There is a global love affair with SUVs, 4x4’s, off-roaders and crossovers, call them what you will, and they come in all sizes and capabilities at hugely varying cost. But the demand has been so great that it has even spawned SUV styling to be added to affordable hatchbacks and expensive premium brand saloons/estates as manufacturers cash-in on the craze. The newest of the sudo-SUV arrivals … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 August
Swiss authorities have banned some Porsche and Mercedes-Benz models with diesel engines which were found to be giving false emissions readings. The order affects 1.6 diesel MB Vitos, 3.0 diesel Macans and 4.2 diesel Cayennes from today, and those already sold must have retrofitted clean up systems even if they meet the new Euro6 tests. VW owners in Germany who do not get their diesel … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 July
The exclusive McLaren BP23 will be officially named the Speedtail. It’s central driving position with a passenger each side is reminiscent of the original P1 McLaren but the new hyper-GT will be limited to 106 cars each costing £1.6 M plus taxes. The second Clean Air Roadshow in Swansea had to cope with unseasonal heavy rain. Hundreds still turned up to look at a selection of electric … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 July
New Vietnamese car company, VinFast, is developing its range of world-class vehicles at an all-new state-of-the-art plant in northern Vietnam. Spearheading the company’s launch, a SUV and a sedan – both developed by Pininfarina – will be given their public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2018 while VinFast is developing other vehicles and planning to export in coming years. A … [Read more...]
Tradelines 18 July
Eight years after it created the compact crossover segment, the one millionth Juke has rolled off the line at Nissan Sunderland Plant. On average, a Juke is built at the plant every 105 seconds, while three million Qashqai have been built there since 2006. Ford in America will pay the equivalent of over £226M to settle a civil actions arising from claims of failed or faulty Takata airbags … [Read more...]
Toyota take top cars crown
The Toyota Corolla remains the best selling car in the world on latest data. Latest figures compiled by Focus to Move shows over 501,000 Corolla models were sold last year, a slight rise on 2016, and the next best seller and top pick up was the Ford F-Series on 441,000 while the VW Golf was third with 367,600 and dominated Europe as it saw sales rise 2.4% despite the company’s instigation of … [Read more...]
Welsh car sales rise against the tide
Wales bucked the trend as summer burned new car dealers with sales down 3.5% in June, according to figures from the SMMT. The news came on the day that JLR said it would have to reconsider planned UK investment if there is a “bad” Brexit deal, possibly close some British factories and make thousands redundant. Six months ago, JLR announced cuts at Halewood, said it wouldn’t renew contracts … [Read more...]
It’s already winter in part of Germany
As we head towards the summer, it’s already winter in Germany. But tomorrow it could blisteringly hot, with monsoon showers the day after, before arid conditions return. All the seasons in a few hours is part of the working day for engineers in the Ford Weather Factory, Cologne. Here, Ford invested €70 million to build the facility so drivers can rely on vehicles that have endured conditions … [Read more...]
Major car brands seeking new technology
The Future Mobility Challenge is a major new initiative to spawn new partnerships, investments and acquisitions between the world’s leading automotive brands and innovative technology start-ups and SMEs. Five of the world’s biggest automotive brands, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch, Ford and Toyota, have partnered with SMMT to challenge ambitious SMEs and start-ups to devise innovative solutions … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 May
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been unveiled and is likely to cost from £240,000. The unique three-box 2.6 tonnes SUV blends bespoke craftsmanship, engineering and design and will be powered by the 563bhp 6.75V12 engine with all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering when it goes on sale towards the end of this year offering up to 1930 litres adjustable loadspace and lifestyle boot-pods for an … [Read more...]