EV drivers who charge mostly from home will see a small rise in electricity costs from 28p to 34p per kWh as part of the Government’s October Energy Price Cap. The price cap will remain in place until 2024 so it’s a good news story for those who are able to charge at home, especially as domestic electricity prices were set to rise to 52p per kWh from October 2022 with further price increases … [Read more...]
Finance
First drive special: New generation EVs are charging into showrooms
A whole new cell of cars is being created for our electric future and some of them were lined up at the annual SMMT driving day for motoring writers last week. We have seen hybrid adaptations of some familiar models and they have been joined by pure electric derivatives but these are about to be replaced by a completely new generation from the world’s car-makers. After Tesla broke new ground … [Read more...]
Supercar marks Audi’s legendary engine
Audi is marking the end of the V10 engine used for decades in the brand's super cars with a celebration model. Twelve years after the premiere of the first Audi R8 GT, Audi Sport GmbH is launching the second edition of this exclusive super sports car: the new 199mph Audi R8 Coupé V10 GT RWD. The 5.2-litre, naturally-aspirated V10 engine’s output is boosted to 620PS, combined fuel consumption … [Read more...]
Testing times for industry and writers
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders recently held its annual regional Test Days in the north and south of the country which are always much-liked and useful events on the calendar of many motoring scribes. An annual event that provides new cars galore on offer for motoring writers to road test in the same locality on the same day, always seems a very good idea to me. It also gives the … [Read more...]
Tradelines 5 October
The Kia Niro has been named the best new car on sale by leading car buying advice website Carbuyer.co.uk. The Niro, which is available with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric powertrains, scooped no fewer than three of the 18 categories on offer. Kia has been named the top UK car brand by Reputation.com in the 2022 Automotive Reputation Report, according to Reputation’s … [Read more...]
Welsh car sales falling back
Wales saw a fall in new car registrations last month, the only part of Britain suffering as the cost of living rose. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported 8,342 new cars were registered by Welsh dealerships last month compared with 8,637 a year ago. That’s a decline of 3.42% on the year to date. The top ten models sold in Wales in September were: Nissan Qashqai, Ford Puma, … [Read more...]
Bumping in the trade under HMRC watch
HMRC has identified an increasing risk of an error in the VAT returns for certain Franchised Dealerships, described as “Bumping”. HMRC are sending letters to some motor retailers that they believe are at risk from ‘Bumping’. Bumping is where there is a discrepancy between a vehicle sales invoice on the DMS system and the finance proposal one, which can lead to the underpayment of output VAT on … [Read more...]
Warming up for winter
With temperatures dropping across the UK, and fuel prices rising, Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing shares ways drivers and their cars can stay warm behind the wheel without breaking the bank. “On frosty cold mornings, many drivers will wake up extra early to whack the heating up in their car. Whilst this won't consume a significant amount of fuel, it can actually shorten the … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 September
An Aston Martin DB5 replica stunt car featured in No Time To Die (2021) has raised £2,922,000 for good causes in a charity auction at Christie’s to celebrate 60 years of the James Bond films. Two Land Rover Defenders used in the film No Time To Die helped raised £352,800 for charities and they were sold as part of 60 lots from EON Productions to mark the iconic jubilee. UK car manufacturing … [Read more...]
Britains best and worst cars listed
Britain’s most and least reliable cars have been revealed in the 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey, held in association with MotorEasy. Feedback from 24,927 car owners on 248 models and 32 brands was analysed by the country’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, What Car?, to find the most dependable vehicles. Four models achieved a perfect 100% score: the current versions of … [Read more...]