Government to commission a study into headlight glare after RAC research found more drivers being affected.
An online petition of nearly 11,000 signatures has prompted the government to launch a study into the issue of headlight glare.
The petition, set up by a member of the public but campaigned for by the RAC, reflects a recent study by the breakdown assistance provider which found as many as eight-in-10 drivers believe that the problem of headlight glare is getting worse.
A recent survey of 2,000 drivers found that 89 per cent think headlights on modern cars are too bright – and some 91 per cent say they get dazzled and 74 per cent say that it happens regularly.
Rod Dennis, RAC road safety spokesperson said: “The fact the government has listened to drivers’ concerns and heeded our calls to examine the complex issue of headlight glare in more detail marks a real turning point.
“Brighter headlights, while giving drivers a better view of the road ahead, are clearly causing other road users significant problems. As many as nine-in-10 drivers tell us they believe at least some car headlights are too bright, while 14 per cent of drivers aged 65 plus say they have stopped driving altogether as a result of being dazzled.”
The petition will need to receive at least 100,000 signatures for the issue to be discussed in parliament.
Baroness Hayter said: “This is a victory for all those drivers affected by glare who’ve complained to their MP, signed the parliamentary petition, or indeed sought help from an optometrist – only to discover the problem was with headlights, and not their eyes.
“This is an issue the RAC has long campaigned on and I am delighted the Government has recognised there is a real problem. We look forward to discussing its research in due course.”
With the motor industry putting all of its eggs into the EV basket, does hydrogen fuel cell technology still have its place in the market?
Hydrogen fuel cell technology could be the answer to all motorists’ prayers – it offers the promise of zero-emission motoring with the ease and practicality of internal combustion-engined vehicles.
However, even though hydrogen sounds like the answer, it has never caught on in passenger vehicles, mainly because of the hurdles the technology has been trying to jump through.
Production costs are high, a lack of government funding for infrastructure expansion hasn’t helped and the vehicles available come with very hefty price tags attached to them.
Currently, there are only two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the market, and as of March 2023, only 15 hydrogen filling stations were in the UK.
Does it all mean that hydrogen-powered cars are only a recent creation? Well, dig beneath the surface and you’ll find that there have been many hydrogen-fuelled vehicles before and though uptake is steady, they are still catching the eye of car manufacturers.
Here is our list of the current and past cars that have used hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Present:
Toyota Mirai: £49,995 to £64,995
The Toyota Mirai is now in its second generation and the latest model offers up to 400 miles on single tank of hydrogen. (Credit: Toyota media UK)
The Toyota Mirai is now in its second generation and is one of the most well-known and recognisable fuel cell electric vehicles on sale.
Originally launched in 2015, the Mirai offered car buyers a taste of the hydrogen world. It could do 300 miles on a full tank of hydrogen and would take no longer than a few minutes to fill up – as long as you had a hydrogen filling station nearby.
The second generation car came out in 2021 and was better looking and cheaper, starting at just under £50,000, while more range and increased power made the whole car better.
The new Mirai can do 400 miles on a tank and produces 178bhp from its electric motor, however, its small boot and cramped rear seating don’t make it a very practical car nor does the slow 0-60mph time of 8.8 seconds make it a fast one either.
But the Mirai drives really well for a very heavy and bulbous car, with decent steering and not too much body roll in the corners.
Hyundai Nexo: £65,995 to £69,495
The Hyundai Neto comes with a range of 414 miles and a big price tag, starting at £65,995. (Credit: Hyundai press)
The only other new car today that offers hydrogen power is the rather expensive Hyundai Nexo.
The Nexo has been around since 2018 and in that time, hardly anyone has bought one.
It offers 414 miles on a tank and is priced from £65,995, and with its direct competitor from Toyota £16,000 cheaper, makes this very small market almost a one-man-band.
But, where the Nexo falls down in one area, it pulls itself up in other areas. The drive in the Nexo is good, there is plenty of grip around the corners and it’s very well refined, but with a slow 0-60mph time of nine seconds, it’s not going to be scaring Teslas any time soon.
Past:
Honda FCX Clarity
The second generation FCX Clarity had a range of 366 miles and was never sold in the UK. (Credit: Honda newsroom EU)
Back in 2008, Honda showed us the FCX Clarity. Originally only sold in Japan and the Californian market, Honda used the FCX Clarity to set the ball rolling for the mass production of hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicles.
