The number plate is currently on retention with the winner of the auction having to pay a minimum fee of £300.
The private registration ‘SW 3’ is due to go up for auction and could become one of the most expensive plates sold via online auction.
The plate could reflect on someone with the initials of S and W. (Credit: Collecting Cars Auctions)
The plate reflects one of the UK’s most expensive and prestigious postcodes such as Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Brompton.
It is expected that potential bidders will be located in and around the London area, but also the plate could attract those with the initials ‘S’ and ‘W’.
The reg plate can be transferred to any vehicle in the UK – as it is dateless.
It’s anticipated that it could be in the top five for most expensive plates ever sold with Collecting Cars, the online auction site which is listing the plate.
The top five consist of ‘6 OO’ that sold for £130,000, ‘1 GO’ for £138,000, ‘TOY 5’ FOR £150,000, ‘1 SJ’ for £162,500 and the most expensive yet is ‘Y 6’ £213,000.
Since its launch, the online auction house has sold nearly 60 registrations that have exceeded the value of £50,000 – with a total of 2,300 private plates in general totalling a value of more than £17.6 million.
It is yet to be announced when the auction will be taking place, however, the V778 retention document states that the plate has been off a vehicle for just over three weeks – meaning that the auction could be taking place very soon.
The Dark Knight and Gotham use a 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack and produce 1,926bhp.
Pininfarina has revealed two more bespoke hypercars inspired by DC’s Bruce Wayne, the civilian persona of the superhero Batman.
The Dark Night and Gotham models followed quickly after Pininfarina also previewed another one-off hypercar last month called the Reversario.
The models were developed by Wayne Enterprises – a luxury brand created by Warner Brothers which shares its name with Bruce Wayne’s fictional company.
Both cars are powered by a 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack mated to four electric motors that produce 1,926bhp and can do 0-60mph in less than two seconds.
The Gotham features 20-inch wheels on the front and 21-inches on the rear. (Credit: Automobili Pininfarina)
The Dark Knight model features black Alcantara and black leather upholstery, with a unique black and gold dual-tone stitch contrast. On the exterior, it features ceramic-polished alloys, Nero Profondo gloss paint and a Nero Torino finished roof.
The Gotham incorporates tan leather and stitching as well as bespoke quilting. On the outside, the car features 20-inch front alloy wheels and 21-inch on the rear as well as Argento Vittorio gloss paint and Nero Torino paint for the roof. The brand’s ‘F’ logo is also back-lit and made of brushed and polished aluminium.
Both models come with 1,926bhp and can do 0-60mph in less than two seconds. (Credit: Automobili Pininfarina)
Dave Amantea, Chief Design Officer at Automobili Pininfarina said: “Designing an all-electric hypercar inspired by Bruce Wayne is a dream assignment for our team, giving them creative freedom to place themselves into the imagination of someone as iconic as Bruce Wayne. These two exclusive specifications for our two hypercars represent the ultimate vehicles for the man behind the most famous mask in the world.”
There is no mention of how much these two hypercars will set you back, but we expect them to cost more than the standard Pininfarina Battista – which costs £2 million.
The Formentor and Leon have received tweaked styling and new powertrains.
Cupra has revealed updated versions of its Formentor SUV, and Leon hatchback and Sportstourer estate models.
The cars get new exterior styling details, which include the Cupra logo appearing on the bonnets, triangular LED matrix headlights, LED rear lights that incorporate an illuminated Cupra logo.
Inside, the Formentor and Leon receive higher quality materials, a redesigned centre console, an improved virtual cockpit for the driver and a larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen. A new 12-speaker audio system developed in collaboration with Sennheiser mobility is also a standard feature.
Cupra has added a new powertrain to the Formentor and Leon Sportstourer – a 2.0-litre petrol engine that develops 328bhp and sends its power to all four wheels with torque splitter technology. These models also come with greater stopping power thanks to standard Akebono brakes.
The Leon gets new triangular LED matrix headlights. (Credit: Cupra Media UK)
There is also a new plug-in hybrid variant that gives 268bhp and can go 62 miles on electric power alone. It’s capable of 50kW DC fast charging, but charging times have not been released yet.
Wayne Griffiths, CEO of Cupra said: “The Cupra Formentor and Leon have both been a driving force in the brand’s success as it expands its footprint around the world. It’s an approach that has been incredibly successful with close to 600,000 cars delivered since the brand’s launch in 2018.”
Both cars get higher quality materials inside with a redesigned centre console. (Cupra Media UK)
He added: “The new Cupra Formentor and Leon are pure design obsession. Two models built to provoke strong emotions and that strengthen the extraordinary bond with our tribe. Two models that represent what that small group of believers envisaged Cupra could be just a few years away.”
