Drivers caught by cameras watching bus lanes in Cardiff had to fork out over £1.85M last year, said comparethemarket insurance. But that contrasts with nearly £8.4M in penalty charges imposed in Manchester and around £14M for London boroughs. As they move closer together the next generation small cars from Fiat Chrysler will be developed from the floorpans used by PSA Group marques. That … [Read more...]
Retail
Bigger Nugget is latest find from Ford
The Ford Transit Custom Nugget is now available in a long wheelbase version, adding even greater flexibility for adventure-loving customers. The extended wheelbase uses the extra length to provide a built-in toilet, wash basin and additional interior storage space. Based on Ford’s market-leading Transit Custom van, the Transit Custom Nugget has been developed in partnership with camper … [Read more...]
Women worry less than men buying a car
Women worry less than men about buying a car, reveals new research. Online-only car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk say men are three times more likely than women to report feeling 'wary' of buying a car without seeing it first. But as well as being more relaxed about the online car-buying experience than men - with many females particularly valuing not having to deal with a pushy salesperson … [Read more...]
Buyers back in the driving seats
Car buyers are flocking back to showrooms and forecourts, said the National Franchised Dealers Association. Through the findings, NFDA aims to assess the implications of the COVID-19 lockdown on the automotive retail sector and understand how the industry is now recovering. Their survey asked dealers questions about their return to work including the percentage of dealerships that reopened, … [Read more...]
Newslines 28 August
A classic £1 Million Aston Martin DB5 similar to models in the James Bond films has been stolen in daylight from an address in Cheshire. There is a £1,000 reward for information leading to its recovery and the car is virtually unsaleable due to its rarity. Tesla is rumoured to be close to developing production batteries that are up to 50% more energy compact inside four years. It would … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 August
About 400 jobs are going at the MINI plant, Cowley, Oxford. The company said it’s halving its contracting force following a slump in demand for the models in the coronavirus lockdown. Learners have to contend with another collapse of the DVSA on-line driving test booking system. It failed within hours of being restarted after the lockdown and then again this week when it was restored after … [Read more...]
Tradelines 26 August
China's Nio car company, which mostly makes crossover electric models from US design and engineering centres' input, plans to launch its range in Europe in 2021. The company is also heavily involved in battery to grid systems to maximise income and technology. McLaren Automotive will introduce a new, flexible, lightweight vehicle tub for its next generation of electrified supercars. The new … [Read more...]
Pre-registered cars challenge 1 September newcomers
Huge savings on nearly-new 2020-registered cars are putting pressure on new car sales targets for next week’s registration plate change. Online car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk is reporting savings of up to 42% compared with list price for 2020 cars, often with as little as 10 miles on the clock. Tough times for dealers, who are facing the biggest decline in new car sales for decades, spell good … [Read more...]
Auto-renew at your own peril
With the September peak of car insurance renewals, GoCompare is warning about letting a policy auto-renew without checking for a better deal. One in five motorists allowed their insurer to auto-renew their policy without seeing if they could get the same cover for less money compared with 15% in February 2020. Number of drivers auto-renewing is worth £6.7 Million, its highest level since … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Octavia SE L First Edition Estate
We live in a 24/7 world, expect everything to work at any time and not let us down. One guide to choosing a good car is looking at what police, ambulance and taxi companies use because they are on the road 24/7 and one of the most prolific of vehicles is the Skoda Octavia Estate. Without being whincingly expensive to buy and run they fulfill their roles and deliver mile after mile, year after … [Read more...]