Car dealers are having to battle increased levels of fraud and attempted fraud to go with a number of other challenges currently facing the motor trade. That is according to the latest Forecourt Foresight report from Close Brothers Motor Finance which found that one in five automotive retailers have fallen victim to fraud and a further 31% of dealers have … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Toyota Prius Design PHEV
The Toyota Prius was ahead of its time when created and today’s model still sets standards for others to aim at achieving. Conceived in the mid-1990s, the Toyota Prius was the world’s first mass produced hybrid car when it was launched in 1997 and we have now seen five generations or evolutions of the car, which has been a saloon as well as a lift-back. It … [Read more...]
Used electric and diesel cars in demand
Consumer interest in used electric and diesel cars has rapidly increased over the last six months, shows new research. December’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows the percentage of motorists who say that they would definitely consider an electric car as their next vehicle is up from 19% to 29%, while for diesel, it has increased from 12% to 22%. However, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX-30 R-EV first drive
Mazda is never afraid to be different and it shows in their latest MX-30 R-EV. Keeping its quirky ‘suicide’ rear passenger doors for easy access to the back seats the real change is up front under the bonnet in the newcomer. It joins the pure battery MX-30 and the CX-60 PHEV in the marque’s range with a PHEV powertrain which utilises a sub-900cc rotary … [Read more...]
First drive: Vauxhall Astra GSe
As it slips into middle-age, the Vauxhall Astra has been given a modern make-over. Launched in 1980, the Astra has been the bedrock of the company’s offering in the small family car sector as it moved through eight generations. This year it was given a mechanical boost with hybrid technology adding to the petrol power in a bid to lower emissions and … [Read more...]
Government damaging confusion over cleaner vehicles
This week’s government ambivalence over the longstanding 2030 EV sales deadline is potentially “damaging for fleets” who are committed to electrification, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding (below), managing director at the leading fleet software provider, said that prime minister Rishi Sunak’s equivocation when asked about the deadline by an interviewer had … [Read more...]
Wales’ green drive is stalling
Wales continues to lag behind rest of Britain for EV charging points Commenting on the latest Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said, “Despite their insistence on being a green government, this report highlights Labour’s continued abysmal record on electric … [Read more...]
Rotary engine returns in Mazda ev
Making its European debut at the Brussels Motor Show, the unique Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV series plug-in hybrid joins the pure electric Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv in Mazda’s electrified line-up. The Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a series plug-in hybrid that offers the same customer values as the pure electric Mazda MX-30, while simultaneously offering new … [Read more...]
After ev anxiety, there is a new concern
The adoption of hydrogen as a source of fuel for net zero road transport is “lagging way too far behind electricity,” FleetCheck is warning. The fleet management software company says that visible signs of progress are almost non-existent and that Government strategy appears to be drifting. Peter Golding, managing director, said, “The Government’s hydrogen … [Read more...]
Councils threats to low income families’ cars
The poorest will be hit hardest by future car bans in cities, say filling station owners. While there is a need to reduce tailpipe emissions, especially in cities, local mayors should be mindful that any extra charges will significantly impact low income households who are already struggling with high energy costs, said Gordon Balmer Executive Director of … [Read more...]
