FOLLOW UP: CONTINENTAL FINED $107M FOR DIESELGATE

Continental, the automotive parts supplier, has been fined €100 million for its part in the dieselgate scandal. The fine was such due to the full cooperation of the company and changes they have subsequently made to their compliance structures. There are six weeks for Continental to pay the fine. Click this Reuters article for more information.

STELLANTIS LASHES OUT AT EV MANDATES

Carlos Tavares criticises the current UK EV mandates as “terrible”. He has met with the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, to discuss the situation and suggest alterations that will make it more workable for the industry. We are finding out that you cannot just manufacture demand, when reviewing the monthly SMMT registration figures. You can read more, via a Peter Campbell thread here. For another article, click here to view an Autocar article.

LOTUS CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER IS LEAVING

Mike Johnson, who is the chief commercial officer of Lotus and the public facing executive for the brand, will be leaving the company after only 18 months in role. He is said to be staying in automotive, but we will have to wait to find out where and when. If you wish to read more on this, click the Autocar article link here.

RANSWOMWARE ATTACK IMPACTS STREET LIGHTS

A ransomware attack on Leicester City Council has led street lights to “misbehave”. This should cause great concern as more and more systems are linked and accessible remotely. Hopefully, more important and safety critical systems are being looked at across the country so there is not a serious impact from such incidents. Click this BitDefender story link here, to read more.

MERCEDES EACTROS 600 CHARGES AT 1MW

Mercedes-Benz are preparing for the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), that is due to be finalised in 2025, and have successfully charged an eActros 600 prototype at 1MW for the first time. Not details were given on how long the vehicle charged or even how long at 1MW. You can read more, by clicking this electrive article link here.

VW WORKERS IN US VOTE TO UNIONISE

For the first time, the US car workers union, UAW, has been voted for by workers in Tennessee at a Volkswagen plant. The south of America has attracted manufacturing plants due to previous anti union sentiments, but this seems to be changing. You can find out more, by clicking this article link from The Autopian.

SAMSUNG TEASES FASTER CHARGING LONG LIFE BATTERY

At the 37th Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exposition, in Seoul, Samsung revealed that they will start production of a new electric vehicle batteries that will charge to 80% in nine minutes and some will last 20 years. The plan is for production to start in 2026, but it being fitted to cars in 2029. That’s all a little way off, hopefully this isn’t like solid state batteries and just far enough ahead for us to forget the last date that was declared. Click this article link from The Register for more.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Vauxhall Grandland

Vauxhall have redesigned their range topping SUV, the Grandland, making it bigger thanks to the STLA Medium platform. There will be a mild hybrid, a PHEV and full EV versions. The maximum potential range will be 435 miles, for the top EV spec. If you wish to learn more including estimates for prices, click this Autocar link here.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class electric

Mercedes have created an electric version of the long running G-Class model. Visually it is almost identical to the recent refresh, but has been apparently redesigned to increase aero efficiency. There are four electric motors, one for each wheel, to enable it to have excellent off road ability too. Maximum estimate of range is 292 miles. No confirmation of pricing has been revealed. Click this Autocar link to learn more.

Lamborghini Urus SE

Lamborghini have electrified the Urus, with the SE being a PHEV. That equates to 800hp and a maximum estimated electric only range of 37 miles. The looks have been tweaked to increase aero efficiency. Prices have been guessed to be above £209,000. You can read more, by clicking this Motoring Research article link, here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: KABAN JOINS SAIC

Jozef Kaban has been revealed as the vice president of design for SAIC, the Chinese car company that owns MG. He was last at VW until the shake up of the design team early last year. If you want to find out more, click this link to a Car Design News article.

LUNCHTIME READ: ESTATE CAR EUPHEMISMS

Keith WR Jones has a new site, The Joy of Specs, on which he has written about estate cars and how they have been named over the years. Click this link to enjoy this week’s recommendation.

LIST OF THE WEEK: FORGOTTEN CARS OF THE 1980S

The options to pick from this week are US cars that have been forgotten. This includes models we will know but were renamed for that market. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Let us know and if not what you would pick instead. Click this Autocar link to check out the options.

AND FINALLY: ITS GRIPPED ITS SORTED LET’S OFFROAD

In honour of Alan finishing his Land Cruiser RC, we are rounding out the show with a compilation of the best radio controlled rock crawlers. Click this YouTube link to enjoy the video.

FOLLOW UP: WALES TO CHANGE SOME ROADS BACK TO 30MPH

Ken Skates, the Welsh Government Transport Secretary, has announced that some of the road limits recently changed from 30mph to 20mph, will now revert back to the original limit. This is an acknowledgement that the implementation of the reduced road speeds has not been as carefully executed as should have occured. If you wish to learn more about this story, click this BBC News article link here.

UK GOVERNMENT RULES OUT GRANTS FOR EVS

The UK Government has reiterated that it will not be providing incentives for private buyers seeking an EV. This follows calls from the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee’s Electric Vehicles report, which recommended several actions. Click this Autocar article link, to read more.

BIT OF A WEEK FOR TESLA

Tesla have decided to step up to the plate of not having the best week imaginable. Firstly, they announced the sacking of over 10% of the global workforce, as one step to deal with their declining sales. You can learn more about that, by clicking this Reuters article link here.

Secondly, the company has quickly recalled all Cybertrucks following the news that the accelerator pedal cover can become loose and potentially cause the pedal to be jammed down. We applaud Tesla for quickly reacting to this news, though. To read more, click this article link from The Verge.

Finally, the company announced a new raft of price cuts to it’s models. Reminding all fleet operators why they will not be buying Teslas in the future, where dependency on value is a must. Click this article link from The Guardian for more.

JLR 2023 SALES UP

Now that JLR can get its hands on parts, once again, it has increased its sales in 2023 by 22%. Much of that was from the Defender, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. However, there is also good news for Jaguar as its sales are up too. If you wish to find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

JLR UNVEILS ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTION

JLR, in partnership with Alley Energy, has revealed their portable Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which incorporates used PHEV batteries from Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports. Click this press release from JLR to learn more, including how they propose to use it.

VW WORKERS IN US VOTE TO UNIONISE

For the first time, the US car workers union, UAW, has been voted for by workers in Tennessee at a Volkswagen plant. The south of America has attracted manufacturing plants due to previous anti union sentiments, but this seems to be changing. You can find out more, by clicking this article link from The Autopian.

VW IN COURT OVER ID NAME

A former supplier to Volkswagen, Identytec, has given up trying to reach an agreement on VW’s use of the name ‘ID’ and is taking the car company to court. Identytec were using the trademarked name for years before Volkswagen moved to trademark it for their cars. Click this article link from electrive to read more.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Citroën C3 Aircross

Citroën has revealed their new C3 Aircross SUV that will come in electric and hybrid variants. Using the design language first shown to us via the Oli concept. This utilises the ‘smart car’ Stellantis platform, as well as sharing various body panels with other brands across the group. Click this Top Gear article link to read more.

