Author: Jack Evans

Classic car fans are planning to treat themselves to a new car instead of a dream holiday, according to a new survey.

New research by Car & Classic found that 93 per cent of 2,000 respondents were planning to shell out for a dream classic car instead of a holiday this year. And with users flocking to classifieds during the lockdown – 3.6m visited Car & Classic’s site in April alone – it would appear that many people are choosing to research their next vehicle instead of browsing holidays.

Tom Wood, CEO of Car & Classic, said: “While we appreciate users of Car & Classic are among the biggest classic car fans around, it’s still very telling that our users are ditching their holiday plans and deciding to invest in a classic car to use closer to home instead.

“During the lockdown we’ve seen millions more users searching the site with many planning carefully where to spend their money next. While foreign holidays may be on hold, it’s clear that classic car buying is not.

“Many people still want to treat themselves after the lockdown and with trips abroad being harder for the foreseeable future, classic cars look likely to be one way our users at least will be cheering themselves up.”

Search characteristics have shown a love for Ford products, with some of the Blue Oval’s most iconic models making it into the top ten of the most-searched for classics. In fact, five models in the top ten were from Ford.

Other classics in the list included the MG B GT, Triumph Stag and Rover P6.

Car dealerships in England are set to open on June 1, throwing open doors which have remained closed for more than two months. Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement this week, giving dealers the opportunity to trade fully once again – though many have been selling cars online and via click-and-collect services for much of the lockdown period.

But even though dealers are allowed to open, what is being done to ensure customer safety?

Certificate

All dealers are going to be required to display a safety certificate which signifies that they are complying with government guidance on managing the risk of coronavirus.

If you’re planning on visiting a dealership after June 1, make sure that this certificate is being displayed. If you’re worried, give the dealers a call ahead of your visit to make sure that they’re complying with the latest measures.

Social distancing

As with all other aspects of businesses operating during the coronavirus pandemic, car dealerships will need to enforce strict social distancing policies. It means that signs will be put up to remind all in the dealership to remain two metres apart, and walkways will be marked out through the site too.

One-way systems will also be introduced, and all the vehicles in the showroom will remain locked to stop people from entering them.

Cleanliness

Some of the aspects of a dealership that you might have been used to are being removed to ensure cleanliness levels are kept to a maximum. Magazines, books and brochures will all be removed to avoid transmission, and refreshments won’t be served either.

Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the dealership, too.

Test drives

Testing a car out is a huge part of purchasing a new vehicle. From June 1, test drives will be permitted – but only solo ones. That means you’ll be able to take out a vehicle to try it, but the dealer won’t accompany you.

Trade plates must be used, and dealers must have the correct insurance policies in place – so speak to them beforehand to make sure that the right coverage is in place. The car will also be extensively sanitised both before and after each test drive.

Click-and-collect

Of course, if you don’t want to go to a dealership to buy a car then there are still plenty of options available. Click-and-collect services are being offered by many dealers, allowing you to choose your car online, contact the dealer for more information before placing an order and collecting the car at the dealership under social distancing measures.

In addition, a lot of dealers and manufacturers are now offering completely contactless purchasing. Order and pay online, and then the car will be delivered directly to your home.

Three classic BMW models owned by Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay are set to go under the hammer at auction.

The sale, which is taking place on May 23, will see the three classic models sold by Silverstone Auctions. The first, a 1972 3.0 CSL E9, is just one of 500 and has 62,000 miles on the clock. Jay Kay originally found the vehicle in storage where it had been parked up for several years, before the singer fully restored it. It arrives with an estimate of between £135,000 and £155,000.

The second car is a 1983 Alpina B9 3.5. Though technically a different brand to BMW – Alpina is seen as a manufacturer in its own right – the basis for the car does come straight from a BMW model. Fitted with a manual gearbox, it’s thought to be one of only 18 made and was purchased by Jay Kay nine years ago. It hits the market with an estimate of between £25,000 and £35,000.

