According to the Road Emulsion Association, road surfacing has increased in the UK by nine per cent year-on-year to 38.5 million square metres.
Britain’s notoriously pot-holed roads might finally be getting the repairs they need.
A recent report from the Road Emulsion Association found a 3.2 million square metre rise in road surface dressings year-on-year.
The Road Emulsion Association (REA) represents businesses that supply a wide range of bitumen emulsion products to prepare and protect the UK’s motorways, airfields and trunk roads.
The number of potholes is one of the biggest issues on our highways and byways. Much of the damage is caused by frost and rain attacking the surfaces of carriageways across the UK. Bitumen emulsion is applied to protect the tarmac from the elements, while the road surface dressing is a waterproof layer to protect the surface against fierce weather conditions.
In 2023, the supply of road surface dressings dropped to a 12-year low and saw just 35.3 million square metres worth of our roads receiving the treatment. However, this year, from April to September, that figure has increased to a total of 38.5 million square metres of the nation’s road network being fixed – which is a nine per cent increase year-on-year.
But, it is still off the pace compared to figures from 12 years ago when the repairs extended to 64.4 million square metres.
Kevin Maw, REA consultant and secretary, said: “This is positive news for the highways industry and road users. While we have a long way to go to get back to the volumes of bitumen emulsions used produced in the years up to 2012 to enable 60 plus million metre squared per annum of surface dressing, this shows that the trend has started to turn, which is encouraging.’’
Simon Williams, RAC’s head of policy, said: “We hope the preventative road maintenance tide has well and truly turned as last year’s surface dressing figure dipped to a 12-year low.
‘’The fact that so little surface dressing was carried out last year helps explain why drivers are so angry and frustrated with potholes, something we’ve very clearly seen in research for this year’s RAC report on motoring, with 56 per cent of drivers listing the poor state of local roads as their number-one motoring concern.”
Not only were there a plethora of five-stars for some of the latest new models, but there were a couple of cars that scored a four-star rating, too.
The results of the latest Euro NCAP have been revealed, showing a wave of five-star-ratings and a couple of surprising four-stars.
The Mazda CX-80 and Subaru Forester have both been awarded the maximum five-star score from Euro NCAP. The Japanese SUVs were praised for their standard safety systems and excellent performance with autonomous emergency braking as well as both cars’ passenger compartment remaining stable in a head-on collision.
Other cars to receive five-stars were Porsche’s new electric Macan, Audi’s A5 and Hyundai’s Santa Fe – when opted with the SmartSense safety pack.
The R5 and Alpine A290 fell behind on their performance in the adult occupant crash tests. (Renault)
However, the Renault 5 alongside its performance twin, the Alpine A290, both scored a four-star rating with both cars let down by their performance in the adult occupant crash tests.
Additionally, the MG ZS Hybrid also scored four-stars and was let down when it came to the ‘stiff’ front windscreen pillars. Judges also criticised the car’s lack of pedestrian protection at the rear of the vehicle.
Dr.Michiel Van Ratingen, secretary general at Euro NCAP, said: “As we close 2024 with this final set of safety ratings, these results highlight considerable progress across all vehicle classes, even as industry faces significant challenges. Despite these pressures, many manufacturers remain steadfast in their commitment to improving road safety, integrated advanced technologies, and prioritising the protection of all road users. Euro NCAP continues to support and guide these efforts, as we look forward to seeing how the industry tackles the challenges of 2025, driving innovation and raising safety standards worldwide.”
Korean firm will be working alongside parent team Hyundai Motorsport.
Genesis is set to field a new endurance racing team that will compete in motorsport with a striking new hypercar.
Under the banner of Genesis Magma Racing, the South Korean firm will make its first key move into endurance racing with additional support from Hyundai Motorsport.
Cyril Abiteboul, president of Hyundai Motorsport and Team Principal of Genesis Magma Racing, said: “The official launch of Genesis Magma Racing is a momentous occasion.
(Genesis)
“As the backbone of Hyundai Motor Group’s global motorsport activities, Hyundai Motorsport will play a vital role in this latest ambitious program. We are elevating our circuit racing expertise to a whole new level as we prepare to compete in some of the world’s most challenging series.”
