This year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance survey makes bleak reading, with worsening carriageway conditions and mounting costs set to spell more misery for road users. The ALARM survey, published today by the Asphalt Industry Alliance, reports that local authority highway teams in England and Wales only received around two-thirds of what they needed to stop our local roads from further … [Read more...]
Retail News
Newslines 20 March
Bentley Motors revealed record financial results for 2022, with operating profits up nearly €1 billion compared to 2018. The latest annual figures show a profit of €708 million, representing an 82 per cent growth in profit from a four per cent growth in volume while turnover reached €3.38 billion, up 19 per cent over the same period and the announcement follows record sales in 2022, when Bentley … [Read more...]
Filling stations taking diesel drivers for a ride, says RAC
Diesel car and van drivers are being taken for a ride by filling stations, said the RAC. They are continuing to suffer from inflated prices at fuel pumps up and down the country and are seeing no benefit from plummeting lower wholesale costs, despite the Chancellor continuing the fuel duty freeze in Wednesday’s Budget, the RAC is warning. Despite both crude oil and wholesale diesel costs – the … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KIA Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT Line S
With motoring costs soaring a lot of drivers are downsizing and face the dilemma of what to buy, yet do not realize how good a modern small car can be. In fact, a recent study found the typical family car today has over £32,700 of features fitted as standard which were not there a decade ago and after adjusting for inflation. We recently found ourselves facing a 400 miles trip with our Kia … [Read more...]
Learners facing bills over £11,000 to get motoring
New drivers are the latest to face the brunt of the cost of living crisis. Research from CarMats.co.uk reveals £11,375 is the average price tag for those learning to drive and purchase a car in 2023. New drivers are expected to pay over £11,000 before even getting on the road. According to the RAC, it will take the average learner 45 hours of driving lessons to pass their driving … [Read more...]
Rally México begins today after two year break
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team will take on new challenges with its GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid contender when Rally México makes a much-anticipated return for round three of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship season, from today until Sunday. This will be the championship’s first visit to Mexico and to the American continent since 2020. As well as being the first gravel round of the … [Read more...]
Wales’ Hockly prepares for new season
One of Wales’ most iconic and long-running motorsport operations, Hockly Motorsport, has teamed up with the Motorsport UK Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship in association with Pirelli to support the Two-Wheel Drive category. Hockly Motorsport was first established in 1985 as a motorsport preparations company, initially building cars for Vauxhall Motorsport. One of those cars was driven by company … [Read more...]
Tradelines 15 March
Jaguar will slash its dealer sites from about 80 today to under 20 within two years as it moves to an all-electric line up, sources have told Car Dealer magazine. The existing dealerships will have to consider selling only Land Rover models while the Jaguar range is developed but seen as taking much smaller role and the move will affect accountancy practices by those who have invested in the … [Read more...]
British trucks secures Government grant
British electric vehicle manufacturer Tevva has secured government plug-in truck grant (PITrG) eligibility for its 7.5t battery-electric truck. UK organisations looking to decarbonise operations and future-proof their fleets will benefit from a potential £16,000 discount, removed from the purchase price by Tevva. To be eligible for the grant, N2 vehicles (trucks that weigh between 5-12 … [Read more...]
Sound advice with a female accent
A vehicle leasing company says customers should be given the choice to speak with a female employee from enquiries through to sales. Devon-based company, Carparison, are offering customers the option of speaking to a female member of the team in an effort to make customers feel more comfortable when doing business with the automotive industry. Carparison’s decision follows the publication of a … [Read more...]