Seat has been overshadowed by the Cupra brand in recent years, and there were even reports of Seat ditching the car game to focus on urban mobility devices But the Seat brand still outsells Cupra and one of the models that keeps it in front is the Arona SUV you see here testing in facelifted form Arona was Seat’s second most popular car last year despite it being no spring chicken It was launched in 2017 but still found 90,300 buyers in 2024 a rise of 1.5 percent in 2023 (but down from a 110,700 peak in 2019) Related: Seat Bounces Back, Confirms Facelifts For Ibiza, Arona, Leon, And Ateca Seat has already facelifted the Arona once before but with newer rivals like Ford’s Puma consistently outperforming it and plenty of competition from other brands another makeover couldn’t really wait much longer in the absence of an all-new car Seat isn’t about to go crazy for this year’s revamp which was actually revealed way back in March of 2024 (we’ve included those pictures below) While the basic shape of the headlight units looks the same as before we know from last year’s reveal that the lower edge has a slash-cut design and the DRLs are different And although the grille also appears identical in shape in the spy shots we know that its side now features a kind towards the top The bumper’s lower air intakes are also new and it looks like the circular lights mounted in the bumper may have been deleted We don’t get a look inside (nor did we last year) where we expect to see a carryover dash architecture but some tech improvements including a better touchscreen infotainment system and hopefully a boost for the so-so trim quality Engine options are unlikely to change much, so bank on the majority of Aronas getting 94 hp (95 PS) or the much zipper 113 hp (115 PS) 1.0-liter TSI motors with a 148 hp (150 PS) 1.5 available for buyers who want to push the boat out and their right foot down Privacy Policy | About Our Ads Akakūʻs salon features local Maui filmmaker Lucas Zarro and collaborators Alex Farnham and Arona Ale this Thursday edits and does cinematography on all of his smaller projects Alex Farnham is a Kailua-Kona native and an early Hawaiʻi original content creator “One Dolla,” went viral on YouTube and put him on the map for comedy skits He recently released the film “One Million Dolla” and worked with Lucas on the film “Terrestrial.” He is the founder of One Dollar Studios Arona Ale has acted in a majority of the Maui short films produced or directed by Lucas He is a big contributor to the comedic web series “FaknFunny.” He recently started writing with the makers of “MokuMoku.” The screening and discussion will be moderated by Kat Tracy Volkswagen Group CEO Thomas Schafer told the press that the Spanish manufacturer would stop selling cars once the lifecycle of the current range was over It was a statement that was misinterpreted by many media as the German manager specified that the Spanish manufacturer was "stronger than ever" and called for the restyling of the Ibiza The time has come: 2025 will see the unveiling of the revamped versions of the Seat Ibiza and Arona which were previewed in a teaser video in 2024 and are now ready to be unveiled in their official guise it will receive a significant aesthetic and technological update in 2025 the photos show a redesigned front end with slimmer LED headlights combined with a larger front grille: details that should give the small hatchback a more modern and up-to-date look a new infotainment system and some solutions borrowed from the German group's latest models There is no word yet on an exact debut date but it is almost certain that the car will be unveiled before the summer and will then be launched at yet-to-be-announced prices which will probably not be too far off the current ones Along with the Ibiza, the SUV sibling Seat Arona will also be restyled in 2025 The compact B-segment crossover will undergo a major restyling (the second of its career) with exterior changes that should include new bumpers upgraded LED headlights and redesigned alloy wheels the interior of the Arona could also feature an improved infotainment system and new materials for the seats and door panels It is also expected to be unveiled in the second half of 2025 with market launch in the following months but are not expected to be too far from the current ones Seat: What if a saloon like the Skoda Octavia were possible The Toyota Corolla Looks Even Better With White Wheels SEAT Leon: 25 years of the compact that changed the brand's image The New Audi A6 Plug-In Hybrid Has a Decent Electric Range Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A judge on Wednesday sentenced a 29-year-old man to life in prison without parole for a 2020 fatal game room shooting Aaron Arona Tuitelapaga was convicted in July of murdering Sausau Togiai III Tuitelapaga was also sentenced to serve 20 years for place to keep pistol or revolver and a life term for carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a felony The judge also granted the prosecutor’s request to have all sentences run consecutively “This case is an example of how dangerous game rooms are and why they are such a blight on the community,” said Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm in a statement In August 2020, Tuitelapaga was armed with a handgun when he entered a game room on Kalauokalani Way near Ala Moana Center Togai was fatally shot while attempting to stop the robbery TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need Jason Yarosik said his aunt was the glue that held his family together of Madison spent years caring for her ailing husband who died from cancer in 2017 loved all three of her now adult children and served as a manager of the Goodwill store in North Huntingdon She was killed two years ago in head-on crash on Arona Road in Hempfield by a car driven by Ahna Malik who was under the influence of drugs when the crash occurred was ordered Tuesday to serve six to 15 years in prison by Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio “That day was 100% avoidable and preventable This is the part that causes our family the most grief,” Yarosik said during a sentencing hearing for Malik “This defendant lived a life where driving under the influence of drugs is normal Our hope is there is a substantial sentence so another family isn’t sitting in this courtroom enduring what we have for years.” Malik was convicted of multiple counts of driving under the influence of drugs reckless endangerment and related offenses in connection with the March 7 Prosecutors said Malik was under the influence of amphetamines methamphetamine and marijuana when she drove with her 17-year-old daughter on the rural road near Arona and attempted to pass two vehicles as she rounded a bend Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda argued for Malik to serve up to 20 years in prison saying her prior criminal record — which includes at least one previous drunk driving conviction multiple suspensions of her driver’s license 41 violations of the state’s motor vehicle code and 29 incidents where she failed to respond to summary traffic citations — warranted a substantial period of incarceration and if she would have complied with the law this offense would not have occurred,” Powanda said pleaded with Malik to listen to and consider his family’s ongoing grief “The damage you caused is bigger than you realized and irreversible You will never be able to understand the pain you caused our family,” Coyne said Assistant Public Defender Jack Manderino at trial argued the fatal crash was caused by a mechanical failure of Malik’s vehicle and not her drug use Manderino asked the judge for leniency that included concurrent sentences that would result in a sentence no longer than the five- to 10-year mandatory minimum penalty she faced under state law Malik declined to speak during the hearing Bilik-DeFazio said Malik’s actions warranted a lengthy prison sentence “I believe there is a lack of insight into your behavior and I’m not sure you really understand what brought you here today,” the judge said “You showed a total disregard for the safety of the community and I’m not sure you understand that today.” Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service The UK-headquartered asset management group which operates in a number of jurisdictions including Singapore Gain access to regular and exclusive research on the global wealth management sector along with the opportunity to attend industry events such as exclusive invites to Breakfast Briefings and Summits in the major wealth management centres and industry leading awards programmes Register Here It’s getting tough out there for the curiously-faced Nissan Juke. It already had a bunch of rivals to worry about, but now it faces the prospect of VW’s incoming T-Roc, and in the space of a week two further similarly-sized crossovers have appeared: first the Kia Stonic Based on the same MQB A0 architecture as the latest Seat Ibiza and the new VW Polo it’s 79mm longer and 99mm taller than its supermini sibling The bigger outward dimensions result in a lot more space: you get 37mm more headroom in the back That’s over 100 litres more than you get in an Ibiza and - crucially almost 50 more than a Juke It’s very much a cross between an Ibiza and an Ateca which results in a handsome - if not exactly daring - aesthetic The inside looks much the same as the Ibiza’s cabin From our experience the infotainment system is a good one you can choose from a 1.0-litre turbocharged inline-three with either 94bhp or 113bhp and VW Group’s new 1.5-litre ‘TSI Evo’ inline-four with 148bhp there’s a 1.6-litre TDI with - mirroring the 1.0-litre petrol - either 94bhp or 113bhp on tap All can be had with either a manual gearbox (with five or six ratios depending on power) or a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission There’s no four-wheel drive option - as with the Juke It’ll be built in Seat’s Martorell factory and should go on sale shortly after its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September reviews and unmissable promotions from the team direct to your inbox For more information see our Privacy Policy Matt Robinson Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.  In reply to by German Perfectionist cool for few months until the new one comes In reply to by Tomislav Celić Seat Arosa failed because it was just a re-badged LupoSeat Arona will be successfull BECAUSE SUV In reply to by German Perfectionist Still waiting for the seven-seater Seat Poo… Can’t wait for the TV adverts featuring people singing about ‘my Arona’… Skoda Karoq lost to Honda HR-V and the winner was Renault Captur where I never thought French car could win Diarmuid Marsden Honestly the only reason the juke sucessful is it’s styling © Crash Media Group Ltd 2025.The total or partial reproduction of text photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form Arona will manage M&G Investments' global financial operations and execute its financial strategy Investment manager M&G has hired Marcello Arona to serve as the new chief financial officer (CFO) of its asset management division with substantial experience in asset management he will oversee the global financial operations of M&G Investments and implement its financial strategy He is also said to be integral in advancing the company’s long-term growth objectives Arona is working alongside M&G Investments CEO Joseph Pinto Pinto said: “I look forward to working with him to drive our growth mission and to deliver exceptional financial outcomes for our clients and customers Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sean Fitzgerald for his significant contribution to the business and wish him all the very best for his retirement.” Arona’s career at AXA spanned more than 20 years including chief operation officer at AXA Investment Managers in Italy and head of AXA Investment Managers and regional chief financial officer in the US he served in senior leadership roles at HSBC and PWC in Italy Arona said: “I look forward to working closely with the talented team here at M&G Investments and build on its strong foundation continue to drive its financial success and create value that benefits clients M&G manages funds for approximately 4.6 million retail clients and more than 900 institutional clients across 38 offices worldwide the company reported £346.1bn ($423.7bn) in assets under management and administration It offers a range of solutions under the M&G and Prudential brands in the UK and Europe and globally for asset management clients under the M&G Investments brand M&G appointed Kathy Ryan as its chief sustainability office in October 2023 Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network there was only ever one fight in which Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson lost his temper Renowned for carrying dynamite in his hands the American compiled an impressive array of finishes but nothing quite compares to the powerbomb Prior to his days in the UFC, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson competed in Pride destroying his opponents with his frightening hands when the Memphis native went head-to-head with Ricardo Arona at Pride FC: Critical Countdown 2004 in Saitama he had to overcome more than his fair share of adversity the Brazilian unleashed several heel kicks that enraged Rampage pushing him to the edge of his pain barrier But when the jiu-jitsu star seemingly indicated to the ref that his rival was out picking him up and smashing him into the ground with a horrifying powerbomb WOW: How Paddy Pimblett is guiding one of the best prospects in the world to global superstardom In an interview uploaded to YouTube, by Chris Van Vliet If he would’ve kicked me one more time… I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t in pain This is the only time I ever lost my temper in a fight He dislocated my jaw with one of the heels it was right after that I powerbombed him.” While 20 years have passed since his iconic victory over Arona Rampage’s fire to fight still burns bright In fact, he’s still convinced that under the correct circumstances, he could avenge his loss to Jon Jones ‘Bones’ defeated him via fourth-round submission But that hasn’t deterred Rampage from wanting to roll the dice once more He recently explained the ruleset that would need to be in place for him to beat the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. Sticking to his guns: How Makhmud Muradov ignored the advice of Floyd Mayweather With no shortage of options in the small SUV market the Seat Arona stands out as a strong contender and comes highly recommend after spending six months behind the wheel If you’re considering a new company car this model deserves serious attention.  