It will allow Genesis to enter the World Endurance Championship in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship the year after. It’ll see Genesis take a car to events such as the 25 Hours of Le Mans and the Daytona 24.
Its new hypercar racer will enter into the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) class, which features cars that utilise the latest hybrid performance. Revealed at an event in Dubai, the GMR-001 Hypercar, the new car incorporates a number of features which have been used on the brand’s road cars, including the ‘two lines’ lighting structure at both the front and rear of the vehicle. At the back of the Hypercar sits a concave rear section and a large diffuser while an active spoiler can automatically adjust to help deliver the best level of aerodynamic performance.
(Genesis)
Two drivers – André Lotterer and Luis ‘Pipo’ Derani – have already been selected to pilot the new Hypercar while Genesis will also field an LMP2 entry in the 2025 Le Mans series with a series of ‘emerging talent drivers including the UK’s Jamie Chadwick.
Luc Donckerwolke, chief creative officer of Genesis, said: “This entry into motorsport is a natural evolution for Genesis.
“As we look to push the boundaries of our brand, motorsport allows us to bring the spirit of hyperspeed — which drives how we create and innovate — in a way that aligns perfectly with our core values: Audacious, Progressive, and Distinctly Korean.”
Upcoming battery-powered showcases a bold new direction for the brand.
Jaguar’s new luxury electric car is here and arrives with a bold new look to reflect the brand’s recent image transformation.
Jaguar recently sparked widespread controversy with its dramatic re-brand which saw the firm ditch its traditional theme in favour of a more modern take. Its ‘copy nothing’ tagline drew worldwide interest, with even the boss of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk, responding by stating ‘do you even sell cars?’.
However, that early re-brand lacked any indication of what Jaguar’s new car would look like, which is where this new vehicle takes things forward.
The front end of the Type 00 showcases an smoothed-off design
Called the Type 00, it arrives as a ‘concept with bold forms and exuberant proportions to inspire future Jaguars’, according to the brand, and has been revealed in two colours – Miami Pink and London Blue. Jaguar’s famous ‘leaper’ logo is laser-etched into a brass ingot on each side of the car, which themselves open to reveal rear-facing cameras that provide a view for the driver similar to conventional wing mirrors via screens located in the cabin.
Access to the cabin comes through two ‘butterfly’ doors which reveal a large, spacious interior with three hand-finished brass lines which run the length of the interior. The ‘floating’ front seats are finished in a wool blend which is also used on the flooring and other areas.
The Type 00 should return up to 478 miles of range
With a number of flush surfaces and a glassless rear tailgate, it appears that the Type 00 has been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible which would, in theory, help to boost its range and overall efficiency.
Jaguar says that the new car uses a dedicated electric platform which should return up to 478 miles of range while rapid charging will add 200 miles of charge in 15 minutes.
The cabin is split by one long brass section
Adrian Mardell, chief executive office, JLR, said: “The magic of Jaguar is close to my heart – an original British luxury brand unmatched in its heritage, artistry and emotional magnetism. That’s the Jaguar we are recapturing and we will create the same sense of awe that surrounded iconic models like the E-type.
“Our journey is already underway, guided by our original ethos to Copy Nothing – and the results will be nothing short of spectacular.”
Jaguar has stated that both its cars and ‘culture’ will ‘come to life’ in a number of ‘exclusive brand stores’ with the first of these being located in the 8th arrondissement in Paris.
The production-ready version of the Type 00 – which will be made in the UK – is set to be revealed late in 2025 and though prices haven’t been confirmed, it’s expected to come in north of £100,000.
The electric version of the Puma will offer up to 325 miles of range on a single charge from a 43kWh battery pack.
Ford has taken the covers off the next chapter in its EV line-up – the new Puma Gen-E.
This new model sits on the same platform as the petrol version and looks almost identical to the standard car – with a few subtle changes.
Externally, the Gen-E now features white Ford badges to distinguish the electrified variant and there is a smoothed-off front grille, due to the lack of engine – but other than that, it’s all typical Puma meaning you still get the same rounded front headlights, lower ground clearance and squatted rear stance.
