Author: Ted Welford

Hyundai has revealed an updated version of its Bayon – a compact crossover that rivals the Nissan Juke.

Only introduced in 2021, it follows Hyundai’s pattern of regularly updating its cars to keep them fresh. The Bayon is based on the same underpinnings as the firm’s i20 supermini and is often overlooked in its segment and the Hyundai range in general.

But this refreshed version aims to change that, with a much bolder design inspired by the South Korean carmaker’s newer models. Like the Kona, the Bayon gets a new front light bar stretching out across the bottom of the bonnet, while the front grille gets a new pattern as part of the revised front bumper.

Various new alloy wheel designs are available alongside four new paint colours; Lumen Grey, Meta Blue, Lucid Lime and Vibrant Blue.

Moving inside, the Bayon now comes with a large 10.25-inch touchscreen as standard, with this previously reserved for higher-spec models. It also now comes with over-the-air updates, while a large digital instrument cluster continues to be included as standard. LED interior lighting is also now the default.

Hyundai is yet to announce engine and trim details, but it’s expected to remain the same to the current Bayon, which comes with a 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine with outputs of either 99bhp or 118bhp. The same choice of SE Connect, Premium and Ultimate models will also likely be offered.

Expect prices to start from around £22,000 when orders open later in the year.

A paint colour can say a lot about a car and a person, and you should never underestimate the effort that manufacturers put into finding the right shade for a certain vehicle.

It can also provide an excellent opportunity for car manufacturers to let their hair down and get creative when it comes to coming up with the name.

Volkswagen UK recently took a different direction and let the public decide on the name for a bright yellow finish for its new T-Cross SUV on social media, with the result being the rather excellent Rubber Ducky (see above).

But this is far from the only great car paint name over the years, so let’s take a look at some other excellent choices.

James Blonde – Vauxhall Adam

Vauxhall wanted to turn up the fun factor when it introduced its Adam city car in 2013, specifically designed for younger drivers and with more than a million different personation combinations available.

Is creative teams were working at their finest when it came up with some of the colour names, too, with Saturday White Fever, White my Fire, Goldbusters and Orange Alert all available. But the highlight has to be the brilliant James Blonde (yellow).

Green Hell Magno – Mercedes-AMG GT R

Back in 2016 when Mercedes-AMG revealed its GT R, it was one of the firm’s most advanced and powerful cars to date, and was billed as a road-going version of the firm’s race-winning GT3 race car.

It needed a name to go with it, and Mercedes chose the brilliant Green Hell Magno paint colour. Not only does it give it a brutish name to go with the vibrant matte green finish, but also references the Nurburgring race circuit in Germany where much of the GT R’s development took place, which carries the nickname of the, you guessed it, the green hell.

Tangerine Scream – Ford Focus ST

Ford has made some great colours over the years, and these have often been accompanied by brilliant names too. A few highlights are Nitrous Blue from the last Focus RS as well as well as Grabber Orange from the Mustang.

But the best name has to to go ‘Tangerine Scream’, which came on the third-generation Focus ST. We’d struggle to come up with a better descriptor for this bright orange finish.

Hella Yella – Jeep Wrangler

Jeep is another car brand that is known for its creativity, and especially when it comes to its iconic Wrangler 4×4. Renowned for its off-roading ability, you might expect that Jeep only offers it in darker shades.

But far from it, as there have been a range of bright colours over the years, with the best-named being Hella Yella from the latest model. You could even have it in a bright green ‘Mojito’ finish, though these are almost impossible to find.

Norfolk Mustard – Lotus Elise

Lotus is known for its British roots, with the firm having a factory in Hethel, Norfolk for several decades. This was acknowledged with the brilliantly named ‘Norfolk Mustard’ that perfectly describes this flat yellow paint finish available on its sports cars.

It could be found on cars like the Series 4 Lotus Esprit and the first Lotus Elise from the 1990s. A similar colour continues to be the iconic paint finish for this brand, although it’s now only called ‘Hethel Yellow’ referencing the town in Norfolk where Lotus is based.