For those who aren’t ready to switch to electric or are unable to take advantage of tax benefits for EVs the Arona offers an efficient petrol alternative.   Seat claims a real-world fuel economy of 49.6mpg the trip computer showed an average of 44.9mpg We've been testing the FR Limited Edition has eye-catching styling and is enjoyable to drive The Arona has proven to be a reliable and dependable model It feels particularly at home on the motorway It feels roomy inside and boot space was adequate for our everyday needs Every inch of space was taken up by two medium-sized suitcases on a summer airport run.  the Arona boasts a solid range of safety features providing peace of mind that your little ones are well protected on the road.   While the past few months with the Seat Arona have been largely trouble-free it’s only fair to address a couple of issues I’ve encountered along the way.  an unexpected voice has come through the Seat’s speakers asking The usual way to access this function is by pressing a steering-wheel mounted microphone button but it is also triggered by certain words The default phrase is "hola hola" At first I found the feature a little irritating but after more investigation I realised it's actually quite useful or request a specific playlist or song from your preferred music streaming service It can also be used to control the sat-nav and uses natural voice recognition While the random interruptions haven't really impacted what has been an overwhelmingly pleasant few months with the car in day-to-day use I have found one other feature frustrating Our Arona is equipped with keyless entry and start This means you can access and start the car with the keys still in your pocket only works from the driver's door handle but as the Arona is designed as a family car you tend to open the back doors first and close them last Being able to lock and unlock the car from the rear door handles would make this feature a lot more worthwhile Another minor issue is a clip by the rear seat that holds the seatbelt in place when it’s not in use has snapped off the teenage boy who’s the only person to have sat there during my time with the car) deny all knowledge of breaking it but it may be possible it caught on a bag or coat without anyone realising.  There was also a grubby mark on the same seat so I’m at a loss as to why that would be so perhaps some aspects could possibly do with being a bit more durable.  but this car sits among an impressive array of rivals in the compact SUV market so every detail counts In many other ways it more than holds its own and deserves proper consideration as a company car.  For drivers unable or unwilling to make the switch to electric then fuel-efficient petrol vehicles are a practical alternative.  Seat claims the Arona achieves 49.6mpg in real-world conditions a figure similar to its Nissan Juke rival at 48.7mpg but one that falls short of the Renault Captur’s impressive 60.1mpg.  A recent 340-mile round trip from my home in south Lincolnshire to the New Forest saw the Arona return 51.1mpg The journey primarily consisted of A-roads maintaining a steady speed between 60-70mph I opted for Eco mode via the Drive Profile system which also includes Normal and Sport settings.   While each mode influences performance of the engine I’ve noticed little difference in ride quality or responsiveness between Eco and Normal so Eco mode has become my preferred choice on longer journeys.  I’ve yet to put the car through its paces in Sport mode to see how it impacts fuel economy but it will be interesting to compare the trade-off between performance and efficiency There’s also the option to choose individual settings from every mode.   Having the ability to customise the digital cockpit display is a cool feature as you can include the information you want it to display whether it's navigation maps or driver assistance details This ensures that essential information is always in your direct line of sight helping to reduce distractions and keep your focus on the road."  The addition of subtle yet stylish LED lighting around the air vents is a lovely touch that enhances the cabin's cosiness on a night time journey the leather-trimmed steering wheel comes as standard adding a premium feel to the driving experience a heated option would have been the perfect finishing touch.  Although I appreciate all the many safety features that our long-term Seat Arona offers the rear-view camera is one that I’m especially grateful for on a daily basis.  When reversing onto the road from the parking spot outside my house allowing me to manoeuvre with complete confidence.  This added reassurance ensures that every journey starts smoothly and safely the car is equipped with several other features that help keep me as safe as possible on every journey.  While the lane assist isn’t overly intrusive especially on dual carriageway journeys as every time I change lanes (without indicating) the steering wheel gently but unnecessarily tries to pull me back into lane.  I'm also not a huge fan of the stop/start function Although I appreciate the environmental benefits such as reducing emissions during idling and saving fuel it can be frustrating when the engine cuts off after just a few seconds or when you're stopped at the top of a slope causing a slight delay before moving off again.  is an audible warning that sounds when the car passes a new speed limit I’ll admit it took me a few days to work out exactly why the car was beeping.  When it comes to in-car technology for on-the-go entertainment The Beats Audio sound system delivers impressive sound quality and connecting my phone via Apple CarPlay has been a breeze.  Switching tracks on Spotify or tuning in to a different radio station is effortlessly done with the convenient steering-wheel-mounted controls.  ensuring that while you're connected to the infotainment system I’ve driven about 1,800 miles since receiving the keys to our long-term Seat Arona and my experience has been positive and I've found it to be a very enjoyable car.  I would prefer a concealed space to keep belongings out of sight when away from the car especially if you have a front seat passenger who may need to awkwardly shift their legs for you to gain access.  There are two cupholders in the front and the storage needs for rear passengers are catered for by rear seat pocket nets (ideal for the kids’ books and electronic gadgets) and door space for drinks bottles etc.  It’s a well-established model having been around since 2017 It was given a facelift in 2021 and while not a head-turner it’s a classy-looking car that’s particularly well suited for drivers with young families.   something I especially appreciated while inching through traffic on the A43 in Northamptonshire early one morning for work I missed having an armrest for that extra layer of comfort.  Boot space is adequate at 400 litres and two medium-sized suitcases were easily swallowed for an airport run in the summer There was no room for my pre-schooler’s buggy which was despatched to the front passenger seat leaving mum and the youngster (in a car seat) to sit in the rear.  Our FR Limited Edition model offers an impressive array of safety features and standard equipment and I'll be sharing my thoughts on the highlights—and a few downsides—in upcoming reports.  Seat Arona 1.0 TSI FR joins our fleet  Seat’s future has been hanging in the balance since all the attention switched to its sister brand Cupra With a string of electric models heading to Cupra showrooms and no sign of any new electric Seats the logical conclusion was that Seat was going to fade into the background Demand for internal combustion engines has remained high across Europe Even with looming deadlines to end the sale of petrol or diesel cars lots of drivers still want – or can only afford – them Over the next few years, Seat has confirmed we’ll see a totally refreshed line-up - before it transitions to electric powertrains Especially for those company car drivers that sit in bandings where longer range or more family-friendly EVs are simply too expensive The model we’ve opted for it is the FR Limited Editon with a decent array of standard kit and a sportier look Powered by a 115PS 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine Among the spec highlights are a nine-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and wireless smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto CO2 emissions of 131g/km mean a 31% benefit-in-kind tax penalty A 20% taxpayer would have to fork out almost £150 a month for the pleasure of having this model on their drive The Arona sits in the heartland of the compact SUV market it shares the same eye-catching styling and keen driving experience interior practicality is high for a compact model There’s decent room inside and a 400-litre boot we’re looking forward to finding out if the Arona is still competitive among its growing pool of rivals Mike Roberts returned to Fleet News in 2021 having previously been its news editor in the early 2000s Prior to this he was managing editor of Fleet News' sister-title Smart Transport.  