Arnold Clark Fights Back from Christmas Cyber Attack
Scottish retail giant Arnold Clark was hit by a cyberattack in the days leading up to Christmas forcing it to close its network in the hope of limiting the damage. The company was warned of “suspicious activity” on its IT network by external cybersecurity experts, so it acted swiftly and decisively to close down all…
Con Artist Duped York Retailer for £15,000
Local media in York are reporting that a dealership was targeted by a serial fraudster who has been caught and has been sentenced for stealing £15,000 from a used car retailer. The York Press reports that David Paterson, aged 57, of Poulton le Flyde, Lancashire, formed a business relationship with the dealership, brokered the sale…
Stellantis to Make Aircraft
Stellantis has agreed to significantly expand its partnership with Archer Aviation by joining forces to manufacture Archer’s flagship electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight. Stellantis will work with Archer to stand up Archer’s recently announced manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia at which the companies plan to begin manufacturing the Midnight aircraft in 2024.…
British-Built Qashqai is UK’s 2022 Favourite
The Nissan Qashqai is officially the UK’s favourite car of 2022, and the first British-built model to top the annual sales charts for 24 years. Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders confirm that the home-grown Qashqai – which was designed in Paddington, engineered in Cranfield and is built in Sunderland…
BMW Shows Off Concept i Vision Dee
The BMW Group is sharing its vision of the future digital experience, both inside and outside the vehicle, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas. BMW i Vision Dee is the futuristic mid-size saloon with a new and pared-down design language. Apparently, the name “Dee” stands for Digital Emotional Experience. Future digital functions will go far beyond…
VW is UK’s Best-Selling New Car Brand
Volkswagen is officially the UK’s best-selling new car brand for the second year running, as confirmed by figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Despite the numerous challenges currently faced by the automotive industry, the breadth and depth of Volkswagen’s model range meant 131,850 new vehicles were registered in 2022,…
Apollo Tyres’ New UK Sales Manager
Apollo Tyres has appointed Shobhit Arora as its new Country Sales Manager for the UK. Arora has over 14 years of experience at Apollo Tyres, beginning his career as a Graduate Engineer Trainee for the company in India in 2008. Since then, he has worked across many areas of the business in India and Europe,…
SMMT Shows UK Car Industry in Number
The SMMT has put together a superb graphic that shows the current state of the UK car industry, from manufacturers to retailers and beyond. For instance, did you know that this proud sector contributes £67 billion in turnover to the UK economy? That 30 manufacturers make more than 70 models in the UK? Or that…
Stellantis Facing Serious Criticism from Dealers
News is coming at us from all directions that Stellantis franchisees have accused the manufacturer of influencing the market by allegedly building up its pre-registrations even though it can’t deliver newly-ordered vehicles. One Stellantis franchisee reportedly told AM: “If Stellantis were just able to let people know when their cars would come then the issue might…
Major Rise in Profits for Hendy
Hendy Group’s 2021 financial results have shown a serious rise in profits for the South Coast-based car retail group, with a 58.1% rise in pre-tax profits of £17.5m on a 27.2% increase in turnover to £931m. Profits for the previous year were £11.1m. Bosses are hailing ‘a great result in turbulent market conditions’. It is…
Ho ho…no. Five Reasons to Not Drive at Christmas
We know ‘tis the season to be jolly’ but there are usually one or two festive events you want to dodge over Christmas. Whether it’s your Great Aunt’s best friend’s Christmas buffet or grabbing drinks with an ex-work colleague, we all need one, or two, believable excuses to escape unwanted plans. Using its extensive automotive knowledge, Jardine…
Hennessey Joins H.R. Owen Line-up
H.R. Owen has added Hennessey to its line-up of the world’s most sought-after luxury and performance car partners, becoming the sole UK retailer to Hennessey, H.R. Owen has added Hennessey to its line-up of the world’s most sought-after luxury and performance car partners, becoming the sole UK retailer to the Hennessey range, including the Venom F5 Coupe and…
2022 Aston Martin Vantage with 213 Miles on Clock
The Collecting Cars online auction is selling a stunning 2022 Aston Martin Vantage that is basically as new, and is (at the time of writing) taking bids for just over £120 grand. The thing is, this beauty only has 213 miles on its clock. Number 231 of the 333 units produced, it boasts a twin-turbocharged…
Consumer Car Finance Volumes Up 4%
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer car finance new business volumes grew in October 2022 by 4% compared with the same month in 2021. The corresponding value of new business increased by 9% over the same period. In the ten months to October 2022, new business volumes…
Cazoo Bids Adios to Spain
After pulling out of Italy, Cazoo has now sold its Spanish subscription business Swipcar in a move that strengthens rumours that the market disruptor is looking to re-focus on its UK market having suffered serious losses across the board. It’s only a year since Cazoo stumped up €30m for the Spanish concern – we don’t…
Peugeot’s ‘Reveal’ of New Inception
Ahead of the full reveal, Peugeot is giving a sneak preview of the new Peugeot Inception, due for launch in the New Year. They are very, very excited about it. The pity is we can only show you these little bits. Like us, you’ll have to wait for the real deal until next year.
