An increasing number of councils are raising car parking fees in town centres to combat further budget deficits as the seasonal Christmas shopping spree is underway. Significant financial constraints put on councils sees some parking spot prices rise up to 33 per cent amid cost of living crisis. Online parking portal sees over 4,000 more parking space owners register in the past three months, … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 December
Our data shows that without advertising the fact Asda has taken an average of 4.5p off the cost of litre of unleaded across its 320 sites and around 5.5p off diesel, said RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams. “While we’re pleased one major supermarket retailer has finally started heeding our calls to pass on the enormous drop in the wholesale prices of both fuels, the fact these price cuts have been … [Read more...]
West is best to beat drink driving stigma
Welsh drivers are among the best behaved behind the wheel and less likely to drink and drive than risk takers in London, according to a survey by IAMRoadsmart. The areas of the country where revellers could be most likely to indulge in the wrong kind of Christmas spirit this festive season, by drink-driving, have been revealed by IAM RoadSmart. The UK’s leading independent road safety charity … [Read more...]
Honda and Audi roll out newcomers
The launch of the all-new 329ps Honda Civic Type R comes as Honda celebrates 25 years of its iconic high-performance hatchback – and 50 years of Civic. The next-generation model has been engineered to deliver the fastest Civic Type R to date, building on a long tradition of performance cars inspired by the spirit of racing. Prices for Civic Type R start from £46,995, or £499 per month / 8.9% … [Read more...]
Book review: Chris Coburn and DTV
A comprehensive biography of the irrepressible Chris Coburn has just been published and it's an ideal Christmas gift for motorsport fans. Talented, versatile, and multifaceted – driver, entrepreneur, engineer, and skier – Coburn was a prolific mover and shaker in the world of motorsport during the 1960s/70s. He was instrumental in the formation of the legendary Dealer Team Vauxhall with the … [Read more...]
Plan to save UK Auto must be actioned
The UK automotive industry has urged the government to take rapid action to secure the long-term future of one of the country’s most important assets, while accelerating its decarbonisation. The call comes as the sector finally begins to emerge from the pandemic-induced downturn, with new analysis from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders suggesting its return to growth could be worth … [Read more...]
MB world first for automated valet parking
The world’s first automated driverless parking function has been officially approved for commercial use, with Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority green-lighting the Mercedes-Benz / Bosch automated parking system in a parking garage at Stuttgart Airport. Thatcham Research chief research strategy officer Matthew Avery said, “Mercedes-Benz continues to break new ground in Germany, with this … [Read more...]
Tradelines 7 Dec
Terry’s Auto Repairs, Wrexham, has been voted by customers as one of the best businesses in the UK Motor Ombundsman’s Star Awards. It was selected for organising same-day off-site vehicle collections and deliveries or customers. Building on its commitment to grow an all-electric vehicle range, Ford has invested a further £125 million in its Halewood Plant, on Merseyside. This will rise output … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta is not a keeper unless you secure it
It may be coming to the end of the road next year, but the Ford Fiesta is the most stolen model, according to research from a car leasing company. Rivervale Leasing submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to find the most stolen car in 2022 in the UK as well as the total number of vehicles stolen. The top 15 cars stolen in … [Read more...]
What is autonomous or not
Thatcham Research has revealed further insights from its Trust in Automation study - which polled 2,000 motorists in the US and 2,000 in the UK – and found a significant disconnect between attitudes and behaviours on either side of the Atlantic. American drivers are more likely to a see a benefit to self-driving or autonomous technology than British drivers: 81% versus 73% respectively. However, … [Read more...]