The UK new car market achieved a 12-year high in January, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The total was 174,564 vehicles last month – a 2.9% year-on-year uplift and the highest level since 2005. The alternative fuelled vehicle segment grew 19.9% to take a record 4.2% market share – the first time 4% has been … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Insignia ST teased
Vauxhall has released the first images of the all-new Insignia Sports Tourer, which will receive its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show next month. Following on from the previous generation, which won the European Car of the Year in 2009, the Insignia Sports Tourer is based on a completely new vehicle architecture. Its revised proportions result … [Read more...]
Slowing EU demand for alternative fuel vehicles
In the fourth quarter of 2016, demand for alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) in the EU increased only moderately (+1.2%), with registrations totalling 168,103 units. Results were diverse among the different vehicle categories. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) continued the positive trend, showing double-digit percentage gains during the last quarter (+25.1%) … [Read more...]
Briefly 6 February
Plans are being drawn up for a third bridge over the Menai Straits. Wales’ economy secretary Ken Skates says extensive transport improvements are envisaged for the North Wales area and with a new power station on Anglesey and increased traffic there is a real need for the new crossing. Welsh motorists are getting the message about … [Read more...]
Newslines 3 February
Germany's auto industry is losing hope that trade tariffs with the UK can be avoided, several executives have told Reuters, despite warnings from British Prime Minister Theresa May that an overly tough stance on post-Brexit commerce would seriously harm the country's EU partners. " Merkel may force us to walk away from UK profits for the sake of … [Read more...]
Giving the Audi R8 a blast
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...]
