund lights up.

Last updated 21:45 BST.

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Channel delays: none reported so far.

Weather alerts: Amber alert for heavy rain southern Ireland.

Weather: Rain/cloud but sunny patches up and down central Europe.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic, from 05:30BST.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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Peberholm.

Peberholm. The artificial island in the middle of the Oresund between Denmark and Sweden, where the famous bridge becomes a tunnel for the final stretch to Copenhagen, had a special light installation last night to commemorate the 2 October 1943, 70 years ago, when 7,000 Jews escaped imminent deportation. There was no bridge then of course, just a fleet of sailing boats. It’s has been subject to revision on several occasions since, on both sides of the water, but the fact remains: 99% of Denmark’s Jewish population survived the war.

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NORWAY. Tesla’s Model S did indeed end up the top selling car in Norway in September taking 5.1% of the entire market. It sold 616 units compared to 561 of the number two placed VW Golf. Tesla has sold an incredible 808 Model S since it went on sale in August. Obviously early adopters are at work – in Norway it sells for £47-63,000 – even so, all eyes will be peeled for the next set of sales figures at the beginning of November.

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Silvretta closed – Bernina Pass – H2 for Germany – Jurmala free – Fuel low France – Ukraine DRL

Last updated 18:00 BST.

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NEWS: new German H2 network – Jurmala suspends daily charge – France fuel 9 month low.

Channel delays: Some tech hitch cancellations P&O Dover-Calais today – normal service resumes tomorrow. LDLines St Nazaire-Gijon cancelled today and tomorrow for repairs.

Weather alerts: Amber alerts for heavy rain west Portugal, east Romania and Bulgaria.

Weather: Fair Scandinavia, but some cloud and rain in the west.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic, from 05:30BST.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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The 2,032m Silvretta High Alpine Road – Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse – between Tyrol and Vorarlberg in western Austria has closed for ‘essential maintenance’. The road on the west - Vorarlberg – side took a beating from heavy snow last winter, heavy rain in May and June and the heat wave in July. It should re-open next June. For more info see www.silvretta-bielerhohe.at (German only).

AUSTRIA. The 2,032m Silvretta High Alpine Road – Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse – between Tyrol and Vorarlberg in western Austria has closed for ‘essential maintenance’. The road on the west – Vorarlberg – side took a beating from heavy snow last winter, heavy rain in May and June and the heat wave in July. It should re-open next June. For more info see www.silvretta-bielerhohe.at (German only).

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GERMANY. Plans have been unveiled for a national network of hydrogen filling stations, that used to power fuel cell vehicles, FCVs, where the only tailpipe emission is water vapour. One hundred filling stations will be installed in the next four years with a target of 400 by 2023 – one for every 90km on motorways between densely populated areas. There are fifteen currently. The consortium behind the project – H2 Mobility – consists of cv manufacturer Linde, Air Liquide, Daimler, OMV, Shell and Total.

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The Baltic Beach Hotel, Jurmala, Latvia.

The Baltic Beach Hotel, Jurmala, Latvia.

LATVIA. Coastal resort Jurmala – favourite of Brezhnev and Khrushchev – 30km from capital Riga, has suspended its 1LVL (£1.20) entrance fee for cars for the autumn/winter season. Noted for its white quartz beaches, old wooden buildings and restored Soviet relic Baltic Beach Hotel.

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FRANCE. Fuel has hit a nine month low according to The Connexion on the back of the semi-resolution to the Syria Crisis. Diesel is currently €1.3415 and unleaded €1.5013.

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Bernina Pass, Switzerland.

Archives: The Bernina Pass. Another handy Swiss road, connecting St Moritz/Graubünden in the east (and the Engadine Valley) directly with northern Italy/Brescia/The Lakes. It tops out at 7,638ft which sounds scary but it’s actually quite shallow between the mountains most of the way. Apart from gasping for breath you’d never know you were that high.

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UKRAINE. As per a new law that came into effect on 15 April this year, all cars must display either Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) or dipped headlights at all times when driving between populated areas between 1 October and 1 May.

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Uncertain if new Dartford toll tag can also be used on French motorways (and vice versa)

Despite the same company running both systems it is not certain yet that the upcoming Dartford Toll system will be compatible with the French motorway Liber-T auto toll tag.

Plus, tips on how to use and look after the tag – and get some money off.

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tag

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Over 32,000 UK customers now use the Liber-T tag that automatically pays motorway tolls in France.

That’s up from 20,000 earlier this year.

