Motoring Podcast - News Show

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.

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.

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 -

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.

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 -

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 Weekand 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!

FOLLOW UP: ARRIVAL GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION

The inevitable has happened at Arrival and the company has brought in receivers to try and sell on the company assets. Last year they announced they were focusing only on their large van, but this has not been produced. Claims of macroeconomic conditions have been laughed at, following the revelations of management and how the business was run. If you wish to learn more, click this article here, from The Guardian.

ASA BANS ADS OVER ZERO EMISSION AND ULEZ CLAIMS

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has rapped BMW, MG and Transport for London (TfL) over advertising claims. BMW have been censured due to claiming its electric vehicles are zero emission, which the ASA said they were not due to electricity production and manufacturing not being such. MG were censured over including their hybrid models in an advert for zero emission vehicles. TfL fell foul over claims made about misleading adverts regarding the ULEZ and modelled data rather than actual data. To learn more about the manufacturer’s issues, click this AMOnline article. For the detail of the TfL ruling, click this BBC News article link.

ASTON MARTIN IS SEARCHING FOR NEXT CEO

Aston Martin has begun the process of finding a replacement for Amedeo Felisa, the current CEO. Felisa is coming up to his 78th birthday, and has helped shaped the future of the company since taking over from Tobias Moers in 2022. If you would like to learn more, click this Autocar article link, here.

HYUNDAI EUROPE HIT BY RANSOMWARE ATTACK

Hyundai Europe has admitted they have suffered a cyberattack. Through investigations by BleepingComputer, it is believed to be a ransomware attack and the up to 3TB of data has been accessed or taken. According to the outlet, this covers many different departments and companies in the group. Whilst Hyundai has not confirmed what type of attack, it is believed to be a ransomware one. Click this link to learn more, from a BleepingComputer article.

ROLLS ROYCE SPECTRE RECALLED IN THE US

A faulty ground connection cable has caused Spectres in the US to be recalled. There is a potential for an injury risk to technicians working on the car and in extreme cases for a “thermal event” or fire as we generally know it. Affected cars were built between October and December 2023. You can learn more, by clicking this article link from The Register.

EUROPE’S MOST RECALLED CAR BRANDS IN 2023

Autocar has listed the car brands that had the most recalls in 2023, for Europe. It must be remembered, the potential for recalls increases the more niches you wish to cover, not that its an excuse. Click here to run through an extra List of the Week.

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 -

Porsche Taycan

Porsche have unveiled their new Taycan, electric saloon and sort of estate. They have made it quicker, lighter, more efficient and able to go further. Inside the tech has been improved too. On top of all this, they have impressively, managed to make the charging times (if environmental conditions allow) between 20-80% quicker too. For more details, click this Autocar article link here.

Ford Puma

Ford has updated the Puma. There is a change to the powertrain, with the only option being the 1.0 petrol engine mated to a hybrid system. Even the ST has this, also, only with an automatic gearbox. Inside the tech has been upgraded, bringing it in line with the newer elements of Ford’s range. New touch screen, no physical buttons and the Syn4 infotainment system. We also question how reliable some of the new driver assistance technology will be. Do click this Autocar link to learn more.

BMW 5-Series Touring PHEV and EV

The 5-Series will only come as a petrol PHEV or electric version, in the UK. Gone also, is the rear window access hatch as a redesign in the name of aerodynamics has made retaining it too tricky to engineer. You can find out more by clicking this link to an Autocar article.

Audi RS6 Avant GT

Inspired by the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO, they have brought the RS6 Avant GT. Suitably decorated, including the white wheels, with a quicker 0-62mph time and a higher top speed. This exclusive car will only have 60 examples allocated to the UK. Price is a bit spicy, as you would expect too. Click this CAR article link to read more.

Abarth 600e

The Abarth 600e has been revealed. The hot version of the new 600e, all electric SUV from the 500 brand. Whilst clearly recognisable as a sister car to the 500 it is much better resolved than previous attempts to expand the brand range. Do click this Autocar article link, for the daft photoshopped image and more details on Fait’s future direction.

Silence SO4

The Spanish micromobility company, Silence, is brining their two-seater quadrocycle to the UK. Seen as a competator to the Citroën Ami it is more expensive, but has a higher top speed and longer range, thus making it more usable in the UK. Another feature is the ability to remove the battery and charge it in your house from a 240v outlet. If you wish to find out more, click this Autocar link here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: T. JON MAYER LEAVES VOLVO

A surprise announcement that T. Jon Mayer is leaving Volvo, was released last week. We have no details on where he is going or why he left. Click this Auto&Design link to find out nothing extra except what he has been up to.

LUNCHTIME READ: WILL VI CANVAS TOP AND WILL PRODUCTS

Michael Banovsky’s latest newsletter iteration has brought us a fantastic piece on the WiLL Vi Canvas Top and what else the company got involved in. We love reading about such things connected with the car industry. Click this link to read more and then go sign up to his newsletter so you don’t miss any further nuggets.

LIST OF THE WEEK: TOP 9 WEIRDEST CARS AT RETROMOBILE 2024

The French classic car show always turns up some fantastic and unusual cars, this year is no exception. Goodwood Road&Racing list their Top 9 weird cars, for you to see. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Let us know after you click this link to see what your options are.

AND FINALLY: THE WORST SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS THAT COULD BE DREAMT UP

Jason Torchinsky, on The Autopian, has created a list of the worst subscription ideas he could come up with, for our cars. Hopefully the car brands don’t see this and think “that’s neat, let’s do it”. If you’d like to see our dystopian future, click this article link here.

FOLLOW UP: PARIS VOTES TO CHARGE EXTRA FOR HEAVY CARS

Just under six percent of eligible Parisians voted on charging extra for non resident parking permitted heavier vehicles, with 54.6% voting for this. Therefore, internal combustion engined cars (ICE) weighing over 1.6 tonnes and electric vehicles weighing over 2 tonnes, will be charged extra. Click here to read a misleadingly headlined article from The Guardian that is an example of some of the pathetic reporting on this matter.

FOLLOW UP: LITHIA TAKEOVER PENDRAGON

Lithia, the US based firm, has finally taken over the motor retail group, Pendragon. This makes Lithia the second biggest retailer in the UK, ahead of Arnold Clark but behind Sytner. You can read more by clicking this AMOnline article link here.

JANUARY 2024 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

SMMT has released the January 2024 new car registration figures. They are up on 2023, but still down on the Before Times. Fleet is doing a lot of the heavy lifting, with Private down once again. Worryingly, in the first month of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, the battery electric vehicle (BEV) share is only 14.7%, well below the 22% required from each manufacturer. Click here to read an interesting article from Tristan Young in Broker News, which hints that the figures could have been even worse. For the SMMT article and detail, click this link here.

RENAULT CANCELS IPO FOR EV DIVISION AMPERE

Renault has confirmed that they will not separate their electric vehicle division, Ampere, and list it on the stock exchange. The reasoning is that the market is “sluggish”, which has also been compounded with a slow down in EV uptake across Europe at the end of the year. The company is adamant that they are cash rich and their ambitions are not dependent on an IPO. If you wish to learn more, click this article link from Reuters here.

VW PAUSES IPO OF BATTERY DIVISION

Volkswagen has paused proceeding with listing their battery division, PowerCo, with the EV market slowing in Europe. On top of that, they have not yet decided where their fourth battery factory will be located in Europe. Click this electrive article link to read more on the IPO situation. For the battery factory story, click this InsideEVs article link here.

For the Autocar article on the subject of the stock market and EV companies, click this link here.

VOLVO TO STOP FUNDING POLESTAR

Amongst the detail of Volvo’s 2023 financial results, they announced that they will be ceasing to continue to fund Polestar and be focusing solely on their own projects. This could lead to Volvo selling their shares or Geely just buying more. They will continue to partner up over R&D, manufacturing and commercial elements. For a fuller explanation of what is going on, click this Autocar article link here.

SMART UK APPOINT NEW CEO

Congratulations to Jason Allbutt, who has been appointed as the new CEO of smart UK. He takes over from David Browne, who oversaw the relaunch of smart in the UK. If you wish to learn more, click this link to an AMOnline article link here.

TYRE PRICE FIXING CLAIMS INVESTIGATED BY THE EU

The European Commission has visited several manufacturers in several countries whilst investigating the question of possible cartel activity by the tyre industry. Questions have been raised about collusion on price fixing, enough to warrant the investigation. You can learn more by clicking this article link here to AMOnline.

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 Mustang

The new Ford Mustang is coming to the UK and will be the cheapest V8 we can buy new, but it still starts at £55, 685. There will be no alternative engine choice, so go V8 or go elsewhere. There is also a new screen and tech, for the interior, including the ability to have digitised versions of classic Mustang dials - why does no one else do that? For more information, click this Autocar link here.

BMW 4-Series

BMW is updating the 4-Series range, including the M4. All get the tricksie CSL rear lights and after that apart from bringing the interior up to the current spec, its really hard to spot the differences between the existing and new. If you wish to learn more, click this EVO article link here and this CAR article link for details about the M4.

BMW Z4

In another game of spot the difference, BMW announce the new Z4. Except, this time it can be specified with a manual gearbox, which allows you to add a special colour. To find out more, click this CAR article link here.

Audi Q7

You can now ‘personalise’ the front end, well, the daylight running lights (DRLs) by setting them to one of four designs. That really is all very nearly that has changed. Do click the CAR article link to find out more.

Volvo EX30 deliveries delayed

Some Volvo EX30 customers are having to wait a touch longer for their car to be delivered after Volvo noticed an issue with the software and is having to update all of them. Alas (or good), there is no over the air option therefore this takes a little longer to execute. More information can be found by clicking this InsideEVs link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: MEET THE MG B-EAST

We finally get round to bringing you an excellent article about the UK winner of the Hot Wheels Legends 2023 Tour. Click the link for the writing and stay to gawp at the pictures and detail of this mad car, thanks to Hagerty.

LIST OF THE WEEK: BEST FIRST CARS FOR ENTHUSIASTS

Know someone who’s just passed their test? Are they a bit of a car person? Well, we bring you a list with options (even though there really is one option to pick!). Click this Autocar link to see what is being suggested.

AND FINALLY: HONDA’S LOGO HISTORY

Hagerty, thanks to Antony Ingram, brings you the history and evolution over the years of the Honda logo. Fascinating stuff. Click this link to find out more.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE’S ACCIDENT FAILURES ARE WORSE THAN GUESSED

The ‘independent’ review by a legal firm employed by both GM and Cruise has produced their first report into the incident where a pedestrian who was knocked into the path of a driverless taxi was hit and dragged by the car. They try to claim that no one really meant to deceive the regulators and it was the internet that prevented them from showing the full video. They admitted that no one then attempted to explain verbally or via email. You can learn more from this Jalopnik article link here. You can find more context and details in a Twitter thread from John Berry, linked here. And here is another thread from John, click here. For an even more damning review of the report, click here to read what Bryant Walker Smith has to say.

FOLLOW UP: MOT CHANGES ARE SHELVED

Thankfully, common sense has prevailed and the UK Government are not going to change MOTs to occur every two years. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

FOLLOW UP: DAIHATSU RECALLING OVER 320,00 CARS

The news gets worse for Daihatsu as it confirms it will be recalling over 320,000 cars due to door defects, following the revelations about the safety testing scandal. Three of the four Japanese factories will also remain shuttered, with a possibility one may restart soon. To read more on this story, click here for The Japan Times article link.

TOYOTA HALTS SHIPMENTS OF SOME VEHICLES

Toyota has announced that it is halting the shipment of some vehicles due to irregularities in certification of some diesel engines. The engines go into approximately 36,000 vehicles worldwide, per month. There has yet to be a confirmation of the full extent of this issue. Click this Reuters article to learn more.

EU FINDS MOST CARS EMIT SAME CARBON LEVELS AS 12 YEARS AGO

An investigation into the EU’s progress regarding the reduction of CO2 has found that levels emitted by cars has not changed in 12 years. A combination of larger, heavier cars and an apparent significant difference between lab tested and real world emissions have all been blamed. What is missing is the significant drop in diesel vehicles, replaced by petrol and hybrids, which produce more CO2 than a diesel, whilst producing less NOx. You can read more, by clicking this link to an Euractiv article.

BMW UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR EMISSIONS MANIPULATION

In Germany, the federal transport authority, the KBA, are investigating BMW X3 2.0 diesel built between 2010 and 2014, due to suspicions over software manipulation of emissions. The claim is that emissions were controlled when under test conditions. More can be found on this story, by clicking this link to a Drive article.

MERCEDES GITHUB REPOSITORY FOUND OPEN

Security researchers found they could gain unrestricted access to Mercedes-Benz’s GitHub repository. GitHub is a project management service for coders. An employee’s authentication code was found on the internet, enabling a way into their Enterprise Server on the service. There was a lot of very important and vital information that could be accessed. There is no confirmation if others accessed the data during the time it was effectively open to all. Click this article link to read more from TechCrunch.

‘FILL THAT HOLE’ SITE HELPS POTHOLE REPORTING

Cycling UK has launched the latest version of the service Fill That Hole, which allows for a quick way to report potholes on the UK roads. Now the reports go directly to the relevant highways authority, as some local councils were no longer accepting road defect reports, if they’ll accept them. If you wish to know more, click here to read the TransportXtra story.

To use the free service, click this link here to Fill That Hole.

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 -

Volkswagen Golf

The facelifted Golf, the 8.5, has been revealed by VW. The main changes are to the interior and tech, with the infotainment screen now having a couple of buttons and those being backlit. This is very much a merest hints of evolution, with improvements to the areas they received “feedback” on. To find out more, including the raft of powertrain options, click this CAR link here.

Porsche Electric Macan

Porsche has revealed the next generation of the Macan, which will be EV only. Boasting two specs, ludicrous amounts of power and a claimed range of up to 381 miles, this should please current and prospective owners, so long as they can afford the price. You can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

Volkswagen Passat

The latest Passat, which comes as an estate, has been revealed along with details. A suitably large loading space, with the revised VW cockpit, as with the Golf discussed earlier. Again, you can find out more about the car by clicking this CAR article link here.

Kalmar Automotive RS-6

If you have a Porsche 996 and want to stand out from the crowd, Kalmer can help you by Dakar-ing it. Actually, the cost isn’t outrageous, for such a thing and it is nicely done. At least we could get excited about one car this week! To check out more on this, click this Top Gear link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: MARIO REVELLI - THE MOST PROLIFIC CAR DESIGNER YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF

Matteo Licata brings us another fascinating and expertly researched article for us to recommend to you. This time, helping us learn about a designer we probably haven’t heard of, although he worked on so many cars. Click this Hagerty link to read more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST CARS OF THE 90S - PART 2

Autocar have a slide show of the second part of their Best Cars from the 90s. There are a whopping 42 slides to check out, which has allowed the chaps to pick two cars each this, in a move of total extravagance. Do you agree with what they picked, don’t forget to let us know! Click here to check out what is on offer.

AND FINALLY: US GOVERNMENT STOPS ‘HUMOROUS’ HIGHWAY SIGNS

The Federal Highways Administration has announced a ban on ‘humorous’ digital highway signs, as they have jumped the shark and instead of getting a safety message across in a quick yet memorable manner, they often have become clunky and confusing. Click this link to the New York Post for more information.

FOLLOW UP: VW AND GERMAN GOV LOSE ENGINE FIX FIGHT

A German environmental group has won its court case against the Volkswagen Group and the German Government for allowing the use of thermal windows in engine emissions, for the last eight years. Whilst the regulator allowed it the court ruled they should not have. You can learn more by clicking this electrive article link here.

FOLLOW UP: CMA WINS APPEAL AGAINST BMW AND VW

The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has won its appeal relating to forcing BMW and the Volkswagen Group hand over information to enable their investigation into possible anti-competative practices for recycling vehicles. The argument from BMW and VW is that they are based outside of the UK therefore the CMA has no authority. The Court of Appeal ruled they do. For more on this story, click this Reuters article link here.

FOLLOW UP: FEEDBACK ON THE CHAT GPT EXPLAINER

Thank you to everyone who got in touch, following the release of last week’s show and the separate video which explained Chat GPT, AI and why it is a bad idea in cars. We are glad it has helped so many of you. If you haven’t seen it yet, click this link to our YouTube video here.

BRITAIN STICKS TO MONOCHROME NEW CARS IN 2023

Topping the chart, once again, we find that grey is the most popular colour for new car registrations. The top three are rounded out with black and white - yawn. Do click this link to SMMT’s article on this, as there is one chart that lists the Top 10 colours and how many have been registered in that colour, it is eye opening.

EU INVESTIGATORS TO VISIT CHINESE CAR COMPANIES

As part of the EU’s investigation into whether China unfairly helps their own manufacturing base, with electric vehicles, they will be visiting several firms at locations in the country to check if information supplied matches. They will not be checking on European set ups. Click this link, from electrive, to read more on this development.

EVS IN THE EU WILL NEED A BATTERY PASSPORT FROM 2027

A system has been developed that aims to track everything about a vehicle battery, from minerals in the ground to what was last done to it in the car. This comes into force in February 2027. Depending on which group is looking to access the data, different levels of information will be available. You can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

SUBARU UK GETS A NEW MD

Congratulations to Lorraine Bishton on her appointment as the new managing director at Subaru UK. She has previously worked at Ford, JLR and lately at McLaren Special Operations. If you wish to learn more, click this AMOnline 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 Kuga

Ford have given the latest generation Kuga a refresh. Tweaks to the exterior looks but most changes are inside where improvements have been made to the technology on offer. On top of which the oily bits have been enhanced, and it has one of the best towing ratings in class. The car will also be slightly cheaper than the current model. Click this Autocar link to find out much more.

Hyundai Bayon

One of the rarer cars in the Hyundai range, the small SUV Bayon has been refreshed. The exterior has been sharpened up and now includes the full width LED to the front end. Inside the interior is now on a par with the rest of the range. If you want to read more on this car, click here and read the article from Autocar.

VW Tiguan

The Tiguan outsells the Golf, therefore this is a very important car for the brand. Once again, the exterior has been evolved but inside is where most changes are obvious. Now in line with the Passat and other new vehicles in the range, there is the revised infotainment screen, that has some buttons positioned at the bottom for quick access. There is a myriad of options for powertrains and trim levels. Click this CAR article link, to read more.

Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru is replacing the XV with the hugely popular, in the US, Crosstrek. Alan cannot move for tripping over them in the state he currently resides. There are improvements to the driver assistance system, more refinement and body control. You can learn more by clicking this link to an Autocar article here.

KGM Torres

KGM, formerly known as Ssangyong, has revealed their mid sized SUV which will go on sale in the UK imminently, the Torres. Initially in petrol form and front wheel drive, it will quickly be followed by a 4x4 version and then an electric powertrain. If this is of interest to you, click this Autocar link to find out more.

Mazda Spirit Racing sub brand

Mazda, at the Tokyo Auto Salon, revealed a performance sub brand called Spirit Racing. Two race inspired cars where shown to the crowds, a Mazda 3 and MX-5. Styling enhancements include a paint colour, stripes, red strip to the front splitters and a more aggressive stance. There is no confirmation Mazda are going to make these or any other cars with the sub brand but we can all hope. Click this Top Gear link to read more.

Stellantis STLA EV platforms

Stellantis has revealed their new electric vehicle platforms, called STLA. This will come in four varieties, the Small, Medium, Large and Frame. To learn what these equate to as well as the impressive sounding potential capabilities, click this CAR article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: CES SHOWED VW, BMW AND MERCEDES ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS CONCERNING USER EXPERIENCE

For the second week on the trot, I am recommending the work of Drew Smith. This time it is his review of automakers offerings at CES, the annual tech fantasy show, sorry, tech show. This year the offerings were quite bleak, misguided with the occasional brighter spot. Click this link to read his thoughts on Car Design News.

LIST OF THE WEEK: GREATEST MACHINES WITH 100HP OR LESS

This week’s fun list does not stick strictly to cars, but all cool vehicles with 100hp or less. Do you agree with Andrew’s choice, even if it was a tad dramatic or are you going to pick one of the more frivolous options? Do let the chaps know. Click here to run through the Autocar article.

AND FINALLY: THIRD TIME’S A CHARM FOR AUDI

On the third attempt and with the help of Carlos Sainz Snr, Audi win the Dakar race with their electrified RS Q e-Tron. Click this Top Gear link to read more about the remarkable feat for both Audi and Sainz.

FOLLOW UP: CAR MAKERS LOBBIED AGAINST INCENTIVES FOR SMALL EVS

In the consultation over the introduction of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which came into force on 1 January 2024, documents have revealed that some manufacturers fought against rules that encouraged more efficient, smaller and lighter vehicles. Not a great look for the car industry. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

FOLLOW UP: WALES 20MPH REVIEW TO BE LED BY ORIGINAL ADVISOR

In what feels like an entry into Private Eye's Rotten Boroughs segment, the Welsh Government has announced the consultant who helped introduce the new 20mph urban speed limit will lead the review of said implementation. They justified this by stating that "he is well-placed to assess whether clarifications in the policy are needed to encourage greater consistency.". To read more, click this link from the BBC News.

RED SEA SHIPPING ISSUES HITTING CAR MAKERS

Tesla and Volvo are pausing car production due to delays in parts after shipping has been disrupted in the Red Sea. Either the ships run the gauntlet of attack or go via the Cape of Good Hope. This is an added pressure to the already difficult shipping environment as there is a lack of container ships available which has pushed costs higher. You can learn more by clicking this link to an article from MarineLink.

BMW TO SWITCH MUNICH FACTORY TO EV PRODUCTION IN 2027

BMW will be producing electric only cars, at their Munich factory, from the end of 2027. They will build the Neue Klasse saloon from 2026, whilst phasing out the combustion engine vehicles. To read more on this, click the Petrolheads article link here.

STUDY CLAIMS LONDON IS THE SLOWEST CITY TO DRIVE IN

A TomTom study claims that London is the slowest city, in the world, to drive in, with Dublin, Toronto, Milan and Lima making up the top five. Transport for London has argued that the study is misleading and that it is nothing to do with a 20mph speed limit. They also go on to claim the methodology is flawed, by only using a very small selection of roads and ones in the city centre too. You can read more, by clicking this BBC News article link here.

CRITIC OF VINFAST DETAINED

VinFast, the Vietnamese EV maker who's first car has been panned for a raft of issues, has pressured local law enforcement, allegedly, to detain a critic who posted on social media the issues with the cars. Vietnamese law apparently forbids harming the interest of others, according to this article, linked here from The Drive.

SAINSBURY'S LAUNCHES OWN EV CHARGING BRAND

Sainsbury's has become the first UK supermarket brand to launch its own EV charging network. Called Smart Charge, the company intends to fit 750 rapid chargers in over 100 stores by the end of 2024. Click this link to read more from Autocar.

FRANCE UNVEILS AFFORDABLE EV SCHEME

Low-income customers in France are able to take advantage of a scheme that enables EV adoption for those poorest off. The Government has a 'social leasing' initiative, which means a Citroën e-C3 can be had for as little as €54 per month, without a deposit and paid over three years. You can learn more about this excellent sounding idea, by clicking this Car Scoops 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 -

Toyota GR Yaris

After being on the market for four years, the GR Yaris gets a refresh. There are slight tweaks to the external design, mainly the rear lights but the dashboard sees a big change as switches and screens point slightly towards the driver. There is much talk about how much stiffer construction has been made. No news on price, but it is expected to be a touch more than the current £29,995. Click here to read more, via Car Throttle. If you wish to see Matt Prior tell you more, click this Autocar video link.

Honda 0 Series saloon

Honda revealed their 0 Series saloon at CES 2024. This appears to be almost identical to the concept they revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2003. But this summed up the general vibe from automotive CES, desperation and misses. If you wish to learn more about this concept click here for the Autocar link.

Yangwang U9 saloon

Yangwang, the luxury arm of the BYD group, has revealed their third vehicle, the U9 saloon. Boasting over 1000bhp, this car is aimed squarely at the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE. Likely to cost over £100,000 in China, there is no news on it coming to the UK. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Kia ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ vans and more

Once again, at CES, Kia revealed their vision for a full ecosystem which incorporates a variety of light commercial vehicles, bespoke palletisation of goods, robotics, utilisation of AI and smart city technologies. If you wish to get a glimpse at Kia’s version of the future, click this CAR link here.

Volkswagen to add ChatGPT to their operating system

VW announced at, you guessed it, CES, that they will be adding ChatGPT to their operating system to help improve the interactions between occupants and the car. Guess the chap’s reaction to this. If you wish to see what it looks like when a company panics, click this link to read more from The Verge.

Why ChatGPT is a bad idea in cars

To read more on the links between the ‘leaders’ pushing these systems and eugenics, click the following links;

A LinkedIn post summarising and linking to a talk from Timnit Gebru.

Timnit Gebru Mastodon thread with an example of this thinking.

For a quick snapshot of some of the legal issues hitting LLMs, click the following link;

A timeline of the legal cases against companies deploying AI such as OpenAI, Microsoft, DeviantArt and more.

The environmental impact has not really been mentioned much, but the links below explain some of the issues;

The direct impact on Iowa.

More information on the environmental impact.

Behind the curtains, there is a lot of human work going on to make “AI” look like it is all computers, many of these people are being exploited;

An explanation as to what humans are doing that companies are trying to hide.

The results from inputs have been well documented as being anything from poor to dangerous, below are a couple of links explaining this;

The New Zealand store that ‘created’ a cook book with poisonous ingredients.

LLMs false race-based medical information.

Mercedes to add more screens, remove buttons and add ChatGPT to more cars

Mercedes are another German car company seemingly panicking and deciding throwing more tech at the inside of their cars is the way forward. They revealed full width screens, which begs the question, at what point are these labelled a distraction. Not content with that, they have decided to add ChatGPT to more cars, following the testing with some US customers. See above for why that is a bad idea. To read more on what they are proposing, click this Autocar article link here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: MASSIMO FRASCELLA LEAVES JLR

There was shock news from JLR as Design Director, Massimo Frascella suddenly announced he was leaving the company. There is no indication where he is moving to. Click this Car Design News article here.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE CYBERTRUCK ENCAPSULATES A DYSTOPIAN FUTURE WHERE THE US IS SLIDING INTO LAWLESSNESS

This week we bring you a critique of the Cybertruck design and what it says about society. Written by James McLachlan, editor of Car Design News, he makes a strong case for how the ethos behind such a vehicle should worry us all. Click here to read more from Dezeen.

Related and an extra bonus, we link to LookingOut’s last video where they too discuss the Cybertruck and touch on similar themes. Click here for the YouTube link.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE 60 MOST BEAUTIFUL CARS EVER MADE

Autocar bring us all many options for the most beautiful cars ever made. Some of them even are beautiful too! Click here to run through the slideshow and let us know if you agree with Andrew and Alan.

AND FINALLY: PETROLBLOG IS BACK

We are celebrating the news that PetrolBlog is back. Both the website and YouTube channel have new content. Always brilliant to see when MajorGav manages to produce stuff for his own site. Click here to watch the latest video, then check out what else is there and on the website. Glad you’re back Gav!

