Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will close from wednesday for at least a month due to the coronavirus with employees getting basic pay. "Due to the dramatic impact this ongoing crisis is having on the European market and the supplier industry, we have decided to bring forward part of the summer shutdown period for our UK operations to the Easter period," said a Ford statement. Car dealers want … [Read more...]
Car makers want urgent comprehensive support
The effect of the coronavirus on society and the global economy is unprecedented with grave consequences for the automobile industry, say European car makers. Indeed, most of the members of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association have already announced temporary closures of plants due to collapsing demand, supply shortages, and government measures, and are facing cases of corona … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
The first BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is the smallest member of BMW’s dour door coupes comprising 4 Series Gran Coupe, 6 Series Gran Turismo and range flagship 8 Series Gran Coupe, writes David Miles. The new 2 Series Gran Coupe with four passenger doors, a sleek coupe silhouette and front and four wheel drive models architecture also extends the existing 2 Series line up of the rear wheel drive 2 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Fiesta Active Edition 1.0T Ecoboost
Ford has put a lot of eggs in its family car basket as it seeks to build sales in difficult and highly competitive times. The best-selling Fiesta has been given a new name at the top of its range, a crossover series called Active, which is probably more widespread in appeal than the stablemate and slightly dull EcoSport suv. Now, not so many years ago the Active would have been a regular version … [Read more...]
Coaches curtailing services next week
National Express long distance coaches is advising passengers to check online before they travel as it introduces an extensive reduction to its timetable from 00:01 Tuesday 24 March 2020. The coach operator will be temporarily running limited services across its scheduled national network in response to the impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19). This also follows the slashing of train services to … [Read more...]
Theory test pass-rate falls again
Pass rates for learner car drivers taking theory tests have fallen to their lowest point in ten years, according to new government figures. The Department for Transport figures reveal that of the 1,470,000 learners who took the theory test during the last 12 months, just 47 percent passed. This follows a consistent year-on-year fall from 2009-10 when 64 percent passed. The data, released … [Read more...]
MoT penalties soar
The MOT test changed in May 2018, with tighter rules around emissions and safety as well as higher fines for drivers caught with an unroadworthy vehicle. A freedom of information request revealed 68,027 have been issued with penalty charges across England and Wales by police since the changes. The Met Police force caught the most drivers (15,772), followed by West Yorkshire (6,019), Merseyside … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 March
Volkswagen has paid out £28.5 B in fines and settlements, and the German carmaker expects costs to add another £2 B, Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter told media. It was caught hiding excessive levels of toxic diesel emissions in 2015, leading to management changes and hundreds of regulatory probes and lawsuits but has so far resisted UK compensation. Vauxhall’s new Corsa is available on … [Read more...]
Anglesey Circuit pushes off with motorcycle season
Anglesey Circuit gets the 2020 motorcycle racing season pushing off this weekend with a two-day Wirral 100 Motor Club meeting, writes Andrew Hughes. In recent years this first race weekend of the year has comprised a day of testing on the Saturday and a race-day on Sunday. This year, however, both days are race days in line with the club’s ‘Racing for Sport’ format. Each of the bike-category … [Read more...]
Elfyn slips off top spot in shortened WRC Mexico
Elfyn Evans has maintained his impressive start to the 2020 World Rally Championship with a strong fourth place on last weekend’s Rally Mexico. After a podium on his debut for the Toyota Gazoo World Rally Team in Monte Carlo and then an historic win in Sweden, the on-form Welshman and his co-driver Scott Martin led the title race after the opening two rounds. However, as championship … [Read more...]