Vauxhall Frontera

Talking of sharing panels, the Frontera is back for Vauxhall. This time using the ‘smart car’ platform and some panels that the C3 Aircross also uses. As with the C3, it will come as electric and hybrid.Expect to see it everywhere a Vauxhall dealership is based, soon. You can read more by clicking this link to an Autocar article, here.

Mazda CX-80

Mazda reveal their new range topping, 7-seat SUV, the CX-80. With an excellent towing capacity it will compete with the Volvo XC-90 and Kia Sorento. As a consequence there will be a diesel engine option. If this appeals and you wish to learn more, click here for an article from Autocar.

LEVC L380

The makers of the London Cab reveal their first ‘car’ for the UK market, a luxury MPV labelled the L380. There will be various seating configurations and it will be a electric powered vehicle. Another entry to the luxury MPV market. Click this article link to learn more, from AMOnline.

Audi S3

Audi say they have freshened up the new S3, but that is really hard to tell from the pictures. More power, more tech, the interior has been revamped (yes, we can spot that in the pictures). You can read more by clicking this link to an EVO article.

Dacia to offer 7-year warranties

Dacia has announced that it is now offering 7 year warranties on their cars, including used ones, as long as they meet the criteria. This is a good thing and we hope more manufacturers start increasing their warranty time and mileage limits. If you wish to find out more, click this link to an Autocar article.

LUNCHTIME READ: WHAT CAR DESIGNERS DROVE TO IMPRESS

The Autopian has this week’s recommendation. Find out what designers brought to a car meet to impress each other. Click here to read the piece.

LIST OF THE WEEK: STYLISH COUPES OF THE RADWOOD ERA

Thank you, to Antony Ingram and Hagerty, for providing a worthy list after we have struggled in recent weeks. Now is your chance to pick the coupe of choice from the 90s and there are some excellent options. Don’t forget to let the chaps know what you’d go for, after you click this link to see for yourself.

AND FINALLY: EXPLOSIVE SLS DOORS IN ACTION

Ever wondered how you would get out of an overturned SLS? Wonder no more, here is a video demonstrating how Mercedes thought about that issue and their solution. Click this link to watch the YouTube video.

FOLLOW UP: BYD HELPED BY CHINESE GOVERNMENT

A report is claiming that BYD has received $3.7 billion, in funding from the Chinese Government, to help it to reach its dominating position. This is all part of the EU’s investigation into whether companies from the country have an unfair advantage thanks to state aid. Click this Yahoo Finance article link for more information.

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT SITE TO BE SOLD BY COUNCIL

The site of the ill-fated Britishvolt battery factory is to be sold by the local council, to a company that wishes to create a data centre, after the new ‘owners’ Recharge Industries, have still failed to pay the monies owning. If you wish to learn more, click this BBC News article link here.

WLTP DOES NOT REFLECT REAL WORLD USE REPORT FINDS

Two reports from the European Court of Auditors have shown that the testing regime, WLTP, results, do not come close to real-world usage on the public roads. Other conclusions have also been inferred by the investigation, however we would urge caution as not enough detail has been provided in how the data was calculated and if that was correct or even valid. But, there are now calls for the system to change, once again, at a time when the car industry is under enormous pressure from multiple vectors. You can read more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

2023 LOSSES FOR LOTUS

Lotus announced losses for 2023, of £594 million. Whilst this does sound a lot and quite scary, we must all remember the transformation that is undergoing the company right now. They are fundamentally changing how they do things and the cars they produce in an incredibly short period of time. For more detail, click this Autocar article link here.

BIT OF A WEEK FOR STELLANTIS

Stellantis, and in particular their CEO Carlos Taveres, had quite the last seven or so days. First off there was the public spat about the Italian Government trying to cosy up to foreign car companies, to encourage more manufacturing jobs in the country, which Taveres warned over such moves. You can read more, by clicking this link to a Reuters article.

That’s not all though, Taveres then had to fend off questions over which brand or brands the Stellantis Group were going to ditch. He refuted these claims as “fake news”. Click this Autocar article link for more.

You’ll have to wait till New New Car News for the third piece of Stellantis news.

VW INVESTING MORE IN CHINA

Volkswagen has announced that it will be investing $2.7 billion in a Chinese manufacturing site. This is quite odd, as only recently the “roof is on fire” speech from their CEO and huge cost-cutting efforts across the group. On top of which, there is ever increasing growth over concerns about workers rights and the likes at current and partner production facilities within China. If you want to read more, click this Reuters article link here.

STRICTER CO2 RULES FOR EU LORRIES AND BUSES

The EU has agreed to implement stricter rules on CO2 emissions, for lorries and buses. There are some exemptions. Click this electrive article link for more.

FUNDING FOR ELECTRIFYING LONDON BUSES

A part public and private financing scheme has created a fund of £100 million, to help electrify the buses of London. This includes the infrastructure and buses themselves. To find out more, click this Engineering and Technology Magazine link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Alfa Romeo Milano, erm, Junior, yes Junior

The third headache of the week for Stellantis was the row about the name for the new Alfa Romeo SUV. Launched under the name of Milano, an Italian member of parliament falsely claimed it couldn’t be named such as it wasn’t built there. Alfa confirmed they didn’t want a fight and have changed it to Junior.

This is another platform share within Stellantis, to keep costs down. Click this Autocar article link to find out the details.

Kia Sorento

Kia have updated their large SUV, the Sorento. A favourite of the towing fraternity, it will come with powertrains to ensure they are kept happy. You can read more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

Morgan Plus Four

Morgan have updated the Plus Four and minimised the design following the changes required in 2020 when they utilised a new platform. Click this link to an Autocar article, to find out what has changed and how good it looks in green!

Rimac to supply batteries to BMW

Rimac will supply the next generation of cars, from BMW, with their latest battery technology, that takes advantage of round cells. If you wish to find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

Lexus goes electrified only

The ICE only LC and RC F are being removed from sale, by Lexus. As we mourn the loss we encourage you to click this Autocar link here to find out more.

LUNCHTIME READ: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROADSIDE DINER

BBC News has an article about the timeline of Little Chef, a once stalwart of UK roads helping to refresh and refill hungry travellers, that disappeared some years ago. To read more about this icon of the road, click the link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 24 AMAZING MOMENTS FROM GOODWOOD MEMBERS’ MEETING

We are giving you two videos to check out and select you favourite clip from the 2024 Goodwood Members’ Meeting. First up, click this link here for the 13 Wildest Moments. For the 11 best moments of Sunday, click this link here.

AND FINALLY: PRIUS PHEV RACING SERIES

In South Korea a new racing series is about to begin, this one being a one-make series for the new Toyota Prius PHEV. You can learn more by clicking this link to an article from The Autopian, here.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT AND VOLVO GROUP PRESENT EV VAN JV

Flexis is the name of the joint-venture between Renault, the Volvo Group and transportation company CMA CGM, that will develop EV vans aimed at urban and last mile deliveries. This will fill the gap in both Renault and Volvo’s offerings to the commercial vehicle industry. For more information, click this Autocar link here.