Then in 2017, Honda released the second generation FCX clarity fuel cell exclusively to the Californian market. Not only that, they were available with only 12 approved Honda dealers, one in Sacramento, six in Southern California and five in San Francisco.
The second generation car came with 139bhp and had a range of 366 miles on a tank, however, Honda never brought the FCX Clarity to the European market.
Hyundai iX35 FCEV
The Hyundai ix35 FCEV was an experiment to see if hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicles would work in the real world. (Credit: Hyundai press)
Another Hyundai on this list is the ix35 FCEV. Hyundai has a history of producing fuel cell vehicles in concept form but has frequently made production-ready hydrogen cars too. The ix35 FCEV was an experiment to see if the mass markets could adapt to another battery-electric alternative.
In 2015, Hyundai made 1000 examples of the ix35 FCEV and 250 were in active service throughout 11 European countries.
The ix35 FCEV came with a fuel cell motor that produced the equivalent of 134bhp, had a hydrogen capacity of 144 litres, did 100mph and could manage 369 miles on a single tank.
Mercedes F-Cell
The F Cell was a long-wheel-base A Class that produced 87bhp and a range of 99 miles. (Credit: Mercedes press media)
You may think that this list is dominated by Japanese and South Korean manufacturers – but Germany has also taken hydrogen research and development seriously, too.
Back in 2003, Mercedes got hold of an A-Class long-wheel-base and created the F-Cell. The A-Class F-Cell came with an 87bhp electric motor and had a range of 99 miles – poor by modern standards but impressive for more than two decades ago.
In 2004, four F-Cell A-Class’ were delivered to Deutsche Telekom and BEWAG Vattenfall Europe under their Clean Energy partnership project – which were the first fuel stations to use hydrogen filling pumps in Europe.
The starting price is now under £40,000 and can be purchased via online or dealer network.
Honda has revised the prices of its e:NY1 electric SUV to help boost its appeal and persuade customers to go electric.
The e:NY1 went on sale in 2023, but, to help with sales, Honda will now sell the entry-level e:NY1 Elegance from £39,995 instead of £44,995.
Order books open on April 23 and customers will be allowed to purchase via dealer network or online.
The higher-spec e:NY1 Advance will have no price reduction and is priced from £42,195 and has features like a heated steering wheel, power tailgate and a panoramic glass roof.
Rebecca Adamson, head of automobile at Honda Motor Europe Limited UK said: “April marks an exciting milestone for Honda as we unveil our new approach for the e:NY1.
The e:NY1 Advance comes with a heated steering wheel, power tailgate and panoramic roof from £42,195. (Credit Honda news EU)
‘We are incredibly excited for the future of electric mobility and are proud to offer customers an exceptional blend of convenience and affordability. This new proposition reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability, and we are confident that it will empower customers to “Go Electric” with enthusiasm.”
The e:NY1 sits between the HR-V and ZR-V in Honda’s model line-up and is the only SUV in its range to be offered as an EV.
The e:NY1 comes with an electric range of 256 miles, while the electric motor produces 204bhp and can do 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds. It has a maximum charge rate of 78kW allowing the e:NY1 to top-up from a fast charger from 10 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes.
Research conducted by Peugeot UK found that Michelin restaurants in London scored well due to free Congestion Charge and ULEZ.
The best Michelin Green Star restaurants for electric vehicle owners have been revealed in a recent survey.
Michelin’s Green Star was introduced in 2021 and highlights Michelin-starred restaurants for their eco-credentials and sustainability in their kitchens.
New research, conducted by Peugeot, has looked into how viable these restaurants are for electric vehicle owners, taking into account the number of charge points within one mile of the restaurants, the frequency of rapid chargers within five miles, and how accessible they are from the UK’s 15 major cities with the firm’s E-308 and its 257-mile range.
The Green Star looks at the most eco-friendly restaurants around. (Credit Stellantis media)
In first place was Apricity in Mayfair, London thanks to 650 charging points within one mile and 291 rapid chargers within five miles. The restaurant could also be reached from 12 out of the 15 major cities of the UK using a full range on the E-308.
In second place was St.Barts in the city of London with 239 charging points within one mile and 254 rapid chargers within five miles. The capital scores highly due its concentrated selection of electric vehicle chargers.
