German media reports discussions are at an advanced stage for Audi and Porsche to enter F1 in a couple of years. The Volkswagen Group supervisory board could decide next month whether its Audi and Porsche subsidiaries should compete in Formula One, German business paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported. It would be costly but would give the two brands increased marketing exposure in … [Read more...]
New Year roadtest: McLaren GT
The Covid test is familiar to everyone, but it’s also been a test for supercar makers such as McLaren. While individuals coped with invasive personal tests, the high performance car brand has, like the auto-industry as a whole, been counting on suppliers and customers to keep it out of trouble and solvent for the post-pandemic period. It’s not been a smooth journey over the last two years and … [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...]
Sunday drive: On the road & in the news 30 May
Although the lockdown measures are easing it will take time for the wheels of society to return to something like normal life, writes David Miles. But from tomorrow, after the bank holiday week, English schools for certain age groups will open where they can and more employees should be returning to work and that includes the motoring industry. So hopefully it won’t be too long before we get back … [Read more...]
Tradelines 27 May
Around 1,200 jobs are going at McLaren. The group’s applied technology, automotive and racing businesses will be hit, the company said in a statement, as the cancellation of motorsport events, the suspension of manufacturing and retail activities around the world and reduced demand for technology solutions dashed the group’s revenue generating activities. Renault and Nissan have shelved plans … [Read more...]
Cardiff’s luxury line-up revealed
A survey of supercar owners in Wales has thrown up a few surprises. Grange vehicles conducted an FOI request to the DVLA on supercar ownership to find out which luxury brands are the most popular with men and women across the country. It looked at popular brands including Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, and Porsche. The data has also … [Read more...]
Welshmen steering exclusive super-cars club
Two Welsh entrepreneurs are the envy of all car enthusiasts owning an exclusive super-car club. Maesteg-born Richard Thomas and Craig Williams, from Usk, run Auto Vivendi, a London-based business with over £7M of exotic cars currently at the disposal of their 120 club members. As the world’s largest supercar club it not only maintains a stable of exotic sports cars which are frequently refreshed … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 October
The Volkswagen Group is taking a fresh look at its brands as they face future challenges and opportunities. It may mean uplifting Seat models while Skoda will scale down premium extras in future models and focus more on previously neglected markets, especially in eastern Europe against Hyundai, Kia and Dacia and all brands will have to reduce overlaps and clashes in ranges. A change in … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 February
The along awaited Audi e-tron electric models will go into showrooms in April. There will be two versions from £71,490 after the ev plug in allowance and it will be a their version of the VW Golf sized I D Neo hatchback. The next generation Vauxhall Corsa range will include a plug-in battery-electric model. It will also have the intelligent LED headlights first seen on Insignia and … [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...]