Overheating Triumph Stag could break UK heatwave records, scientists claim
Overheating Triumph Stag could break UK heatwave records, scientists claim
'What heatwave,' owner remarks, 'it's always this hot'
Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
Here's TopGear.com's roving correspondent, Cory Spondent, with his mostly incorrect exclusives from the world of motoring
An overheating Triumph Stag currently stuck in motorway traffic has been blamed for the recent heatwave sweeping the UK.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Top meteorologists rejected suggestions the sweltering conditions were due to slow-moving high-pressure systems, pointing the finger instead at a poorly engineered British GT car from the 1970s radiating extraordinary amounts of heat from its engine.
And experts are warning that if the mustard-coloured convertible Stag doesn't get any fresh air into its engine soon, it could push UK temperatures into never-before-seen numbers and break heatwave records.
'What heatwave?' the owner of the Stag remarked, 'it's always this hot. Right?
'Yeah, it gets a bit cosy in here, but I just pop the roof down. How else are people supposed to see my fabulous Triumph cap?
Advertisement - Page continues below
'Sure, sometimes in traffic the view over the bonnet looks a bit weird; 'hazy', you might say, but I just imagine that's because the Stag's V8 is so powerful it can't be contained.
'Yes, I topped up the coolant this morning and changed the water pump yesterday. That'll see me through until tomorrow. Right?
'Oh god did that sound like a timing chain to you?'
A series 1 Jaguar E-Type stuck in traffic a few cars behind the Stag was also in a state of extreme overheating, but the owner was too busy flirting with nearby motorists to notice.
Top Gear
Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Success Your Email*
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Ten family car favourites from 70s to 90s and their value today – from iconic Ford worth THOUSANDS to budget Vauxhall
SEVERAL iconic family favourite vehicles from the last three decades have a new worth today. From the Ford to Vauxhall, these cars that were once common among British families in the 1970s, '80s and '90s still have value in 2025. 9 9 9 Austin Allegro (1973-1982) Value today: £1,200 (Allegro 1.0 saloon) to £7,600 (Allegro Equipe, concours condition) The Allegro was one of the popular vehicle choices for car buyers with families, as well as being company vehicles for employers. In typical shades of Russet brown and Applejack green of the seventies, the Allegro brings a nostalgia. This is despite its known maladies as a vehicle in the contemporary world, and even back in the day. They have been justified to be a worthy classic car and collector item, due not only to the Austin brand, but also its unique Hydragas suspension and style. Editor of the UK Hagerty Price Guide, John Mayhead, has witnessed the steady rise in value of all Austin Allegro variants over the past decade whilst monitoring the value of classic cars in auction prices and policyholder quotes. He said: "Last year, only 7 per cent of all models in the Hagerty Price Guide rose in value." From the late 1960s up to the 2000s, families in Britain were likely to have one of the five generations of Ford Escorts. Children could enjoy riding in the back of these vehicles, whether in the lower trimmed Mk2 or more spacious and utilitarian third and fourth generations. Classic car graveyard found in field where a 1960s classic with rare feature worth up to $150K has been left to rot The Mk3 and Mk4 had a transverse engine layout, with a hatchback style rather than saloon. Models ranged from three and five-door hatches, as well as cabrio or sport versions with the XR3, XR3i, and RS1600i variants. To this day, there's still a lot to admire about the Escort, particularly with the Fast Ford racing and performance versions. They are highly collectable with a thriving club scene, and base models can still be found for cheap at around £3,000. Reliant Scimitar (1975 - 1986) Value today: £3,300 to £9,000 (GTE SE5a) The Reliant Scimitar GTE was an attractive choice of vehicle for those wanting something more exciting than a saloon or estate, but also looking for practicality. It became a performance motor offering a four-seat layout to appear as a family car too. In addition to the layout, the GTE provides a glass hatchback and proper boot, fibreglass body more durable against rust and well-proven Ford mechanics. Cost around £2,300 in 1973, the GTE became a viable cheaper alternative to something like an Audi 100 or 3.0-litre Granada GXL. Since