Author: Jack Evans

A classic Audi Quattro is predicted to fetch a high price when it heads to auction next month.

The Quattro, just one of only 295 right-hand-drive, 20-valve RR models built, was given a full restoration in July 2016. It cost the then-owner £29,000 to complete, too.

The car has covered 8,000 miles since its full restoration and now has 105,000 miles on the clock. It has been kept entirely in its original condition, with the exception of a performance Milltek exhaust which replaced the factory-fitted version. Air-conditioning was also fitted in 2019, ensuring that it be used comfortably all year round.

It comes with both sets of keys, all handbook and service records since new and a ‘complete’ set of MOT certificates. It’s set to go under the hammer at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show on March 24-26 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Gary Dunne, CCA sales manager, said: “Audi’s claim of 6.3 seconds 0-60mph is perfectly credible. When you put your foot down the 1.3-tonne Quattro hurls forwards with vigour.

“Everything about this car reminds us of the 1980’s era, although this car is one of the last of this model made in the early 90s. The car is for me a paragon of eighties indulgence, Filofaxes, rain macs, braces, yuppies. Remarkably, this model still handles exceptionally well given its 31 years.”

The Quattro is accompanied by a guide price of between £55,000 and £65,000, though recent examples have fetched more than £100,000 at auction.

Coffee, eggshells and rice could be used as materials for car interiors of the future, a new study has discovered.

Design and engineering consultancy Callum has identified a variety of ‘viable materials’ that could be used in a car’s cabin to make it more sustainable. Having consulted with green-tech company Ottan, Callum was able to find materials which could replace plastics but still keep up with the requirements of a fully-functioning car.

Eggshells were mixed with resin to create a smooth material for areas such as the window switch surrounds, while the ‘green’ credentials of this feature were boosted by mixing it with walnut shells, increasing its recycled content to 84 per cent from 78 per cent.

Out-of-date lentils or rice could be turned into a translucent material for illuminated sections like lamp covers or lit-up switches, and coffee pulp could be used to replace traditional plastics used for decorative areas.

Ian Callum, Callum co-founder and design director, said: “More of our customers are starting to think about sustainable projects and put an emphasis on the circular economy. With others, we might nudge them down that path, highlighting the business benefits of making a more sustainable choice.”

Plus, purple carrot pulp could be used to create a ‘mulberry-like’ colour for certain trim sections, while tree leaves can be recycled into a smooth surface to be used as an alternative to traditional wood finishes.

Many of the textiles used within Callum’s study came from ‘preloved’ materials that would otherwise head to landfill, while seat centres were made from Camira, which is a fabric made from marine plastic waste. The study’s Porsche 911 test vehicle also incorporated Feline on the seat bolsters, which is a soft material made from PET bottles.

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is forcing drivers to change their motoring habits in order to stay on the move, a new survey has revealed.

New research has found that increased costs are causing motorists to consider exchanging their current car or switching to a pay monthly deal. Others are cutting day-to-day spending just to keep their car running.

Carwow spoke to 1,434 people about the impact that the cost of living crisis was having on their plans around buying or selling a car and found that over a third are more likely to consider paying monthly for their next car rather than buying outright.

In addition, 27 per cent would think about selling or exchanging their current car in order to save money, while one in four admit that they can now only afford to buy a used vehicle, having normally considered purchasing a new model.

Two in three respondents stated that owning and running a car is a ‘necessary cost’ while 13 per cent are cutting back on their routine day-to-day spending so that they can afford to run their vehicle.

Hugo Griffiths, carwow consumer editor said: “The cost of living remains stubbornly high for millions, and how we buy and run our cars is not immune from the impact of the current crisis. The jump in petrol prices may be just one factor weighing on motorists, but the scale of the increase in a litre of petrol or diesel gives a good indication of what drivers are dealing with at the moment.”

Though the price of petrol and diesel has fallen from their respective highs of 191.55p per litre and 199.22p per litre in July, today’s figures of 148.79p per litre for petrol and 171.64p for diesel represent increases of 29 per cent and 43 per cent respectively since January 2021.

Transport for London (TfL) has introduced a new scrappage scheme that will offer motorists up to £5,000 to scrap or upgrade their vehicle in order to meet Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) requirements.

It’s based on a £110 million fund that will provide grant payments to applicants on low-income and disability benefits with vehicles that do not meet ULEZ requirements, ahead of the zone’s expansion in August.