Want to Buy Guy Martin’s TT Bike?
The first Silverstone Auctions Motorcycle Sale of 2023, on February 18 at the MCN London Motorcycle Show will offer the chance to buy some superb race bikes with fascinating provenance – including the one Guy Martin rode in the TT. Guy Martin is most famous for his TT success and is a British TV celebrity…
Warning: Dealer Dragged into Scam by Crooks
We’re hearing reports that highly-respected Scottish used car dealer Jim Reid Vehicle Sales has unwittingly been dragged into the fall out of a car sales scam – which serves as a warning to dealers up and down the land. The crooks are said to have falsely claimed they were based at the Jim Reid outlet…
Hyundai’s 25,000 Kids Are Off to School
Hyundai is investing £1M into sending 25,000 pupils on school trips across the UK over the next academic year. A study involving 2,000 teachers and parents across the UK and commissioned by Hyundai, has revealed that school trips remain on the decline with the cost of travel, parents not being able to afford to cover…
Citroen Smashes into Dealership Showroom
So you spend top dollar on a showroom refurb; everything is set for the grand re-openingl then someone in a Citroen crashes through your plate glass window. Did you see the footage of the car smashing into the Sandicliffe’s MG showroom in Loughborough? Glass and car parts flying everywhere! Thank goodness nobody was hurt! Two…
UK’s Worst Drink Driving Regions
The areas of the country where revellers could be most likely to indulge in the wrong kind of Christmas spirit this festive season, by drink-driving, have been revealed by IAM RoadSmart. The UK’s leading independent road safety charity commissioned a survey which asked 1,004 motorists about the maximum number of alcohol units they would have…
Ford Opens Agency Model Door
The chairman of Ford of Britain, Tim Slatter, has been talking up the chances of Ford rolling out some form of the agency model of dealership in this country. Speaking to Car Dealer mag, Slatter did not say when this would happen, but clarified that it is going to happen, not least because Ford wants to…
Apple on Hold For Now
The much-heralded, long-awaited self-driving Apple car has been delayed, prompting a dip in Apple’s share value. The ambitious self-driving EV will now not be launched on the previously-announced 2026 date, it is being widely reported. Apple’s Project Titan has been the subject of much speculation for the last few years but now it seems it’s…
The Mighty Golf GTi Rides Again
The Mighty Volkswagen Golf is set to live on into a ninth generation as an EV it has been confirmed at the LA Motor Show. Although it was tipped to retire later this decade, the Golf in general and specifically the GTi will see a fresh lease of life, confirmed VW boss Thomas Schafer. This means the…
Would You Give Tyres for Christmas?
