Space and pace is promised when the new Ford Focus ST estate appears this summer. The Focus ST Wagon – developed by Ford Performance – goes on sale in the summer and offers over 1500 litres of luggage space. It is powered by a 280PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission, or 190PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine with six-speed … [Read more...]
Retail
On-line sales rise as showrooms are shunned
Motorists are now less likely to visit a car showroom this weekend and spend their time looking on-line. The number of drivers buying cars which they haven’t set eyes on in person now stands at a one in 10 (11%) as more people place their faith in online portals giving them access to dealers across the country. This is underlining the fact that consumers are increasingly willing to put aside … [Read more...]
New to used gap widens and choices expand
As used car sales surge, the gap between demand for used and new vehicles gets ever starker, said Seán Kemple, Director of Sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance. Consumers shifting to cheaper cars due to the economic uncertainty caused by Brexit and the global slowdown is certainly a factor. But, so too is the challenge in supplying customers the makes and models of new vehicles that … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 May
About 42% of Cardiff commuters admit to being stressed by their journeys and the Welsh capital ranks eighth in the list of the UK’s top ten worst cities. The poll for property company Good Move put York and London at the top of the stress list with 51% of drivers affected. New info-tainment systems are proving a headache for owners of the latest cars with unreliability the main feature of … [Read more...]
Insurance is covering criminality
Valid motor insurance is proving to be as valuable a disguise for today’s criminals as stockings over the head or a mask was years ago. Using a stolen identity to take out cover, their vehicle details are added to the Motor Insurance Database, allowing them to drive around without attracting police attention. Stealing an individual’s ID and taking out motor insurance in their name used to … [Read more...]
Recharging car and your bank account
Cenex launched a detailed analysis of the costs and opportunities of Vehicle to Grid (V2G) charging of electric vehicles (EVs). The report from the technology group found that bidirectional V2G charging, which sees vehicles provide energy from their batteries to the grid when plugged in, delivers greater value and revenues than unidirectional Smart Charging. The potential value which can be … [Read more...]
Rich & poor divide appears in EV sales
A rich and poor divide is splitting sales of electric cars. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has published new data highlighting the correlation between the affordability of electric cars and their market uptake. This ACEA analysis compares national data on the sales of electrically-chargeable vehicles (ECVs) with GDP per capita in the EU member states for the … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 May
Vauxhall is continuing its journey towards electrification with the new Grandland X all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The new Grandland X Hybrid4 is Vauxhall’s first-ever plug-in hybrid and features state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology using a 200hp, 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric drive system with two electric motors … [Read more...]
Newslines 13 May
Easter’s good weather was bad news for the motor trade. Used dealers told Cazana that garden and other leisure pursuits took precedence over car purchases. Cardigan and Crymych are among the cheapest UK places to refuel with diesel, and Cwmbran is in the top ten for petrol. Petrolprices.com surveyed Britain to find the best places to top-up after the RAC reported a 5p litre rise in pumps … [Read more...]
Volvo Cars Cardiff showcase new S60
Volvo Cars Cardiff, Penarth Road is hosting ‘Volvo Evolved’ on Saturday 11 May from 9am to 5pm and Sunday 12 May from 10am to 4pm. The new S60 will be available for pre-booked test drives, as will the rest of the range of Volvos. … [Read more...]