A famous name from the past will lead Ford’s fight for sales in the new all-electric age of our cars. The venerable Mustang name has been cloned from the muscle sports car launched in the mid-60s and now in its seventh generation as the brand’s longest-lived nameplate on a family SUV. The Mustang Mach-E is vitally important to Ford and in familiar style has arrived with a choice of … [Read more...]
Retail News
Serious concerns over Renault Zoe accident protection
The final round of Euro NCAP testing of 2021 reveals some sobering safety scores for two new vehicles from the carmaker who brought five-star safety to the market 20 years ago. The Renault Zoe and Dacia Spring have achieved zero-stars and one-star respectively in safety assessments. The Renault Zoe, a vehicle in the Supermini class, becomes only the third car in Euro NCAP’s history to achieve … [Read more...]
Volkswagen Group forging new alliances for future EVs
The Volkswagen Group has entered into three more strategic partnerships, further strengthening its position in the field of batteries. The new partners are the leading materials technology group Umicore, the battery specialist 24M Technologies, and cleantech company Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. Although these three partnerships are independent from each other, they share a common goal: … [Read more...]
Trade event will be training, technology and tools focused
The new UK Garage and Bodyshop Event has revealed its theme will be ‘Training, Technology and Tools’, as the event hosts a showcase of new technologies, products and training initiatives from leading suppliers. The aim is to support suppliers, garage and bodyshop business owners, technicians, and specialists to futureproof their businesses and careers, while enabling them to tackle the … [Read more...]
Newslines 8 December
The all-new Nissan Qashqai has been awarded the top five-star safety rating by the independent European New Car Assessment Programme, a particularly notable achievement given the vehicle was assessed under the new, more stringent 2020-2022 protocol. It did particularly well in adult protection and highly scored in protecting pedestrians, but the Renault Zoe and Dacia have been slated for … [Read more...]
Turnaround in new car sales led by EVs raises issues
New car sales rose 1.7% year on year in November, ending four consecutive months of decline. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported 115,706 new cars were registered last month, up from 113,781 in the same period last year. The trade body noted this small uptick "must be viewed in the context of a weak 2020, when lockdowns impacted registrations". With the … [Read more...]
Newslines 6 December
Polestar has released a second teaser image of the forthcoming Polestar 3 pure electric performance SUV. It will launch in 2022 as the company’s first SUV and will be its first vehicle to be built in the US, in Charleston, South Carolina. Stellantis has collaborated on a pilot project to build near Milan a 1,000 metre road implanted with an electrical loop to test inductive charging in … [Read more...]
Filling stations taking motorists for a ride, says RAC Fuel Watch
Drivers endured yet more pump price rises last month with retailers adding on average another 3.1p to a litre of unleaded and 2.7p to diesel, even though wholesale costs of both fuels were already lower and suddenly dropped even further, according to new analysis by RAC Fuel Watch. Despite wholesale petrol prices tumbling 10p in November to their lowest levels since September, retailers … [Read more...]
Wise up to winter weather warning
Green Flag, has released winter weather driving tips to help drivers stay safe on the road over the next few months. If driving in wintery conditions isn’t avoidable, Green Flag has shared its top five supplies drivers should carry, in case their vehicle breaks down this winter: Reflective jacket Phone and charger Boots and a warm coat Waterproof trousers Blankets, food and … [Read more...]
Wales powers ahead with car chargers
Wales is out-performing the rest of the UK installing charging points, say the car makers. New analysis by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that the ratio of vehicle chargepoints to plug-in cars deteriorated by -31% during 2020. The research shows that at the end of 2019, 11 plug-in vehicles potentially shared a standard public chargepoint capable of charging both … [Read more...]