Prices are yet to be announced for both cars, but an on sale date is expected in the Autumn.
The petrol version of the Torres went on sale in February 2024.
KGM Motors has announced that its new Torres EVX electric SUV is now available in UK showrooms.
The Torres went on sale in February 2024 in petrol form, but now KGM has expanded the range to include an electric version called EVX.
The EVX is powered by a 73.4KwH ‘blade’ battery pack sourced from Chinese carmaker BYD, allowing the EVX to cover a claimed 287 miles on a single charge.
The Torres EVX will come with 73.4kWh ‘blade’ battery pack. (Credit: KGM Media)
There will be two trim levels on offer, K30 and K40, with the former getting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB radio and TomTom navigation as standard. The K40 adds a 3D 360-degree surround view monitoring system to aid parking.
Externally, the Torres EVX features horizontal LED daytime running lights, wheel arch mouldings and a floating C-Pillar design.
There is a new 12.3-inch digital interface. (Credit: KGM Media)
Inside, there is a dual 12.3-inch digital interface, and, like its petrol-powered counterpart, will offer plenty of space for luggage and passengers. Boot space comes to 839 litres with the seats up and 1,662 litres with them down.
Kevin Griffin, managing director of KGM UK said: “Torres EVX is our new electric vehicle innovation. It builds on our advancements and proud SUV heritage by integrating cutting-edge technology, unparalleled safety features, and exceptional performance, representing a significant leap forward in mobility solutions.
The Torres EVX is available to order now with prices starting from £35,080 for the entry-level K30 and rising to £47,495 for the K40.
We’ve got some of the key items to remember to pack, as well as those pre-flight checks that’ll ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.
This time of year sees the beginning of festival season. The cold dark days are fading as we enter brighter and warmer weather – so it’s the ideal opportunity to take you, your friends and family on trips away in your car.
As with any vacation in your vehicle, preparation and planning is key to ensure that your journey runs smoothly, calmly and efficiently.
There are many festivals that take place all over the UK, whether it be music, cars, food or even cultural – being prepared is vital especially if you plan to take a trip away for more than a day or so.
We have compiled a list of pre-flight checks to ensure you and your passengers get to your destination as stress free as possible.
Make sure your car is maintained well and all the fluids are topped up
Make sure to check your engine oil. (Credit: PA Archive – Ian Nicholson)
When travelling to a festival, the most important part is getting there safely, on time and above all, smoothly.
Before you set off on your journey, make sure that you have filled your car up with fuel and that all the tire pressures are correct – as low pressure can cause blowouts, uneven tyre wear and will contribute to worse fuel economy too.
Your car is your best friend on a long journey, but only if you’ve maintained it well. Before setting off, check that the oil level is between the minimum and maximum on the dipstick, the brake fluid is topped up and that you have enough engine coolant – which you can check by opening the coolant cap under your engine bay and look to see a translucent reservoir.
Pack plenty of food and drink
Pack plenty of snacks, driving while hungry or thirsty can affect your concentration levels. (Credit: PA Archive – Anthony Devlin)
Food and drink is your very own fuel and by not packing enough of it, could make for a very long and tiring journey.
Festivals usually supply lots of beverages and snacks from different stalls and markets, however always make sure that you keep topped up in the car as you may find by having a limited supply that you will run out very quickly. You’ll also save money as lots of events charge considerably more for food and drink.
Driving while thirsty or hungry can affect your concentration levels and will put you and your loved ones at greater risk of being in an accident.
Water and fruit juice are great examples of drink, while small snacks that can be easy to hand on the move like biscuits or even fruit are great at filling you up for longer.
Toiletries are essential for camping away
Always make sure you’ve got enough toiletries like toothpaste and toothbrushes. (Credit: PA Archive – Niall Carson)
Many festivals are held over more than a one day period, which means you’ll be staying away from home. Make sure to pack all the essential toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, hair shampoos and during the summer, always pack sun cream.
You will find that you’ll be out in the sun all day, and even if you drive there in a convertible with the roof down can still be damaging to your skin if not protected.
First aid kit
Going prepared is always better than not at all, and a first aid kit will come in handy for any bumps or scrapes that you might encounter. If you’re travelling with young children, having plasters, bandages and cleansing wipes will really benefit if anyone were to have an accident.
You may not need one to take with you, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Take chargers and electronic devices
Always take electronic devices to keep passengers occupied. (Credit: PA Archive – Apple)
You’ll be travelling with your phone and you may wish to take an electronic tablet like an iPad. Make sure you take plenty of chargers as not only you will want to charge them up, especially if you’re driving a long journey and your passengers are using them constantly throughout the trip.