FOLLOW UP: RIFTER NOT BERLINGO, BAD ANDREW

During the Year of unintended consequences - 19 December 2023 episode, Andrew stated that Alex Grant has an e-Berlingo, which is incorrect. Alex has the more stylish e-Rifter, which shares a lot of the platform but is not the same. Apologies Alex, Andrew has been suitably chastised for his error.

FOLLOW UP: WELSH 20MPH LIMIT TO NOW BE ENFORCED

The Welsh Government has stated that the newly introduced default 20mph speed limit, for built up areas, will be enforced from this month onwards. Depressingly, the article we link to, on the BBC News site which you can read by clicking here, has several quotes making it explicit that in Wales at least, compliance equals safety. Speed cameras will be installed in areas where it is deemed that too many are breaking the limit, rather than where there are accident blackspot as has been the norm.

DECEMBER AND FULL YEAR NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS

Once again we note so many have trouble with the difference between new car registrations and sales. They are not the same.

The good news is that registrations rose 17.9% on 2022, but still it is way down on the Before Times, approximately 17.5% down. We always need to put these figures into context. A lot of positive fuss was made about the volume of battery electric cars (BEV) which is impressively up, but the percentage of those registered is down for both December and 2023. Some of this may be due to holding back vehicles with 2024 and the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate about to land.

More of a concern will be Private registrations that fell 14% for December and 0.1% for the year. Fleet is doing all the heavy lifting now. However, the inevitable calls for incentives and/or subsidies for private buyers has started.

Click this link to the SMMT article for more information.

SUPERMARKETS STILL RIPPING US OFF ACCORDING TO RAC

The RAC brings out its monthly report into fuel prices, once again confirming that supermarkets are holding onto the duty relief the Government intended to be passed onto the public. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more.

JLR LAUNCHES BESPOKE INSURANCE FOR RANGE ROVERS

Following the issues JLR have had around their vehicles and how older models have been targets for thieves, which they appear to have solved for some models, with a £10 million effort we discussed a few weeks ago, they now are offering insurance for those struggling to get cover. Click this Motoring Research article link for more information.

AUDI E-TRON RECALLED IN THE US

Audi E-Trons built before March 2022 have been recalled in the United States over a fire risk connected to LG Energy Solutions battery packs. The affects nearly 27,000 cars and there is no remedy yet. You can learn more by clicking this link here to a Consumer Reports article.

TESLA RECALL OVER FAULTY DOOR RISK

Tesla is issuing an over-the-air-update to fix the risk of doors opening during an accident, in the United States. Model S and X from 2021 to 2023 are affected by this. If you wish to learn more, click this CNBC article link here.

HONDA RECALLING 1.13 MILLION CARS WORLDWIDE

Cars fitted with a defective fuel pump, from the supplier Denso, are being recalled by Honda. 25 models built between June 2017 and September 2020 are affected. Again this appears to for the United States but also Japanese cars are involved. Click this article from The Japan Times to read 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 -

Xiaomi SU7

The consumer electronic company has revealed their first model, due to be sold initially in China at some point in 2024. The silhouette is astonishingly close to that of the Porsche Taycan. Power claims of 670bhp with a 746 mile range are made by the company. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

NIO ET9

NIO is hoping to take on Mercedes-Maybach with this cross-over coupe, claiming to be the new benchmark for safety, luxury and efficiency. The car is due to come to market, in China, in 2025. You can read more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

Toyota GR Supra removed from sale

The full UK allocation of the Toyota Supra has sold out, meaning that the car has been removed from sale here. There is no indication as to when or if it will come back. But an expected uprated model has been seen in development at the Nurburg ring, and is hoped to be coming to these shores. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Apple CarPlay in Porsche and Aston Martin

Apple has revealed the look of their next generation CarPlay, with Aston Martin and Porsche. We talked about this back in 2022 when Apple first revealed it wanted deeper integration between cars and its system. The struggle is to see what makes these particularly Porsche or Aston Martin displays. On top of which is that they do not appear to be very “luxury”. Click this Car article to read more.

Kia and Hyundai introducing connected services with Samsung

Kia and Hyundai is going to integrate the Samsung “SmartThings” connected platform into their cars. This will allow anyone with a suitable device and has access to Samsung’s service to be able to control from their car. If, for some reason, you wish to learn more, click here to read a Top Gear article on the matter.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: RICHARD HAMMOND ON MY WEEK IN CARS

We are recommending watching this 59 minute interview of Richard Hammond by Steve Cropley and Matt Prior. They chat about his past, present and hopes for the future. This is a really sensible and grown up discussion about steps towards sustainability without going off the deep end. Click here to watch.

LIST OF THE WEEK: CLASSIC CAR FONTS

Daniel Goldson makes a great case for the wonderfulness of classic car fonts. He has compiled a slideshow of options for you to pick from, which you can see via this Jalopnik link here. Don’t forget to tell the chaps your favourite.

AND FINALLY: SNIFFING OUT THE PAST

Scientists are creating a ‘smell encyclopaedia’ to help give us an idea of how things smelt in the past. Included, is the Queen’s Rover. You can read more by clicking this Times article link here.

In this episode, Alan talks all about his 2019 Lexus GX460 Premium. Since this was recorded, the replacement GX550 has been announced, and Alan has taken it on a 5,000-mile road trip to Wyoming and back. The 4.6 litre V8 has become more efficient over time; it’s underlined its ability to remain very comfortable for long periods of time, and, sadly, it still looks like Predator chewing a wasp.

Follow Up: RULES OF ORIGIN DELAY AGREED

Leaving it until almost the last moment, the EU and UK have agreed to delay implementing the rules of origin legislation, which would’ve hit car makers in both Europe and Blighty. This was expected to happen and there was an almost audible sigh of relief from the car industry. You can find out more on this, by clicking the link here from Autocar.

MCLAREN SHARE RESTRUCTURE DEAL

The Bahrain sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, has effectively become the sole owner of the McLaren Group after the complicated share structure was reorganised. This has prompted many to believe (or hope) that means future model development and the move to EVs can occur with some confidence. If you wish to read more on this, click here for Sky New’s version of the story.

VW DETAILS COST CUTS AS IT AIMS FOR $11B GAINS

Following extensive discussions with the works council, Volkswagen has announced its plans for saving that will net gains of $11 billion by 2026. Steps include speeding up development, a more efficient purchasing strategy and reducing staff costs. There will be no redundancies but vacancies may not be filled. To find out more on the latest strategy from VW, click this Reuters link here.

BYD TO BUILD CARS IN EUROPE

BYD has announced it will build cars in Hungary, where it will hope this is a work around for any potential tariffs for Chinese built cars. No date has been announced when the works will be completed and car will start coming off the production line. Click this Autocar article link for more.

NIO RECEIVES INVESTMENT FROM ABU DHABI

NIO, the battery swap EV company, has received $2.2 billion investment from a fund backed by CYVN Holdings. The company has been struggling and made a net loss of $2.03 billion in 2022. They announced they would be delaying entering the UK market, last year, with no date being given where that would change. To read more, click this Nikkei Asia article link here.

KIA ANNOUNCE NEW CEO OF EUROPE OPERATIONS

Marc Hedrich, the former Ford VW Group and Toyota executive, has been revealed as the new President and CEO of Kia Europe. He started his role on 1 January 2024. If you wish to find out more, click this link to a JustAuto article.

CAZOO NEEDS URGENT ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Cazoo, the online retailer, has declared that it needs urgent funding before the second half of 2024 to remain in business. You can read more, by clicking this link to an AMOnline article.

DAIHATSU PRODUCTION STOPPED AT JAPANESE PLANTS

Daihatsu has stopped all car production in its four Japanese plants, following revelations of falsifying safety and testing data. Toyota, the parent company, has declared that “fundamental reform” is needed at the company. This problem effects not just Daihatsu and Toyota but also Mazda, and Subaru models that the plants built. Click this Sky News article link for more.

STELLANTIS POSTPONES AGENCY MODEL MOVE IN UK

Maria Grazia Davino, Stellantis UK Managing Director, has paused the move to agency model contracts with dealerships after the breakdown in trust with the group. The recent National Franchise Dealers Association survey results had all of the Stellantis group companies at the bottom of the rankings, with poor value being cited as a major factor. Problems stem from combining FCA and PSA to form Stellantis. You can read more by clicking this link here from AMOnline.

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

REVIEW OF 2023

The chaps run through the stories and topics that cropped up time and again over the course of 2023, on the show. For another look at 2023 you can click this link to an Autocar article.

MOTORING PODCAST PREDICTIONS FOR 2024

Alan and Andrew list their predictions for the coming year. Below is each of the selections.

Alan’s Predictions

Negative - New car registrations will struggle during the year, particularly the Private segment.

Positive - The EV public charging infrastructure will catch up during the year, particularly main road stations.

Silly / Wild Card - Tesla will unveil their long anticipated Tesla 2, which will have a launch price of $25,000.

Andrew’s Predictions

Negative - As it is an election year, motoring gets dragged deeper into the “culture wars” with more nutiness, lunacy and lies spouted.

Positive - Car makers will go for lightness and educating us about what ranges we actually need, so smaller batteries can be fitted.

Silly / Wild Card - People and organisations will give up on using flawed and incorrect data and information to make points or educate the public.

Follow Up: CRUISE FIRE NINE EXECS IN ACCIDENT AFTERMATH

Following the internal investigation by GM, into the incident where a pedestrian was dragged by a Cruise driverless vehicle, nine executives from the company have been sacked. Departments affected include Legal, Government Affairs, Commercial Operations and Safety and Systems. On top of that General Motors has stated that it is cutting 900 staff from the offshoot. Click here to read more, from The Register.

Follow-Up: FRANCE EV SUBSIDY ELIGIBILITY LIST PUBLISHED

France has published a list of electric vehicles that will be eligible for governmental subsidy, following the inclusion of production environmental calculations. Surprising no one, but Chinese made vehicles will not get financial help. This will come into force from 1 January 2024. You can read more, by clicking this link here to an electrive article.

FOLLOW UP: CLEVEDON WIGGLY LINES ROAD CHANGES AGAIN

An independent investigation into the controversial changes to Clevedon’s sea front has recommended reinstating some diagonal parking spaces. Many are still unhappy with this, wanting a return to the original layout before any changes were made. Additionally the council is investigating if they need to return the funding, if they make these changes, and how to pay for it. This link here, will explain more thanks to the BBC News article.

EU VOTES FOR CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS SECURITY LAW

With the push to electric vehicles the risk that the region could be held to ransom by other countries has pushed the EU Parliament to vote on bringing a law regarding critical raw materials. This will require up to 45% of recycling, as well as increasing the amount extracted in Europe. Click here to read more in an electrive article.

TESLA RECALL DUE TO AUTOPILOT FLAWS

Tesla has been forced to announce a recall for their Autopilot system in the US, which is the name for their driver assistance technology such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and the likes. They are delivering it by an over-the-air update. The results are more frequent reminders for the driver to pay attention. To find out why this has happened, click this link to an electrive article.

For a bit of background to all of this, click this link to a Rolling Stone article written by Ed Niedermeyer.

CARIAD TO CUT COSTS INSTEAD OF JOBS

CARIAD, the software division of the Volkswagen Group, has agreed with unions to cut costs to prevent job losses. By 2028 there must be a reduction of costs of 20%. You can learn more by clicking this link to an Investing article.

GENERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS MANDATE MORE TECH

The new General Safety Regulations (GSR2) have been published. These tie together a few different regulations, into the one but also add more technology that must be fitted as standard on vehicles. This will obviously lead to a rise in costs. To find out more and exactly what must be fitted, click this article link from Autocar.

SCOTLAND TO INTRODUCE 20MPH URBAN LIMIT

Following in the footsteps of Wales, Scotland will be introducing a 20mph limit to “suitable” urban roads by 2025. More can learned by clicking this link to a TransportXtra article.

GREATER MANCHESTER CLEAN AIR ZONE INVESTMENT PLAN

In a move that will shock many, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has announced a plan to invest in technology and road schemes to ensure the region hits the air quality targets it needs to by 2026. He has stated this will not happen if they introduce a charge, which is the only tool so many other cities and regions use. To understand more, click this BBC News article link here.

SODIUM BATTERIES FAVOURABLE ALTERNATIVE STUDY FINDS

Chalmers University in Sweden has reported on their research that suggests sodium-ion batteries are a viable and better alternative to lithium-ion ones. The material is “abundant” according to them and thus is vastly better for the environment and from a cost perspective. This does not mention their durability or capabilities but it is encouraging, nonetheless. Click this electrive article link to learn more.

NEW ON-STREET CHARGING OPTIONS COMING TO ESSEX

Qwello, a German EV charging company, has won the bid to install 70 on-street chargers in Essex. Their chargers can also double as street lights. You can find out more by clicking this electrive article link here.

CABLE THIEVES HIT EV CHARGE POINTS

Three Osprey rapid charge points have been hit by cable thieves who have removed the charging cables thus rendering the units inoperable. They aren’t the only ones to be hit. One person has been arrested. Click this article link from Harborough FM to learn more.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE CAR PARKS HIT BY QR CODE SCAM

Cotswold Council is warning that no one should scan any QR codes on their car park payment machines due to a spate of illicit codes being fixed to the regions machines. You can learn more by clicking 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 -

Citroën e-Berlingo

Citroën has revised the e-Berlingo, with changes to the front end look, bringing it in line with the recently revealed e-C3. Also, the battery and motor technology has been improved, providing a range of up to 199 miles over the current 175. Click this Autocar article link to learn more about the car.

LEVC L380 EV

Another entry into the luxury MPV sector has arrived, this time thanks to the London Electric Vehicle Company - the latest black cab maker. There will be a choice of configurations, from eight seats to a more luxurious six. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Old Car Dead News - Renault Zoe

After 11 years on sale, the Renault Zoe is being removed from the lineup. The company are citing that it is to make room for the Renault 5 EV but others within the company also confirm trying to make it comply with the latest GSR2 regulations would be prohibitively expensive. You can read more by clicking this Autocar link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: IF THE MIATA LOOKS HALF AS GOOD AS THIS CONCEPT I CAN’T WAIT

This week we return to the Japan Mobility Show, as Matteo Licata talks us through the gorgeous Mazda Iconic SP concept. One of the few bright sparks this year, in terms of car design, he explains a lot of the finer details and joins us in hoping this is very close to production ready. Click here to read the article from Hagerty.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 42 OF THE WORLD’S BEST POLICE CARS

A huge selection of fabulous looking police cars, from across the globe. Do not forget to tell the chaps your selection from the many, many options. Click here to see what they are, thanks to Top Gear.

AND FINALLY: FIRST POLE TO POLE DRIVE COMPLETED

Congratulations to Julie and Chris Ramsey for completing the first ever pole-to-pole drive and for doing it in a Nissan Ariya. Only modifications are to enable huge tyres to be fitted. Superb effort. Read more on this by clicking this Top Gear link here.

AND AND FINALLY: FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL 2024 TICKETS ON SALE

The Festival of the Unexceptional 2024 tickets are now on sale. Click this link to read more from Hagerty, also within the article is another link to take you to the sale site.

Follow Up - EU and UK Agree to 3-Year Rules of Origin Delay

UK and EU politicians have agreed to delay the introduction of EV Rules of Origin by three years—more details in this Autocar story.

Follow-Up - Tesla Vs. Nordic Unions - Unions Ahead

Tesla continues to rebuff cooperation with Nordic unions, making life hard for Tesla. The Guardian covers this in more detail in the story linked here.

New Car Registration Figures for November

UK new car registrations were slightly up in November, but the percentage of EVs is down slightly. Lots more and all of the numbers on the SMMT website.

UK Motorists Continue To Be Overcharged For Fuel

According to the RAC, the gap between wholesale and retail road fuel prices has narrowed but is still too broad. More here from Autocar.

Euro NCAP States The Obvious

Euro NCAP has declared that bigger, heavier SUVs present “safety concerns” to other drivers and pedestrians. Autocar explains more in this article.

Sixt Migrates to BYD EVs While Hertz Steps Back From EVS

Rental company Sixt is swapping Tesla for BYD after concerns about repair costs and residuals. Hertz is dialling back the speed with which it’s introducing EVs to its fleet. Jalopnik has more detail in this article.

More Government Money For New Motorway Rapid Chargers

UKGOV has set aside £70 million to fill the gaps in open-access motorway rapid and ultra-rapid chargers and ensure at least six chargers at each. Autocar has more detail here.

EV Charging Companies Continue Evolving To Try To Make Money

BP Pulse is expanding its rapid charger network, while Podpoint focuses on home and workplace chargers instead.

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Suzuki Swift

Suzuki has unveiled a revised Swift. The outside is a bit rounder, and the interior has fewer buttons. Much more information is available from Autocar.

Morgan XP1

The Morgan 3-wheeler is a magnificent machine, and Morgan’s hard at work on an electric version. CAR magazine has lots more details here.

Stellantis Battery Swap Stations

Stellantis is considering introducing multi-brand battery swap stations, starting with the Fiat 500e in Madrid. Autocar has the full story.

LUNCHTIME READ: MEGA Yacht Builder Builds Mega Overlander

Yacht builders know something about squeezing luxury and clever storage into small spaces, so it was only a matter of time before one incorporated their skills into a vehicle. Arksen has unveiled their Unimog-based “Project Everest”. It’s fantastic, and Jalopnik has the details.

LIST OF THE WEEK: Top 10: Used Cars Everyone Should Own Once

Building on a recent LOTW in which Autocar named 50 cars everyone should drive once. This time, it’s ten cars everyone should own at least once. Here’s the list.

AND FINALLY: Frankel’s Favourite Car is a Tractor

Frankel’s a little slow to an obsession I’ve had since I was barely a teenager - small Japanese tractors. Here’s the story from Goodwood Road and Racing.

Follow Up - Volta Trucks Saved by Venture Existing Backers

UK-based Volta Trucks has been saved by a venture capital fund that had previously invested them. There’s more about this in the Autocar story linked here.

Follow-Up - Welsh Speed Limit Changes Cause Consternation

Some roads in Wales are now subject to many more changes of speed limit than before. This BBC story highlights one extreme example.

VW to Cut Jobs In Bid To Increase Competitiveness

The Volkswagen CEO has claimed that it is “no longer competitive” and will be taking advantage of the “demographic curve” to reduce staff numbers ahead of the previously-announced 2029 date for dismissals. More from Autocar here.

£20bm Investment Boost for UK Auto Manufacturing in 2023

The SMMT has announced the latest figures for investment in UK manufacturing as well as the government’s Advanced Manufacturing Strategy. There’s more about this on the SMMT website, linked here.

Call for “Euro-Kai Car” for small, urban EVs

In an effort to save the small car, European lobby group ACEA is pitching for legislation to encourage small, urban EVs. You can find out more in the Autocar story linked here.

Tuner Fined for Fitting Illegal Exhaust Mods

The DVLA has fined West Yorkshire tuner AET Motorsport for fitting a ”pop-bang” map and removing the catalytic converter from a Fiesta ST. Find out more in this Car article.

Geely & NIO sign Strategic Partnership on Battery-Swap Technology

Geely and NIO have signed a strategic partnership to develop battery standards, swapping technology, network expansion and development, swappable model development, and battery asset management. Big news, and you can read more in Geely’s press release here.

Induction Charging Road Installed in Detroit

An induction charging test road has been installed in Detroit to test the system's robustness in real-world conditions. Find out more in this article from Jalopnik.

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 Bigster

Dacia has revealed their first model bigger than the Duster, a chunkily-styled 5-seat SUV available as a petrol mild and full hybrid. A competitor for the Ford Kuga and other, the Bigster is slightly larger, but expected to cost under £40,000 when it’s introduced tot he UK in 2025. Find out more in this article from Autocar.

Dacia Duster

At the same time as announcing the Bigster, Dacia has revealed the new 2024 Duster. More sophisticated than the current model, it offers more of the same value and practicality. There’s more detail and a video walk-around in this article from Car.

LUNCHTIME READ: Why GM’s GMT400 Truck Design Remains Legendary After 30 Years

In the week the Tesla Cybertruck was “delivered” to its adoring fans you can learn about the story behind one of the best-loking and enduring American pick-up trucks of the 20th and 21st Centuriesin this article by Adrian Clarke for The Autopian.

LIST OF THE WEEK: The Car World’s Most Famous Design Flaws

In an ironic twist where the list itself is flawed, this week’s LOTW comes from Autocar and outlines some of the most well-known issues with cars. You can check it out and choose your favourite here.

AND FINALLY: Ad Break: The Rover 100 was a Limo in Miniature

Antony Ingram looks at print advertising for the Rover 100, inferring its limousine status in New York. You can read the article by clicking on this link to Hagerty UK.

NISSAN TO INVEST FURTHER IN SUNDERLAND PLANT

Nissan is investing a further £2 billion in their Sunderland facilities, with the confirmation that the next generation Qashqai and Juke, both to be electric only, will be built alongside the Leaf. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

HYUNDAI BRINGS GENESIS OPERATION IN HOUSE

Hyundai UK is brining the administrative operations of the Genesis brand, in-house from early 2024. On top of this, there will be a move away from an online only presence with some showrooms being utilised. More can be read on this by clicking through on this Autocar link here.

JLR UPGRADES SECURITY ON OLDER MODELS

Older models from the Range Rover brand are being retrofitted with improved security, after a flaw has been exploited by thieves for several years. JLR has spent £10 million in fixing the issue and updating customer cars. Click here to find out more, from Autocar.

TOYOTA HILUX ADVERT BANNED

A Toyota Hilux advert that showed off the capabilities of the four-wheel drive pick up has been banned for being socially irresponsible, in the eyes of the Advertising Standards Agency. Watch out car makers, do not show your vehicles doing what they were designed for. Click this link to the AMOnline article, to find out more and also see a video showing you what is now deemed socially irresponsible.

PARIS TO VOTE ON WEIGHT BASED PARKING CHARGES

The Mayor of Paris has announced that Paris citizens will be given the opportunity to vote on basing parking charges on the weight of cars. Any internal combustion engined car over 1.6 tons or EVs over 2 tons, will be charged extra if the plans are approved. To find out more, click this electrive article link here.

INDUCTION CHARGING POSITIONING STANDARD AGREED

SAE International, the global standards organisation equivalent to BSi, has agreed upon an induction charge aliment standard, based on the Mahle solution. The German based company calls their system DIPS, Differential Inductive Positioning System. More can be read on this, by clicking this electrive 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 -

Peugeot e-3008

Peugeot has revealed their next generation 3008, whilst being an EV which is to be expected they have, unfortunately for fans of the current generation, decided to make it a coupe SUV. Brave move cutting off a huge chunk of your existing customer base by making it less practical and attractive to families. Click this Autocar link to find out more.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric

If you do need a practical electric vehicle, then Vauxhall may have the car for you in the form of the Astra estate EV. With a maximum range of around 256 miles, prices start at £39,995 but top of the range is from £45k. You can see more, by clicking this Autocar link here.

Callum Skye

Callum design company has revealed their first bespoke vehicle, an electric 4x4 with wild rally raid-ish looks all in a small footprint. Plans are to build a small number and the price point aimed at is £100,000. We really like this and Alan is searching down the back of his couch for spare change as we speak. Click this Autocar article to find out more.

Hyundai Tucson

A face-lifted Tucson will be available from Hyundai in May 2024. Whilst we are struggling to spot any differences to the exterior looks, the inside is refreshed. The wide digital screen is now brought across from other vehicles in the range and the drive selector is mounted on the steering column. But most importantly, is the return of buttons and knobs for heating control. This Autocar article link will tell you more.

LUNCHTIME READ: FORD’S FAILED TAKEOVER OF ALFA ROMEO

Back in the 1980s Ford returned to Italy to try and buy one of their car companies, once again they failed. Click this Hagerty link to read more from Matteo Licata as he tells us what happened.

LIST OF THE WEEK: ELEVEN 21ST CENTURY HOT HATCHES WITH 1980S SPIRIT

Antony Ingram has compiled a list of hot hatches that evoke the spirit of the 1980s versions. As ever, expect a few odd ball suggestions, that are worthy of consideration. Click this Hagerty link to see your options and do tell the chaps which you’d go for.

AND FINALLY: AFFORDABLE UK MOTORSPORT

The HubNut YouTube channel brings you a cheap UK motorsport option, effectively autocross but in a quarry! Click this link to find out more and also see the video notes on how to find something near you. What a wonderful idea!

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT OWNER SERVED NOTICE ON UNPAID WAGES

An ex employee has served a legal notice on Recharge Industries, the “owner” of the failed battery manufacturer Britishvolt, for unpaid wages. If the money is not forthcoming, the firm could be pursued further with bankruptcy proceedings being an option. Click this link to read more from The Guardian.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE HALTS ALL OPERATIONS AND CEO RESIGNS

Cruise has now halted all ride-hailing operations, even those with human safety drivers. On top of that Kyle Vogt has resigned as CEO of the company. Also departing is fellow co-founder Daniel Kan. You can see more by clicking this link to an article from The Register, which shows a timeline of recent events including the astonishing creation of a chief safety officer ten years after the company was formed.

TESLA HITTING A UNION WALL IN SWEDEN

Tesla is refusing to allow a Swedish union to use a ‘collective bargaining agreement’, with the members of the IF Metall union in their repair centres. They have been trying to get the company to do this for five years. They are now on strike and as is the way in Sweden, other unions are showing their support by refusing to do work with or for Tesla. You can find out more, by clicking this link to an Associated Press article.

UK GOVERNMENT PLEDGES CASH TO FIX SOME POTHOLES

The UK Government has made a big announcement at how they are allocating some of the money that would have been spent on HS2 to fixing some of the potholes on our roads, over the next eleven years. Unfortunately, as Paul Lomax makes clear, it is a drop in an ocean of underfunding, which you can read more by clicking this Twitter thread here, for context. To find out more on this story, click this Autocar link here.

UK GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN EV AUTO INDUSTRY

The UK Government also announced that it is assigning £2 billion to help the automotive industry transition to the new zero emission market. However, as the chaps and the Business and Trade Select Committee in Parliament point out, this is welcome but where is the strategy or this is just throwing money without a plan. If you wish to learn more, click this link from Autocar Professional.

AMAZON US TO SELL CARS FOR HYUNDAI ONLINE

Amazon and Hyundai announced that they will team up to sell cars online in the United States, from late 2024. Full details have yet to emerge, including how will full prices be declared. On top of that, Hyundai will be adding Alexa to their new cars from 2025. Click this BBC News article link for more.

MERSEYSIDE POLICE USE CAMERAS TO CATCH TRAFFIC OFFENCE VIOLATIONS

Merseyside police are using a camera system that spots if drivers are using a mobile phone with their hands or occupants do not have their seatbelts on. To clarify, it is not “AI” it is image recognition. More can be learned by clicking this BBC News article link here.

M49 GHOST JUNCTION GIVE LEASE OF LIFE

The M49 has a junction on it that leads to no where as the access roads were not built in 2020. However, the UK Government has agreed to fund £7 million to help enable the works to be completed. Click this BBC News article link to find out 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 -

Subaru Forester

At the LA Motor Show the new Subaru Forester was revealed. Essentially a heavy facelift, but expected with a new hybrid powertrain when it comes to the UK. Whilst details are sparse, the price is expected to increase and be £40,000 or slightly more. Click this CAR article to read more.