Impressive though that is, these numbers would obviously increase substantially if the new auto toll system for the Dartford Tunnel, due next year, could also be used on the French autoroute system. The same company will administer both.

As it stands however that is far from certain.

Neither the Highways Agency – who last week awarded French company Sanef a £367m, ten year contract to run the Dartford tolls – nor Sanef Tolling, a UK subsidiary who run the Liber-T system for British motorists – could today commit themselves to running compatible systems.

A spokesman for Sanef Tolling told DriveEurope today it was ‘absolutely our intention’ to have interoperable systems but that it was too early to say. Meanwhile, the Highways Agency tells us the technical specifications have yet to be decided, and might not be for another year.

It might not sound like an enormous hardship for your average driver to have two tags on their windscreen. But we’re entering territory already well known to UK hauliers who drive abroad, that of a ‘blizzard’ of tags and vignette stickers needed to drive in various countries. How nice if this issue could be nipped in the bud.

On the flip side, how great if the thousands of motorists who use the Dartford Tunnel each day also have the hassle free option of using their tags in France. It might encourage them to go further.

What else we found out today:

Discounts – an exclusive deal means all Eurotunnel passengers who apply for the Liber-T tag save the €10 set up fee. The annual €6 admin charge is also halved from the second year. This reduces the upfront cost to around €30, €20 of which is a refundable deposit.

Removal – the tag holder is designed to stick fast in all conditions. If for any reason you need to remove it, say to sell the car, heat the area with a hair dryer – for instance – to make it easier to remove.

Problems – 99% of all problems, we are told, are down to the tag being incorrectly positioned. Certain windscreen coatings can prevent the sensors at toll stations picking up the signal. The tag is ideally placed behind the ‘mottled’ area at the top of the windscreen behind the rear view mirror.

Battery Life – the batteries in the tag should last for between five and seven years. They are not designed to be replaced. Users of the old system which has less long lasting batteries – who would have set up their accounts in France via credit card – should see the bottom of this page on Sanef’s website where they can swap for a new one. UK customers will have their tags automatically swapped before the battery runs out.

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For more information see www.SanefTolling.co.uk, or read what we wrote earlier in the year ‘Is it worth getting the French auto toll tag?‘

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Croatia coast road.

Last updated 18:30 BST.

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Channel delays: Tech hitch cancellations P&O Dover-Calais today and tomorrow – normal service resumes Wednesday. Revised schedule Condor, this evening’s Weymouth sailings now arrive in Poole. LDLines St Nazaire-Gijon cancelled today and tomorrow for repairs.

Weather alerts: Amber alerts for heavy rain across southern Europe – Portugal, Italy, Balkans.

Weather: Rain across the south. Best weather Scandinavia.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic, from 05:30BST.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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Random pic: northern Croatia. Having successfully negotiated our mountain detour - with hearts I our mouths most of the time - we get our first proper view of the Adriatic.

Random pic: Jadronovo, northern Croatia. Having successfully negotiated a mountain detour – with hearts in our mouths – we are rewarded with our first proper view of the Adriatic.

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What we know about the new 911 Targa.

Last updated 21:00 BST.

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Channel delays: tech hitch means cancellations P&O Dover-Calais tomorrow too.

Weather alerts: Red alert heavy rain north coast Croatia. Amber alert heavy rain/storms north/west Italy.

Weather: Heavy showers Spain, settled for central Europe.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic, from 14:00BST.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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FEATURE: What we know – and what we don’t know – about the new Porsche 911 Targa.

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The new 911 Targa. Picture filched from Jalopnik.com on a public interest basis.

The new 911 Targa. Picture filched from Jalopnik.com, on a public interest basis.

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Jalopnik scored a huge scoop on Friday when somebody at a Porsche dealer event surreptitiously photographed the presentation and sent the slides in.

Laid bare are details of the upcoming Macan SUV, Boxster and Cayman GTS and – most importantly for us – the new 911 Targa.

The original exemplar of all the go-anywhere-do-anything qualities we admire in cars – smart, 4×4, glass/open roof, compact and practical – this car is hugely anticipated at DriveEurope. We won’t be driving one for a decade at least but dreams are important in this business.

What the new model gains over at least the two previous generations is a hefty dose of cool. Exactly like the convertible on which it was based, the old car was written off by enthusiasts as being unworthy of the 911 name: too much weight on top and lacking the uncompromised curves of its coupe stablemates.

The new one however evokes the first, universally admired Targas with a convex – concave? – rear screen, stainless steel roll hoop and removable roof section. One for the purists and the practitioners.