They may not be the most romantic gift you can think of, but road safety charity TyreSafe, is campaigning for the public to give the gift of tyre safety this Christmas, as the UK enters a ‘frugal festive period’ in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. The charity is using the Christmas period to encourage…
Porsche Named Least Reliable Marque
Porsche has been named the most unreliable marque according to Warrantywise. Joining it is a range of premium luxury passenger car makers; proving that despite a high price tag, even for a used car, luxury cars could also cost owners more in the long run. Analysing over 131,000 extended car warranty plans, the Reliability Index…
Skoda Names the Prices
Skoda has confirmed final UK specifications and pricing for the SUV version of its Enyaq iV vRS – the second all-electric model to wear the brand’s iconic vRS badge. Available to order from 17 January 2023, the Enyaq iV vRS follows in the wheel tracks of the Enyaq COUPÉ iV vRS launched earlier this year,…
MG5 EV Gets carwow’s Vote
MG, the fastest-growing brand in the UK, has only gone and got the Winner’s podium for its MG5 EV at the carwow Buy It awards, as part of their annual honours celebrating the best cars tested this year. carwow, the well-known online new and used car buying platform, announced the MG5 EV as a winner, commenting that…
Ford Pumps Up EV Volume at Halewood
Building on its commitment to grow an all-electric vehicle range, Ford has invested a further £125 million in its Halewood Plant, on Merseyside – increasing capacity by 70 per cent – plus £24 million in the supporting E:PRiME product development centre. Today’s announcement takes total investment in enabling Halewood’s transformation to an EV component plant…
Maserati Adds to Network
Maserati, that most understated of Italian icons, plans to launch multiple new models in the UK, as well as its new electric ‘Folgore’ (‘lightning’ in Italian) range. So it’s timely that it has also added to its UK retailer network with the appointment of Hendy Group to serve the South and South West regions. Where?…
Ben Benefits from Industry Leaders’ Climb
A team of 15 automotive industry leaders have just returned victorious from the summit of Kilimanjaro, having raised almost £200,000 for automotive industry charity, Ben to date. There is still further to climb to reach the £300,000 fundraising target, so Ben is now calling for final donations. Last week, Ben’s intrepid explorers took on a gruelling…
Oi!! Turn it Down!!
The boffins at IAM Roadsmart are saying that motorists who listen to music while driving could be disrupting the harmony on Britain’s roads. Er…isn’t that all of us? A survey of 1,004 motorists, commissioned by the road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has revealed that two-thirds (69 per cent) of motorists believe that having loud music…
Ombudsman’s Star Award Winner: Roadside in N. Ireland
Roadside (Garages) Kia Coleraine, located in Northern Ireland, has won the top prize in the 2022 Star Awards, run by The Motor Ombudsman. The dealership was awarded the National Garage Star trophy in the Awards, with the four-strong judging panel unanimously agreeing the County Londonderry dealer was also the worthy recipient for the regional trophy.…
Stellantis Sidelines Agency Plans – What Next for Agency Model?
Apparently Stellantis has kicked the agency can way on down the road. Apparently its plans to change the way it works with dealers is on hold. Apparently its having second thoughts. So what now? This was meant to be one of the agency model flagships for Alfa Romeo, DS Automobiles and other brands, and dealers…
Line Up for Your Lotus Factory Collection
Customer collections of the Lotus Emira from the Hethel factory where it’s built have now begun. The first recipient, Shaan Kodituwakku, travelled from his home in Edinburgh to pick up his V6 First Edition finished in stunning Hethel Yellow. Factory Collection is an option for all Emira customers in the UK, and can be specified…
Finance Demand Stays High Despite Interest Rates
Demand for car finance is still pretty strong despite interest rates going up, up up. Auto Trader is reporting that engagement is up 46% on pre-pandemic levels. Bearing in mind the entire country is in the financial mire, that’s a pretty impressive figure. The figures are coming from Auto Trader’s own platform, which it reckons…
Wiesmann’s ‘Project Thunderball’: World’s First Convertible Roadster EV?