Polestar 5

Also from LA, Polestar revealed their new range topping car, the 5. A large saloon, with oodles of power and space, that is being engineered in the UK. Details can be found by clicking this link here to an Autocar article.

Porsche brings Google apps to their cars

Porsche is u-turning on their previous decision not to allow Google apps in their cars, for privacy reasons, as the issues with Group in-house CARIAD software continues. To learn more, click this link from The Verge.

Toyota steer-by-wire system

Toyota will be bringing their steer-by-wire system to the bZ4X and Lexus RZ in 2024, meaning a yoke-style steering wheel can be used. The One Motion Grip (stop sniggering) as the system is named, with have a 200 degree ratio, which is a tweak on the 150 degree previously for a more natural feel. Click here to read more from an Autocar article.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE ESCORT COSWORTH IS A LEGENDARY RALLY MACHINE THAT’S HIDING A BIG SECRET

The Autopian brings us the story of how the Escort Cosworth came to be, especially from such seemingly humble origins. Fantastic read that is well worth checking out, which you can do by clicking this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE HERO CARS OF THE 1980S

Autocar has compiled a list of, what it claims, are hero cars of the 1980s. They ask if we agree and we do not, in all instances. But there are a host to pick from, which you can check out by clicking this link here. Don’t forget to tell the chaps your choice.

AND FINALLY: THE HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR 2023 WINNER

We, once more, bring you the Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2023, as they now announce the overall winner that will be made into a model for their range. Click this Top Gear link to read more and see some of the astonishing details of the car, making it a worthy winner.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT FINALLY CREATES AMPERE

Renault has finally announced the creation of Ampere, the new division responsible for developing their EVs, circular economy and software for the Group. At the time of recording there was no mention of the IPO that was discussed when first announcing the entity. Click this electrive article to read more.

FOLLOW UP: RIVIAN ENDS EXCLUSIVITY DEAL WITH AMAZON

Rivian and Amazon have announced that the exclusive deal to supply the retail giant with electric vans is no more. Amazon were pulling down far fewer vehicles than expected, therefore Rivian needs to open its books up to more companies to ensure the business is viable. To read more, click this link here to an electrive article.

AUTOMATED VEHICLE BILL ANNOUNCED IN KING’S SPEECH

During the opening of Parliament, King Charles III’s speech announced the plan to introduce the automated vehicle bill. This has taken several years and multiple public consultations. Key elements will be who is held responsible and in which situations, along with companies being held responsible for exaggerating their system’s capabilities. The devil will be in the detail, however. If you would like to learn more or possibly just read some utter tripe quoted, click firstly this link to an Autocar article and then try this link from Top Gear.

BMW TO LAUNCH UK ‘HANDS FREE EYES ON’ SYSTEM IN 2024

BMW is bringing a system that humans cannot handle, with their Level 2+ ‘Motorway Assist’. This is, similar to Ford’s BlueCruise, that requires the driver to continue to watch the road even though they are not holding the steering wheel. To repeat ourselves, there are many studies that show humans cannot manage this task, but that is not stopping the deployment and that the driver will still be help responsible for something they are being set up to fail. To read more on this, click on this Autocar link here.

UK TESLA OWNER REIMBURSED FOR FAILED FSD PROMISES

Using the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Ed Butler claimed that Tesla had breached their contract with him in not producing the promised Full Self Driving enhancements after he paid extra for the package. Tesla settled out of court, paying the original sum plus interest and legal costs. Click here to read more, from InsideEVs.

ASTON MARTIN INVESTOR INCREASES STAKE IN COMPANY

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has returned to being the number two investor in Aston Martin, just ahead of Shufu Li, Geely Chairman. This continues the incremental increases from the three major shareholders, who all appear locked in some sort of bizarre game. You can learn more by clicking this link to an Automotive News Europe article.

EDINBURGH BANS PAVEMENT PARKING

Edinburgh Council are bringing in a new rule to ban pavement parking, even though there is a law that makes it illegal to obstruct a pavement already. We are unsure how adding a new rule to something that isn’t being dealt with will help alleviate the issue, but there you go. If you wish to know more, click this BBC News article link here.

MAINE VOTES FOR RIGHT-TO-REPAIR LAW

The citizens of the US state of Maine have voted for a right-to-repair law to be made part of the legislature. This is the fifth state to bring such a law into place. Click this link to read more from The Verge.

US COURT RULES CAR MAKERS CAN INTERCEPT TEXT MESSAGES

A court in the US state of Washington, has ruled that four car makers did not break the state’s privacy laws by intercepting and keeping owner’s text messages. This reiterates how messed up the US is, when it comes to privacy. Put this alongside the recent report from Mozilla about car data and it paints quite a bleak picture. You can learn more by clicking this link from The Record.

US INFRASTRUCTURE BILL REQUIRES CAR ‘KILL SWITCH’

More of the press are picking up on what some spotted last year, when the Infrastructure Bill was announced, that from 2026 cars must be fitted with a ‘kill switch’. This is supposed to spot if the driver is impaired or incapable of driving safely and stopping the vehicle automatically. This is going to be quite the feat as the technology does not exist that can a) safely pull a car over in all conditions and b) spot if someone is impaired. If you would like to learn more,click this link to The Gentleman Racer who was discussing this in January 2022.

BLOODHOUND PROJECT SEEKS NEW DRIVER

As the Bloodhound project brushes the dust of itself and seeks new funding for a sustainably fuelled attempt at the land speed record, they are also looking for a new driver. To find out more, click this link from Autocar.

ULTRA RAPID CHARGING POINTS FOR STARBUCKS

Some Scottish Starbuck locations will be getting ultra rapid charging points, thanks to a partnership between the coffee shop and FOR:EV. Click here to learn more, from electrive.

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 -

Volvo EM90

Volvo has revealed the EM90, a luxury MPV along the lines of the Lexus LM we discussed a few weeks ago. This will be an all electric vehicle based closely on the Zeeker 009, with a potential for up to 458 miles of range. To learn more about the details, click this link to an Autocar article.

Volkswagen ID.7

VW has revealed more details and the price of the ID.7, which will start at £55, 570. Lower specification versions, as well as an estate, are expected to follow the launch model. For all the details, click this link from Autocar.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

Mercedes are replacing the C and E coupes with one model, the CLE. This will come in a host of configurations, trim levels and engine options. Prices start at £46, 605. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Rivian Electric Van

Following the end of the exclusivity deal with Amazon, Rivian are now open to new fleets. But what are the vans all about? Click here to find out the details thanks to The Autopian.

Nissan Electric Car Subscription Service

We missed it at the time but Nissan started a subscription service for their electric vehicles. Click this link from Fleet News to find out more.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE ALFA ROMEO 33 STRADALE STORY

Matteo Licata brings us yet another history lesson, this time all about the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale’s difficult birth. To read this fascinating story, click the link here from Hagerty.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR FINALISTS

The finalists have been found for the 2023 Hot Wheels Legends Tour, where the overall winner will be selected. They are all pretty amazing. Click this link from Top Gear to see more. Do you agree with Alan’s choice?

AND FINALLY: THE RIMAC NEVERA HAS A WORLD RECORD BACKWARDS

The Rimac Nevera now holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest car in reverse, with a speed of 171mph. That is utterly nuts. Click this link, from EVO, to find out more about all this.

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT STAFF NOT PAID FOR MONTHS

Recharge Industries, the company that has bought Britishvolt, although not finalised payment yet, has not paid UK staff for the last four months. Once again, the poor staff let down by management. If you would like to read more, including how much belief employees have in the assurances given, click this BBC News article link here.

FOLLOW UP: JLR PARTS ISSUE TO LAST INTO 2024

JLR have confirmed that they are improving the repair parts backlog, they’re experiencing. With the steps being made, they anticipate getting back on track in 2024. The issue has been acknowledged by CEO Adrian Mardell. To read more, click this Jalopnik article link here.

FOLLOW UP: TESLA NOT FOUND LIABLE FOR MODEL 3 CRASH

A jury has decided that Tesla and their Autopilot software are not responsible for the accident that led to the driver’s death and passenger injuries, back in 2019. The claim was the software was faulty, there are arguments that how lawyers are pursing such cases is flawed and will ensure they never win such cases. If you want to read more about the case, click this article link from The Register. To find out more about why Michael DeKort thinks the legal cases are destined to fail, click this LinkedIn post link.

OCTOBER 2023 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

The SMMT published the figures of the new car registrations for October 2023. A big jump in registrations over all, but BEVs only managed to capture 15% market share, which is less than in previous months. Another concern, for the industry, is how reliant they now are on Fleet registrations as Private remained the same as last year. Click here to read more, from the SMMT.

SMMT CONNECTED AND AUTOMATED MOBILITY REPORT

Sticking with the SMMT, they published a report based on KPMG research in to the potential connected and automated mobility aspects of the industry. Whilst a lot of it is incredibly optimistic in terms of potential earnings, impact and job creation, one chart caught Alan’s eye regarding which could be the sectors fastest and most likely to become automated and take advantage of connectivity. To learn more, click this link from the SMMT.

DRIVERLESS FIFE BUS NOW DRIVEN BY A HUMAN DRIVER

The bus that runs between Ferrytoll Park and Ride near Inverkeithing and Edinburgh Park, which is testing an autonomous driving system now is being fully driven by a human driver. You can read more, by clicking this link to a The Courier article.

jLR POSTS RECORD REVENUES

In the last quarter, JLR posted record revenue figures as demand for the Range Rover Sport and Defender was strong. Nice to be able to say something positive about JLR. Click here to read more, via The Guardian.

EDINBURGH COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SUV BAN

Edinburgh Council’s transport and environment committee has agreed to consider if SUVs should be banned from some roads in the city. Some of the tired cliched and false tropes were wheeled out, unfortunately. The chaps do point out the fallacies in some of what was said. You can read more, by clicking this link here to a BBC News article.

LIVERPOOL TO INVEST £10M TO INCREASE EV CHARGERS

On-street charging will get a boost in the Liverpool areas as £10 million is being earmarked to increase the number of chargers. If you would like to read more, click this electrive link here.

ARRIVA ORDERS 34 MORE EV DOUBLE DECKER BUSES

Arriva has order 34 more electric double decker buses, for its London fleet. This will take their number to over 100 for the operator. Click this electrive article link 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 -

Toyota Prius

In a surprise move, Toyota is brining the latest Prius to the UK after disappointing the internet by saying it wasn’t. We hope you all go out and buy it or we won’t get nice things in the future! You can read more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

Skoda Superb

Skoda are updating the Superb, which will be slightly longer, wider, bigger inside, nicer, have more tech, essentially betterer than before! A huge range of powertrains and spec levels. Once again, we need to buy the estate or companies will stop making them. Click this link, to read more from Top Gear.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The first EV from Hyundai to get the N treatment is an odd choice, it being the Ioniq 5. Alan and Andrew both love the comfort, serene cabin and ride, hence their surprise this will get oodles of power and get the N Grin Boost mode. Prices start at £65,000 for the performance version, with the chaps reserving full judgement until they get the opportunity to try one out. Click here to find out more, thanks to CAR.

Aston Martin DBX

Aston Martin are refreshing the interior of the DBX which has mainly remained the same since first coming to market. Out goes the Mercedes derived infotainment, to be replaced by Aston’s own. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

Mercedes have revealed the details for the latest E-Class estate. For some bizarre reason, the UK mainly only gets the sporty trims, with associated ride. Click this Business Car article link, to learn more.

LUNCHTIME READ: AKIDO TOYODA’S STILL PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Road & Track have a fascinating and rare interview with Akido Toyoda regarding his time in charge of the company. Even if you are not a fan of his or Toyota’s this is an insight into why decisions that have been made have and the reasons behind them. Click here to read more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: SEMA 2023

CAR has listed their highlights of the US modification motor show, which Andrew picks his top of the pile from. To see what options you have to pick, click this link here. Don’t forget to tell the chaps what you would want.

AND FINALLY: TOYOTA LUNA CRUISER

Toyota has revealed a concept for a lunar buggy, that would be part of a Japanese landing on the moon. We think it looks great, click this link here to read more from Top Gear.

To watch a short video, click this YouTube link.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE PAUSES DRIVERLESS TAXI SERVICE

Both Califoria’s Department for Motor Vehicles and Public Utilities Commission have revoked Cruise’s license to carry fee paying passengers in their robotaxis. Cruise, following this, has “paused” the operation of their fleet. This all stems from an incident on 2 October 2023, where a car driven by a human hit a pedestrian and they were knocked into the pathway of one of Cruise’s cars which could not stop in time and trapped the pedestrian underneath the vehicle.

The DMV claims Cruise shared partial video that showed up to the point of the vehicle stopping. However, the DMV now states there was more as they were not shown that the Cruise vehicle tried to move to the side of the road with the lady still trapped beneath the car.

The DMV stated that “the manufacturers vehicles are not safe for public operation”.

To read more click this Vice article link here.

For the next stage of the story, click this Tech Crunch article link here.

To read the DMV’s own documentation on their decision, click this link here.

For Cruise’s Twitter post regarding their pause, click this link.

Forbes have a thoughtful piece on what has happened and what Cruise can and should do next. To read that, click this link here.

FOLLOW UP: MERCEDES USER MANUAL FOR DRIVE PILOT

Mercedes-Benz has now released the user manuals for their Drive Pilot Level 3 automated driving system. Looking at the documentation there are a number of inconsistencies and contradictions. Click this link to a piece from Philip Koopman on LinkedIn highlighting the issues in the text. Reading the information, we wouldn’t use the system as we have no idea if we would be held accountable or Mercedes, in the event of an issue.

STELLANTIS TO SELL LEAPMOTOR VEHICLES IN EUROPE

Following a £1.3 billion investment in the Chinese EV maker, Leapmotor, Stellantis will start selling their vehicles in Europe from 2024. No details have been revealed as to what models they would be. We also ask if it is the technology side of things that Stellantis is really after. You can read more, by clicking this link to an Autocar story.

RAC STATES FUEL PRICES ARE UNFAIRLY HIGH

The RAC has explained that all fuel retailers should be lowering their prices by at least 5p per litre, thanks to the drop in wholesale costs. They also point out how this is helping to ensure that inflation remains high. If you would like to read more, click this TopGear article link here.

VOLKSWAGEN TO CUT THOUSANDS OF JOBS

Volkswagen has announced that CARIAD, the software division of the VW Group, will bear the brunt of job loses that the board has agreed can take place. On top of that, the update software for their car’s operating systems is to be delayed 16 to 18 weeks. That is not the end of the bad news, as the next generation OS, 2.0, is being rewritten therefore the deployment in 2025 looks unlikely, at best. Click this Reuters article link here, to learn more

VOLVO TO ALSO BUILD EX30 IN EUROPE

Following the political statements from both Europe and China, Volvo has take the prudent step of declaring that their Ghent factory will also build the EX30, from 2025. Previously all production was expected to come from China. To learn more, click this AMOnline article link here.

JLR TO BUILD EVS AT NITRA PLANT

In a move that should surprise no one, JLR has announced that they will transform their Nitra Plant, in Slovakia, to be able to build electric vehicles by 2030. This is their newest site, which opened in 2018 and has built over 365,000 Discovery and Defender vehicles. Click this Autocar link to read more.

TOYOTA HYDROGEN FOCUS TURNS TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Toyota has announced that it will be moving its focus, for the development of hydrogen vehicles, from private cars to commercial vehicles. They say, following world wide experiments, that the lack of infrastructure is the stumbling block for private owners. To read more, click this Autocar 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 -

Mercedes-AMG GLE 53

Another week another SUV coupe (and regular SUV in the case) being updated, this time from Mercedes-AMG. A 3.0 litre straight-six engine will be mated with a hybrid system, for the first time. The PHEV version will do around 50 miles on electric drive alone. For more information, including the dizzying number of powertrain choices and outputs, click this link to read an Autocar article.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Follow the confusion, last week, for the chaps and the naming system of Audis, Mercedes steps up to the plate to befuddle Andrew and Alan. The EQS SUV is getting a better battery and improved efficiency. Later next year, the EQS saloon will also get this. Yes, for some reason Merc EVs don’t follow the convention of SUVs having a ‘G’ designation. Sigh. Anyway, if you want to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The first EV from Hyundai to get the N treatment is an odd choice, it being the Ioniq 5. Alan and Andrew both love the comfort, serene cabin and ride, hence their surprise this will get oodles of power and get the N Grin Boost mode. Prices start at £65,000 for the performance version, with the chaps reserving full judgement until they get the opportunity to try one out. Click here to find out more, thanks to CAR.

Ferrari 296 Challenge

Ferrari has revealed their new car for the FIA-homologated own brand championship that takes place in North America, Europe, Japan and the UK. Obviously not road legal, but quicker and better than the outgoing 488 Challenge Evo. This is based on the 296 car, but with the hybrid system removed so it is relatively light too. If you want to find out more, click this CAR article link here.

Ferrari 499P track car

If the 296 Challenge is not exclusive enough for you, Ferrari think they have you covered. For a mere £4.6 million (plus VAT) you can get ACCESS to a derestricted 499P hypercar, based on the Le Mans winning vehicle. This access is in the form of nine racing events a year, for two years, at specific tracks that Ferrari designates. For those with incredibly deep pockets and an urge to race behind closed doors, click this Autocar article link to find out more.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: AUTOSHENNANIGANS TRACKS DOWN THE “F1” CAR THAT APPEARS IN HIS M8 VIDEO

Following the release of the M8 video, on the Autoshennanigans YouTube channel, many have mentioned and asked about what appeared to be a yellow F1 car that was in a drone shot. Well, John tracked down the owner who agreed to appear on the show and talk about that car and others he’s owned. Do enjoy, which you can do by clicking this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE TRIUMPHS AND DISASTERS OF NAMEPLATE REVIVALS

Alan chooses one model name that has been resurrected which seems to have gone well, whilst others on the list have not. Have a check of this Autocar link to see if any stick out to you. Don’t forget to tell the chaps which one you selected.

AND FINALLY: BELGIUM STUDENTS WIN SOLAR RACE DOWN UNDER

A student team from Leuven, in Belgium, has won the Australian Solar Race, with their innovative design that carefully married aerodynamics with a large surface area to fix the maximum number of solar panels too. On top of that they added a sail, which helped with stability and occasionally propulsion, if the wind was in the right direction. Click this Autoevolution to read more.

JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023

Alan and Andrew are rounding up the motoring element of the Japan Mobility Show 2023, which is the replacement for the Tokyo Motor Show. The organisers have expanded the remit and potential audience. There are stands about everything from wheelchairs to private jets and all things between.

TINY CARS

As this is Japan you can imagine just how many tiny and kei cars there were. We have picked only a small fraction to discuss.

Honda CI-MEV

Daihatsu ME:Mo

Daihatsu UNIFORM Truck and UNIFORM Cargo

Daihatsu Copen

SPORTS CARS

In selecting all the cars that are in here, some stretching of the definition of “sports” has occurred. Do bear with us as we try to explain why the choices that have been made, have been made.

Honda Prelude

Mazda Iconic SP

Honda Sustania-C

Toyota FT-3e

Toyota FT-Se

Nissan Hyper Force

ELECTRIC SUVS

As you would expect, there was a lot of electric SUVs on display. Here we have picked some of the more interesting ones, to our eyes.

Nissan Hyper Punk

Nissan Hyper Adventure

Toyota Land Cruiser Se

Toyota EPU

FEEDBACK

As this is only the second time we have tried to do this multimedia style approach, where we are showing what we discuss (if your player can display the photos), we would like your feedback. We know there are things to improve, but if you could let us know if the efforts we have gone to are okay or not, that would be great.

CALLS FOR RULES OF ORIGIN AGREEMENT STRENGTHENED

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reinforced its call for an agreement to be reached between the EU and UK over rules of origin delay. The SMMT has outlined what the average price increase would be for vehicles coming into or out of the UK and EU. You can read more about the potential impact by clicking this link to an SMMT article.

The UK Government has stated that if a satisfactory agreement with the EU cannot be reached over rules of origin it would just make their own rules up. That have not clarified what these would be, nor how they expect them to help UK based companies. Click this Autocar article to read more.

CHINA EXPORT TARIFFS APPLIED TO GRAPHITE

China will be imposing an export tariff on certain grades of graphite, which is used in the manufacture of electric car batteries. This will mean that homegrown batteries will be cheaper than, those built using the material abroad. To learn more, click this electrive link here.

£200M NET ZERO DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

The UK Government has set aside £200 million of the net zero funding to enable four demonstration projects for the viability of electric HGVs. This is a move to help encourage and demonstrate the positives of moving to the UK haulage industry. In order to read more, click this link here to a Current News article.

UK GOVERNMENT URGED TO IMPROVE ROADS OUTSIDE THE SOUTH

A report from the National Infrastructure Commission has called on the Government to improve on the amount of money allocated to the Road Investment Strategy being spent on the Midlands and the North of England. Only 22% goes to projects outside the South, which looks bad but there are a few reasons for why this is the case. To read more, click this article link from Autocar.

VOLTA TRUCKS ENTERS BANKRUPTCY

Following supplier Proterra going into administration and an inability to raise more funding, Volta Trucks has entered bankruptcy in Sweden, with it following suite soon in the UK too. Management are trying to find a buyer to take it on as a going concern. Click here to read more, via Autocar.

JLR’S HUGE REPAIRS PARTS SHORTAGE

Car Dealer Magazine has an exclusive report on 10,000 JLR vehicles being affected by the company’s huge parts shortage issue. Digging into the problem, it is clear the situation has been made so much worse with a huge consolidation project that combined a number of warehouse facilities into a new single site, changing parts supplier and combining a number of legacy systems into a new one. As Alan, who’s day job is just this sort of thing states, “that’s courageous”. If you would like to read more, click this link to the original scoop here.

ALPINA FOUNDER PASSES AWAY

Burkard Bovensiepen, who was the founder of ALPINA, has sadly passed away at the age of 87. He helped create an incredible company that was involved in not just making BMWs so very special. To learn more about his life and what he helped build, click this TopGear link here.

GREENWICH COUNCIL LOSES EVERY PENALTY CHARGE APPEAL

From July 2022 until September 2023, Greenwich council entered “no evidence” to all appeals against traffic penalty notices issued by them. This meant it was an automatic win for those appealing. The reason given was said to be a lack of staff, but this has now been rectified. However, if you are in London you have nearly a 50% change of winning any appeal. To read more, click this BBC News article link here.

STUDENT INVENTS AFFORDABLE EV CONVERSION KIT

Australian student, Alexander Burton, has won an award for his idea of helping make almost any internal combustion engined car become a hybrid. Behind each wheel there would be an electric motor fitted that would power the vehicle. We chat through this and question the sums quoted and practicality of it all, as we struggle to see how it could be built and installed for what he claims. However, that is not to say we don’t admire the thinking. Click this dezeen link here to see more.

PILOT FOR WIRELESS CHARGING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS

The northwestern part of Kashiwa city, not far from Tokyo, will be trialling wireless EV charging by placing them on sections of the roads that traffic has to slow down to run on, such as traffic lights. The idea being frequent and short charging will help boost an EVs range. You can learn more by clicking this link from The Register.

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 -

Citroën e-C3

Citroën has shown us the e-C3, the replacement for the C3, which will be an electric SUV with a starting price of £23,000. This is to be aplauded! Finally, an EV that doesn’t cost in excess of £30K and be called “affordable”. What is less encouraging though, is the looks. Click here to view the concept Oli, from Citroën’s own article. Now compare that to the e-C3, which you can do here by clicking the link from CAR. Where’s the funky and fun on the e-C3? How is that “Citroën”?

Delage D12

This week’s ridiculous and questionable car, comes from Delage, the long dead French car brand. A V12 hybrid hypercar that looks more at home in a computer game than the road, this £1.7 million car is one of a number of models planned. We’ll be amazed if any actually get made and bought. Click this Autocar link here to read more.

Jaguar F-Type ZP Edition

The F-Type is bowing out in expensive style. Costing from £134,925, the special edition will only have 150 car built, with only 10 of those slated for the UK. At that price, one is deep into Porsche 911 territory. To learn more about the details, click this EVO article link here.

Mercedes-AMG GLA45 S

The top of the range GLA is being refreshed next year, with no changes to the performance, but there is to the looks and the headlight technology. Yes, really. Also expect to pay closer to £70,000 for one too, or whatever that translates to for PCP. If, for some reason, you wish to learn more, click here to read about it via EVO.

Audi A4

In 2024 the A4 will be going all electric, with an expected range close to 400 miles. There will also be an ICE version, but this will be named A5, thanks to the recent naming convention change from Audi. No real details yet, but if you’d like to look at what Autocar think it will look like, click this link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: KKANGOO JAMBOREE

Every year thousands of Japanese Renault Kangoo fans meet up to share their passion for the French car. This year was the fourteenth anniversary of the event. Click here to see Renault’s own press release.

Click here for the CarThrottle article, that includes the livestream link you can watch.

LIST OF THE WEEK: NINE OF THE BEST CAR INTERIORS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Top Gear once again bring us a list worthy of sharing with you. This time it is all about the interiors, and to be frank there are no bad choices here. Click this link to view the options and don’t forget to tell the chaps what you’d like to own.

AND FINALLY: DRONE FOOTAGE OF THE RIMAC FACTORY

A one-shot fly through of the Rimac factory, including the production line, is a wonderful way to round out this week’s show. Click here to see more, thanks to Design News.

DOJ CHARGES EBAY OVER ROLLING COAL DEVICE SELLING

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in the US, has taken eBay to court over allowing ‘rolling coal’ devices to be sold on the platform. These manipulate the control of engines and allow for huge plumes of black smoke to be emitted by vehicles. eBay says it cut so many out and does all it can. The fine, if found guilty would be a maximum in the region of $2 billion, but as its an American company it will not be that high. Click this CNBC article link to learn more.

BATTERY RECYCLING PLANT OPENS IN WOLVERHAMPTON

Battery recycling firm, Recyclus, have opened their new Wolverhampton operation that will eventually enable them to process up to 22,000 tons of lithium ion batteries. Called ‘urban mining’, such operations will be vital in bringing down the environmental impact of our electrified future. You can learn more by clicking this electrive article link here.

WAE TO BUILD EV BATTERIES IN OXFORD FACTORY

WAE will produce electric batteries, mainly for heavy plant vehicles, in its new £20 million factory, located near Oxford. The UK has a thriving heavy plant manufacturing industry and home built batteries will be vital to ensuring the viability of that sector. If you wish to learn more, click this link to an Autocar article.

AUDI CUTS BACK PRODUCTION PLANS FOR Q4 ETRON

Plans to build the Q4 eTron in Audi’s own Brussels plant have been put on hold as demand is not enough to meet the capacity at the VW Zwickau factory. Workers in Brussels have gone on strike as their contracts are changed to fit the new future. Click this electrive article link to see more.