In third place was Silo in Hackney, Wick, and fourth was Petersham Nurseries cafe in Richmond-upon-Thames.
The E-308 has a 257-mile electric range. (Credit: Stellantis media)
The highest restaurant outside the London area was Wilsons in Bristol which came fifth, with two charging points within one mile, though it had 20 rapid chargers within five miles of the premises.
However, the restaurants in ninth and tenth place on this list – Moor Hall in Aughton, Lancashire and Angela’s in Margate, Kent – still had fewer than ten chargers overall within five miles of the restaurants.
The second electric model in the sporty Abarth range revealed in celebration of the firm’s 75th anniversary.
This Easter has seen further images of the eagerly anticipated Abarth 600e released in celebration of the performance brand’s 75th anniversary.
The Abarth 600e Scorpionissima is the firm’s most powerful car ever producing 240bhp alongside a mechanical limited slip differential.
The interior features large bucket seats and a driver-focused design. (Credit: Stellantis media)
On the outside, the 600e sits on lower suspension, giving a lower centre of gravity alongside larger alloy wheels – plus there’s a gloss black rear spoiler.
The gloss black theme continues with black mirrors, door handles, boot lid handle, side skirts and wheel arch covers – there is also an Abarth decal that runs down the side, too.
Step inside, and the 600e shows off its sporty appeal with Abarth graphics, a Scorpion emblem on the steering wheel as well as being wrapped in leather and Alcantara – the 600e Scorpinossima also gets sportier seats.
Full details of the Abarth 600e are expected to be released this summer. (Credit: Stellantis media)
There is ambient lighting and a tunnel pad cover, allowing for extra space inside the cabin.
The dashboard houses a 10-inch radio and navigation system with specific Abarth graphics and provides the driver with performance information and allows the driver to switch on or off the sound generator to give an artificial engine note or pure silence from the electric motor.
Prices, specifications and a full reveal are expected in the summer ahead of orders opening.
The Italian supercar maker is focusing on sustainability and decarbonisation.
The famous Italian supercar maker, Lamborghini, has updated its logo after more than two decades.
Lamborghini’s new logo will be part of the brand’s new strategy which claims to reflect on ‘brave, unexpected and authentic’ values helping to push towards a more sustainable and decarbonised future.
The change is part of the company’s plan to focus on becoming a more environmentally conscious company while producing vehicles that remain sought-after.
We have renewed our historic logo to adapt the brand's visual expression with the "brave," "unexpected," and "authentic" values of our "Driving Humans Beyond" mission and is part of the ongoing process of evolution, initiated with our Direzione Cor Tauri strategy.#Lamborghini
The new logo still incorporates the famous Lamborghini bull, but the colours used in the outline, the bull itself and the company name have been toned down to a more subtle black and white.
The black and white colours are used to symbolise the identity of the brand, while the yellow and gold act as the accent colour.
All future Lamborghinis will use the new logo, while the bull for the first time will be individually used for the company’s social media platforms.
The lettering is now broader and unlike the old style logo, there is no more of a 3D-effect look to it with the font called Automobili – a bespoke Lamborghini typeface.
Lamborghini is one of several carmakers that have switched to a ‘flatter’ style of logo. Fellow Volkswagen Group member Audi adopted a new version of its famous ‘rings’ logo back in 2022, while Renault redesigned its badge a year prior to that. More recently in June 2023, JLR unveiled a redesigned logo as a reflection of its wider rebrand.
A new hydrogen fuel system could be the final piece in the jigsaw for a global hydrogen market.
A smaller and more powerful hydrogen fuel cell system has been revealed for the passenger car market.
Loughborough-based fuel cell developer and manufacturer Intelligent Energy has unveiled its new IE-Drive system that can produce electrical power of an equivalent 157bhp – one of the highest of any single stack hydrogen platforms for passenger vehicles.
However, the system’s real focus is its size, which is why the platform is 30 per cent smaller than other fuel cell systems, but enables a cruising speed of 80mph in peak temperatures and 55mph going up steep inclines.
The Drive system is shaped like a traditional engine and features a fuel cell stack, electronic control unit and heat exchanger. Intelligent Energy states that its fuel system can be ‘as cheap to produce as internal combustion engines’ while its compact size means that it could easily be dropped into existing passenger car designs by OEMs.
David Woolhouse, Intelligent energy’s chief executive, said: “With 25 per cent of all passenger cars expected to have hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, this clean technology represents the future.
