Almost three quarters (71%) of UK motorists say affordability is a main consideration when purchasing a new vehicle, according to the Britain Under the Bonnet report from Close Brothers Motor Finance. A further 56% care about how economical a vehicle is to run, showing additional interest in cost. Other key attributes include fuel type (55%), engine size (49%), and number of doors … [Read more...]
News
Trick and treat claims over Budget review
There have been very mixed reactions to yesterday's Government spending review. The BVRLA has welcomed the Government’s decision to conduct an urgent review into the impact of WLTP on Vehicle Excise Duty and company car tax. In today’s Budget it was announced that the review would report back in time for the Chancellor’s 2019 Spring Statement. Commenting on the news, BVRLA Chief Executive … [Read more...]
Dragon takes first breathes in Wales
Production has begun of an all-new, technologically-advanced, Dragon petrol engine at the Ford Bridgend plant. The three-cylinder, 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine, which debuts in the Fiesta ST and all-new Focus, is built on a new, state-of-the-art flexible manufacturing facility following of an investment of £100 million, including support from the Welsh Government. “I’m personally very proud to … [Read more...]
JLR lines idled in Bridgend plant
The Jaguar Land Rover petrol line in Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will temporarily suspend work this week. Ford opened the Bridgend Engine Plant to build its own petrol units in 1980 and won the JLR engines contract a decade later. Earlier this year (above) it celebrated making the millionth V6 and V8 engines for the premium brand, but the programme will conclude by 2020 and then BEP will … [Read more...]
Newslines 29 October
The eagerly awaited Volvo V60 Cross Country will be in showrooms early next year from £38,270. The all-wheel-drive model has specific 18-inch alloys, extra bodywork protection, hill descent control and an off-road mode for severe terrain but its also one of the last to get the 190bhp 2.0 D4 diesel engine and eight speed gearbox. The Vauxhall Corsa Griffin is a new high spec city car from … [Read more...]
Brakes applied to car sales across Europe
The European car market recorded the highest monthly decline of the last decade in September 2018, as 1.12 million vehicles were registered – 343,000 less than in September 2017, JATO reported. The drop follows August’s inflated results, which were boosted by an increase in business registrations and stock clearances ahead of the introduction of WLTP on the 1 September. Despite August’s … [Read more...]
Used prices rising as new cars stall
Nearly new car prices are escalating in the wake of a shortage of new cars due to tougher emissions tests in factories. Prices in the used vehicle sector are being artificially inflated post-WLTP as competition hots up amongst buyers for nearly new and ex-fleet stock according to Shoreham Vehicle Auctions. And they are likely to stay this way until Spring 2019 as the used car market … [Read more...]
Newslines 26 October
Priority for proper road repairs should precede building new highways, said Welsh Assembly members. It comes after the Welsh Assembly's economy, infrastructure and skills committee launched a photo competition to highlight the state of the roads and a resident from Wrexham submitted the worst example along the A525. Jaguar Land Rover and unions have agreed to delay pay negotiations in … [Read more...]
Tradelines 24 October
The withdrawal of the Government’s plug-in hybrid grant will add about £2,500 to models and make them no longer commercially viable for many fleets, said Meridian Vehicle Solutions. It has taken the decision to operate its current plug-in rentals but not add further versions when they are due to be replaced. VW has introduced an old-diesel swapping scheme in Germany where 14 cities are … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 October
Ford will stop vehicle production at its Valencia plant for nine days next month due to falling demand for its Kuga, Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max models. Engine production will also halt for nearly two weeks and follows a three-day stoppage this month. The first Dyson electric cars will be made in a new factory in Singapore where it makes motors and not in the UK where it has a research and … [Read more...]