Wiesmann, the German luxury sports car marque, has revealed technical details of its all-electric vehicle codenamed Project Thunderball – which it claims is the world’s first electric convertible roadster. The two-seater, rear-wheel drive Project Thunderball sees twin electric rear-mid mounted motors delivering up to 500kW (680hp) to the rear wheels and 1100 Nm of…
Cars Most Likely to Pass (and Fail) MOTs
Go Compare has come up with a cracking piece of research, showing which brands are more likely to pass and fail an MOT test. It makes for interesting reading. As Go Compare say, we all love lour cars, whether it’s our first runaround, or a rust bucket that you start with your fingers crossed –…
Motorvogue Moves Into Bury St Edmunds
Motorvogue is reportedly adding Peugeot to its offer in Bury St Edmunds and is said to be ploughing £2 million into a showroom revamp. This has thrown up some consternation over the existing Peugeot outlet in the town, where the Desira Group has been representing the Stellantis brand. The Northampton-based Motorvogue is very much on the…
Arnold Clark Plans Four Auction Centres
Despite low stock across the entire industry it is being reported by AM that Arnold Clark plans to open four new used car auction centres in 2023. It’s a bold statement of intent. It seems a natural move for Arnold Clark, having previously bought Glasgow’s Central Car Auctions and the focus on its Sell My…
Abarth’s New EV
Abarth is debuting the fully electric New Abarth 500e which it claims is the most responsive and exciting Abarth in urban driving and the fastest and most enjoyable in suburban driving, claiming that the electric architecture performs better than petrol thanks to an improved weight distribution, better torque, and a wider wheelbase. Olivier Francois, Fiat and…
Automobili Pininfarina Breaks EV Acceleration Record
Luxury Italian carmaker Automobili Pininfarina has confirmed the Battista hyper GT’s performance credentials by revealing its record-breaking official acceleration and braking figures for the first time. The pure-electric Battista’s unique launch control technology contributes to Formula 1 car-beating acceleration, with 0-60 mph achieved in 1.79s, 0-100 km/h completed in 1.86s, 0-120 mph executed in 4.49s…
Livingstone Motors’ Pre-Christmas Staff Gifts
Hull-based Livingstone Motor Group has handed out pre-Christmas gifts to its entire workforce of 21, with MD Andrew Iveson playing Santa with Amazon vouchers for all. Speaking to AM, Iveson said it was “morally right” to thank staff in this way, not least when we’re heading for an expensive time of the year. Everyone at…
IMI: Record Job Vacancies Drives Up Wages
The latest Automotive Job Postings Briefing from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has found that the recent 20-year high vacancy rate has led to increased demand and greater salaries on offer. The current vacancy rate (number of vacancies per 100 employees) for Motor Trades is 3.8, representing 20,000 vacancies – slightly below the national rate…
Posh Cars = Major Profits
HR Owen, car dealer to the rich and famous, has reported pre-tax profits of £15.6m in the last year. Well known (and respected) for selling everything from Rollers to Aston Martins. The group turned over £536m last year. That’s from a total of 17 dealerships and 16 aftersales sites across England. Considering the fact that…
Perrys’ Subscription Service Launches
It looks increasingly as though the UK car retail industry is seeing subscription as the way forward, or at least as a central plank to getting the customer into the vehicle. News comes in that Perrys Motor Sales is launching an online vehicle subscription via a partnership with Karzoom, with the arrival of the new…
Market Update: Is Vertu Motors Buying Helston Garages?
We’re seeing reports that Vertu Motors is in talks with Helston Garages. If the deal goes through then Vertu adds both Ferrari and Porsche brands to the Vertu franchises. The report come via Vertu’s own announcement earlier this week: ‘Vertu Motors confirms that it is in advanced discussions regarding the potential acquisition of Helston Garages…
EV Charging: Where Can You Get It and Where Can’t You?
The UK local authorities that have recorded the highest percentage growth in public charging provision per 100,000 people have been named. Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire has been identified as the best performing local authority, according to new research by Citroën UK. Analysing the number of public chargers per 100,000 residents across the UK, Citroën found…
SMMT Q3 Report: Used Car Sales Down, EVs Up
The UK’s used car market fell for the second consecutive quarter this year, declining -12.2% over the three months of July to September, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Some 1,785,447 vehicles changed hands, the first time that quarter three transactions have dipped below two…
Vote For Your Top Tuned Motor
The Performance and Tuning Car Show is searching for the UK’s Top Tuned Car with the opportunity for the winners to display their cars at the event, held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), from 14th to 15th January 2023. To celebrate the world of car customisation, the Performance and Tuning Car Show is searching…
RAC Dealers and G3 Cosy Up
RAC’s Dealer Network has hooked up with vehicle auction specialist G3 Remarketing to give members access to G3’s physical sales and new technology products, set to result in a series of auctions in Yorkshire next year. RAC dealers will have access to special offers on buyers’ fees as well as to G3’s new valuation and…
Hydrogen is Where It’s at for EVs
We’ve been saying for ages that, in the long run, hydrogen will beat electric charging hands down thanks to H2’s far faster refuelling time and undisputed long range capabilities. But, yes, we also know that green hydrogen in volume is some way off so EV charging will have to do for now. But the UK…
Give Us a Smile, You’re on Camera!
