Category: News

The government has announced a major change to the taxation for double cab pick-up trucks that will see them classed as cars from July.

Double-cab pick-ups have grown significantly in popularity in recent years as their dual-purpose attributes have meant they’re suitable for being a working vehicle as well as for personal use. Many have also chosen them for the tax breaks they offer, as any double cab that had a payload of more than a tonne was considered a van, and therefore attracted far cheaper company car tax.

However, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) quietly announced yesterday (February 12) in a note that this will change from July 1, 2024, saying that it will ‘no longer interpret the legislation that defines car and van for tax purposes in line with the definitions used for VAT purposes’.

HMRC says it will now assess the classification of each vehicle of this type on an individual level, but says that from July 2024 ‘most if not all double cab pick-ups will be classified as cars when calculating the benefit change’. HMRC says this is because these vehicles are ‘equally suited’ to both transporting goods and also passengers.

Company vehicle tax is based on benefit in kind (BIK), which on cars is a percentage based on their CO2 emissions that takes into account a vehicle’s list price. It favours electric and hybrid cars, which emit lower CO2.

However, currently, pick-up trucks are charged at a flat rate which is £3,960 for the 2023/2024 tax year. For a 20 per cent taxpayer, van BIK is £792 per year, or £66 a month. For 40 per cent taxpayers, it’s £1,584 per year, or £132 a month.

But under these changes, pick-ups will become significantly more expensive for company car tax, because it will now be calculated based on their typically-high CO2 emissions. A Ford Ranger – the UK’s most popular pick-up, and the fourth best-selling ‘van’ in the UK last year – has CO2 emissions of more than 200g/km, putting it in the highest BIK tax bracket of 37 per cent.

According to Professional Pickup, from July 2024 a driver using a Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 as a company car will face a tax bill of £290 a month, or £580 a month for a higher rate taxpayer. It means a driver could end up spending £5,376 more on company car tax per year under these new rules, making a double cab pick-up uneconomical to run, and likely to cause demand for these vehicles to fall.

Any new double cab pick-ups ordered or leased until June 30, 2024, will still qualify for the current lower tax rates, even if they aren’t registered by July. Single-cab pick-ups are unaffected by these changes.

Ford has revealed two new flagship MS-RT versions of its popular Ranger pick-up and new Transit Custom van.

MS-RT is an offshoot of M-Sport, Ford’s global rally partner based in the Lake District, and in recent years has turned its attention to giving the firm’s commercial vehicles a sportier look.

Ford is now presenting new MS-RT versions of its new Ranger and Transit Custom van, with the grade sitting at the top of the range of the two models. Both will undergo the final ‘MS-RT’ makeover at a new facility based on Ford’s large estate in Dagenham, Essex.

Things kick off with the Ranger MS-RT, which is dubbed as the ‘ultimate street truck’. Using a 236bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, it gets a unique suspension setup with firmer front dampers and sits 40mm lower than the standard model.

Cosmetically it’s said to be inspired by racing pick-up trucks and it comes with a larger honeycomb grille and splitter as well as a rear ducktail spoiler. Large 21-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tyres are also included and widen the track of the Ranger significantly to the point the bodywork has had to be extended.

Leather and suede sports seats are also fitted, with a new steering wheel and various blue detailing also included.

Ford’s new Transit Custom – by far the UK’s most popular new van – has also had a makeover, getting much more aggressive bumpers, side skirts and a large rear spoiler. These also feature large 19-inch alloy wheels, while the interior gets upgraded seats and specific MS-RT upholstery.

The Transit Custom is available with a choice of 2.0-litre diesel engines, as well as a 229bhp plug-in hybrid model. The MS-RT treatment also extends to the new electric E-Transit Custom but also gets a significant power hike as part of this update – its rear motor producing 281bhp, the most of any Transit Custom.

The new Ford Ranger MS-RT and Transit Custom MS-RT are both available to order, with first deliveries expected in the middle of the year.

Jeep is introducing an updated version of its compact Renegade SUV, which gets various technology changes for 2024.

First introduced in 2014, the Renegade is now Jeep’s oldest car and is lagging behind many in its segment. To help keep it modern, a range of changes have been made to this compact SUV’s interior.

A far larger 10.1-inch touchscreen is now included, which runs on a new operating system that offers five times quicker processing power. The screen also includes 4G capability to power various online and connected services. Amazon Alexa voice is introduced, while it also comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Other new pieces of technology fitted to the Renegade include a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a much-improved rear parking camera.

Jeep has revised the Renegade’s trim offerings, with the range starting with the £30,500 Altitude trim. Standard equipment includes full LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic climate control.