Mike started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s and has since worked on several specialist titles Register to receive our range of digital content By submitting any material to us you are confirming that the material is your own original work or that you have permission from the copyright owner to use the material and to authorise Bauer Consumer Media to use it as described in this paragraph You also promise that you have permission from anyone featured or referred to in the submitted material to it being used by Bauer Consumer Media If Bauer Consumer Media receives a claim from a copyright owner or a person featured in any material you have sent us we will inform that person that you have granted us permission to use the relevant material and you will be responsible for paying any amounts due to the copyright owner or featured person and/or for reimbursing Bauer Consumer Media for any losses it has suffered as a result Marcello Arona is the new chief financial officer of M&G Investments after 20 years at AXA The CEO of AXA Investment Managers UK and AXA IM GS has departed the firm to become M&G Investment’s new chief financial officer Arona had worked at AXA in various roles since 2005 until becoming its CEO in April 2021 he now sets his sights on M&G after the retirement of former CFO chief executive officer of M&G Investments said: “Marcello has a proven track record of growing and expanding asset management businesses globally “I look forward to working with him to drive our growth mission and to deliver exceptional financial outcomes for our clients and customers.” Arona spent eight years as chief operation officer of AXA Investment Managers in Italy and another eight years as head of AXA Investment Managers and regional chief financial officer in the US M&G’s chief financial officer Kathryn McLeland added: “He brings a wealth of experience to M&G having spent the majority of his career at the highest levels across the globe within the sector.” © 2025 EmCan Media - Hosted By canaryfone a key tourist destination in the south of Tenerife has lost the Q for Quality Tourism certification for three of its four tourist offices in towns across the municipality made by the current local tripartite government (PP with the PSOE accusing the administration of mismanagement and a decline in standards since the 2023 elections The three affected offices in Playa de Las Americas are among the most prominent in the south of Tenerife in an area that has long been a benchmark for tourism in the Canary Islands While the local government claims it has chosen to pursue an alternative certification it has not provided specific details about the replacement The PSOE opposition views the decision as a significant blow to Arona's reputation arguing that the municipality has gone from leading the Canary Islands in quality certifications to losing a key advantage awarded by the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE) is a nationally recognised mark that assures high service standards diminishes Arona’s competitive edge as a premier destination The Q for Quality Tourism seal adheres to UNE 187003 standards for municipal tourist information offices guaranteeing rigorous compliance with quality protocols The certification symbolises a commitment to providing excellent visitor experiences and maintaining high standards across services and legal oversight of local tourism activities the certifications were not newly acquired The Las Galletas office earned its Q in 2008 these offices further enhanced their credibility by obtaining the Safe Tourism Certified designation which highlights safety and security in tourist services severely damages the “quality brand” of Arona The opposition stresses that losing the Q certification removes a significant draw for tourists and operators seeking reliable destinations They argue that the seal’s reputation for reliability and differentiation is crucial for maintaining Arona's position as a world-class tourism destination While the government insists on pursuing alternative certifications the lack of clarity over which new standards are being targeted has fuelled scepticism The situation underscores a broader debate over governance and the strategic direction of tourism in one of the Canary Islands’ most visited areas As Arona’s tourism sector navigates this period of transition industry stakeholders and residents alike await further clarification on how the municipality plans to maintain its standing in an increasingly competitive global tourism market Arona Council is looking at options to relocate its municipal vehicle compound due to severe overcrowding at the current site on Camino de Las Madrigueras next to the Antonio Domínguez Alfonso stadium in the centre of Playa Las Americas The issue was addressed during the latest council meeting where the urgent need for action was highlighted due to the increasing number of abandoned vehicles on public roads being taken to the compound which currently holds approximately 566 vehicles The council stressed that the accumulation of derelict cars not only reduces availability of parking but also "degrades the image of the municipality and creates health and safety issues." They added that the situation at the compound has slowed down vehicle removal revealed that the council is actively searching for a larger plot of land to relocate the depot He also said that the council is already implementing several measures including an online platform for reporting abandoned vehicles The council's proposed solutions included expanding the existing depot and prioritising the scrapping of vehicles with completed administrative processes to alleviate congestion Reyes acknowledged the compound's current capacity issues and announced that at least 30 vehicles would be removed this month the council has requested local courts to expedite legal proceedings for vehicles involved in judicial processes Discussions on how best to manage abandoned vehicles and improve the efficiency of the depot are expected to continue France’s Elisa Pineau (6020) and Germany’s Malik Diakite (8037) were the winners at the International Meeting of Arona – the second Gold leg of the World Athletics Combined Events Tour – on the Canary Islands this weekend (11-12) Both multi-eventers only took the lead after the final events and missed their respective lifetime bests by a narrow margin Taking advantage of an ideal 1.9m/s tailwaind the two-time world indoor champion Noor Vidts opened the heptathlon with a 13.31 100m hurdles that feat going to Norway’s Ida Eikeng who lowered her career best by 0.03 thanks to a 13.23 performance Spain’s Sofia Cosculluela and Britain’s Jodie Smith also set respective lifetime bests of 13.42 and 13.43.  Vidts moved to the top after equalling her PB of 1.84m at the first time of asking while the 22-year-old Smith improved her career best by clearing 1.81m on her third attempt Vidts finished the morning session at the helm with a 2107 tally to Smith’s 2051 while Eikeng was a distant third on 1969 points.  The 27-year-old Belgian athlete extended her lead in the shot put despite not reaching the 14-metre barrier with a furthest throw of 13.85m in round three in a contest won by Switzerland’s Caroline Agnou thanks to a 14.38m performance while Eikeng overtook Smith in the fight for second place overall – 13.75m and 12.37m their respective marks The Norwegian was some nine points ahead of the Briton but 145 behind the leading 2891 points of Vidts.  Eikeng got the better of the two-time world indoor champion to grab the 200m win in 24.26 (-0.9m/s) to Vidts’ 24.54 but the latter was a clear overnight leader with a 3820 tally to Eikeng’s 3702 and Smith’s 3641.  Pineau was only sixth with 3560 points after performances of 13.94 (100m hurdles) Belgium’s Sennah Vanhoeijen produced a fine 6.18m second-attempt leap in the long jump to grab the win ahead of Pineau’s 6.15m although the big news came when Vidts did not begin the contest Vidts confirmed that it was just a matter of season planning as she had already intended not to compete on Sunday.  Eikeng (5.94m in the long jump) moved into pole position with 4521 points and a 65-point gap ahead of Pineau while Smith placed third another 80 points behind.  The Norwegian extended her lead after the javelin thanks to a 47.43m throw for third compared to Pineau’s 44.71m Eikeng led by 117 points (5331/5214) with Ireland’s Kate O’Connor in third (5145) The final 800m was dominated by the Swiss athletes – the win going to Katelyn Adel (2:14.79) ahead of Lydia Boll (2:15.90).  Pineau took advantage of Eikeng’s 2:40.90 performance to overtake her after her 2:21.27 clocking for sixth “I’m so happy because honestly I didn’t expect to win this weekend,” said Pineau “My first day was quite weak and today was just OK Malik Diakite and Jeff Tesselaar in Arona (© Organisers) The men’s opening 100m witnessed the win of Spain’s 20-year-old Tayb David Loum in 10.72 He was followed by his compatriot Pol Ferrer (10.78) with Jeff Tesselaar of the Netherlands placing third in 10.90 The leading favourites for the overall win struggled at this event with Ondrej Kopecky of Czechia being timed at 11.10 Germany’s Kai Kazmirek clocking 11.37 and Sweden’s Marcus Nilsson running 11.51.  The long jump was dominated by Tesselaar as the Dutch athlete produced a massive effort of 7.88m helped by a 2.4m/s following wind in his last attempt after fouling the first two jumps to move to the front after two events He had 2643 points to Ferrer’s 2560 - the 21-year-old Spaniard being second in the long jump thanks to a 7.55m effort.  Top in the shot put went to Spain’s Jose San Pastor thanks to a 15.69m first-round toss while Tesselaar exceeded the 14-metre mark for the first time in his career (14.03m for sixth) which proved to be enough to maintain his top spot The high jump didn’t bring fireworks Britain’s Lewis Church being the only multi-eventer reaching the 2.00m barrier while the 2017 world bronze medallist Kazmirek decided not to take part after feeling some discomfort over the first two events A 1.97m second-time clearance by Tesselaar strengthened his lead to 136 points over Ferrer (3419/3283) while Kopecky (1.94m) became a threatening third The final 400m of day one went to Loum after a brisk career best of 47.33 The one-lap event produced notable casualties as the 2022 winner Nilsson did not start while an injured Ferrer crossed the finish line jogging.  the European U23 Championships ninth-place finisher Tesselaar led with 4320 points and a 216 advantage on Kopecky while the eventual winner Diakite placed fifth with 4049 points thanks to performances of 11.09 (100m) everything seemed ready for a fierce battle between the Dutch and the Czech decathletes Kopecky is coached by the former world record-holder Roman Sebrle who declared after day one: “His second day is better than the first one so I’m confident Ondrej can reach 8200 points or so.” The 110m hurdles narrowed Tesselaar’s margin as Kopecky clocked 14.48 for third while the overnight leader finished fourth in 14.65 to lose 21 points from his advantage The event was taken by Venezuela’s Gerson Izaguirre Kopecky kept his chase on Tesselaar in the discus by winning with a 45.13m second-round effort head and shoulders above the 21-year-old Dutch athlete who could not go beyond ninth with 38.33m 5843 and 5787 being their respective scorings after seven events with Izaguirre third (5686).  The pole vault was bittersweet for Kopecky as he took the overall lead – 6606 to 6603 – with a 4.70m clearance but he injured his achilles tendon on his first attempt over 4.90m Tessalaar equalled his career best outdoors of 4.50m and seemed to be the favourite for the overall win but while the 21-year-old improved his javelin PB to 50.55m he lost the top spot to Diakite who unleashed a 61.58m effort to overtake the German by four points before the final 1500m.  The 1500m became a thriller as Tesselaar got a swift start to reach the 400m (1:07.12) and 800m (2:18.23) marks 40m ahead of the German but the latter found another gear to cover the closing lap in a brisk 1:02 to romp home virtually even with Tesselaar (4:16.54 and 4:16:86 both lifetime bests) to finally succeed by just two points Diakite scored 8037 points to Tesselaar’s 8035 The 24-year-old victor commented: “I’m super tired as it has been two tough days but it’s worth it as I have won and exceed the 8000m barrier for the second time in my career (8051 PB) I’ll next compete in Ratingen at the end of June.” Buying and selling a car Owning a car Financing a car Types of finance Expert Reviews Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Bentley Bugatti Caterham Chevrolet Citroën DS Automobiles Ferrari Genesis GWM Hyundai Ineos Infiniti KGM Motors (SsangYong) Lamborghini Land Rover Maserati McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Peugeot Polestar Porsche Renault Rolls-Royce Vauxhall Volkswagen Looking for vans, pick-ups and light commercial vehicles? Visit our sister site, The Van Expert Rejecting a car – your consumer rights The best websites for leasing a new car Which new cars are built in China? The best websites for selling your car How are our Expert Rating scores calculated? supermini-based SUV/crossover that sits below the Ateca in the SEAT SUV family It was launched in summer 2017 before arriving in the UK later that year The Arona is based on the SEAT Ibiza hatchback, and internally it looks and feels almost identical. It also shares a lot of its componentry with the related Volkswagen Polo, T-Cross and T-Roc models The Arona has been widely praised for its driving characteristics and decent standard equipment levels the diesel engine has been criticised for being noisy and slow while concerns have been raised about its behaviour during emergency brake and swerve manoeuvres The SEAT Arona currently has a New Car Expert Rating of A It gets top marks for its low running costs and CO2 emissions The only caveat is that we don’t have reliability data as yet Body style: Small SUV/crossoverEngines: petrol Launched: Autumn 2017Last updated: Summer 2018Replacement due: TBA Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media Score: 8 / 10“The Arona is by no means the cheapest small SUV on the market, but it is one of the best.”Read review Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The SEAT Arona is one of the leading offerings among a huge array of small SUVs on the market, offering a composed and refined drive. All versions receive pretty generous standard equipment.”Read review Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FRScore: 8 / 10“With no mechanical changes, the SEAT Arona drives much the same as before. The latest changes, especially the interior, mark this Arona out