The Puma Gen-E will sit alongside the combustion model in the range. (Ford)
Powering the Gen-E is a 43kWh battery pack with an electric motor that gives out 165bhp and 290Nm of torque. The car can go from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds and it runs out of steam at 100mph.
In terms of range, Ford claims the battery-powered Puma can do a total distance of 233 miles or 325 miles in the city and is compatible with 100kW rapid charging – taking the car from 10 to 80 per cent in just 23 minutes.
Space is where the Gen-E really exceeds the competition, with Ford introducing its ‘GigaBox’ which is a large 145-litre underfloor storage area in the boot allowing for a total capacity of 574 litres with the seats in place. The manufacturer claims it to be bigger than a Mondeo Estate. Fold the rear seats down and that space doubles to 1,283 litres. Additionally, there is an extra 43 litres of added space under the frunk.
Prices start at £29,995. (Ford)
There will be two trim levels. The standard Select model features equipment such as 17-inch alloy wheels, the ‘GigaBox’, a 12-inch central touchscreen and a rear-view camera. The Premium boasts a Bang and Olufsen premium sound system, a powered tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels and power folding door mirrors.
Jon Williams, Ford general manager of Ford Europe, said: “Puma is a success story across Europe, loved for its sporty design and driving characteristics combined with unique practicality and class-leading boot storage. Puma Gen-E is our ‘best ever Puma’, with the most fun-to-drive experience yet, combined with an incredibly energy-efficient electric powertrain. And the new, even bigger GigaBox offers unmated luggage capacity.”
Prices start at £29,995 and rise to £31,995 with order books opening when the car goes on sale on December 3. Deliveries are expected to commence in the Spring of 2025.
One of the firm’s last combustion-powered models gets updated and replaces the First Edition variants.
Lotus has revealed updates to one of its last combustion-powered models, with its Emira sports car.
The Emira first went on sale back in 2022 and rivals cars like the Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman.
Now, for 2025, Lotus has decided to give the range of its sports car a refresh and has ditched the First Edition trims and moved to a more conventional, Turbo, Turbo SE and V6.
The Emira Turbo features the four-cylinder turbocharged 360bhp engine and eight-speed DCT gearbox. Standard features include 20-inch 10-spoke lightweight alloy wheels, ‘Emira Turbo’ badging, black brake callipers, black leather interior and 12-way electric seats.
The range now consists of Turbo, Turbo SE and V6. (Lotus)
The Turbo SE has increased power, and now packs 400bhp and an extra 50Nm of torque at 430Nm. This model also comes with the Lotus Driver’s Pack as standard which includes sports suspension, uprated cross drilled ventilated, two-piece brake discs with six-piston calipers as well as launch control.
The V6 models come with a limited-slip differential on the manual versions as well as Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres.
Newly appointed president and CEO of Lotus Cars, Dan Balmer, said: “We are thrilled to announce the addition of new variants to the award winning Emira, one of the most successful Lotus models to date. In 2025, the Emira range will extend to meet wider customer needs while retaining the brand’s DNA and driving dynamics Lotus is renowned for.”
Prices are yet to be revealed, but order books will open from the beginning of next year.
With Skoda’s latest one-off 470bhp Superb estate, what other family wagons have been given some extra performance over the years?
The practical family estate car isn’t as popular as it once was. Sadly, due to the rise of SUVs, saloons and estates are now often overlooked by families. However, in the past several manufacturers have given parents the opportunity to drive with some hidden performance if they did choose this option.
These cars are known as ‘sleeper estates’. It essentially means that it’s an estate car with very discrete looks so it blends in anonymously amongst the crowd, but has a large and powerful engine strapped to the front.
This year, Skoda unveiled a one-off example of its popular Superb estate – but with a twist. On the outside it looked nothing more than a practical family wagon, but under its bonnet features a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from the standard car, but has been completely reworked by specialists at RE Performance.
The company fitted a larger turbocharged and beefier intercooler to make the engine produce 470bhp – a 194bhp power upgrade. The car also features an upgraded exhaust system, four-wheel-drive, sports suspension and uprated sports brakes and six-piston calipers.
Just like a hot hatchback, they offer drawback free motoring in the sense that they are fast and comfortable, but also are great at taking the kids to school, carrying flat-pack furniture and going on holiday.