The third and final car is a 1987 E30 M3, which was converted into competition spec and used by the singer to compete in the Rally Isla Mallorca in March. It comes with an estimate of between £48,000 and £56,000.

Harry Whale, Silverstone Auctions Sales Manager, commented: “We are extremely happy with this catalogue and the selection of cars offered. There are several very rare classic and modern cars on offer providing a great opportunity for any discerning collector.”

“We are also very honoured that Jay Kay has entrusted three BMWs to us from his personal collection. These cars are superb examples of the BMW marque and the CSL is quite outstanding.”

The trio goes up alongside other motoring icons such as a 2010 Mercedes-AMG SLS AMG and a 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale.

All cars included in the auction are being held in a single storage location, with one-to-one viewings organised in line with government guidelines. Interested buyers will be able to place bids online, on the phone or via a commission bid.

The congestion charge will be bumped up to £15 a day following the government’s bailout for London’s transport system, which has been hit by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Though the congestion charge was suspended on March 23 to help key workers to move around safely under lockdown, it is due to be re-introduced on Monday (19) at the pre-lockdown cost.

However, from June 22, drivers will have to pay £15 rather than £11.50 per day including weekends – rather than just on weekdays as current rules stipulate. In addition, its operating hours will be temporarily increased in the evening, extending from 6pm to 10pm.

Transport for London will also be extending the congestion charge reimbursement scheme to help NHS and care home staff.

The ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) will also be re-introduced on Monday, having been suspended alongside the congestion charge. It requires drivers of older, more polluting petrol and diesel cars to pay £12.50 a day.

The increases reflect a recent government bailout of Transport for London (TfL) of £1.6 billion, consisting of a £1.1 billion grant and a £505 million loan.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “We have just reached agreement with the Government on a funding package to allow TfL to run public transport safely in London for the next four and a half months. This was necessary because Covid-19 has had a catastrophic impact on TfL’s finances – as it has on every transport provider in the UK.

“I want to be completely honest and upfront with Londoners – this is not the deal I wanted. But it was the only deal the Government put on the table and I had no choice but to accept it to keep the Tubes and buses running.

“This deal is a sticking plaster. The old model for funding public transport in London simply does not work in this new reality – fares income will not cover the cost of running services while so few people can safely use public transport.”

Chinese car maker BYD has announced that its Han EV saloon will go on sale in Europe.

Following the car’s Chinese debut in June, this latest announcement will see the firm’s flagship electric saloon go head to head with Tesla’s popular Model 3 in the electric car segment.

Packing the firm’s ‘Blade Battery’ technology, the Han EV is claimed to offer more space efficiency compared with rivals, as well as more range and better safety levels.

BYD claims that the Han EV will be capable of 376 miles on a single charge – though this claim is made based on older NEDC tests. A European-rated WLTP figure will be required when the car goes on sale here.

In terms of performance, the Han EV has a claimed 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds, while it also incorporates Bosch’s Intelligent Integrated Brake System – a first for a Chinese mass-market EV – which is said to improve braking performance.

As well as 5G connectivity, the Han EV gets intelligent drive assistance functions similar to the Autopilot system found in Tesla models. The interior of the car uses a similar central display design as found in Tesla cars, too.

The firm predicts that the Han EV will cost between €45,000 and €55,000 (£39,700 – £48,534). Slated for release in China towards the end of June 2020, it’s likely that the model will be available shortly after in Europe, though no specific date has been announced at this time.

Alfa Romeo has unveiled its refreshed Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio models.

The update follows on from tweaks made to the standard Giulia and Stelvio models, which tweaked their appearance while bolstering interior technology levels.

The revisions are much the same for these performance-orientated Quadrifoglio models. A larger 8.8-inch infotainment screen is now the focal point of the cabin, while its revised software includes race-orientated displays and functions.

