SEAT sees diesel giving way to compressed natural gas as a fuel. The chief executive of the Spanish Volkswagen division, Luca de Meo, believes customers needed “a sensible solution” to overcome any issues and falling diesel sales, he told magazine Automibilwoche. Porsche will decide at the end of the decade whether its latest generation of diesel engines will be its last, Chief Executive … [Read more...]
News
Newslines 24 July
Audi has launched a recall for up to 850,000 diesel cars to update vehicle software controlling emissions in a bid to avoid potential driving bans, reports Automotive News Europe. The service is also being offered to Porsche and Volkswagen brand cars using the same six- and eight-cylinder engines and follows a similar move last week by Mercedes-Benz for about 750,000 models. Drivers much … [Read more...]
Alpina super-saloon and Stelvio coming
Alpina’s new super-saloon is now available in the UK with a final specification that pushes top speed to 205 mph, up from the 193 mph predicted at the Geneva launch. With an optimised 4.4 litre V8 delivering 608 hp, up from 600 for the show car, and 800 Nm, the new B7 Bi-Turbo joins the exclusive group of cars with effortless 200 mph performance. “Not long ago, only the most focussed … [Read more...]
Graze and go
When The Grazing Shed decided to hit the road with its award-winning range of burgers, only one van stacked up – a ‘Super Tidy’ Sprinter from Mercedes-Benz Dealer Euro Commercials. The Grazing Shed began life in 2013, after Duncan Black and three like-minded colleagues teamed up to launch their first restaurant in Cardiff. So successful did it prove that within a couple of years they were … [Read more...]
Wales wants £700M from scrapped electric trains
The Welsh Government is demanding the estimated £700m saved by the UK Government by scrapping of the long-awaited Main Line electrification in South Wales be reinvested for future rail projects in Wales. Proposals for powers over rail infrastructure to be devolved to Welsh ministers should now also be progressed with immediate effect, Economy Secretary Ken Skates has said. In a letter to UK … [Read more...]
Severn Tolls reach the end of the road, but not yet
The Severn Bridge Tolls will end in 18 months after 52 years. The next anticipated price rise in January will be the last before costs are passed into the general motorway maintenance budget and Welsh Government is expected to have to pick up a proportion of that expenditure in some form. The legislation for the bridges’ construction and operation always included the reversal to public … [Read more...]
Talks underway to create auto-tech park in Wales
The Welsh Government’s £100m Automotive Technology Park in Blaenau Gwent moved a step closer as key players gathered to discuss plans. Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, chaired a meeting with industry figures from TVR, Ford, General Dynamics and IQE as well as representatives of Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, Blaenau Gwent Council and Cardiff University, in order to develop more detailed proposals … [Read more...]
Row over rail electrification pushed into sidings by UK Gov
The Welsh Government says there's now a stronger case for devolution after the fiasco over future rail investment by the UK Government. Responding to the announcement that rail electrification will end at Cardiff, Cabinent Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates said the Welsh government was “enormously disappointed”. “I have been making the case for investment in our rail … [Read more...]
Diesel emissions’ mounting concern in Europe
A leaked letter shows the EU industry commissioner has issued a stark warning to transport ministers that the consequences of the Dieselgate scandal, and the failure to clean up dirty diesel cars still on our roads, are contributing to a city air pollution crisis. The leaked letter, seen by Transport & Environment (T&E), stresses the need for carmakers to “rapidly reduce” NOx emissions … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 July
Newport has the highest MoT failure rate in Wales and it’s tenth in the league of losers nationwide. Wipers and washers are the most common cause of MoT failures and can be easily avoided says a spokesman for the AA Garage Guide. Oxford is currently the favoured location for building an electric version of the Mini, two sources familiar with the company's thinking told Reuters. BMW has … [Read more...]