UK EV drivers are likely to see a sharp increase in road tax with new announcements from Rachel Reeves. Research from GAP insurance experts, ALA has uncovered that the future average pay-per-mile will set the average driver back £267 a year, plus an additional £200 in standard road tax, increasing from April. Luxury car drivers with an EV over £50,000 will … [Read more...]
Retail News
Weekend roadtest: Volkswagen Tiguan Mild Hybrid
Volkswagen has eased off the throttle to becoming a pure electric brand and wisely continues to develop its semi-electric mild hybrid line up. The Tiguan MHEV is one of the third generation of this highly popular model, its best seller worldwide including 29,800 registered in Britain last year. In a world and market where change happens and then goes in a … [Read more...]
Time to rethink Britain’s EV plan say car makers
Britain’s transition to zero emission vehicles must urgently be reviewed before targets accelerate exponentially from 2027, the automotive industry has warned, else the country’s net zero and economic growth ambitions could be thwarted. New analysis published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows the UK’s transition pathway … [Read more...]
Osian Pryce gets MEM Rally Team seat for season
Osian Pryce has joined the Castrol MEM Rally Team for an all-out attack on the 2026 British Rally Championship title – and he’ll make his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 competition debut on the opening round of the series, the Severn Valley Stages 11 April. Osian drove a Melvyn Evans Motorsport (MEM) Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 when he clinched the BRC drivers’ title in … [Read more...]
MoT tests soaring and so are costs
March is a peak period for MoT tests of new-plate models over three years old including almost 318,000. getting their first compulsory road safety check, with some shocks for their owners. In March 2023 there was a staggering 18% rise in registrations of new models after the Covid cutbacks and with incentives from manufacturers and dealers taken up by … [Read more...]
New test rules announced
New rules for driving tests will come into force over the next few months, said the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. It wants to make the booking system fairer and end the practice of agents creaming off additional charges from learners who struggle to find slots. From 12 May, only learner drivers will be permitted to book, change or swap a car driving … [Read more...]
Wales’s drivers facing bumpy ride for some time
There is no quick fix for Welsh roads, reports ALARM survey Road users should not expect a quick fix to the condition of local roads in Wales, despite reported increases in funding, says this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report. Significant investment in highways maintenance from both the Welsh Government, via the Local … [Read more...]
National Car Parks collapses
NCP has collapsed. National Car Parks operate about 340 locations with nearly 700 employees but has seen income fail to keep ahead of rising costs for the business. The administrator, PwC, said demand for parking had not recovered to pre-Covid levels, pointing to "shifts in commuting and customer driving patterns". It said after consistently losing money, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Geely Starray EMi Hybrid
The UK car market is changing forever and being transformed by the arrival of Chinese brands including the very recent Geely group. Many may not have heard of Geely, but it is the money and technology behind Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and familiar TX London Taxi. That’s an impressive family to which you belong but a few years ago Geely decided to introduce … [Read more...]
Fuel bills are worrying motorists
Rising fuel bills are motorists major concern. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers tell us the cost of motoring is a major concern, and fuel is a huge contributor to that, so making sure they’re paying a fair price at the pumps is essential. For that reason, we welcome the competition watchdog's scrutiny of what’s happening on forecourts … [Read more...]
