Arriving in the UK next month, the 2024 Mazda MX-5 sees Mazda’s award-winning sports car receive an exterior design change for the first time since the launch of the current generation MX-5 in 2015. The subtle changes include a new LED headlight design that now incorporates the daytime running lights, while the rear LED lights have also been redesigned. A new Aero Grey paint colour has been added … [Read more...]
New Aston Martin Vantage V8 supercar
The wraps are off Britain's newest supercar, the 202mph Aston Martin Vantage V8. It's quicker, faster and more economical than the former Vantage V12 and delivers 665ps from its 4.0V8 twin-turbo Mercedes supplied engine. There have been extensive engine upgrades from the standard MB V8 as used in its models, but still no hybrid powertrain, for now. The 0-60mph time is said to be 3.4 seconds … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swift hits 40 years
In the lead up to the introduction of the all-new Swift Hybrid this Spring, Suzuki has reflected over the last 40 years of evolution of its highly popular and important global model and provide an insight into its development since 1983. This evolution and development since it created the first city car to break out of the Japanese-only compact town car has provided the engineers at Suzuki Motor … [Read more...]
Renewable fuels are answer to ev shortcomings
Climate protection solutions are urgently needed in road transport and politicians must make a clear commitment to renewable fuels, according to a learned German body. Slumping new registration figures, consumer reluctance and increasing doubts among vehicle manufacturers indicate the all-electric approach to passenger cars promoted by European and German legislators has failed, accoding to … [Read more...]
Toyota extend their EVs with two MPVs
Toyota is extending its UK electrified vehicle range with the introduction of two new people carriers which are already on sale in Europe, the nine-seat Proace Verso EV and the compact Proace City Verso EV. Offered in nine-seat Shuttle form, Proace Verso can specified in medium (4,959mm) or long (5,309mm) body lengths (below). The Shuttle specification caters for customers who need a vehicle … [Read more...]
Tradelines 7 February
A strong 2.9% organic fleet growth during 2023 has been announced today by Arval UK, in a challenging market constrained by new car supply and inflation. The figure brings the total UK fleet size to 192,068 at the end of December 2023 and much of the rise has been powered by the ongoing transition towards battery electric vehicles as Arval’s UK fleet now includes 44,021 BEVs which account for a … [Read more...]
EV sales are trickling ahead of last year
Five of the largest EV manufacturers in UK market increased their sales last month compared to 12 months ago, according to the latest data from New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count. The monthly report is the most up-to-date and comprehensive electric vehicle sales data in the UK, and reveals that 15 out of 20 manufacturers are selling more EVs than they did a year ago. Despite Toyota’s CEO … [Read more...]
Government EV strategy needs rapid recharge warn Lords
The Government must do more to get people to adopt EVs, says a Lords Committee. "If it fails to heed our recommendations the UK won’t reap the significant benefits of better air quality and will lag in the slow lane for tackling climate change,” said Baroness Kate Parminter, Chair of the inquiry (below). The inquiry was launched in August 2023 to identify the main obstacles and barriers to a … [Read more...]
EV regs hit a million but petrol sales climbing too
Discounted business registrations meant Britain’s millionth battery electric car reached the road in January 2024, while the new car market grew 8.2% for the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The first month of the year saw 142,876 new cars registered led by the Kia Sportage (above), which repeated its success of January 2022, and an UK uplift of 10,882 units on … [Read more...]
Newcomers: BMW expansions & MINI electric coming
A new entry-level BMW iX2 eDrive20 (above) is available to order in the UK from March 2024 with prices starting from £50,710. There is also an expansion of BMW XM offering with introduction of XM 50e, with model specific design elements. There are also comprehensive updates to BMW digital services, including extended smartphone integration for models with BMW Operating System 9. The pure … [Read more...]