Up next is the Summit trim, which costs from £33,000. It brings new 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and a windscreen wiper de-icer for the colder months. Above this, the Overland trim brings more rugged styling courtesy of off-road bumpers and chunkier tyres, and costs from £38,000.

At the top of the range, the Trailhwawk is designed to be as rugged as possible, featuring greater underbody protection and various specific off-road driving modes, and is available from £39,000.

The Renegade is now only available with electrified powertrains, with a choice of a mild-hybrid model and four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid. The latter is only available on the top-spec Overland and Trailhawk trim levels. The updated Renegade line-up is now available to order.

Aston Martin has unveiled a heavily updated version of its Vantage sports car – the entry point to the British firm’s line-up.

The current Vantage arrived on the scene in 2018, and though it’s always been billed as the sportiest version in Aston Martin’s range, a range of changes have now been made to make it the ‘most driver-focused and fastest Vantage’ ever.

Key to the changes is a significantly more powerful 656bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, representing a 153bhp increase. The torque figure also jumps by 115Nm to 800Nm. This allows for a 0-60mph time of just 3.4 seconds, and a top speed of 202mph. The drive is delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox as well.

The impressive performance boost comes from a range of tunes made to the engine, including larger turbos and increased cooling, while the gearbox has been revised to deliver ‘punchier in-gear acceleration’.

Aston Martin has stiffened the chassis to maximise the driving experience, while changes have been made to the steering feel. Michelin has also created a set of tyres specifically for the new Vantage to cover the standard-fit 21-inch forged alloy wheels. There’s also a new adjustable traction control feature, which offers a range of different settings depending on the skill and confidence of the driver.

The new Vantage’s design is inspired by that of the DB12 and features a new front end that boasts a significantly larger grille and Matrix LED headlights featuring Aston Martin’s new lighting signature. Frameless door mirrors and pop-out door handles are also new for the Vantage, while it also comes with larger diameter quad exhaust tailpipes, though the rear isn’t changed significantly compared to the outgoing car.

It’s inside where some of the most noticeable changes have been made, though, with a redesigned cabin that is far more modern than its predecessor. The general look mirrors that of the DB12, with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen system positioned lower, and includes enhanced smartphone connectivity and gesture control. While more controls have been integrated into the screen, commonly used buttons such as drive selection and climate settings remain as physical buttons.

Production of the new Aston Martin Vantage will begin at the firm’s main facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, in March, with first deliveries expected to begin in time for the summer.

Abarth has revealed the first look at its new 600e – a sporty electric crossover that will be the firm’s most powerful car ever.

Based on the Fiat 600e, which will shortly arrive in the UK, the Abarth version gets a range of changes to enhance the performance and styling of this electric crossover.

The first-look image shows a far more aggressive presence than the standard Fiat, with more aggressive-looking bumpers, big 20-inch alloy wheels and a large rear spoiler. The launch colour Hypnotic Purple also helps this EV to stand out.

The firm says it’s been ‘designed to leave Abarth fans speechless’, and will use a 237bhp electric powertrain. Though full details are yet to be announced, it makes it the most powerful car yet from the sporty Italian carmaker, and brings around 70bhp more than you get from the Fiat version.

Other changes made to the 600e include a mechanical limited-slip differential to improve handling and traction, while upgraded brakes and performance tyres are also fitted.

The 600e will launch in a special edition Scorpionissima launch edition, which will be limited to 1,949 units – the number representing the year Abarth was founded.

Abarth says the 600e is ‘undergoing final tests’ and will be making its public debut in Milan shortly when the firm begins filming a commercial for the new electric crossover. It’s expected to go on sale in the summer and will join the electric Abarth 500e and petrol 595 and 695 models.

Electric cars shouldn’t be advertised under the blanket ‘zero emissions’ term, according to a new watchdog ruling.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) monitors and investigates complaints made against adverts, and has recently ruled against two separate pieces of marketing for BMW and MG electric vehicles that contained the words ‘zero emissions’.

The ASA said that the ‘basis of environmental claims must be clear’ and has said that if adverts don’t make it clear that ‘zero emissions’ only applies ‘while they are being driven it is likely to mislead’. That’s because while electric cars don’t produce any emissions from the tailpipe, there are emissions involved in the manufacture of EVs, as well as the production of electricity used to charge them.

Both rulings relate to paid-for Google advertisements on August 16 last year, with a claim made by MG saying: “Find A Dealer – Book A Test Drive. Save £1,000 On Your Next MG HS Plug-in Hybrid, MG ZS or MG5 EV Trophy Long Range Renewed with a modern design, increased range, and even more technology. Zero Emissions”.

