The true impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and loss of new car production is beginning to be appreciated. UK showrooms closed for over 12 weeks but the factories making cars closed for varying periods of time and this contrasted with other parts of the world where the impact was much less. Although the global automotive industry has been hard hit due to COVID-19, the UK market has suffered … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 June
About 10M cars are expected to hit UK roads at the weekend and head off for getaways, despite facing £60 FPN fines in Wales. Travel restrictions will be lifted in England but not Wales and the RAC says it expects a spike in breakdown calls and urges motorists to check over their cars this week before travelling. Carbon dioxide emissions from new cars in Europe rose for a third year running in … [Read more...]
Lockdown seems to have improved air quality
The overwhelming majority of drivers have noticed a positive improvement in local air quality according to a survey into driver attitudes and behaviours during lockdown. The survey by nationwide electric car charge point installer Smart Home Charge, found almost all respondents noticed less congestion and noise pollution(99.3% and 88.3% respectively), with 98.3% agreeing that electric cars would … [Read more...]
MoT extension to end this month
The automatic MOT extension will be revoked from 1 August. Motorists and riders must get their vehicle tested if its MoT has lapsed since March. RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said, “Extending MOT tests was the right short-term measure after a number of garages closed when all of us were asked to stay at home. “But with many more garages now open – including all of those that are part of our … [Read more...]
SUV sales pushing up pollution, say environmentalists
Carbon pollution from new cars increased again last year, by 1.3% on average, according to the EU’s environmental watchdog, the EEA. Green group Transport & Environment said the repeated rise in car CO2 is due to manufacturers continuing to sell highly-polluting SUVs until the last possible moment before pushing cleaner models to comply with the 2020/21 climate target. The provisional data … [Read more...]
Welsh ratepayers want better roads to reduce stress
Potholes continue to cause despair and anger for motorists up and down the land, with these menaces costing British car owners £4bn in repair bills annually. Such is the gravity of people wishing to see the back of them, the government announced a £2.5bn fund to tackle the issue during the latest Budget, whilst councils have been using the lockdown period to ramp up their pothole filling … [Read more...]
Drivers still seeking MoTs despite extension
British drivers are still putting safety before saving money, according to car selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk . It requested MOT test data from the DVSA for April and May after the Government granted a six month MOT extension from 30 March 2020. According to DVSA figures, 1,407,611 drivers took their vehicles in for an MOT during May, almost double (89%) the number of tests … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Kia XCeed FE 1.4 Auto
So what is the new Kia XCeed?asks David Miles. Well it’s a Crossover styled member of the Ceed C-segment family that is also made up of the Ceed five door hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon estate and the ProCeed Shooting brake models. The Ceed family is Kia’s third best selling model range after the Kia Sportage mid-sized SUV and the Picanto Picanto city car. All new Kia passenger cars are covered by … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Suzuki Vitara SZ5 Allgrip Hybrid
The new Suzuki Vitara 4x4 with latest hybrid technology is a sign of things to come from this Japanese brand which consistently punches above it weight, writes Robin Roberts. It learned a lot when launching the first hybrid technology in 2016 and building on that with the added benefit of its strong and impressive all-wheel-drive experience which is available throughout the Suzuki range of cars … [Read more...]
Ford and Cupra unveil newcomers
Ford introduced electrified EcoBoost Hybrid 1.0 litre powertrain for Focus and the 48-volt mild hybrid system improves fuel efficiency supported by cylinder deactivation and boosts performance to 155ps, available from £23,610. New 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and later this year Local Hazard Information connected technology deliver a more premium cabin feel and relaxed driver … [Read more...]