Having multiple chargers will help reduce any arguments or shouting when someone needs to charge up their phone or tablet.
Check your car’s MOT
A car with a valid MOT doesn’t always mean that it’s roadworthy as minor defects can deteriorate over time. (Credit: PA Archive – Liam McBurney)
A vital one that you may not even encounter is to check your car’s latest MOT record. Check if there were any minor defects or advisories that were picked up as even though at the time your car was fit for the road, those defects can deteriorate over time.
Before heading off, make sure those issues have been rectified because otherwise you could be driving a car that may be a hazard to everyone around you.
Take a jump pack just in case of a flat battery
Take a jump pack as it might save you from calling a breakdown company that will add more time to your journey. (Credit: PA Archive – Barry Batchelor)
Always take a jump pack with you just in case your car fails to start on the morning that you begin to head home.
No one wants to be stranded in their car, especially if you’ve got small children with you. Not only is it stressful and creates more hassle, but it will also add a serious amount of time to your journey.
If you don’t bring a jump pack and your vehicle doesn’t start, you will then have to rely on breakdown recovery companies to come to your rescue – which may take longer than you think.
The Swedish car firm and StoreDot, an extreme fast charging company have collaborated together to develop the world’s quickest charging time.
Polestar and extreme fast charging company StoreDot have developed battery technology that enables a charging time of 10 minutes.
In a recent experiment, a Polestar 5 with a 77 kWh battery pack was charged using StoreDot’s extreme fast charging high energy silicon-dominant battery cells.
The experiment consisted of a Polestar 5 Prototype that took 10 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. (Credit: Polestar Media)
The advantage of silicon-based cells is that they have the ability to push both energy density and charge rates for several battery generations to come – with the technology constantly improving.
The vehicle went from having a 10 per cent charge to 80 per cent in 10 minutes. A consistent charge rate of 310kW – alongside a peak rate of 370kW – made it one of the fastest charges ever for an EV – with all temperatures, voltage and charged capacity monitored throughout the process.
Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot said: “We’re happy to see our partner is among the first EV car makers to acknowledge that XFC is now a necessary standard to make vast EV adoption a reality. With our extreme fast charging technology, you can add 200 miles in under 10 minutes.
A consistant charge rate of 310kW and a peak of 370kW. (Credit: Polestar Media)
He added: “This breakthrough revolutionises EV ownership experience by eradicating the barrier of range anxiety once and for all. Drivers can now truly travel long distances with the same freedom and convenience as traditional petrol-powered vehicles.”
By improving the charging speeds of EVs to similar filling times of internal-combustion engines could help speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar commented: “This technology will reshape consumer expectations and accelerate mass EV adoption by making EV ownership a seamless experience for the mass market.”
Storedot still has plans to reduce charging times even further by delivering 100 miles of range in five minutes by this year – while by 2026 to reduce it to four minutes and even further still to three minutes by 2028.
Among the electric crossover’s improvements are a better heat pump that doesn’t affect the car’s range.
Renault has lowered the price of its Megane E-Tech and added more equipment as standard.
The small electric crossover, which rivals the likes of the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, now has a price tag of £33,995 – £500 less than before – with the French manufacturer also boosting the standard spec.
It now boasts a patented heat pump, while the Techno and Iconic trim levels also receive a 12-inch screen for the OpenR link infotainment system, as well as adaptive cruise control.
The entry-level Evolution now comes with heated front seat and steering wheel as standard. (Credit: Renault Press UK)
The new pump recovers heat generated by the battery and electric motor twice as efficiently to ensure the best cabin temperature – without impacting on the vehicle’s electric range.
Standard equipment for the Megane E-Tech also now includes automatic wipers and headlamps, automatic climate control, LED daytime running lights plus heated front seats and steering wheel.
The new heat pump allows for greater efficiency between battery use and cabin temperature. (Credit: Renault Press UK)
An electric range of 280 miles on a single charge and a rapid DC charging time of 186 miles of range in 30 minutes remain the same.
Under the bonnet is a 60kWh battery pack as well as an electric motor that produces 223bhp and 300Nm of torque.
The Megane E-Tech can be bought now, with its reduced starting price pegged at £200 more than the Volvo EX30, which is priced from £33,795.
The Cyberster will be available in two different guises.
MG has opened up its order books for its new convertible EV, the Cyberster.
From launch there will be two models on offer, the standard Trophy and the top-of-the-line GT.
The Trophy comes with an electric motor that produces 335bhp, has a torque figure of 475Nm and can do 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds.
