Owners have always been able to make an impression with the Audi R8, but now they can also make their mark on one thanks to a new Audi-developed process for the partial matting of painted surfaces that enables virtually any lettering or graphics to be precisely ‘blasted’ into the painted surface of the car’s distinctive side-blades. A special powder … [Read more...]
Newslines 31 January
A Parkers investigation revealled that more than half of the most popular new models will cost consumers on average an extra £536 if they want to have a choice of more than one colour. Car manufacturers have reduced the palette of solid colours available to just a single offering on 30 of the country’s most popular cars. For those … [Read more...]
Car production in UK highest this century
Britain’s car industry is really motoring again. Car production hit a 17-years high in 2016 with exports at record levels and 1.35M shipped worldwide. Half of those went to Europe while Americans took nearly 50% more than they did in 2015 and it became the UK’s biggest single consumer country. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and … [Read more...]
BMW & Toyota plans for plants
BMW will build its X1 SUV at a Dutch contract manufacturer that also produces some of the automaker's Mini models. The new X1 production will begin in August at the VDL Nedcar plant in Born, Netherlands, and global markets will be served from here and Regensburg, German plant. Meanwhile, Toyota will add 400 jobs to build more SUVs at one of its US … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 January
The Volvo S90 and V90 received Five Star Euro NCAP ratings this week as a result of their class leading safety. Both cars follow the trend set with the XC90, with excellent occupant protection, and a full suite of AEB functionality that includes pedestrian and cyclist crash prevention technology as well as its unique AEB system that is capable of … [Read more...]
Ford Mustang bucks safety trend with just 2*
The Ford Mustang has bucked the improving trend and is the least safe new car launched by a major brand in the last eight years, say testers. What is more, buyers should be troubled by Ford’s attitude towards safety in general as it decided to remove protection equipment fitted to versions sold in America, where there are tougher consumer protection laws … [Read more...]
Newslines 24 January
A record number of drivers were caught illegally using mobile phones during a police crackdown. Almost 8,000 fixed penalty notices were handed out during a week-long campaign in November - the highest figure yet for a seven-day National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) crackdown on "distraction driving" and the totals for the three previous initiatives were … [Read more...]
White is right for Welsh motorists
White maintained its position as Wales and the UK’s most popular new car colour for the fourth year in a row in 2016, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. More than half a million new car buyers chose the colour last year – a fifth of all registrations – although figures show its popularity is starting to fade with demand falling -2.1%, … [Read more...]
GM & Hyundai cave into Trump demands
General Motors will invest an additional $1 billion (£807.82 million) in its U.S. factories in 2017 and will move some parts production from Mexico to the United States that was previously handled by a supplier. The investments are in addition to the $2.9 billion the automaker announced last year, GM said and follow heavy criticism of the car maker by … [Read more...]
VW ordered to buy back model & PSA probe
Volkswagen Group has been ordered by a German court to take back a 2.0-litre diesel Skoda Yeti caught up in its emissions scandal and pay the buyer about 26,500 euros (£23,000), the full price of his car. VW intentionally committed fraud and can't defend itself by saying it hasn't clarified who was responsible for software that allowed the vehicle to … [Read more...]
