The RAV4 mid-sized SUV was first introduced in 1994 and billed by Toyota as the first compact 4WD SUV. Since then there has been a continual supply of new and updated models and the latest major change is the introduction of petrol electric Hybrid two and four wheel drive versions. With the Hybrid’s 2.5-litre VVT-i variable valve timing petrol engine … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 February
Volkswagen is being sued by German fish distributor Deutsche See for misrepresenting a fleet of vehicles it leased as environmentally friendly. It’s the first major German customer to sue VW over its emissions-cheating scandal and Volkswagen already faces numerous lawsuits from individual owners, regulators, states and dealers, many of them in the form of … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 January
After four years at the top, Toyota has been overtaken by Volkswagen for the title of the world’s best selling group. Toyota was hit by falling US demand for its Camry while VW enjoyed booming Chinese sales which more than offset other losses due to the emissions controversy, but the Japanese group still turned in better profitability. Germany's motor … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota C-HR hybrid
Toyota took their time getting into the very fashionable and high selling compact SUV market sector leaving customers with just their hard-core RAV4 as the option, but now that's all changed, says David Miles. UK sales of what the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders call Dual Purpose vehicles, what we know as 4x4s/SUVs and including some Crossovers … [Read more...]
BMW & Toyota plans for plants
BMW will build its X1 SUV at a Dutch contract manufacturer that also produces some of the automaker's Mini models. The new X1 production will begin in August at the VDL Nedcar plant in Born, Netherlands, and global markets will be served from here and Regensburg, German plant. Meanwhile, Toyota will add 400 jobs to build more SUVs at one of its US … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 January
Despite all its diesel issues and bad publicity, Volkswagen ended 2016 as the world’s best selling group. It knocked Toyota from top spot and the merged Renault-Nissan company was third with Hyundai in fourth place, GM beat Ford followed by Honda and Fiat Chrysler and top marques were completed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and Suzuki. A South Korean court … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 December
The proposed joint venture EV platform underpinning next generation Nissan LEAF and Renault Zoe models will be used by Mitsubishi as well, says Japanese media. Mitsubishi was recently acquired by Nissan after it got into financial difficulties and has its own EV platform in the Outlander, so the future models to carry its tri-diamond badge are … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 December
Between £15,000 and £20,000 has been raised from the auction of old Aberystwyth street signs, which were replaced with Edwardian-style versions. About 150 people attended the auction at The Coliseum, Ceredigion Museum, as more than 200 signs went under the hammer this week. Network Rail believes it will take 28 years to get the Welsh rail system up to … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 November
Some previous generation versions of the Vauxhall Corsa are being recalled. The 1.4 Turbo versions run to 2767 built between 2006 and 2014 and it’s to inspect and modify the vacuum pump relay box which can catch fire if water gets in, as highlighted in a BBC Watchdog report this week. Almost half of firms (44%) believe the UK’s infrastructure has … [Read more...]
Status quo shouldn’t rock the boat
Japanese car markers want to maintain the current business environment and the alleviation of the impact of any radical changes so that the UK remains an attractive destination for doing business, says leading automotive economist Prof Garel Rhys. The “alleviation” includes Government compensation for any tariff imposed on its vehicles exported to the EU … [Read more...]
