Author: Ryan Hirons

Porsche has been cracking down on sellers of knock-off goods in a bid to protect its brand — uncovering a mix of fraudulent items in the process.

Last year, the German firm claims to have confiscated over 200,000 items unofficially bearing its branding — said to be worth almost €60m (circa. £55.1m). Of those, 33,000 are said to be spare parts for its cars.

It’s these parts that are of most concern to Porsche, including critical safety items such as airbags and brake discs, and the firm wants to prevent them being fitted to its cars. Thomas Fischer, a member of Porsche’s Brand Protection team, said: “This is where things get dangerous. These spare parts are neither tested nor approved. It goes without saying that we want to prevent products like this ending up in our cars.”

Other items confiscated have included merchandise items like t-shirts, caps, posters and the like — though there are more bizarre discoveries, such as Porsche badge-shaped erectile dysfunction tablets.

The firm called out online retailers such as eBay, Alibaba and Amazon for making the practice of selling counterfeit goods relatively easy and has estimated around 80 per cent of fake products are sourced from China.

Michaela Stoiber, another member of Porsche’s Brand Protection team, said: “Sometimes the counterfeits are quite obvious. The products are far cheaper than normal, or the Porsche emblem has been poorly copied. We sometimes also find that a different animal is shown in the centre of the logo. For example, instead of the Porsche horse, it could be a sheep standing on its hind legs.

“Our goal is always to locate the source. Once we have found it, we inform the local authorities to take the necessary steps there. This collaboration generally works very well.”

With electrification the biggest topic in the motoring industry, and the fact us Brits have long been at the forefront of the automotive landscape, it’s no surprise to learn some of the most cutting-edge machines are built on these shores.

There’s an impressive number of fully-electric and hybrid cars crafted in Britain — and not all are from firms based here, either. We’ve listed the electrified cars built within our borders…

Nissan Leaf

Europe’s favourite EV comes from the heart of Sunderland, in the same plant Nissan builds the Qashqai and Juke crossovers.

The Nissan Leaf has been built on Wearside since heading into production in 2010 for sale both in the UK and across the continent. There seems to be no sign of that changing either, with the second generation of the electric hatch built in the same plant following its 2017 introduction.

Aston Martin Rapide E

Aston Martin has just recently opened a new production facility in St Athan, Wales, which is set to become its hub for EV production going forward. It’s kick-starting that offensive by producing the limited-run Rapide E at the plant this year, with just 155 units slated for production.

Bentley Bentayga Hybrid

One of the crown jewels in the British motoring industry is Bentley (even if it’s German-owned), and it’s a huge bonus for the UK that it builds its only current electrified model here, too. The Bentayga Hybrid has only just joined the firm’s range, but is sure to make a mark on an ever-growing market of electrified SUVs.

Toyota Corolla

In 2018, Toyota revealed that not only would the Corolla nameplate be making a return to its line-up — but that the hatchback would be produced here in the UK at the firm’s manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. Though available without electrification, the Corolla’s best-selling form will be as a hybrid — continuing Toyota’s arguably industry-leading take on hybridisation.

Range Rover PHEV

An icon of British luxury, it’s only right that any electrified Range Rover would be built here too. It’s constructed in Solihull alongside non-electrified variants of the SUV, meaning it boasts the same level of quality and luxury — just with that bonus of emissions-free driving.

Range Rover Sport PHEV

Much like its bigger brother, the Range Rover Sport PHEV is also built in Solihull. The P400e is capable of up to 31 miles on battery power alone. That, combined with a ‘look at me I am better than you’ look and feel, you can feel like a boss on the road while feeling a little bit less guilty about impacting the environment.

LEVC TX

London taxis are a poster child of the UK, and in its latest form it’s made the much-needed switch to electrification. The LEVC TX utilises a diesel generator to power an electric motor for ultra-low emissions duty, and better yet, it’s built in Coventry — just like the iconic black cabs before it.

Volkswagen has waved goodbye to one of its most iconic nameplates, with the final example of the Beetle rolling off the production line.