Here’s a list of estate cars that are packing powerful performance – but you might not have realised on first glance.
Mercedes E55 Estate
The E55 Estate comes with seven seats and 701Nm of torque. (Mercedes)
It may look like a traditional Mercedes E-Class Estate, but the E55 is carrying a very special engine under that anonymous exterior design.
Powering the car is a 5.4-litre supercharged V8 that puts out 475bhp and 701Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 155mph and 0-60mph is dealt with in just 4.1 seconds.
What’s more, the E55 Estate comes with the added benefit of two extra seats – making it a seven-seater.
BMW M5 Touring
The old M5 Touring comes with a 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V10 engine. (BMW)
BMW has just launched a new Touring estate version of its latest M5, but did you know back in the mid to late 00s, the E61 version of the M5 was also offered in an estate format?
Sold in very limited numbers, the car utilises the same 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V10 power plant as in the saloon car. This gives the car a total power output of up to 514bhp and a top speed of 155mph.
Its boot space also stands at 535 litres or 1,650 litres when the rear bench is folded down – making this family rocketship even more practical than the saloon car that it’s based upon.
Volvo 850R
The 850R is a touring car for the road. (Volvo)
Back in the 1990s, Volvo decided to bring its very successful touring cars onto the road and that is how the Volvo 850R was created.
It looks like an anonymous Volvo brick, but lying beneath that very long bonnet is a 2.3-litre turbocharged inline five engine that produces 246bhp and 350Nm of torque. Not as much as some of the German cars on this list, but back in the day, this was seen as a very quick and capable car that would have anybody fooled out on the road.
Volvo estate cars always have gigantic boot spaces, and the 850R is no exception here. With all the seats up in place, there is a total of 941 litres and with the back seats folded down, that space increases to 1,586 litres.
Mercedes C63 Estate
The C63 comes with V8 power and rear-wheel-drive. (Mercedes)
Just like the bigger E55 Estate, the C63 Estate uses a big engine in a small estate car package.
However, fast forward a few years after the E55 ceased production and Mercedes began to drop supercharging in favour of naturally-aspirated engines, which then led to turbocharging.
The C63 utilises a 6.3-litre naturally-aspirated engine that gives out 451bhp and can do 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds. Its top speed is 155mph and the car is also rear-wheel-drive.
In terms of boot space, the estate version offers up to 485 litres and that expands even further to 1,500 litres when the rear seats are pushed down – making it ideal for those tips runs and trips to Ikea.
Audi S6 Avant
The S6 Avant from 2006 comes with a Lamborghini-derived V10 engine. (Audi)
The final car on this list is from Audi and its S6 Avant that went on sale back in 2006. What makes this car special is the fact that it is the exact definition of a ‘sleeper’. The exterior styling doesn’t look too dissimilar to a standard A6, and yet under the bonnet lives a 5.2-litre V10 engine out of a Lamborghini.
It comes fitted with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system as well as the engine putting out 429bhp and 539Nm of torque. The car can go onto a top speed of 155mph and can do 0-60mph in just five seconds.
Its boot space stands at 565 litres or 1,660 litres, making it one of the most practical cars on this list.
The GR Supra went on sale in 2019 and this limited edition version will be a send-off model before production seizes.
Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed the last chapter in the GR Supra’s story with the A90 Final Edition.
The car will have a limited production run of just 300 units worldwide and features a host of extras compared to the standard car.
Under the bonnet, the car will utilise a 3.0-litre straight-six engine but it has been tweaked to make 429bhp, compared to 381bhp on the normal model.
The exterior features matte black wheels, a cooling vent on the bonnet and a ducktail rear spoiler. (Toyota Gazoo Racing)
Toyota has yet to announce the performance figures and whether they will be greater than the regular Supra.
The exterior has received some beefier modifications such as matte black wheels, a ducktail carbon fibre rear spoiler – which is reminiscent of the Supra GT4 racer – front wheel arch flaps to help with aerodynamics and a cooling vent located on the bonnet.