Inside, new seat designs are available – including carbon-backed buckets – while the overall quality of the cabin has been lifted thanks to higher-end materials and a new leather stitched gear selector.

The exterior has been lifted too thanks to smoked rear lights – on both Giulia and Stevlio models – which now feature a revised design. Several new paint colours have also been introduced – Montreal Green, 6C Villa d’Este Red and a yellow-based shade called GT Junior Ocra – while 21-inch alloy wheels can be optioned on the Stelvio for the first time.

Mopar, the accessories arm incorporated into Alfa Romeo’s parent company Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), will also be supplying a range of additional features for the first time on the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. These include carbon-fibre mirror caps and an Akrapovic titanium exhaust with carbon-fibre tailpipes, among others.

Both the Stelvio and Giulia now benefit from enhanced driver assistance systems, with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring just a few of the included features. Level 2 self-driving ability is also added, though this still requires the driver to keep a hand on the wheel and remain alert.

Both cars retain the same 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo engine with the same outputs of 503bhp and 600Nm of torque.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio are set to go on sale this summer, with full UK pricing and specifications announced closer to that date.

Drivers of cars with an automatic gearbox are paying close to £100 more to insure their cars compared to manual versions, new figures show.

On average, a motorist looking to cover their automatic car pays an average of £94.07 more than those who are purchasing a policy for their manual vehicle, data from 15 million individual quotes has shown.

Drivers of manual cars will pay an average of £466 per year to insure their cars, while those using an automatic vehicle will have to fork out £560 instead.

Yet despite this increase in cost, the number of people making enquiries for automatic car cover has risen, according to MoneySuperMarket, who analysed quotes provided between January 2018 and February 2020. Automatics now make up 28 per cent of insurance enquiries, rising from 22 per cent just two years ago.

While the average cost of insurance has fallen in recent years, the cost of covering a manual vehicle has dropped by 24 per cent – contrasting the fall of just 14 per cent for automatic cars.

When it comes to location, drivers in London are most likely to get a quote for an automatic car, with 51 per cent of residents choosing an automatic vehicle. In contrast those drivers in Belfast and the Isle of Lewis were the least likely to opt for an auto, with 86 per cent of the quotes in these areas being made for manual cars.

Dave Merrick, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket commented: “There are many factors that can affect the cost of insurance premiums, such as age, driving experience and the car make and model.

“From January 2018 to January 2020 we have seen a huge increase in the price difference between insurance for both automation and manual cars. This has risen from 5 per cent to 21 per cent and has stayed stable for the last six months.

“One reason for this could be a result of increased technology in automatic cars over time for, example, the parts that make up an automatic gearbox are more complex and could cost more to repair. However, due to improvements in technology, an automatic car might help you save money in the long run through better fuel efficiency.

According to MoneySupermarket, the reason for the premium that automatic cars command is simply because they cost more to repair than manual versions. It’s why insurance claims are often higher for automatic cars.

Rolls-Royce is going to be the first British car manufacturer to resume production on May 4.

Bringing back 1,000 workers at its manufacturing site at Goodwood, West Sussex, the company will restart production of its range of cars, as well as continue to produce PPE for the NHS, following its closure in mid-March.

It will start with a phased-in approach to production, operating a one-shift policy instead of the standard two. The number of staff on-site will be around half of that usually working, too.

Rolls-Royce has already been delivering safety equipment to NHS staff during the lockdown, dropping off face visors and gowns in a fleet of its cars.

Now, the company has confirmed that it will resume full production on May 4 – making it the first company to ramp back up to 100 per cent.

The announcement comes as new car demand in China – one of Rolls-Royce’s largest markets – builds up following the coronavirus crisis.

The company has confirmed that factory workers will be going back to work after consultations with both worker representatives and unions.

All staff will be supplied with PPE, while increased health and safety measures will be implemented. Social distancing will be introduced across the manufacturer’s site.