Green Tea Latte – Kia Soul

Kia had always been a fairly safe and sensible carmaker, but the 2009 Soul crossover aimed to inject a bit of fun into this South Korean brand, and was fairly successful at doing so.

Kia offered its Soul with plentiful personalisation and also some vibrant colours with the names to match. Highlights include Green Tea Latte and also ‘Vanilla Milkshake’ that accurately describes an off-white colour this Kia was available in.

Frozen Berry – Porsche Taycan

Porsche has one of the most extensive range of colours of any manufacturer, courtesy of its ‘Paint to Sample’ (PTS) range that essentially lets buyers choose whatever shade they’d like.

But perhaps Porsche’s best colour name is Frozen Berry, which is a light pink hue that you would certainly have to be bold to choose. It’s available on the standard colour palette of Porsche’s electric Taycan, though can be had as a PTS shade on its other models.

Are there any other great colour names we’ve missed off? Let us know in the comments!

Ford has revealed a mid-life update for its Kuga, bringing a more modern design and improved hybrid powertrains to this popular SUV.

The Kuga has been part of Ford’s range since 2008 and is now the firm’s second best-selling car, only behind the Puma. The latest version was introduced in 2020, but amid increasing competition in the SUV segment, has now had a series of updates.

At the top of the agenda are styling revisions which give the Kuga a much bolder look than before, courtesy of new silver detailing and a revised grille. There are new LED headlights with a bold signature, while a more rugged-looking Active specification is also introduced, with greater plastic cladding and underbody protection.

Other changes include a front LED light strip, while Ford’s emblem is moved from the top of the bonnet to within the grille.

Inside, the main difference to the Kuga’s interior is that it now uses a large 13.2-inch touchscreen, the same as what was introduced to the Focus. Running Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment. Features such as wireless smartphone mirroring are introduced, while Amazon Alexa is built-in too.

While Ford will continue to offer a 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine, it has revised the popular hybrid versions already available. Changes include a four-wheel-drive self-charging hybrid model for the first time, while the plug-in hybrid model has a small power bump from 227bhp to 240bhp. Ford claims this can travel on electric for up to 43 miles.

Both these hybrid models are said to offer ‘significantly improved’ acceleration, while a 2,100kg towing capacity is said to ‘beat all rivals’.

The new Ford Kuga is set to go on sale later this month in Titanium, ST-Line and Active trim levels, with prices likely to start from around £34,000.

While police forces across the UK might use more humble hatchbacks and vans, over in Dubai, it’s a bit different, as the city’s police recently took delivery of a £200,000 Lamborghini Urus Performante.

It’s the latest collaboration between Lamborghini’s Dubai dealership and the local police, with an example of the firm’s Aventador supercar previously on its fleet, along with various other exotica from Ferrari, Bentley and McLaren.

The Performante is the most extreme version of Lamborghini’s Urus SUV, which is a popular choice in the region known for its wealth. Dubai Police has already had a standard version of the performance SUV on its fleet since 2022.

It’s not just a stunt car, either, with the Urus Performante equipped for service with its police livery and 360-degree blue LED lighting. Inside, it features an armoured gun box and a special compartment in the boot for storing equipment, including an on-board defibrillator.

One thing that hasn’t changed is what’s under the bonnet, with the Urus Performante using a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing a huge 657bhp and 850Nm of torque. That allows for a 0-60mph time of just 3.1 seconds and a 190mph top speed.

Paolo Sartori, regional head of Lamborghini in the Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Dubai Police, supporting them in their crucial public safety mission.

“Following our delivery of a Urus to the force in 2022, this new Performante edition will be used to carry out a range of public duties and, above all, will help enhance the city’s security and safety, with this initiative further demonstrating our brand’s longstanding presence here in the UAE.”

This latest Urus was handed over to the police at a special ceremony at the Dubai Air Show last year, coinciding with with Lamborghini’s 60th anniversary celebrations, though information and pictures have only now been shown.

The typical car insurance premium increased by 52 per cent year-on-year in December 2023 to a steep £950, according to new research.

This represented a steep £326 increase compared to the previous 12 months, with drivers aged 24 and under being stung the most, according to Compare the Market.