against increasingly tough compact SUV opposition.”Read review Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SE TechnologyScore: 8 / 10“With its handsome, mature design and family ethos, the Arona will naturally appeal beyond SEAT’s typically youthful audience, and those customers will get a pretty decent B-SUV to drive.”Read review Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The compact SEAT Arona offers the brand’s typical stylish looks and sporty feel in a practical shape”Read review Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“The SEAT Arona is a safe and roomy small SUV but it’s interior feels a bit cheap in places and high-spec models are quite expensive.”Read review Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR SportScore: 8.1 / 10“The SEAT Arona is well worth considering, mainly because it has great whole-life costs, it’s competitively specced, reasonably practical, and drives pretty well.”Read review Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR SportScore: 7 / 10“SEAT’s Arona is one of the bigger entertainers in this class, but not yet an alternative to a hot supermini for people like us”Read review Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“The SEAT Arona is one of the best small SUVs on the market today. While it’s pricier than the equivalent Ibiza hatchback, all models are loaded with standard equipment and it’s a very practical choice. It’s also good to drive and cheap to run.”Read review Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8.4 / 10“The SEAT Arona is a stylish, jacked-up small family car with tempting finance deals available”Read review Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The SEAT Arona is a decent enough crossover, but a Leon hatchback is bigger, better and no more expensive”Read review Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP Overall score: 5 starsDate tested: October 2022Read the full Euro NCAP review Adult protection: 83%Child protection: 83%Vulnerable road users: 65%Safety assist: 70% The rating above only applies to the versions of the SEAT Arona powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox It does not apply to any other engine/gearbox combination Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy we don’t have enough reliability data on the SEAT Arona to generate a reliability rating The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.  As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Arona Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data The SEAT Arona is a relatively affordable car to own and run according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner Fuel consumption isn’t as good as some other small SUVs but servicing and insurance bills should be much better than most rivals prizes and awards that the SEAT Arona has received you might also be interested in these alternatives reviews and information about the SEAT Arona at The Car Expert Everything you need to know about SEAT The cheapest new cars on sale in 2022 SEAT adds digital cockpit to Arona and Ibiza SEAT Arona review Outstanding results in latest safety tests SEAT Arona crossover goes on sale at £16.5K SEAT Arona SUV targets Nissan Juke If you’re looking to buy a new or used SEAT Arona The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more If you’re looking to lease a new SEAT Arona The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?) Car subscriptions from DriveFuze. Find out more Car subscriptions from Wagonex. Find out more Car subscriptions from Cocoon. Find out more Used car finance from Happy Motor Finance. Find out more The Car Expert has the ultimate ranking of the best and worst new cars on sale analysing scores from 35 of the top UK motoring websites to give you a definitive rating We're adding more cars and more lists all the time so keep checking back for the latest results This page contains links to some of our commercial partners GAP insurance and warranty offers from ALA Sell your car today with Motorway Browse cars for sale fromMotors Insurance and warranty offers from Motoreasy New car leasing offers from Carparison Check a car's history with carVertical independent and impartial advice on buying We compare reviews from 30 motoring websites to bring you a definitive rating for every new car Our commercial partners bring you exclusive offers on their products and services Car buyingCar financeCar ownershipCar insurance All Expert RatingsHow our Expert Ratings workLicense our Expert Ratings About usMedia appearancesPartnersAdvertising The Van ExpertThe Truck ExpertImmediate Network Would you like to stay up to date with all the latest advice T&Cs | Privacy | Cookies© 2025 Immediate Network Ltd Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors the leading international saving and investment business today announces that Marcello Arona has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of M&G’s Asset Management business Marcello joined M&G on 13th January 2025 With over 20 years of experience in asset management Marcello brings a wealth of financial expertise and strategic leadership to M&G Investments Marcello will be responsible for M&G Investments global financial operations implementing its financial strategy and playing a pivotal role in M&G plc’s overall long-term growth objectives.  Marcello joins from AXA and his most recent role was Chief Executive Officer Marcello reports to M&G plc’s Chief Financial Officer Kathryn McLeland and is working with CEO of M&G Investments said: “Marcello is a hugely experienced asset management leader and we are delighted to appoint someone of his calibre to M&G supporting our strategic priorities of growth He brings a wealth of experience to M&G having spent the majority of his career at the highest levels across the globe within the sector I look forward to working with him as we deliver our purpose of giving everyone real confidence to put their money to work.” Chief Executive Officer of M&G Investments said: “Marcello has a proven track record of growing and expanding asset management businesses globally I look forward to working with him to drive our growth mission and to deliver exceptional financial outcomes for our clients and customers I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sean Fitzgerald for his significant contribution to the business and wish him all the very best for his retirement.” said: “I am honoured to join M&G at such an exciting time in its journey M&G’s Better Together model – which allows its Asset Management and Life businesses to seamlessly feed into and benefit from each other – provides a balanced and integrated business model I look forward to working closely with the talented team here at M&G Investments and build on its strong foundation Marcello brings extensive experience of the asset management market internationally to M&G having spent over 20 years at AXA including eight years as Chief Operation Officer AXA Investment Managers in Italy and eight years as Head of AXA Investment Managers & Regional Chief Financial Officer in the USA Marcello held senior leadership positions at HSBC and PWC in Italy Retirement Almost 9 million people in the UK remain significantly underpensioned compared to the broader population Insurance and Protection L&G’s Group Protection business today launches the latest instalment of the third edition of its Chief Medical Offic… Investments Rumours of Cash ISA allowance cuts sparked a rush to ISAs in March whilst savers poured in £4.2 billion to the accounts… Podcasts we dive into one of the most exciting developments in personalised advice: behaviour… Regulation and Compliance head of responsible investment at Quilter Cheviot comments on the FCA’s notice it will not apply SDR to… Exclusives, Regulation and Compliance Let’s be honest—when someone says “regulation” Business and Development Head of Generative AI at financial services consultancy Capco comments on the FCA’s latest AI announce… There are 400 Junior ISA (JISA) accounts held in the UK with a value of at least £100,000 Mortgage and Property In response to the HMRC Property Transactions Data published today industry professionals and experts have shared their… This month’s NS&I £1 million Premium Bonds jackpot winners come from Derbyshire and Suffolk.The first Bond number dr… We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience and to help us understand how you interact with our site. Read our full Cookie Policy for more information These cookies are essential for the basic operations of our website They ensure that the website functions correctly and securely we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again These cookies are used to serve adverts and measure their effectiveness They help us provide relevant advertisements Tracking and analytics cookies gather information on how visitors use our website This data helps us understand user behavior While these cookies collect anonymous data they may also be used to identify patterns in user behavior Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences More information about our Cookie Policy The governing coalition in the municipality of Arona, the most populous municipality in the south of Tenerife, has fractured after Mayor Fátima Lemes of the Partido Popular (PP) announced the dismissal of four councillors from the Más Por Arona party yesterday (Wednesday), citing a "loss of confidence." The decision reshapes the local government, leaving it reliant on Vox to maintain its administration alongside the Coalición Canaria (CC). The newly formed alliance would require the inclusion of far-right Vox councillors Naim Valerio Yánez and Melania Desiré Santos. However, the combined total of PP, CC, and Vox councillors adds up to 12, falling short of the 13 needed for a majority in the 25-seat municipal council. In a statement, Lemes explained her decision, expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the Más Por Arona councillors. “This decision is based on the loss of trust and deep dissatisfaction with how responsibilities have been handled so far. There is an urgent need to change the course of this administration to transform Arona into the municipality we deserve,” she said. Lemes emphasized her commitment to introducing new leadership and a programme of actions in the coming days, pledging to prioritise progress and efficiency for the remainder of her term. She highlighted her original mission to elevate Arona’s development and welfare, declaring, “The work of any team is built on mutual trust and effectiveness, which are no longer present in several delegated areas.” Arona, a municipality with a population of 87,000 and a key tourist destination in Tenerife, has experienced years of political and economic entanglements affecting its governance. This latest political shake-up comes in the context of ongoing debates over urban development and local governance. The municipality has faced significant challenges in recent years, including the fallout from the controversial ARTS shopping centre project, spearheaded by businessman Diego Cano. The development was halted in 2021 due to potential urban planning violations, triggering a crisis in the then-PSOE-led government. The scandal led to the dismissal of Urban Planning Councillor Luis García and, subsequently, the expulsion of Mayor José Julián Mena from the PSOE for acting independently of party directives. Vox’s Role in the New Administration This is not the first instance of Coalición Canaria working with Vox, having previously done so in Teguise, Lanzarote. Such alliances have drawn criticism due to Vox's far-right stance, but CC has defended these decisions as necessary for governance. Lemes highlighted the importance of fiscal discipline and a focus on delivering solutions for Arona, a municipality she claims has been neglected, along with much of southern Tenerife. As Arona enters another period of political uncertainty, the municipality’s economic interests, governance, and future development remain at the centre of heated debate. M&G Investments has appointment Marcello Arona as chief financial officer. Recently updated both inside and out, the familiar city SUV doesn’t give that much away to its rivals, writes Sean O’Grady I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice It’s very hard to imagine anyone ever feeling hostile towards a Seat Arona It’s been around for a few years and is the Spanish brand’s bestseller and with a facelift a couple of years ago it is a little more noticeable than before with two prominent fog lamps adding a bit of character It still isn’t as distinctive as the Nissan Juke, or as fully contemporary in style as the Ford Puma or Peugeot 2008 but it’s really never going to offend anyone If it makes any sense, the latest addition to the Arona range, the FR Limited Edition There’s the usual range of tasteful metallic finishes available but