Refinement and rarity are the driving forces behind the new BMW 8 Series, and its halo has to be the convertible. Relaunching its flagship series last year after nearly two decades out of the market it means the premium German brand is better placed to tackle its rivals and raise aspirations among owners. The 8 Series comprises four-seat coupe or cabriolet body styles with a … [Read more...]
UK Automotive facing more losses in Brexit warning
Another 6,500 British automotive jobs in two car plants are on the line if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal. Mini workers 4,500 jobs will be be diluted in Oxford and Ford Dagenham may shift diesel engine production to Europe if no deal is done. There will be knock on effects to the plants' UK suppliers and local economies as well. Honda has said it will close Swindon in a couple of … [Read more...]
Pump prices continue rising, RAC Fuel Watch reports
The average price of petrol rose for the second month in row with a litre going up by 2p in March to 122.58p, data from RAC Fuel Watch shows. This means filling a 55-litre family car with unleaded now costs £67.22. The average price of diesel also increased but only 0.70p to 130.67p taking a fill-up to £71.87. This is the second straight monthly increase for both fuels, making unleaded 2p … [Read more...]
More owners turning to used models instead of new
Buyers are turning their backs on new cars in favour of used models, says a leading finance house. Brexit, a global slowdown, and confusion over fuel type have caused 2.4 million drivers to think twice about buying new car. The findings from a new report published today by Close Brothers Motor Finance found, in the past year, the proportion of drivers planning on buying a used car … [Read more...]
JLR sustains big losses in three months
Massive losses have been recorded by JLR. It has reported a £3.4B quarterly loss after writing down the value of its cars and plants. Last month it announced a 10% cut in its 42,500 employees, mostly in the UK. It is the third consecutive quarterly loss after it was hit by U.S.-China trade tensions, low demand for diesel cars in Europe and Brexit concerns and some of the automaker's newest … [Read more...]
Mixed responses to new EU emissions target
Car makers have expressed serious concerns about the highly challenging CO2 target that auto manufacturers will have to meet by 2030. The European Parliament, Commission and Council agreed to cut carbon emissions from new cars and vans by 15% in 2025 and 37.5% in 2030, compared to 2021 levels. The European federation of transport NGOs, Transport & Environment, welcomed the agreement … [Read more...]
Mid-week motoring: Honda Civic Saloon
With no Estate version in the tenth generation Honda Civic range, until now only available in five door Hatchback form, now Honda has extended the Civic’s appeal by adding four door Saloon versions, writes David Miles. Unlike the Hatchback and Type R built in the UK for global sales, the Civic Saloon is built in Turkey for European markets. Available with 1.0-litre three … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Honda Civic 5dr 1.6 diesel
Built in Britain for global sales the 10th generation Honda Civic is available in five door hatchback body style and now a Civic four door saloon, built in Turkey for European markets, has been added to the range, writes David Miles. Also a new 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with manual and automatic gearbox choices has joined the line-up for both body styles. There is no … [Read more...]
Diesel sales collapsing across Europe
Disaffection towards diesel engine cars is spreading all over Europe, said the International Energy Agency. The market share of diesel cars in the European Union fell to 36.5 percent in the first half of 2018 from 42.5 percent in the first half of 2017, reported the IEA. Sales declined by 16 percent to 3.12 million units, with Britain sinking to 30 percent. In Germany, home to some of the … [Read more...]
Fuel prices hit four year high
August saw yet another rise in the price of both petrol and diesel meaning that prices have gone up for eight of the last 12 months making both fuels 13p more expensive than this time last year, new RAC Fuel Watch data reveals. Pump prices continue to creep ever upward with unleaded increasing by 1.65p to 130.59p and diesel by 1.32p to 132.19p in the month. A year ago, however, petrol was … [Read more...]