Abarth,has become the first manufacturer to trial facial recognition technology to understand the emotions people experience when driving (and being passenger) in an Arbath car. An interesting concept, but we don’t quite know why they’re doing it. Working in partnership with the world-renowned Loughborough University, Abarth carried out the experiment to discover the differing emotions…
Calm Down, the Ford Race-Ready Raptor Isn’t for You
Ford’s Next-Generation Ranger Raptor will be its latest off-roading vehicle to tackle the SCORE International Baja 1000 – one of the toughest off-road races in the world – racing on a low-carbon biofuel, demonstrating the potential of these fuels in the most demanding environments. It looks fantastic. But you can’t have one as the race-prepped…
Lotus – On the Button with Fittipaldi
Two of the most famous names in Formula 1 have been behind the wheel of the stunning Lotus Evija all-electric hypercar during one amazing week at Hethel. Emerson Fittipaldi is the Lotus legend whose racing success in the Type 72 exactly 50 years ago has inspired development of the Lotus Evija Fittialdi. He was at…
Dubai Buyers for West Way Nissan
Dubai-based retailer AW Rostamani Group is the buyer for the nine West Way car retail sites recently put on the market by Nissan Motors GB. This is part of Nissan’s divestment plans – Glyn Hopkin and Hendy have already tucked in to other parts of the business. But the AW Rostamani Group purchase is…
A Third of Young Drivers Sideline Repairs
More than a third of drivers aged 17 to 24 (37%) are putting off necessary repairs to their vehicles in an attempt to cut their outgoings as the cost-of-living crisis bites, research from the 2022 RAC Report on Motoring has found. Nearly a fifth of young people (16%) say they are delaying getting major repairs made –…
Where Now for British Volt?
It wasn’t too long ago that we were heralding the battery firm British Volt and its planned £3.8bn gigafactory plant in the North East. Now it is struggling and required a five week reprieve from an anonymous source, injecting funds to hopefully underpin future stability. But all is not well. We’re hearing that employees have…
Ebay: Used Car Prices Up Again
Ebay is reporting that used car retail prices have gone up for the third month in a row in October, this time by 2% month-on-month. The report reckons that franchised dealers’ sales are up 2.5% and that car supermarkets have risen 2.1%. Lower down, because they carry often older stock, independents enjoyed a rise of…
Joe Wicks Walks With Mini
The Body Coach, aka Joe Wicks MBE, is back on the road with Mini as he launches Walk with Joe – a new campaign powered by Big Love and supported by parkrun. Over the first two weekends in November, the nation’s favourite P.E. teacher invites you to join him as he leads a series of…
First Hummer EV Arrives
High-performance and luxury car specialist Clive Sutton has brought the first GMC Hummer EV Pickup to the UK. The fully-electric truck pairs more than 350 miles of zero-emission range with blistering supertruck performance. With 1,000hp and 1,200lb-ft torque the electric Hummer can hit 60mph in just 3.3 seconds, making it supercar fast while boasting expansive…
YouGov Study: Buy Online or in Dealership?
