The Petrol Retailers Association has joined a coalition of businesses, charities and consumer groups to sign an open letter to Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging the protection of cash as a critical payment method for both consumers and businesses. With the Government currently consulting on its Future of Payments Review, the signatories of the letter are calling on the Treasury to … [Read more...]
Transport fails Wales again
Wales has the highest rate of train cancellations and lateness across the British network. The failings by Welsh Government's services arm Transport for Wales shows cancellations run at 7%. Commenting on the news that stations in Wales had the highest cancellation rate in the UK, at 7%, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said, “Labour-run Transport for Wales needs to … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 September
The fifth generation, all-electric MINI Cooper will be unveiled at the German Motor Show in Munich this week. It will be available in E or SE grades with 190 or 250 miles range and priced from £30,000 next Spring. EDF’s small and medium-sized enterprise business customers can now save up to 40% on the cost of an electric vehicle through DriveElectric’s salary sacrifice scheme. Building upon … [Read more...]
Fuel prices soaring again says RAC Fuel Watch
The price of petrol rocketed by 6.68p a litre in August while diesel shot up by 8p, making for the fifth and sixth biggest monthly rises in 23 years, said RAC Fuel Watch. The average price of unleaded finished August at 152.25p – up from 145.57p at the beginning of the month, adding nearly £4 to a tank (£80 to £83.74). Diesel went up from 146.36p to 154.37p, making a fill-up nearly £4.50 (£4.41) … [Read more...]
Ford Nugget revealed for campers
Ford is revealing the all-new, next-generation version of its popular Nugget camper, including an advanced electrified powertrain with a flexible new plug-in hybrid model. The all-new Nugget camper has been developed in partnership with leading camper converter Westfalia, and features the popular multi-zone unique interior layout that continues to set Nugget apart from its competitors. The … [Read more...]
Showroom prices slide in pre-September sales
There are new car bargains to be had as dealers report manufacturers are dropping prices and supporting lower rate finance deals to lift sales. The traditional slow August sales before the new registration plate arrives on 1 September has been followed by an unseasonally slack demand for new models arriving from today. Rising new car prices and higher interest rates have combined to stall demand … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 September
Isuzu UK says renowned Welsh rugby player Shane Williams has once again chosen the Isuzu D-Max as his vehicle of choice, opting for the prestigious top-of-the-range V-Cross version for the seventh consecutive year. This exciting partnership highlights the shared values of toughness, reliability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence that both Isuzu and Shane Williams embody. Bentley Motors … [Read more...]
Ken Rees career rallyman
Championship winning Welsh co-driver turned successful WRC team manager Ken Rees recalls working with Prodrive, Colin McRae, Petter Solberg and … shaved heads! Success achieved in motorsport is the sum of many parts, not least of which is effective team management and slick organization and for these two key aspects of success the focus is firmly on the ‘backroom boys’ who perform these crucial … [Read more...]
JLR project to recycle old traction batteries
JLR will recycle old EV batteries from its I-Pace to create a new renewable energy storage system. Working with Wykes Engineering, Rushden, JLR is planning the ‘largest energy system’ in Britain to store solar and wind power and initially power up to 250 homes a day and have been taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles with a plan to power 750 homes by the end of the year. Each … [Read more...]
Toyota learning from artificial intelligence
Toyota is employing Artificial Intelligence tools to speed up and verify design and engineering of new models. At some point in the development of every new vehicle, the designer’s original inspiration has to be adapted to accommodate the necessities of engineering – the practicalities of performance, safety and everyday usability. Thanks to a new technique developed by Toyota Research … [Read more...]