New data from Regtransfers.co.uk reveals the fastest growing car brands over the past 20 years, uncovering a 'luxury car' boom and how British automaker MG has made a big comeback. Over the past 20 years we have seen an influx of cars taking to our roads. With data showing us the most popular cars from 1998 to the present day, we’ve been able to analyse the percentage growth of each brand by … [Read more...]
News
Newslines 2 October
Volvo has demonstrated the strength in depth of its SUV range with the XC40 and XC60 together winning four honours in the 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Competition. The honours, including the overall Towcar of the Year award for the XC60, were presented at a ceremony held at the RAC Club in London. The Audi SQ2 is a 300ps compact SUV being unveiled at the Paris Motor … [Read more...]
£2.5M to clean up older polluting CVs
The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership welcomed the announcement that up to £2.5 million Government funding is being made available to increase the range of vehicle retrofit technologies capable of cutting emissions from larger road vehicles already in use and enable them to meet Clean Air Zone and ULEZ requirements. The funding will support vital testing of new technologies for the ground-breaking … [Read more...]
Sports stars shine experience on JLR
Ahead of October’s Invictus Games Sydney 2018, Presenting Partner Jaguar Land Rover invited wounded, injured and sick warriors to experience a self-driving Range Rover Sport on some of the UK’s most complicated roads. Team UK Captain Mark ‘Dot’ Perkins and Italian team member Simone Careddu joined former competitors Jamie Weller and JJ Chalmers to ride in the level 4 autonomous SUV on public … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 October
VW, BMW, MB and Porsche have suspended European sales of their plug-in hybrid models, reports Automotive News Europe. The new WLTP emissions programme tests them differently to the former NEDC regulations and the result is their CO2 footprint is bigger and outside the limits for subsidies and their owners have to pay higher taxes. UK engine production was stable in August, with just 0.3% … [Read more...]
British couples drive their partners around the bend
One in five married Brits reckon their partner is dangerous driver, according to a new study. New research of the nation’s motorists has revealed the extent to which UK couples literally drive each other round the bend - with 26 percent of Brits refusing to get in the car with their partner in the past year because they fear for their own safety. Taking too long to get out of a junction, … [Read more...]
Newslines 29 September
Ford and VW will deepen their relationship with production and component parts, say Reuters, quoting companies spokesmen. Ford stock has sunk 24% this year and is now trading at a near six-year low as a new CEO Jim Hackett was brought in to make strategic cuts and changes including working more closely with VW in Europe and Mahindra of India. VW has told German Government it will make … [Read more...]
Road safety spending crashes
A row has erupted over the latest road accidents statistics and figures which show no accident reductions while a FoI request shows big cuts in safety expenditure by the Government. Nearly 4,000 drivers involved in an accident failed a breath test in 2017, according to Department for Transport (DfT) statistics. But the total number of drivers and riders tested fell to under 100,000 for the … [Read more...]
Car makers poorly prepared for new law
The European car market saw spectacular growth in August, recording the highest August result in the last twenty years. But this strong growth was artificial as registrations were boosted by stock clearances ahead of the introduction of tougher new emissions tests under the World Light Car Test Programme, or WLTP, on the 1 September. This is evidenced by unusual results in typically slow … [Read more...]
A quarter of drivers risking instant disqualification
A quarter of drivers believe they would fail the driving test requirement for eyesight and are risking loss of licence on the spot and prosecution. Three police forces in England have announced they are planning to test the eyesight of every motorist they stop. If the motorist can’t read a number plate 20m (65ft) away they will have their licence revoked on the spot. In a poll for Venson … [Read more...]