MERCEDES-BENZ EACTROS 600

Mercedes has revealed the 2024 eActross 600, a lorry capable of travelling 310 miles on a single charge, with a payload of 22 tonnes. With regular, legislated stops and charging whilst taking required breaks, will allow it to travel 600 miles easily. For more on this, click here to read more via Green Fleet.

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 -

Toyota C-HR

Toyota has announced pricing for the new C-HR, with it starting at £31, 290 and topping out at £42,720 for the range topping Premier Edition spec. Click this Autocar article link to find out all the details of the car and options for powertrains.

Lexus LBX

The LBX is a small crossover, that is based on the underpinnings of the Toyota Yaris Cross, which will be the new entry level to the brand. Prices start at £29,995 and go all the way up to £40, 545 for the Takumi Design spec. You can find out more by clicking this CAR article link here.

Kia EV2

Kia announced several new planned models, which we start with covering the baby one, the EV2. The brand aims to have an entry price of around £25,000 when it comes out in 2026 and is to be city car sized, targeting the likes of the Corsa, Peugeot 2008 and suchlike. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Kia EV3

Next we move onto the Kia EV3, a baby SUV, due out next year, which will replace the Soul for less than £30,000. Looking at the size and price point this will be quite popular. For more on this, click here to read via Autocar.

Kia EV4

This will be a saloon/fastback style car, instead of another SUV. The aim is to take on the likes of the Polestar 2. Again, not due until 2026, there are scant details on the vehicle. But, to learn as much as we all do, click this Autocar link here.

Kia EV5

Back to SUVs and one that is initially aimed at China, but we will be amazed if it does not end up here too, the EV5. Continuing to use the ‘Tiger Face’ design language, this smart SUV is aimed at families. Click here to read more, from the CAR article.

BMW X2

BMW has revealed the new X2 and iX2, which will now come as a smallish SUV coupe. It is utterly hideous, click this link to see exactly how bad it is, thanks to an Autocar article.

Skoda to stop offering sat nav for free

Skoda is experimenting with what customers will or will not accept as paid for extras, including if there is an appetite for subscription services. Sat nav, automatic headlights and adaptive cruise control will now be paid for extras. Click this Autocar link to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: STRANGEST THING ABOUT THE HUGE FIRE AT A BRITISH AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE IS HOW PEOPLE REACTED TO IT

Following the fire at the Luton Airport car park, the loons of the internet rushed from underneath their rocks to scream about how is was an EV and clearly an EV when the fire service stated it was a diesel vehicle. The Autopian brings us a read on how nuts it has all been, from the outsiders perspective. Click here to read how mad it looked from afar.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE 19 VANS YOU NEVER KNEW YOU WANTED

Top Gear give an brilliant list to pick from, click here to check it out and make your choice. Don’t forget to tell the chaps which you would have and if their choices were decent or not.

AND FINALLY: FLORIDA MIGHT CHANGE A ROAD NAME IN HONOUR OF JIMMY BUFFETT

A Florida lawmaker is asking the state to change the name of the A1A costal highroad, to the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway. Click here to read more via an CNN article.

FOLLOW UP: CHINA UNHAPPY AT EU SUBSIDY PROBE

In a move that should surprise no one, China has complained about the process and speed of the EU’s investigation into the possibility of state backed subsidies for Chinese EV makers. Click here to read the Reuters articlewith plenty of quotes from China making it clear there will be ramifications.

FOLLOW UP: PENDRAGON SUITERS DOWN TO TWO

The Hedin Penske bid for Pendragon has been removed, which leaves two suiters. A report this week has suggested that the AutoNation offer can increased and take it well above the Lithia Motors proposal. If they do, the board of Pendragon are expected to recommend AutoNation. You can read more by clicking this article from AMOnline, here.

SEPTEMBER 2023 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

No matter how positive many are trying to be about September’s figures, they were dreadful. Overall, whilst better than 2022 and ignoring the Covid years, it was the lowest since before 2007, EVs failed to break 16% again, private EV rates are down 14% and you have to wonder how long fleet registrations can prop up the industry. On top of all of that, the reporting on this has once again been poor. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) inevitably calls on the Government to support private buyers so that more cars can find new homes. Click here to read the SMMT’s official post.

GOVERNMENT UNVEILS “THE PLAN FOR DRIVERS” DOCUMENT

Last week the Transport Secretary revealed a document called “The Plan for Drivers” which is a 30-point plan aimed at helping to make driving less of a chore in the UK. If you would like to learn what the plan exactly entails, click here to read the document from the .GOV site. For a summary, click this Autocar link here.

JLR IN TROUBLE WITH ASA

The Advertising Standards Authority has banned an advert for the Range Rover Sport SVR from JLR. The ruling cited that the main message was about speed, which contravenes the CAP Code rule 19.4. JLR disagreed, but when the time from 0-60 was the second of two sentences, it is easy to see how the ASA came to the decision it did. You can read more, by clicking this AMOnline link here.

POLICE USED VAN TO STOP RUNAWAY CAR

A man called the police, in order to get them to help him find a way to stop his car that was stuck at 30mph. Eventually, they used a police van, which acted as the brakes, to bring to vehicle to a safe stop. There is no current understanding as to why the accelerator was jammed on. We hope when the reason is found that is reported to all of us. To read about this story, click here for the BBC News version.

VOLVO NAMES NEW UK MANAGING DIRECTOR

Nicole Melillo Shaw has been named as the next managing director for Volvo UK, following the news that Kristian Elvefors will be leaving the brand. Melillo Shaw is currently their commercial operations director. Click this AMOnline link to learn more.

BMW ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT

There are several new names at several senior management positions within BMW, including Christopher Brownridge who is taking over the role of CEO at Rolls Royce following the announcement that Torsten Müller-Ötvös is leaving after 14 years at the helm. To learn all of the changes, click this electrive article link here.

To read about Müller-Ötvös’s career and achievements at Rolls, click this Autocar link here.

EXPERTS BEGIN TO WONDER WHY ADAS IS SWITCHED OFF

EuroNCAP and Thatcham, the testers and campaigners for safety technology to be fitted to cars have stated that they blame drivers for switching off driver assistance technology in cars, as many have begun to question why death and injury rates are not falling after so much is fitted to cars. You need to listen to Alan and Andrew pull the statements from the two companies apart. To read this week’s Ledge of Fury™️article, click this Autocar link here.

INDEPENDENT GARAGES CAN ACCESS OBD PORTS COURT RULES

The European Court of Justice has ruled that car makers cannot restrict independent garages from being able to access on-board diagnostic systems. AMOnline have more detail on this important news, which you can read by clicking this link here.

ASTON MARTIN AWARDED GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Aston Martin has been awarded £9 million to develop an all new battery electric platform. You can find out what this means, by clicking this Autocar 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 -

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda continues to update their offerings and following on from last week, announces the revised Kodiaq, their top of the range large SUV. Improvements to styling inside and out, as well as technology help to raise the profile of this vehicle. There will be the wide range of powertrains and prices are expected to be slightly up on the current range. Click this Autocar link to learn more.

GM to return to Europe

General Motors has announced it will return to Europe, initially in Switzerland with five other countries to be expanded into announced at this stage. They will be bringing the Cadillac brand initially, with the electric SUV Lyric being the first model offered. To read more on this move, click here for the Autocar report.

Audi cancels plans to build flagship model in Hanover

Audi has confirmed that they will not now be building the unnamed flagship model, which is the culmination of the Artemis Project, in Hanover but at Nekarsulm. There is still no date to when this will take place either. The chaps question why this is happening and if it is a sign of more problems for Audi or speaks of wider issues within the VW Group. Click this electrive link to find out more.

VW to stop Up production

Volkswagen has announced that the popular Up model will cease production. The move isn’t really surprising as Euro7 rules loom and that the sister brand’s models also have been pulled from sale in the last few years. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: ESTATES OF AMERICA

Top Gear go for a drive in an Audi RS6, to learn about the fascination for some, in station wagons (it is the US after all). Click this link to read more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST MODERN AND RETRO CAMPERVANS AND RVS IN THE WORLD

Autocar provides you with a host of options for almost any type of holiday you might wish to take. Some of the promotional pictures, particularly for the older models, are glorious too. Click here to run through the choices and do let the chaps know what you would have.

To see the first video in the RV rescue series, from Budget Buildz, click here.

AND FINALLY: HUBNUT TESTS A TALBOT MATRA RAncho

Ian Seabrook finally gets to test out a Talbot Matra Rancho. Click this YouTube link to enjoy the HubNut video on this special car that was ahead of its time and would not look out of place being made today.

FOLLOW UP: ZEV MANDATE FINALLY ANNOUNCED

The Government has finally published the details of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. As we discussed last week the expected percentage minimums of zero emission vehicles sold per brand have remained from the consultation. However, there is no additional detail from 2030 to 2035 except there being no new internal combustion engines sold from 2035. Click here to read the Autocar article on the story. To read the SMMT’s response, click this link here.

UK ROAD DEATHS RISE

The statistics on road deaths and injuries have been released by the UK Government. Deaths have risen, for the first time since 2017, but overall incidents are slightly down. Remember it is pointless to compare with 2020 and 2021 figures, therefore one needs to look to 2019 for comparison. Also, note that there is a lot of information and it is handed to us in a variety of formats, which you need to make sure you are aware of if reviewing the data. Click this link here to read Autocar’s summary. If you would like to review the data, click this Government link here.

YEW TREE CONSORTIUM INCREASES ASTON MARTIN STAKE

The Lawrence Stroll led consortium, Yew Tree, has increased their stake in Aston Martin, once again. They continue to be the largest single shareholder. In order to learn more, click here to read the Reuters article link.

PENDRAGON DEALERSHIP CENTRE OF BIDDING WAR

A trio of US-based bids have been received by Pendragon, for their company, after revealing record profits for the first six months of the year. There have already been increases in bids and counter offers, therefore this may not end anytime soon. You can learn more by clicking this link here to a Car Dealer Magazine article.

PERTH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CONTRACT REMOVED

Stuans, the family owned dealer group, has unceremoniously lost their franchise agreement with Toyota, following no consultation or warning. The sites in Dundee and Perth will now be run by Eastern and Western Motor Group. This one is quite personal for Alan and he goes on to explain how little choice Scottish buyers now get. If you would like to learn more, click this AMOnline article link.

VW HIRES EX TESLA AND RIVIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Volkswagen has brought in a non-VW employee to their CARIAD software division, in a shock move. Sanjay Lal, has previously worked at both Tesla and Rivian, as part of his 25 year career. He is being tasked with trying to improve the speed and quality of software development at the company. You can read more by clicking this InsideEVs article link here.

FLEET DATA SHOWS EV TYRES ARE REPLACED MORE OFTEN

Fleet data, analysed by epyx, indicates that EV tyres are being changed 6350 miles ahead of the petrol and diesel engined cars. Whilst there are many nuances and questions, it does appear that the heavier weight is having a knock on effect. More analysis is required but it is good to get actual data from actual real world use. Click here to read more.

MERCEDES LORRY GOES 1000KMS ON SINGLE HYDROGEN TANK

Mercedes-Benz drove a lorry, at its maximum gross weight, over 1000kms in Germany, on a single tank of hydrogen. This is an impressive feat. Unfortunately, there was no where to fill it up at the destination, but this achievement highlighted the potential and some of the existing constraints for the technology. You can read more, by clicking this link to the electrive article.

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 Kamiq

Skoda has face-lifted their small SUV, with minor touches to the external looks and improved technology on the inside. Going up against the likes of the VW T-Cross, Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka, Skoda hope this freshening up will lure buyers, as will the starting price of £24,070 for the entry level SE, rising to £29,275 for the range topping Monte Carlo spec. To find out more about engines and the upgrades, click here to read the CAR article link.

Skoda Scala

Not content with refreshing one model, Skoda have also given the Scala a spruce up. This small-ish hatchback which sits between B and C segments, has also been given the latest Skoda look, with the latest technology. Prices start at £22,095 for the SE and top out at £27,795 for the Monte Carlo. All engines are internal combustion, the same as with the Kamiq. Once again, CAR give all the fine details which you can read by clicking this link.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport

Whilst the Rennsport Reunion was underway, in the US, Porsche revealed their limited edition, track only, 911 GT3 R Rennsport model. Essentially a slightly rebodied derestricted GT3 race car. Costing a cool $1,000,000 we presume all have been bought by specially chosen customers of Porsche. You can read all about it here, after clicking this CAR link.

Nissan to stop selling ICE vehicles after 2030

We were surprised by Nissan’s announcement that would would only release new EVs from now on and that they would stop selling ICE cars from 2030, but only because we thought they had done so already. If you would like to learn more about what this means, click this Autocar link here.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: YEAR LONG RESTORATION

Soup Classics motoring brings this week’s recommendation. Be warned, it is long, but wonderful. Either give yourself permission for a long lunch or watch in stages. Also, if you don’t already, do subscribe to this channel as the work is top quality. Click here to watch more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: WORST REST STOPS IN THE WORLD

This is effectively a US list, which we may poke a little fun at, for the disconnect with the title. However, its not the list but the horror stories associated with each nomination that make it so good. To run through several scaring road trips, click this Jalopnik link here.

AND FINALLY: THE UK HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR 2023 WINNER

We said we would, and now we have, brought you more details on the fabulous car that won the UK leg of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2023, the MG B-EAST. To learn all about the work and the astonishing detail and dedication click this CAR link here.

GOVERNMENT DELAYS 2030 ICE-ONLY BAN

The Prime Minister announced that he was putting back the date when the sale of new internal combustion engined cars and vans would be banned in the UK, to 2035. This caused much comment, especially from an angry car industry. Click here to read about that, from Autocar. For an explanation as to what has changed, ie. nothing, click this LeasePlan article link.

ZEV MANDATE TO REMAIN DESPITE NEW 2035 ICE-ONLY BAN

Whilst much was made of the change in the 2035 date for the banning internal combustion engined only cars and vans, especially by the Government, the zero emission vehicle mandate is to remain in place. The Government is to demand car companies sell a percentage of zero emission vehicles despite adding five years to the deadline and thus making the job harder for those trying to sell cars. To find out more, about this idiotic move, click this Autocar link here.

FRANCE REVISES EV SUBSIDY RULES

France will change their electric vehicle subsidy rules, which means many Asian built EVs will not qualify for the financial assistance scheme. The French Government claim, in the face of calls of protectionism, that it is all guided by how green the manufacturing process of the vehicle is and China, for a random example, is still powered to a large extent by non renewable energy sources, according the France. In order to learn more, click here on this Reuters article link to learn more.

EDINBURGH AIRPORT TO INSTALL 40 EV CHARGERS

Edinburgh airport is installing 40 EV chargers, a mix of 7kWh and 22kWh versions. Some will be time constrained whilst others will not. Click this electrive.com article link to read more on the story.

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 -

Audi Q4 E-tron

The revised Audi Q4 E-tron, for 2024, has been shown to us all. Improvements to the range, a new motor, better efficiency and revised suspension. The price, whilst not yet announced is to be slightly higher than the current version’s. To find out all the stats and info, click this Autocar article link here.

Oshe Okovango

Oshe have displayed their Okovango, a restomod version of the Land Rover Defender 90, that evokes the look of African safari vehicles. The price of this very attractive vehicle is £225,000. If you wish to learn more, click this Hagerty article link here.

Frontline LE60 and BEE EV

Frontline have taken the MGB GT and produced an electric only version as well as one with a Rover V8. They both look great and to read all the fine details, before their public reveal at Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble on the 8th October, click this CAR article link here.

David Brown Mini eMastered

Continuing the restomod theme of the show, this week, we discuss the restomod of an original Mini, with an electric powertrain. With only a small battery, that’ll do 110 miles, it is only capable of charging at speeds up to 6.6kWh. However, as one would expect for a vehicle priced at £150,000 the attention to detail is superb. You can find out more by clicking this CAR article link here.

Volvo will build no more diesel engines from 2024

Volvo has announced that it will not spend any more R&D money on diesel engines, nor will it build their own from spring 2024. Perhaps we are too wary with the wording of Volvo press releases but there didn’t appear to be the words “we will not sell a Volvo with an diesel engine” in all that. Click this CAR article link to see for yourself.

Audi to change their model naming rules. Again.

Audi has decided to change how it names it’s models, to help clear up any confusion we might have. Following their recent change to include 35, 45 and 55 which apparently helped consumers understand something better which we still can’t work out what they denote, all help is gratefully received. Audi will now name all electric vehicles with an even number and non electric are odd numbered, but electric vehicles will still retain the eTron moniker. Riiight, that’s all sorted then. If you wish to try and make sense of this, click this Autocar article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: PEDAL CARS AT GOODWOOD

Friend of the show, Alex Goy has written up the fascinating story of the Dron family and their link to the Goodwood Revival and how that now runs to a third generation. Click this Motor1 article link to read this really lovely story.

LIST OF THE WEEK: COMPLETE LIST OF THE CARS OF COLUMBO TV SERIES

We have managed to find a belter of a list for you this week. How about all of the significant cars of each Columbo TV episodes? We are linking you to a 34 page PDF that shows them all in order from episode one to the last. Click here to lose yourself back in time.

AND FINALLY: THE MAN WHO TAKES HIS VAN RALLYING

DirtFish provide the end to our show, this week. Takahiro Kitami has made modifications to a Toyota HiAce, to make it legal to rally, which he then does with some gusto. Click the link here to read more and watch the embedded video to see Kitami-san in glorious action. Brilliant!

INDUSTRY CALLS FOR MORE GOVERNMENT HELP

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called on additional help from the Government, to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. During their one day conference, called Electrified, they proposed four incentives that would help make the switch easier for the private buyer. You can find out more, by clicking this link here.

NEW EV MINIS WILL BE BUILT IN THE UK

BMW is investing £600 million in their Oxford and Swindon plants to enable it to build the new Mini Cooper Electric and the Mini Aceman. This secures around 4,000 jobs and does include some financial support from the UK Government. To find out more, you can click this Autocar article link here.

EU INVESTIGATES CHINESE STATE SUBSIDES

The European Union will begin an investigation into whether the Chinese Government subsidises their car industry and that gives them an unfair advantage in Europe. Alan and Andrew are quite scathing about how this situation has arisen and how this was a very obvious outcome but now politicians and the industry are equally surprised. Click this Autocar article link for more.

We recommend you also click this BBC News article link, as it gives some context to what that means to the UK and potential ramifications if a trade war is started.

SAT NAV WARNING OVER NEW WELSH 20MPH SPEED LIMITS

Sat nav manufacturers are warning motorists not to trust their systems after the recent implementation of 20mph zones across Wales. They are recommending that the software is updated and to be watchful of the speed limit signs on the roads. To read more, click this BBC News article here.

If you would like to see the extent of the new 20mph zones, click this link to a map showing just how many or few roads are actually affected.

UK ROAD REPAIRS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN FIVE YEARS

The RAC ha found that UK road and pothole repairs are at their lowest level in five years, with some councils carrying out no resurfacing work and many others doing no surface-dressing work. If you would like to learn more, click here to read the Autocar article explaining it all.

CALLS FOR UK GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN AV LAWS

Parliament’s Transport Committee has released a report outlining the areas the Government needs to tighten up the law for autonomous vehicles, if it wants a safe deployment of the technology. Where it is asking for language to be less vague and wooly is very admirable, but still there is the delusion that the way it is being developed will actually result in any safe AV operations is worrying. Click this link to read the committee’s report.

ELECTRIC CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE ONTO IN ADMINISTRATION

Onto, the electric car subscription service which wrapped up nearly all the costs of owning and running an EV into one monthly fee, has gone into administration. Legal & General, their major backers pulled out which gave the company no choice but to wind up operations. The rising cost of charging, interest rates and other cost of living issues combined with the fall in value of the cars they have on the books made the business unviable. To find out more, click this Autocar article link.

VILLAGE HOTEL CHOOSES IONITY AS CHARGE POINT PARTNER

Ionity will supply all Village Hotel locations in the UK with rapid chargers that will be open to both members and the public. These are expected to be all operational by the end of 2024. Click here to read more, thanks to electrive and their article.

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 -

Smart #3

Smart has revealed the #3, the bigger sibling to the #1. Following on with similar looks, but in a bigger overall package, the SUV is inoffensive if unexciting. There is a silly amount of performance for a family vehicle, but that seems to be the way with electric cars today. Click this CAR article link to find out all of the details.

Peugeot E-3008

The next generation 3008 has been revealed by Peugeot, first in electric only form, which includes a silly coupe SUV design. The external looks are quite smart, with the three claw mark motif being retained. The interior looks really nice and another evolution on the excellent work Peugeot have done in that department. Which makes it all the more confusing why they have made a family orientated practical vehicle, well, less practical. If you would like to learn more, click this CAR link here.

Fiat 600e

Fiat has shown us all the 600e, which has a lot of design touches of the 500 but in a much better resolved package than they previously managed with larger 500 models. This will come in electric only form and is the cheapest of the Stellantis options for the same sized vehicle, including the Jeep Avenger and Vauxhall Mokka. Click this driving electric article link to read more.

Volkswagen ID X

VW has showered the very dull ID.7 with stick on parts, a “sporty” interior and increased performance and called it the ID X. The chaps are thoroughly unimpressed by this car and the execution of the idea. To find out more, in a morbidly fascinated way, click this Autocar link here.

Jeep Recon

Jeep are aiming at the Defender Defender, with their model push in Europe and the UK. The Recon is bigger than the Avenger that is just out, and will be all electric with around about 600bhp. JLR will not have an electric version by the time this comes to our shores. If you want to find out more, click here for the Autocar article link.

ELegend EL1

ELegend, a German company, is building a very small number of electric homages to the Audi Quattro Sport. With huge performance and being hand built, there is a bit of a spicy price tag. But the car looks great. Click here to read more, from EVO.

LUNCHTIME READ: HOW THE AUDI TT WENT FROM DOODLE TO DESIGN ICON

Tim Stevens writes in Hagerty, for this week’s recommendation. The design classic that is the Audi TT and it’s history is explained. Thoroughly fascinating story, even if it did give Alan flashbacks to all the mood boards he saw at university. To read about the TT, click this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE FIRST ELECTRIC CAR MADE BY EVERY CAR MAKER

Move Electric supply this really interesting slideshow of first electric cars, from very recently all the way back to the near dawn of motoring time. Do you agree with Alan and Andrew’s choices? Don’t forget to get in touch and let them know after you click this link to find out what options there are.

AND FINALLY: FROM DRIVE EVENT TO DISASTER RELIEF

The UK Mazda PR Team were meant to be driving with a host of journalists through the Atlas Mountains, but the night before start was when the dreadful earthquake hit Morocco and the areas they were in and due to drive through. Click this link to a Guild of Motoring Writers article explaining how the Team reacted and did what we would all hope we would do in the same situation. Well done to all involved for trying to do what they could in dreadful circumstances.

NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR AUGUST 2023

For the first time, in a long time, the new car registration overall figure for August is close to those of the before times, being just under seven thousand less than 2019 numbers. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) jumped to a 20.1% market share for the month, unfortunately the year to date is still stuck in the 16s. The SMMT make it very clear they desperately need the Government to reveal what the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate will actually be as, astonishingly, they have not revealed what it will actually entail. Click here to read more about August from this SMMT article link.

NEW EV MINIS WILL BE BUILT IN THE UK

BMW is investing £600 million in their Oxford and Swindon plants to enable it to build the new Mini Cooper Electric and the Mini Aceman. This secures around 4,000 jobs and does include some financial support from the UK Government. To find out more, you can click this Autocar article link here.

CAMBRIDGE CONGESTION CHARGE CANCELLED

The plans for charging vehicles to drive in and around Cambridge, during peak times, has been shelved. The Lib Dems expressed “concerns” which removed much of the previous support for the scheme. Labour confirmed they too had concerns over certain aspects of the proposals. However, it was acknowledged that something will have to be done. If you wish to find out more, click this BBC News article link here.

EV NETWORK AND BP PULSE OPEN UK’S LARGEST CHARGING HUB

The NEC Campus is the location for EV Network and BP Pulse’s new charging hub, which is the largest in the UK. There are 16 rapid 300kW chargers and 150 7kW charging points, with provision for some accessible bays in both rapid and fast areas. Click this ZapMap article link to read more.

RICHMOND BOROUGH TO INSTALL 525 MORE CHARGE POINTS

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has announced it will be installing a further 525 on-street charge points across its area to bring the total up to 945. You can read more from the electrive.com article via this link here.

LIVERPOOL HYDROGEN BUS PROJECT SCRAMBLES FOR FUEL

A flagship hydrogen bus project, based in Liverpool, has not been running as the operator struggles to find a fuel supplier. The hope is for the situation to be solved soon, with the source also being sustainably produced. To learn more, click this link here from Hydrogeninsight.

Montpellier is cancelling their hydrogen bus experiment due to the high running costs, when compared to electric buses. Hydrogen has been calculated as six times more expensive that the equivalent electric. Click this Recharge article link to read more.

MOZILLA CLAIMS CAR DATA PRIVACY IS APPALLING

The Mozilla Foundation has investigated car brands over the collection, handling and protection of our data they take from our cars. The results can be classified as “ungood”, to say the least.

Click here to read The Verge’s article summarising the report.

To read the Privacy Not Included overview article, click this link here.

To run through the list from Privacy Not Included, of each of the car brands investigated and their individual reports, click here to go to the link.

For the final link, about what really worries the researchers following the investigation, click this Privacy Not Included article link here.

We cannot stress enough, that you need to read all these articles, you need to understand what is going on and what could well happen.

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 -

Toyota Century SUV

Toyota has revealed the Century SUV. Utilising the same understated looks but in an SUV form, Toyota brings another option to the chauffeur market. One query that has come up is if it is based on the same platform as the Lexus LM we recently covered. This was also questioned by The Autopian. Click here to read about the Century via CAR’s link.

To read an excellent piece from The Autopian, click this link here.

Lotus Emeya

Lotus revealed their much anticipated electric saloon. Their first saloon since the mythical Carlton. This car is very different. Huge amounts of power, even in “basic” spec and range between 304 and 373 miles depending on which trim level is selected. Prices for the S will be around £100,000 and start at roughly £120,000 for the top of the range R cars. To learn all about this car, click here to read more from Autocar.

VW ditch ID naming

Lost in all the hullabaloo over the Volkswagen Group deciding Seat will no longer make cars, we all missed that the VW ID naming prefix will also be ditched. Clumsy handling, poor products and muddled communication have all hampered the new EVs from Volkswagen. Click this AMOnline article to read more.

VW offering a rebate to Londoners thanks to the ULEZ

In an attempt to drum up more business, Volkswagen is offering a range of rebates for different models as long as you can prove you live in London and are eligible for the ULEZ scrappage scheme. To find out more, click this electrive.com article link here.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: FIXING A 280Z THAT’S BEEN DEAD FOR 21 YEARS

Ronald Finger walks us all through what needed to be done to fix up his Datsun 280Z which hasn’t run in 21 years. Of note is how easy it is to make a car “roadworthy” in Texas. But, as ever, Ronald’s films are wonderful, click here to watch this one on YouTube. Do subscribe to him as well, as we like to support those making good and interesting content.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THESE ARE THE MOST SCREWED CARS AT BURNING MAN

The Burning Man festival failed to live up to its name this year due to torrential rain just before the event was supposed to open. This caused the normally bone dry area to become a quagmire. This list is all about the cars most stuck, do you agree with Andrew’s choice of the saddest of all? Let us know after you click this Jalopnik link here to check out the options.