YouGov has conducted a major study looking at whether car buyers prefer to buy online or from a dealership. The survey recognises that three in five global consumers would rather buy groceries in-person (60%) than online, more than half of respondents say the same about clothes and vehicles (52% each). Video games (10%), travel services…
Isuzu Dealer Team Raises £15k for Macmillan
A valiant team of 15 employees from Hunt Forest Group, an Isuzu dealer with showrooms in Blashford, Chilbolton and Isle of Wight, have successfully completed a 26-mile hike as a fundraising incentive, generating over £15,000 in donations for Macmillan Cancer Support. Starting in Weymouth, the team of hikers traversed thirteen miles across the Jurassic Coast…
2015 Porsche Sells for £1.07 Million
A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder has just sold at Collecting Cars auction for a staggering £1.07 million. Yes, that’s over a mill for a 2015 Porsche. Really. OK, it’s a special model and in great nick, having only done 3,602 miles, but come on! What did the buyer get for that? A 4.6-litre V8, coupled…
Environmentally-focussed Car Comparison Website to Launch
Karfu.com is being launched later this year as a new way to guide consumers to the best vehicle or access option based on their needs, location, budget, preferences and their concern for their vehicle’s environmental impact. A waiting list is now open, supported by mobility news and content, ahead of Karfu’s planned launch of the comparison service later this year. As an impartial comparison website,…
First Look at Maserati GranCabrio
The funky new Maserati GranCabrio prototypes are now taking to the streets of Modena for the initial stages of development testing. The recent GranTurismo and now the GranCabrio are the brand’s first cars to adopt a 100% electric solution. Ahead of the launch of the new GranCabrio, expected next year, the prototype models are undergoing…
Warning Against Cheap Cars Offered by Criminals
You know the old saying ‘if it’s too good to be true then it’s not true’? Well here is a case in point. Criminal gangs are targeting UK car buyers by placing adverts for cheap used cars and then luring them in with the aim of a cash upfront payment before they disappear off the…
Ford Pies Off the Fiesta
So, the rumours are swirling around that Ford has finally had enough of the Fiesta and it will soon consign it to the breakers’ yard of eternity. At least this is what various reports are claiming. Can it be true? Will you miss the Ford Fiesta? After all, it has sold well over five million…
Rishi – Sort Things Out Pronto!
After the latest circus of chaos surrounding our beloved Government, poor old Rishi Sunak was left without a chair when the music stopped so he has to grasp the poisoned chalice that is the job of being Prime Minister. Poor bloke. The first thing he did when he got into No. 10 was to appoint…
At Last! The McLaren Christmas Gift Guide is Here!
Thank goodness. Just when we were starting to panic over what to get the family for Christmas, luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive has unveiled its 2022 gift guide just in time. This year, McLaren offers up some footwear, a travel collection and a model car. Yes, footwear. The APL McLaren HySpeedTM footwear collaboration is apparently a performance-focused collaboration…
Hyundai’s ‘Software Defined’ Vehicles
Hyundai Motor Group has committed to transform customer experience and deliver an unprecedented era of mobility via constantly evolving software technology including Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates for all models by 2025. Chung Kook Park, President and Head of R&D Division, Hyundai Motor Group, was speaking at Unlock, the ‘Software Age Global Forum’. He said: “By transforming…
Corsa is Carbuyer’s Best Used Car of the Year
Vauxhall’s Corsa has been awarded the prestigious Used Car of the Year by Carbuyer’s team of experts, with judges praising the Corsa for its practicality, low running costs and driving dynamics. All important assets for the real life car driver. It’s appropriate recognition for the Corsa, seen by many as ‘just right’ for their modest…
Peugeot 408 Opens for Business
Peugeot has opened the order books on its new 408 First Edition, although only a measly 50 units will be available to buy in the UK. What’s so special? Why such a limited run for us non-Europeans? The 408 First Edition comes with a plug-in hybrid 225hp powertrain and an enhanced spec based on the…
New 177 mph BMW M2
BMW is launching its formidable new £61,000 M2 early next year, which it says builds on its predecessor’s strengths. The six cylinder in-line engine, manual gearbox option, rear-wheel drive and advanced control/operating concept are going to get Beemer fans very excited. With a maximum output of 460hp – 90hp more than the original BMW M2…
Kia Subsidises Network’s Labour Rates
Kia UK has announced that it will help its dealer network’s aftersales departments by subsidising labour rates. The Kia Business Service Promise sees Kia pushing for more fleet service work by putting a cap on the hourly service labour rate for fleet customers at £49 + VAT, with Kia UK underpinning this discounted rate. Under the…
Jaguar Dealers Put Manufacturer Bottom