TOYOTA UPDATES ON CAR THEFTS

Toyota GB has issues a statement regarding thefts of certain models and a fix that will be fitted by dealerships to affected vehicles. To read more on that, click this link here.

Friends of the show Ken Tindell and Ian Tabor found the vulnerability over a year ago. Ken has written a post on LinkedIn that we recommend you read. Particularly the last sentence, which we echo and hope the car industry improves communication with security researchers. Click here to read that piece.

MARCH 2024 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has issued the registration figures for March 2024. They are up on 2023 but still significantly down on 2019. Fleet is propping up what growth there is as Private is down again. On top of that, the BEV registrations grew in number but market share dropped causing SMMT to call, once again, on Government assistance for Private buyers. Click here to read the information from SMMT.

Also, the chaps want to thank the SMMT for changing the top ten model chart title to Best Models from Best Sellers, which they always grumbled about.

INVESTIGATION INTO HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS

The RAC has been calling on the Government to do something about the number of complaints regarding dazzling headlights. The response, following a petition to Parliament, is that the Government will seek to investigate the issue and then be in a better position to propose a reaction if it is required. You can read more about this, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SOFTWARE IS HARD

Developers in Australia has admitted defeat in trying to create software that would help vehicles avoid kangaroos. They state that the animals are too irrational to be able to do the job. If you wish to read more, click this Ars Technica article link here.

Meanwhile, Bentley, sounding like they are actually trying to be safety first, announce they will not be pursuing Level 3 automation. They will, instead, release a Level 2 ++ system. The chaps get quite cross about this. Click here to read the Carscoops article.

Andrew commented on this issue on LinkedIn, you can read that by clicking this link here.

TIME RUNNING OUT ON EV CHARGER GRANTS

An excellent article from EV Powered by Matt Allen breaks down all of the available grants for those looking to add EV chargers to their house, street, business or school. Included are links to the various Government pages to find out more and apply. Has to be noted that the funding ends in April 2025 so we need to move quickly to take advantage. Click this link to read more.

RIMAC ENERGY ARE CREATING MORE JOBS IN UK

Rimac Energy, who are part of the Rimac Technology group, have expanded their UK operations and will be adding 70 more jobs to their Oxfordshire site. They focus on static batteries that provide energy storage. This is a great way to reduce the pull on the grid and reduce the pressure on the entire system. If you wish to read more, click this link to an EV Powered article.

OSPREY CHARGING HITS NEW RECORD

The EV charging company Osprey Charging has announced they have installed their 1000th rapid charger. This is great news and hopefully the speed at which they have been working continues. Click this EV Powered article link here, to read more.

ARONLINE FINDS NEW HOME

AROnline, the home of information on the British motor industry including historical, has found a new home with the Great British Car Journey museum. They will be handling the backend and administration side of things, allowing founder and editor Keith Adams, to focus on the content. To ream more on this story, click this link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Renault Captur

Renault have revamped the Captur, giving it the new corporate face as well as tweak the rear. The company claims this will be more driver focused and nicer to drive. There will be a mix of hybrid and petrol powertrains. Prices start at £22,000 for the ICE version and £29,000 for the hybrid variant. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Vauxhall Mokka Electric Griffin

Vauxhall have removed £7,000 of cost to the entry price of the Mokka range with the special edition Griffin. However, like with the Corsa, they have not skimped on the specifications. Only the battery appears to be a bit compromised, with an estimated range of 205 miles. If you wish to learn more, click this Top Gear link here.

Last Smart Four-Two Made

The last Smart Fourtwo has come off the production line at the Hambach factory, with Geely taking over all Smart vehicle builds. The company is looking for a partner to help develop the next generation platform for the Fourtwo. To learn more about this, click the link here to an electrive article.

What Tesla needed to do if it really wanted to make the Model 2

Chris Miller, on Twitter, has a thread outlining the challenges for Tesla with the plans for the Model 2 and why they ended up coming to naught. Fascinating read, do click here to run through it yourself.

LUNCHTIME READ: MOTORING ART - ERICH STRENGER

Erich Strenger produced some truly fascinating posters for Porsche motorsport events between the 50s and 80s, which you can see and read about by clicking this link here thanks to Classic & Sports Car.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST AND WORST ECLIPSES

The chaps really struggled to find a List of the Week for the show and the best they could do was something related to the solar eclipse, the best and worst Mitsubishi Eclipses. Click here to run through the options that Jalopnik provide. If you spot any good lists, do send them Alan and Andrew’s way!

AND FINALLY: THE MUPPETS MOST WANTED

Yes the tiny car in Muppets Most Wanted actually worked. The Autopian explains its history, how they squeezed two adults and a huge bird puppet in it and more. Click here to see the insanity and silliness for yourself.

FOLLOW UP: LUCID RAISES $1B FROM SAUDI ARABIA

THe luxury EV maker, Lucid, has received a further $1 billion in investment, from the Saudi Arabian sovereign fund, Public Investment Fund. They also increased the number of vehicles they expect to produce in 2024 compared to 2023, still only 9,000 cars though. If you wish to learn more, click this link to a Reuters article.

FOLLOW UP: CANOO BUYS UP ARRIVAL EQUIPMENT

The bones of Arrival are being picked over as the administration team try to recoup as much money as possible by selling the assets off. Canoo has swooped in and bought a lot of equipment at bargain prices. Click this electrive article link to read more.

JLR NAME THREE BRAND DIRECTORS

JLR has named three new directors to head up the brands in the UK. Alan Nicholson takes the helm of Range Rover. Leonie Raistrick will be in charge of Defender and Discovery. Whilst Santino Pietrosanti will be brand director of Jaguar. Don’t forget to click this link, from AMOnline, to see even the directors are having to follow the dress code.

FCA QUESTIONS INSURANCE WRITE-OFF VALUATIONS

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has expressed its concern that insurers are not correctly valuing vehicles that have been written off or stolen. Taking from customers both top and bottom, nice. They has stated they will take steps and do have powers to do so if the industry doesn’t sort itself out. Click this AMOnline article link to read more.

For the article explaining the issue with Gap Insurance, click this AMOnline link here.

CAMPAIGN TO REGULATE THE CAR RETAIL INDUSTRY

Due to a “volume” of complaints, mainly around second hand car dealers and repair operations, the calls on the Government to regulate the car retail industry are getting louder. Recommendation includes a certification process, with minimum industry standards met. To read more, click this AMOnline article link here.

RESEARCH INTO BARRIERS TO EV TAKE UP

Research, on behalf of Transport for the North, has been published with a list of factors that are putting people off making the switch to electric vehicles. This is not a hit piece or anti-EV, but a list of real concerns from real people. A very interesting read. If you wish to learn more, click this TransportXtra article link here.

CONSULTATION OVER HYDROGEN FARM AND PLANT MACHINERY

The Department for Transport has opened a consultation on permitting hydrogen farm and plant machinery on the roads. To learn more, including the link to the consultation, click this Fleet News article link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Ford Explorer

Following an aborted launch, last year, Ford are now putting the electric SUV called Explorer on sale. Compliant batteries are now fitted. This is a handsome vehicle with impressive theoretical specifications and pricing. Click this Autocar article link here for more.