The passenger car and van hydrogen fuel cell market is anticipated to be worth £596 million by 2040. (Credit: Toyota media UK)
“Our Drive product has the potential to shake up the hydrogen fuel cell market and accelerate the transition towards zero-emission mobility.”
Intelligent Energy predicts that its Drive fuel cell system will cost around £100 per kW by the end of the decade – making it less expensive than EVs and comparable to internal-combustion engine vehicles.
Dr. Ashley Kells, Intelligent Energy programmer director, said: “The IE-Drive product is a ground-breaking advancement in the automotive industry and the work we have undertaken clearly illustrates the UK’s ability to be a global leader in the hydrogen fuel cell arena.”
It’s anticipated that by 2040, the hydrogen fuel cell market for passenger cars and vans will be worth £596 million.
The boldly styled SUV gets updated to keep it in line with the competition.
The Tucson has been given an updated look for 2024 as the current generation enters middle age.
On the outside, the front and back bumper have been redesigned along with new skid plates, while at the front, there are larger LED daytime running lights and a half-mirrored effect in the front grille.
New alloy wheel designs are on offer as well as five new paint colours: Cypress green pearl, Ecotronic grey pearl, Ultimate red metallic, Jupiter orange metallic and Sailing blue pearl.
The N Line version of the Tucson gets updated front and rear bumpers, a new mesh grille and body-coloured wheel arches.
Climb inside, and there’s a redesigned dashboard, centre fascia, centre armrest and steering wheel – as well as a new display for the climate control and updated designs to the upper door trims – while standard USB-C charging points are now included, too.
The seats also get new patterns and materials including cloth and leather – there will also be a new interior colour pack which allows for more customisation, though UK specifications are yet to be confirmed.
Over-the-air updates help owners make sure that their vehicle infotainment software is always up-to-date as well as their satellite navigation functions, too.
The new Tucson gets over-the-air updates and there is a new two-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid on the way. (Credit Hyundai press UK)
Furthermore, the new Tucson comes with an Intelligent front-lighting system, where the LED headlights automatically adapt to road conditions to ensure the best illumination while reducing glare for other road users.
The New Tucson comes with a variety of electrified powertrains including a mild-hybrid, a full hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. An extra addition to the Tucson range is the two-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid – which will be available later this year.
Prices and specifications are yet to be confirmed for the new Tucson, with more details expected to be revealed later this year when the car goes on sale.
With the Easter weekend fast approaching, did you know that some cars have permanent Easter eggs featured inside or outside them?
This Easter weekend is set to be one of the busiest on record for Britain’s roads.
But, with many people excited to be opening chocolate Easter eggs on Sunday, most people probably don’t know that there are some lurking in their cars – but they’re not the delicious oval chocolate versions.
There are certain car manufacturers that slide a few little extras into their cars to make them reflect a vehicle’s heritage, design or even down its name.
Here is our list of some of the most unusual and bizarre car Easter eggs you never knew existed.
Vauxhall sharks
The Shark has been appearing in Vauxhall models since the reveal of the Corsa D back in 2006. (Credit: Stellantis media)
That may sound odd, but did you know that Vauxhall has been putting sharks in its cars for nearly two decades?
It began with the introduction of the Corsa D – which was released in 2006. The Shark was located in the hinges of the glovebox and was included after Dietmar Finger, an Opel designer, was encouraged by his son for the shark to be included in the Vauxhall’s then-new Corsa.
The Shark theme has made its way onto other Vauxhall models over the years, including the Adam, Astra, Insignia and Mokka, making the animal into something of a mascot for the brand. .
Skoda’s umbrella and ice scraper
The Skoda umbrella was first used in the Superb and has since been featured in the Kodiaq and Scala models. (Credit: Skoda press)
Skoda’s infamous ‘Simply Clever’ slogan is relevant to some secret features that hide beneath nearly all the brand’s models.
Firstly, the Superb in the early 00s featured integrated umbrellas stowed neatly away into the doors for the passengers – an idea that Rolls-Royce used for their flagship Phantom luxury limousine, too.
Later on, the feature made its way onto other Skoda models such as the Kodiaq and Scala.
In nearly all Skoda models is the ice scraper located inside the fuel filler flap. The scraper is also transparent and doubles up as a magnifying glass to help owners read tire pressure labels that are also found inside the fuel flap.
