The Sportage is Kia’s best selling model in Europe with over five million global sales during its 25 years of production through four generations, writes David Miles. In the UK 40,000 were sold last year and so far this year nearly 30,000 have found UK home making it the UK’s 10thbest selling model range overall. The Sportage accounts 40% of the company’s UK sales. In its medium sized SUV … [Read more...]
Bid to improve stations’ access
Transport Secretary Ken Skates has backed a bid to the UK Government’s Access for All programme to improve fifteen stations across Wales. AfA is a UK Government funded programme, used to create an obstacle free, accessible route from station entrance to platform. This generally includes providing lifts or ramps, along with associated works to improve accessibility for rail passengers. The … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.2 TD Q4 Super
Italian cars have reputations for being racy. But Alfa Romeo has taken its time to enter the booming SUV sector with its Stelvio, the first of its kind from the brand after it debuted the Kamal concept car at the Geneva motor show in 2003. A lot has happened in the meantime and any car-maker with an eye on the future must make an SUV, and the Stelvio is one of the last to enter the … [Read more...]
Drivers get green-lights as jams mount
Traffic congestion is now the top concern among UK motorists, overtaking other drivers on mobile phones. However people checking social media on the move is still seen as the biggest risk to personal safety. These are the main findings of IAM RoadSmart’s eagerly awaited fourth annual Safety Culture Survey. Each year since 2015 IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest road safety charity, surveys … [Read more...]
Welsh drivers among UK safest
The Welsh are worriers behind the wheel. There are now over 25.8m cars on the road in the UK today, that’s nearly one for every two people and the figure is increasing at a rate of around 600,000 every year. Even given the vast number of vehicles on the road, you’ll rarely encounter someone who openly admits they’re a bad driver. This led us to wonder, how do people’s perceptions of … [Read more...]
Used car sales steady after new cars collapse
Britain’s used car market remained near recent record highs in the third quarter of 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Despite a sales dip of -2.1% compared with the same period in 2017, there were 2,057,457 used transactions in Q3, with August the quarter’s best-selling month and the Ford Fiesta was most popular with 93,260 sold. Buyers continued flocking to … [Read more...]
Newslines 16 November
Cardiff Council is expected to get tough on illegally parked or untaxed vehicles abandoned on the streets, and it could be removing 20 a week. It already has powers to clamp and remove illegally parked vehicles but does not always use them and the additional powers would see them taking over duties from the DVLA with abandoned cars early in 2019. Wales First Minister intends to decide on the … [Read more...]
Celebrity finale in Oz for FIA WRC
The closest FIA World Rally Championship battle in a generation comes to a compelling conclusion in Australia this weekend when three drivers face the ultimate title shootout. Sébastien Ogier, chasing a sixth consecutive crown in his farewell drive for the M-Sport Ford team, has erased a 23-point deficit in two rallies to head longtime leader Thierry Neuville by three points. Ott … [Read more...]
Mid-week wheels: Honda CRV 4WD auto
Now here's a simple question with a surprising answer, says David Miles. When asking what is the World’s best selling SUV: would it be a Land Rover/Range Rover of some type, a Ford, an Audi, BMW or Mercedes or a Kia, or Hyundai, a Mitsubishi, Suzuki or perhaps one of a multitude of American brands other than Ford? In fact it’s Honda’s CR-V and since the first generation model went … [Read more...]
Secret Welsh off-road tests for new AM DBX
Secret tests in Wales have started for the Aston Martin DBX SUV which will go into production in the company's new St Athan factory next year, writes Robin Roberts. Today officially confirmed as being named DBX, the first development five-door prototype was put through its paces in the hands of the company’s Chief Engineer, Matt Becker, along a demanding Wales Rally GB stage near … [Read more...]