you can also get yours in a fashionable The sober interior was improved a couple of years ago, with better quality plastics, and now there’s a 10-inch ‘digital cockpit’ and a 9.2-inch central ‘infotainment’ screen, plus a brilliant Beats sound system they also chuck in semi-autonomous parking assist (which I can never bring myself to trust) Given the current cost of repairing bodywork – and the associated inflation in car insurance premiums – the most valuable feature you can get on a car these days is a full suite of cameras and sensors that make sure you never inflict even the slightest scuff on yours or anyone else’s vehicle Pernickety leasing companies will also look sternly on even the most trivial of cosmetic damage Protecting your car’s exterior is the best investment you can make I have to say there’s still quite a lot to like about the Arona The FR variants have a slightly sportier bent to them but there’s only so much a slightly stiffer suspension and a one litre three-cylinder engine can do supercharged and turbocharged though it is It’s mostly a comfortable car, lacking only a little lumbar adjustment, and the ride – like the performance and handling – is good, as you’d expect, given it’s based on the Ibiza hatch It’s not as spacious as its in-house rival the Skoda Kamiq, which has had a recent revision, but large enough for most needs and bigger than, say, the smaller offerings from the likes of Kia. The Dacia range Like most examples in this class of city SUV The main advantage the Arona has now it is well into middle age is that there are good offers to be found if you shop around Apart from style and the kind of premium ambience you find in the baby Audi Q2 and a Mini Countryman, maybe even the VW T-Roc the Arona doesn’t give that much away to its rivals As I say, I can’t really find a bad word to say about it in itself, so to speak – but I do have to offer the hope that one day the Arona will emerge as a properly affordable small all-electric SUV, something to rival the new Volvo EX30, say, and will carry the Seat name on into the next decades. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_life-style/in_motoring/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"SEAT2.jpg","description":"Seat Arona Limited Edition ","caption":"The new Seat Arona is neatly and attractively styled with decent performance and handling The new Seat Arona is neatly and attractively styled with decent performance and handling Yes and no. The Seat Arona is taller with more interior space and a slightly higher driving position but the Seat Leon is longer It's higher than a car's but not particularly high for an SUV. The Arona sits you higher up than a Seat Leon but lower than, for example, a VW T-Cross roomy inside and fairly affordable to buy and run says...The original Seat Arona was the Spanish car maker's second foray into the world of SUVs launched in the hope of repeating the success of the Ateca (a former What Car Awards category winner no less).  So what exactly is an Arona? Well, it's a small SUV based on the Seat Ibiza hatchback and gets its name from a small municipality in Tenerife It's a bit pricier than some of its peers but still cheaper than the premium models in its class In fact it shares lots of parts with two more expensive VW Group models – the Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc – so it looks rather good value The connection between the three extends to a similar range of petrol engines The Arona is not available with diesel or hybrid engines Is the latest Seat Arona a stronger choice than the best small SUVs out there – which also include the Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq The Seat Arona engine range kicks off with the 94bhp 1.0-litre TSI 95. It can feel a bit sluggish at low revs but there’s enough power to sit comfortably at motorway speeds. Officially it’ll get from 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds, which is a mere 0.1 seconds slower than the equivalent VW T-Cross but nearly two seconds slower than an entry-level Ford Puma At the top of the Arona engine range is the 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI 150. Its extra power helps deliver much quicker acceleration than either of the 1.0-litre units, but it pushes the Arona's price into the territory of the VW T-Roc and other larger The Arona rides well on 17in alloy wheels (the smallest available), confidently soaking up the bumps and potholes you typically find in most towns and cities. It’s more comfortable than, for example, a Citroën C3 Aircross and Kia Stonic The same can be said when you reach motorway speeds where the Arona proves to be a settled and comfortable cruiser If you opt for FR trim, you get firmer sports suspension, while FR Sport and FR Limited Edition pair the sports suspension with larger 18in alloy wheels. With the larger wheels and stiffer suspension fitted, the Arona is noticeably less settled over craggy roads, although it stops short of being uncomfortable – a Nissan Juke is generally more agitated over all surfaces The top-tier Xperience Lux trim gets 18in rims but not sports suspension. As a result it’s a little more settled than the FR versions but still thumps a little over larger abrasions. If comfort is high on your list of priorities, we’d recommend trying the softer Skoda Kamiq or the VW T-Cross One of the strengths of the larger Seat Ateca is how fun it is to drive – a rare quality among SUVs, especially at this end of the market. The good news is that, on the whole, Seat hasn’t dropped the ball with the Arona The sports suspension you get with FR and FR Sport trims results in even better body composure Those trims also add a Drive Profile switch that lets you adjust the weight of the steering although we tend to leave it in Normal mode which gives a progressive build-up of weight as you turn the wheel On other versions the steering is lighter than ideal, but still precise ​​The Arona's 1.0-litre engines are relatively smooth and don’t make too much noise as you cruise If you work them hard (which you have to to get the best out of them) they become quite thrummy and you’ll feel a few vibrations filtering up through the steering wheel and pedals The 1.5-litre TSI 150 is the smoothest engine in the range Road noise is fairly well contained in all models but you’ll hear more wind noise above 50mph than you would in the T-Roc.  The Arona's manual gearbox and clutch are not quite as well-weighted as a Puma’s but they’re more precise than those in the C3 Aircross and Juke “I found the Arona's automatic gearbox a bit jerky in stop-start situations (not helped by the start-stop system), but it shifts smoothly once you're on the move.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor You shouldn’t find it difficult to get comfortable in the Seat Arona. The driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment and the steering wheel can be moved up, down, in and out. The only demerit we’d give is that, unlike in the Ford Puma and VW T-Roc you don't get adjustable lumbar support on any version The Arona’s interior is well laid out, with the infotainment touchscreen sitting high up on the dashboard above clearly labelled buttons and knobs that control the air-con Digital instruments are standard across the range replacing traditional dials with either an 8in or 10in driver display that can show full-screen navigation maps and other information The Arona’s eye-catching looks haven’t come at the expense of forward visibility. The windscreen pillars don’t obstruct your view too much – even when you're pulling out of junctions – and it’s easy to judge where the car’s extremities are, certainly compared with the challenge of doing so from the more enclosed interior of the Peugeot 2008 The Arona’s heavily styled rear end does make it trickier to see out of the back when parking but to help you out every trim includes rear parking sensors Stepping up to FR Limited Edition or range-topping Xperience Lux trim adds sensors at the front of the car All versions of the Arona come with automatic LED headlights but the power varies depending on whether you go for the entry-level SE and SE Technology trims all are bright enough to give great visibility at night Every Arona has an infotainment touchscreen, DAB radio, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring We’ve yet to try the 8.25in touchscreen you get with entry-level SE trim but we have used the 9.2in screen that comes with all other trims The larger display is crisp and bright, and responds quickly to your prods. In fact, it’s one of the better systems out there, keeping everything simple with a small number of menus. You get some touch-sensitive shortcut buttons to the left of the screen but as in most small SUVs it’s mostly touchscreen-controlled which does make it distracting to use when you're driving SE trim misses out on built-in sat-nav but the standard smartphone mirroring lets you use a navigation app on your phone through the car's touchscreen SE Technology and above get sat-nav as standard The interior of the Arona has improved tenfold since its original launch scratchy plastics across the dashboard have been replaced with soft-touch materials and convincing fake-metal trim to make it a far more pleasant place to be That’s not to say there are no cheap-feeling plastics but you have to search lower down in the interior to find them All versions of the Arona come with a leather steering wheel “The Arona's air-conditioning controls are positioned quite low down, but this isn't a major problem; they're so simple that I found I didn't actually need to look at them to use them.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor The front door bins are not the biggest but do have room for a water bottle In front of the gearlever you get a cubbyhole and on SE Technology trim or higher it has a wireless phone-charger built in a small recess for loose change and a large cubby behind the handbrake The top-of-the-range Xperience and Xperience Lux trims get a Storage pack that adds a central armrest a mounting feature in the boot and a document holder under the front passenger seat Yes, the Arona is a small SUV but you might be surprised how roomy it is in the back – especially considering Seat’s history of prioritising chiselled looks over practicality Carrying three people in the back of the Arona is a bit of a squeeze for all concerned. If you’ll regularly need to do that, the wider VW T-Roc is a slightly better bet The Arona's rear bench folds down in a 60/40 split but there are no release handles in the boot to make the process easier you have to open the rear doors and press a button next to the rear head restraints – a bit of a faff If you go for FR Sport or Xperience Lux trim they’re heated too Even so, if carrying lots of cargo is something you do regularly, you might want to take a look at the champions of the class – the Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq They're capable of swallowing up to eight and seven carry-on cases respectively below their parcel shelves A height-adjustable boot floor comes as standard on all Arona trim levels; in its highest setting this removes the lip at the boot entrance “The Arona's height-adjustable boot floor also means there's no step up to the rear seats when they're folded, which I found useful when I used the car for an Ikea run.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor The downside is that it’s expected to depreciate quickly losing its value faster than all those rivals That fast depreciation can increase the amount you have to pay each month on a PCP agreement although you can usually find competitive offers by searching our new Seat deals page Entry-level SE trim includes 17in alloys, cruise control, air-conditioning, a contrasting roof colour and metallic paint. Our favourite trim level is SE Technology, because of the better infotainment system It’s very disappointing that neither of these trims come with an alarm The FR and FR Sport trims are the sporty options including climate control and power-folding door mirrors which pairs the sportiness with loads of extra kit – 18in wheels an upgraded Beats Audio stereo system and keyless entry and start are among the upgrades add some fancier details like the Storage Pack and high-beam assist (and the additional parking sensors on Xperience Lux) but we’d avoid them because of their high prices just below Skoda and Ford but above Volkswagen All versions of the Arona come with a three-year warranty that covers you up to 60,000 miles. That’s similar to most rivals but no match for the seven-year cover you get with a Kia Stonic Seat gives you Europe-wide breakdown cover for two years and you can pay extra to have your warranty extended if you plan to keep your car for longer Every Arona comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB) and tyre-pressure monitoring Upgrading to Xperience trim gets you blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert The Arona was tested for safety by Euro NCAP in 2022 and scored the full five stars – better than the Ford Puma The main reason is that the Arona has an emergency call system (which the Puma doesn’t) and does a better job at safeguarding against neck injuries "I find it disappointing that you have to upgrade to FR trim or above to get an alarm, which is standard fit on many of the Arona's rivals." – Dan Jones, Reviewer For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here Yes and no. The Seat Arona is taller with more interior space and a slightly higher driving position but the Seat Leon is longer It's higher than a car's but not particularly high for an SUV. The Arona sits you higher up than a Seat Leon but lower than, for example, a VW T-Cross Dan joined What Car? in 2021 and is now the road test team's Senior Reviewer. In that role, he produces new car reviews for Whatcar.com and What Car? magazine, alongside occasional contributions for Autocar and Move Electric Before joining What Car?, Dan spent five years working at Sytner he created the company’s content and social media strategies and produced content for those platforms which included everything from interviews with past Formula One drivers to the latest news and videos on unique and interesting cars.  