Skoda’s more recent models like the Kamiq also have the ice scraper to benefit as a tyre tread depth gauge.
Mazda triangles
When you step inside a Mazda RX-8, you are greeted by a theme of triangles. (Credit: Mazda UK press)
The Mazda RX-8 went on sale in 2003 with a rotary wankel engine. The engine involved a triangular piston rather than conventional longitudinal ones to make for better performance, smoother acceleration and more power – but, did you know that a lot of the RX-8’s interior was inspired by that triangular piston?
If you take a look inside the interior of the RX-8, there are subtle clues to give the game away about what lives underneath the bonnet. The gear shift knob is triangular, as are the cut outs in the front seat backs and even on the outside, where the triangular shaped design on the bonnet below the windscreen all harks back to its powertrain.
Jaguar Cub
The baby Cub represents the E-Pace and the Jaguar is the larger F-Pace SUV. (Credit: Jaguar press)
The Jaguar E-Pace is a popular small crossover here in the UK, but did you know that there was a baby Cub lying beneath its windscreen?
If you take a closer look at the bottom of the front windscreen you will notice a walking Jaguar followed by its Cub alongside a trail to look like the outline of the windscreen.
The Jaguar and Cub can also be found in the puddle lights on the ground when entering the car.
The Cub and Jaguar are used to represent the different sizes of SUV model. The Cub is the E-Pace and the larger cat is the F-Pace SUV.
Jeep Renegade
The Jeep Renegade is full of Easter eggs. Even the speaker surrounds have original Willy’s Jeep front grilles on them. (Credit: Stellantis media)
Owners of the Jeep Renegade may not realise they are driving around in a moving Easter egg. The compact crossover is littered with cool and quirky Easter eggs that are reminiscent of Jeeps from the past.
Firstly, the X’s and grilles. The headlamps and taillights both incorporate the old-school Jeep grille.
Not only that, you’ll find the original Jeep grilles on the side of the rear-view mirror casing, on the boot lid slam panel and around the speakers.
The side steps say ‘No Step!’ – just to make sure that people don’t walk on them.
If you open the fuel flap on a Renegade, to the bottom right-hand side will be a little spider with a speech bubble saying ‘Ciao baby!’ – as well as a little Willy’s Jeep climbing up the front of the bottom left-hand of the front windscreen.
Look at the rev counter and you’ll find a paintball splotch redline – which was the Renegade’s design team’s favourite weekend activity.
If you buy rubber floor mats, you’ll find an original Jeep stamped on them to remember that Jeeps like going off-road and getting muddy.
The South Korean hatchback has been given a new lease of life to keep it in line with its German competitors.
The Hyundai i30 has received an updated design with new connectivity and safety features.
The Ford Focus rival has always been a sensible choice among buyers and this updated model should help bring it in line with the most modern offerings.
On the exterior, the radiator grille, fog lamp housing and rear bumper insert have been redesigned, while all versions now come as standard with LED headlights and taillights – as well as new 16-inch wheel designs.
There are seven new exterior colours including Jupiter orange metallic, Meta blue pearl, Ultimate red metallic, Abyss black pearl, Ecotronic grey pearl, Cypress green pearl and Sailing blue pearl.
Step inside, and you’ll find that the central tunnel has been given a gloss black finish and there is now the option of either cloth, cloth and leather, full leather and textile suede and leather seat upholstery.
The sporty i30 N Line has been given new front grille meshes, horizontal accents in red for the textile and suede interior and metal accents for the front bumper inserts. There are now dark metal inserts for the side skirts, too.
New connectivity features include a 4.2-inch colour LCD display, three USB-C charging ports for the front and rear, over-the-air map updates and an optional 10.25-inch digital screen.
The new i30 will be available with a hatchback, estate or a saloon called the ‘Fastback’.
Source: Hyundai news media
As standard, the new i30 comes with Hyundai’s smart sense safety feature which includes collision avoidance, which helps detect and avoid potential accidents ahead. Lane-following assist is also included – helping to keep the car in its current lane on the motorway – while intelligent speed limit assist alerts the driver when exceeding the speed limit.
To improve its efficiency, the new i30 can be selected with a 48V mild-hybrid system to help with its emissions and economy.
Prices and specifications are yet to be confirmed for the UK market, but production is due to start in April 2024 – with the new i30 going on sale later this year.
