Global leading Welsh automotive engineer Prof Richard Parry-Jones CBE has died following an accident at his home on Friday morning. The current chairman of the Welsh Automotive Forum was born in 1951 in Bangor and rose to become Group Vice-President-Global Product Development, Chief Technical Officer and Head of Global R&D Operations at Ford Motor Company with 30,000 engineers and technical … [Read more...]
Tradelines 7 April
While the pandemic has taken a toll on many people’s finances, others are emerging with a nest egg after months of lockdown living and this could ensure the car industry, along with the wider economy, bounces back quicker than originally anticipated, said James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars. He was speaking after the SMMT released March car sales figures showing a dramatic rise compared to the last … [Read more...]
Electric car sales surge, but Wales sees big loss
Electric car sales are charging ahead on British roads. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show ev registrations hit a record and hybrid sales last month were higher than September 2020, the previous best for the dual fuel vehicles. It's also the first month that the Tesla Model 3 EV, pictured above, has been officially recognised in the figures after Tesla withdrew … [Read more...]
Weeds need removing from our green drive
There are a few weeds to be taken care of as the motor industry, energy providers, related suppliers and authorities take us down the green road towards 2030 and onwards, writes Robin Roberts. The haste and race to have low emission cars and other vehicles on our roads is tripping over some serious issues, notably cost, and not just for vehicles and infrastructure but the expense of losing … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 March
With staycations booming this year, an invaluable new publication is the Caravan and Motorhome Club Buyers Guide 2021, which is full of information about the latest and most innovative motorhomes and campervans new to market. An independent, expert and knowledgeable panel carried out full technical specification, design, use of space and usability reviews of 106 new-to-market leisure vehicles … [Read more...]
Budget does little for car sales
The Budget is first aid for the motor industry but will not fix underlying long term ailments, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “Today’s budget provides some encouragement to an automotive sector hit hard by the pandemic and additional trading costs but it falls short of the support needed to transform the industry and market to the net zero future to which both the … [Read more...]
Obituary: Hannu Mikkola 1942 – 2021
Finland's Hannu Mikkola, who died on 26 February aged 78, was one of the most successful and versatile international rally drivers during a 31-year career in a variety of cars from Volvo PV544 to state-of-the-art Group B Audi S1 and a few others in between, writes Ken Davies. Born 24 May 1942 at Joensuu, Finland, like many Scandinavian drivers of his period, Hannu started competing in a Volvo … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford Focus Active X Vignale
Ford say their new passenger cars are going all electric in Europe and will not have internal combustion engines from 2030, writes David Miles. Their commercial vehicle ranges will follow that move a couple of years later and by 2026 all their new cars in Europe would be fully electric or plug-in hybrids. But for the here and now in addition to conventional petrol and diesel labelling the … [Read more...]
Newslines 26 February
The Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa pass the test with learners. They are the most popular models for driving schools says Veygo insurance. Five Welsh businesses have been included in this year’s best garage award from WhoCanFixMyCar. Euro Testing Centre, Cardiff; Keep Driving Auto and NGS Swansea; Motazone, Cwmbran and Greens Mobile Mechanics of Pontypool were nominated by very satisfied … [Read more...]
Chiller thriller for WRC crews this week
Three days of Arctic WRC action puts drivers’ skills to the test this week. The plans are for the Rovaniemi round of the WRC to be driven as a three-day event: the action starts on Friday 26 February with a shakedown in the morning. The first special stages of the rally proper will be driven on Friday evening and the competition continues on Saturday 27 February with three stages that will all … [Read more...]