Built in Mexico at the Volkswagen de Mexico plant, the final example — finished in Denim Blue — will be displayed at the firm’s Puebla Museum. This news comes as no surprise. Volkswagen announced plans to axe the model in September 2018, with just 1,598 sold in the UK the previous year.

Originally introduced in 1938 in Germany, the Beetle became an icon around the world — remaining in production in its original guise right up to 2003 in some markets, with 23 million examples produced.

In 1998, the firm gave the nameplate a modern interpretation with the New Beetle — a retro-styled hatchback. It was revamped in 2012, remaining the same until the final example was built this week.

Así se despide uno de los grandes. Gracias, Beetle. Esto es solo el comienzo. ??? #ByeByeBeetle pic.twitter.com/80h8ySr6JL

— Volkswagen de México (@Volkswagen_MX) July 10, 2019

The firm has no immediate plans to revive the Beetle badge again but hasn’t explicitly ruled out the possibility in future. Speaking following the 2018 announcement that Beetle production would end, Hinrich Woebcken, chief executive of Volkswagen Group of America, said: “I would say ‘never say never’. The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle’s many devoted fans.”

Volkswagen’s Mexico plant will be retooled to accommodate production of a new North American market SUV that sits underneath the Tiguan in its range. Its equivalent in the UK would be the T-Roc, though there’s no confirmation if that car will be finding its way across the Atlantic.

With the new car market becoming an ever-more diverse field, it can be a little daunting to learn about the variety of motors on sale today.

If you’ve ever looked broadly at buying a new car, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of terms like saloon, hatchback, coupe and whatever else. Though simple in nature, these car ‘classes’ can be a bit of a headache to understand for those with a lesser interest in cars. Is that you? We’ve put together a handy guide to help…

Coupe

Coupes are some of the most desirable cars on the road. Though referring to any two-door car, they’re most commonly associated with two-door sports cars and supercars — combining sleek looks with mega performance.

Crossover

The crossover — sometimes known as CUV — is the most rapidly-growing segment in the new car market. These vehicles combine the proportions and practicality of a hatchback with a higher ride height and more rugged looks often associated with an SUV. They’re the ‘in’ thing at the moment, with many manufacturers turning their focus to this segment.

Convertible

A convertible is a car that can either be had with its roof fixed in place, or dropped down for open-top motoring. Convertibles come in a variety of flavours — with hard-top (a roof made from metal), soft-top (a canvas or fabric roof) and targa (a hand-removed panel) the most common.

Estate

Estates have long been a favourite type of car amongst UK buyers, and its not hard to see why. These tend to combine the sleek looks a saloon brings, and adds practicality with an enlarged, squared-off boot. Coupes can also come in an estate-like form, referred to as a ‘shooting brake’ by many.

Hatchback

Hatchbacks are the most common form of car. These compact machines are small in size, yet often practical thanks to clever packaging — making them a favourite in a crowded Britain. They can range from dinky city cars, to larger family hatches.

MPV

The Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) may not be a popular choice today, but it remains a practical one. These vehicles put practicality ahead of everything else, usually taking boxy forms and packing five to seven seats — perfect as a family hauler.

Pick-up

Though more of a go-to choice in America than the UK, there’s a decent market for pick-ups on these shores. These more rugged vehicles have a flatbed at the back which is ideal for carrying huge loads, yet come with creature comforts found in regular cars to create a workhorse that’s usable on weekends too.

Saloon

Though not as in favour as a decade or two ago, the humble saloon remains an appealing option to UK buyers both private and fleet. These four-door machines combine sleek looks with potent powertrains — most often diesel for mile-munching — and feature a boxy boot at the back.

SUV

Much like crossovers, the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) market is one that’s rapidly growing. These often-large cars have a big presence on the road, and boast the ability to carry people in comfort and style while majoring on practicality. Many are designed with off-road capabilities too.

Every car owner fears picking up dings and damage — and it can seem like it’s an unavoidable hazard.

There are steps you can take to help prevent the threat of a new door ding, a kerbed alloy or a scuffed bumper after a trip to the shop, though. Here are our tips…

Lower kerbside mirror when parallel parking

It doesn’t matter how good you are at parking, one day, you’re bound to kerb a wheel if you parallel park on a regular basis.

