The 1927 Alvis Grand Prix car, one of the first of its kind to use front wheel drive, has been extensively restored 96 years after a retirement at Brooklands curtailed the factory effort. Abandoned in a Warwickshire scrapyard after its race career ended, the sole surviving Alvis Grand Prix is highly original, having not been subjected to years of competition. It has been revealed at Automobile … [Read more...]
Industry
Newslines 14 April
Major investment by Caterham owner VT Holdings will increase production capacity by 50% to approximately 750 units per annum. New headquarters will house the production, engineering, motorsport and commercial teams and is due for completion by the end of this year. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is celebrating the launch of the new California Surf with a variety of finance offers until Sunday … [Read more...]
Tradelines 12 April
Hyundai Motor UK has announced pricing and specification for the facelifted three-model new i10 range, with refreshed design and higher equipment levels, from £15,420. The new i10 has seen a design upgrade with a new honeycomb mesh design grille with integrated LED daytime running lights, redesigned headlamp and taillamp reflector internals, updated Hyundai emblems and new 15” and 16” alloy … [Read more...]
Ford prepare to introduce new Transit Courier
Ford Pro has revealed the E-Transit Courier, a ground-up new all-electric commercial vehicle bringing enhanced connectivity and productivity for compact van customers from next year. Extending Ford Pro’s line-up of innovative electrified and connected cargo vans, the all-new E‑Transit Courier is fully integrated with Ford Pro’s platform of software and connected services to further drive … [Read more...]
Ferrari still strongest car brand by reputation
Tesla accelerated to the front of the pack, taking pole position as the world’s most valuable automotive brand, with its value surging by 44% to USD66.2 billion, according to a new report from leading brand valuation consultancy, Brand Finance, but Ferrari remains the strongest brand. This makes it the world’s most valuable Automobiles brand for the first time, and the first time that a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: GWM Funky Cat 1st Edition
The UK’s electric car revolution is becoming a bloody affair. From initially resisting the new technology on cost grounds including writing off established investments in petrol and diesel engine technology and having to develop hybrid or pure electric powertrains, along with making tens of thousands of workers redundant, manufacturers have struggled to convince buyers into showrooms or on-line … [Read more...]
One-in-six new cars sold now electric
In March, electric cars accounted for 16.21% of all new car registrations in the UK, as the exponential growth in EV uptake seen in recent years begins to stabilise. While demand for electric vehicles is still high, it is likely that slower rates of growth will continue until the ZEV Mandate is implemented in 2024, and supply is able to consistently match consumer demand. Ben Nelmes, Chief … [Read more...]
Bamboo bikes have the right balance
It's the ultimate green machine - a bike which grows in trees. In an article published on Wheels-Alive on 6 January 2023 on Wheels-Alive I described how the Roots Bamboo Bikes which use sustainable bamboo – ethically-sourced and fairly-traded – for their frames were developed in Ghana and how they came to be sold in Lostwithiel. In that feature I mentioned that a future ‘road test’ might follow … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 April
Car manufacturers next year must sell 22% of their EVs or face fines of up to £15,000 per car they miss their target by. Ministers have announced proposed new targets as part of a major green agenda which details tough goals and punitive measures for car makers while a credits based system will allow manufacturers to trade EV tokens between each other if they think they are going to miss their … [Read more...]
Changes to Wales and Borders train services
Rail passengers are being urged to plan ahead and check before they travel this Easter with some timetable amendments in place across the Wales and Borders network. Transport for Wales (TfW) will be carrying out infrastructure upgrades across the Core Valleys Lines network for the South Wales Metro, resulting in buses replacing rail services on some routes. Buses are replacing trains … [Read more...]