The super-sonic Bloodhound land speed record project has stalled. It ran into financial problems this year and engineers have been unable to find new sponsors for the 1,000mph rocket car, partly developed in Swansea. Now the car is up for sale and offers of £250,000 are being sought. The team behind the project over the last four years has hand-built the car with specialist support from … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 December
The new Volvo S60 sedan and V60 estate this week received the maximum five-star rating in their 2018 EuroNCAP safety tests, continuing a five-star streak for the Volvo line-up. The result underlines Volvo Cars' reputation for consistently putting some of the safest cars available on the road from the compact V40 hatchback to the large XC90 SUV, all tested Volvo models currently on sale offer … [Read more...]
Panda and Wrangler criticised over safety
The 2018 facelift FIAT Panda has today been given one of the lowest ratings in Euro NCAP’s history, having failed to achieve more than 50% in any of the car safety organisation’s four key testing categories. The safety of children seated in the rear was of specific concern to experts, with the FIAT Panda’s Child Occupant Protection score of 16% falling significantly short of the 79% … [Read more...]
Tradelines 5 December
The new Mercedes-Benz E300 plug in hybrid petrol model arriving next spring will cost from £47,450. The e SE saloon uses a 211hp 2.0 petrol engine combined with 122hp electric motor with a claimed 134.5mpg combined economy and 46gkm CO2, a 0-62mph time of 5.7secs and limited max of 155mph. Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona electric models arriving next spring have been given new … [Read more...]
£78M for Welsh transport schemes
Active travel links, electric car charging facilities and road improvement projects across Wales benefit from a share of £78million funding from the Welsh Government Local Transport Fund. Transport Secretary Ken Skates has announced £78million of additional funding given the green light by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, and will be broken down into £26million instalments over the three … [Read more...]
Daytime running lights leave some in the dark
Some drivers are in the dark over modern daytime running lights, which have been required to be fitted on all new EU cars and small vans since early 2011 to improve road safety. The lights may be causing unintended confusion for other drivers, according to online research carried out by the RAC. Designed to make cars more visible to other road users in daylight conditions, daytime running … [Read more...]
Low-carbon challenge facing Wales
Wales faces a real challenge to reach low-carbon goals, but the potential rewards are huge, delegates at a South Wales conference were told yesterday. Speakers at the Low Carbon Intelligent Mobility Wales conference in Hensol Castle, Miskin, near Llantrisant, included a Welsh Government minister, local government representatives, automotive and component manufacturers as well as transport … [Read more...]
Making money out of heat
The young engineer student of the year in Wales is Daniel Clarke, from Cardiff. The 17-year-old pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, Cardiff beat over 500 sixth-form rivals from across Wales entered in the EESW competition in memory of Dr Tom Parry Jones, entrepreneur and inventor, and trustee for over 20 years. They had to work on a project and convince judges of its viability and there … [Read more...]
Skills and stability needed to build on ‘can-do’ Britain
Urgent action is needed to address skills shortages and restore necessary political conditions to maintain competitiveness and attract future investment in Britain's automotive industry, says the Automotive Council. Britain’s automotive talent is among the world’s most adaptable, with the industry’s long history of engineering excellence and strong labour relations the envy of competing … [Read more...]
Wales’s ready for low carbon drive
Wales is ready to maximise on the huge opportunities presented by electric and hydrogen vehicles, Economy Secretary Ken Skates will tell key players in the sector this morning. The Economy Secretary was speaking ahead of a Welsh Government hosted Low Carbon Intelligent Mobility event bringing internationally recognised manufacturers including Aston Martin Lagonda, Toyota, Renault, Peugeot and … [Read more...]