Basic stopping areas...
Basic stopping areas with a toilet block and picnic tables are common on France"s autoroutes. Now, transport officials here believe they could help reduce the number of fatigue-related accidents on British M-ways by encouraging tired drivers to pull over rather than press on to the next services.
The large people carrier...
The large people carrier is now available with the same 2.0-litre TDI oil-burner from the Toledo. With 138bhp on tap, it propels the MPV from 0-60mph in 12.2 seconds and on to 119mph. The new engine is Euro IV emissions compliant, and returns 41.5mpg. It replaces the 128bhp 1.9-litre diesel, yet it costs the same, with the Alhambra Stylance 2.0 TDI starting at í‚á£21,120.
Other changes to the range include new badging at the rear and fresh paint schemes. Curtain airbags are now standard, while all manual models also come with ESP. Additionally, a new fixing mechanism has been fitted to the rear seats, which locks them more securely in the upright position if required.
Meanwhile, the Ibiza"s 1.4-litre TDI diesel has been uprated to also make it Euro IV compliant. Power is up to 79bhp, yet economy remains the same at 61.4mpg. However, the price has changed - all 1.4 TDI models have increased by í‚á£120, with the entry-level Reference starting at í‚á£9,320.