That said, it’s an issue that is easily avoidable with a simple little trick. If you’re concerned about dinging your alloys, lower the kerbside mirror as you approach to see exactly where your rear wheel is, allowing you to position yourself close without causing damage.

Park in quieter areas of car parks

Car parks are a haven for attracting door dings and scuffs caused by other careless drivers, but they’re an unavoidable hazard in most cases. If you don’t mind walking a little further to your destination, try parking in quieter areas of a car park — in effect reducing chances of a ding.

If busy, park as central as possible in a bay

That said, we’ve all been there before — it’s a Saturday afternoon, you’ve forgotten to buy food in for tea and the supermarket car park is full to the brim. There’s no choice but to park in between two cars, and you look over to see the one next to you covered in scuffs and dings, indicating the sign of an owner that isn’t interested in keeping their car pristine.

Parking as central as possible in a bay creates an equal distance to cars either side of yours. It’s not the ideal scenario, but it’s better than laying over to one side of the bay and putting your pride and joy at risk of being knocked by someone in a rusty MPV.

Invest in alloy wheel protectors

Coming back to kerbing. If lowering your mirrors isn’t enough to cull your fear of damaging your car’s wheels, invest in some alloy wheel protectors. These low-cost covers are easily available and a doddle to apply — adding a protective layer over the rim to prevent the underlying metal being damaged. Think of them like a phone case, only for your alloys.

Open doors carefully

It may be easy to blame other people for dings and damage to your car, but it’s just as possible you could cause them yourself if you’re not careful. One culprit is careless door opening — slamming them into other cars or obstacles nearby. Take an extra moment to gently open them, allowing for better control and not a sudden burst open that may fling them into something nearby. If it’s windy outside, be careful too – a sudden gust of breeze can easily catch an open door and potentially cause it to hit an obstacle.

Fold mirrors in when parked

Wing mirrors are a part of a car that are one of the most susceptible to damage. A passing car could easily knock them while your vehicle is parked up, so it’s always a good idea to take the extra seconds to fold road-side mirrors in once you’ve left your car. Better still, many modern cars come with self-folding mirrors — putting your mind at ease.

Britain loves a hot hatch, there’s no denying that. Combining practicality with performance, these little runarounds have been a favourite on these shores ever since the Mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI arrived in the ‘70s.

The problem with modern hot hatches though is they’re getting faster, more complex and also more expensive — leaving a gap in the market for more affordable yet fun cars. Step in the ‘warm’ hatch — a segment that’s quickly growing with joyous but not financially ruinous machines. We take a look at what’s on the market…

Suzuki Swift Sport

Now in its third generation, the Suzuki Swift Sport might be the closest thing that comes to a full-blown hot hatch in the ‘warm’ segment. With a characterful turbocharged 1.4-litre engine pushing out 138bhp while linked to a snappy gearbox and mounted in a 975kg chassis, the Japanese machine delivers a thrilling driving experience while remaining incredibly capable as a daily machine.

Ford Fiesta ST-Line

Ford’s Fiesta ST is, in most circles of the motoring world, considered to be the best hot hatch on the market – and fortunately some of that fizz flows through to its softer sibling. The Fiesta ST-Line boasts a delightful chassis powered by zippy EcoBoost engines, resulting in a truly fun car. It’s not hard to see why the Fiesta consistently tops the UK best-selling chart.

Hyundai i30 N Line

Hyundai shocked the world when the i30 N was introduced, as its first attempt at a hot hatch instantly became one of the best on the market. It’s no surprise then that it wanted to capture some of that spirit in its more mainstream offerings — and that’s what the i30 N Line aims to achieve. Fitted with racier suspension, grippier tyres and more aggressive bodywork, it brings life into the regular car without compromising on usability.

Kia Ceed GT

Kia doesn’t make a full-on hot hatch, with the Ceed GT coming as close to the mark as any of the firm’s offerings. That’s not to say the figures don’t make for interesting reading — after all, it chucks out a touch over 200bhp. The chassis is fairly lively too, and it looks dead cool.

