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...]
Newslines 15 December
Toyota and Lexus models roll off production lines at the rate of 19.9 models a minute. Moneyshake analysed the makers and found Volkswagen Group built 19.8 cars a minute, Hyundai 13.7, GM 13.0 and Ford 12.2 per minute but they fade into the background when all China makers churn out 48.9 cars a minute, more than double the rate in the US. Honda Swindon has restarted car production. It stopped … [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...]
Ford’s £1M legacy payout to Bridgend
A £1 Million charity payout has been allocated to local communities recommended by workers at the Ford Bridgend Engine plant, which closes next month. A skeleton staff is running down the operation after it stopped making engines in September and the site will close after 40 years of production as part of a reassessment of its European operations. Over half the money will go to local sports … [Read more...]
Welsh lockdown badly hits car dealers
The firebreak lockdown has wiped 25% off new car sales in Wales, revealed figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It is a warning to England which has just gone into a month's lockdown as opposed to the fortnight shutdown in Wales which ends on monday after 3,677 new cars were sold by Welsh dealers in the three weeks they could open last month. October new car … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 October
Electrified vehicles have outsold diesel-powered models across Europe, says JATO Dynamics. This turnaround comes as September registrations in the EU were up by 1% over 2019, marking a significant milestone in the low carbon drive and much of it was due to the arrival of the VW ID.3 . UK car production fell in September, with output down -5.0%, to register the worst performance for the month in … [Read more...]
Bigger Nugget is latest find from Ford
The Ford Transit Custom Nugget is now available in a long wheelbase version, adding even greater flexibility for adventure-loving customers. The extended wheelbase uses the extra length to provide a built-in toilet, wash basin and additional interior storage space. Based on Ford’s market-leading Transit Custom van, the Transit Custom Nugget has been developed in partnership with camper … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Puma Titanium 1.0 MHEV 6sp
The Ford Puma is the company’s latest crossover and it’s strongest new generation of family cars to date. The name has been used before by Ford and between 1997 and 2002 it was on an unusual model, a compact three-door coupe. That was based on the latest Fiesta and ironically the new car is also derived from the current Fiesta. Built in Romania and slotting between the EcoSport … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 August
Ford has commissioned custom tyres that can leave key water safety messages imprinted on stretches of sand as part of a new initiative with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The custom tyres have been designed to leave 3 key water safety messages in the sand, including ‘float to live’, ‘no inflatables’, and ‘emergency? call 999’. Each year Brits spend over five and a half million hours … [Read more...]
Wales leads UK car sales recovery with Vauxhall Corsa
New car sales in Wales have recovered better than the rest of the UK. Welsh figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show a 39.22 % rise in July compared to the same month last year and brings the running total for this year to just 34.55% below the first seven months of 2019, also better than other regions. Dealers in Wales recorded 7,728 new car sales in July … [Read more...]