Puzzle Time

Rearrange the highlighted letters to fi nd the name of a Shropshire market town

Sudoku

Di culty: medium

Across

1 Sport that involves hitting a ball called a sliotar with a wooden stick (7) 5 Penelope ____, driver of The Compact Pussycat in Wacky Races (7) 9 Mythological king of Thebes who was the uncle and brother-inlaw of Oedipus (5) 10 Character from The Hunchback of NotreDame who has a pet goat called Djali (9) 11 An Ideal ____, play by Oscar Wilde (7) 12 Who Simple Simon met going to the fair (6) 15 The second-largest city in Syria (6) 17 Song recorded by The Moody Blues in 1964 (2,3) 19 Legendary monsters that feature in the fairy tales of Charles Perrault (5) 21 Beethoven’s third symphony (6) 24 Sea monster in Greek mythology that lived opposite her counterpart, Charybdis (6) 25 Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia (7) 29 The process of deriving a general principle from particular observations (9) 30 Computer programming language for business applications (5) 31 Preparation of green soybeans found in Japanese cuisine (7) 32 17th-century French playwright and actor whose works include Tartu e and The Misanthrope (7)

Down

1 & 4 Down Location of a secret nuclear bunker in Cheshire (4,5) 2 A type of macaque that gave its name to a blood group system (6) 3 Satirical prize that honours unusual achievements in scientifi c research (2,5) 4 See 1 Down 5 Another name for the cougar (4) 6 ____ Torso, neo-futurist twisted skyscraper in Malmö (7) 7 Georg Philipp ____, prolifi c German Baroque composer (8) 8 Grade I-listed National Trust property on the north bank of the Menai Strait (4,6) 13 & 28 Down Veined cheese coloured orange by the addition of annatto (10,4) 14 Dorothy’s dog in The Wizard of Oz (4) 16 Prime Minister who founded the Metropolitan Police Service (4) 18 The o cial name of Snowdon (2,6) 20 Caribbean island that is the only country named after a human woman (2,5) 22 The space around the altar in a church (7) 23 Island that can be reached on foot from West Kirby at low tide (6) 26 A musical note with twice the duration of a crotchet (5) 27 Freshwater fi sh named for its resemblance to a weapon (4) 28 See 13 Down

Sudoku rules

1. Every square has to contain a single number. 2. Only numbers 1 to 9 can be used. 3. Each 3×3 box can only contain each number from 1 to 9 once. 4. Each row and column can only contain each number from 1 to 9 once.

ANSWERS

The highlighted letters when rearranged spell WHITCHURCH 28 Blue 27 Pike 26 Minim 23 Hilbre 22 Chancel 20 St Lucia 18 Yr Wyddfa 16 Peel 14 Toto 13 Shropshire 8 Plas Newydd 7 Telemann 6 Turning 5 Puma 4 Green 3 Ig Nobel 2 Rhesus 1 Hack

Down

32 Molière 31 Edamame 30 COBOL 29 Induction 25 Amharic 24 Scylla 21 Eroica 19 Ogres 17 Go Now 15 Aleppo 12 Pieman 11 Husband 10 Esmeralda 9 Creon 5 Pitstop 1 Hurling

Across

Alice Leetham is a writer and puzzle maker from Cheshire. She works in the fi ntech industry and also enjoys creating quizzes and cryptic crosswords. Contact: alice@downstream.co.uk

Motoring

“I like the concept that concept that you don’t have you don’t have to plug in the to plug in the vehicle to vehicle to recharge – the recharge – the engine does engine does it for you” it for you”

Lexus NX 350h

Lexus has introduced another SUV derivative – the second-generation NX, a hybrid in keeping with the philosophy of going green where we can, writes Bob Hickman

No doubt about it, the NX stands out. It’s partly due to its size –at 4.66m long and 1.86m wide this is a big car. But it’s also a matter of stature, its sheer imposing presence on the road. The front is almost aggressive in style – not what I’d expect of a Lexus.

To repeat, this is a BIG car. Stopping at a Park & Ride, it was a struggle to fit it into a bay, and I was concerned that an over-zealous attendant might penalise me for being a couple of inches over the white line!

A sloping coupe roof gives the NX a sporty look, but there is still a fair bit of headroom inside. The rear fits three adults comfortably, with decent legroom as well. Plenty of storage has been incorporated, too. The boot capacity is in keeping with the vehicle’s size and will swallow all the luggage five people could wish to carry.

The interior is a delight. Wherever you look, the materials used are high quality and quite tactile. It’s packed with technology, too, which takes some time to get used to. The infotainment system is excellent, with the touchscreen on this model a vast improvement. This is a well-made, stylish and pleasant companion for a road trip.

There are choices to be made. The NX 350h, which was the test vehicle and is the selfcharging hybrid derivative, has the benefit of a four-cylinder 2487cc petrol engine, allied with an electric motor. I like the concept that you don’t have to plug in the vehicle to recharge – the engine does it for you. In my eyes, this is a huge bonus. You can run on EV mode only, but not for that great a distance; it’s more of an assistance to the petrol engine.

As I’ve mentioned, the NX 350h is not a small car, but even weighing in at 1870kg it has power in abundance. It rockets from 0-60 in 7.7 seconds, and a 124mph top speed would be attainable if it was allowed. Fuel consumption is quoted as 44-47mpg, and during my time at the wheel I achieved 46mpg – virtually spot-on. CO emissions are 133-146g/km. The warranty is an interesting one. Lexus Relax covers the vehicle for up to 10 years or up to 100,000 miles, but this is available only to customers whose cars are serviced at a Lexus centre (where terms and conditions apply). Paintwork is covered for three years, anti-corrosion for 12, and there’s a threeyear roadside assistance package included. Service is required annually or at 10,000 miles.

Lexus is a brand that has firmly established itself in the premium car sector, and the NX 350h is in direct competition with the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Out of those three – if you want something slightly different, with a striking appearance – the Lexus may tick the box.

With the Premium Plus pack, the NX 350h has an on-the-road price of £50,260.

Bob is devoted to cars and bikes. After a 30-year career as a police patrol officer and latterly as a sergeant, patrolling the Midlands motorways, retirement beckoned and he embarked on writing about his love of motorcycles and cars. He is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and the Midland Guild of Motoring Writers. He rides a Royal Enfield Continental GT and drives a 1994 MG RV8.FACTS AT A GLANCE • • • • • MODEL TESTED: LEXUS NX 350 H PRICE: £50,260 ENGINE: 4-CYLINDER 2487CC PETROL HYBRID PERFORMANCE: 0-60 IN 7.7 SECS, TOP SPEED 124MPH WARRANTY: 10 YEARS / 100,000 MILES IF SERVICED BY LEXUS

The Lexus NX: plenty of car for your money