Toyota GR Yaris

A refreshed GR Yaris is about to be offered to the lucky few-ish. Thanks to inflation the price has jumped quite a bit, with tweaks to the engine, suspension and handling. Biggest shock is the dash with is visually challenging, but Toyota is claiming its now better and driver focused. To read more, click this Autocar link here.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The G-Class keep on being updated! This time Mercedes fit touchscreens and a hybrid powertrain. On top of that is a new camera which will allow for a ‘transparent bonnet’ view. You can find out more details and specifications by clicking this Autocar link here.

Genesis Neolun concept

Apparently previewing the look of the range topping EV, Genesis revealed the Neolun concept. Based on the same platform as the EV9, this is a large SUV which has a fabulous interior and technology fitted. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

Genesis Magma performance brand

Not content with luxury, Genesis will now also do performance. Welcome to the Magma brand. They will launch a GV60 Magma edition, but others were also revealed. Click this electrive article link here, for more.

Nissan revised business plan

Nissan has announced a revised business plan, called the Arc. They will be refreshing a bunch of existing models and bringing some new ones to market. They also discuss aspects of the business they should have, frankly, been doing long before now. The chaps are less than impressed. If you want to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Ford agency model u-turn

Ford has announced that it will not be moving to the agency retail model in Europe, as planned, thanks to market conditions changing. Clearly don’t want the financial risk of holding all the stock themselves. You can read more on this story by clicking this Autocar article link here.

Lamborghini’s new logo

Lamborghini is the latest company to reveal a new, flat, logo. This will more easily enable them to light it up from behind and retain detail. Click this Autocar link to chuckle at some of the corporate speak on what the changes mean.

LUNCHTIME READ: ASTON MARTIN TOUCH-SCREEN INDUCED ANGER METRIC

Designers at Aston Martin have created a metric to log how annoyed they are, or not, at using controls inside the car and especially around touchscreens. You can read this article by clicking the link here from The Drive.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE GREATEST CARS BY PININFARINA

There are 37 slides to try and select just one of Pininfarina’s cars as your favourite. An incredibly difficult task. Do let the chaps know if you agree with them and what you picked. Click here to see the options from Autocar.

AND FINALLY: IN PRAISE OF PUSHBUTTONS

Drew Smith, from the Looking Out podcast, has written about how the impending changes to physical controls, if a 5-star EuroNCAP rating is wanted, is a actually an opportunity. Will the car industry grasp it? Click this Car Design News article link to read about how physical interaction changes our feelings for a ‘thing’.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT VOLVO JV FOR EV VANS IS ON

Last week we discussed the Reuters article that stated Renault and Volvo will announce that their joint venture for electric vans will shut in early April. This turns out not to be the case. Thanks to Renault sources we can confirm the JV is still very much on. Click this article link from AMOnline to read more.

FOLLOW UP: FISKER TALKS WITH NISSAN BREAK DOWN

The electric car company Fisker, has had their shares suspended following a huge drop in price after news that talks with Nissan had ended. The terms for the extra funding from an existing investor were dependent also on these talks continuing. The expectation is for the company to announce bankruptcy very soon. You can read more by clicking this article link from TechCrunch.

FOLLOW UP: ASTON MARTIN NAME BENTLEY BOSS AS NEW CEO

Aston Martin name their next CEO, the boss of Bentley Adrian Hallmark. He has left the Crewe manufacturer with immediate effect and will start at Aston by the 1 October 2024. This will allow Amedeo Felisa to finally enjoy the retirement he was in before Stroll dragged him back into the automotive world. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

FOLLOW UP: MCLAREN OWNED BY BAHRAIN STATE FUND

The Bahrain sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat has converted shares from one form into ordinary shares thus taking the total shares in McLaren to 100%. This will make it easier for them to find a buyer, float the company on the stock market or create partnerships. For more to this story, click this Autocar link here.

FOLLOW UP: INVESTIGATION INTO CAR FINANCE EXPEDITED

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that the investigation into car financing practices between 2007 and 2021 will be expedited. However, this is dependent on the companies involved providing the information. The FCA hopes to state the next stages of this by September 2024. If you would like to read more, click this Motor Finance Online article link here.

To check out the MoneySavingExpert help guide to see if you are eligible to claim, click this link here.

FOLLOW UP: LUTON AIRPORT CAR PARK FIRE DUE TO DIESEL VEHICLE

A joint report from Bedfordshire Fire and Police services has been released, with the fact that the fire was due to a faulty diesel vehicle and had nothing to do with any electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Click this BBC News article link to read more.

LUNAZ GROUP CEASES ALL OPERATIONS

Lunaz Group, which under two different companies, retrofits classic cars and commercial vehicles, with electric powertrains, has called in the receivers as it “restructures”. All staff have been let go with immediate effect. You can read more by clicking this electrive article link here.

POTHOLE FUND IS NOT RING-FENCED

The Government’s latest pot hole fund was not ring-fenced, unlike the previous one, therefore councils across England have been using that money for other services that they feel are more of a priority. To find out more, click this Autocar article via the link here.

HOME EV CHARGE GRANT EXPANDED IN SCOPE

The Government has announced that the home charging EV grant will be expanded to include residents without off street parking or even an EV, but there is no extra money. Click this Autocar link here to read further on this story.

ADAS SAFETY IMPACT CALCULATED FAR LOWER THAN PROMISED

The VVT university in Finland has calculated the positive effect in reducing collisions and injuries of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in Europe by 2030. The EU’s aim is for a 50% reduction however the figures, which used the market penetration of the systems being fitted, combined with incident figures where the various systems might be deployed, show at best a 5.4% reduction with AEB. This does not take into account the technology actually working as hoped either. Click this Nordic Road and Transport Research article link here.

EU TO PERMIT HANDS-OFF EYES-ON DRIVER ASSISTANCE

Behind closed doors and exemption was granted for Ford’s BlueCruise and BMW’s driver assistance technology that allows hands-off eyes-on operation. We take the time to remind all why this is a dreadful idea. You can read more by clicking this European Transport Safety Council article link here.

RESEARCHERS SPOOF CURRENT AND NEXT GEN LIDAR

To round out all the good news for driver assistance and autonomous vehicles, we end the first part discussing how current and next gen LIDAR, the radar systems used currently with ADAS and autonomous vehicles being tested, can be spoofed and fooled. Wonderful. Click this article link from UC Irvine for more information.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Peugeot e-5008

Peugeot has revealed their next generation seven seater SUV, the e-5008, in electric only form, along with a mild hybrid and following a plug-in hybrid version. Compromises have been made to accompany the powertrains, with luggage space reducing. However, it is still quite close in dimensions, to the current version. Prices for the EV are expected to start at just under £50,000, which will make it the cheapest seven seater on the market. Click this Autocar article for more.