AND FINALLY: PORSCHE DOES NOT RECREATE BEETHOVEN

Porsche has failed to get a European trade mark for their electric car noise, which they likened to the opening bars of Beethovan’s 5th Symphony. The EU Intellectual Property Office did not agree with that opinion of the noise, in fact saying “he sound was not distinctive enough and could be applied to a variety of vehicles or their replicas.”. Ouch. To read more, click this link from EnergyPortal.eu.

FOLLOW UP: XIAOMI’S EV PLANS

Last week when discussing the approval of Xiaomi’s plan to build EV, Andrew should have clarified that this was the fourth to be given permission since 2017, not the fifth.

FUEL PRICE RISE HITS HARD IN AUGUST

Unsurprising to anyone who’s watched fuel prices over the last few years, petrol and diesel went up in August. That month when the UK takes to roads due to the school holiday. Prices increased by nearly seven pence per litre. To read more, including some of the justification of this, click here for the Autocar article.

ALMOST HALF HOMEOWNERS WOULD PAVE GARDEN TO CHARGE

Research by EO Charging found that 49 percent of homeowners would pave over their front garden, to make it easier to charge their electric car. This is despite 53 percent expressing concern in people paving over their front gardens. For further insight, click this link to read more at Motoring Research.

JLR TO USE SUSTAINABLY FUELLED LORRY FLEET

JLR (y’know, the lot that used to be called Jaguar Land Rover), will be running their lorry fleet on sustainable biofuel, from 2024. They estimate this will cut their road freight carbon emission by up to 84 percent. To learn more, click this link to the Autocar article referred to on the show.

TOYOTA, VW AND KIA PRODUCTION HIT BY DISRUPTION

Factories across the globe came to standstill in the last week for a variety of reasons. All of Toyota’s output in Japan ceased after an issue with a systems update. Kia’s factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, was shut following a fire. Volkswagen’s Slovakia plant stopped making the T-Roc following severe flooding in the region causing damage to a supplier’s operations. Click this AMOnline article link to read more.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES MAAS TRAVEL APPS STANDARDS

The Government has announced the guidelines for Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) apps.The aim is to make them more user friendly, safer and reduce costs for travellers. These apps are thought to be developed to contain public transport, road and micro-mobility information and costings. For you to learn more, click this link to an Intelligent Transport article. Maybe Alan’s dream app will finally happen?

FRENCH ROAD SIGN CAUSES CONFUSION

French authorities are testing a new symbol, to be displayed on digital road signs that indicate a lane is for car-sharing only. One tiny problem is, it looks a lot like the Renault logo, but following the company’s lawyers investigating no further action was taken. You can read more, by clicking this link here to a Connexion article.

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 -

Mini Cooper Electric

Mini has revealed their new Cooper Electric, which is the new name for the five door hatch version, which we all used to call the One. The dimensions remain, essentially, the same as the previous model, but inside has two centimetres more room. The design is smoother and more resolved, particularly around the front, than the last model. To find out more, including prices and specs, click this CAR article link here.

Mini Countryman

Not content with the Cooper Electric, Mini also showed off their new Countryman. This certainly has not been kept to the same size as the previous generation. The design is a smart evolution on the existing model, again better resolved than previously. For more information, click this link to a CAR article explaining all the details.

Volkswagen Passat

VW has shown us the next generation Passat. Of note, it is only available in estate form, which is good news for those of us who like estates. Other than that though, there is very little that is remarkable about this car. If you wish to find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

BMW Neue Klasse

BMW, to much fanfare, revealed their new design language via their Neue Klasse concept car. Both Alan and Andrew struggle to see what makes it a BMW or have any enthusiasm for the design that appears to ape other brands. You can make up your own mind by clicking this Autocar link to see more.

Roundup of IAA Munich Motor Show 2023

The original plan was for a Special Edition to be produced this week with our thoughts on the IAA Munich Motor Show, but we are so disappointed and lack any enthusiasm for anything revealed that has been canned.

Instead you can see what Autocar thought of it by clicking this link to their roundup here.

For CAR’s opinion, click this link to their roundup.

Polestones 01

We thought the bad old days of Chinese copycat designs was over, but it most certainly is not with the Polestones 01 SUV. Defender, Toyota and Hyundai lawyers must be looking very closely at this. Filled to the brim with tech, for both the powertrain, driver assistance and entertainment, though it is, that has not stopped them throwing the kitchen sink at it. Click this Autocar link to see more and do double takes on many of the photos.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Again another car the chaps should be so excited about which has failed to really ignite a fire. Alan postulates that the original was so good that anything was going to struggle. Whilst it is a good looking and impressive car, is it a £1.7m good car? We’ll let you decide if it is, which you can do by clicking this Autocar link.

Seat to stop making cars

Volkswagen finally throw in the towel and announce that Seat will no longer make cars. Instead they will become a ‘mobility brand’. Successive VW boards have failed the Spanish company, so much so that the promise for them did eventually happen but only when they created a sub brand in Cupra. Click this Autocar link to learn more.

LUNCHTIME WATCH AND READ: RADWOOD 2023

Andrew and Alan were hugely jealous of all of you that managed to make it to RADwood this year, celebrating everything ace about the 80s and 90s. We are linking you a video from HubNut, which captures the essence of what went on. Click here to watch that.

Also, we recommend you read this Hagerty piece too, which tells you about the Show and Shine winners and the Hot Wheels Legends Tour which selected the UK’s representative for the global competition. Click this link to see more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: INTERSTING FOUR-WHEEL-SALOONS WE FORGOT ALL ABOUT

Autocar provide another slideshow for us to pour over and select the one four-wheel saloon we’d like to have more than the others. Do you agree with the selections made on the show? Do let us know your choice.

AND FINALLY: SETTRINGTON CUP RUNS FOR 11TH YEAR

As a reminder that Goodwood Revival is on this weekend, we link you to a piece from last year celebrating the 10th year anniversary of running the Settrington Cup, where children race to their pedal cars and are cheered on along a course to see who can make it to the finish line first. Click here to read more.

The Motoring Podcast Watchalong party will start on Saturday just in time for this race to take place and go all through the afternoon, with the chaps coming back and doing it all again on Sunday! We hope you can join us and chat to us in the YouTube comments as we prattle on whilst watching. Don’t forget you need to have a separate window open with Goodwood’s own livestream playing as we cannot include it for understandable copyright reasons.

FOLLOW UP: BATH CAZ MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Following the introduction of a Clean Ari Zone (CAZ) to a portion of Bath, NOx levels have dropped by 26% and only 1% of vehicles entering the zone are non compliant. Bath took the approach of targeting taxis, vans, buses, coaches and lorries only. You can find out more, by clicking this BBC News article link here.

DAMAGE FROM POTHOLES ROCKETS IN JULY

July, in the UK, was incredibly wet which has help to make conditions that have led to a sharp increase in vehicle damage due to potholes. Drivers have not been able to establish if a puddle is shallow or to a depth comparable to Lock Ness. To learn more, including how to make a claim from the local council if you are unfortunate enough to damage your car, click this CAR link here.

DEVON ASKS FOR MORE MOTORING OFFENCES POWER

Devon County Council has started a public consultation on approval from residents to extend their powers to include prosecuting drivers for contravening some motoring offences. We are curious how some of the claims the council are making can actually occur by fining someone for going past a no entry sign. Click this link to a BBC News article to read more and also find the link to the consultation.

GLASGOW HYDROGEN PROJECT CANCELLED

Glasgow Council has cancelled their hydrogen refuse lorry project. Details are unclear as to why the decision was made. Alan and Andrew try to work it out with availability of suitable vehicles and the increase in the cost of hydrogen being likely suspects. They will now channel that money into electrifying their fleet. If you would like to read more, click this article link from FuleCellsWorks.

LEGAL TESLA CHARGER OPENS IN UK

Tesla has opened their first V4 chargers, in the UK. The significant improvements include a longer charging cable, meaning it should be easier to reach charging ports. But most importantly, is that they will finally be compliant with UK regulations and allow for contactless payment. Click this Top Gear article to read 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 -

Kia EV5

Kia have revealed their EV5, which is a smaller version of the seven seat EV9, with very similar external boxy styling. Whilst no details have been released regarding price, it is expected to be around £50,000, similar to the Skoda Enyaqi, Ford Explorer and Fisker Ocean. Click this link to an Autocar article to see the clean and minimal design both inside and out, as well as some very clever storage solutions.

Hyundai i20

Hyundai have given the very good i20 a refresh. Prices start at £20,770, with added safety tech, three new colours and the ability for over the air updates. To read more about this news, click here to an Autocar article link.

Mercedes-AMG GT

Mercedes has shown us a 911 for those who think the engine should be in the front. There is a striking similarity to the silhouette, but that is not us complaining as the car looks stunning. Details on performance are no less impressive. If you plump for poverty spec, at launch, you only get the GT 55, with a V8 that has a paltry 469bhp, 516lb ft of the torques meaning the car eventually drags itself from 0-62mph in a pedestrian 3.9 seconds. However, if you go for the GT 63, the V8 produces a more respectable 576bhp and 590lb ft of the torques, meaning 62mph is hit in a more satisfying 3.2 seconds. You can read more by clicking this CAR link here.

BAC Mono

BAC have decided to play a game of spot the difference with their new Mono. However, there are a number of changes, including using panels from the Mono R, as well as cabin updates and other areas that we will not see. Click this CAR article link to read more about the evolution of the Mono.

Porsche 914 restomod

Porsche restomods typically come from sunny California, well not this time, as Bakewell in Derbyshire is the location of Fifteen Eleven who has eschewed 911s and produced a fabulous 914 restomod. Click this link to read more, from Hagerty. To see more pictures and the philosophy behind their work, click this link to the Fifteen Eleven site, and check out the 914 page.

China approves Xiaomi’s EV plans

Xiaomi is only the fourth manufacturer to receive approval from the Chinese state planner to make electric vehicles, since 2017. This is worth noting as China is making big strides into the European and UK markets. You can read more, by clicking this Electrive article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: A MORGAN THREE WHEELER ROAD TRIP KICK STARTED MY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY

Friend of the show, Alex Goy, has written a new version up of his trip in a Morgan to Lisbon, with a Polaroid camera, now including the importance of it to his mental health journey. This is a fabulous read for a number of reasons, do click this link to the Jalopnik article here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE CARS FAST VANISHING FROM OUR ROADS

Autocar and another friend of the show, James Ruppert, provide our list of choices. Do you agree with the selections made by Andrew and Alan? Don’t forget to tell them. Click this link to see what they could’ve picked.

AND FINALLY: WANTED - THE ESCAPE OF CARLOS GHOSN

Apple TV now has a new documentary about Carlos Ghosn and his remarkable escape from Japan and house arrest. As we’ve covered this story from the start we thought you might be interested and want to watch it.

FOLLOW UP: CLAIMS WELSH 20MPH WILL CAUSE EMERGENCY SERVICES ISSUES DISPUTED

A Conservative Freedom of Informationrequest has led to accusations that the mandatory 20mph speed limit for urban areas in Wales will impede emergency services ability to fulfil their roles. This is disputed by both the Labour Government and the emergency services. You can read more, by clicking this BBC News link here.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE CUTS TESTING FLEET BY 50%

Following a collision with a fire engine, Cruise has agreed to a request that it cut it’s testing fleet by 50% in San Fransisco whilst an investigation takes place. The incident led to a passengers being taken to hospital but then released later. To find out more, click this link to and article from The Guardian. This last seven days have not been great for Cruise, click this Twitter thread to read just some of the issues their cars have had. To read why reducing numbers for testing will have a big impact on Cruise, click this Jack Stilgoe Twitter thread.

FOLLOW UP: TESLA IS SUING TWO EX-EMPLOYEES OVER HACK

Tesla has confirmed that the downloading of 100 gigabytes of data from company servers was an ‘inside job’ and that two ex-employees are being sued. Whilst the individuals involved should be pursued for breaking the law, this does not absolve the company. Huge questions still remain over the culture and attitude to privacy and security. One question to ask is “how could they access so much and so diverse information?”. Click this link, to a Quartz article, for more information.

FOLLOW UP: DVLA REMINDER SERVICE CLARIFICATION

After we discussed the confusion, over paper reminders from the DVLA, we have been contacted by them. Paper reminders are still available, you must opt out to not receive them. Thank you to the DVLA for clarifying this situation. Click here to check out the information provided by the DVLA over this.

TESLA EXECS APPARENTLY KNEW OF AUTOPILOT ISSUES

Engineers for Tesla, whilst giving deposition for another civil case following the death of an owner, have stated that executives knew that Autopilot could not detect cross traffic and did nothing to fix it. This will be of interest to the other organisations investigating many issues with Tesla. Click here to read more from The Register.

FORD MD TAKES ON UK CHAIR TOO

Lisa Brankin has added Ford UK Chairperson to her title of Managing Director. She is taking over the position following Tim Slatter’s move to Ford in the US. More can be read on this, by clicking the link here to an AMOnline story.

JLR RECRUITING 300 TECHNICIANS

As part of the push to an electrified future, Jaguar Land Rover are recruiting 300 technicians to their factory and development centres across the country. You can lean more by clicking this Autocar link here.

IVECO TO OFFER BATTERY SWAPS ON THEIR LCVS

Iveco, the light commercial vehicle manufacturer, are now offering battery swaps on the Daily range. This is not swapping as NIO do, but enabling owners to change the capacity of their batteries depending on the use case and if that changes. This appears to be a clever and interesting way for these vehicles to be kept on the road longer and for them to play multiple roles during their lifetime. Click this link to the Autocar article that explains more.

NIO DELAYS UK LAUNCH

Talking of battery swaps…NIO has announced that it is delaying its launch in the UK until they feel they have sufficient infrastructure in place, such as the battery swap locations, service centres and partners to help with all that. More can be found out by clicking this Autocar 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 -

Mahindra Thar.e

Indian car maker, Mahindra, revealed their Jeep rival, the Thar.e which it plans to sell in Europe and is rumoured to be interested in the UK market too. You can listen to how we are a bit unconvinced and feel it will be very difficult for the manufacturer to crack these targeted markets. We hope we’re wrong. Click here to see more, from the Autocar link.

Fisker Alaska

Following last week’s Fisker that we felt was very silly and pointless, here we discuss the Alaska, an electric pick up. Prices start at $45,400 (don’t forget that isn’t on the road price), with a variety of powertrains, battery configurations and subsequently different 0-62mph times. Expected to be in customer hands in 2025, we have some time to wait. In the meanwhile, you can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

Ford Mustang GTD

The outrageous Mustang GTD was revealed by Ford, as part of homologation requirements of IMSA and the GTD class. Costing around $300,000 there will be a very small number made, with some even making it to the UK. The technical details are expected to be as bonkers as the looks. Oh, and to be clear, the chaps do not advocate abducting Ford employees and making them produce more incredible sports cars. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Niels van Roij Fiat Panda 4x4 restomod

Niels van Rojj has turned his eye to a Fiat Panda Sicily 4x4 and created something wonderful and all for a seemingly reasonable price, considering how much typical restomods end up being. Do click this PistonHeads link to see more. Also, click this link to Niels’s own LinkedIn post about the gorgeous car.

Jaguar to end entire existing line up

Jaguar are going to cull their entire existing line up, including the I-Pace, before the relaunch of the brand, earmarked for 2025. As they will not be using any shared elements of the cars and that the new designs will be “exuberant” which has meant they will have their own bespoke platform and not share with Range Rover, Discovery and Defender vehicles. Click this Autocar article link to learn more.

5 year PCP from Vauxhall and calls from industry for EV help

Vauxhall has announced a 5 year PCP deal, on selected EV models. Click this link to a Stellantis press release to see the calculations.

Meanwhile, others within the industry are calling on the Government to help attract more EV buyers with the reintroduction of incentives. Some manufacturers are adding their own, without waiting to see if the Government will indeed help increase demand. Click here to read more from the Autocar link.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: HARRIS MANN PASSES AWAY

Harris Mann was behind some of the most controversial designs of British Motoring, as the original concept was them got hold of by management, engineering and British manufacturing in the 70s. Only in later years was his work recognised as being outstanding when more understood the truth. Click this link to AROnline to read a lovely obituary and retelling of his life.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: BEN PAYNE NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF DESIGN AT LOTUS

Following the shock death of Peter Horbury, Ben Payne has been promoted to vice president of design at Lotus. Click this Car Design News article link to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE ART OF A GOOD HAGGLE

Friend of the show, TV’s Paul Cowland has written another advice column for Hagerty. This time he gives us his vast knowledge on how to do a deal where neither party feels ripped off or scammed. Click here to read the sage advice from Paul.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE SIMPLEST CARS EVER MADE

Autocar once again provide the slideshow for you to peruse and consider when deciding if the chaps chose wisely or if you would do it differently, when it comes to the most simple cars made. Click here to check out your options and don’t forget to share your thoughts with Alan and Andrew.

AND FINALLY: WILL THE MINI-JEEP MAKE IT TO MOAB?

Take one lunatic Brit, one tiny jeep with an even tinier engine and the vast expanse of the US, mix them together and you get a wonderful series of videos as we hope to find out if they can make it to Moab. Click here for a link to the playlist with the first four episodes in it, but the fifth is in the normal channel area.

FOLLOW UP: britishvolt saga takes another twist

The buyer for the bankrupt Britishvolt company, Recharge Industries, has failed to make the final payment and is in breach of contract, according to the administrator. Recently we covered the news that the Australian head office was raided by tax officials and police. Click this Autocar Business article to find out more.

FOLLOW UP: TESLA RANGE CALCULATIONS EXPLAINED

Following the report that Tesla was deliberately misleading owners on the range of their vehicles, Car & Driver investigated how range was calculated in Teslas and compared that to other vehicles. Tesla appear to use a very simple formula which works in a very linear manner and does not adapt to conditions or driving styles. You can find out more, by clicking this link here.

FOLLOW UP: LISTENER FEEDBACK

Thank you, to Tony Wood, for writing in to us to tell us about the free Android app, called “Petrol Prices” which is available in the Google PlayStore, which uses crowdsourced information to tell you of the cost of fuel in areas of the UK.

Tony went on to tell us of his experience of traffic lights changing dependent on whether the car is being driven in excess of the speed limit or not. He confirmed this was done in Spain a decade ago and he thought it was an excellent way to encourage better behaviour on the roads.

If you would like to get in touch with us, please feel free to use our contact page, which is linked to here.

HOUSE OF LORDS ASKS FOR EVIDENCE ABOUT OUR EV TRANSITION

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has asked for evidence of a strategy and plan from the Government and wider public on the transition to EVs by the mandated dates. Click here to read the Autocar article but also to find links to the committee’s list of questions and how to respond.

CONFUSION OVER DVLA REMINDER SERVICE AND POST OFFICE CONTRACT

Thank you to Meilyr Williams for sending a Mastodon thread to Andrew about confusion over the changes to the DVLA’s reminder service, for car tax, which you can read by clicking here. Check it out and then go see if you are in the system for reminders or need to get on the list for reminders.

Additionally, we also we informed that the DVLA is looking to cancel its contract with Post Office, which will mean there will be no way to use a Post Office for any DVLA related services. Once again, the attack on those who are not on the internet or need to do things in person rears its head. Click this link to read more.

CAR INSURANCE PRICES HIT ALL TIME HIGH

Car insurance prices hit a record level, according to the industry itself. The blame is being put on the costs of repair increasing at an alarming rate. However, Andrew does have personal and recent experience that shows not all costs are justifiable. You can find out more by clicking this Motoring research article link here.

WARNING OVER CAR EMISSION STICKER REQUIREMENTS in europe

If you are taking your car to France, Spain and Switzerland, you will be required to obtain an emission sticker which shows how much pollution your vehicle produces. In France these are numbered and only certain stickers will allow you onto select roads in Paris and other cities. To learn more about this, click this RAC Twitter thread here.

CLIVE SUTTON AND AC CARS LEGAL DISPUTE FINALLY ENDS

After a lengthy and protracted legal dispute where claim and counter claim was made, the copyright use has been sorted out between Clive Sutton, who imports Shelby Cobras and AC Cars who make the AC Cobra. Click here to read more, from AM Online.

HYUNDAI MOBIS WINS BIG EV BATTERY CONTRACT FROM VW GROUP

Hyundai Mobis, a sister division to Hyundai and Kia cars, has won a huge battery contract from the Volkswagen Group. They will supply the small car MEB platform with batteries following the construction of a factory in Spain, enabling the supply of the Spanish production. To learn more, click this electrive article link.

BRISTOL WORKPLACE PARKING LEVY SCRAPPED

The Mayor of Bristol, Martin Rees, has cancelled the implementation of the workplace parking levy that was due to start soon, citing the cost of living crisis as the reason. Others are more sceptical as the announcement came just after the courts forced the sharing of the feasibility study report which had been refused. You can learn more by clicking this TransportXtra article link here.

FORD WIFI VULNERABILITY FOUND

Ford has disclosed that a vulnerability to some of their cars using their Sync3 infotainment system has been discovered in the WiFi module. Ford claim that there is no risk to the cars drivability because they have, wait for it, a firewall. To read more on this, click this link to a Bleeping Computer article.

For more context on this, click here to read what Ken Tindell has to say via LinkedIn.

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 -

Fisker Ronin

Fisker has shared details of the Ronin convertible EV, with a silly amount of brake horse power, enabling it to get to 62mph far too fast for nearly everyone to handle, costing a mere $385,000 and deliveries are supposedly starting in late 2025. The chaps are not exactly glowing about this, going so far as to question if it will happen at all. Click this EVO link to see more.

Ford Maverick launch delayed

In more news that is not the best for the company, Ford announced that they are being forced to delay the launch of their SUV Maverick in Europe until mid-2024. They claim that new battery regulations mean they cannot use what they had planned to. You can read more via this Autocar link.

Audi S4 and S5 diesels cut from the range

As consumers move away from diesels, manufacturers are increasingly removing them their UK ranges. The latest is Audi, with S4 and S5 versions no longer being sold here. To learn more about this story, click this Autocar link.

LUNCHTIME READ: CRASHED TESLAS ARE ENDING UP IN UKRAINE AND OWNERS ARE TRACKING THEM

Written off Teslas are being sold by insurers with whole cars being bought and shipped to places like Ukraine and Poland. They are then brought back to life and fixed, then being sold on in country. But the original owners are finding this out as the cars power up and new owners take advantage of the apps in the car. The Autopian has done a deep dive into what is going on, you can read that by clicking here. Also, remember to wipe your car’s data if you sell it and can still access it.

LIST OF THE WEEK: AXED! GREAT CARS CANCELLED AT THE LAST MOMENT

Our recommended list is all about the fabulous cars we so very nearly got, but were denied at the last moment as the manufacturers pulled the plug on them. Click this Autocar slideshow link to see what we could’ve had. Don’t forget to tell us what you would pick.

AND FINALLY: ELECTRIC CAR ETIQUETTE GUIDE

Debretts and Vauxhall have combined to produce an etiquette guide for electric cars. This is a really nice way to share information with us all and help those unsure what to do in certain situations. Click here to read more.

FOLLOW UP: ULEZ SCRAPPAGE SCHEME EXPANDED

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that the scrappage scheme for the London ULEZ expansion has been altered to now cover all residents of London, unlike previously where only a small number of eligible groups were allowed to apply. Click this BBC News article link to read more.

FOLLOW UP: UBER AV FATALITY LEGAL CASE ENDS

The legal case brought against the test operator, Rafaela Vasquez, who was working for Uber in their autonomous vehicle program who was monitoring the system when it hit and killed Elaine Herzberg five years ago, has ended after she pleaded guilty to endangerment. This has resulted in three years probation but avoids any jail time.

Of note is that no charges have ever been brought against Uber or anyone else from the company. Rafaela disputes claims she was watching The Voice on her phone, instead stating she was checking the in-company channel on the app Slack, as the Uber had instructed all operatives to do. Click this article link from WIRED to read more on these developments.

We also strongly recommend you check out a piece from Ed Niedermeyer, discussing the case and what it means for the industry and us drivers. You can read that by clicking this link here.

NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR JULY 2023

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), have released the registration figures of new cars, for July 2023. Growth continues once again, which is positive news, but it is still over a decade (apart from the previous two years) to find a worse month. EV registration continue to hover around 16%, with diesel continuing to fall. To read more, click this link to the SMMT article.

RESEARCHERS JAILBREAK A TESLA

With physical access to a Tesla researchers have managed to access parts of the system that allow them to enable some options and activate them, without handing over their money to the company. As more companies fit all options and then hide them behind extra payments we will likely see a rise in such activities. You can find out more by clicking this TechCrunch article link here.

CALIFORNIA DATA PRIVACY AGENCY INVESTIGATES CAR DATA

Californian’s privacy regulator has announced it is investigating the collection and sharing of data by connected cars. This follows some moves in Europe. Click here to learn more, from a MSM news 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 -

Toyota Land Cruiser

Alan clarifies the different model sizes of the range, which many in the US could’ve done with understanding when reporting on the reveal of the new Land Cruiser. The looks have been inspired by their historical models but they have managed not to create a pastiche. In the UK we will get the same 2.8 litre diesel until late next years when a mild hybrid powertrain will be available. Prices are expected to increase, with the base model creeping past £50,000, as a result in the upgrade to the quality and feel of the car. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Pininfarina Pura Vision concept

Pininfarina has shown us their utterly enormous luxury SUV which fails to hit the spot for the chaps. They struggle to work out who it is for and where it might be appropriate to have. You can see more of this incredible display of excess by clicking this Top Gear link here.

Volvo axes all saloons and estates

Volvo is culling all saloon and estate variants from its UK range. Emergency services will still be able to purchase these models, however. Whilst this is a disappointing move, the business case is understandable. To read more, click this Autocar link here.

For some tongue in cheek coverage, click this link to an amusing Top Gear link.

LUNCHTIME READ: TIRED OF RECORD-SETTING CARS?

Michael Banovsky, via his newsletter Man I Drive Your Car, brings the recommended reading this week. Discussing the constant and seemingly never ending record breaking efforts of the car industry and how irrelevant they are to so many of us. Click this link to read more, and do not to forget to sign up to his newsletter to receive more of his thoughtful work.

LIST OF THE WEEK: BEST CARS OF THE 90S

Continuing on from last week, we step back a decade and trawl through the best offerings of the 1990s. Lots of choice in this Autocar slideshow. Don’t for get to tell us your selection. Click here to check out what is on offer.

AND FINALLY: GOOGLE MAPS CAR IN POLICE CHASE

The driver of a Google Maps car, for unknown reasons, decided to flee when he spied a police car. Follow a chase, involving speeds in excess of 100mph, the car came to rest in the bank of a river after attempting a Dukes of Hazzard style jump and failing. Click this link from The Drive to read more.