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The new 911 Targa. Going back to its roots.

The new 911 Targa. Going back to its roots. Photo via Wikipedia.

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So what do we now know? First thing, it will be unveiled on 27 November. Seven weeks away. It appears in public for the first time at the Detroit Show in January and goes on sale in April. In the US it will sell for the ‘low $100,000 to $120,000’.

Secondly, as Jalopnik rightly highlighted, it has a ‘fully automatic roof system to satisfy customer demands for comfort.’

It’s an enormous relief to know owners will not have to manually detach and store the overhead roof section, thus compromising the 911’s legendary practicality. Precisely how it works though is still a tantalising mystery.

‘Based on 911 Carrera 4 and S Coupe with 350/400 hp. AWD.’ Like the previous models it’s 4×4 only. But based on the coupe. As opposed to the convertible?

‘Characteristic B pillar of 1960s and 1970s Targa.’ This we knew. That stainless steel roll over hoop. It’s worth remembering however that the rear screen on the earliest Targa was plastic, and retractable.

So that’s great. Our intense thirst for details of the new Targa – partially – satisfied.

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Targa geekery: unlike other 911s, the rear screen on recent Targa models has been a liftback, making the car even more versatile. The question is, what tricks does the rear screen of the new Targa have up its sleeve?

Unlike other 911s, the rear screen on recent Targa models has been a liftback, making the car even more versatile. The question is, what tricks does the rear screen of the new Targa have up its sleeve?

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There are however three things that bother us. Jalopnik brilliantly observes that the picture of the Macan used in the dealer presentation is actually a render taken from Autobild magazine. What?! Why would they do that?

And spy pictures of the new Targa, appearing regularly for months – the latest in Autocar this week – clearly show the boot lid from the convertible 911. Presuming that mechanical arms do not sprout from the back of the car to snatch away the roof section, what exactly will be stored underneath this rippling section of bodywork?

Lastly, car manufacturers are increasingly canny about leaking pictures of upcoming models. Even the magazines admit that ‘spy pictures’ are often taken with tacit if not complicit approval. Put it this way, Porsche won’t have to employ techniques worthy of the NSA to root out the traitor in its midst at that dealer presentation. A simple bit of triangulation and phoning around will do. Anyway, we hope nobody’s job and career is on the line here.

Whatever. There’s still enough to learn that we’ll be waking up extra early on 27 November to drink in all the details of the new 911 Targa. It’s probably too much to hope that something truly fabulous happens to the rear screen to earn the newcomer the same Red Dot design award as its predecessor.

More than likely the roof section just trundles away to obscure rearward vision. It’s surely too much to hope that Porsche has finally cracked open air 911 motoring in a way everybody will admire. Certainly the new car will have to contain one essential Porsche element: something for the purists to moan about.

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Klausenday

Last updated 18:00 BST.

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Channel delays: tech hitch means some cancellations on P&O Dover-Calais, this evening and tomorrow.

Weather alerts: Amber alert for heavy rain central Cote d’Azur, France.

Weather: warmest south east. Rain north west France.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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It must be historic hillclimb weekend.

It must be high profile historic hillclimb weekend. There’s the Edelweiss Trophy at Rossfeld in south east Germany with Porsche legend Walter Rohrl. Even snazzier perhaps is the Klausenrennen in Switzerland. Run on the Klausenpass, route 17 between Altdorf – on the A2 motorway, at the bottom of Lake Lucerne – and Linthal, along the Schachten Valley. Just be aware that r17 will be closed from 08:00 all day over the weekend.

For more info: Klausenrennen, Rossfeldrennen.

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Bulgaria: new measures to tackle traffic cop corruption.

A new system is in place to tackle a kind of corruption that isn’t so much endemic as universal.

This article has been updated below with details of the new complaints procedure.

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Bulgaria: (some) good roads, and great scenery. It’s tempting to put your foot down, but be careful.

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Bribing a traffic policeman was a highlight of our recent drive through Bulgaria.

We were definitely speeding, though not quite as much as the radar gun made out. Anyway, he plucked the two €10 notes out of my wallet with a comically deft manoeuvre and our business was concluded with a handshake. Needless to say, we didn’t break the main road 90kmh speed limit for the rest of our time in the country (you can hit 140kmh – 87mph – on the motorways).

Ours was not an isolated case. In a 2011 covert investigation, the only traffic unit out of sixty that didn’t take bribes was the one involved in the operation. Clearly, something had to be done.

Yesterday, the Interior Ministry announced measures designed to cut down on the opportunities for bribery.