A typical premium for a young driver was £2,002, representing a sharp £655 increase on December 2022. However, drivers of all age groups saw their premiums surge, with those aged 65-plus recording the largest proportional increase, with a typical quote in December 2023 for motorists of this age being 57 per cent higher.

An average premium for those aged 65 to £79 is now £428 (a £155 jump), while those aged 80 are now typically paying £688, representing a £249 increase on the previous year.

Compare the Market says the steep increase in insurance premiums is down to the the rising cost of claims for insurers, with high inflation driving up the price of spare parts, hire cars, energy and hiring specialist repairers. The insurance comparison site is urging motorists to shop around to get a better deal and says drivers could save ‘up to £578’ by using its portal.

Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market, said “Many drivers will be worried about the substantial increase in the cost of their car insurance.

“Our research shows the typical premium now costs £950, with lots of younger motorists likely paying even more than this. As household bills continue to rise, it’s so important for drivers to take a few minutes to compare prices from different providers when their car insurance is up for renewal.”

MG will reveal a next-generation version of its MG3 supermini at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, the firm has announced.

While many other brands are looking to move away from smaller cars, MG is committing to more affordable cars with its new MG3, which will replace what is currently one of the UK’s cheapest new cars.

Introduced in 2013, the current MG3 is by far the oldest car in the firm’s line-up, and is well overdue an update. This new supermini, which has only been teased in a post on X, formerly Twitter, shows a more striking front-end design inspired by newer MG models, but with a similar overall silhouette. It can also be seen undergoing winter testing while still wearing heavy camouflage.

While MG has been scaling up its electrification plans, the new MG3 is set to stick with regular petrol engines to help keep prices low.

It will join MG’s fast-growing line-up, with the firm registering more than 80,000 cars in the UK in 2023, representing a sharp 59 per cent increase on the previous year. It now sells more cars in Britain than Peugeot and Skoda, and with 38 per cent of its sales being EVs in 2023, doesn’t need to worry about the electric car targets facing many many mainstream manufacturers this year.

The MG3 is one of only a handful of major cars set to be revealed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which returns for the first time since 2019 following its cancellation last-minute in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic swept across Europe.

Many major car manufacturers, including the entire Stellantis group, have said they will not be participating at the Geneva show, which was previously the largest of its kind in Europe.

A Land Rover Discovery first used by King Charles and Queen Camilla is heading to auction.

The Discovery, painted in the royal family’s chosen green shade, was delivered to Tim Williams, head chauffeur for the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, for their exclusive use.

Accompanying the sale is a letter from George Hassall, director of royal and diplomatic affairs at Land Rover, to Williams, detailing the ‘new lease vehicle’, which was delivered to the Royal Garage at Highgrove House on January 12, 2007. A heritage certification also confirms its authenticity.

The Discovery still features original modifications made for royal use, including flashing alternative headlights and fog lights, along with front and rear strobe lights. The SUV now has a mileage of 117,500 miles, though is said to be ‘beautifully presented’ and comes with a full service history.

It’s going under the hammer on March 23 with Classic Car Auctions (CCA) at its sale coinciding with the Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC exhibition centre in Birmingham.

Simon Langsdale who sourced the vehicle for CCA, said: “This is surely one for a serious Royal family collector, with Prince Charles now King Charles III, the vehicle has even greater Royal provenance adding to its value.”

CCA has a reputation for auctioning former royal family vehicles at top prices, with a 2004 Range Rover used by the late Queen Elizabeth selling for a record price of £132,750 in November 2023.

This particular Discovery was sold by the online auction platform Collecting Cars in March 2023 for £12,050 but is now being sold again with a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000.

Today is National Pothole Day, though with new figures showing further deterioration in the UK’s roads, it’s not a day that needs celebrating.

The RAC reports that the number of pothole-related breakdowns it attended in 2023 increased by a third to almost 30,000 incidents, and is calling on the government to set out clear guidance for local authorities to tackle the problem.

With an ever-increasing chance of hitting a pothole, it’s worth being aware that you can claim damage to your car caused by poor-conditioned roads. But how do you do this and what do you need to be aware of? Let’s take a look.

What sort of damage can hitting a pothole cause?

