News in Heswall

Hyundai and Kia are exploring the idea of making their electric cars vibrate in an effort to win over petrol and diesel car drivers who don't like the silent motion of an electric car.

The Korean brands have filed patents in the US for a device that can mimic the vibrations of an internal combustion engine and hopes that it will win over drivers who miss the thrum of a traditional engine.

Just over a year ago we reported how the Community Interest Company, One West Kirby, had canvassed residents for their opinions of the town, and their ideas for how it might be improved and become fit for the future.

Just over one thousand people responded, identifying, amongst other things, their desire for more local independent shops, community green spaces and events like festivals, along with a safer environment for pedestrians and fewer cars.

Whitfield Business Hub, based on Pensby Road in Heswall, provides office spaces and virtual reception services to a wide variety of different people and businesses.

We love to look after our office tenants like hotel guests, offering a high level of friendly and professional service. With a wide range of clients we need to be flexible and adaptable to meet their varying needs. Some are large and lively, others very subtle.

Above: Joe Cole as Harry Palmer in ITV's The Ipcress File. Photograph: ITV

When ITV Drama decided to reboot The IPCRESS File, a much loved spy movie based on a best-selling book and starring Michael Caine, writers and producers had no idea that world events would conspire to make its 1960s setting horribly relevant to a contemporary audience.

Do your alloys look like a dog has been chewing on them? The new Fisker could make kerb damage to your precious wheels a thing of the past, thanks to a sophisticated radar warning system.

The Fisker Ocean, which had its European debut this week, has what Fisker describes as "ground-breaking Digital Radar technology" with five high-definition sensors on the four corners and the front of the car to provide 360° coverage.

Tesla has opened its Supercharger network to non-Tesla drivers living in four more countries as the brand expands its trial. Selected sites in France, Germany and Norway have been opened up all to electric car owners following a successful trial in The Netherlands last year. Although Belgian electric car owners can access the new sites, no Supercharger sites in Belgium have been opened up.

The move, which has been welcomed by non-Tesla drivers in the countries where the network has opened, marks the start of a new phase of the trial.

Amir Khan and Kell Brook will finally settle their long-running grudge, which stretches back for over 15 years, in the ring tonight.

Competitiveness in sport is always healthy for fans and the popularity of the sport. In this case, the visceral hatred between the pair dates back to their amateur days.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE is one of those cars that seems like it has every imaginable box ticked. It'll do 40 miles of pure electric running (according to official WLTP figures) courtesy of its 13kWh battery, before a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine kicks in to keep the GTE functioning like any 'normal' petrol car.

Due to the Golf's charging rate being capped at 3.6kW, the fastest you'll be able to charge that battery is just under four hours from a dedicated home wallbox, or some five hours from a normal three-pin domestic socket. The cables are provided for both of these charging methods, and it's reassuring to know that the Golf GTE's Type 2 charging socket is compatible with most public car chargers.

While rivals have been scrambling to produce designed-from-the-ground-up electric cars such as the BMW i3 and VW ID.3, Mercedes has taken a more practical approach – just convert existing cars. The first example of this was the EQC, which is an impressive machine but undoubtably has a few compromises as a result of sharing big bits with the petrol and diesel versions.

The company's next all-electric car was this EQA, which uses exactly the same formula. Unlike the posh and pricey EQC though, this is aimed at the more affordable end of the electric car market with prices starting at £44,495.

Vauxhall is making serious headway in its drive to electrify its range. The battery-powered Corsa-e is one the UK's best-selling and most affordable small electric cars, while the Mokka-e has been designed cater for buyers who need a little more space and demand a lot more style.

Looks are always a question of personal taste of course, but there is no doubt that the new Mokka is now a much more interesting car to look at.