Though MG confirmed to the ASA that all ‘zero emissions’ references had been removed, the watchdog said: “Any associated ‘zero emissions’ claim needed to clarify that it referred to emissions while the vehicle was driven on the electric motor. Similar claims for vehicles powered by petrol or diesel engines would always mislead.”

Similarly, BMW said it had bid on terms such as ‘zero emissions cars’ on Google search to target customers looking at this type of vehicle, and hadn’t planned for the ‘zero emissions’ mention to be included in the advert.

BMW confirmed they had halted all bidding on any zero-emissions keywords as a result and would also be more rigorous in how it would vet future adverts.

While the ASA said it “welcomed BMW’s assurance that the claim would not be repeated in the future”, it concluded that the use of ‘zero emission cars’ without any further context was “likely to mislead”.

Ford has updated its Puma crossover, introducing a new exterior design and an upcoming fully electric version.

The look of the Puma now features a number of tweaks and changes, with the most obvious update being the positioning of the Ford badge within the front grille, rather than on the ‘nose’ as before. Around the back, the changes are far more minimal with the new Puma closely resembling its predecessor in this area.

It’s inside where things have been really altered, however. There’s now a 12.0-inch central display, which is combined with a 12.8-inch digital instrument cluster. They’re both larger than the ones you would’ve found on the previous Puma, too.

The infotainment system runs Ford’s latest Sync 4 software, too, while both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard, as is wireless smartphone charging.

The Puma also features Amazon’s Alexa service built in, so that drivers can ask different questions via this on-board voice assistant. Ford has also added a redesigned sliding armrest and a two-spoke steering wheel to the Puma’s interior while at the back it retains its predecessor’s clever MegaBox, which provides 80 litres via a clever underboot storage area.

A new intelligent adaptive cruise control system enables the car to stop and brake by itself and it can even detect curves in the road and adjust the speed accordingly. Drivers will need to keep their hands on the wheel at all times, however.

All versions of the Puma use some form of Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid engine, ranging in power from 123bhp in the ‘standard’ car to 168bhp in the performance ST variant. Ford has already announced that a fully electric version of the Puma – called Puma GEN-E – will be revealed later on this year.

Prices for the new Puma will start from £25,790, too.

Adverts for the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) made misleading claims about pollution levels across the capital and inside cars, a watchdog has found.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said claims made by Transport for London (TfL), which runs Ulez, that levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had reduced by almost half as a result of the scheme were not based on measurements of air quality taken before and after it was implemented, as listeners of the radio ad might expect.

Instead, TfL based its claim on calculating the difference between current air quality measurements and a “non-Ulez scenario”, but without qualifying this for listeners and likely misleading them, the ASA found.

The ASA also upheld complaints about claims in a second TfL ad that most deaths related to air pollution “actually” occurred in outer London, when this was in fact based on modelled estimates.

The ASA said the ad was likely to mislead listeners because it did not explain the basis of the claim.

In a separate ruling, the ASA found a claim made in a radio ad by the Greater London Authority that “according to research, one of the most polluted places in London is inside your car” was misleading.

The ASA said evidence provided by the GLA did establish that car users were exposed to air pollution when inside their vehicle and that it could be higher than when using other forms of transport.

However, the GLA had not directly compared pollution inside a car in London with other locations around the city, meaning it had not been adequately substantiated and was likely to mislead listeners.

The ASA, which received a total of 504 complaints about six TfL ads for Ulez and 38 complaints about the GLA ad – only some of which were upheld – stressed that it was not its role to rule on the validity of Ulez, but rather to assess whether claims made in the ads were presented alongside robust evidence.

The watchdog has told both TfL and the GLA to ensure that claims relate to relevant evidence more closely in future.

TfL said it was “disappointed” with the ASA’s ruling, adding that scientific analysis based on modelled scenarios and estimates was “standard practice” in the scientific community and central government.

A spokeswoman said: “The ASA did not challenge the science. Its ruling centres around a minor technical point in some ads. We will take this into account when drafting the wording and referencing in any future adverts.

“The science is absolutely clear about the significant harm of air pollution on people’s health and that estimated premature deaths from air pollution are higher in outer London than in inner London.

“It is also clear from robust scientific assessment that the central London Ulez was key to almost halving the nitrous oxide emissions in the original Ulez area.

“The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone is playing a crucial role in the reduction of air pollution – improving air quality for everyone in London and reducing the harms to health associated with vehicle emissions.”