Applicants with a wheelchair-accessible car or van can get up to £5,000, while drivers of a standard car can receive up to £2,000 to scrap their vehicle. Motorcycle riders can also receive up to £1,000 for scrapping their bike.

Applicants also have the option of receiving a combination of cash and annual bus and tram passes, too.

Drivers will need to live within one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London and receive certain benefits in order to be eligible for the scheme. If an owner received a grant payment from the previous ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme, they cannot apply again.

Any vehicle in the scheme must be registered with the DVLA while having insurance, valid road tax, and MOT. Its owner must also have been the registered keeper 12 months prior to the launch of the scrappage scheme (January 30, 2023).

Drivers looking to take part in the scheme must be receiving one or more of a list of benefits which includes Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit, among others.

Sole traders, small businesses with up to 10 employees or charities with a registered address in London which operate a van or minibus that doesn’t comply with ULEZ standards can also get up to £9,000 to help scrap their current vehicle and replace it with an electric alternative.

London has come out on top as the UK city leading in EV adoption, a new survey has revealed.

The capital saw EVs representing almost 25 per cent of new and used car sales. However, despite having 8,600 public charging points, London ranks in 15th place when it comes to charging availability, with the ratio of chargers to people standing at one to 1,672 residents.

Nottingham ranks second on the list, which was compiled by online used car marketplace Motorway by reviewing EV sales data by region, charging point availability and clean air policies. Nottingham also has the second-most charging stations outside of London, with 943 people per charger.

Alex Buttle, co-founder of online used-car marketplace Motorway said: “While sales of EVs are on the rise across the UK, some towns and cities are streets ahead of others.

“As more UK areas continue to invest in charging point infrastructure, we will see an even greater number of motorists making the switch, as well as dealers stocking up on quality used EVs to meet this demand.”

Bedford ranked third for its EV readiness, with its focus on public charging installation and a net-zero strategy putting it ahead of others in the country. Manchester followed in fourth in the list of most EV-prepared cities, with sales of both used and new electric vehicles described as ‘strong’ by Motorway.

Newcastle upon Tyne, meanwhile, was an area where more electric cars were financed in 2022 than anywhere else in the country.

The Nissan Qashqai has been given the title of the UK’s most reliable car following a recent survey.

The Sunderland-built Qashqai was crowned the winner as part of the Which? annual reliability survey, which spoke to 50,000 consumers. It received a five-star reliability rating, with testers impressed by its practicality, dependability and family-friendly appeal.

Only available with hybrid powertrains, the Qashqai is also fitted with Nissan’s latest e-Power system, which offers a more EV-like driving experience but with the added security of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan Motor GB), said: ‘‘Reliability is often the number-one quality that people look for when purchasing any of our vehicles.

‘‘To have endorsement in this area from an independent and rigorous organisation such as Which? – not to mention 50,000 consumers – is a welcome pat on the back for everyone at Nissan who works to ensure the dependability of every car we supply.”

The Qashqai underwent many tests to ensure its reliability before arriving with customers. At Nissan’s Technical Centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, the Qashqai was subjected to a climatic four-poster vibration rig that can simulate three years of driving in just five weeks, with engineers listening for squeaks and rattles from the interior during the process. There are even dedicated setups that can repeatedly slam the doors to simulate a ‘lifetime of use’.

David Moss, senior vice president of research & development at Nissan Technical Centre in Cranfield, said: “We’re delighted that both real-world customers and expert reviewers have recognised the quality and durability of our fantastic new Qashqai.

“Our engineering teams put the car through a series of gruelling tests during its development phase to ensure the very highest standards of reliability, so it’s really rewarding to get this recognition from people driving them every day.”

A ‘time capsule’ example of a Lamborghini Countach with just 155 miles on the odometer is set to go under the hammer at auction this month.

The 1989 model was sold to a Detroit-area buyer for $275,000 (£222,755) in 1990 and, at the time of sale, it had 82 miles on the clock. However, by November 2007, the Countach reappeared at its original dealership having been driven just eight miles over the 17-year period.

Between 2010 and 2020, the Lamborghini remained in a ‘prominent’ Ohio collection on static display, but it is said to have been regularly inspected, started and taken on ‘very short drives’ to preserve its mechanicals.