last year, the Scimitar GTE has seen a slight dip in value, but remained relatively stagnant since 2016. John adds that some have been restored to a very high standard: "Lots of very cheap restoration cases available, but not for the faint-hearted." Austin Montego (1984 - 1995) Value today: £800 (Montego 1.3 saloon) to £11,000 (MG Montego Turbo, concours) Montegos have been considered the "most ordinary" of vehicles, but were certainly among the most popular of its time. A solid family car by Austin that had built its reputation for decades, Specifically, as a blue saloon built in 1989, they could regularly be seen parked in driveways or out on roads. Whilst they where just about everywhere in the 1980s, they became almost extinct by the 1990s. The Montego has increased in value as a vehicle model in 2025, following a flat period. 9 9 9 Citroen BX (1982 - 1994) Value today: £900 (S1 1.4 hatchback) to £10,100 (BX Sport, concours) This French saloon spanned the years of 1982 to 1994, with a styling that became a major success. The BX's lineup of XUD four-cylinders were among the best frugal diesels of the '80s. Whilst demand for the Citroen BX was not exceptionally high in the UK, the model reached great heights in France. A well-preserved 1992 BX 16S even sold for over €47,000 in 2021. Renault Espace Mk1 (1984 - 1991) Value today: £1,100 to £12,400 (Turbo D) Despite famously being a flop when first released for sale in 1984, the Espace soon became a European favourite as parents recognised its value. With several back seats, it was one of the easiest cars for loading kids in the back, who were able to thereby see through the vehicle's large glass windows. Families warmed up to this Renault's bold box shape, following 12 months of struggle for sales of this multi-purpose vehicle. John suggested: "Early versions of this groundbreaking vehicle are beginning to become very collectable. "Now rare in any configuration, they are not expensive cars and if you can find one, a fair runner could be under £2,000." Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2 (1983 - 1992) Value today: £900 (Driver) to £23,800 (GTI 16v) The VW Golf GTI Mk2 was an exciting release for car-loving families, coming with five doors and more space for practical and better riding. It was a reliable car too with its Volkswagen reputation, better fuel economy and improved comfort. It was also capable of reaching more than 130mph. John said: "For a long time, Mk 2 Golf values lagged far behind their Mk 1 predecessors, especially in the iconic GTI configuration, but in the last couple of years, they have gained ground. "There's a lot of love for this model, and although prices are down a little from their 2023 high, the general trend has been growth for the past 12 years." Ford Mondeo Mk1 (1993 - 2000) Value today: £800 (first-generation 1.6) to £8,500 (ST220) After their release in 1993, Mondeos became a common sight on roads through the mid-90s. They served as private motors, company vehicles, police cars, trade workhorses, and even appeared in the British Touring Car Championship. "Excluding motorsport variants, the Mondeo is a very affordable classic with even performance versions being available for under £5,000," John said. They are likely to become increasingly collectable as first generation cars that are more of a rarity. Rover 75 (1999 - 2005) Value today: £900 (2.0 CDTi) to £16,100 (MG ZT, concours) The Rover 75 featured a retro design both internally and externally, providing class and comfort, more than image or rock-hard suspension. Popular particularly among the older enthusiasts, the 75 has not seen a major decline in customers since first releasing in 1999. It is a car that is greatly designed for the pothole-riddled roads of Britain, known for its toughness and rarity. The model has therefore not seen much of a change to its value, holding their price as many other classics are dropping. Vauxhall Zafira A (1999 - 2005) Value today: £550 (1.6 Base) to £7000 (1.8 Elegance, concours) Sales of this smaller MPV skyrocketed after being put on the market. As a seven-seater hatchback, it was a clever car with fine driving characteristics, and based on the Astra G platform. Today, they are rare to find in good condition. 9 9
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
BYD's new EV flash chargers are as fast as petrol pumps – here's when they're arriving in the UK