During this time, Dan also used his passion for Japanese cars and supercars to contribute features to Carthrottle and Drivetribe, along with creating news stories for classic and sports car dealership, Pearce & Dale What’s the best piece of advice you could offer a car buyer With the amount of cars on the market and the speed at which technology is changing, it can be pretty overwhelming when you decide it’s time for a new car – especially as we transition to electric cars.  At the same time, take solace in the fact that there’s more information out there than ever before and it’s easy to find, so make sure to leverage things like our What Car? Awards to get an idea of what fits your needs leave old prejudices behind; a lot of brands have come a long way over the last few years and those you’d have written off in the past might just be building fabulous cars these days Japanese cars were the things that started my passion for cars in the first place, so I’ve always had a soft spot for them. As such, I recently jumped at the chance to drive the Honda Civic Type R across Europe and pine to relive those days pretty much weekly.  Honda really nailed it with the new Type R, creating something with brilliant body control, excellent steering and great straight-line performance. Then there’s that spectacular manual gearbox.  What will the car market look like in 20 years It seems fairly certain that EVs will have a massive presence on our roads in 20 years, especially if the UK’s charging network improves and battery technology continues to develop at the current rate However, just like we have petrol and diesel now, I expect the other choice to be hydrogen with the ability to quickly fill a tank and subsequent massive range appealing to those regularly driving long distances What Car? is part of Haymarket Automotive, a division of Haymarket Media Group © Haymarket Media Group 2025 which includes Los Cristianos and parts of Playa Las Americas has decided against declaring the area in the south of Tenerife a "stressed area," opting instead to create a public housing company to address housing needs The announcement was made by Luis García who also confirmed that the illegal houses built in Lomo Negro near El Fraile cannot be legalised He explained that while the neighbouring municipality of Granadilla de Abona plans to declare itself a "stressed area" by the end of the month this concept is flawed: “Declaring an area as ‘stressed’ or ‘tensioned’ often leads to reduced housing availability which in turn discourage homeowners from renting out properties ultimately driving up the cost of public housing.” García outlined two main strategies Arona is pursuing to tackle the housing crisis the municipality plans to allocate land to allow other public authorities Arona aims to establish its own public housing company a project spearheaded by Councillor Sebastián Roque The initiative would enable the municipality to directly oversee the construction of public housing on its land García expressed hope that these efforts would bear fruit in the short to medium term providing affordable housing options for Arona's residents García acknowledged that although the municipality owns urban land much of it is not fully serviced with public utilities Arona is working to purchase land in various areas to increase the housing supply across the municipality The housing issue in Arona is compounded by the presence of illegal developments where about 100 homes have been built on agricultural land which face demolition following a court order cannot be legalised for at least 20 years after the last sign of construction García confirmed that the situation is legally clear and the municipality has engaged in discussions with affected residents finding a solution will be a long and challenging process requiring collaboration with other public administrations He attributed the current housing crisis and the presence of illegal developments to poor urban planning over the last 30 years and emphasised that past administrations prioritised other uses of land pushing public housing to the bottom of the agenda With Arona's population exceeding 100,000 residents García stressed that the current administration views housing as a top priority aiming to provide residents with dignified living conditions The issue of illegal tourist rentals has also contributed to housing challenges in Arona where many residential buildings are being used for holiday lets García explained that current laws allow tourist use of residential properties and the local government is now grappling with how to regulate this to preserve residential areas legally sound solutions to balance tourism and housing needs have arrested a man who allegedly entered the terrace of a relative’s home at around 3:00am on Friday morning and threatened the person inside with a knife The incident took place in the Costa del Silencio area of Tenerife according to a statement released by the police earlier today (Monday) Thanks to the swift response of the Police Prevention Unit officers were able to detain the suspect shortly after the incident occurred the necessary police procedures were carried out and the case was formally recorded as an alleged offence of unlawful entry and threatening behaviour The case has been forwarded to the Judicial Courts of Arona in Los Cristianos Dawn Coyne’s two daughters embraced outside of a Westmoreland County courtroom Thursday after the woman police said caused the crash that resulted their mother’s death was convicted of vehicular homicide and 16 other charges of Sewickley Township was handcuffed and taken to prison to await a sentencing hearing in about three months She faces up to 48 years behind bars for her role in the March 7 of Madison died from injuries suffered in the morning crash that police said occurred after Malik crossed into oncoming traffic as she rounded a bend was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash Her life was tragically taken by the selfless habitual and careless actions of one woman,” according to a statement by the Coyne family after the verdict was announced After more than two hours of deliberations jurors convicted Malik of all 17 charges she faced including two homicide-by-vehicle counts driving while under the influence of controlled substances reckless endangerment and multiple traffic offenses Witnesses said Malik was under the influence of amphetamines methamphetamine and marijuana when she drove with her 17-year-old daughter on the rural road near Arona Police said they found additional drugs in the vehicle items Malik days later admitted to investigators belonged to her and she intended to sell Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda told jurors the drugs had a direct impact on Malik’s ability to drive safely He dismissed defense claims that mechanical issues were responsible for the crash “It is clear this was a driver who caused the crash because she was suffering from the effects of having those drugs in her system,” Powanda said which had been suspended since 2020 as a result of prior drunk driving convictions Malik did not testify during the three-day trial Assistant Public Defender Jack Manderino called on jurors to find Malik not guilty on three of the 17 counts she faced vehicular homicide while under the influence of drugs “Our belief and position is the drugs had nothing to do with it Intoxication has nothing to do with it,” Manderino said in his closing argument Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio revoked Malik’s bond saying she was a risk to community safety and could flee the jurisdiction if allowed to remain free while awaiting sentencing Malik served about a year in jail after she was charged and was released in December to house arrest as a result of violations of the state’s speedy trial rights refreshed crossover driven► 2024 introduces new FR Limited Edition trim► Simple screens and software and AI and… it’s all a bit much sometimes Are there any cars left that just get on with the job without issue the Seat Arona has been around since 2017 and has quietly become a big seller Seat’s range It runs on the same MQB A0 platform as the brand’s Ibiza The Arona was given a facelift in 2021 with a tweaked design and fresh tech and, after that… not much has happened as Seat S.A. has focused more on getting Cupra off the ground Seat politely reminded us about it when a new FR Limited Edition arrived in 2024 (pictured in a gloss grey) which has given us an excuse to drive it again Your choices are either a manual-only 94bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder a 113bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder available with either a manual or a DSG auto or a 148bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder only available with a DSG auto There’s only about a second difference in the 0-62mph acceleration time between the 94bhp and 113bhp engines (11.3 vs 10sec) and regardless of engine you’re looking at around a 50mpg-ish fuel economy potential Then you get to the bewildering range of trims which is probably the only excessive thing about the Arona eight-inch infotainment & digital instruments parking sensors and rear camera• SE Technology: Bigger infotainment screen with nav over SE• FR: Sportier look inside and out than the SE models• FR Sport: 18-inch wheels 10-inch digital instruments• FR Limited Edition: bespoke colours Beats audio upgrade• Xperience: adaptive cruise dual-zone climate control• Xperience Lux: 18-inch wheels auto park assist and heated front seats over Xperience Prices start from £22,460 for the most basic SE rising north of £28,260 when choosing Xperience Lux The recently-added FR Limited Edition starts from £27,490 Almost everything is right-sized and well placed There are welcome physical controls for the air conditioning and banks of buttons for handy functions that flank the transmission shifter a tray for your phone and a right-sized screen with a reasonably responsive operating system all feature while the FR Limited Edition we tested featured upholstery made from recycled materials Our only real grumble is the set of buttons on the steering wheel; there are so many and some of them don’t really seem to make sense in terms of their location Why is the volume roller with the cruise control buttons Why are there multiple single-use buttons that do largely the same job to set the cruise control the Arona is a perfectly good place to spend time your view out isn’t particularly hindered in any way and the seats are supportive it’s cosy for adults but not impractical and the boot is a good size for the class at 400 litres The buzzy three-cylinder we’ve tested is more than enough getting on with the job smoothly with a characterful hum in the background making it fine enough for nipping around town and having enough power to keep its momentum at higher speeds The rest of the driving experience is mostly neat including light and accurate steering that has some good weight to it and potent brakes Our latest test model was equipped with the seven-speed DSG auto which is clearly programmed to be hell bent on being as efficient on fuel as it can be there’s a belligerence to downshift when you feel one is required and a slightly ponderous engaging of a gear to take advantage of a gap from a standstill meaning little body roll and quite tight control in quick corners without being too bouncy or quick to unsettle the larger-wheeled versions introduce the odd sharp jolt and