Europe needs a million public vehicle charging points inside three years and three million by 2029, car makers have told European governments. Latest figures suggest there are under 230,000 at the moment but car makers are pouring huge investments into evs and say the public network needs to grow and give confidence to buyers who have still to make the switch. ACEA, the car makers' body, said in … [Read more...]
Staggering 75% stolen cars never recovered
More than 200 cars are stolen every day and the trend is rising.The data has been revealed following a Freedom of Information request Rivervale Leasing submitted to the Swansea-based DVLA. The Government's records made pretty grim reading because around 75,000 vehicles were nicked last year, that’s nearly 20,000 more than in 2019. So we’re talking about more than 200 stolen vehicles … [Read more...]
More families shifting towards used cars
In a year shaped by a pandemic and strict social distancing restrictions, drivers have still been able to get their hands on the car they wanted, said Seán Kemple, Managing Director of Close Brothers Motor Finance."In fact, a new-found reticence to use public transport has shifted attitudes toward car ownership, a trend likely to grow even further in 2021. "Smaller models remain … [Read more...]
As emissions fall, there’s a dire warning on trade
Amid a very turbulent year, there is finally some positive news on the horizon for the automotive industry. Many OEMs have started to see a significant reduction in their average emissions levels and are largely on track to hit targets set by the European Commission, despite new car registrations being severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to data collected and updated on a … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: BMW 420i M Sport Coupe
In these days of health and safety in this Covid era holding mass motoring media product test driving events is not easy, you need space. And to meet that space requirements for this week’s BMW UK Media Showcase event of their new and updated models they used an aircraft hangar at the Bicester Heritage Centre for the media to assemble and collect their test drive cars. This event heralded the … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 October
This year’s RAC London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is cancelled on 1 November due to Covid-19 restrictions after being staged without interruption since 1947. The event has been planned for 7 November 2021. Car dealers in Wales will have to close showrooms from Friday evening under the Welsh lockdown law. They will be allowed to run virtual showrooms and meet clients on line but actual buyer … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 October
After a ten-year gap, the BMW ti suffix returns with the sporting 128ti arriving next month from £32,995. The 265hp 4cyl 2.0 litre engine and 8sp sequential automatic box are mated to M sport suspension and brakes with numerous body detailing and delivered with high specification trim and equipment. Vauxhall has released first images of the new Crossland ahead of order books opening later this … [Read more...]
Handrakes are slipping says survey
Traditional mechanical parking brakes are slackening their appeal and dying out as car manufacturers ditch them in favour of electronic parking brakes, according to CarGurus.It found that just 24% of new cars on sale in the UK today come with a manually operated handbrake, falling even further from 30% recorded last year.Some popular models, including the BMW 1 series and 3 … [Read more...]
Exclusive BMW iX3 editions next year
BMS is launching two exclusive edition iX3 models into the UK. Premier Edition and Premier Edition Pro have enhanced levels of standard equipment, four exterior body paint options and two exterior trim choices. Harman Kardon surround sound, head-up display and BMW IconicSounds Electric has been developed with Hans Zimmer and offered as standard on BMW iX3 Premier Edition Pro. The ffirst UK … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
BMW has never been afraid to go out on limb when it comes to models or styling and it’s generally worked in its favour like it should with the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Announced at the end of 2019 and with a UK launch delayed in March by the Coronavirus epidemic, the newcomer is just getting out to customers. After the 6, 4 and then 8 Series Gran Coupe models, this … [Read more...]