Volkswagen Up! GTI

Anything from Volkswagen with a GTI badge slapped on is sure to be a hit (well, maybe except the MkIV Golf), and that’s certainly the case with the Up! GTI. Its 1.0-litre turbocharged engine knocks out 113bhp which, in a car of this size, feels three times as much — with a chassis that’s as excitable as a puppy meeting its new family for the first time.

Toyota Yaris GR Sport

The limited-run, skunkworks Toyota Yaris GRMN was one of the Japanese firm’s finest modern creations — and it has tried to capture some of that limited-edition car’s magic in the Yaris Hybrid. Granted, its electrified and economical powertrain is a far cry from the full-blown car’s Lotus-tuned supercharged 1.8-litre powerhouse, but an enhanced chassis does allow for some fun. With suspension and tyres directly taken from the GRMN, it’s a lively thing indeed.

Abarth 595

What’s a hot hatch if not an arrogant, shouty little thing trying to prove that, yes, it is a supercar? That’s the box the Abarth 595 ticks — albeit with performance levels that make it just shy of a proper performance hatchback. That said, it looks cool, comes with stickers, drives like a joy and has one of the best sounding exhaust notes this side of a Lamborghini. What’s not to love?

At last, the warm weather is here. Time to put away the parkas, jumpers and Christmas decorations (we know some of you still have those fairy lights up) and crack out the shorts, ice cream and aftersun.

Though the stunning sunshine and baking heat is something we all love, it can have a detrimental effect on your car if you’re not careful. We’ve picked out the ways the sun can alter your car, and how you can combat them…

High cabin temperatures

Leaving your car sat in the baking heat is an instant recipe for an uncomfortable drive next time you hop in. Not only will the upholstery get hot, but most surfaces you touch — particularly metals — could be scorching too.

Though we wouldn’t advise leaving a car window open all day, we would suggest finding ways to shield the cabin from the heat. You can invest in a specially-designed heat shield to cover the windscreen, or go a bit DIY and drape some towels over the seats, steering wheels and gear stick. Alternatively, keep your car in the shade if possible.

Affect battery health

When it comes to driving in the winter, many experts will tell you to check your battery is in full working order. While this is great advice, it’s also often overlooked when preparing a car for summer.

An increase in temperatures can alter the chemicals in the battery and cause it to be less effective. On top of that, it’s under extra stress from working the air conditioning harder, opening and closing windows, the sunroof and, if you’re fortunate enough to have a convertible, hardtop folding roofs.

Check its voltage with a multimeter, with 12.6 volts often seen as a minimum reading for a healthy battery. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, seek the help of an expert. If your source of power is in poor shape, it’s worth swapping out before the baking heat arrives.

Increase overheating risk

Higher temperatures naturally mean the fluids in your car will operate at a higher temperature, increasing the risk of an engine overheating. Though this shouldn’t be a problem on well-maintained modern cars in the UK, older vehicles (we’re looking at you, classic British sports cars) are more prone to this. Check your levels of fluids are all good, and that your car has been serviced in good time too.

Alter tyre performance

Rubber is prone to attracting heat, so your tyres are likely to feel the effects of a sunny day. In extreme conditions, it’s possible tyres can bulge or crack in the baking sun — though it’s unlikely the UK will hit temperatures for that to be a widespread concern. We’d advise checking tyre pressures and to keep them well-kept at manufacturer guidelines.

Overwork air con

As touched upon under the batteries section, your air conditioning system is likely to be overworked in the summer months. This means more strain on the unit as a whole causing wear, resulting in a less-effective cooling solution. Many garages offer an air con checking service, where they can regas the system if necessary to bring it back to factory-fresh operating levels.

What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to cars, quite a lot actually.

Most machines on the market now may get pretty generic numerical names or boring alphabetic assignments (we’re looking at you, Mercedes A Class), but sometimes, a manufacturer really pulls a special moniker out of the bag. It’s usually these cars that are most fondly remembered, and for good reason.