BYD isn't content with its EVs outselling Tesla, now it wants to take on the American electric car giant's Supercharger charging network with an even faster network of BYD megawatt super-fast chargers. Tesla's Supercharger network is one of the biggest reasons to buy a Tesla, thanks to exclusive use of the charging points for Tesla owners at some locations and the ease with which they work with Tesla models – they recognise the car and automatically bill the owner. There are currently over 60,000 Tesla Superchargers across the world, with the latest units able to add up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes at speeds up to 250kW. BYD announced earlier this year that it has developed its own super-fast charger, called a Flash Charger, that can charge EVs at up to 1MW (1,000kW). BYD says a Flash Charger can add 1.2 miles of charge every second and up to 249 miles-worth of charge in just five minutes, equalling the speed at which petrol cars are able to fill up. Speaking exclusively to The Independent at the launch of the new budget BYD Dolphin Surf electric car in London, BYD Special Advisor Alfredo Altavilla revealed that the first of these so-called Flash Chargers will be coming to the UK next year, while also saying that BYD was aiming to rival Tesla's Supercharger network. When asked when we will see the first Flash Charger in the UK, Altavilla said: 'In 2026. You will get a few stations in every country in Europe. They will be branded BYD, but they will be open to everybody.' Unlike Tesla Superchargers, Flash Chargers will be open to owners of any electric car. However, the fastest charging speeds will be unique to cars with the technology to accept megawatt charging. BYD's latest car tech, its Super e-Platform, features a 1,000V high-voltage architecture with a Flash Charging Battery. It will be available first in BYD's Han L and Tang L models that can now be ordered in China. In Europe and the UK the new Flash Charging Battery could debut in a new model from Denza, BYD's Porsche -rivalling upmarket brand. Altavilla told us that Denza models would debut BYD's latest tech across Europe, along with sports cars and SUVs from BYD's luxury brand Yangwang. 'The idea is for Denza and Yangwang to be the so-called technology manifesto of the BYD group,' said Altavilla. 'Those are the two brands where all new technologies will be firstly introduced. So, the flash charging for example.' Altavilla confirmed that the first Denza model, the Z9 GT saloon, will go on sale in the UK 'at the beginning of 2026.' The Z9 GT would be followed by an MPV, the D9, and then a number of SUVs. Denza models are likely to be sold through a unique network of dealers, or with existing BYD partners where those dealers had experience of selling premium models. Following the announcement of its Flash Chargers, BYD has been contacted by companies wanting to work on the technology with them and to help them build a network of super-fast chargers. 'The minute we made this public, we, and specifically I, started getting dozens of calls from all the companies in the space that want to become our partner in doing this together,' said Altavilla. 'To the extent that if we find the right partner, we'll do it with them. Otherwise, we'll do it on our own.' Altavilla was speaking at the launch of the new BYD Dolphin Surf in London, the brand's sixth new model to go on sale in a little over two years and also it's cheapest, starting at just £18,650.
Geeky Gadgets
2 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Land Rover Defender 110 Trophy Edition Launched
The Defender 110 Trophy Edition is a bold new offering from Land Rover, designed to honor the brand's storied history of adventure and exploration. This special edition vehicle is packed with features that make it the perfect companion for off-road enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike. With its rugged design, heritage-inspired colors, and expedition-ready accessories, the Trophy Edition is built to tackle any terrain while turning heads wherever it goes. Land Rover has created a vehicle that not only celebrates its rich heritage but also caters to the needs of modern adventurers who demand the best in performance, style, and functionality. Heritage-Inspired Design and Colors The Defender 110 Trophy Edition is available in two striking colors: Deep Sandglow Yellow and Keswick Green. These shades pay homage to the Defender's legacy, with Deep Sandglow Yellow evoking memories of international Trophy-style events and Keswick Green celebrating the vehicle's rural roots in the UK. The choice of these colors reflects Land Rover's commitment to preserving the Defender's iconic status while appealing to a new generation of adventurers. Both colors can be enhanced with an optional Matte Protective Film, which adds durability and protection for those who venture off the beaten path. The