Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/388498
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2014 MOTORING 44 Keeping your dog safe during a car journey 24 Carat Aston Martin marks 50th Anniversary of Goldfinger USE a car harness, travel crate or sturdy and properly-fitted dog- guard to ensure your dog is safely restrained on car journeys. Travelling is thirsty work for a dog. Ensure that all animals have a ready supply of fresh drinking water at all times. A worthwhile invest- ment is a non-spillable bowl. Plan to make plenty of stops along the way to allow him to stretch his legs and spend a penny. But be sure to check that you've stopped in a safe place before taking him for a walk. The heat inside a stationary ve- hicle can be deadly and it's never a good idea to leave a dog alone in a car, especially on a warm or hot day. Make certain that your pet isn't sit- ting in direct sunshine while you are travelling and aim to only be on the road during the coolest parts of the day. Be careful that any sun visors you use are not going to obscure your vision while driving. Always ensure that someone stays with your dog when you stop at a service sta- tion. It isn't only humans who suffer from car sickness. Avoiding feeding your dog just before travelling will help reduce the likelihood of him becoming poorly. Remember the legal responsibili- ties you have relating to the control of your dog. The interior of your car legally constitutes a public place. Be sure that your dog is using a muzzle in the car if you have been ordered to keep your dog muzzled in public. It might look cute and cool but al- lowing your dog to stick his head of the window can be dangerous. He could be injured by a passing ve- hicles, or his eyes or ears could be damaged by particles in the air. An- other possibility is that your dog will jump out of the window, with poten- tially devastating consequences. Using sedatives to calm your dog before and during a long journey should only ever be a last resort. If you do think it is necessary, then only ever use sedatives that have been specifically prescribed for your pet by his vet. Plan ahead and make sure that any vehicle recovery service you sub- scribe to will allow your pet to travel in the cab of a rescue truck with you in the event a breakdown. FORD'S next-generation electric and plug-in hybrid cars will be be- spoke models, rather than main- stream Fords which have been fitted with batteries and electric motors, according to a company insider. At the moment, the only elec- tric Ford on sale is a variant of the Focus hatchback, which has a 110- mile range and costs £28,580 (with a £5000 Government grant). How- ever, the company feels that many electric car buyers want to be seen to be driving something with the latest technology, so is planning to follow the example set by Nissan with its electric-only Leaf and BMW with its 'i' range. In addition to the new range of bespoke electric and plug-in hybrid cars, Ford will offer conventional hybrid versions of its mainstream models. However, it has ruled out producing a range-extended elec- tric car with an onboard generator, in the style of the Vauxhall Ampera. According to our source, the com- pany believes plug-in hybrids are a better solution. Like rivals, Ford knows that get- ting the price right will be crucial to the success or failure of its future electric models. This would be all the more difficult without the help of the Government's grant scheme which helps motorists buy electric cars. Some estimates at the recent Cenex low-carbon vehicle event suggested the fund is down to less than a quarter of a million pounds. However, a Government spokesman told The Telegraph: "The grants will continue at their current level until 2017 or until we have received 50,000 claims (the number cur- rently stands at just over 14,000). Arrangements beyond that have not yet been set as they will need to re- flect market conditions at the time, but we will ensure that we have the right support in place to continue growing this important sector." JAMES Bond fans: An Aston Martin DB5 finished in twenty-four carat gold has been created to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Goldfinger (the film that made it famous). This one-third scale model looks fantas- tic and is a faithful reproduction of its larger sibling. During the film, Bond – who is played by the legendary Sean Con- nery – takes it to its limit in pursuit of Auric Goldfinger, a bullion smug- gler and overall "bad egg". It therefore races along hazard- ous and scenic mountain roads and – courtesy of spikes that emerge from its wheel – shreds the tyres of a lady driver Bond wants to meet. Naughty! The DB5 has other tricks too. Highlights include the ejector seat that is operated via a button in its gear stick, a bullet proof shield at the rear, revolving number plates and machine guns in the lights. The model will now be sold by Christie's to raise money for the National Society for the Protec- tion of Children. Its guns, bullet proof shield and revolving plates can be operated via remote control. It has also been signed by Sir Ken Adam who designed the "Q" branch modifications for the film. It is ex- pected to sell for between £40,000 – £60,000. Aston Martin DB5 engine, equipment and Bond history The Aston Martin DB5 has a 4.0- litre, 282bhp, petrol engine. This enables it to race to 62mph in 7.1 seconds and continue to 142mph. Impressive figures for the period, Mr Bond. Standard features include leather upholstery, reclining seats, twin fuel tanks, chrome wire wheels, electric windows and wool pile carpets. Perhaps more important, the sweeping profile and prominent nose ensure it is considered one of the most beautiful cars its manufac- turer has built. That is quite an achievement. Fur- thermore, Goldfinger is the first of several outings for the car. It there- fore reappears in the following film, Thunderball, in 1965 sporting the same registration (BMT 216A). However, in this film the car has two, rear-facing, water cannons to complement its better known toys. Its next appearance is GoldenEye in 1995 followed by Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997. At this point, Pierce Brosnan is the main man in the fancy tuxedo and the registration number is BMT 214A. In 2006, an Aston Martin DB5 – sporting the registration 56526 – stars in Casino Royale with Daniel Craig. Gotta love that ejector seat. NEW PEUGEOT 108 DESIGN YOUR LIFE Combined consumption (l/100 km): from 3.8 to 4.3. CO 2 emissions (g/km): from 88 to 99. www.peugeot.com.mt 7 THEMES OF PERSONALISATION Michael Attard Ltd. – National Road, Blata l-Bajda – T: 2123 8854 – M: 79 406 607 – E: sales@michaelattard.com Join Peugeot Malta on Facebook: www.facebook.com/peugeotmalta 0856. Peugeot - 108 - 18x5.indd 1 09/07/2014 17:01 Ford planning range of bespoke green cars