Life is full of surprises but few are as welcome as the Lexus ES300h Takumi saloon delivers. A larger successor introduced in 2019 to the Lexus GS series, it has the advanced petrol & electric powertrain developed by parent Toyota over some 25 years. The experience shows. While some car makers are only now coming to terms with hybrid power, Lexus has been setting the standard over three … [Read more...]
Retail News
Newslines 16 July
Tesla is on course to notch up a million pure battery car sales by next April, the first manufacturer to do so. VW is tipped to overtake them two years later and Mercedes-Benz will be close behind, according to projections calculated by Moneyshake. As Germany ramps up estimates of EV sales to 14M on its roads inside eight years analysts believe 55% of all EU sales will be electric in the same … [Read more...]
Aston Martin plan 950ps hypercar
The first Aston Martin hybrid sports car will develop a combined 950ps from its 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine and twin electric motors driving front and rear wheels. The Valhalla has moved from concept to creation with its active aerodynamics and new eight-speed dual clutch transmission, racing tuned handling and suspension and will be the British company’s first mid-engined … [Read more...]
Sporting Abarth F595 coming to UK
A New Abarth F595 has been confirmed for UK sale. Built as a tribute for the 50th anniversary of the Formula Italia single-seater designed by Carlo Abarth, the 165hp 1.4-litre Euro 6D-Final-compliant T-Jet engine, on which the Formula 4 single-seater is based powers the newcomer to the Fiat range. The new Record Monza Sovrapposto active exhaust with vertical exhausts and a new Rally Blue colour, … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 July
New petrol and diesel cars will be banned from sale by 2035, lorries five years later and aircraft and shipping will face stinging new fuel taxes under proposals announced this week by the EU. Imported steel used to make vehicles will also be heavily taxed as the EU seeks to dramatically reduce cross border carbon footprints. Ex Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has told the BBC how he was … [Read more...]
Government is threatening road safety – claim
Business group Logistics UK is dismayed by the announcement of the continued relaxation of drivers’ hours legislation until 8 August 2021. It governs the length of time which HGV drivers are legally expected to work and James Firth, the organisation’s Head of Road Freight Regulation Policy, explains the announcement will heap more pressure on drivers who are already stretched to the limit to … [Read more...]
Two new family cars lack the ultimate safety features, say testers
Two popular new family cars fall short of the best protection for occupants compared to their rivals, say safety testers. In the latest round of Euro NCAP tests, the new Renault Kangoo and Opel Mokka both earn four stars, one below the highest rating.. The long overdue, new edition of the Renault Kangoo MPV performed well in crash tests, but with only moderate side impact protection offered, its … [Read more...]
Suzuki’s century of ideas & cleaner seas
They may be one of the smaller engineering companies, but Suzuki has consistently shown over a century that it’s the size of an idea which matters, not the business itself. Some 11 years before the Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co was officially formed in 1920, founder Michio Suzuki pioneered a new type of textile loom design in 1909 after watching his mother using her labour intensive and … [Read more...]
Vauxhall’s electrifying plans for newcomers
Vauxhall’s electric drive is accelerating. British brand will focus entirely on full battery electric vehicles from 2028, it has revealed just days after announcing a £100Million investment in electric vans and people movers at Ellesmere Port from next year. Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall Motors, said, “As of 2028, Vauxhall will only offer fully electric cars and vans in the … [Read more...]
Lotus and Bentley’s new contrasting performance models
The Lotus Emira has been unveiled as the company’s final model with a mid-mounted internal combustion engine. In fact there’s a choice of two power units, the familiar 3.5V8 or AMG 2.0 i4 giving 360 to 400hp, a maximum 180mph and choice of manual or automatic transmissions and on the road from next spring from under £60,000. All-new mid-engined sports car perfectly embodies ongoing … [Read more...]