Month: January 2024

BMW has upgraded its entire 4 Series range, introducing a tweaked exterior design alongside a new operating system for the infotainment.

Priced from £43,020 for the Coupe and £49,695 for the Convertible, the new 4 Series will begin to hit the roads this spring as customer deliveries commence.

The exterior of the car hasn’t been markedly changed, but instead given a number of tweaks to keep it fresh. The front foglamps have been removed and M Sport models gain a diffuser in the lower section of the rear bumper. The exhaust tailpipes on M Sport models have grown in size, too.

New exterior paint colours have been made available while the headlights have been comprehensively upgraded with redesigned LED units providing a more distinctive appearance and better illumination at night. The new 4 Series is also available with BMW’s Laserlight rear lights, which use LEDs and fibre optic bundles to give the whole unit an eye-catching ‘graphic’.

Inside, the 4 Series has standard-fit sport seats and a redesigned steering wheel. The Curved Display setup remains the same as the previous 4 Series, but it gains BMW’s latest Operating System 8.5 which incorporates a simpler menu setup. A new QuickSelect function allows drivers to access the most-used functions at the press of the screen. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard, too.

A number of engine choices remain available with the 4 Series, including popular 420d diesel and 420i petrol models, alongside more performance-orientated M440i versions. At the top of the range sits the M4, which uses a turbocharged straight-six engine.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has told Mayor of London Sadiq Khan there is no “legal barrier” to cars being donated to Ukraine through the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) scrappage scheme.

Mr Khan asked the Cabinet minister in December to enable 4x4s and other suitable vehicles that would otherwise be scrapped to be sent to Ukraine.

The mayor had previously made it clear he did not believe altering the Ulez scheme for exporting vehicles would be possible under current laws.

Mr Harper wrote a letter to Mr Khan on Wednesday which stated: “We do not consider there to be any legal barrier to allowing vehicles to be donated to Ukraine.

“You have identified legal obstacles that relate to the processes and design of your scheme and DfT (Department for Transport) and DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) officials have been working with TfL (Transport for London) to identify routes to overcome these.”

Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reportedly wrote to his London counterpart to suggest donating vehicles as part of the scrappage scheme to assist with Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.

The average price paid for motor insurance in the final quarter of 2023 was around a third, or £157 in cash terms, higher compared with a year earlier, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Between October 1 and December 31 2023, the average price paid for private motor cover was £627, up from £470 during the same period a year earlier.

The ABI pointed to surging costs for insurers, such as longer repair times, higher repair costs, and the rising price of replacement vehicles.

Rising repair costs are due to a mixture of the price of labour, energy costs, and vehicles becoming more sophisticated, with electric vehicles requiring more specialist expertise to repair, the ABI said.

Its motor insurance premium tracker analyses nearly 28 million policies sold in a year and is based on the price customers pay for their cover rather than what they are quoted.

Mervyn Skeet, the ABI’s director of general insurance policy, said: “We’re acutely aware of the impact that rising motor insurance premiums continue to have on motorists.

“Rising repair costs and other factors outside of insurers’ control mean there is no single action that could bring down premiums. However, we are determined to do all we can to put the brake on.

“We are working with our members to understand what actions can be taken to help motorists manage costs. The cost of paying monthly (premium finance) is one of a number of topics we continue to discuss with our members and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

“We’ve also been very clear, and continue to underline, that cutting insurance premium tax would provide immediate relief for stretched consumers.”

The ABI estimates that insurance premium tax currently adds around £67 to the average motor premium. The tax is levied on insurers but the cost is passed on to customers through the prices they pay.

Recent research by consumer group Which? indicated that in September 2023 those paying monthly for an annual policy faced paying around £309 more on average over the year than those paying in one go.

Younger motorists, who often pay the highest premiums, may be more likely to pay monthly, Which? said.

Specialist brokers may be able to help people who are finding it hard to get insurance. The British Insurance Brokers’ Association can help put people in touch with a specialist broker.

A Financial Conduct Authority spokesman said previously that the body has already told insurers they must ensure their products provide fair value and it expects firms to continue to support customers in financial difficulty and reflect on whether they can do more to support people with lower financial resilience.