Callum eVita

Callum Design and Motability have worked together to produce an EV designed specifically for wheelchair users. Do click this link, from Autocar, to check out more details, as the thought which has gone into this is excellent. As you wold expect.

Seat back from the dead

After a stonking 2023, Seat has revived faith in the brand, from within the VW Group, meaning it will be given money to help it develop new models moving forward. Yep, we’re just as confused as you are. Who knows, maybe by next week this will all change? Click this Autocar article link to find out what the current plans are.

Bentley delays moving to EVs

Bentley are going to delay their first EV model until 2026, as it focuses on hybrids in the short term. We all need to remember that their market is not necessarily one that is rushing to electric only. On top of which, they are waiting on the Audi developed platform that has suffered from delays. To read more, click this Autocar link.

LUNCHTIME READ: MITSUBISHI FUSO CONCEPTS WERE FANTASTIC, FUTURISTIC AND FORGOTTEN HAULERS

Mitsubishi Fuso, in the 1980s, created some wonderful concept lorries with a host of clever design nuggets that are evident in today’s heavy goods vehicles. Click this Hagerty article link here to learn more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 WEIRDEST HOMOLOGATION SPECIALS EVER

The list of cars we have to pick from is wonderful, but so to are the stories behind them. Come for the pictures, stay for the words! Do not forget to tell the chaps if you agree with their choices or what you would have instead. Click this CarThrottle link here.

AND FINALLY: WHAT DOES A RENAULT SAFRANE SOUND LIKE

PetrolBlog has a video, letting us sample some of the voice notifications from the Renault Safrane, which are wonderful. Click this link to their article to find out more.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT AND VOLVO TO SHUT EV VAN PROJECT

Renault and Volvo will announce that their joint venture for electric vans will shut in early April. There is no detail on why this is. Click here for more information, via the Reuters article link.

UK GOVERNMENT PREPARES TRADE SANCTIONS ON CHINESE EVS

At a SMMT conference, the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said that the UK Government could impose sanctions to prevent the market being unfairly in favour of subsidised Chinese electric vehicles. If you wish to learn more, click this AMOnline article link here.

HONDA AND NISSAN SIGN MOU FOR EV DEVELOPMENT

Nissan and Honda have signed a memorandum of understanding, to investigate working together to speed up the development and production of competitive electric vehicles. They acknowledge that they are behind others, especially newer brands that have come to the market, purely focused on EVs. There are no details on what this partnership will entail. You can learn more by clicking this Reuters link here.

EU TO ALLOW 60 TONNE LORRIES ON THE ROADS

The EU, has voted to allow ‘mega-trucks’, which are a lorry and trailer combination of just over 25m long and a weight up to 60 tonnes, on the roads of the continent. On top of this, the European Commission wants all countries to ensure it is legal for 17 year olds to be able to drive a lorry. Click this European Transport Safety Council article to read more on these insane ideas.

POSSIBLE WIRELESS EV CHARGING BREAKTHROUGH

Researchers in the US have built a wireless charging system that is 96% efficient and eight to ten times more power dense than existing wireless chargers. The charger had a five inch gap to the vehicle. This is still early days but could mean we are a step closer to the roll out of wireless charging for all. If you wish to learn more, click this InsideEVs article link here.

JAGUAR CUTS OFF ACCESS TO SOME SMART CHARGING

Jaguar has informed owners of the I-Pace that some chargers will no longer have access to smart charging, thus the charging times cannot be controlled. This does not effect all home chargers though. JLR stated that this was due to security and privacy issues. Click this Autocar article link here to learn more.

FISKER AT RISK

Fisker, the US based EV maker, announced that it is in financial trouble, serious enough to make it public that it may have to go into receivership. The company had previously stated it was in trouble, but this announcement still came as a shock to many. If you wish to learn more, click this electrive article link here.

Late yesterday, news came out that the company has paused production, for six weeks, as it gains $150 million extra investment from an exisiting investor. However, there talks are, apparently, underway with a major car company about a bailout, still rumoured to be Nissan. Click this Autocar article for more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Skoda Epiq

Skoda revealed images of their sub £25,000 small electric SUV, the Epig. Marketed as an urban SUV, it is to share the ID.2 platform. Boot space is a respectable 490 litres, considering the overall size. Range is expected to be a maximum of about an impressive 249 miles, with charging time, via an optimal 125kW charger, for the 10-80% charged as low as 20 minutes - conditions allowing. You can learn more, via this Autocar article link here.

Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

Porsche, in a flex to other EV brands with ideas to speed and sportiness, have opened the order books for the Taycan Turbo GT. Starting at £186,300 you could opt for the no cost option of the Weissach Package, which removes stuff from your car to make it a bit quicker. WLTP range for the GT is a maximum of 345 miles, so this is not just all about the speed. If you wish to read more, click this article link from Motoring Research.

Maserati Grecale Folgore

Maserati reveal their competitor to the Porsche Macan EV and Audi Q6 E-tron. Prices start at £109,905, with a maximum range of 311 miles, charging from 20-80% in a bit less than thirty minutes. This is the first of six new EVs to come from the brand by the end of 2025. Click here to read more, via an Autocar article link.

UK Car of the Year Winner - Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 was the overall winner of the UK Car of the Year 2024 competition. 30 independent judges’s votes were tallied with the large Korean SUV coming out on top, ahead of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 in second and the Volvo EX30 in third. You can read more from the official UK Car of the Year article, linked here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: MARCELLO GANDINI HAS PASSED AWAY

One of the most prolific and influential car designers of all time, Marcello Gandini, has passed away at the age of 85. He has been responsible for some of the most famous cars and concepts that the car industry has produced.

Click here to read the wonderful tribute from Car Design News.

Click here to view his Wikipedia page, including a list of the cars he has been involved in.

Click this link to read a great piece from Michael Banovsky, about the Volvo Tundra.

LUNCHTIME READ: US REPORT ON AMBER TURN SIGNALS

In the United States cars do not have to be fitted with amber indicators, at the rear of cars, even in the face of many studies proving their safety improvements over red. The Autopian has read through the first report into who is using red and amber on their cars, in America. Click here to read more and see which European OEMs do not, bizarrely, fit amber.

LIST OF THE WEEK: MARCELLO GANDINI’S BEST DESIGNS

Autocar give us 51 slides, showcasing the work of Gandini. Do you agree with Alan and Andrew’s choices or what would you go for? Don’t forget to tell us. Click this link here to check out all the amazing cars.

AND FINALLY: HUBNUT’S RUSTIVAL 2024 VIDEO

The superbly attended Rustival 2024 car gathering took place recently. Formed by a group of YouTubers who pulled resources and efforts to make it happen, including HubNut. Click here to watch the lovely video and get a feel for what it was like. We will be trying our hardest to attend the next one.

FOLLOW UP: EU CONSIDERING RETROACTIVE TARIFFS ON CHINESE EVS

The investigation, by the European Union, into if China subsidises the homegrown EV makers has, within an interim report, stated there is enough evidence to show there is unfair assistance. On top of this, imports have increased 14% since the investigation began. The fear is, if the rate of increase continues it will cause harm to the European market before the official conclusions come to light. If you wish to learn more, click this link to a Reuters article here.