You never want to hit a pothole, but sometimes they just can’t be avoided, and it’s never worth endangering yourself more by trying to swerve around them.

Hitting a pothole can cause various types of damage, with one of the most noticeable being to the wheels and tyres. Punctures are common and are often noticeable instantly, as you’ll experience a loss of control and the steering will feel heavy. If it’s a particularly big pothole, it can cause damage to the wheel itself, such as buckling and cracking. This can be repaired depending on the severity, but a new wheel might be required.

After this, it’s suspension and steering components to be aware of. Hitting a pothole can damage the tracking of your car, causing misaligned tyre wear or the feeling that the car is pulling one way while driving, even with the steering wheel straight. Broken suspension components such as springs and shock absorbers are often common.

Remember to be safe if you do have a pothole-related breakdown

If you hit a pothole and it causes immediate damage to your car, the first thing to think about is your safety. Don’t come to an instant stop if it’s not safe to do so – such as on a blind corner. Try and get you and your car out of danger.

If you’re unable to pull off the road, come to a stop in the safest possible place, apply the hazard lights and get yourself out of the vehicle before ringing a breakdown provider or someone else who might be able to help.

Make sure you gather evidence to support your case

If your car has been damaged by hitting a pothole, you need to gather evidence to help your case to get compensation. It can be a long process with authorities often doing everything possible to avoid paying, so you need to be prepared for a fight.

Make details on the pothole, its location, size and only if safe to do so, gather pictures of the pothole and the damage to the car. You will likely need to get rough measurements of the pothole and sketch the location of the road defect while providing details on the damage and why you think they are responsible.

Once the car is recovered, get quotes from garages and keep these safely saved, while if you have the most up-to-date MOT certificate (these can be downloaded online if not), this can prove that there was nothing wrong with your car before the pothole damage.

Find out which organisation manages the road where the damage was caused

The organisation you need to claim from will depend on the location of the pothole. If the damage occurred on a major A-road and motorway, you will likely need to contact Highways England. If in London on a red route, you will need to speak to Transport for London. Outside of these, you will need to contact the local council that looks after that particular road.

In Scotland, major roads are looked after by Traffic Scotland and those in Wales are handled by Traffic Wales. Outside of these trunk roads, you’ll need to speak to the local councils.

Even if you don’t decide to claim, you should report the pothole damage to the authority responsible – not only will this hopefully have the road repaired, but it can also improve the chances of another person making a successful claim.

What happens next?

To add to the complexity, each local council and authority has a different procedure for both reporting and trying to claim for potholes.

Be prepared that all local authorities typically refuse all claims at first, quoting Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, which says that the council took all reasonable steps to maintain the road, even if this might not be the case.

Many people choose to avoid pursuing the case any further after this point, but if you decide to carry on, you need to gather as much evidence as you can to prove that the council didn’t inspect and maintain the road to the right standard. You could need to submit a Freedom of Information request to find this out.

You might end up with a partial offer of compensation, which is worth accepting, but be prepared to be patient and dedicate lots of time to be successful in claiming damages.

Last year proved to be a challenge for the electric car market, with the share of new EV registrations falling year-on-year.

Soaring electricity costs and the steep initial cost of new EVs meant private sales dropped quite significantly, and the news wasn’t all that much better for used models. According to Auto Trader, all of the top 10 used cars that dropped in price the most in December were EVs.

There are signs of things improving, though, with four of the five fastest-selling cars on Auto Trader in January being electric, with vehicles of this fuel type selling faster than petrol and diesel counterparts as a whole. It also means there are some terrific deals available on used EVs at the moment. We’ve picked out the best bargains available for a range of budgets.

Up to £5,000 – Nissan Leaf

If you think electric cars have to be expensive, the Nissan Leaf will prove otherwise. It was the first mass-market EV back in 2011 and now represents exceptional value, with early examples available from as little as £3,500.

For this low price, you’ll be looking at a Leaf with the smallest 24kWh battery, which will only allow for a range of around 70 miles. But if you only drive locally and can charge at home, it offers the potential to significantly lower your running costs.