FOLLOW UP: ULEZ EXPANSION GIVEN GO AHEAD

The High Court has ruled that the expansion to the ULEZ, as announced by the Mayor of London, is legal and allowed to take place. Five councils had brought the action against the increase in the area covered by the rules on vehicle emissions. You can find out more by clicking this BBC News article link here.

ASTON MARTIN GETS NEW BOARD MEMBER

Following their increased stake in Aston Martin, Geely are now entitled to a seat on the board of the sports car company. Daniel Li, the Geely CEO, has been appointed. Geely are the third largest shareholders, with 17% stake. Click this Automotive News Europe article link, to find out more.

CLAIMS OVER TESLA RANGE MANIPULATION

An article surfaced from Reuters claiming that Tesla has a secrete team who squash any complaints on the range of their cars, from customers. The claims centre around range exaggeration by the company creating an expectation in customer’s minds and them having to deal with the differences owners found. You can read that piece by clicking the Reuters link here. A well known YouTube EV specialists, Bjørn Nyland, has published a video discussing the article and pointing out areas he does not believe are correct, you can watch that by clicking this link here.

BT TO CONVERT CABINETS TO EV CHARGERS

BT, the telecoms giant, has announced it will convert on street cabinets to EV chargers once they are decommissioned as areas are serviced by full fibre systems. Starting in Northern Ireland in the autumn, a few cabinets will be converted to enable car charging before the project is rolled out across the UK. The expectation is up to 60,000 cabinets could be eligible for conversion. To find out more, click this edie article link here.

SCAREMONGERING OVER MINERAL REQUIREMENTS

Much is said, online, about the need for precious metals and how much of them will be required as we move to electric cars. We are linking you to an article from the Financial Times that discusses this, explaining how we have the supplies but also the reality that some communities will be affected by the increase in mines and manufacturing. Click here to read 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 -

Lexus LM

Lexus has revealed their new range topping model, a luxury MPV. LM is the acronym for Luxury Mover, aimed at those who are to be transported in comfort that don’t want an SUV or saloon. The car will come with a 2.5 litre petrol hybrid powertrain and an optional extra electric motor. Length is just over five metres and a width slightly under 1.9m. Configuration will be either four or seven seats. Prices start at £89,995, running all the way up to £112,995 for the top of the range Takumi trim. Click here to read more, via an Autocar article.

Kia Sorento

Kia has refreshed the Sorento with a new look to the front end that is linked to the EV9 design. The interior has also been spruced up, with a cleaner and clearer layout, which uses to the same screen layout first seen in the EV6. The expectation is the same powertrains will be used, which means the 2.2 diesel, 1.6 hybrid petrol and a plug-in hybrid petrol will be the propulsion options. Again there is no firm detail but prices are expected to be up on existing, with the entry level diesel starting at £42,000, moving to the range topping plug-in hybrid being around £50,000. To learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL

Last weekend saw the Festival of the Unexceptional take place at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. Always a firm favourite of this show, with Alan being particularly bitter at not being able to attend this year. You can find out more by clicking this article link from Hagerty here.

As ever with these events, it is not just the cars that are being judged and on display that are fascinating but also the car park. CAR Magazine has a list of some of the more interesting cars that were brought to the event, which you can see by clicking here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THESE ARE THE CARS THAT DEFINED THE 2010S

Whilst this is a US centric list there are plenty of the options shown that we also saw over here in the UK. The principles of some of the segments also will resonate with us on this side of the pond. Click here to see what Jalopnik think make the list.

AND FINALLY: THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL SAVING VHS RALLY COVERAGE

YouTube channel VHS Rallies is chock full of 1980s to 2000s rallying, mainly UK coverage. Whilst we don’t cover rallying anymore, due to not doing it justice, we are huge fans and still watch it. But, when did our love of it start? Back when we saw this stuff the first time around. Click this link to learn more, from Hagerty.

TATA BATTERY FACTORY TO BE BUILT IN THE UK

Tata, Jaguar Land Rover owners, have finally confirmed thanks to Government help their battery factory will be built in the UK and not Spain. Production is planned to start from 2026, with the aim being to produce 40GWh of batteries when fully operational. These will be sold to the mobility and energy industries. Click this Autocar article link for more.

JLR CONFIRM ADRIAN MARDELL AS PERMANENT CEO

Adrian Mardell stepped in to fill the void following the departure of Thierry Bolloré several months ago. This was only a temporary appointment, however, Tata has announced that he will take over the role on a permanent basis. You can find out more by clicking this Autocar Business link here.

SUPERMARKET FUEL PROFITS MORE THAN DOUBLE

The RAC continues to hound the supermarkets over their fuel pricing. They have established that since the start of the Ukrainian war, supermarket’s profit per litre of fuel has doubled as they have not passed savings onto us consumers. More can be read on this, by clicking the link to the Autocar article here.

LOTUS TO CUTS JOBS

Lotus announced an already planned cull of approximately 200 jobs when releasing their financial results. The company is at pains to stress these were not the result of the increased losses of £145.1 million. A consultation is underway regarding the proposal. Click here to find out more, via an Autocar Business link.

ALPINE GET A NEW CEO

Laurent Rossi is being moved to a Renault Group position as Philippe Krief, ex-Ferrari engineering boss, takes over as CEO. No real explanation has been given for the change. More can be read on this by clicking this article link from Automotive News Europe.

CHROME PLATING TO BE BANNED

Chrome plating is set to be banned in Europe and the US, for new cars due to the dangers of the process and chemicals involved. This won’t actually make too much difference as very little actual chrome is used in today’s cars. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

ANTI FRAUD SERVICE FOR USED CAR ADVERTS AVAILABLE

Brego, a vehicle valuation company, has launched the Brego Advert Check to help second hand car buyers establish if an ad is potentially fraudulent. The price, compared to the market expectations, along with searching for the pictures used online and wording, are all utilised to evaluate the legitimacy of the advert. There is a case study in the article linked to from Autocar which you can read by clicking this link.

CLEVER SPEED REGULATION IDEAS FROM FRANCE

In France they are trialling some clever ideas to get motorists to slow down that is not all about enforcement but changing behaviour. One idea is a speed detector synched to traffic lights, which is the vehicle is at or below the speed limit remain green but change to red and stop the car if it exceeds the limit. You can read more on that here via The Sunday Times Driving article.

The second trial involves squiggly lines painted on the roads which it is hoped cause drivers to be confused and thus slow down as they approach areas such a junctions and the likes. Click this link here from The Connexion to see more.

LAMBETH COUNCIL REMOVING RESIDENTIAL PARKING

Lambeth Council has decided to remove residential parking as only 40% of locals own a car. On top of this the council confirms it can make more money from this space by utilising it for other purposes. You can read more by clicking this link to a TransportXtra story.

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 -

Triumph TR25

Makkina, which is a British design house that normally works behind closed doors with manufacturers, revealed the Triumph TR25 single seat EV roadster concept. Based on the underpinnings of the BMW i3, this lightweight vehicle shows off what is possible with a small battery and lightweight construction. Click this Motoring Research link to see more.

Audi and SAIC Deal

Not strictly New New Car News however, it is sort of. Audi has been forced to sign a deal with the Chinese firm SAIC, who will supply the company with the platform for the A3 and A4 saloons. We do not know if that is just for the Chinese market or globally. Huge news in reality, click here to read more from electrive.com. Click this Bloomberg article link to see how patronising and wrong the Western press are about China.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: ACHIM ANSCHEIDT STEPS DOWN

Bugatti’s head of design, Achim Anscheidt, is stepping down to be replaced by his deputy Frank Heyl. He will continue to be an advisor for Mate Rimac the CEO. You can read more by clicking this Autocar link here.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: PAUL COWLAND’S CAR COLLECTION

Friends of the show, TV’s Paul Cowland and Chris “The Pollitt” Pollit take us on a tour of Paul’s fabulous and extensive car collection, via the Car & Classic YouTube channel. Click this link to watch this fabulous video.

LIST OF THE WEEK: GREATEST CARS EVER MADE WITH POP-UP HEADLIGHTS

We bring you a huge list of options when it comes to this week’s list. Many cars to click through in order to pick your favourite with pop-up headlights. Don’t forget to tell the chaps if you agree with their choices. Click here to see what you could pick, thanks to Autocar.

AND FINALLY: AIXAM MEGA DESERT

We round out the show with a link to the story behind a one-off Dakar racer that you might not have heard of and from a company who you wouldn’t expect to make such a vehicle. Click this link to read all about it, from Treetop Barn.

Public Charge Point Regulations announced

The Government has announced that it will bring in laws that require a 99% reliability to the charging network, for rapid chargers, as well as live status updates. Furthermore, new chargers over 8kW must have contactless pay reader fitted. Failure to meet the new regulations could result in a £10,000 fine for each unit that does not satisfy the requirements. Click here to read more, from Autocar.

RENAULT-GEELY PARTNERSHIP HQ IN UK

We first discussed the Renault-Geely joint venture back in November 2022, but now they have announced their headquarters will be in the UK. All production will occur outside the UK. They are still in talks with Aramco to join. Much misinformation has occurred over this story, click this Twitter thread from Edwin Hayward that unpicks the lies. If you would like to read more about the actual story, click here for the link from BBC News.

RENAULT CUTS DEALERSHIP NUMBERS

Renault announced that they are cutting their dealership numbers, by approximately 25% by 2025. The do not plan, at this time, to move to the agency model so many competitors find irresistible at the moment. To find out more, click the link here for the AM Online story.

NISSAN AGREES INVESTMENT IN RENAULT

Nissan has finally agreed a figure of investment in Renault. They are investing around €646 million in Ampere, which equates to a stake of less than 10% when it was expected to be 15%. You can read more, by clicking this electrive article link.

NISSAN RECALLS 1.4M CARS GLOBALLY

Nissan is recalling 1.4 million vehicles globally due to a risk of unintended acceleration in their Note, Kicks, Serena, Leaf models. The Note Aura is being recalled in Japan over a headlight issue. This includes the UK. No accidents have resulted in these matters. Click this Jalopnik article link to learn more.

VW MANAGEMENT MUSICAL CHAIRS CONTINUES

Volkswagen Group continue to play musical chairs for their senior staff. Stefan Weckbach will fill the role of Group Chief Strategist following Gernot Doellner’s move to CEO of Audi, we discussed in the Moved to Tears - July 4 2023episode. André Stoffels will replace Thomas Sedran as CARIAD Chief Financial Officer. Andreas Lehe will fill the position at Bentley, Peter Bosch’s move to head up CARIAD created. Simon Bracco will add to the responsibilities of his position as Head of Corporate Quality at Audi to replace Michael Neumayer as head of Group Quality, which he held for less than a year. There are more, but you get the gist, lots of changes and all of it internal. You can find out more by clicking this article link from electrive here.

PARIS INTRODUCES PARKING CHARGES BASED ON WEIGHT

The full details of the changes to parking levies imposed by the city of Paris are yet to be announced, but size, weight and the motor of the vehicle are due to be part of the calculation. EVs and larger families are expected to avoid increases. SUVs make up 15% of the total vehicle ownership of Paris, having increased 60% in the last four years. More can be found by clicking this article link here, from The Guardian.

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 -

Aston Martin Valour

In celebration of being 110 years old, Aston Martin gives a present to itself, the 705bhp V12 manual Valour, that takes a lot of inspiration from the Victor. There will be 110 made, costing between £1 million and £1.5 million. To learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

Caterham Project V

Caterham revealed the Project V, an electric three seater sports coupe. With an output of 268bhp and weighing just 1190kg, the 55 kW battery pack gives a range up to 249 miles. 20-80% charging can be achieved in 15 minutes with a 150kW rapid charger (conditions allowing). Starting prices are under £80,000 and takes Caterham into a new market as it has things like a roof and an interior. Whilst we were shown a concept model it is very close to what will come out of the show room in 2026. Click this EVO article link to see more.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

We all finally got to see the Ioniq 5 N running at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. 641bhp, four-wheel drive, car will hit 62 from a standing start in 3.4 seconds and top out at 161 mph. The battery is a new larger 84kW unit, but we do not know what range this will give or how much hooning around dents that. 10-80% charging, via a 350kW charger and conditions allowing, will take place in 18 minutes. There are several driving modes, including a drift mode, endurance mode and for the track sprint mode. Lots of work has gone into this car so whilst prices haven’t been announced they are expected to be more than the Kia 6 EVGT. You can learn more from this link to an EVO article.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai has shown us the next generation Santa Fe, their large SUV. The design is a boxey one, with emphasised wheel arches and a flat back. Inside utilises the screen seen in the Ioniq range, for the driver and centre console. Like the Ioniq cars, the interior has gone for a minimalist approach, and from the images so far it is hard to tell what are buttons and what are areas of a touch screen one must prod. Powertrains will be a cross over from the previous model with hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. These will be improved upon to increase efficiency and range. You can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

Audi EP4

Audi apprentices have built a homage to the NZU Prinz to mark the 150th anniversary of Audi’s Neckarsulm factory. The 236bhp electric motor is in the rear and the batteries fitted in the front. The design makes strong reference to the original’s front and rear lights, as well as the shoulder line and the unmistakable cabin and roof. To see more about this, click here for the Autocar link.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TOYOTA HARRIER ZAGATO

Once more we are recommending a Kevin McCauley deep dive. This time into the virtually unknown Harrier Zagato. Only 250 were produced and only for the home market of Toyota. Click this YouTube link to find out the story behind this car.

LIST OF THE WEEK: EIGHT OF THE BEST THREE-SEATER SPORTS CARS

With the new Caterham and Gordon Murray latest three seater sports cars are back on the agenda. Top Gear has compiled a list of what they think are the best. Do you agree with Andrew’s choice? Do not forget to let us know! Click here to see the options.

AND FINALLY: TURNING POTHOLES INTO ART

Tim Webb is using a special tactic to raise the issue of potholes near his home in Orpington, hoping that his local council will sort them out. Click this BBC News link to watch a short video and find out more.

FOLLOW UP: NO CHANGE TO EU TARIFF RULES

Following weeks of statements that the UK and EU were discussing the changes to the expected import/export tariffs, it appears that there will be no change to the tariffs for ‘rules of origin’ starting in 2024. The European Commission has rejected a call to postpone until 2027. Click this article link, to learn more, from Electrive.

JUNE 2023 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

Once again registrations are up, year on year. However, they are still well below 2019 levels. Battery electric vehicles grew, for the month, to nearly 18% market share, but year-to-date still sits at a smidgen over 16%. Diesel has dropped, unsurprisingly, whilst PHEVs jumped. Petrol was also down for the month and year-on-year. The SMMT has called on the UK Government to cut VAT from public charging to help encourage more to switch. Click here to read the information from the SMMT.

UK STELLANTIS BOSS STEPS DOWN

Phil Willcox has announced he is stepping down as the UK boss of Stellantis. He will be replaced by Maria Grazia Davino, who will begin her new position on 1 September, moving from Head of Sales and Marketing for the group. Click the link here, to read more from AM Online.

JLR ANNOUNCE NEW UK MANAGING DIRECTOR

Jagual Land Rover has revealed the new Managing Director for the UK, Patrick McGillycuddy, who stepped into the role on a temporary basis, in the wake of Rawdon Glover moving to Jaguar, in March. You can find our more, by clicking this Fleet & Leasing article link, here.

10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF TESLA SELF DRIVING CLAIM

This is the tenth consecutive time Elon Musk has claimed that Tesla will achieve Level 4 or 5 automated driving this year. Happy anniversary! Again he has made the claims and again it will not happen. For more, click this article link from The Autopian.

SAN Francisco RESIDENTS STOP SELF-DRIVING CARS

Local residents, in San Francisco, fed up with the disruption of Waymo and Cruze’s self-driving test fleet being very, very poor at actually driving. The activists make it clear cones are to only be placed on empty cars. Traffic cones are put on the bonnet of cars, which causes the vehicle to stop as the system does not know what to do, but it does not actually damage the car. You can learn more, by clicking this link to a Jalopnik story.

CLEVEDON SEA FRONT CYCLE LANE UNDER REVIEW

Last year Clevedon council installed a new cycle lane to the sea front. Unusually, they used curving lines to delineate the road from the cycle path, which weave into the normal road area. This has proved controversial. The council has appointed independent experts to review the scheme. Click this BBC News 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 -

Dacia Spring

Dacia has announced their Spring EV model will be coming to the UK, in 2024. The car will be the facelifted version, that is coming out next year. Details on battery packs, range and price are yet to be announced. The expectation is it will be under £20,000 though. Click this Autocar article link to learn more.

Peugeot E-208

Peugeot is updating the battery tech on the E-208. Again. This time to stretch the smallest battery’s range from 225 miles to 248 miles, thanks to improved efficiency and a better electric motor. Charging from 0-80% is expected to take only 25 minutes if connected to a 100kW charger. No news on the price yet. Click this article link from The Car Expert for more.

We also are sharing this article, from Top Gear, where Peugeot make it clear sporty cars are not their focus right now so don’t expect any. Click here to read more about this distressing news.

MG4 XPower

MG are coming out with a sporty model of the MG4. Offering 429bhp, 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and range of 239 miles. There is also a less powerful Trophy version that doesn’t go as fast but means you get a range of 281 miles. The XPower will cost from £36, 495, which does move it away from the ‘affordable’ tag the range has enjoyed. You can learn more by clicking this EVO article link here.

Opel Rocks E-Xtreme

Opel is the latest of the Stellantis brand to rebadge the Citroën Ami. However, they have at least changed it up a bit by offering design students a change to shake up their original design. Lukas Wenzhöfer has gone down the “Let’s off-road!” route, with raised suspension, chunky tyres, external rollcage and a huge rear wing. Click this link to the article from Automotive Design Planet that tells you more, including a video showcasing Lukas’s idea.

LUNCHTIME READ: SLEAZY RIDERS

MotorPunk brings you the delights of the 1970s custom van craze, explaining how it started and why. Learn about the decline and some who’ve kept the trend going. Click this link to read more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 11 SPORTSCARS POWERED BY THE ROVER V8

An older Hagerty list, but still one we recommend you running through to pick which car you would like to run around in. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Don’t forget to let us know. You can see the options by clicking this link here.

AND FINALLY: TOYOTA VIRTUAL FACTORY TOUR

You can join us, virtually, as we geek out about car production by visiting Toyota to see how they do things. Always fascinating to see how a company tackles the various issues manufacturing brings. Click this link to find out more and go on the tour.

FOLLOW UP: BIDIRECTIONAL CAMERAS CATCH 3200 DRIVERS

In the first 15 days of operation, the four bidirectional cameras, installed by Devon and Cornwall councils, has been triggered 3200 times. One camera was activated 120 times a day. Thanks to listener Mark Snow for bringing this to our attention! Click here to read more from the BBC News article.

UK CAR INDUSTRY CALLS ON NEXT GOVERNMENT FOR HELP

The SMMT has moved on to calling to the next Government, whoever that is, to help secure the future of the car industry in the UK. They have laid out five pledges it hopes any of our politicians will pick up and run with. Click here, on this link, to learn more of this desperate move in the face of political apathy from all corners.

SUPERMARKETS RIP MOTORISTS OFF

Supermarkets have been found to have ripped the British motorists off, due to weak competition allowing them to charge 6p per litre more than they should have. One of the recommendations, from the Competitions and Markets Authority, is to force supermarkets to publish live prices in order that we consumers can compare and find the cheapest. There is no guarantee this will be implemented. Click this BBC News article here, to learn more.

AUDI SACK CEO MARKUS DUESMANN

The CEO of Audi, Markus Duesmann, has been sacked following very public criticism from VW Group CEO Oliver Blume. Duesmann was brought in by Diess, from BMW. He will be replaced by Gernot Doellner, the current VW Group strategy boss. Whilst Audi’s performance has not got close to the hopes from VW, there is context that shows it is not all his fault. Click this Twitter thread from Matthias Schmidt for context of what he inherited. To read more about the overall story, click this Forbes article link written by Michael Taylor.

HYUNDAI AND TOYOTA EV ADS BANNED

After a brief spell of being in agreement with the Advertising Standards Authority over dealer price claims, we return to normal service. Toyota and Hyundai adverts for their EVs have been banned because they do not warn people there is only a small number of the very fastest charge points available. On top of that, the complaints stated to achieve the fastest charge there were a number of variables that could thwart the process. You can read more by clicking this article link from The Times.

SURVEY SUGGESTS DEMAND FOR EVS BELOW REQUIREMENTS

A survey by Auto Retail Bulletin has revealed that current demand for EVs falls below next year’s imposed requirement by the Government of 22%. 60% of respondents state demand is below 15% and a third say it is below 10%. That would mean the car industry paying the UK Government a lot of money. However, most likely there will be a throttling of non compliant model availability, as we have seen previously. For more on this story, click this Auto Retail Network link.

HMRC SAYS EV NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING AS DIESEL FALLS

In this week’s blindingly obvious story, HMRC has confirmed that the number of company cars that are electric is increasing rapidly, whilst diesel numbers plummet. Anyone who listens to the monthly SMMT figures run-down, will have expected that. On top of which, there are the tax incentives to go EV. More can be found out on this item, by click here for the Motoring Research article.

NEW REPORT ON PUBLIC EV CHARGING UTILISATION

Zapmap and the Green Finance Institute have partnered to issue a report on the time and energy utilisation of public charging points. Time utilisation used the data of how long a vehicle was plugged in, even if not charging. The energy side of things looked at how much was delivered, compared to what it could deliver. The energy utilisation is interesting as it shows chargers not able, for a wide variety of reasons, to supply the amount they are advertised. You can learn more by reading the article from Zapmap after clicking this link here.

LORRY FITTED WITH INDUCTIVE CHARGING TECHNOLOGY

Electron and GINAF have partnered to fit a 50-tonne electric lorry with inductive charging technology that can be used whilst in motion or stationary. This is part of the further research and development of induction charging being fitted to roads. Click this Electrive article link to read more.

STELLANTIS ELLeSMERE PORT PLANT TO RUN ON HYDROGEN

Stellantis say their van plant at Ellesmere Port will be carbon neutral by 2028, as it will generate its electricity from hydrogen produced by natural gas locally. More can be learned by clicking this Autocar Business article link here.

UK PIONEERING REPAIR AND REMANUFACTURE EV BATTERIES

UK company Autocraft EV Solutions, has developed techniques to repair and remanufacture EV batteries, at scale, which is a key step in the circular economy that is required to help the transition to a more sustainable future. To read about this, click this link to The Manufacturer article.

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 -

Xpeng G6

Xpeng, a Chinese company, has revealed their 2024 G6 coupe SUV. Prices, in China, start at £22,900 for a single motor option, which gives a range up to 360 miles or if you stump up £30, 200 you can get a dual motor version with a range up to 469 miles. The car will be sold in select parts of Europe, with no decision on the UK having been made yet. You can find out more by clicking this link here.

Singer DLS-T

Alan and Andrew disagree over this car. Andrew thinks is fabulous whilst Alan likes the looks but not the ethos, for very personal reasons. This $2 million restomod takes a 964 version of the 911 and creates a homage to the 1977 934/5 Group A IMSA race car, as explained by EVO. To learn more and ogle some wonderful pictures, click this link here.

McMurty Speirling Pure

McMurty has revealed the road going version of their fan car, which has been improved over the prototype that dominated the Goodwood hillclimb last year. Now faster, lighter, more effcient and generally better all round, you can order one for £984,000 if you need to get you and a pint of milk home very quickly. Click this Autocar article link to see the bonkers stats and detail of this, lets remind you, road legal car.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: PETER HORBURY HAS PASSED AWAY

The Executive Vice-President of Design, Group Lotus, Perter Horbury, has suddenly passed away. Whilst the motoring world is shocked at this news, the outpouring of love and admiration for the man himself, as well as his distinguished career, has been a universal response. Click here to read the announcement from Lotus.

To read the Car Design News obituary, click this link.

To read the Autocar obituary, click this link.

To read the Auto&Design obituary, click this link.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: MEET THE NEVS EMILY GT

Tom Ford, on behalf of Top Gear, shows us what could’ve been but also what there is still could happen, when a bunch of engineers and designers are left alone to create an EV. This is very clever as the motors are in the wheels. Click this link to watch and find out more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 9 ELECTRIC CARS AND PICK-UPS YOU’VE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN

Move Electric bring us a host of unusual electric cars to pick one from. This is made harder for Alan as Andrew bans him from his usual selection. Click this link to find out more and see if you agree with Alan and his choice. Don’t forget to tell the chaps which you’d have from the options.

AND FINALLY: RENAULT TWINGO 30TH BIRTHDAY REIMAGINATION

The Renault Twingo is 30 years old. To celebrate this, Renault asked Sabine Marcelis, renowned artist, to reimagine the car. Click this link from Top Gear, to find out more about the wonderful work and homage that was paid.

FOLLOW UP: ALL CARS WITH THERMAL WINDOW DEVICES OWE COMPENSATION IN EU

A German court has ruled any car fitted with a thermal window device is deemed illegal, thus owners can sue the manufacturer unless they can prove there is no negligence on the part of the car company. These devices were permitted by the regulations that the EU brought in, up until July 2022. Click this Autocar article link for more information.

FOLLOW UP: GHOSN SUES NISSAN FOR DEFAMATION

Carlos Ghosn is suing Nissan, two other companies and twelve individuals for defamation, to the tune of $1 billion, relating to his ejection from Nissan and subsequent imprisonment. You can learn more by clicking this Hagerty article link here.

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT OWNER RAIDED BY POLICE

The owner of Britishvolt, who has yet to pay for the company, has been raided by Australian police, relating to tax matters. The company stresses this is all a misunderstanding and is cooperating fully. Click this BBC News article link here, for more information.

For Peter Campbell’s tweet adding more context, click this link.

CAR FIRMS WARN OF RULES OF ORIGIN PAIN

EU car companies have warned of a £3.2 billion hit if an agreement cannot be reached over ‘rules of origin’ as car batteries will fail to meet the criteria imposed on them. For more on this story, click the Motoring Research article link here.

NISSAN OUST COO GUPTA

In a shock move, by Nissan, their Chief Operating Officer has been forced from the company under mysterious circumstances. No official reason has been given as to why the man who was steadying the ship, making it financially viable once more and even increasing market share has been kicked out. Click here, to read more from the Asia Times.

HEATHROW CHARGING POINTS SHUTDOWN

Heathrow short term parking EV charging points have shutdown, with no explanation from either Heathrow Airport or PodPoint. There is speculation as to why, which you can read more about from this Autocar article, linked here. Also, we recommend reading the tweet from Tim Oldland, giving realistic reasons why this may have happened and exposing a real issue as more charging points are needed across the country. Click here to see what he explains.

BIDIRECTIONAL SPEED CAMERAS INSTALLED IN DEVON AND CORNWALL

Certain roads in Devon and Cornwall now have bidirectional speed cameras installed, in further attempts to deal with speeding vehicles. Some are replacements, with others being new installations. To find out more and where they are, click this BBC News article link here.

COUNCILS GOING APP ONLY FOR PARKING PAYMENTS

Over 20 councils in the UK have moved to parking set ups that will only allow for app based payments. This is discriminatory and demonstrates the dangers of not considering future technological advances or what to do when the tech is no longer supported. You can read more on this, from the BBC News article by clicking here.