We’ve picked 10 of the coolest car names of the century so far…

Aston Martin Valhalla

Norse mythology is a goldmine for nameplates, and Aston Martin is the latest to stick its hands in that bag.

Valhalla was a great hall, ruled over by the god Odin, where those slain in battle would ascend to in the afterlife. It’s considered a huge honour to fall in battle in Nordic folklore, so this was a place for heroes.

Aston Martin will be hoping to harness those connotations of strength and power into its upcoming new hypercar. Technical details haven’t been revealed but, with a name so cool, it could have a 0.9-litre 90bhp three-cylinder engine and still be one of the most exciting things on the road.

McLaren Senna

As far as racing legends go, they don’t get much bigger than Ayrton Senna. The late Brazilian driver won three Formula One World Championships with McLaren, as well as 41 grand prix wins during a career that was sadly cut short in 1994 following a mid-race crash at the San Marino GP that ended his life.

To name a car after such a great racer would be a bold move, but it’s one McLaren made — and the car it adorns is pretty special. The McLaren Senna is a road-going powerhouse that could eat anything else with a licence plate for breakfast around a track, while looking monumentally cool at the same time. We’d like to think Ayrton himself would approve.

Ford Ranger Raptor

Raptor is a cool name, no matter what its applied to. Be it an F-22 Raptor fighter jet, a vicious and quick velociraptor or even the alternative name of a bird of prey, it’s one that immediately raises the hairs on anyone’s back.

Ford knows this, and as a result uses the badging to denote its most brutal and fast trucks — namely on variants of the F-150 and the Ranger, with the latter available in the UK.

The Ranger Raptor is a car built to take on sand dunes at full pelt, kitted out with an assortment of off-road gear that makes the prospect of driving over Kilimanjaro as daunting as a cruise through Kiddiminster. (Ok, don’t actually try taking on Kilimanjaro in it, but you get the point).

Dodge Charger Hellcat

Dodge was already on to a nameplate winner with the Charger, but somehow the American firm managed to go a step further with its more brutal variant of the muscle car.

Step in the Hellcat — a fire-breathing 697bhp supercharged monster that’s as angry as a feline dunked in bath water. Naturally, it takes its name from an American fighter plane used in World War II, and one that was considered hugely successful at that.

Ferrari 812 Superfast

The old ‘it does what it says on the tin’ saying very much applies here. Capable of 0-60mph in under three seconds before reaching a 211mph top speed, the Ferrari 812 Superfast is definitely that.

It also sounds like it was named by a 10-year-old, and that’s surely what a hypercar should make you feel like again, right? Without the rockets, wings and being a Transformer that your imagination may have created at that age, mind.

Lamborghini Huracan

There are two layers of coolness to Lamborghini’s entry-level supercar’s nameplate. First — Huracan is Spanish for hurricane, appropriate for a car with a screaming naturally-aspirated V10 engine that’s ready to rock every street it heads down.

Even better than that though, the Huracan is actually named after a fighting bull from the 19th century that was known in its heyday as a courageous animal with a strong sense of attack.

Jeep Gladiator

A gladiator was an armed combatant in the Roman Empire, whose sole purpose was to use their strength and will to fight, for the purpose of entertaining the wealthy. Though the practice was somewhat questionable, these fighters gained admiration from the masses.

Now, Jeep is capturing some of those powerful connotations with its new off-road pick-up truck — the Gladiator. This rugged machine is built to tackle anything thrown its way, mainly in an effort to entertain those behind the wheel more than anything.

Hennessey Venom GT

Hennessey came to bite the established hypercar competition when it introduced its Venom GT back in 2011. This Lotus-based American Frankenstein set a Guinness World Record for the fastest accelerating car to 300km/h (186mph) with a 13.63 sprint, as well reaching an incredible 265.7mph top speed — though this wasn’t officially recorded for the record books.

It’s appropriate then, that its name comes from a natural poison — striking fear to those in its wake. Rather than rodents that say, a snake might go for, though, the Venom came for the blood of Bugatti, Koenigsegg and the like.