The GT, meanwhile, comes with dual electric motors which boast a power output of 496bhp, can produce 725Nm of torque and enable the Cyberster to do 0-60mph in 3.0 seconds.
There will two models on offer being the Trophy and GT. (Credit: MG PR)
The Trophy and GT will come with a 77kWh battery pack offering a claimed electric range of 316 miles for the former and 276 miles on a single charge for the more powerful GT.
However, those figures are subject to verification and UK type approval.
Both models are equipped with four driving modes – Comfort, Custom, Sport and Track.
David Allison, MG head of product and planning said: “The Cyberster is a car designed to excite, whether through its head-turning design or its scintillating performance. Both the Trophy and GT are compelling two-seat EV sporting roadsters which promise to propel gran touring into the electric age.”
Charging times for the Trophy have not been confirmed, but the GT is capable of using DC rapid charging of up to 150kW – enabling a charging time from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 38 minutes.
The Cyberster comes as standard with Brembo Brakes as well as 19-inch alloys for the Trophy and 20-inches for the GT.
Prices start at £54,995 and rise to £59,995. (Credit: MG PR)
Inside there is a standard 10.25-inch driver display flanked by two seven-inch displays and another coloured display mounted in the centre console to allow access to the climate control – the boot capacity is measured at 249 litres as well.
Features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, eight-speaker Bose sound system, DAB and voice recognition, a 360-degree parking camera and USB ports are all standard, too.
Orders can be placed at any selected MG dealer across the UK with deliveries expected in August. Prices start at £54,995 for the Trophy and rise to £59,995 for the dual-motor GT.
Warwickshire has been named the ‘speeding hotspot’ of England and Wales, with a new study finding one in five drivers exceed speed limits in the county.
Warwickshire Police saw 91,325 speeding violations in 2022 – equivalent to one for every 4.58 vehicles in the area.
Go Compare Car Insurance’s findings – which used combined regional figures from the Home Office and the DVLA – located other speeding ‘hotspots’ including Greater London, Devon and Cornwall with the Met Police reporting one penalty for every 4.82 vehicles. Devon and Cornwall, meanwhile, saw one offence being issued for every 4.64 cars in the area.
Bedfordshire and Surrey both entered into the top ten – with speeding violations issued for every 8.18 and 9.14 respective vehicles – while Yorkshire was identified as another speedy area. Both North and West Yorkshire were in the top 10 list with penalties for every 6.26 and 6.49 vehicles respectively.
Tom Banks, a car insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Speeding is perhaps one of the most common safety risks associated with using our roads, so identifying the country’s hotspots is a key indicator of where the most dangerous places to drive are. It seems that the South is home to some of the nation’s worst areas, although the figures for Yorkshire are also particularly concerning.”
At the other end of the scale sat South Wales, where one offence was recorded for every 43 vehicles. North Wales also had a very low ratio, with one offence issued for every 21 vehicles.
Northumbria Police reported one offence for every 21.87 vehicles in the area it covers – Northumberland and Tyne and Wear – while Cleveland Police, which looks after Middlesborough, Hartlepool and Stockton, had a ratio of one offence for every 30 vehicles.
The electric SUV has proven a popular choice among buyers beating the likes of previous best-sellers such as the Volkswagen Golf and Dacia Sandero
The Tesla Model Y has been named the best-selling car in Europe for March.
According to Jato Dynamics, EV sales are declining while hybrid numbers are on the up, with a total of 382,700 hybrid vehicles registered between January and March this year – the highest number of quarterly registrations since 2021.
Even though Tesla’s share in the EV market has dropped from 27.3 per cent in March 2023 to 19.9 per cent last month, the firm still managed to shift 26,847 Model Ys – over 1,000 more than the second best-selling car – the Volkswagen Golf at 25,779 units.
Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at Jato Dynamics said: “The average price of a new car is still prohibitively high, and consumers are understandably hesitant about making the shift from petrol and diesel powered vehicles to electric models.
Hybrid sales were up by 18 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2023 compared to year-on-year increases of 3.8 per cent and 4.8 per cent for EVs.
Munoz added: “Consumers are familiar with hybrid vehicles; they’ve been in the market for more than two decades now. For many drivers, they are the best option: cheaper than EVs at point of purchase and not reliant on public charging infrastructure that simply isn’t there in many markets.”
Despite the slowdown in EV uptake, Tesla was still at the top of the chart for BEV sales with a total of 39,000 units registered in March closely followed by BMW and then Volvo thanks to the success of its new EX30 model. In all, some 1,377,541 vehicles of all types were registered across Europe in March.