Morrisons has agreed a £2.5 billion deal to sell its 337 petrol forecourts to Motor Fuel Group, which has the same private equity owner as the supermarket.

The retail giant said the proposed deal would also see it take a minority stake of around 20% in Motor Fuel Group (MFG) as part of a strategic tie-up.

Both firms are majority-owned by US buyout firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice.

Under the deal, MFG is set to take on the Morrisons forecourts – including fuel and associated convenience retail operations – as well as more than 400 electric vehicle (EV) charging sites, with plans to invest in further expansion of the EV network and forecourt retail operations.

Rami Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “As the needs of the customer continue to evolve, Morrisons and MFG’s partnership will see us combine our respective expertise and resources to deliver the best value for customers at the pump, in our convenience stores and in our supermarkets.

“It means Morrisons customers will continue to see a competitive and attractive forecourt offering, including expanded access to EV charging, while also benefiting from greater focus on investment in Morrisons’ core food business.”

The companies said there are not expected to be any compulsory redundancies after the deal, with all Morrisons forecourt staff offered an in-store position.

They added: “In nearly all circumstances this position will most likely be in the store to which the forecourt is attached.”

But at MFG, its workers are employed directly by franchise holders.

MFG – which has 900 sites in the UK – has pledged to roll out 800 ultra-rapid EV chargers across the enlarged estate within the first five years following the deal.

It plans to also boost the forecourt convenience shop environment, food-to-go and car valeting facilities.

Morrisons will continue to supply food and groceries across the forecourt chain, with the opportunity to expand across MFG’s estate.

Morrisons said it will use the proceeds of the sale to fund further investment in its grocery stores and food-making businesses, as well as “significantly strengthening the business’s capital structure”.

It is understood that Morrisons and owner CD&R are aiming to use the deal to help pay down some of the supermarket’s hefty £5.7 billion debt pile.

It is similar to last year’s deal by rival Asda to acquire EG Group’s petrol stations in the UK and Ireland last year.

William Bannister, chief executive of MFG, said: “This strategic acquisition, and the resulting partnership with the highly respected Morrisons brand, is the next major growth investment for MFG.

“It is anchored in the potential for us to accelerate the rollout of ultra-rapid EV charging infrastructure across the UK while also giving customers a first-class retail offer.”

Audi has revealed an updated version of its large seven-seat Q7 SUV, which benefits from a styling redesign and additional safety features and connectivity.

The Q7 is Audi’s largest SUV, and though a new generation is overdue, the German firm is now introducing the second major facelift following its last update in 2019, and initial introduction in 2015.

Audi has aimed to give this latest Q7 a look in line with its more modern models, with a more imposing grille made up of new L-shaped inlays, which is similar to that of the latest Q8 SUV.

There are new LED lights at the front and rear, which feature configurable lighting signatures. Top-spec Q7s feature laser technology with a blue ambient light embedded. Audi says these headlights ‘significantly increase the high beam range’.

The new digital OLED lights also have a proximity feature that can detect when a vehicle approaches the stationary Q7 from behind at a close distance and automatically illuminates every element of the LED lighting.

Three new colours – Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue and Chilli Red – and a range of new alloy wheel designs are also available.

Audi hasn’t made any significant changes to the Q7’s interior, with the same twin touchscreen layout being used, but third-party apps such as Spotify and Amazon Apps are now directly integrated. The large digital instrument cluster is also now integrated with the various driver assistance systems to display new warnings.

The Q7 will be available from launch with a choice of a 3.0-litre diesel engine available with outputs of 228bhp and 282bhp, along with a 335bhp 3.0-litre petrol unit. A flagship SQ7 performance model also continues to sit at the top of the line-up, using a 500bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that can accelerate this SUV from 0-60mph in just 3.9 seconds.

Like the current model, the new Q7 will be available with a choice of three trim levels – S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung. Prices for the updated Audi Q7 start from £66,605, rising to £111,370 for the flagship SQ7 Vorsprung. It’s set to go on sale in March with first deliveries expected from May.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has said that trade barriers will need to be introduced on Chinese car firms otherwise they will ‘demolish most other car companies’.

