With the headline rush into pure electric cars now faltering, there is growing appreciation of what a good petrol car can do for a manufacturer, as in the Kia Picanto GT-Line S. While some rivals had axed their city cars or effectively moved them up market and therefore into more expensive territory, Kia adopted a policy of keeping open their options for … [Read more...]
Newcomers
EVs leading company choices, say Leasing Options
Business lease customers are increasingly turning to newer vehicle manufacturers, with the latest data from Leasing Options revealing that electric and hybrid-focused brands are making significant progress in the company car market. Furthermore, only three European brands are in their top ten list. The CHANGAN DEEPAL S07 accounted for 6.15% of all business … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: BMW iX3 50 xDrive
With VAT-free home charging from October, now is the time to put in your order for the BMW iX3 50 xDrive and just hope you’re not stuck in a queue of customers. That will be the only annoying fact if you want to get your hands on the World Car of 2026. It really is very, very good. If you think electric cars are boring, this Neue Klasse BMW iX3 will … [Read more...]
PPM EV charges explained & worries remain
Industry figures have responded to HM Treasury's publication this week of the government's response to its consultation on the introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), the new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars due to take effect from April 2028. The government confirmed it will not proceed with mandatory mileage checks for … [Read more...]
Opposition to EVs is entrenched, say Bridgestone
A Bridgestone survey has revealed that a growing number of UK motorists are putting the brakes on electric vehicle purchases, with more than one in four drivers insisting they have no intention of making the switch. New consumer research commissioned by Bridgestone found that 26% of motorists say they will never buy an EV, up significantly from 17% in 2025 … [Read more...]
Automatic cars are changing driving skills’ set
The rise of automatic-only driving lessons reflects a wider shift in how we think about cars, with convenience increasingly taking priority over traditional driving. Vehicle Data Global has warned that the manual gearbox could be heading towards extinction, predicting that manual cars may become obsolete on UK roads by 2030. However, founder of GAP … [Read more...]
Zones and what it costs if you get them wrong
Driving "zones" are the new traps for motorists, one rental company has warned. Drivers entering the wrong zone without paying could face penalties ranging from £60 to £180, with repeat Scottish LEZ offences rising as high as £480 British motorists are being warned not to assume the UK’s growing number of low-emission and road-charging zones all operate … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Honda Prelude Advance
There is an almost ageless and timeless appeal about the Honda Prelude coupe. It has always been a highly popular part of the Honda line-up and showed the Japanese engineers not only build very competent family cars but, given encouragement, can turn out a capable coupe which turns heads and delivers smiles-better-performance. It has the classic profile or … [Read more...]
Law tightening on running vans
Van compliance is moving closer to HGVs thanks to a raft of new legislation that creates additional responsibilities for fleets., says Arval. The fleet leasing and mobility specialist says some light commercial vehicle (LCV) operators are facing significant growth in regulation, including new MOT rules, changes to drivers’ hours and enhanced tachograph … [Read more...]
Value retention improving for some EVs
Chinese EVs are holding their value well against comparable mainstream models, suggesting consumer trust and confidence in newer brands is continuing to grow. New research by car leasing and contract hire specialist, LeaseCar, analysed a selection of popular Chinese EVs alongside similar mainstream models and found that across the vehicles analysed, Chinese … [Read more...]