ASTON MARTIN AND LUCID MOTORS STRIKE DEAL

Lucid Motors will take a 3.7% stake in Aston Martin, in return for supplying the electric drive equipment Aston will need to build their future vehicles in the EV only future. To learn more, click this article link from UK Investing. There is also a link here, for another contextual tweet from Peter Campbell.

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 -

Volkswagen Tayron

VW has shown off renderings for their second generation Tayron, currently a Chinse market only seven seat SUV. The new car will be a global vehicle, being sold not only in China but the North America, Europe and the UK. Click this link to read more, from Autocar.

BYD Dolphin

BYD has revealed their small, £25, 490 EV which undercuts most of the competition in terms of price. There will be a variety of battery pack and motor combinations that give a variety of ranges. The quickest cars will do 0-62mph in around seven seconds. To read more, click this link to the Autocar article.

Toyota C-HR

The new Toyota C-HR has been revealed, with an updated look and improved interior. This is the car that means the Prius is not coming to the UK, so there is a little pressure to ensure it is good. More can be found out about it, by clicking this Autocar link here.

Aehra Saloon

The Italian start-up Aehra, has shown us their second model, the Saloon, which will start at £160,000 and is aimed at those interested in the Porsche Taycan. The range is claimed to be 497 miles for the luxury GT. Stylistically it is an improvement on the SUV. Click here to find out more, via an Autocar article link.

Renault Rafale

Renault are bringing a coupe SUV that is promised to be all about the driving pleasure. Some have questioned how closely this looks to the current Peugeot range, which Drew Meehan’s tweet is but one. To learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Ark Zero

UK start-up Ark, has launched the Zero, which the company calls a micro-car. Aimed at the Citroën Ami market, this is a two seater EV, with a top speed of 28 mph and a maximum of 50 mile range. At the same time the company announced they would be bringing an A-Segment car and autonomous driving technology soon. Click this link to read more with an ever rising eyebrow, from Electrive.

LUNCHTIME READ: VEHICLE PACKAGING CONSIDERATIONS

A shorter than normal link, as we point you to Nir Kahn’s thread on the considerations required for vehicle packaging. Click here to read what Nir posted on Twitter.

LIST OF THE WEEK: BIG ENGINES SMALL CARS

Top Gear has another Top 9, this time all about small cars with big engines and not once do we see the words Toyota, Yaris or GRMN! Click this link to see if you agree with Alan’s choice and don’t forget to tell the chaps what you would pick.

AND FINALLY: RARE MAZDA KOALA WHEELS

If you fancy wildlife on your alloys, we have just the story for you. Click this link here, from The Drive, to find out all about how Koalas ended up on Mazda wheels.

FOLLOW UP: NHTSA TELLS CAR COMPANIES TO IGNORE RIGHT TO REPAIR

In a stunning move, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) has told car companies in the USA to ignore the new Massachusetts right-to-repair law. The claims in the letter cover cyber security risks and malicious actions. Questions were also raised about the author of the letter and their involvement in the long battle by John Deere and the right to repair and how that could be seen as a conflict. Click this Reuters article link for more. For some context on the claims in the NHTAS letter and how they run a little hollow, click this link from Hot Hardware.

VW ANNOUNCE ANOTHER NEW STRATEGY

Volkswagen CEO, Thomas Schäfer, announced the latest strategy for the brand. They will be prioritising volumes, with sales, cutting some of their models as they focus on “core models”. There is also mention of more cross brand working. You can find out more by clicking this AM Online article link here.

That is not the end of the announcements though, VW is dropping the manual gearbox if Euro 7 legislation is implemented as it is now. The claim is that it is needed for emission rules. Click this Autocar article link for more.

Also announced, again by Schäfer, was the news that the interiors of Volkswagens will be improved and made simpler. Acknowledging the complaints about the touch-screen only approach, with a return to a more functional design and layout. Click this Autocar article for more.

STELLANTIS ENDING ICE ONLY MODELS IN SOME US STATES

Stellantis are no longer selling ICE only cars in 14 states in the US, in order to meet stricter emission rules. All models are electrified to greater or lesser extent. They announced the move in April. Click this Autopian article link to find out more.

TIGHT FINANCES CAUSE OWNERS TO SKIP SERVICING

In news that should surprise no one, Volkswagen Financial Services surveyed over 2000 owners to find out a third are skipping essential servicing due to the cost of living crisis. This is the latest in a number of such results from many companies reporting the similar news. Click this Autocar article link to read more on this worrying trend.

NEW MOTORING OFFENCES SENTENCING GUIDELINES PUBLISHED

The Sentencing Council has listed the revised and new sentences for motoring offences, covering dangerous, disqualified, careless and uninsured driving amongst others. Click here to read the list and what the sentence recommendations are, from the Council.

INCREASED PARKING CHARGES FOR POLLUTING CARS

Lambeth Council is introducing increased parking charges for the most polluting cars. There is also a surcharge if the car is a diesel vehicle. 59% of residents objected to the proposal but Lambeth introduced it anyway. Click this article link, from The Guardian, to read more.

Islington is not to be outdone though, they are introducing parking rate bands for EVs, based on battery sizes in the vehicle. This will probably come as a shock to those who thought moving to a zero tail pipe emission vehicle was the right thing to do, as the council justifies the prices because there is “significant carbon imprint from the production and recycling of the battery, as well as the overall emissions.” Click this TransportXtra article link to read more.

CORYTON LAUNCHES BIOFUEL FOR CLASSICS

Aiming at the classic car market, UK biofuel company, Coryton, has launched a range of fuels that will allow owners to continue to run their car with reduced emissions but without the worry of damage to the engine. You can learn more, including the different strengths, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

NYOBOLT TO PRODUCE NEW BATTERY

Nyobolt, a UK based EV battery tech company, has confirmed that it hopes to be producing their new battery by 2026. The system will allow 100% charging in six minutes. They have targeted giving enough range coupled with a quick recharge time, rather than as much range as possible. To find out more, click this link here from Autocar.

JLR SELECTS INDIAN FIRM FOR 420 MILE BATTERY

Jaguar Land Rover has selected Agratas, an Indian company who is part of the Tata empire, to supply their 420 mile battery packs for their next generation EVs. Confirmation is still waiting on if they will be supplying from the projected date the cars are due in customer’s hands. Click this Autocar article link, to learn more.

WELSH GOVERNMENT INVESTING MORE IN EV CHARGING

The Welsh Government is to invest a further £15 million, in order to help councils provide more charging points across the Principality. This is on top of the previous £26 million. Click here, on this ZapMap article link, to learn 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 -

Software Republique H1st Vision

Renault and a who’s who of French technology companies unveiled a concept car and “concrete, operations” technologies they believe will revolutionise mobility and car use. Systems such as utilising biometrics for opening and operating the vehicle, digital wallets tied to the car, driver monitoring that includes claims of facial expression and your mood recognition and more utter fantasy and ill-conceived ideas were paraded to the press.

These all will unnecessarily expose the company to cyber security, privacy and legal issues that are silly and completely avoidable. Click this Autocar link to scoff at the suggestions.

More real and actually interesting was the announcement about the Renault 5 EV being able to allow the battery to discharge back into the electricity grid. They go on to mention that is should save owners money. You can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

NIO EL6 and ET5

NIO are bringing two new models to Europe and it is presumed the UK shortly after. The EL6 is a SUV which will be competing against the Audi Q8 E-tron and Mercedes ECQ. This will be a real test to see if buyers will go for premium products not produced by the Germans, as some believe they will not. Click this link to read more, thanks to Autocar.

The ET5 is an estate EV, with its sights set firmly on the BMW i5 Touring. Slightly shorter in length but very similar otherwise, including power, range and performance. Again, it is yet to be seen if customers will eschew the German brands for this Chinese car. Learn more, by clicking this Autocar link here.

Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven

Leaning heavily on the historic C111 from the 70s, Mercedes reveal their latest concept. This gorgeous low slung coupe, with gull-wing doors, as spectacular interior and a clean exterior design is wonderful poster material. On top of which the claimed technologies involved also give hints to future plans. You can read more by clicking this Autocar link here. However, to gawp as some stunning photos, click this link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: FUORICONCORSO IS A FEAST FOR THE EYES - AND THE LENS

Hagerty supply our Lunchtime Read, once again, this time making us all wish we had been at the FuoriConcorso event, on the shores of Lake Como to view some spectacular cars that are not all the usual suspects. Click the link here to read more about what went on and view some stunning vehicles.

LIST OF THE WEEK: OUR 10 FAVOURITE CLASSIC SALOONS

Great Driving Days provides the options for you to pick your favourite classic saloon. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Don’t forget to let us know what you would pick. Click here to check out what you can select.

AND FINALLY: HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR IS BACK

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is back, with the UK leg selecting our nomination to win the top prize, taking place on 2 September 2023, during the RADwood car show, at Bicester Heritage. The judging panel consists of presenter and designer Helen Stanley, TV’s Paul Cowland and one half of Smith and Sniff podcast, Richard Porter. To find out more and if you’re quick a chance to win one of five giveaways from Motoring Research by clicking this link here.

FOLLOW UP: COURT APPROVES MORE AREAS OF ULEZ CONTENTION

The High Court has approved a further two grounds for contesting the expansion of the London ULEZ, following initial legal efforts in February where only two of five grounds were accepted. There are five councils fighting the expansion which is due to be reviewed on 4 July. To learn more, click here to read the Enfield Dispatch article.

‘NO MOW MAY’ RAISES CONCERNS

‘No Mow May’ is a campaign that allows verges to grow, thus enabling plant life to flourish. However, some concerns have been raised as this has led to reduced visibility. PlantLife have helped 300 local authorities to adopt this. Click this Autocar link to learn more.

EV SHOULD PAY-PER-MILE SAYS THINK TANK

The Centre for Policy Studies, an organisation with strong links to the Conservatives, has recommended to the Government, that all EVs are charged per mile, to help replace the lost vehicle excise duty venue. They go on to recommend a set amount of free mileage per year, with those in more remote locations allocated more. The rates would also tie into the weight of the vehicle. You can learn more, by clicking the AMOnline article link here.

STELLANTIS PROMOTING KEEPING CARS ON THE ROAD LONGER

The average age of cars on the road is twelve years, but Stellantis is suggesting fifteen is easily possible with remanufacturing. This is where cars that have reached the end of life are harvested for parts that can be refurbished and used by others. All of this will help reduce CO2, as a consequence. Click this Autocar Business article to learn more.

To watch The Late Brake Show about ‘deproduction’, click this YouTube link.

To read the Autocar Business article on ‘deproduction’, click the link here.

MERCEDES GETS LEVEL 3 APPROVAL IN CALIFORNIA

Mercedes-Benz US has gain approval for their Level 3 automated driving system, in California. Called ‘Drive Pilot’ and once engaged, will allow the driver to take their hands from the steering wheel and look away from the road. The driver needs to keep their face to the in-car monitoring camera but can do other things, like play with their phone. All of this will only occur when up to 40mph and when the car is in heavy traffic. Click The Verge article link to learn more.

For context as to Andrew’s anger at this being deployed, and the change in tune from Mercedes from only a few months ago when it comes to responsibility, click this LinkedIn post.

For even more context, a piece from The Autopian, explaining why Level 3 is a bad idea and inherently flawed, click here to read that.

TOYOTA DEVELOPS AN OFF-ROAD SEAT

Unfortunately, unlike last week’s And Finally, we don’t have bum scans to share with you on this seat story, but Toyota have looked at improving comfort in their rugged off-road vehicles. The IsoDynamic Performance Seat is designed to keep the driver in control of the vehicle, with their head still, their hands on the wheel and lessen the strain on the body. You can learn more, by clicking this Design 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 -

Volvo EX30

Volvo revealed their smallest SUV, their fastest accelerating car and their most recycled vehicle in the form of the EX30. The impressiveness does not end there, prices start at £32,000 for the quite well equipped base model. Range and battery make up changes as you move through the trim levels. Click this Top Gear article to read about a car that both Andrew and Alan are struggling to see the downside of, if you can afford the asking price.

To read about Bcomp’s involvement with the interior, click their article link here.

Chery Jaecoo 7 SUV and Omoda C5

Chery, a Chinese brand, are coming to the UK in 2024. Their plan is to bring the Omoda C5, a Nissan CashCow rival, over first, followed by the larger Jaecoo 7, both of which are SUVs. They will come with ICE and EV options. They are working on having 40 - 50 dealerships open in time for their launch and aim for 100 in total. Click here to see more about their move from Autocar, and if you think it will work.

Fiat Topolino

Fiat has revealed their rebadged Citroën Ami, but it looks perfect and very “small Italian car”. The owners of private villas along the Amalfi coast will be rushing to purchase their own tiny electric vehicle. To see more, click this Autocar link.

Polaris Xpedition

Not really a car, but it looks awesome fun, the Polaris Xpedition is a four door ATV, which you can spend a long time sorting with the optional extras. Perfect for those weekends in the wilderness that Alan can now enjoy as he’s in the good old US of A. Click this link to visit their website and lose some of your day. you can thank us later.

Porsche Mission X

This concept, from Porsche, is the replacement for the 918 that ceased production in 2015. The Mission X will be the showcase of their technology, which will trickle into their line up over time, save the 1500bhp output we expect. To learn more, click this Autocar link here.

Volvo culls some models

Volvo is to cease selling the S90, XC40 PHEV and Cross Country estates, in the UK. They state this is so they can concentrate on their EV future, but sales figures were very low for each of these too. You can find out more by clicking this Autocar link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: HOW THE FIAT X1/9 GOT (AND KEPT) ITS NAME

Matteo Licata, writing for Hagerty, tells the virtually unknown and fascinating story about how Fiat named the X1/9 and how that stuck. Click this link here to read this wonderful piece from Matteo.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE WEIRD, WEIRD WORLD OF FORGOTTEN CAR ACCESSORIES

Enjoy clicking through 49 slides on this Autocar supplied list, showing how far we have come, in terms of safety and motoring convenience. Don’t forget to let the chaps know if you agree with their choices and what stood out for you. Click this link to see more.

AND FINALLY: ASTON MARTIN BULLDOG HITS 200MPH

Designed in the late 1970s to exceed 200mph, finally that target has been achieved in the only example built, thanks to the desire and, frankly, cash of the current owner. Click here to read all about this feat, from Classic and Sports Car.

FOLLOW UP: VW AND AUDI AGREE DIESELGATE DEAL WITH TEXAS

Volkswagen and Audi have agreed, in principle, a settlement deal with the State of Texas over breaking environmental laws because of dieselgate. A sum of $85 million will be paid. Click this US News article link for more.

FOLLOW UP: EV GRITTER NAMES

After mentioning looking forward to seeing the EV gritter names on last week’s show, we have had some suggestions. Jouletide Grittings, Salt Watter and DeICEr. Thank you to Nir Kahn for those, they’re wonderful. Feel free to send the chaps your suggestions.

MAY 2023 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

May 2023 New Car Registration figures are up 16.7% on last year, but don’t forget that was quite poor due to supply constraints. The main driver, sorry not sorry, of May’s rise is an increase in Fleet registrations, up nearly 37% on last year. There is also a change at the top of the ‘Most Registered Cars’ chart too. To find out more, click this article link from the SMMT.

JAGUAR I-PACE RECALLED IN US OVER FIRE RISK

Jaguar is recalling over 6,000 I-Pace cars due to the risk of fire, attributed to an issue with the battery pack but the exact reason is still not known. You can read more by clicking this Reuters article link here.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER REBRANDING

Jaguar Land Rover, as a Group, are rebranding. JLR now has a logo, they have developed a ‘Look Book’, which dictates all aspects of the various brand’s aesthetics from stationary through to what the dealership staff are to wear. There is much optimism for the future but also acknowledgement that aspects need improving.

To find out more about the JLR logo and Group, click this Autocar link.

For the expected benefits for us customers, with the move to the agency model, click here to read more from Autocar.

To read about how the staff “uniform” has gone down with dealerships, click this Auto Retail article link here.

If you would like to learn more about how the Discovery brand is seen as an exciting one, from within JLR, click this Autocar link here.

REMOTELY OPERATED TAXI SERVICE IN MILTON KEYNES

This week’s Ledge of Fury™ item is brought to you by Fetch, Milton Keynes and regulators that have approved a taxi service that utilised remote operators to drive the car, whilst a safety driver sits in the front seat. Following a whole 1,000 miles of testing this has been approved to run on public roads. Click this BBC News article link here for more.

There are a huge number of reasons why this is a bad idea, dangerous and should not be allowed, which are backed up by plenty of research that has been published. Michael DeKort has written a great summary as to why it is a dangerous idea to allow this on the road. Click this Medium link to read more.

PORSCHE UNVEILS NEW LOGO AND BADGE

In one of the most Porsche moves ever, the company has revealed an updated logo and badge. Following very close inspection, we can confirm it IS different from the last iteration and is the best looking modern logo redesign in the industry, mainly because they didn’t ‘flatten’ it. Click this The Drive link to read more.

REST AND BE THANKFUL SAFETY TUNNEL ANNOUNCED

A section of the A83 in Scotland, otherwise known as the Rest and Be Thankful stretch, is to have a protective tunnel built along roughly 1.4km of it. The plan is for this to prevent the road being closed due to debris from the surrounding hills and thus removing the need for a 53 mile detour. Click this BBC News article link for further details.

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 -

Electric Vauxhall Astra

The all electric Vauxhall Astra has been revealed and it is an actual electric car, not an EV SUV!. Rejoice. Added to which Vauxhall is making good looking cars right now. Coming with up to 258 miles range, ability to charge up to 80% in 26 minutes and go from 0-62 in 9.2 seconds, this sounds like a car that will meet the needs for many. Prices will start at £39,995 which will push it out of reach for many. Click this CAR article link to find out more.

Lexus LBX

Lexus showed off their smallest car, to date, in the form of the LBX SUV. Whilst it is based on the Yaris Cross platform this is no rebadging exercise. Stretching the platform, the company has said they’ve created a small luxury car, not a cheap Lexus. The powertrain is a three-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce less than 120g/km of CO2, yet still gives 134bhp. We recommend you click this Autocar link to find out how Lexus believe they’ve overcome the constraints that were imposed on the project.

Range Rover Sport SV

The Range Rover Sport SV is a V8 engined mild hybrid, producing 626bhp, enabling the 2560kgs to get to 62mph in 3.6 seconds and run all the way up to 180mph. That is, if nothing else, an incredibly impressive engineering feat. The cars will only be sold by invitation, with just 550 models vailable in the UK in the first year of production. Prices start at £169,000 unless you want the carbon optional extras where that price starts at £190,000. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

Caterham EV

Caterham has revealed a proof of concept electric Seven. Teaming up with Swindon Powertrain, the company has created a track focused car that weighs only 70kgs more than the equivalent ICE version, with that weight cleverly packaged to help the car rather than hinder. There is a special ‘track drive cycle’ that enables 20 minutes of track driving, with 15 minutes charging and then off for another 20 minutes thrashing it around a circuit. You can learn more by clicking this EVO link here.

VW ID.Buzz LWB

Unveiled for the US and European markets, Volkswagen has shown off their long wheel base version of the ID.Buzz, which can seat seven. Whilst it adds another row of seats, in the 250mm longer wheelbase, the practicality side of things isn’t great as there is minimal space behind the rear seats for any luggage. Not slated for the UK, yet, there are also no details of range or price. For more, click this Autocar link here.

MG HS

MG has updated the popular HS SUV models with a new nose and the latest software and interior design, bringing it in line with the rest of the range. Click this Autocar link for more information.

LUNCHTIME READ: PRITHVI NATH TAGORE’S 1958 MERCEDES-BENZ W120 PONTON

We are recommending a wonderful article telling the story of a 1958 Mercedes W120 which has been in the same family for many years and is now restored. Used regularly by the owner, we learn how it arrived in India and what it took to get it into the amazing condition we see in the lovely photos accompanying the article. Click here to read the deRivas & Ives article.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 CONCEPT CARS THAT SAW IN THE 2000S IN STYLE

Antony Ingram, via the Hagerty site, brings us ten concepts that gave us hope for a stylish 2000s. Click this link to check out the options. Let us know if you agree with Alan’s choice or not.

AND FINALLY: MITSUBISHI BUM PRINTS

There are times the press packs for new cars contain something utterly amazing. The new US-bound Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one such example. The company are really proud of how comfortable their new seats are, so much so they’ve scanned bottoms to show how well they support passengers. Click here to read The Autopian’s look at this.

CAR CRIME DRAMATICALLY RISES

2022 saw a rise of 25% in stolen vehicles, on the previous twelve months. Items stolen from vehicles also rose. Figures are expected to be higher as Devon and Cornwall Police could not provide statistics. Relay theft is being cited as part of the problem, but we know, thanks to Ken Tindell and Ian Tabor there is a new way some cars are being stolen, click here to learn more on that technique from Ken. Click this link, from Motoring Research, to read more about the rise in car crime.

DEALERSHIP PRICE CLAIMS MISLEADING IN RULING

The Advertising Standards Agency has ruled that pricing a car for only five days, then reducing that price and then claiming there will be a saving for the consumer is misleading. Marshall Motor Group did this and have been censured by the ASA as a result. Five days does not set any reference for the price, according to the ruling. Click here to read more from AMOnline and the wider implications to the industry.

CHARGEPLACE SCOTLAND TO BE PRIVATISED

As demand for the service and the need to upgrade the network takes its toll on Chargeplace Scotland, the news that it will now be managed by private contractors is not surprising. The Scottish Government has stated it cannot afford to back it anymore. To read more, click this Autocar article here.

DEVON OPENS NEW 16 CHARGER EV SITE

For the thousands that invade the South West every holiday there is good news if you drive an EV as a new site has opened to charge at. Buckfastleigh, just off the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth. 16 ultra rapid charge points, including two with extra long bays for bigger vehicles or those towing something are now open to the public. Click this BBC News article to learn more.

EV GRITTER LORRY LAUNCHED

Econ Engineering has launched their electric gritter lorry in the UK. But that is not all, thanks to the clever adaptability of their Electric Quick Change Body (E-QCB) system, the lorry can be used for a variety of roles throughout the year. You can find out more, by clicking this electrive.com article link.

TESLA DATA LEAK AND ADAS COMPLAINTS

A huge data leak, from Tesla - which the company blamed on a disgruntled employee, has revealed two things. First, Tesla will be investigated by data control authorities, as a huge amount of customer and employee information being accessed and taken. Secondly, the data leak also showed that there have been a huge amount of complaints over ‘Autopilot’ and its capabilities. To read more, click this link from The Guardian.

POLICE WORK WITH GEORGE’S CAR MEDIA TO PROMOTE SAFETY

Devon and Cornwall Police are working with George’s Car Media to promote safe and legal practices for modifying cars. Using TikTok they are reaching a younger audience, which put requests to change an aspect of a Ford Focus the channel uses to show how to modify correctly. You can learn more, by clicking this BBC News article link.

This is the link to the Performance Automotive Aftermarket Association, which Andrew and Alan could not remember!

NURSE’S STOLEN CLASSIC MINI RECOVERED

Thanks to a campaign on social media, fronted by Paul Woodford, a nurse’s classic Mini, which was stolen from her work car park, was recovered by police. Congratulations to all who were involved, showing us the good side of Twitter. Click this BBC News link here, 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 -

Aston Martin DB12

The first Lance Stroll-era Aston was revealed, the new DB12. A new look, fresh and improved interior and technology. Clearly a modern Aston, when you look at it, even with its fussy front end that is less well resolved than the rest of the car. Also, there is no V12, which seems to have upset a few, but then AMG don’t do a V12 anymore, so V8 it is. Prices start at £185,000, which feels right for this sort of car. Click this EVO link to read more.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The new E-Class was shown to us all last week. As expected, for the car and Mercedes, the exterior looks are ‘evolutionary’ rather than ‘revolutionary’. Inside they’ve thrown as many screens as they can for the front driver and passenger, although the car will disengage video playing apps and the likes once the car gets moving, in an attempt not to distract the driver. The car will come with hybrid and ICE powertrains. To read more, click this link to a Car Scoops article.

BMW 5 Series

In an attempt not to be outdone, BMW took the wraps off their new 5-Series and all electric version, the i5. The design is very much in the mould of current BMWs, that is to say a mess. Too fussy, too out of proportion and we haven’t even mentioned the front end that already looks like its been crashed. To read more about the car, the powertrain options and such like click this Top Gear link.

BMW has embraced the ‘living room on wheels’ ethos with the 5-Series too, cramming tech in to help keep the occupants occupied whilst waiting for the i5 to charge. However, they, like the rest of the industry, seems to have missed that we all have an entertainment device in our pockets that are better plus the demographic is not one who loves a bit of TikTok or selfie cams. Click this Autoevolution link to see more about the silliness being deployed.

BMW also revealed they will be bringing their Highway Assistant tech to the UK next year. This is a hands-off, eyes-on system similar to the one Ford announced a few weeks ago. Andrew finally got to explain why this is a bad, as he stepped onto the Ledge of Fury™ to lambast the car industry, the regulators and the insurance industry for even considering this, let alone allowing it. To read more, click this Autocar article link.

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall are not resting on their laurels when it comes to the Corsa, even though it is sitting at the top of the most registered chart for 2023, so far. They have shown us the new look for the Corsa, that incorporates the ‘Vizor’ grille, we first saw on the Astra. Underneath it shares the updated Peugeot 208 architecture and technology. That will see a 255 mile range for the EV version, as well as multiple ICE and hybrid options. Prices expected to start between the current £18,015 and £20,000 for the new entry level ICE version and more than the existing £31,931 for the new longer ranged EV. You can find out more, by clicking this Autocar article link here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: ROBIN PAGE IS BENTLEY’S DESIGN DIRECTOR

Following the surprise by Volvo to appoint Jeremy Offer in Robin Page’s role, the Brit is returning to Bentley as their new Design Director. He previously was the head of interior design between 2001 and 2013. The general consensus, by the design community, is that this is a good more. Click here for the Auto&Design article, to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: TRACING THE ORIGINS OF ONE OF THE GREAT EARLY RACING PHOTOGRAPHS

Kevin McCauley fell down a rabbit hole when he started to looking into who took the famous photo titled “John Cobb drives the Napier-Railton on a record run at Brooklands”. Click this link to find out how his search went and also to see a short video of him explaining what went on.

LIST OF THE WEEK: ELEVN OF THE BEST CAR GAME COVER CARS

Goodwood Road & Racing brings us their suggestions for the best car games cover cars. You’ll take a trip down memory lane when you have a look. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Do let the chaps know. You can see the options by clicking this link here.

AND FINALLY: 1000 DAYS OF TOY CAR PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE UK

A daily photo task, which took off during lockdown, where Ross Burns photographed his son’s toy cars in locations around the UK has clocked up over 1,000 days and counting. There are some fabulous settings and compositions, click this BBC News article link to learn more and how to follow Ross on Instagram.