FOLLOW UP: VOLTA TRUCKS PRODUCTION TO BEGIN

Following the purchase of the bankrupt company, by Luxor Capital, news is released that they will restart production, in Austria, from May. The aim is for 500 vehicles to be made in 2024 and 2,000 in 2025. There are still questions about the batteries for the trucks after the previous supplier went into receivership and was bought by Volvo. Click here to read more, from electrive.

CHANCELLOR ACCUSED OF IGNORING THE CAR INDUSTRY

A large portion of the car industry convinced itself that the Government would offer any additional assistance to encourage the uptake of EVs, especially by private buyers. However, in last week’s budget announcement there was no additional help forthcoming. This caused an angry reaction, with many accusing the Government of ignoring the industry. For more on this story, including the background to it all, click this EVPowered article link.

EU DEMANDS BUTTONS RETURN TO CAR INTERIORS

The EU, via soon to be announced new EuroNCAP criteria, has stated that car interiors must have physical controls for certain functions of the car. There is also a drive to reduce the number of screens within cars. If you would like to read further on this story, click the link here to The Verge article.

FUEL PRICES ROCKET UPWARDS

Now we talk about the rise in fuel prices, which was by the highest for two years, off the back of Red Sea disruption and retailers looking to maximise their profits. Click this Autocar article to read more.

NISSAN ACCUSED OF UNDERPAYING SUPPLIERS IN JAPAN

The Japanese Fair Trade Commission has accused Nissan of underpaying their suppliers for two years, but warn it could be much longer. The amount is in the region of $20 million and if true, is a clear abuse of power. For more on this matter, click this Nikkei Asia article link here.

57 NEW ELECTRIC BUSES FOR LEEDS

First Bus has added 57 new electric busses to its fleet serving Leeds. Supplied by Wrightbus, who are providing a mix of double and single decker vehicles. Click this electrive article link to read more.

CAZOO PIVOTS TO ONLINE ADVERTISING

Cazoo is to sell off all its stock and no longer sell cars directly but become an online competitor to the likes of Autotrader. They will also appoint their third new CEO in five years. The last restructuring took place in December when they managed to reduce their debt to £200 million. More can be found out about this latest news, by clicking this AMOnline article link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Lotus Emeya

Lotus has now announced the pricing and specs of their EV GT, the Emeya. Starting at £94,950 for the standard version, rising to £129,950 for the top of the range R model. Utilising an 102kWh battery, which will allow if environmental conditions play ball a 10-80% charge of 18 minutes. Range will be up to 379 miles, unless you pick the R where it will be 301 due to increased performance. For more details, including quite silly 0-62mph times, click this EV Powered article link.

Jaguar C-X75 made road legal

Callum Design has taken the concept C-X75, which Jaguar showed off and appeared in the Bond movie Spectre, and made it road legal. A fair amount of engineering has gone into enabling the single car to pass the Individual Vehicle Approval and become legal to drive on the road. Click here to learn more, from an EVO article, including where it will be shown off to the public.

Jaguar ends non SUV production

The Jaguar Castle Bromwich plant will cease to produce any vehicles that are not SUVs from June 2024. The site will then be converted to enable the production of body panels for new models, yet to be confirmed. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Tata confirms battery factory location, but there’s a catch

Tata has officially announced the Bridgewater site to be the location of their battery factory, after Government financial assistance ensured the Indian company chose the UK. This was not much of a secret. You can read more on this by clicking this Autocar link here.

What has been kept quiet, until now, is that Somerset Council will have to take a loan out to pay for the infrastructure and training skills for this industrial project. Interesting move, considering how many services they (and other councils across the country) are having to cut as funding levels are targeted. Click this BBC News article for more.

LUNCHTIME READ: NEED FOR SWEDE

Top Gear have let Tom Ford out of the office again, therefore we get another slice of fascinating car culture, this time from Japan and Sweden. Enjoy as he discusses how old Volvos are finding an audience in the country and why. Click this link here to read and watch more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: SOME OF THE GREATEST 16-CYLINDER CARS EVER MADE

Once more, we point you to Top Gear, this time for a list of fabulous 16-cylinder cars in which to pick your favourite one. Don’t forget to tell the chaps if you agree with their choices. Click here to check out the options.

AND FINALLY: LEARN HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR

Ralph Hosier is interviewed by Magneto Magazine and he gets to tell us about how he has training courses from beginner level to more advanced that would be perfect for anyone wishing to learn a skill or even just maintain their own car. Click this link to read more.

FOLLOW UP: AGENCY MODEL CLARIFICATION

Thank you to all who responded to Andrew’s request for more information on how the agency model works for car retails. We can now confirm, the query about who carries the financial liability, does in fact lie with the manufacturers now. To see who is moving to this model, click this link to an Auto Retail Network article.

FEBRUARY 2024 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

SMMT has released the new car registration figures for February 2024 and they are the best in 20 years! Which caused us to raise an eyebrow or two. Battery electric cars are up, slightly, but still a long way off the 22% required by the Government mandate. Diesel is down slightly, with plug in hybrids also up a touch, but petrol is up again. Fleet is doing all the lifting and this is worrying the industry who renews their calls for help to incentivise the Private side of things. To read more, click this link to the SMMT article and details.

POLESTAR SECURES NEW FUNDING

Polestar are plugging the gap left by Volvo stepping back from funding the EV company, thanks to a loan worth £750 million. According to the company, this will allow them to sell 155,000 vehicles and become cash flow even in 2025. If you wish to read more on this story, click this Autocar link here.

US INVESTIGATING CHINESE EV DATA COLLECTION

The US Government announced that it will be investigating Chinese electric vehicles to ascertain how much, what type of and where they send data. However, as there are so few actual brands allowed into the US this does feel part of the ongoing protectionism being demonstrated in North America. You can find out about this by clicking the link here to an electrive article.

FISKER FINANCES UNSUSTAINABLE BUT NISSAN MAY HELP

Fisker announced how they were not confident they could last to the end of 2024, but a couple of days later it was revealed that they are in talks with Nissan over possible investment. This would give the Japanese company access to an electric pick up platform, which they do not have currently. Click this Reuters article for the original story. For details on the possible Nissan rescue, click this link to an Autocar article.

THE POSSIBLE APPLE CAR PROJECT IS APPARENTLY SHUT DOWN

Reports were all over the internet stating that the secret Apple car project, allegedly called Titan, had been cancelled. But as the company has neither confirmed nor denied this, it is hard to tell if it was real or whether they were looking at specific technologies. For more speculation and the liberal use of the “iCar” click this link to an article from The Register.

ASTON MARTIN CLOSES LAGONDA

Aston Martin confirmed that the Lagonda sub brand is officially no more. This surprised us, as we thought it had been killed off a couple of years ago. To learn more and look at what could have been, click this Autocar link here.

