Practical driving tests will soon be conducted almost exclusively in automatic electric cars, according to one electromobility expert. Emma Loveday (below), EV Consultant at Volkswagen Financial Services UK, explained that young people learning to drive in automatic vehicles will ‘soon be the norm’ as consumers become more environmentally conscious and cost savings for green transport become more … [Read more...]
Finance News
Range Rover is top of flops
Land Rover Range Rover is the most unreliable used car, according to Warrantywise’s annual Reliability Index. Warrantywise, the country’s leading extended car warranty provider, reveals that Land Rovers, BMWs, and Porsches take up seven out of ten of the least reliable models from the Reliability Index data range. The data, only including cars that are less than ten years old, outside of … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 September
The unique West Country-made 155mph Ariel Hipercar is going into production in two or four-wheel-drive at close to £1 Million with a 28 months waiting list. The High Performance Carbon Reduction two-seater electric supercar weighs 1,500 kilos and hits 100mph in 4.4secs with 880kW or 1,180bhp in standard form using a Cosworth battery pack good for 150 miles but it can also be recharged on the … [Read more...]
Are EVs green or greenwash?
Thousands of drivers who collect the keys to a brand new ‘72’ plate electric car tomorrow will have a nagging doubt at the back of their minds as they glide silently off the forecourt – are battery-powered cars truly better for the environment, or is zero-emission motoring just ‘greenwash’ hype? Sales of electric cars are soaring, up 49.9% year-on-year (January to July), as motorists take … [Read more...]
Dealers and makers’ reputations bashed by delays
Car manufacturers and dealers are suffering reputational damage as a result of unavoidable supply chain disruption, according to research from Close Brothers Motor Finance. While two-thirds (66%) of consumers considering a new car say they understand the difficulties involved, nearly half (48%) say the delays negatively impact their perception of motor dealers. A similar proportion (46%) say long … [Read more...]
Auctions still doing well in recession
Despite the challenges currently facing the automobile industry, the auction market is in a positive state. Supply and demand have been stable for the last month, with summer soon to draw to an end. "We are expecting that September will see a steady surge as customers return from holidays, boosting the market”, commented Paul Hill, National Association of Motor Auctions spokesman, after a … [Read more...]
Tradelines 31 August
Nearly half of motorists planning to buy a car in the next year would be prepared to pay more to skip waiting lists caused by supply chain problems, according to research from Close Brothers Motor Finance. It follows a fifth consecutive month of decline in registrations in August, which the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders attributes to ongoing global supply chain issues, predominantly … [Read more...]
Most JLR models on stop in September
Jaguar Land Rover is facing assembly problems at its plants in September. No Land Rover Discovery, Evoque and Velar models will be built through September due to parts shortages but some production continues with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Defender. Jaguar XE, XF and F-Pace models are also on stop but F-Type will still be assembled. Ironically, its only full electric model, the … [Read more...]
Electricity rise new threat to fuel pump prices
The Petrol Retailers Association has warned that electricity rises will affect their costs and possibly lead to further increases in pump prices. It is extremely concerned about rising energy costs and their implication as costs associated with operating a forecourt will triple, Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Petrol Retailers Association, who has urged Government action to stem the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus UX 300e Premium Plus
Lexus has always been the quiet executive car brand and reaches a new level of refinement with its UX 300e pure battery version of the existing hybrid SUV. Some 15 years experience building hybrid cars were brought to bear when it created the UX 300e and it lacks nothing its stablemates have but adds 2020s propulsion, safety and communications technology. There are four versions with the … [Read more...]