FOLLOW UP: US LAWMAKERS ATTEMPT AM LOSS U-TURN

Senators in the US are banding together to try and create a bill that will force car makers to install the option of AM Radio in all new cars. The claim is that removing it weakens the Government’s ability to issue emergency broadcasts. Click here to read the Autoevolution article.

GEELY INCREASES STAKE IN ASTON MARTIN

After several attempts to increase their investment in Aston Martin, that Lance Stroll had rebuffed, Geely announced that it now owns 17% of the brand. This makes them the third largest shareholder. To read more, click this EVO article link here.

CALL FOR OVER-70S TO GET MANDATORY EYE CHECKS

Older Drivers Forum, as road safety organisation, has called for all drivers to take a mandatory eye-test as they hit 70 and every three years recurring. This sounds like an eminently sensible idea that we hope will become law. You can find out more, by clicking this Autocar link here.

CAR INDUSTRY WARNS OF RULES OF ORIGIN IMPACT

Vauxhall, quickly followed by Ford, brought up the issue of Rules of Origin, where parts and vehicles imported into the UK from Europe, and vice versa, face a 10% surcharge bringing into question the viability of UK car factories. The car industry has urged the Government to renegotiate a deal with Europe to prevent the cost implications. To read more, click this BBC News article discussing Vauxhall’s position.

This is an issue that has been known and discussed by a few for some time. Click this Autocar article link, from Jim Holder explaining the issues and consequences.

You can read more about the lack of industry strategy, at a Governmental level, how that is hurting the industry and may mean it dies altogether, by clicking this The Guardian link.

CALLS FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE ROADS TO BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY

Paul Hodgkinson, a Gloucestershire County Councillor, has called for the poor state of roads in the county to be declared an emergency. The Highways Department had “30 teams” working to address road repairs. They also stated they met Government targets to fix high safety priorities within one day and other safety issues within 28 days. Click this BBC News article for more information.

MERCEDES PINK NOISE DEPLOYED TO SAVE HEARING

This is not a new thing, as Mercedes-Benz has been adding this to their cars since 2015, however it is amazing. If the car detects it is about to have an incident, pink noise is played through the speakers which causes occupant’s ear drums to close over and prevent loud noises from hurting and disorientating them. Click this Uncrate link here and watch the video for more.

NIO UNVEILS GEN 3 BATTERY SWAP STATION

NIO, the Chinese EV maker, has unveiled its third generation battery swap station and technology. These are slated to be coming to the UK too. The claim is that the battery pack of a NIO will be swapped in under five minutes. Their new station design will allow for up to 400 swaps in a day. NIO cars can also charge in a typical EV manner. Click this Autocar article link to read 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 -

Ford Tourneo Courier

Ford’s new entry level model, following the cull of the Fiesta and Focus, is the new Tourneo Courier. This will eventually come in petrol and EV options. The petrol engine will be a 1.0 litre providing 123bhp (Andrew got it wrong on the show, giving it an single extra bhp) via a six speed manual or seven speed auto box. The EV is expected to have a 55kWh battery, estimated to be capable of around 230 miles. Prices are expected to start, for the ICE version, at £20,000. Click this Autocar link for more.

DS9 Option Upgrades

Upgrades to the option specs for the car French diplomats will be driven in abroad, the DS9, have been announced. New infotainment, enhancements in safety tech and passenger comfort are all part of the improvements. As well as a hybrid system that will only be found in the DS9. There are three trim levels, starting with the Rivoli+, Opera and Esprit de Voyage. Prices start at £56,000 and run all the way up to £74,415. Click this Autoevolution link to see more about the upgrades.

Luvly 0

A Swedish firm has revealed a flat-pack EV quadricycle competitor to the Citroën Ami. Weighing just 400kg, thanks to a composite construction, the 0 has a claimed top speed of 56mph and a range of 62 miles. To read more, click this link to an Autocar article.

Nils van Roij Design Defender Convertible

Nils van Roij Design has revealed a convertible version of the latest Defender. Whilst the chaps cannot fully agree on whether they like it or not, they are in full agreement that they like that someone has tried. Click this PistonHeads link to read more.

Tamiya Wild One Max

The Little Car Company has confirmed that they will be making a full sized, road legal version of the 1980s Tamiya Wild One radio controlled car you can buy. We have not been this excited for a car in quite some time. Have your heart lifted by clicking this Calibre link and finding out more.

LUNCHTIME READ: WHY THE RIVIAN R1T REPAIR COST $42,000

The Autopian once again is the source of our recommendation for something to read over a lunchtime. A small ‘fender-bender’ collision, involving a rental car and a Rivian R1T pickup went viral as the final cost to fix the Rivian came to $42,000. Most scoffed and were incredulous, but those at The Autopian sought the answers to why. Click here to find out what they thought and what it means for all of us in the future.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 OF THE BEST RENAULT SAFRANES

PetrolBlog brings us quite the niche list to make your choice from, this week, which Renault Safrane will you pick? Do you agree with Andrew’s choice. Don’t forget to tell the chaps. Click this link to explore your options.

AND FINALLY: IS IT WORTH TRAVELLING FOR CHEAPER FUEL

Auto Shenanigans has a video out where he tries to get to the bottom of the claim that it is worth travelling for cheaper fuel. A wonderful piece of nerdism, which we heartily applaud. Click here for the YouTube link.

FOLLOW UP: LOS ANGLES SUBURB TARGETS STREET TAKEOVER CULTURE

Following on from the recent news of Australia fining spectators of street takeover events, a Los Angles suburb, Pico Rivera, are introducing similar laws. Spectators up to 500 feet away can be fined up to $2000. Vehicles used in the event can be permanently confiscated. California already has tough rules for such events but this goes further. Click here to read more from The Drive.

US AIRBAG RECALL REJECTED BY SUPPLIER

ARC, the maker of 67 million airbags that the NHTSA has ordered be recalled because a found defect has created “an unreasonable risk of death and injury", has rejected the recommendation. ARC state that the NHTSA’s eight year investigation has failed to show a "systemic or prevalent defect” in the inflators. To learn more, click this BBC News article link here.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER SHOWS SIGNS OF FINANCIAL RECOVERY

Thanks to JLR’s supply chain woes easing slightly, their fourth quarter financial results are much improved on the previous year. Revenue is up 49%, production is up 24%and order books are still holding around 200,000 vehicles. Click this link to Jaguar Land Rover’s own press release on this matter.

VW SHAREHOLDERS MEETING ATTACKED

During the shareholders meeting for the Volkswagen Group, protesters threw cake at executives and bared their chests as they highlighted the company’s green credentials and working in the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where human rights violations are reported. You can read more by clicking this link to the Raw Story article.

TESLA OTA UPDATES EQUATED TO HACKER ATTACKS

Tesla is having to defend their Over-The-Air (OTA) updates in a court as it is claimed the software changes impacted the performance of the batteries, including making them inoperable. The lawyer for plaintiffs is stating this is equivalent to a hacker attacking a system and is using California's Computer Data Access and Fraud Act and California's Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as the basis for their case. To learn more, click this Autoevolution article link here.

For some context on OTA updates for cars and why they are jolly hard to get right, click this article link from Ken Tindell.

INDIA PROPOSES BAnning diesels in cities by 2027

A committee set up by the Indian Government proposes the ban of diesels from cities and high density urban areas by 2027, but with quite a caveat as it does not include two and three wheeled vehicles as they get a reprieve until 2035. The committee proposing the moves also states that from 2024 new delivery vehicles in urban areas need to be electric, but the country is seriously behind on investment in EV infrastructure. You can read more by clicking this Jalopnik link here.

TOYOTA DATA LEAK UNDETECTED FOR A DECADE

Toyota has confirmed that a misconfigured cloud data bucket has been accessible by anyone since 2013. The company were at pains to clarify that whilst car details have been accessible personally identifiable information was not, but also location data is so we are not sure that stacks up. Click this DarkReading article link to find out more.

CORNWALL RESIDENTS ASKED ABOUT ACTIVE TRAVEL HABITS

Cornwall Council and partners are asking residents to take part in an active travel survey, in order to help them understand what influences those who do. The aim of the study is to reduce car use in the county. More can be read about this by clicking the BBC News article link here.

BUSINESSES PLUG-IN GRANT INCREASED

The plug-in grant for businesses has increased £500, to £1,500, with immediate effect. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) keeps the rates under constant review and is empowered to change them at any time. Click this AMOnline article link to learn 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 -

MG Cyberster

MG launched their EV convertible sports car, the Cyberster, in London last week. The claim is it is the world’s most affordable EV coupe. Whilst that is technically correct it will set you back from £55,000, which is quite the price jump in the rest of the MG range. However, this is a good looking car and we wait to see how many leave dealerships. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

Lotus Type 134

Lotus has announced some details, akin to teasing really, what their entry level vehicle will be. A compact SUV, rivalling the Porsche Mecan in size, that will also be “engineered to look, feel and drive a Lotus", as it states in the linked Autocar article. We are not fans of the render provided by the publication and expect it will look different in reality. A lot rides on this car though, with expectation being it will be worth half the sales of the company by 2028. Click the link here to find out more.

Honda e:Ny1

Honda has revealed three electrified SUVs as they try to catch up to market. The first is the stupidly named e:Ny1, which is a renamed Chinese model that is itself an electric HR-V with more screens and a refashioned nose. Expected to cost around £30,000 and have a range of 256 miles, with expectation it will be sold later this year. You can find out more, by clicking this Autocar link here.

Honda ZR-V

Second of the three new reveals is the ZR-V hybrid, which is slotting into a new segment in Europe for Honda, as it sits between the e:Ny1/HR-V and CR-V. This too though is already in another market, this time the US, where Alan has seen these on the road. We are not keen on the looks but then we are struggling to get excited about the sheer volume of SUVs being given to us by manufacturers. This will be priced as roughly £40,000, have a 2.0 petrol mated with two electric motors to provide 181bhp, whilst emitting 130g/km CO2 and 50mpg on the WLTP test. For more on this car, click this Autocar link here.

Honda CR-V PHEV and e:Hybrid

The final car revealed by Honda is the Mitsubishi Outlander - sorry - the CR-V in either PHEV of e:Hybrid formats. Whilst it does look astonishingly similar to the Outlander, it is their largest European model. This is to go toe to toe with the likes of the Toyota RAV4. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Honda Civic order books open again

Honda has confirmed that they have cleared enough of the order backlog to open their order books for the Civic, in the UK, once again. Click the Autocar link found here to learn more.

Mercedes-Benz end CLS production

Mercedes has ceased production of the CLS, after nineteen years of production as it needs the capacity for their new E-Class model. You can find out more by clicking this Autocar link.

Volvo delays EX90 production due to software woes

Volvo has announced that it will delay production of the all electric EX90 as they iron out the problems they are having with its software. No details have been given about what those issues are. Autocar has more on the story, which you can read by clicking this link here.

GM planning a European return

GM is planning to return to Europe, which it only recently left after selling Opel and Vauxhall. They will only be coming with electric vehicles and are targeting Scandinavia initially. Click here to learn more, from The Drive.

LUNCHTIME READ: HOW A REGIONAL AUTO SHOW IN OHIO SHOWED ME AUTO SHOWS MATTER

The Autopian brings us this week’s offering to digest whilst you nibble on your sandwiches. We are told how pointless car shows are, from company execs and foot weary journalists but they are a key event for the buying public. Click this link to read more and realise they are worth maintaining.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE HIGHWAY CODE

Top Gear, once again, bring us a list we feel you should read. This time with a hint of consumer journalism, discussing the recently altered Highway Code and elements that have changed which you may have missed. Click this link here to run through them and bring yourself a bit up to date.

AND FINALLY: CRASH TESTING LEGO TECHNIC MODELS

Our last offering for your enjoyment is a video crash testing Lego Technic models. Speeds range from 5 km/h up to 100km/h. Click this link to the Goodwood Road & Racing post to watch the chaos.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jaguarl Landrover announced that henceforth it would be “brand house” JLR. Many words and an abstract teaser image were used to describe Jaguar’s future. You can learn more form Autocar here.

FORMER FORD BOSS JOINS ASTON MARTIN

Former Ford of Europe chairman, Steven Armstrong has joined Aston Martin as part of its latest recovery strategy. Autocar has more here.

INEOS TO BUILD SMALL ELECTRIC OFF-ROADER

Ineos is going to expand its model line beyond the Grenadier with a small, electric off-roader being engineered by Magna and expected in 2026. There’s more information here.

ASTON MARTIN AND MCLAREN MUST SELL EVS

Changes in US Emission rules from 2032 mean that small volume manufacturers will be subject to the same fleet CO2 targets as other manufacturers. Find out more here.

EU MOTORIST GIVEN £11,000 ULEZ FINE

Foreign-registered cars, even if compliant, will be fined on entry to the London ULEZ. Postal delays in sending out penalty notices abroad and then processing by hire and lease firms mean that appeal periods have passed. Find out more about more from The Guardian.

DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE DRONE

Devon and Cornwall Police has unveiled it's using a drone to monitor for unsafe driving. More here from the BBC.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL TO INSTALL 1,000 CHARGING POINTS

Gloucestershire Council is getting serious about on-street charging with plans to install 1,000 on-street points across the county. Find out more here.

FOLLOW UP: ALL NEW SMART MOTORWAYS AXED

The UK Government has given in to populist pressure and scrapped all new Smart Motorway plans. Teh safety benefits are dubious, but no doubt this will result in a reduction in public infrastructure spending. You can read more in this Government press release.

NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR MARCH 2023

New car registrations in the UK have risen year-on-year for March, with significant gains by EVs and small SUVs. They’re still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels, but supply is easing and demand seems steady. You can read more in this article from SMMT.

TESLA WORKERS SHARE CAR-RECORDED IMAGES

Ex-Employees are alledging significant data and privacy breaches at Tesla regarding in and out of car videos and still imagesbeing shared around employees. More detail in this Guardian article.

FIRST HANDS-FREE DRIVING SYSTEM APPROVED FOR UK ROAD USE

Ford’s BlueCruise system has been approved for use on UK roads. The “hands-off, eyes-on” system is geofenced for motorway use only, but if you have to keep your eyes ont he road, what’s the point? More in this Guardian article.

CATERHAM TO MOVE, BUT NOT FAR

Caterham are moving to anew, purpose-built facility in Dagenham, not far from their existing site, that will allow all parts of the business to be under the same roof while increasing production. More in this AM-Online article.

Keyless Car Theft - Stealing Toyota Via Their Headlights

British researchers have unveiled a popular method of vehicle theft via the vehicle’s own internal networks. Much more detail at The Registerand onKen Tindell’s blog.

LUNCHTIME READ: Virtual Tour of the Lamborghini Museum

Design News has shared a virtual tour of the Lamborghini museum for us to peruse from home. Click here to see the slides.

LIST OF THE WEEK: The Forgotten Cars of The 1980s

Autocar has compiled a list of 41 “forgotten” cars from the 1980s. Some are definitely ore forgotten than others, but it’s an interesting set nonetheless. Click here to see list .

Click here to see our video on one of the choices too.

AND FINALLY: MAN BUYS HOT WHEELS CAR BUT FORGETS TO POST IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA

Major Gav has his tongue firmly in his cheek this week with this breaking story. Read it here on Petrolblog.

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT BOUGHT BY RECHARGE INDUSTRIES

The troubled British battery startup has been bought by Australian firm Recharge Industries, but that means a pivot to battery storage and away from automotive - at least for the moment.

Click here to read the main BBC story and click here for the thread by Peter Campbell of the Financial Times.

STELLANTIS POSTS RECORD PROFITS

Stellantis has posted record profits while also recording a 41% rise global EV sales. Is this because of supply chain constraints forcing them to focus on building their most profitable models?

Click here to read the Autocar story.

CITROEN BOSS STEPS DOWN

In a surprise move, Citroen boss Vincent Cobée has left the company.

Click here to read the Motor1 story.

SONO STYMIES SOLAR SION

German solar panel startup Sono has ended its project to produce the Sion solar-augmented EV, instead it’s going to focus on producing solar cells suitable for vehicles through its existing partnerships.

Click here to read the Move Electric story.

MOBILITY APP SHOWS CO2 COST OF BUSINESS TRAVEL

A new app can help calculate the total CO2 cost of employee business travel across all modes and can help benchmarking against similar organizations.

Click here for the full Autocar story.

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS TO HELP EV MOTORWAY CHARGING

National Highways is planning an £8million investment in containerized battery EV chargers for some high demand English service stations with limited electricity supply.

Click here for the full Motoring Research story.

More funding for Councils to expand ev charging

Some English councils have won a share of £56million to expand their local EV charging networks.

Click here for the move Electric Story.

Firms greenwashing their products face steep fines

New rules will prevent companies from selling their products and services on claims that may be false or impossible to prove.

Click here for the Guardian article.

Bentley W12 reaches the end of the line in the Batur

Bentley’s W12 engine will bow out in 2024 in the limited-production Batur.

Click here for the Autocar article.

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:

Vauxhall Corsa -

The Vauxhall Corsa is to receive a facelift to incorporate the “Vizor” grille as seen on the Mokka and Astra. Oh, and a performance electric version. You can read more by clicking this Autocar link.

Updated Peugeot 508 PSE Revealed -

The handsome Peugeot 508 will receive a facelift, so far Peugeot has only shared details for the powerful PSE plug-in hybrid. You can read more by clicking this Evo link.

Audi TT Final Edition -

The car that launched 1,000 mood boards, the Audi TT, will be retired soon. Its last hurrah in the UK will be the “all the spec” Final Edition. You can read more by clicking this Evo link.

DESIGNER’S MOOD BOARD

Hyundai and Genesis design chief, SangYup Lee, is World Car Person of the Year 2023. You can read more, including a list of the other four finalists, by clicking this Motoring Research link.

LUNCHTIME READ: Spyshots: The Golden Age of Tip-Offs

This week’s longer read is about the late 1990s anthe work of Hans Lehmann, Brenda Priddy and others capturing the test vehicles that manufacturers really didn’t want us to see. At least, not at that point. You can read the Hagerty article by clicking this link.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 29 Car Brands We’d Like To Bring Back

Motoring Research has compiled a list of defunct brands ready to return. Which would you most like to see return to the roads? To see the list and browse the slideshow, click this link.

AND FINALLY: There May Be More Behind That Weird Hyundai Ad You've Seen Than You Realize

The Autopian has noticed a strance Hyundai Ioniq 5 variant appearing in internet adverts, so they investigated and foudnd that it may not be a composite after all. You can find out more by clicking this link.

FOLLOW UP: DFT WITHDRAWS APPEAL AGAINST FOI REQUEST

Dr Greg Marsden has confirmed that the Department for Transport has withdrawn their appeal over the Freedom of Information requirement for the justification of the Government’s plans for decarbonisation of transport. He has even been supplied with the answers to his three questions. Click here to see his Tweet about this. Now we wait on the analysis of said information.

FOLLOW UP: BRITISHVOLT RESCUE PACKAGE SLASHES VALUATION

Britishvolts has entered administration, you can find out more by clicking this link to Peter Campbell’s Twitter thread. Just last year Britishvolt was valued in excess of $775 million, now there are rescue packages which state the company is worth $39 million. There are, reportedly, two consortiums bidding. To read more, click this Automotive News Europe article here. For more context around battery factories and how the UK appears to be sinking behind others, click this article from The Guardian.

ENVIRONMENT AUDIT COMMITTEE RECOMMEND IEA PLAN TO UK

The Environment Audit Committee, from Parliament, has recommended the UK Government implement the ideas from the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s ten-point plan to reduce oil usage. Some of the suggestions are reducing the speed limits by at least 10km/h, allowing cars to enter cities on alternate days of the week, encouraging working from home and more. Click here to read the article on Autocar. For the IEA plan, click this link here.

FUEL STILL TOO EXPENSIVE

Whilst the wholesale price of oil has dropped, particularly in December, the retail price has not matched the same pace. This comes as no surprise to anyone, mind you. There has been seemingly constant calls on the big retailers, including supermarkets, to drop their prices more than they have, but to no avail. Click here to learn more, from a Motoring Research article.

POTHOLE DAMAGE UP 34% SINCE 2016

In another piece of news that is not surprising in any shape or form, we find out that damage to cars from potholes has risen 34% since 2016. The suggestion is that due to the cold and the wet, which this winter has treated the UK to, the quality of roads will deteriorate further, meaning even more claims. Sunday was ‘National Pothole Day’, as promoted by Admiral insurance. Click here for more, from Motoring Research.

UNMARKED SPEED CAMERA VANS TRIALED

Northamptonshire Police are trialling the use of unmarked speed camera vans, in an effort to see if they deter excessive speeding and phone use behind the wheel. The force are at pains to explain they do not financially gain anything, bar an admin fee, for any tickets issues. They also explain that drivers do change behaviour when they see marked cars, so this is a tad confusing. Click this link to an EVO article for more information.

RIGHT TO REPAIR FIGHT WON IN US

The long running and bitter fight between John Deere and those wanting to be able to repair their own equipment has come to an end, with John Deere relenting over most points. The Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by both John Deere and the American Farm Bureau Federation means that farmers can choose how they want their equipment fixed. Whilst it isn’t legal the hope is it will be abided by both sides. This is important as manufacturers of all equipment in the US have been waiting to see if they could force owners to only use their service centres, including car companies. Click here to see more, from The Autopian.

BRITISH HGV START UP TEVVA BUILDS 7.5T LORRY

Following European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA), Tevva a UK zero emissions HGV company plans to mass produce their 7.5t lorry. With customers such as Travis Perkins and Royal Mail, which they have started to deliver to, they appear to have a sustainable business. The 7.5t lorry has a range of 140 miles and is for last mile and urban deliveries. Click this Move Electric article link 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

WRC: OUR COVERAGE WILL NOT CONTINUE

We will no longer be covering the WRC, unfortunately. We have felt for some time we are not doing the amazing sport justice and rather than give you a sub par segment we won’t be discussing it any more. To make sure you don’t miss out, we are recommending the following sites and people to follow;

For overall top quality coverage, DirtFish. Click here for their site link.

Colin Clark is brilliant and you should follow him on Twitter, by clicking this link.

Also, for those who wish to geek out on details, we recommend the WRC Wings Twitter account, which again you can find by clicking this link.

NEW NEW CAR NEWS:

Mazda MX-30 R-EV -

Mazda has unveiled a range extender plug-in hybrid version of the MX-30. The battery pack gives a maximum all electric range of 53 miles, but when combined with the rotary engine and 50l fuel tank that means an overall range of 370 miles. Prices start at £31,250, which is the same as the EV version. WLTP figure is 282.5mpg, but the reality will be very different. To read more, click this Motoring Research article link here.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: MATTHEW HILL NEW HEAD OF INTERNAL DESIGN AT LOTUS

Matthew Hill has been promoted by Lotus to head up their Interior Design after leading the team who created the Eletre’s interior. Previously Matthew has worked at Lotus, then Aston Martin and Ford Advanced. For more about this, click the link here to the Lotus Drivers Club article.

LUNCHTIME READ: CULTURAL LENS ON ROBOTS

Drew Smith, one half of Looking Out whom we regularly point you towards, has written a thought provoking piece on robotics, personal digital assistants and cars. As ever he draws on his own experiences as a consultant and research to dig below the surface of a topic and make us think better. Click here to read the article from his website StudioPhro.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE MOST RECALLED CARS IN EUROPE

Autocar has compiled the list of the most recalled cars from across Europe, in 2022. This is not the list any of the manufacturers want to be on. Click the link here to see the offending OEMs. Don’t forget to let the chaps know if you agree with their choices of the most surprising brand to be on this list.

AND FINALLY: THE AMAZING AND MYSTERIOUS CITROËN DS TAILLIGHTS

The Autopian brings you the And Finally this week. In their semi-regular posts about taillights they tackle the story behind the DS ones. And it is quite the story. Click here to enjoy and be educated at the same time.

Andrew was busy, so Alan’s joined by the ever-knowledgeable Alex Grant to catch up on some of the news from the holiday period.

FOLLOW-UP: DfT Appeals Freedom of Information Request

The Department for Transport is trying to stop a Freedom of Information Request release to see the assumptions on which the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation plan has been built. You can read more in this TransportXtra article.

FOLLOW UP: Continental Cyberattack

Continental has released a set of questions and answers about its August cyberattack. They can be found on the Continental webpage.

STELLANTIS DEALERS COMPLAIN ABOUT ITS BEHAVIOUR

Stellantis has been forcing dealers and buyers to register cars before arriving in the country to improve “stock velocity” and secure next year’s supply. That doesn’t seem good for today’s customers. Read more in this Car Dealer Magazine interview.

Toyota To Build New Hybrid Powertrain in Wales

Toyota has announced plans for investment in its Deeside plant to enable it to build its next generation of hybrid powertrains. You can find out more in this AM Online article.

New Morgan Chairman Takes Over

Lawrence Price, great-grandson of the company’s founder, HFS Morgan, has taken over as non-executive Chairman of Morgan Motor Company, according to this AM Online article.

Volkswagen Group Reshuffles Again

Volkswagen has rearranged the usual faces one more time. This time it’s “Strategic” according to Autocar.

Stroll Ups Aston Martin Stake

Lawrence Stroll has increased his stake in Aston Martin, with this Autocar article saying it’s to stop a Geely takeover.

Rental e-Scooter Trials Report Contains 5 Key Takeaways

You won’t believe number three, but you can read what they are, and follow a link to the report in this Move Electricarticle.

Geospatial Commission Calls for Better Use of Location Data In Chargepoint Rollout

The UK Government is looking at how to roll out the correct number of EV charging points in the correct places and how to make that data easily available to the relevant parties as part of a new report. You can read the summary and the full report on the Cabinet Office website.

TOM Karen OBE

The 96-year-old former Managing Director of Ogle Design has passed away. His best-remembered automotive work includes many Reliant and Reliant-derived models as well as the Leyland Roadtrain cab and limited-production Aston Martins based on the DBS. Here’s a link to the very concisePractical Classics announcement Tweet.

Ken Block

Co-founder of both DC Shoes and Hoonigan, Ken Block, has died suddenly in a snowmobile accident in Utah. There are many excellent obituaries, but there’s the one from Dirtfish.

REVS Restore - Project Dates for 2023

Information on the project workshop dates for the REVS Restore 2023 has been released. You can find out what the dates are and how to register your interest via the linked press release.

DESIGNERS’ MOOD BOARD - Karim Habib Gets Promoted

The head of Global Kia Design has been promoted to Executive Vice President. You can read more via Car Design News.

LUNCHTIME READ: No, Design Isn’t Dead.

This is a delve into why the image of all the white SUVs isn’t saying that design is dead, but the opposite. That’s not a supposition either, as it’s the man who created the image that’s written an intriguing piece on LinkedIn on the subject and even published the chapter of this book that it was intended to illustrate for free on Medium.

LIST OF THE WEEK: Jacked-Up Estate Cars

No SUVs this week, it’s a list of 10 jacked up, classic estate cars. Do check out Hagerty’s article and see if you agree with his choice by clicking this link.

AND FINALLY: Ford Has Opened its Photo Vault

Ford Heritage has released thousands of photos of the Ford range over the years. You can see some of the highlights in this Top Gear article and access the full archive here.