our test car’s Hankook rubber was noisy at speed Out of that huge range of trim and engine options we’d suggest nothing higher than an FR – the base cars are already well equipped with all of the essential tech and it’s best to go for smaller wheels to limit the fidgety ride so we’d recommend that if you can freely use it There is plenty of competition around the Arona with superminis also being a potential choice is a more than fine enough car that does everything the Arona does but at a lower ride height the Ford Puma will be a more entertaining car to drive but few can match the Arona for the best balance of space simple enough to operate and big enough to be useful in many situations In the immortal words of walking video game meme the Arona is one of the few remaining cars on sale that feel like an island of sufficiency and a refuge from excess Specs are for a FR Limited Edition 1.0 TSI DSG Citroen’s baby SUV back and stockier than ever Here's the full CAR review of the new Ford Puma SUV Jake has been an automotive journalist since 2015 With a decade of car news and reviews writing under his belt he became CAR's Deputy News Editor in 2020 and then News Editor in 2025 Jake's day-to-day role includes co-ordinating CAR's news content across its print When he's not out interviewing an executive driving a new car for review or on a photoshoot for a CAR feature he's usually found geeking out on the latest video game buying yet another pair of wildly-coloured trainers or figuring out where he can put another car-shaped Lego set in his already-full house Arona – as tested - €36,085; Ibiza – as tested - €32,425 both equipped with natty one-litre turbo petrol with 110 bhp both cars have seen significant upgrades in trim and tech both are popular sellers and with this new trim level should be even more competitive This week we’re doing something slightly different in that we are reviewing – magic Now it may be that both are from the same stable and have the same engine – two new cars that are not battery powered imagine – but they are different beasts and will The two in question are both from SEAT and both have received something of a mid-life facelift to give them a potential sales boost as they come near to their being replaced in the Spanish company’s line-up one of car maker’s longest standing nameplates and one of its most profitable too; along with that we have the SEAT Arona the firm’s smallest SUV and another popular seller from the Martorell outfit Both have been given a minor exterior wash-and-brush-up to polish up what are already attractive packages while the main improvements come in the interiors Both have also been given a new ‘FR’ specification tag which ups the ante a bit more It used to be that an ‘FR’ designated SEAT was a very sporty thing and you could say that applies here too a DSG auto gearbox and fancy alloys on offer but there’s little enough you can do with a one-litre three-cylinder engine outputting just 110 bhp both these cars are on the genteel side of performance oriented actually makes their appeal all the stronger the exterior changes include revisions to the front and rear bumpers new alloy wheel variants and a new ‘Ibiza’ badge on the rear hatch that is faux handwritten upfront you have a completely revised dash with nice padded surfaces around all the touchpoints and a new 8.25” touchscreen controlling all the infotainment stuff It all looks a bit more sophisticated than previously and a considerable distance from the bargain basement décor that was once SEAT’s trademark once you venture into the rear passenger space but as the owner/driver is rarely going to be back there But what even the rear passengers will notice is the general interior upgrading grey air vents and the dark aluminium mouldings and trim They’ll notice too the spec levels which include a multi-function steering wheel the 8” digital instrumentation screen for the driver as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability It does have the very tiresome lane departure warning system and the speed warning alert but both are easily disconnected – even if you have to do it every time you undertake a journey The FR Ibiza also comes with sports suspension which makes the car 15mm lower than in the normal car and also firms up the ride a little even if the ride can be a small bit crashy on badly paved roads this is a dashing piece of kit and while the output from the three-cylinder turbocharged engine might seem puny but this unit is a tireless worker and blessed with a willingness for endeavour that’s as pleasure to live with It may be the Ibiza will spend a considerable amount of its life as an urbanite but it has a good appetite for longer trips and works well on the motorway Sport and Individual – although in truth there’s little noticeable difference between them it’s a pretty compelling package for the money what with the added specification and the sporty demeanour and it’s a cracker to drive the changes to the exterior are – again – minimal but the front end does get a completely new look The new fog lights between the grille and the valance have a sort of ‘frog-eye’ look and give a modernity and adventurousness to the design new colours and different alloy wheel designs You can also chose to have a contrasting colour on the roof is you so wish The interior – again – gets a big makeover and as with the Ibiza there have been improvements to the materials used the colour schemes on offer and the infotainment system There is now also an optional phone charging system It also has a bigger central touchscreen and a bigger digital cockpit screen as well more spec being available including cruise control ambient lighting and front and rear parking assistance also allows you to remotely open or lock the car and other trickery The power source and the seven-speed DSG auto gearbox are the same as the Ibiza and so too the lowered suspension and as the two cars are based on the same platform the driving characteristics are unsurprisingly similar – i.e It is worth noting too that for a small SUV vibration and harshness) qualities are of a higher order than you might expect at this level of capability Both of these cars have been very popular and profitable for SEAT and the upgrades we’ve seen here will undoubtedly bolster what have already been solid sales numbers The Spanish arm of the VW Group has traditionally been the poor relation visual improvements and comfort upgrades of both the Ibiza and the Arona alter whatever impression you might have had of their entry level contenders in their respective classes well priced and offer an excellent driving experience and reflect an upgrade of the company’s overall image That’s something which is not only welcome From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in more motoring articles She was appointed COO and global head of oversight earlier this year and now takes charge from outgoing CEO Marcello Arona Ouajnat Karim will become the new UK CEO of AXA Investment Management on 11 December taking the reins from current CEO Marcello Arona who is leaving after leading the firm since 2021 Karim has worked in various roles at AXA since 2007 and became its COO and global head of oversight earlier this year She will retain some of her responsibilities in these roles in addition to that of CEO and will now report in to AXA’s CFO and general secretary Jean-Chistophe Menioux and COO and global head of transversal services Geoffroy Reiss See also: AXA IM adds Sarasin & Partners portfolio manager to thematic equity team Menioux said: “I am delighted that Ouajnat will be taking on this new professional endeavour within AXA IM and I trust that her extensive knowledge of the business significant control and governance oversight experience as well as her strong focus on people and clients will be instrumental to her success in the role “I would like to warmly thank Marcello Arona for the significant contribution he has made to AXA IM over the last 20 years and wish him every success for the future.” M&G has appointed Marcello Arona as chief financial officer of its asset management business M&G Investments Arona brings a wealth of financial expertise and strategic leadership to M&G Investments he will be responsible for M&G Investments’ global financial operations implementing its financial strategy and playing a pivotal role in M&G’s overall long-term growth objectives He will report to M&G’s CFO Kathryn McLeland and is working with CEO of M&G Investments Joseph Pinto as a key leadership team member where his most recent role was chief executive of AXA Investment Managers UK and AXA IM GS He brings extensive experience of the asset-management market internationally to M&G This included eight years as chief operation officer of AXA Investment Managers in Italy and eight years as head of AXA Investment Managers and regional chief financial officer in the US he held senior leadership positions at HSBC and PWC in Italy Commenting on Arona’s appointment at M&G Investments McLeland said: “Marcello is a hugely experienced asset-management leader “He brings a wealth of experience to M&G having spent the majority of his career at the highest levels across the globe within the sector “I look forward to working with him as we deliver our purpose of giving everyone real confidence to put their money to work.” Pinto said: “Marcello has a proven track record of growing and expanding asset-management businesses globally “I look forward to working with him to drive our growth mission and to deliver exceptional financial outcomes for our clients and customers “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sean Fitzgerald for his significant contribution to the business and wish him all the very best for his retirement.” Arona said: “I am honoured to join M&G at such an exciting time in its journey M&G’s Better Together model – which allows its asset management and life businesses to seamlessly feed into and benefit from each other – provides a balanced and integrated business model “I look forward to working closely with the talented team here at M&G Investments and build on its strong foundation You must be logged in to post a comment The Tenerife Cabildo is investing more than €6.5 million in the improvement and refurbishment of the seafront between Plaza de Unterhaching and Puerto Colón (Phase 1) in Adeje and in the renovation of the promenade at Playa de Las Vistas in Arona as announced yesterday (Monday) by Cabildo Vice President and Tourism Councillor The Councillor for Commerce and Business Support joined the Vice President on his visit to the area; to assess the significant boost these improvements will provide to commercial activity in both municipalities “We are leading the regeneration of Tenerife’s tourist spaces in collaboration with the town halls We are starting the year by presenting the main projects from the Insular Strategy and Tourism Regeneration Programme (PIER) 2024-2027 in both Adeje and Arona These are areas in need of renewal and modernisation using sustainability criteria that promote pedestrian mobility Our aim is for these public tourist spaces to be as competitive as possible which will also attract private investment in the surrounding areas is a tool to attract higher spending at the destination and increase the profitability of tourism activities.” Afonso highlighted that “the projects are designed to be comprehensive addressing key areas within the urban layout of the municipalities PIER is a key document for renewing the image and offerings of these municipalities on the island We are committed to driving the regeneration of Tenerife’s tourist spaces.” “collaboration between administrations is essential to ensure that services and infrastructure meet the expectations of the public We thank the Cabildo and Lope Afonso for recognising our municipality’s needs and we hope to see these plans come to fruition through agreements like those we have already achieved in tourism and infrastructure which fall under the Vice President’s remit.” “Our goal is to continue improving the municipality while also addressing the demands of visitors and the main sector underpinning our economy We have visited key projects such as the improvement of the seafront between Plaza de Unterhaching and Puerto Colón which is part of the Insular Strategy and Tourism Regeneration Programme (PIER) and we have also discussed future matters of great interest to all.” “this project for the promenade at Playa de Las Vistas will mark a ‘before and after’ for the destination and for Arona not only in terms of quality but also in the broader strategy to renovate the surrounding area benefitting both visitors and residents.” “It will revitalise the south of the island and Tenerife as a whole We will continue with improvements in Los Cristianos the tourism hub of the municipality and we will enhance the area promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly development It is a major step forward for the Las Vistas area.” Afonso explained that the renovation of the promenade at Playa de Las Vistas aims to upgrade the most iconic seafront in the tourist hub of Los Cristianos (Arona) by reorganising and widening the promenade creating a more direct connection with the beach The project includes a complete overhaul of the paving alongside improvements to all installations The cost of this work is 3.8 million euros improvements and refurbishments are being carried out on the seafront between Plaza de Unterhaching and Puerto Colón (Phase 1) this involves renovating the promenade along Adeje’s coastline an area with significant tourist activity and numerous hotels and leisure infrastructures The aim is to address the promenade’s fragmentation by providing continuity and ensuring clear pedestrian routes and access to the sea The project also includes creating new leisure areas with shade and vegetation using appropriate materials and modern furniture The cost of this project is 3.3 million euros The Tenerife Cabildo’s governing body approved the Insular Strategy and Tourism Regeneration Programme (PIER) 2024-2027 on 18 December 2024 with an initial investment of €18 million This programme includes eight significant projects Afonso added that the plan encompasses five municipalities: “Arona which collectively account for 120,970 accommodation places and the highest density of tourism activity leading to greater wear and tear on these areas The Cabildo is committed to enhancing the quality of these spaces maintaining their appeal as tourist destinations and improving the current state of some of their surroundings.” Two-time world indoor champion Noor Vidts will be the marquee athlete at the International Meeting of Arona – the second Gold leg of the World Athletics Combined Events Tour – on the Canary Islands this weekend (11-12) who retained her world indoor title earlier this year in Glasgow will start as the overwhelming favourite in the heptathlon The 27-year-old Belgian has finished in the top six at the past three global championships starting with the Olympic Games in 2021 where she finished fourth with a PB of 6571 She came close to that at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon and she followed that with a sixth-place finish at last year’s World Championships in Budapest with 6450 Vidts has competed in Arona on seven previous occasions She won the U20 contest in 2014 and 2015 but is yet to win the main senior event Marijke Esselink of the Netherlands should be Vidts’ toughest challenger The 24-year-old will be making her third appearance in Arona having finished third in 2021 with a PB of 6087 which she improved to 6222 last year in Götzis Ireland’s Kate O’Connor will also be in the mix for a podium place finished second at the opening World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold meeting in Brescia two weeks ago with 6104 Watch out too for USA’s Ashtin Zamzow-Mahler who will be contesting her first heptathlon in almost two years The 27-year-old finished 11th at the 2022 World Championships and has a 6291 PB from 2021 She’ll be joined by compatriot Shaina Burns a 6130-point heptathlete aiming to improve on her 14th-place finish in Brescia Ondrej Kopecky appears to be the pre-event favourite in the decathlon The 25-year-old from the Czech Republic has a PB of 8310 from 2022 and more recently he finished ninth at the World Indoor Championships having set an indoor PB of 6035 in the heptathlon in February Kopecky excels in the vertical jumps and has PBs of 2.01m for the high jump and 5.20m in the pole vault winner in Arona in 2022 with a score of 8115 The 32-year-old Swede enjoyed a fantastic campaign that year placing fourth at the European Championships with a huge PB of 8327 Nilsson hasn’t completed a decathlon since September 2022 but an indoor heptathlon score of 5706 earlier this year shows the 2010 world U20 bronze medallist is returning to good form Germany’s 2017 world bronze medallist Kai Kazmirek one of the most consistent decathletes over the past decade The 33-year-old only completed one decathlon last year and will be contesting his first combined events competition of the year this weekend He will be joined by his fellow German Malik Diakite who surpassed the 8000-point barrier last year with a PB of 8051 Local hopes rest on defending champion Andreu Boix The 21-year-old Spaniard produced a lifetime best of 7961 in Arona last year when he set PBs in six of the 10 disciplines Mild temperatures – with a high of 25C – are expected throughout a sunny weekend in Arona Costas de Tenerife has issued a new fine of €24,000 to the Arona City Council for hosting an unauthorised beach volleyball tournament in August at Los Cristianos Beach and a DJ box using approximately 1,200 square metres of the beach without the necessary permits This unauthorised setup follows previous incidents where similar structures were installed without approval at Los Cristianos and three other beaches These earlier violations resulted in a separate fine of €60,000 which the municipal government has appealed Regulatory Framework and Municipal Response The sanction references Article 91(a) of Law 22/1998 on Coastal Regulations and Article 192(a) of its corresponding regulations highlighting the municipality's failure to renew necessary permits for beach services The Arona City Council has linked this €60,000 fine to the ongoing transfer of coastal management responsibilities from the National Coast Guard to the Canary Islands authorities The council argues that this transition has caused significant delays and procedural uncertainties hindering municipalities from obtaining timely approvals for beach-related activities In response to the latest €24,000 fine the Arona council says that they have submitted the required documentation for sun beds they claim that Costas has not responded due to the administrative transition impeding the approval process and resulting in the imposition of fines This latest sanction adds to the municipality's challenges which include investigations by the Guardia Civil into alleged misuse of cultural materials by municipal workers and accusations of financial misconduct involving the misappropriation of fines and taxes by a municipal employee The unauthorised use of Los Cristianos Beach for the volleyball tournament highlights the tension between municipal activities and regulatory compliance The fines serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to coastal regulations designed to protect marine ecosystems and maintain the natural beauty of the Canary Islands' beaches As the Arona Council navigates these challenges the outcome of the appeals against the fines and the resolution of ongoing investigations will be critical in shaping the municipality's future operations and its relationship with regional authorities “At the moment SEAT is in good shape,” said SEAT and Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths “But we don’t have the capacity to build a SEAT EV and it would need to be profitable; a 20,000 euro EV is very difficult to build profitably.”  That means a visual refresh for the two petrol cars although there won't be any changes to the powertrains outside of those needed to meet legislative requirements in the coming years “We are planning on running the combustion cars on sale until the end of the decade and therefore the time for a decision about electric cars is in the future,” Werner Tietz SEAT’s vice president of research and development told Auto Express He said the company has reduced its development processes to three years but cars still arrive to the same deadline “Our ambition is to find the technical solution which makes it viable for SEAT to enter the electric market because with the price point of the car the technology must see a step change in cost.” Tietz also confirmed that SEAT had launched its last fresh combustion-engined car with the brand’s new product future tied to making electric cars profitable Griffiths said the European uptake of electric vehicles is too far below previously predicted levels to profitably introduce a small electric SEAT with EVs running at 13 per cent of new-car sales last year while in SEAT home Spanish market the figure was just five per cent He called for action from governments to provoke EV sales into life “At this pace the automotive industry in Europe is at risk but we need to see it as an opportunity to drive growth,” Griffiths said and we have been absolutely clear – it’s not a goal and we need to see the same level of commitment from leaders across Europe If we can seize the opportunity there is no reason why they can’t do the same.”  Buy a car with Auto Express. Our nationwide dealer network has some fantastic cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from... Paul’s job is to steer the talented group of people that work across Auto Express and Driving Electric and steer the titles to even bigger and better things by bringing the latest important stories to our readers Paul has been writing about cars and the car industry since 2000 working for consumer and business magazines as well as freelancing for national newspapers industry titles and a host of major publications Icon could be reborn with a little help from Volkswagen New Renault 4 2025 review: as good as the Renault 5 with the bonus of extra space New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645 Our marketing claims explained. Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote Illustrations are based on personal contract hire Auto Express "Find A Car" is managed by Carwow Ltd Auto Express "Find A Car" is a trading style of Carwow Studio Limited which is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Carwow Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities (firm reference number 767155) Carwow Ltd may introduce you to Carwow Leasey Limited (trading as Carwow Leasey) Carwow Leasey Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking (firm reference number: 313486) Carwow Ltd and Carwow Leasey Limited are each credit brokers and not lenders Carwow Ltd and Carwow Leasey Limited may receive a fee from retailers advertising finance and may receive a commission from partners (including dealers) for introducing customers All finance offers and monthly payments shown are subject to application and status If you’re unhappy with Auto Express or Carwow’s service you may be able to contact the Financial Ombudsman (please see www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for more information) 13601174) and Carwow Studio Ltd (company no 13018565) are limited companies registered in England with their registered offices at Verde Building Carwow Studio Limited and Carwow Leasey Limited are wholly owned subsidiaries of Carwow Ltd Carwow Studio Limited is part of the Carwow Group A 42-year-old man has died while scuba diving off the coast of southern Tenerife according to reports in the Canary Islands’ media The tragedy occurred around 12:32pm on Saturday 7 December in waters off the coast of Arona a popular tourist district located on the southwest coast of Tenerife Emergency services were called following reports that a diver – whose nationality and identity have not so far been released – was removed from the water ‘in cardiac arrest’ Medics from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) administered CPR upon arrival but were unable to resuscitate the diver The Arona Police Department has opened an investigation into the incident Filed under: Briefing Want to access DIVE on your tablet or smartphone Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device Copyright © 2025 Syon Media The SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115hp DSG's details such as the redesigned front grille front bumper and LED headlights give it a more up-to-date look Rumours of SEAT’s exit from the automotive sector appear to have been greatly exaggerated While there was speculation that the Spanish carmaker might turn its focus to scooters SEAT has confirmed it’s not ready to park its ambitions yet speaking at a recent press launch remains optimistic about the future: “We want to get the SEAT brand back to where it belongs.” He also hinted at plans for SEAT in the electric vehicle space I promise you that the best is still to come.” Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel CECOES has reported that a dead body was discovered in a ravine yesterday (Sunday) in the municipality of Arona in the south of Tenerife The Canary Islands Emergency Services Coordination Centre received a 1-1-2 emergency alert earlier in the day and immediately activated the necessary resources the authorities have not released further details regarding the identity of the deceased or the circumstances surrounding the discovery