Speaking during Tesla’s fourth-quarter and full-year financial results call, Musk said ‘our observations are that Chinese car companies are the most competitive car companies in the world, so I think they will have significant success outside of China depending on what kind of tariffs or trade barriers are established.

He added: “Frankly, I think that if there are not trade barriers established they will pretty much demolish most other car companies in the world.

“They’re extremely good”, added the Tesla boss.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Chinese car brands arriving on the market in recent years with the vast majority focusing on the production of electric vehicles.

Firms such as BYD have started to have a foothold in the UK, alongside brands such as GWM Ora. Two new brands – Seres and Skywell – have recently been confirmed as new additions to the UK’s automotive scene while Chinese car giant Geely owns more household names such as Volvo, Lotus and Polestar.

Musk added that Tesla didn’t see an ‘obvious opportunity’ in which to partner with Chinese car brands but added that the Californian firm was happy to give ‘any car company’ access to Tesla’s widespread Supercharger network. He also stated that he was “happy to give license for full self-driving and perhaps other technologies which could be helpful in advancing the sustainable energy revolution”.

A rare Land Rover Defender currently owned by actor Rowan Atkinson is heading to auction next month.

Atkinson, who had star roles in Blackadder, Mr. Bean and Johnny English, is known for his love of cars and even owned a highly valuable McLaren F1 that the actor famously crashed twice, before selling it for an estimated £8m in 2015.

Now Atkinson is selling his prized Land Rover Defender Heritage Edition, which was one of the final models to mark the end of the production of the original Defender in 2016.

Paying homage to the original Series I Land Rover, each Heritage Edition is painted in Grasmere Green with a white roof, along with other classic touches and ‘HUE 166’ graphics, which was the number plate assigned to the first production Land Rover back in 1947.

Rowan Atkinson acquired this Defender in 2017, which is one of just 400 Heritage Edition models made, and it’s even rarer still being a long-wheelbase ‘110’ version as most were the shorter ‘90’ versions. It’s covered just 3,800 miles, with Atkinson paying to have an aftermarket tow bar, air conditioning and car alarm fitted.

Nick Whale, chairman of Iconic Auctioneers, says: “Rowan Atkinson is a well-known petrolhead and Land Rover enthusiast, so this vehicle has been cherished and lightly used as part of his personal collection. Always correctly serviced, maintained and professionally stored, it has now covered just 3,800 miles from new.”

The auctioneers have sold several of Atkinson’s cars over the years, with a 1993 Lancia Delta Integrale being sold by the company in February 2023 for £87,750.

The actor’s Land Rover Defender will go under the hammer at the historic motorsport show Race Retro, held at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry on February 25 and has a guide price of £65,000 to £85,000.

It’s not the only famous Land Rover going under the hammer at the sale, however, as a Defender 110 5.0 V8 Bond Edition, one of just 10 sold in the UK to coincide with the release of the 2021 ‘007’ film No Time To Die, is being sold with an estimate of up to £175,000.

Fewer than a fifth (18%) of drivers think Highway Code changes made two years ago improved safety for pedestrians, a survey suggests.

The poll of 2,500 UK drivers commissioned by the RAC also indicated that 31% think pedestrians face even greater danger at junctions since the amendments.

The Highway Code, which contains advice and rules for people using Britain’s roads, was amended by the Department for Transport (DfT) on January 29 2022 to provide more protection for vulnerable road users.

It stated that traffic turning at junctions should give way when pedestrians are crossing or waiting to cross the road.

Less than a quarter (23%) of respondents to the RAC survey said they always do this, while 19% admitted they do not stop very often and 6% said they never do.

The Government’s latest road casualty statistics show 30% of pedestrian fatalities on Britain’s roads occur at junctions.

Other changes to the Highway Code included the creation of a hierarchy of road users meaning someone driving has more responsibility to watch out for people cycling, walking or riding a horse.

There was also advice for cyclists to make themselves as visible as possible by riding in the centre of lanes on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic and when approaching junctions.

A report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee in November 2023 warned that messaging around Highway Code changes were not communicated effectively enough to encourage public participation.

