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 … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: On the road and in the news 17 May
Another week has gone by and here I am still keeping calm and carrying on despite very mixed messages from our Government about what we can or should do during now it appears slightly relaxed semi lock-down period, says David Miles. But no longer is it the same rules in each of our four domestic countries, so that's really clear. With no sign of new … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: On the road & in the news 10 May
I’m still keeping calm and carrying on sifting through the latest automotive news items and press releases pinging into my Inbox, writes David Miles. Whilst the COVIC-19 news is not good there are some brighter worthwhile snippets of information worth passing on. New life goes on - Toyota Corolla proves reliant for Robins We motoring journalists during … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: On the road and in the news
With the motoring media world in lockdown, the supply of new models and new model test driving events are all cancelled so instead of road test reviews we are keeping the wheels turning by covering some news items you might just have missed, says David Miles. Adversity is driving innovation at Skoda Virtual showrooms in the car sales industry is not a new … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 March
Six-in-10 UK drivers (59%) want the new Chancellor to bolster spending on the country’s crumbling local road infrastructure in the Budget by ringfencing 2p from every litre of petrol and diesel sold without increasing duty rates, according to an RAC survey of 3,200 drivers. In fact drivers feel so strongly about the need to increase spending on maintaining … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 October
The first electric Mazda MX-30 will go on sale in Britain in about 15 months. The five-door model will have a range between recharges of about 125 miles. A pure battery-powered Lexus will be unveiled next year, the company revealed at this week’s Tokyo Motor Show. It is part of a new product offensive which will also include petrol electric hybrids and … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus UX 250h
The new UX 250h petrol-electric hybrid urban SUV is described by Lexus as their ‘gateway’ model to their range of SUVs which already includes the well respected NX mid-sized models, the larger RX versions and the 7-seat RX L variants, writes David Miles. Lexus says UX stands for ‘urban explorer’ and they expect it to become their best selling SUV … [Read more...]
Tradelines 24 April
JLR is hoping strong SUV sales in America will offset a slowdown in the UK and China. The luxury British brand had to writedown $3.9Billion last year due to lower sales but the SUV sector is doing well in the US and the company has new models to launch there over the next 18 months, including the new Evoque (above) and upcoming Defender. Nissan profits … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus ES 300h ES Takumi
The new seventh generation front wheel drive ES 300h self-charging petrol-electric hybrid D-segment executive class saloon is the first ES range ever to be sold in the UK and Western and Central Europe, writes David Miles. Although we are only just getting the ES, the original ES launched the Lexus brand in 1989 alongside the LS flagship saloon. The ES … [Read more...]
Petrol hybrids are smart buys, say analysts
Three petrol hybrid 4x4 vehicles top the league for a smart buy. The Lexus NX, Rav4 and Kia Niro all show industry-leading low levels of depreciation. The Lexus NX retains 72% of its value from new after three years and 60,000 miles, losing on average £11,611. The Toyota Rav4 retains 69% of its value and loses an average of £10,341 over three years and … [Read more...]