We never thought we’d be saying this, but according to Car Dealer Mag’s Car Dealer Power survey, Jag dealers don’t think that much of Jaguar. It’s true. Jag has finished 24th out of 24 manufacturers in the survey, 10 places down from last year. Oh dear. Dealers score their manufacturers across 13 categories to arrive…
Mini Soft-top is Coming Home
Good news for UK car manufacturing: the next-generation Mini Convertible is going to be built at the Oxford plant, BMW has said. But for the Oxford plant it’s a case of win some/lose some, as it will no longer be building the electric hatchbacks it currently makes, although the maker reckons those will come back…
Kia Scoops Record 5 Awards
Kia has had one hell of a week! It won five – yes five – accolades at the News UK Motor Awards, including for the all-new Sportage and Niro, which received two gongs each. The fifth trophy was for Kia overall, with the brand picking up the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award. Paul Philpott, President…
Falling £ Opens Doors to Overseas Investors
Automotive sector consultancy MHA has fuelled debate that the dismal performance of the pound, following the arrival of our new Prime Minister, throws the spotlight on potential investments into the UK car retail sector from overseas. Having already asked a few months ago if now is a good time to sell a Retail Car business?,…
Kia App Ups the Short-Term Rental Ante
Kia UK Limited has expanded its Kia Rental service, with a new digital app to streamline the car rental experience, paving the way for smart short-term car hire for hourly, daily and weekly hire periods. The app allows customers to view, book and manage rentals, as well as sign digital rental agreements – all with…
Government’s Surprise Plug-In Grant Extension
In a move some cite as a desperate bid for Liz Truss’s government to claw back some credibility – having totally banjaxed the economy in recent weeks – the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has extended the Plug-in Vehicle Grant delivery period. The OZEV reasoned that, due to on-going supply side constraints to semi-conductors,…
Only 15 New Audi R8 Coupes for UK Market
A mere twelve year after the first Audi R8 GT, Audi is launching the second edition of this exclusive super sports car: the new Audi R8 Coupé V10 GT RWD. Stand back. This is a 5.2-litre, naturally-aspirated V10 engine with an output of 620PS and a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for faster shifts. Here’s the…
Bonjour DS!
DS Automobiles has opened its order books for the New DS 7. With prices starting from £36,760 OTR, the refreshed New DS 7 is available in five trim levels, with deliveries commencing in November. DS reckon that French savoir-faire and craftmanship is tangible across the DS 7 range, coupled with the latest infotainment and safety…
Vertu Expansion ‘Anywhere, Any Time’
Look out for further growth from mega-dealer Vertu Motors after chief exec Robert Forrester was interviewed by AM saying they could grow “anywhere at any time”. This comes after Vertu posted improved profits for in its H1 results. The H1 update from the PLC that includes Vertu Motors, Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors showed…
Fancy Porsche 911 Cabriolet as an EV?
Everrati, which specialises in redefining automotive icons, has launched its electrified Porsche 911 (964) Wide Body Cabriolet model – which it says is the first of its kind in the world. Bringing together open-top zero-emission motoring with iconic design, Everrati say the 964 Wide Body Cabriolet is capable of delivering supercar levels of roof-down performance…
Sept Plate Change Sees New Car Market Up
The SMMT is reporting that the UK new car market recorded its second successive month of growth in September, with registrations rising 4.6%. After some motor trade experts questioned the ongoing relevance of the plate change, and during what is typically the second biggest month of the year for the sector, 225,269 cars joined Britain’s roads. While this was a 9,957 unit increase on last year, when the industry recorded its weakest September since…
Football Boot Recycling Scheme From Peugeot
Peugeot has joined forces with football boot brand Sokito to help launch the world’s first football boot recycling scheme, which began with a 2,000-mile journey to Italy transporting 400 pairs of football boots in Peugeot’s e-Expert electric van. With an estimated 12.5 million football boots across Europe and the USA ending up in landfill each…
Motorpoint’s Huge H1 Revenue Rise
Used car supermarket giant Motorpoint has enjoyed a 30% annual rise in H1 revenues, up to a huge £785 million. Much of this is down to it selling higher-end cars. On top of this, having just opened in Edinburgh, Motorpoint Coventry will be open for business later this month. Its statement confirmed that the company…
Hyundai Fastest-Growing Top 10 Make
The latest September UK car sales figures show that Hyundai to be the fastest growing top 10 manufacturer in the country for sales performance. Its market share now stands at 5.3% – its best ever performance – according to the latest new car registrations data released by the SMMT. This represents year-on-year growth of 21.1%. Ashley…
World’s Fastest EV Charger?
