The Steer | May's motoring news and highlights

A time of 7 minutes 40.1 seconds was clocked by the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R – an ever-hotter hatch than the standard RS Trophy.

It’s powered by the same 1.8-litre petrol turbo as the regular version, but comes in 130kg lighter.

It’ll go on sale before the end of the year as an exclusive model, with prices yet to be confirmed.

First look at Dyson’s electric car

Patent filings have given a first look at Dyson’s EV, which’ll be manufactured in Singapore from 2021.

carmagazine.co.uk

It seems to be a fairly standard hatchback shape, with five seats across two rows and short overhangs for improved manoeuvrability.

There are currently 400 staff working on the company’s EV program, with that number expected to rise further.

Last year plans were also revealed on a 10-mile test track at the current HQ in Hullavington, before it’s moved to Singapore, taking the overall investment in the project to £200m.

Pigeon saves speeding driver from fine

In the most bizarre of May’s highlights, a pigeon helped a speeding driver avoid prosecution in Germany.

topgear.com

The car passed a speed camera around 15mph over the limit, but at that exact moment a pigeon also flew by and obscured the driver’s face.

In Viersen, Germany – where the offence took place – the driver would usually be fined €105, but the police force admit they can’t argue against a “hint from above”.

It was also confirmed that the pigeon will skip a fine.

And from the world of Lookers…

Vauxhall reveals the Corsa-e

We’ve gotten first sight of Vauxhall’s latest EV, the Corsa-e that’ll launch the manufacturer’s new electric range.

The new shape fits in well with the other models in the range, sharing the angular daytime running LEDs and fold that runs down the centre of the bonnet.

Vauxhall claim a top-end range just shy of 300 miles, and the ability to jump from 0-31mph in just over three seconds.

Orders books for the Corsa-e will open this month, June 2019, but you can register your interest with Lookers Vauxhall now.

Charity trek reaches halfway stage at Charles Hurst

Brian Burnie, founder of Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care, has reached the halfway point of a 7,000-mile hike around the UK and Ireland.

The milestone was marked at Charles Hurst Nissan in Belfast, part of the Lookers family.

The trek will raise funds for the charity, which is currently ran from Gosforth, Newcastle, but could branch out across Great Britain and Ireland in future.

Lookers provided the 30 fleet vehicles that the charity uses to transport patients to the RVI and Freeman hospitals in Newcastle, along with a Nissan Navara support vehicle for the fundraising journey. Find out more about the charity here.