Up to £7,500 – Renault Zoe

The Renault Zoe is another early electric car, being introduced in 2013, with plenty of used examples now available for within this £7,500 budget. Most of them will use the smaller 22kWh battery, however, docking the range to only around 75 miles. You should also be aware that some used Zoes are subject to a battery leasing scheme where you pay so much to Renault a month to ensure the battery is in good health. Ideally, find one with an ‘owned’ battery that is exempt from the lease.

But the Zoe is otherwise a stylish, well-equipped EV that is easy to drive and works well around towns and cities.

Up to £10,000 – BMW i3

Increase your budget a bit more and you could be behind the wheel of a far more premium EV – the BMW i3. Introduced in 2013, this electric hatchback continues to look the part with a design that hasn’t aged at all in the decade since.

It’s not the most practical EV, and one at this price will come with the smaller 22kWh battery that can only travel around 70 miles on a charge. But the i3 is a cool electric car that offers great quality and is likely to bring minimal depreciation.

Up to £12,500 – Vauxhall Corsa Electric

If you want an EV that is familiar to drive and look at, we highly recommend the Vauxhall Corsa Electric. Introduced in 2020, it brings the same sleek design as petrol versions of this supermini, along with generous equipment levels and a real-world range of around 175 miles.

While a new electric Corsa will set you back more than £30,000, steep depreciation means you can now pick up a three-year-old example for around £12,000 – similar to what a petrol automatic model of the same age would cost.

Up to £15,000 – MG5

MG has established itself as a key player in the electric car market, and its EVs are best known for one thing – their value for money. That’s especially true of the MG5 estate car, as you’re able to pick up a two-year-old example for just £14,000.

The MG5 isn’t the most stylish electric car, but brings a spacious interior and generous equipment levels, while you’ll have the remainder of MG’s seven-year warranty too. Expect a real-world range of around 180 miles.

Up to £20,000 – Tesla Model 3

Tesla continues to be the ‘go-to’ electric car company, with its tech-laden vehicles continuing to be some of the most popular cars around. They’re increasingly becoming more affordable too, especially the Model 3 saloon, introduced in 2019.

While a new example will set you back £40,000, used Model 3s can now be had for less than half of that. With its modern interior, strong performance and a real-world range of around 215 miles (even on the cheapest versions), it’s one of the best used EVs you can buy.

Up to £25,000 – Jaguar I-Pace

The Jaguar I-Pace is an EV that’s often wrongly overlooked. It was one of the first electric SUVs and even nearly six years after its introduction, the design is still modern inside and out and it’s among one of the best cars in its class to drive.

It remains on sale largely unchanged from when it first launched, and though a new I-Pace would set you back £70,000, you’re now able to pick up a low-mileage, high-spec example for well under £25,000. A real-world range of around 235 miles is excellent, too.

Nissan has unveiled the Ariya Nismo as its first road-going electric performance car.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, it’s the first time Nissan’s performance arm Nismo has turned its attention to electric cars for the road. The Ariya was introduced in Europe in 2022, with this Nismo model being based on the standard e-4orce four-wheel-drive model.

It’s the first Nismo-baged SUV since the Juke, and gets a range of performance and visual changes to set it apart from regular models.

Changes to the electric motor increase peak power by around 10 per cent to 429bhp and 600Nm of torque, Though there’s no word on performance, a 0-60mph time of less than four seconds is expected.

Nissan has also fitted a special ‘Nismo’ driving mode that maximises responsiveness and produces a unique sound that’s said to be ‘evocative’ of the firm’s electric Formula E racing cars. The firm also says each chassis component has received ‘special tuning’. Large 20-inch alloy wheels with specific tyres are also fitted, which Nissan says offer ‘superior stability’ and improved cornering ability.

The Ariya Nismo also gets a sportier look to go with it, with the performance arm’s trademark dark red colour being used across lower areas of the vehicle. There are also more pronounced bumpers and a rear spoiler lip that sits above the light bar.

The red detailing extends to the Ariya Nismo’s interior, while also coming with suede door cards and sports seats.

Nissan says it will launch the Ariya Nismo in Japan in the spring, though there’s no word on when or if the sporty electric SUV will be introduced to Europe.