NISSAN CLOSING NISSANCONNECT EV APP

Nissan have given owners of Leaf and e-NV200 vehicles a month’s notice that the app they have been using is to be shut down. The reason given is because 2G is being switched off in the UK. However, this is not planned for another 6-9 years time. We are all for being prepared but this does seem a little overkill. If you want to find out more, click this BBC News article link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Renault 5 E-Tech

Renault revealed the production ready version of the 5, which will be all electric and is inspired heavily by the original design. The exterior and interior designs are both lovely and will hopefully encourage both old and young to be interested in this car. For more on this, click the link here to a CAR article.

MG 3 Hybrid

MG also revealed a new model at Geneva, the replacement for the 3 which they haven’t sold in the UK for a few years now. It is a B-segment hatch with a hybrid powertrain, that the company claims will make it the most powerful in the segment. Click this CAR article link for more.

Dacia Sandrider

Dacia has revealed their Rally Raid vehicle, which will take on the Dakar next year. As aggressive and nuts looking as you would expect, it is wonderful. Thought has really gone into the layout and choice of materials and technology being deployed. You can see more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

Vauxhall Corsa Yes

Vauxhall will be selling the Corsa Yes model a smidgen under the price of the cheapest MG4, making it the cheapest EV car until the Dacia Spring gets here. Looking at the specs we don’t know how they’ve chopped £5000 off the list price or even what makes the top of the range worth a fraction under £40,000. This should sell like hot cakes, click this Autocar link to read more.

Old Car Dead News - Nissan Leaf pulled from production

Nissan is stopping the production of the Leaf as it gears the Sunderland plant up for new models. The car was getting long in the tooth, technology wise, and with the recent changes to GSR2 it wasn’t viable to maintain production of the car. You can read more, by clicking this link here.

European Car of the Year - Renault Scenic

Renault has won the European Car of the Year with it’s Scenic. Alan was quite dismissive of the competition, which failed to excite him almost completely. Click this to a CAR article for more.

UK Car of the Year Category Winners

The UK Car of the Year Category Winners have been announced, with seven cars going through to be judged for the ultimate winner, which is yet to be announced. Andrew is one of the judges whose expertise and opinion was tapped to vote on the options. Click this link to see which cars won which categories.

LUNCHTIME READ: WE PUT A LAMBORGHINI IN A WIND TUNNEL

To find out how much has changed, when it comes to aerodynamics and cars, Road & Track put a Lamborghini Miura in a wind tunnel. Click this link here to read the fascinating detail on what has changed.

LIST OF THE WEEK: CAR NAMES YOU COULDN’T USE TODAY

The Autopian has produced a list of car names, where some are a bit weird and others are just not suitable to be used in today’s society. Click this link to read more and see if you agree with Alan’s choice.

AND FINALLY: THE RALLY STAGE YOU CAN DRIVE ON

Auto Shenanigans visits Somerset to talk about the rally stage you can drive on, plus find the steepest A-road in the UK. We do love his videos and the detail he manages to cram into these short videos. Click here to watch this one.

FOLLOW UP: VOLVO TO SELL SHARES IN POLESTAR

We begin to get the answer of what difference Volvo cutting funding will mean to their Polestar relationship, as they look to offload a large portion of the shares they hold. The plan is to drop from 48% of shares down to 18%. For more information, click this electrive article link here.

STELLANTIS TO CONVERT LUTON PLANT FOR EV VANS

Stellantis has confirmed that they will convert the Luton plant to enable it to build the Group’s electric vans. ICE versions will continue to be built along side the EVs, which will be produced from early 2025. If you would like to read more, click this Autocar link here.

STELLANTIS UK MAKE MANY MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Stellantis UK managing director, Maria Grazia Davino, has moved quickly to make changes within the organisation and tying up with the larger group. This is all part of the efforts to improve relations with their dealer network and improve the outlook for the many brands. More details can be read by clicking this AMOnline link here.

ASA STATES “ZERO EMISSION DRIVING” ISN’T MISLEADING

The automated system the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) picked up a Ford advert for the soon to be released Explorer, which stated “zero emission driving” and pulled it for review. Following an investigation the ASA decided that it was okay to state this. As we are pedants on this show, we are looking forward to the agency learning about tyre emissions. If you wish to see the latest insanity from this organisation, click the link here to a FleetNews article.

COMPANY GUILTY OF NOT ENSURING ILLEGAL CAR WOULDN’T BE DRIVEN ON THE PUBLIC ROAD

Onyx Performance, has been convicted of not ensuring that a car they modified, with a ‘pop bang’ map, new exhaust and removal of a catalytic convertor, was not to be driven on the public roads. This is the second company, in a few months to have been brought to court for the same issue. You can learn more, by clicking this AMOnline article link here.

UK FUEL PRICES INCREASE QUICKLY ON RED SEA DISRUPTION

Surprising no one, is the news that the retail fuel prices increased astonishingly quickly off the back of the news of trouble in the Red Sea, even before the affects were really being felt. Whilst the wholesale price increased, the retailers have not passed on the buffer the Government has allowed them. Click this Autocar story link, for more on this.

BBC REPORT INTO ETHNICITY INFLUENCING CAR INSURANCE

The BBC has reported, following their investigation, that there is evidence that car industry rates are affected by location and the percentage of ethnic minorities the location has. The industry strongly deny this claim. We are not saying this does not happen, but we do urge for more and open investigations into this claim. As we cannot see all the data reported on we cannot see if some other conclusion could also be found. If you wish to read more, click this BBC article link here.

For more information on the book Andrew recommended, click this link here.

YORKSHIRE NATIONAL PARKS INSTALL EV CHARGERS WITH BMW

In partnership with BMW, Yorkshire National Parks have installed 18 EV chargers across the county. This is great news for more remote areas of northern Britain, which have been poorly served to date. To read up on this, click here for the EVPowered article link.

UK GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TAXI PLUG-IN GRANT

The UK Government is continuing the taxi plug-in grant until April 2025, although it is cutting the pay out to £6000 per vehicle. This is good news, targeting urban areas and helping to clean up the air for residents. For more on this, click here for the electrive article link.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Dacia Spring

Dacia revealed, what will be the cheapest EV car, for the UK market, the Spring. This B-segment SUV/jacked up hatchback will come with approximately 110-120 real-world mile range and only be able to charge via slower chargers. However, with an expected price point of around £17,000, these may well be trade offs plenty will accept. Click here to read more, from the Autocar article link.

VW ID.7 Tourer

Volkswagen has revealed their very practical ID.7 Tourer, bringing us another EV estate option. With an impressive boot space, both with the seats up and down, combined with a good range this will be an attractive option for many. For more information, click this link to a Motoring Research article.

Cupra Born VZ

Cupra is bringing out a hot Born version, the VZ. This will have upgraded battery tech, improved handling and driving dynamics. Do click the link to read one of our favourite lines in a car review for some time. You can read more by clicking this link to the EVPowered article here.

INEOS Fusilier

INEOS has revealed their third vehicle, the Fusilier, a EV or range extender EV depending on specification chosen. Details are a little scant, but it is smaller and lower than the Grenadier. Do click this Top Gear link for more, plus ideas they supply for future model names, which made us smile.

