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October 2024 | Phonebox Magazine 47QUICK BURSTS:Car mess is rubbish for manyAlmost half (41%) of drivers in the UK with children, that%u2019s more than 5.2 million people, said they have felt too embarrassed to off er a friend a lift due to the mess in their car caused by their kids, new research reveals.As well as wanting to keep the rubbish out of sight of their friends, 29% of parents were also keen not to let a relative get in the back of their car, while one in 10 said they wouldn%u2019t park their car at work in case colleague saw the state of it.The mess inside the car has led to 27% wanting to ban their children from getting in at all, while one in fi ve (23%) admitting in the research from car maker Skoda, that the chaos caused had made them want to cry. The biggest culprit for mess is crisps, followed by drinks, then biscuits. While crisps were the most commonly spilt items, it wasn%u2019t the hardest for parents to clean up, with that award going to drinks, followed by chocolates and then sweets.EV6 pricing announcedKia%u2019s new EV6 model will cost from %u00a345,575, the company has announced. The refreshed pioneering electric crossover comes in three grades for buyers in the UK: %u2018Air%u2019, %u2018GT-Line%u2019 and %u2018GT-Line S%u2019.The new model features a larger battery pack over its predecessor, now with a capacity of 84 kWh. In its entry level %u2018Air%u2019 trim, the battery pack powers a single motor, producing 225 bhp and 350 Nm torque via the rear wheels. The EV6 %u2018Air%u2019 and %u2018GT-Line%u2019 are capable of an impressive range of up to 361 miles on a single charge, while the %u2018GT-Line S%u2019 RWD can travel up to 347 miles. Additionally, %u2018GT-Line S%u2019 models are available with an optional heat pump, enhancing effi ciency in the coldest conditions.The new EV6 is the latest battery electric vehicle to arrive as part of Kia%u2019s %u2018Plan S%u2019 strategy, which will see the brand launch 15 EVs by 2027, nine of which are destined for the UK. The original EV6 was named %u20182022 Car of the Year%u2019 12 months after its launch.reasonably spacious for driver and passengers. It can take fi ve people, but four is more comfortable, with excellent leg and headroom for adult occupants.A 265-litre boot area is sufficient for a couple of large bags or a pushchair, while dropping the rear seatbacks swells this size to an impressive 589 litres. The little Swift is a hybrid, a term that we are hearing increasingly, as the motor industry moves towards leaner, more environmentally-friendly motoring and an eventual full electric highway. Under the bonnet lies a 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine, off ering over 80 hp power output, excellent fuel economy and sub-100 CO2 emissions.Part of that 65 mpg fuel effi ciency comes courtesy of Suzuki%u2019s hybrid system which features an ISG (integrated starter generator) to act as both a generator and a starter motor. It assists the engine when it%u2019s under stress, such as moving off or under hard acceleration, saving valuable petrol, while it also acts as a power harvester through regenerative braking. The belt driven system restarts the engine after an automatic %u2018start-stop%u2019 switch off and is much quieter than a conventional starter motor when it does so. Drive is delivered through a manual fi ve sped gearbox, although there is an optional CVT automatic %u2018box available.Suzuki put further research into noise, vibration and harshness to make the Swift especially quiet and on the road, you certainly get a sense of this, with a smooth and eff ortless drive, an easy-going and calm ride and reduced sound levels.So, it%u2019s not only a swift little mover, but it%u2019s a quiet one too. Blink and you could miss it.AT A GLANCE:Power: 81 hpTop speed: 103 mph0-62 mph: 12.5 secsEconomy: 64.2 mpgCO2: 99 g/kmPrice: %u00a319,799