From now on, a vehicle can only be stopped if it is being driven recklessly, on suspicion of DUI, for dangerously transporting hazardous materials or if there is evidence of it being involved in an accident or crime. In time, speeding offences will be taken care of by post.

Police cars will be tracked by GPS. If a vehicle is stopped, the details have to be radioed in.

It might not sound like a fool proof system, especially where police have shown themselves to be adept at fiddling equipment. But the ministry says this is the first time in recent years that any attempt has been made to tackle corrupt traffic police. If it doesn’t work they will start looking further up the chain.

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Update: 3 October. The authorities have now published the email address for any complaints about police corruption: kat-signali@mvr.bg

Specify the date, time and place, the circumstances, and the details of the team that stopped you: the police number (painted on the bonnet of the patrol car), the vehicle registration number, and the names and/or numbers of the traffic police.

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No Rome for FormulaE – Denmark rejects road tolls – Swish Finn traffic cops

Last updated 21:00 BST.

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NEWS: No Rome for FormulaE – Denmark rejects road tolls – Swish Finn traffic cops.

Channel delays: Condor rescheduled from Weymouth>Poole, Monday 30.9.13.

Weather alerts: Amber alert for heavy rain, most of Portugal and west Spain and for storms west Austria.

Weather: Cool/wet Iberia. Fine Mediterranean. Showers east.

Traffic: see @DE_Traffic.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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Rome will not feature on the inaugural Formula E racing calendar. It’s a big surprise considering the Eternal City was scene of the series’ first glitzy launch event last December. Since then, of course, the previous mayor has been deposed in favour of the reputedly anti-car Ignazio Marino. As we’ve reported ad infinitum, the road around the Coliseum has since been closed to private traffic because vibration and pollution from cars has damaged the ancient amphitheatre. It wouldn’t be seemly then to turn it into a racetrack. But the point of the non-vibrating, non-polluting Formula E is that they help seduce the general public away from conventionally powered vehicles. Perhaps the bike-mad ‘Mayorino’ really does have a problem with powered transport in all its forms. Let’s hope he never gets his hands on Ferrari.

Rome will not feature on the inaugural Formula E racing calendar, announced today. It’s a big surprise considering the Eternal City was scene of the series’ first glitzy launch event last December. Since then, of course, the previous mayor has been deposed in favour of the reputedly anti-car Ignazio Marino. As we’ve reported ad infinitum, the road around the Coliseum has since been closed to private traffic because vibration and pollution from cars has damaged the ancient amphitheatre. It wouldn’t be seemly then to turn it into a racetrack. But the point of the non-vibrating, non-polluting Formula E is that they help seduce the general public away from conventionally powered vehicles. Perhaps the bike-mad ‘Mayorino’ really does have a problem with powered transport in all its forms. Let’s hope he never gets his hands on Ferrari.

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Denmark – the government has rejected a proposal from its own committee to start a road pricing scheme in the capital. Instead, more money will be invested in public transport. A congestion zone plan for Copenhagen was abandoned last year after overwhelming opposition. The govt subsequently convened a panel of experts to advise on ways to tackle growing traffic. Their report, unequivocally backing a pay-per-km scheme, was published today. Transport minister Pia Olsen Dhyr says she thinks it is ‘too early’ to start work on road pricing. Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen was quoted saying, ‘Let’s get down to business instead of discussing theoretical solutions for far ahead in the future.’

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Finnish police have taken delivery of a new toy, a Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake 350CDI 4MATIC.

Finnish police have taken delivery of a new toy, a Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake 350CDI 4MATIC. It was actually donated by Tekniikan Mailmaa ‘Technology World’ magazine who have regularly given fancy cars to the national traffic cops to celebrate milestone anniversaries. The police received a Dodge Aspen Police Special in 1978, a Volvo 245 in 1983, Audi 90 quattro in 1988 and a Jaguar S-Type R in 2003. It’s the magazine’s 60th birthday this year. On that note, police are now advising drivers to switch to winter, or even studded tyres, after the first snowfall yesterday. Winter tyres are compulsory from 1 December-1 March. Studded tyres can be used from 1 November until Easter Monday or at other times when conditions demand.

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Aston Martin: 100 customers enjoyed two days of driving, boating and champagne tasting at Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne in Switzerland earlier this month. Presumably part of the company’s centenary celebrations. Not jealous at all.

Aston Martin: 100 customers enjoyed two days of driving, boating and champagne tasting at Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne in Switzerland earlier this month, part of the company’s centenary celebrations. Not jealous at all.

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