The RAC poll also indicated that 37% of drivers aged 17 to 24 think the amendments have made roads safer for vulnerable users, compared with just 13% of those aged 65 and above.

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “When initially introduced, we welcomed the major Highway Code changes because they were set to make the roads much safer for the most vulnerable users.

“However, two years on, it’s concerning to see there’s still so much uncertainty, with most drivers not stopping for people crossing when they should and therefore many pedestrians seeing no change to their safety at junctions.

“Part of the reason may be that drivers simply don’t know that the changes have been made, least of all the consequences of ignoring them.

“Most drivers probably rarely refer to the Highway Code once they’ve passed their tests, and that’s where the problem could lie.

“We urge motorists to take another close look at the changes – either by visiting the Highway Code or RAC websites, or by picking up a printed copy.

“We’d also urge the Government to make another concerted effort in communicating the changes to all road users.”

A DfT spokesman said: “All road users must feel confident using our roads which is why we made sure the changes to the Highway Code were directly informed by a public consultation with over 20,000 responses.

“To increase awareness of the changes, we have used our Think! campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the changes over the last two years.”

– The RAC’s survey was conducted by research company Online95 in March 2023. It was weighted to be nationally representative.

The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has confirmed the introduction of a new luxury MPV in the UK in 2026.

LEVC is the firm behind the popular electrified London taxis that are seen across the capital and also makes an electric van called the VN5. The firm, headquartered in Ansty, near Coventry, recently revealed the L380 as a large luxury MPV.

Originally thought to be designed for overseas markets, predominantly China and eastern Asia where vehicles of this type are most popular, LEVC has now announced that a ‘UK market version’ will arrive ‘within the next two years’.

Unlike the firm’s London taxi and electric van, however, it won’t be made in the UK but rather in the city of Yiwu in East China where production of the first prototype models has recently started.

LEVC, which is owned by Chinese automotive group Geely, says the new L380 will ‘accelerate its transition from a high-end taxi manufacturer to a leading provider of e-mobility solutions’. It will be based on the same underpinnings as other cars from the Geely group, such as the new Volvo EM90.

The L380 is based around a new platform and promises a flexible interior that’s available in three, six or eight-seat layouts.

Alex Nan, chief executive of LEVC, said: “The L380 is the first demonstration of the future vision for LEVC, launching the business into an entirely new sector. As with all our products, L380 takes inspiration from the company’s rich history, combined with the vast resources and technical innovation of the Geely Holding Group.

“The start of production for this new model sets us on an exciting new path, bringing advanced zero-emission transportation to more customers than ever before and we look forward to taking customers on this journey.”

LEVC is still tight-lipped on many details with the L380 but says more will follow in the ‘coming months’.

Smart has announced the introduction of an entry-level ‘Pro’ grade to its electric #1 crossover, which brings a big price cut but with no compromise on standard equipment.

The Smart #1 was introduced last year as the first new model from this revived carmaker, which no longer sells the famous dinky ‘Smart cars’ it was known for.

This new ‘Pro’ trim level is now the entry-level grade, and uses a smaller 49kWh battery that allows for a 193-mile range. This compares to the 66kWh battery fitted to all other versions, which come with a 268-mile range. The power output from the rear-mounted electric motor remains the same on both, producing 268bhp and 343Nm of torque, allowing for a 0-60mph time of 6.7 seconds.

In terms of charging, this new Smart #1 model can be charged at up to 130kW DC, with a 10 to 80 per cent top-up taking ‘less than 30 minutes’.

Despite being an entry-level grade, there is still plenty of standard equipment, including a 12.8-inch touchscreen, heated seats and a 360-degree parking camera. You also get adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof and an electric boot.

This new Pro trim costs from £31,950, which is £4,000 cheaper than the longer-range Pro+ version. It’s available to order now, with Smart estimating delivery in just a few weeks.

Smart UK CEO, David Browne, said: “The arrival of the Pro on UK shores completes the #1 line-up, providing an exceptional value proposition for customers who require less range while expecting just as much in the way of style and substance.

“Accompanied by a new series of extremely compelling PCP deals across the #1 range, we’re very excited to see how the public responds to this new offering.”