Power supply maker Zerova is set to unveil what it says will be the world’s fastest electric vehicle charger, with an output of up to 480kw of power. It will also be able to charge four cars at the same time and fully charge a vehicle in 10 minutes. The 4th Generation Four Gun Charger…
Cars and Books – The Perfect Match?
Porter Press is promoting what it claims as a genuine first in the automotive world – the Motoring Literary & Art Festival, taking place on 6 November at Whittlebury Park, the motorsport-themed hotel located ‘next door’ to the famous Silverstone race circuit. It sounds a bit posh for the likes of us oiks, but they’re…
Used Premium Brands ‘Unreliable’ – What Car?
A new What Car? study reveals that the mighty Land Rover Discovery is the most unreliable used car. With around 25,000 car owners participating, this is one of the UK’s most thorough surveys of used cars’ reputations and the top brands do not come out of it well. The What Car? Reliability Survey found that…
Motorpoint Opens in Edinburgh
Motorpoint – the UK’s largest independent retailer of nearly new cars and vans – has pulled together a huge stock of 400 of the vehicles most in demand by Edinburgh drivers as it opens its doors today. Despite a nationwide shortage of new and nearly new vehicles, the Motorpoint team in Edinburgh has worked tirelessly…
Maserati Store…With Wine
Maserati has unveiled its new global retail store concept. As you might expect, there’s a lot of old cobblers being talked about what is essentially a posh car showroom. But it will have wine available. Don’t get us wrong, it’s very impressive. It’s also in Milan, so it’s classy. But please read and enjoy these…
Keep ICE Cars After 2030?
Fuel card comparison website iCompario has issued a study claiming that around two thirds of UK motorists oppose the planned phasing out of selling petrol and diesel cars after 2030. Can that really be true? If so, we’re amazed. Apparently, over 80% of drivers over the age of 55 reckon they can’t afford to switch. …
Fisker EV – Can It Really Do 2,000 Miles?
Fisker reports that 95 prototype Fisker Oceans have already rolled off partner Magna Steyr’s production system. What we like about this EV is the fact its roof looks almost entirely made of PVs. What is perhaps more interesting is that, in the right sunny conditions, Fisker reckons the Ocean could well achieve 2,000 miles…but that’s…
Government Mini Budget – Fallout Continues
Although many industry experts were quick to welcome some of the smaller details in the Chancellor’s ‘budget that was not a budget’ last week, it seems that the wider and longer-lasting impact is still only starting to be felt by individuals and businesses alike. With an unprecedented intervention by the Bank of England (which Liz…
Rutting Deers Warning to Drivers
Stop sniggering at the back, this is serious. It seems that the friskier deers get during their rutting season, the more prone they are to wandering in a blissed-out, post-coital state onto a road and getting hit by a car. So road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is advising drivers to take extra care in…
Mystery Over Tesla’s Berlin Factory
The future of Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg – which the company heralded as its first manufacturing location in Europe and its most advanced, sustainable and efficient facility yet – is today shrouded in doubt with rumours that construction on the site has come to a halt. Media around the world carried the story that work was…
Mazda MX-5 Enters Guinness Book of Records
So this is what you have to do to get a prestigious entry into the Guinness Book of Records. Get a load of people together with the same model car and parade around somewhere famous. It could be the Ford Anglia next week, but last week it was the Mazda MX-5. Held at Modena Circuit…