Motorist across Wales will be digging a little deeper into their pockets to pay for fuel, as the average price of petrol and diesel in the region increased as much as 7.3p in 12 months. According to Confused.com’s fuel price index, diesel drivers are bearing the brunt of the increases the most as the average cost per litre has increased to 130p – up a whopping 7.3p year-on-year. This is … [Read more...]
MB A35 saloon emerges from hot hatch forerunner
Following the Hot Hatch, the next level of driving performance is here. The A 35 4MATIC Saloon (combined fuel consumption 38.7-39.2 mpg (7.3-7.2 l/100 km); combined CO2 emissions 167-164 g/km) is the second model from Mercedes-AMG based on the new compact car platform and the first choice for customers looking for sportiness combined with a comfortable amount of space for passengers … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: VW Tiguan Allspace auto 4Motion
The Tiguan mid-sized SUV is Volkswagen third best selling model range in the UK behind the Golf and Polo hatchbacks, writes David Miles. The 5-seater Tiguan and it larger 7-seat Tiguan Allspace form the meat in the VW sandwich of their ever extending range of SUVs. Globally over 5-million Tiguans have been sold in its 11-year history. Top layer of the VW SUV range is the large and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: SEAT Ateca 2.0TSI 4Drive DSG
If you ever thought SUV’s are boring, then the SEAT Ateca FR 2.0TSi will change your mind in an instant. It is one of the growing families of SUVs, and that includes a number from SEAT and the rest of the parent VW Group, but it brings a little extra pizzazz to the family party. The proportions and practical nature of this Ateca are a good starting point for the driving enthusiasts at SEAT … [Read more...]
Petrol engines driving up emissions
Average CO2 emissions from new cars were 118.5 grams of CO2 per kilometre in 2017, or up 0.4% compared to 2016, said the European Environment Agency. This final data largely confirms the provisional 2017 figures, already published by the EEA in April last year. “It is no coincidence that 2017 marked the first increase in CO2 from cars since records began in 2010, as it was also the first … [Read more...]
Ford lead a depressed Welsh market
New-plate car sales in Wales last month slipped 3.41% to 15,783. That was the average for the UK as a whole but in Scotland it fell almost 10% and the total UK registrations in March reached 457,220. In Wales, the top ten was dominated by Ford with Fiesta, Kuga and Focus taking the first three places, followed by Yaris, Corsa, Qashqai, Polo, Golf, Sandero and Ecosport. It was the only … [Read more...]
Easter getaway begins today for some
This year’s Easter getaway will start two weeks early as millions of families take to the road when many English schools break up at the end of this week. Figures from the RAC suggest some 14m leisure trips will be taken by car between this Friday – the day when most schools finish for Easter – and the end of the weekend. Friday itself is expected to be busiest with some 5.3m individual … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 April
Hyundai Motor UK has announced the introduction of the PLAY special edition models to the multi award winning i10 and i20 ranges. The PLAY special editions present an opportunity for customers to have the combination of both higher equipment levels and a low entry price from just £11,195 from the 8 April. Less than half the nation own cars outright. Xavier Collins, Director of Turo UK, … [Read more...]
Hirst takes honours in North Wales, Pryce wins National
Reigning Pirelli Welsh Junior Rally Champion Matthew Hirst was “over the moon” to claim his first ever outright victory on last weekend’s Rally North Wales, writes Peter Hughes. In doing so, he and co-driver Declan Dear claimed maximum points on the second round of the 2019 Pirelli MotorsportUK Welsh Forest Rally Championship in their Mitsubishi Evo IX. Following the event, the young … [Read more...]
Cruel blow to Evans in Corsican thriller
Welsh star Elfyn Evans was cruelly robbed of a second win in the FIA World Rally Championship in a dramatic and heart-breaking finale to last weekend’s Tour de Corse, the campaign's first round staged on asphalt. Known as the ‘Rally of Ten Thousand Corners’, the Corsican classic lived up to its billing producing plenty of twists and turns, and ultimately despair for Evans. Having … [Read more...]