The first Aston Martin hybrid sports car will develop a combined 950ps from its 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine and twin electric motors driving front and rear wheels. The Valhalla has moved from concept to creation with its active aerodynamics and new eight-speed dual clutch transmission, racing tuned handling and suspension and will be the British company’s first mid-engined … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 July
New petrol and diesel cars will be banned from sale by 2035, lorries five years later and aircraft and shipping will face stinging new fuel taxes under proposals announced this week by the EU. Imported steel used to make vehicles will also be heavily taxed as the EU seeks to dramatically reduce cross border carbon footprints. Ex Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has told the BBC how he was … [Read more...]
Government is threatening road safety – claim
Business group Logistics UK is dismayed by the announcement of the continued relaxation of drivers’ hours legislation until 8 August 2021. It governs the length of time which HGV drivers are legally expected to work and James Firth, the organisation’s Head of Road Freight Regulation Policy, explains the announcement will heap more pressure on drivers who are already stretched to the limit to … [Read more...]
Aurobay is new powerhouse for Volvo & Geely
Volvo Cars and parent Geely Holding have will create a joint venture under the name Aurobay for its powertrain operations as the companies proceed with their announced plans to merge these into a new, stand-alone business. The new company will be a global supplier of complete powertrain solutions including next generation combustion engines, transmissions and hybrid … [Read more...]
Diabetic drivers must declare condition to DVLA
A leading Insurance comparison website is warning that many motorists with diabetes risk a hefty fine if they fail to declare the condition to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Quotezone.co.uk also warns that policies could be void and claims disputed if diabetic drivers have not declared the disease to their insurer - and that includes those newly diagnosed. As the pandemic-induced … [Read more...]
Suzuki’s century of ideas & cleaner seas
They may be one of the smaller engineering companies, but Suzuki has consistently shown over a century that it’s the size of an idea which matters, not the business itself. Some 11 years before the Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co was officially formed in 1920, founder Michio Suzuki pioneered a new type of textile loom design in 1909 after watching his mother using her labour intensive and … [Read more...]
Lotus and Bentley’s new contrasting performance models
The Lotus Emira has been unveiled as the company’s final model with a mid-mounted internal combustion engine. In fact there’s a choice of two power units, the familiar 3.5V8 or AMG 2.0 i4 giving 360 to 400hp, a maximum 180mph and choice of manual or automatic transmissions and on the road from next spring from under £60,000. All-new mid-engined sports car perfectly embodies ongoing … [Read more...]
Vauxhall cut price with new Grandland PHEV
Vauxhall has dramatically slashed prices with the introduction of the New Vauxhall Grandland. With new technologies, lower pricing, petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, New Grandland comes in SE, SRi, Elite and Ultimate trims. The New Grandland is the latest model to feature Vauxhall’s new and bold design language with its distinctive Vizor front end. First deliveries of the New … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 July
GoCompare says just 14% of drivers are considering an EV as their next car and of those who would consider buying an EV as their next vehicle, 60% are male and 40% are female. When asked the reasons why people are put off buying an electric vehicle, price topped the list – with more than half saying that electric vehicles are too expensive and 50% said they wouldn’t choose an electric vehicle … [Read more...]
Ford UK plant to build ambulance
Ford and Venari Group have agreed to build new emergency services vehicles in the Dagenham plant. The Ford Venari Alliance brings together Ford, the UK market leader in commercial vehicles and Venari, the UK’s largest emergency service vehicle provider, in plans to manufacture the all-new, lightweight front-line ambulance – unveiled by Ford and Venari earlier this year. Based on the Ford … [Read more...]