Old Car Dead News - Hyundai i30N and i20N removed from sale

Two of our favourite cars to have driven are being removed from sale by Hyundai. The i30N and i20N sales numbers dropped, in combination with legislation, have made the decision for the Korean company. The electric range will carry the N torch moving forward. Click this EVO article link for more information.

LUNCHTIME READ: PORSCHE 911 BACKDATES ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE STOPPED

Whilst many might think this is an article directly from Alan’s own keyboard, and the name of the author even has Bradley in it, we bring you a Jalopnik opinion piece on why the Porsche restomod scene needs to stop butchering its past cars to make very expensive homages to the past. Click this link to read more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE ROTARY ENGINE

Once again, we might well think Alan has created this article and slide show too! Think of this as a part List of the Week and part Lunchtime Read. Click this Autocar link to get a history lesson and see if you agree with Alan and Andrew’s choices.

AND FINALLY: SPEND TIME IN THE ALFA ROMEO SECRET VAULT

Another, effectively, Lunchtime Read and Watch as we share an article which explores the Alfa Romeo secret vault and includes a 48 minute video that is well worth watching. For more, click this Jalopnik article link.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE APPOINTS FIRST EVER SAFETY OFFICER

In a move that should have more people stunned, Cruise has announced their first every safety officer. Steve Kenner has worked at a number of places in the autonomous vehicle industry. Louise Zhang, who is a VP of safety and systems will remain in her role. Astonishingly. If you wish to learn more, click this TechCrunch link here.

FOLLOW UP: FRENCH SUBSIDY FOR LOW INCOME HOMES HALTED

The recently launched subsidy to help low income families into EV has already been halted, due to an overwhelming demand, according to French Government officials. They will be relaunching it in 2025. To read further, click this link to The Guardian article.

GOVERNMENT U-TURN ON TAX OF DOUBLE-CABS

In a crazy few days, the UK Government went from declaring that double-cab pickup’s tax category was going to change to that of a car, but still be classed as a light commercial vehicle (LCV) from 1 July 2024, to u-turning and saying no they wouldn’t. This came around due to a court case where it was ruled that they have a dual purpose of carrying people and cargo, therefore cannot be classed as “primarily” transporting cargo.

The reaction from the public was loud and angry. The blanket move, with what appeared to be very little thought on the use of these vehicles and who these changes would hit, was decried not just by management consultants, architects and dentists who would have to change their vehicle as the tax loophole closed, but by those who genuinely need a multipurpose vehicle.

To see what the original issue was all about, click this link to a Professional Pickup article link here.

If you wish to read about the u-turn and what that means, click this link here to a Broker News article.

AUDI, PORSCHE AND BENTLEYS STUCK AT US PORTS

Thanks to Audi, Porsche and Bentley utilising components that are on the banned list, for the United States, their cars are sitting dockside waiting for replacement parts. The parts in question are claimed to have been sourced from companies operating in areas where forced labour is the norm, the Xinjiang province. VW Group claims it had no knowledge as it was part of a larger part and only found out due to information received. Click this Yahoo News article link if you wish to learn more.

BMW LEAVES ONLINE STORAGE SET TO PUBLIC

A Microsoft Azure storage ‘bucket’ run by BMW was mistakenly left with access set to public, rather than private. This meant that anyone could have accessed the huge amount of code, credentials, data and information held. This is very similar to what happened with Mercedes a couple of weeks ago. There is no knowledge if this data was accessed by unauthorised persons. BMW stress that there was no customer data held or at risk. If you with to learn more, click this TechCrunch article link here.

JLR SLOWS EV PUSH

Following an impressive increase in PHEV sales, JLR has announced that they are slowing their development of EV only models. Some have pointed out that you will get an increase if you only, really, offer PHEVs. To learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

FIRST SUBCOOLED LIQUID HYDROGEN STATION OPENED IN GERMANY

Germany is the location for the first fuelling station for subcooled liquid hydrogen (sLH2). This cuts costs for stations in terms of both the infrastructure and running costs. On top of that it allows for faster refuelling, offers more range and is superior energy efficiency. For more on this story, click this link to the Green Car Congress article.

NEW ZERO EMISSION HGV REGISTRATIONS TRIPLE IN 2023

Zero emission HGVs registered over three times more in 2023 than in 2022, but the numbers are still very low. Especially if compared to cars or even vans. You can read more about this, by clicking this SMMT article link here.

FREE TOOL FROM MARTIN LEWIS FOR CAR FINANCE REFUNDS

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is investigating refused applications for refunds on car finance which allowed brokers to change the rates of interest for a better commission. Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, has compiled a tool to allow you to lodge your complaint if you feel you were affected by this between 2007 and 2021. To learn more about the story, click this Parkers article link here.

To go to the tool, click this link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Nissan Juke

Nissan claim their customers are so happy with the looks of the Juke that they have only refreshed the technology and interior of the car, five years after going on sale. Gone is the CVT and it is replaced with an automatic gearbox option. Inside the controls and layout have become more driver focused and we encourage you to click the link as there is some wonderful quotes regarding the design. Prices are expected to increase very slightly. To learn more about one of the most popular new cars in the UK, click this Autocar link here.

Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin has revealed the new coupe version Vantage, with the convertible following on. Looking very much like an Aston, although the front grille is becoming more of a statement piece and harder to like. However, the shoulder and rear at lovely. Inside it looks a fabulous place to sit. The V8 is continuing the association with AMG, although this one will chuck out more power than the previous V12. Click this Autocar link here, to read more.

Lancia Ypsilon

After a number of teases and an unintentional river trip of one prototype, the Lancia Ypsilon has been revealed. And it looks the nicest of the shared Stellantis B Segment small hatches. This will be an all electric model, but aimed at a higher price point. There are a lot of neat touches to the design both inside and out. You can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: MASSIMO FRASCELLA TO HEAD UP AUDI DESIGN

Following his sudden departure from JLR, Massimo Franscella has been announced as the new Head of Design at Audi. Marc Lichte, the current design boss, will be “transitioning to a new role within the group” according to the Automotive Design Planet article linked here.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2023

EVO have, once again, produced a fabulous film for their Car of the Year segment. Brilliantly shot, as ever, we get to ride along with a host of fabulous cars and hear what everyone thinks. Hopefully, this continues, now they are under new ownership. Click here to watch the YouTube film.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST MODERN AUDIS EVER MADE

To help remind Massimo Franscella of how clean Audi design used to be, we are recommending the list of the best modern cars from the brand, via an Autocar slideshow. Don’t forget to tell us if you agree with Alan’s choice. Click here to see what options you have.

AND FINALLY: GOOD ADVICE AND ALMOST AN ORDER FROM PETROLBLOG

Major Gav has an excellent piece about going for a drive, just for the hell of it. Too easy to remain wrapped up in ourselves and rushing from one task to the next, but this post on PetrolBlog, linked here, is a great reminder. Don’t forget to tell him that you have followed the advice!