It was then purchased by its current owner in January 2020, yet they’ve done little to make a dent in the mileage. It still wears its original Pirelli P Zero tyres, in fact, and is accompanied by all of its original documentation.

The 25th Anniversary Countach features a metallic black exterior colour with grey leather, while auction house RM Sotheby’s – which is selling the vehicle – believe it to be ‘likely the lowest-mileage example in existence’. Slightly updated over the existing 5000 QV, the revised Countach included changes such as a raised front end and redesigned intakes that helped channel air to the brakes.

Offered as part of the RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction on January 26, the Countach will arrive with an estimate of between $750,000 and $1 million (£607,252-£809,670).

More than a quarter of drivers aren’t able to identify what is under their car’s bonnet, a new survey has revealed.

The findings also discovered that over a third of drivers aren’t able to top up their vehicle’s screenwash, while one in five can’t identify the dipstick used to check oil levels.

Breakdown assistance provider Green Flag spoke to 2,000 motorists, who were shown photographs of common engine parts. However, because of an inability to correctly identify these key areas, 31 per cent of respondents leave all maintenance checks to a trained professional during the annual service.

This does, however, come with additional cost, as simple procedures such as topping up the engine oil can easily be done at home without requiring professional help.

Katie Lomas, head of Green Flag Breakdown, said: “It’s essential to carry out regular car maintenance checks to ensure your car is safe to drive, but many drivers wouldn’t know where to start.

“Without regular checks cars can quickly develop faults that can be dangerous and expensive to repair. Although these checks are quick and easy, a significant number of drivers end-up with unnecessary expenses because they would rather pay a mechanic to conduct this work.”

The research has also highlighted that only 50 per cent of drivers can correctly identify a car’s tyre pressure warning light. In addition, a further 43 per cent can’t spot a brake system warning light. More than a third cannot correctly tell when the check engine warning light has been illuminated, too.

Lomas added: “In an environment where UK drivers are already under significant financial pressure, drivers can educate themselves when it comes to identifying warning lights and carrying out basic vehicle maintenance, to improve road safety and save money.”

The Nissan Qashqai has taken the crown as the UK’s best-selling car of 2022.

The popular crossover amassed 42,704 sales during the year, becoming the first British-built UK best-seller since 1998 in the process.

Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed the Sunderland-built Qashqai to have topped the charts for the 12-month period overall, with 3,506 examples delivered in December alone.

To commemorate the achievement, Nissan has created a special gold-wrapped Qashqai designed to honour ‘the 7,000 Nissan employees from around the UK that have contributed to its success’.

Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan Motor GB, said: ‘‘This is a landmark moment for a landmark car and it’s great to see how the latest generation Qashqai has struck a chord with car buyers here in the UK.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to see this car’s increasing success over the last 16 years, and it’s a fitting tribute to the skills and talents of Nissan’s excellent design, engineering, production and sales teams all around the UK.”

Often regarded as the car which kicked off the crossover boom, the Qashqai was first launched in 2007 and, since then, has covered three generations. Despite being a regular fixture in the monthly lists of best-sellers, this is the first time that it has come out on top for the 12-month period as a whole.

More than a third of UK drivers want the government to scrap smart motorways in 2023, a new survey has revealed.

What Car? Spoke to 1,698 motorists on what policy priorities should be for the Government and local authorities in 2023.

More than a third – 37.3 per cent – said that smart motorways should be scrapped, contrasting the 3.6 per cent who would rather see the projects completed as planned.

However, the biggest priority for 2023 was seen to be fixing potholes – with 58.9 per cent of those questioned choosing this option.

A previous study by What Car? found that local authorities across Britain paid out more than £12 million in compensation to motorists who had their cars damaged by poor road surfaces and potholes between 2018 and 2021.

Some 40.8 per cent of respondents also stated that they wanted the country’s EV charging infrastructure improved.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “Smart motorways have a long way to go in convincing many drivers, with our research highlighting just how negative the public mood is towards the technology.

“The other priorities from drivers reflect the driving reality of today. Poor road surfaces and a lack of charging infrastructure for electric drivers, as well as continuing question marks on how things like Fuel Duty will be replaced in the future, should all be at the top of the checklist for policy makers.”

A quarter of those questioned also wanted clarification on how fuel duty will be replaced as more buyers opt for battery-powered vehicles.