exterior is further elevated with Gloss Black accents on the bonnet, lower bodyside, brake calipers, and rear recovery eyes, creating a striking contrast that emphasizes the vehicle's rugged elegance. These design elements seamlessly blend the Defender's classic silhouette with modern touches, resulting in a vehicle that is both timeless and contemporary. Adventure-Ready Features The Defender 110 Trophy Edition is equipped with a host of features designed for exploration. Gloss Black 20-inch alloy wheels with All-Terrain Tyres ensure reliable grip on any surface, while a Dark Rear Scuff Plate and Gloss Black Wheelarch Protection add durability. These features not only enhance the vehicle's off-road capabilities but also contribute to its bold and aggressive appearance. The Trophy Edition Accessory Pack takes functionality to the next level, offering an Expedition Roof Rack, a Black Deployable Roof Ladder, a Side-Mounted Gear Carrier, and a Raised Air Intake for dust filtration. These additions make it easier to carry gear, access rooftop storage, and navigate challenging environments. The Expedition Roof Rack provides ample space for storing equipment, while the Black Deployable Roof Ladder allows for easy access to the roof. The Side-Mounted Gear Carrier offers additional storage options, and the Raised Air Intake ensures that the engine receives clean air even in dusty conditions. These features demonstrate Land Rover's attention to detail and understanding of the needs of adventurers who require both form and function in their vehicles. Pricing and Availability The Defender 110 Trophy Edition is now available to order in the UK, with pricing starting at £89,810 OTR, which includes the Trophy Edition Accessories Pack. This price point reflects the vehicle's premium features, exclusive design elements, and the inclusion of the comprehensive Accessory Pack. For those looking to further enhance their vehicle, the Accessory Pack is also available separately for £4,995, including fitting. This allows customers to customize their Defender 110 Trophy Edition according to their specific needs and preferences. This exclusive model made its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it impressed audiences with its performance and design. The event provided an ideal platform for showcasing the vehicle's capabilities and attracting potential buyers who appreciate the combination of luxury, adventure, and heritage that the Defender 110 Trophy Edition embodies. Specifications Colors: Deep Sandglow Yellow, Keswick Green (optional Matte Protective Film available) Deep Sandglow Yellow, Keswick Green (optional Matte Protective Film available) Exterior Features: Gloss Black bonnet, lower bodyside, brake calipers, rear recovery eyes, 20-inch alloy wheels with All-Terrain Tyres, Dark Rear Scuff Plate, Gloss Black Wheelarch Protection Gloss Black bonnet, lower bodyside, brake calipers, rear recovery eyes, 20-inch alloy wheels with All-Terrain Tyres, Dark Rear Scuff Plate, Gloss Black Wheelarch Protection Interior Features: Ebony Windsor Leather seats, Trophy illuminated treadplates, exposed Cross Car Beam with laser-etched endcaps Ebony Windsor Leather seats, Trophy illuminated treadplates, exposed Cross Car Beam with laser-etched endcaps Accessory Pack: Expedition Roof Rack, Black Deployable Roof Ladder, Side-Mounted Gear Carrier, Front and Rear Classic Mud Flaps, Raised Air Intake Expedition Roof Rack, Black Deployable Roof Ladder, Side-Mounted Gear Carrier, Front and Rear Classic Mud Flaps, Raised Air Intake Pricing: £89,810 OTR (including Accessory Pack), Accessory Pack separately priced at £4,995 (including fitting) Explore More with Land Rover For those intrigued by the Defender 110 Trophy Edition, Land Rover offers a range of vehicles and accessories tailored to adventure enthusiasts. From advanced off-road technology to customizable features, there's something for everyone looking to explore the great outdoors in style and comfort. The brand's commitment to innovation, luxury, and performance is evident in its entire lineup, which includes the versatile Discovery, the refined Range Rover, and the compact yet capable Evoque. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or a weekend adventurer, Land Rover's lineup has the perfect vehicle to suit your needs. With a rich history of conquering the world's most challenging terrains and a dedication to providing the best in automotive engineering, Land Rover continues to be the go-to brand for those who demand the very best in their adventure companions. Source Land Rover Filed Under: Auto News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
