Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will lose the JLR engine build contract in three years. The plant has been making V8 and V6 engines for JLR since 1990 when it was part of the Ford Group but continued after purchase of the luxury brands by Tata. Now Ford has said it has told GMB and Unite of the JLR plan and it will “continue to look at other high technology opportunities for Bridgend in the … [Read more...]
Premiere engineering company bought out
One of Britain's foremost engineering companies in development of high performance transmissions has been bought-out by British private investors fund. Inflexion Private Equity have agreed the buyout of Xtrac Ltd, which supplies most of the world's top motorsport teams in both two and four-wheeled formulae across the globe, from MotoGP to Formula 1. The business enjoys strong EBITDA growth; … [Read more...]
Half of Brits expect to drive EVs inside five years
More than half of British motorists expect their main car to be electric in some form within the next five years, according to a major new survey. The poll of 1,000 car owners was conducted to mark the launch of Total EV – the go-to website for all things EV and hybrid. And the results highlight the incredible pace at which Brits are being switched on to the benefits of mains-powered … [Read more...]
Clocking cars increases under PCP limits
The number of cars on UK roads showing mileage discrepancies is costing motorists over £800 million every year according to hpi, one of the UK’s leading authorities on vehicle checking services. The automotive data experts say the number of cars affected has also risen to one in 16. The figure has worsened from one in 20 cars less than three years ago. Revealing of the figures coincides with … [Read more...]
Well to wheel costs of diesel outlined
A new analysis attacks the “whole life” costs of diesel cars. Transport and Environment has been looking at the well to wheel impact of diesel versus petrol and concludes it is far more polluting than many realise, apart from the exhaust emissions now in the headlines. While used diesel cars are collapsing in value and manufacturers are racing to replace diesel with more petrol models in … [Read more...]
Sapa re-opens Welsh factory
Three years after it closed, Sapa Bedwas was officially reopened yesterday. The business has won a major contract to supply aluminium chassis parts for the new hybrid Black Cab, being made near Coventry and due to hit the Capital's streets early next year. The workforce in Sapa, Bedwas will be raised to about 130 in a few years and the company is hopeful it will win new work from existing … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 September
Ford Mondeo is being overhauled. There will be new ST-Line Edition and Titanium Edition models, enhanced Vignale range-topper and standard 8-inch touchscreen navigation, with all round parking sensors and prices have been cut by £3,000 to help fleet users. A new VW Transporter Edition model heads the range of vans and kombis. It comes with sophisticated navigation system and reversing … [Read more...]
Welsh factory ‘hired’ for pioneer green taxi work
Components for the world’s first purpose-built “green taxi” will be made in Wales by Sapa Components UK it is being announced today. This follows a £9.6m investment supported by the Welsh Government which will create more than 130 jobs over the next five years after it put £550,000 into the project to bring the work to Wales. First Minister Carwyn Jones met senior officials from … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 September
The eagerly expected new 350ps 2.3L Ford Focus RS Edition has been announced at £35,795 with deliveries expected in November. It features a mechanical limited slip differential in the all-wheel-drive system that permits a drift-mode, Nitrous Blue paint with black details, special trimmed seats and carbon-fibre touches. Technology Prof Alan Dix told a Wrexham conference yesterday that mobile … [Read more...]
Milestone reached on the road to a safer world
Future safety developments put a new onus on car makers to be clear about their systems and what they can and cannot do before a driver must take over. Since its establishment in 1997, Euro NCAP has been the catalyst for significant and sustained advances in automotive safety. It's independent crash tests and continuously evolving assessment protocols have given consumers the … [Read more...]