Volvo's award-winning XC60 mid-size SUV is now available with a full range of electrified powertrains. The former World Car of the Year is offered purely with hybrid power, from mild-hybrid petrols and diesels to petrol-electric plug-in hybrids. Every mild-hybrid powertrain in the XC60 range combines a powerful 2.0-litre engine with a 48-volt battery and a KERS kinetic energy recovery system to … [Read more...]
Retail News
Cardiff drivers benefit most from lockdowns
Cardiff drivers have come out top of the UK workers who have saved £600 Million during the lockdown collectively by not having to commute to work and driving less overall. This is based on 46.6% of the UK workforce spending time working from home over lockdown, and the average fuel saving during the lockdown period being £76 a month. Cardiff commuters saved the most, £88, while drivers in … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Wrangler 4-Door, Night Eagle
Its big, its brash, its still the iconic all-American 4WD SUV, writes David Miles. But the modern Jeep brand is owned by Chrysler and they are part of the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles conglomerate which in turn is now in partnership with the PSA Group of brands. Following the recent merger the FCA and PSA groups together will be known as STELLANTIS, the world’s 4thlargest global automotive … [Read more...]
UK car sales plunge nearly 30% in November
New car registrations slumped by 27.4% in November in Britain, according to the Society of Motor Manufactuers and Traders, as English showrooms were closed in the latest lockdown. Click and collect helped sals achieve 113,781 and “With a vaccine now approved, the business and consumer confidence on which this sector depends can only improve, giving the industry more optimism for the turn of the … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 December
Travel between Wales and T1 or T2 areas in England is permitted from 6pm tonight. But the Welsh Government ban remains for T3 areas, which include Bristol and Birmingham, while London and Liverpool are in the lower tiers. The Cupra Formentor range of engines is expanding this month. The entry-level 150ps comes in at £27,395 from the New Year , the PHEV version is due Spring 2021 while the … [Read more...]
Too much data defeats delivery
Businesses are suffering from an information overload. A five point list aimed at helping fleets gain maximum insight from their data has been issued by FleetCheck as businesses seek to identify new levels of efficiency as they head into 2021. The fleet software specialist says that the continuing economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis has prompted many to look again at their … [Read more...]
UK car maker may need bailout
Despite Coronavirus, the plug-in market in Europe grew by well over 100% this year and it will happen again in 2021. BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) will grow by more than 100% and surpass the growth of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). In 2019, the UK sold 38,000 BEVs and the UK is currently on track for between 98,000 and 101,000 BEV sales by the end of 2020. Those in the industry are predicting that … [Read more...]
Tradelines 2 December
Prepare for the great Christmas breakdown. That’s the message from Green Flag recovery which says after weeks of little use, cars will be under strain when the UK Christmas easement is made between 23 and 27 December, so its vital to make basic checks and get a service if planning a longer trip to friends and relatives. Low rolling resistance to increase autonomy, decreased road noise for … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: MINI John Cooper Works GP3
Following the success of the two previous MINI GP models introduced in 2006 and 2013, the new limited edition MINI John Cooper Works GP3, is the most powerful and fastest production MINI ever sold, writes David Miles. Just 3,000 of these models will be built at MINI Plant Oxford for global sales with 575 of them available to UK customers. They are priced from £35,345 on-the-road … [Read more...]
Dishing the dirt on the germs in your car
ATS has dished the dirt on its customers. Cleanliness really has been put next to goodliness this year when shopping, socialising or simply being at home, but how about sitting in your car? Here, according to Professor John Ward from the Department of Biochemical Engineering at University College London, there is a problem,“Studies have found that on the average toilet seat there are 50 … [Read more...]