A robin has found the perfect home for its nest – in the wheel arch of a parked-up Toyota Corolla.

Discovered by Toyota staff at the firm’s press fleet headquarters, the bird’s nest is already populated by six tiny chicks.

Staff were able to carefully place a video camera opposite the nest in order to monitor the progress of the birds, with footage showing the baby robins being fed by their parents.

The Corolla had been returned to the garage following a long-term test and was parked up alongside a 40-strong fleet of cars usually used for press test drives. However, because of coronavirus restrictions, the fleet has been grounded – giving more time for the robins to nest.

Graham Bothamley, Toyota press fleet manager, said: “I noticed a pile of leaves around the base of the rear wheel arch of the Corolla on April 12 and discovered a nest full of eggs balanced on the top of the wheel.

“With a carefully hidden GoPro camera, we’ve been able to watch the parent robins sitting on the eggs and now feeding the baby birds. You’d have thought the birds might have chosen one of our more famous cars, such as the Lexus LFA or Toyota Supra, but instead they chose the world’s best-selling model, the Corolla.

“We saw signs in early April that the robins had tried to build a nest in our car wash area, but that’s usually very noisy, so we think that’s why they relocated to a quieter spot, and with our car test drives on hold owing to the current lockdown, the family have plenty of peace and quiet.”

Everyone is being encouraged to recycle more than ever, such as households looking to reduce the amount of single-use plastics used. It’s a valiant endeavour, too, with the aim of lowering the detrimental impact we have on the environment striking a chord with many.

It’s hitting home with car manufacturers too. In an effort to bring down their environmental impact, not only are vehicle makers turning their attention to lower-emissions vehicles but also recycled interiors. Here are some of the earliest adopters of recycled materials in car interiors that we’ve seen.

BMW i3

Despite being one of the older options in the electric car segment, the i3 pioneered an eco-friendly interior when it was introduced by BMW back in 2013. The interior was as cutting-edge as the materials it used, which means that even today it looks surprisingly up-to-date.

Much of the interior is made from kenaf – a lightweight material taken from the mallow plant – while the seats are crafted from sustainable wool. Even the dashboard is finished in quick-growing eucalyptus.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric

It’s little wonder that another electric vehicle features next on this list. After all, most manufacturers see electrified powertrains as the future, while recycled materials show that they’re environmentally aware of more than just engines alone.

The Ioniq Electric is one such car. Creators Hyundai went for a different tack when using recycled materials inside, lowering the weight of the interior plastics by 20 per cent through the use recycled plastic combined with powdered wood and volcanic stone.

Polestar 2

Polestar is right at the cutting edge of electric car performance, and thanks to its latest ‘2’ model, the Volvo spin-off company is showcasing a wider range of vehicles. As a wholly electric company, it’ll come as no surprise that Polestar is looking into sustainable materials, too.

The 2 uses a natural fibre composite to help reduce plastic content while lowering the overall weight. In addition, the car’s seats are made using recycled plastic bottles, and many of the interior plastics use waste cork products. The carpets are made from recycled fishing nets, too.

Ford EcoSport

As one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, there’s certainly a lot of pressure on Ford to make sure its products are made as sustainably as possible. The Blue Oval is, like most manufacturers, on course to an electrified future, which shows some of its commitment to lowering emissions.

On a more current level, however, are the recycled materials used in the latest EcoSport crossover. The carpets are made from recycled plastic bottles – 470 of them, in fact.

Renault Zoe

Another entry and another electric vehicle. The Renault Zoe has, much like the i3, been around for some time now. However various updates have helped it to stay current ensuring that it remains one of the best choices in the electric segment.

It’s got an environmentally conscious interior, too. In fact, the fabric used in the cabin is made up of recycled seat belts, textile cut-offs and recovered plastic bottles. The creation of this material is better for the environment too, with CO2 emissions down by 60 per cent compared with the production of standard materials.