A spokesman for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The ASA is not challenging the science behind the advertisement, and we are confident that it contains nothing misleading. The advert went through a robust policy and industry approval process.

“Studies from global institutions have shown that exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, is very damaging to people’s health. We are satisfied with the science behind the claim and how we presented it.”

Financial incentives are required to promote new and used electric vehicles among drivers.

That’s according to Baroness Parminter, chair of an inquiry into the present state of the electric vehicle market in England and Wales.

The comments come following the publication of a House of Lords committee report titled ‘EV strategy: rapid recharge needed’ which has cited ‘a combination of higher purchase costs, insufficient charging infrastructure and mixed messaging’ as reasons behind drivers not making the switch to a battery-powered vehicle.

Speaking to Car Dealer Magazine, Baroness Parminter said: “If there was a commitment to immediately consult on the necessary fiscal incentives for both new cars and secondhand cars, that would be a win.

“And in the Budget saying we will equalise VAT on home and public charging, that would be a massive signal of intent.

“And that’s what we need from this government because the messages have been mixed.

“When Rishi Sunak rolled back on the deadline last year he used the term “getting to net zero is going to be hard” – that’s not what the public needs to hear.

“They need to see the government putting some skin in the game on this now. And the VAT equalisation in the Budget would do that.”

The report suggests that used electric car sales could be helped by introducing a ‘battery health standard’ and reducing the VAT rate for public charging to five per cent. It added that consumers need more information and a ‘trusted source of information’ with concerns being raised about the portrayal of EVs in the media.

Urgent action must be taken by the Government to remove barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), according to a House of Lords report.

A combination of higher purchase costs, insufficient charging infrastructure and mixed messaging are putting some people off from making the switch to electric motoring, peers warned.

The report from the Environment and Climate Change Committee urged ministers to instil confidence in consumers to ditch petrol and diesel cars.

One option it suggested is to incentivise purchases of used EVs by creating an industry standard assessment of the condition and likely future degradation of their batteries.

Other recommendations included ensuring the rollout of EV charging infrastructure is not delayed by “out-dated regulation”, and taking action to tackle “misinformation” about electric motoring.

Baroness Parminter, who chaired the inquiry, said: “Surface transport is the UK’s highest emitting sector for CO2, with passenger cars responsible for over half those emissions.

“The evidence we received shows the Government must do more – and quickly – to get people to adopt EVs.

“If it fails to heed our recommendations, the UK won’t reap the significant benefits of better air quality and will lag in the slow lane for tackling climate change.”

EVs are more expensive to buy than their petrol and diesel equivalents, and there is an “insufficient range of affordable EVs”, the report stated.

The upfront cost of EVs, including second-hand cars, is “a significant barrier to consumer adoption”, the committee said.

Peers described the UK’s removal of purchase incentives to support private buyers as “premature”.

They also suggested that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech announcing the delay in the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035 – in which he said achieving net zero “is going to be hard” – was an example of “emphasising the costs while failing to stress the benefits”.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “For many people, an electric car offers the prospect of cheap motoring once they have left the showroom.

“The key is the recharging process, especially when drivers are away from home.

“Plugging in at a public charge point needs to be as simple and straightforward as visiting a forecourt selling petrol and diesel, and at the moment the multitude of systems and tariffs on offer means it isn’t.

“Convenience and consistency must triumph over complexity.”

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Monday that the millionth pure battery electric new car was registered in the UK in January.

It warned that market growth is currently dependent on businesses and fleets, and urged the Treasury to use next month’s Budget to temporarily halve VAT on purchases of new EVs.

The Government announced on Monday that schools in England will be able to apply for grants to buy and install electric vehicle chargers.

State-funded schools and other learning institutions will have access to a grant providing up to 75% of the cost to install chargers, with funding available for up to £2,500 per socket.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “After more than a decade of Government grants and tax incentives, the number of electric cars on our roads has significantly increased, with over a million now on UK roads.

“We are continuing to support the switch to electric with more than £2 billion, seeing a 45% increase in public chargepoints since January last year, putting us on track to install 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030.

“This week alone we have made chargepoints more accessible, with the first councils starting to receive part of the £381 million local electric vehicle infrastructure fund alongside new grants to install chargepoints in state schools and nurseries.”

Ginny Buckley, founder of EV marketplace Electrifying.com, said: “The peers on this committee have pulled no punches in this report.

“We’ve consistently said that improvements to incentives, infrastructure and information are essential if we are to meet net zero targets and leave no-one behind on the journey.

“This report clearly shows that the House of Lords agrees with us.”