Kia Stinger

Considering Kia is a firm that named ones of its cars Cee’d (yes, the apostrophe was a part of its name), it’s hard to believe it came up with something as cool as the Stinger.

Well, it did — and it applied it to right car too. This BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class rival came to sting the opposition, offering striking looks, cutting-edge technology and a seriously potent machine in the twin-turbocharged V6 GT S.

Bristol Fighter

British firms have produced two separate machines dubbed the Bristol Fighter — the first a WW1 reconnaissance plane, favoured for its agility, and the second a very little-known sports car.

Powered by the same V10 found in the Dodge Viper, the Fighter was a true powerhouse, sending over 500bhp (in 2004!) through its rear wheels, allowing it to hit 0-60mph in a claimed four seconds before reaching 210mph. Bristol said it had plans to produce a version with over 1,000bhp in a bid to hit 270mph, but it never came to fruition.

If you’ve ever been in the market for a used car, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard the term ‘full service history’ (or commonly FSH).

This is a desirable trait in any used car, and one sellers often use to catch the eye of potential buyers. But what does it mean, exactly? We explain…

What is a full service history?

Fairly simply, a car with an FSH is one that has been maintained at every required interval since it was built, with work carried out either by a manufacturer directly or by an approved service centre.

What makes this so important?

Having an FSH means that a car has been maintained consistently to the standards outlined by the manufacturer when it rolled off the production line, meaning it’s likely to be in the best possible shape it can be. It also means parts will almost certainly be those from manufacturer-approved sources, rather than third parties which may not match the quality.

How can I maintain a full service history?

If your car already has an FSH, it’s easy to maintain by ensuring that service intervals are carried out at main manufacturer dealers or workshops provided by them at the correct times. Service intervals can vary wildly depending on car, so check your owner’s handbook for more information.

How can I check my car’s service history?

Every car should come with a service booked, marked out with stamps denoting the date of a car’s service and how many miles were covered at the time of the work being carried out. If you’re struggling to find it, they’re often bundled in the wallet that also includes the owner’s handbook.

The way we buy a car today has evolved massively from, say, two decades ago. Rather than purchasing the latest Auto Trader magazine and hoping a good car was within a decent distance away, we now have the ability to see and buy cars all over the country from our living rooms thanks to the rise of online classified adverts.

Though a much more convenient way to buy a car, it’s not without its risks and things to take care of. Here are our dos and don’ts to buying a car online…

Do shop around

The great thing about buying a car online is that an entire country’s worth of classified adverts are at your fingertips. Check a number of sites and a number of listings to see what cars are out there before deciding on a purchase — you might find a better deal on the next page you’re visiting.

Do research

The internet is a giant bank of knowledge, and that’s something that should be taken advantage of. Look at owner’s forums and professional reviews of a car to gauge what to expect from a motor you’re looking at — be it new or used — and also seek out potential issues that could arise with a car.

Do check a car’s history

Take advantage of the DVLA’s website to check basic background history of a car to see its MOT history. It’s free to access, and requires just the vehicle registration.

We’d also suggest forking over the few quid for one of the many background check services available online. These can show information such as outstanding finance, theft history and if a car is written off. This could help avoid a potentially disastrous purchase.

Do message or contact the seller

Don’t be afraid to give the seller of a car you’re looking at a message or a call. Ask any questions about the car you may have, and see if you can get as much information as possible from them. If things seem a little bit sketchy about the sale, then don’t be worried about backing out from it.

Do arrange a viewing and don’t buy ‘sight unseen’

Though the internet is wonderful for many things, it can’t yet let us see cars for sale up close and personal from the comfort of our homes. We’d say it’s a must to see a car before exchanging any cash, as things may not appear all that an online advert may suggest.

Don’t send money through dubious sources

If you’re looking to purchase a car online and a seller is demanding up front payments through strange sources before allowing you to see the car – or even if you’ve committed to a purchase over messages – don’t be afraid to walk away. Though most car sellers will have the best intentions, it’s always possible scammers could be out to trick you.

That said, auction websites like eBay will require payment if you’re bidding on a car — though there’s plenty of measures in place on their side to protect consumers from scammers.