Stellantis will close its Luton van plant next year. The production work for Stellantis Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat electric vans will be concentrated at Ellesmere Port on the Wirral, Cheshire. About 1.100 jobs will go at Luton but a relocation package is likely to be offered. Luton has been making cars and vans since 1905. The decision comes after Stellantis warned the UK Government … [Read more...]
Diesels surge as private motorists snub EVs
The UK new car market rose 1.0% in the key ‘74’ plate change month of September, to 275,239 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders with private buyers turning to more diesels than pure electric models.. In what is traditionally a bumper month for new car registrations, second only to March, the performance was the best since 2020, but still -19.8% off pre-Covid … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Kamiq SE
As the retail motor trade goes through a reset at the moment squeezed by new technology and rising prices which private buyers are reluctant to embrace or pay, models like the Skoda Kamiq are standing out. It’s a straightforward petrol model for a family with up to five seats, price-pitched perfectly for many and it comes with a suite of safety and convenience features normally found on more … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX-5RF 2.0 Homura
Sometimes, the simple things in life please the most and that’s certainly the case with the Mazda MX-5. The classic yet modern sports two-seater is straightforward, front-engine and rear-wheel-drive engineering, but underneath it embodies some of the latest technology to make owning, driving and enjoying the open-air experience in safety and, when the sun’s not shining, in sophisticated style … [Read more...]
Fleet discounts driving slight rise in new car registrations
October’s new car market grew by 14.3% to reach 153,529 registrations, 7.2% above pre-pandemic levels and marking the best performance for the month since 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The 15th month of consecutive growth was driven almost entirely by large fleet registrations, which grew 28.8% to reach 87,479 units. Private demand was stable at 62,915 … [Read more...]
We’re keeping our cars for longer
A survey finds that almost half of drivers (45%) are holding onto their cars for longer than usual because they are unsure whether to buy a petrol, diesel or electric car, rising to 56% of under 34s, compared to 36% of over 65s. The survey of 2,000 drivers carried out by Opinium on behalf of InsuretheGap.com also finds that just over two fifths of drivers (42%) say that if they were buying a new … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Subaru Outback 2.5ES Touring
Subaru is a bit of a lone-wolf in the car world. Part of Fuji Heavy Industries and founded 70 years ago, it’s the brand’s golden anniversary in Britain next year after it launched with a compact and capable little estate car and pickup at prices which made hundreds of farmers and country-folk very happy. It also became a byword for British fans of the World Rally Championship in the 80s and 90s … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: KIA Ceed 2 1.5T-GDi
To some motoring journalists the Holy Grail of a range is the entry-level model of any series. Mentioned in price lists but rarely seen in showrooms or on the road, these starter models are often just a price point to get into a sector and destined to become the model of choice in daily rental fleets. Now, I had a former colleague who always bought the entry level model in a range he paid for … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: SEAT Leon Hatch 1.5TSI FR Sport
SEAT Leon has raised its game in the very competitive family car sector as the industry slowly pulls away from the Covid pandemic and components shortages. It was unfortunate timing for the comprehensively revised Leon to be announced three years ago to date and all the changes are only now really appreciated. The new-look SEAT Leon comes in six trim levels from just under £23,335 with a … [Read more...]
New car sales shrug off winter chill
Improving supply components and completed cars has seen another rise in registrations in February, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Sales in Wales rose the most in Britain with a 29.6% increase to 2,370 new cars. SMMT datum show 74,441 cars were registered last month – a 26.2 per cent rise on February 2022’s lower numbers but it was was down by just 6.5 per cent on … [Read more...]
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