Inside, features carbon fibre bucket seats. (Toyota Gazoo Racing)
Inside, the focused theme continues with the driver’s seat featuring leather and GR-embroidered Alcantara on the carbon fibre bucket seats, red seat belts, Alcantara steering wheel and manual versions come with an Alcantara shift knob.
The GR Supra A90 Final Edition will be available in Japan, Europe and the UK from next year. But, Toyota is yet to announce prices, but it’s expected to cost northwards of £60,000 – which is the price of the standard 3.0-litre car that it replaces.
The firm’s first EV will bring the best off-road capability and will keep its luxurious nature.
Land Rover has unveiled a series of images of its upcoming electric Range Rover being tested in Dubai.
The car itself looks almost identical to the combustion-powered car with a few subtle changes. In typical EV fashion, the front radiator grille has gone and in its place is a smoothed-off front end, while the charging flap is electrically operated and slides left to right to reveal a CCS charging port.
On the face of it, the Range Rover Electric looks almost identical to the petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models, bringing it closer into line styling-wise as the more ‘traditional’ versions.
This new Electric version will also sit on the same Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) as the standard cars as well.
Further details regarding its battery size, technology and performance are yet to be announced.
The Range Rover Electric will sit on the same platform as the combustion engined examples. (Land Rover)
Thomas Muller, executive director for product engineering, said: “A hot climate is one of the most challenging for any battery-electric vehicle, because of the need to cool the cabin and optimise battery performance at the same time. The additional challenge of driving and sand requires controlled low-speed torque, so our specially developed traction control and thermal management systems work in harmony to ensure power delivery is unaffected.
“Our tests have shown that in this climate, repeatedly driving the equivalent of 100 metres uphill on fine sand, Range Rover Electric matches the performance of its ICE equivalents; in some instances even surpassing them – thanks to the introduction of these new features.”
Prices and further details are yet to be announced, but it’s likely that the Electric Range Rover will carry a premium over the standard car which starts at £104,025.
The automotive industry is undergoing some of the biggest changes, and the ZEV mandate is one of the toughest challenges it has ever faced.
Climate change is one of the most spoken about and important agendas in the political and environmental calendars. One way the UK is hoping to make an impact is by decarbonising our roads.
The UK initially had a plan to ban the sale of new internal-combustion-engined vehicles by the year 2040. This meant that only the sale of electric and hydrogen fuel cell models would be allowed.
However, after numerous changes such as bringing that deadline forward to 2035 and even further still to 2030 – it’s clear that the UK government wants us all to move over to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles sooner rather than later.
Its latest policy is the ZEV mandate, which was introduced this year. Although we’ve heard this numerous times throughout the automotive industry, what does it actually mean? Will it affect petrol and diesel car sales in the future? And, what can we expect going forward after this year?
In the last week, Ford has announced job cuts of up to 800 employees while Vauxhall has just announced that it will be shuttering its Luton van factory – which will close in April 2025 putting 1,100 jobs at risk.
We’ve answered some of your questions to find out more about what’s going on with Britain’s ZEV mandate.
What is the ZEV mandate?
Firstly, the acronym ‘ZEV’ stands for ‘Zero Emission Vehicle’ and the mandate has been put in place to help speed up the transition to a mass adoption of EVs here in the UK.
Launched this year, the government set a target for every mainstream vehicle manufacturer for their respective sales targets. Every brand must sell at least a 22 per cent share of EVs to comply with the policy and if the firm fails to meet that target, it will be fined up to £15,000 for every vehicle it sells that doesn’t meet the criteria.
Car companies such as Peugeot and Vauxhall now offer an electric variant of every model in their range – giving the two brands a greater advantage in hitting those targets. However, in contrast, Toyota only sells the bZ4x electric SUV, putting it in greater danger of being affected by any large fines.
Will it change as the 2030 combustion date closes in?
Currently, yes. At the moment, the policy states that in 2024, all car manufacturers must meet a 22 per cent of EV sales minimum. However, 2025 will see the target rise even further to 28 per cent and then it jumps to 52 per cent in 2028 and then even further still to 80 per cent by 2030.
By the year 2035, the government wants a 100 per cent battery-electric vehicle fleet on the new car market – meaning that you will no longer be able to purchase a new petrol, diesel, hybrid or even plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Will it affect me buying an internal combustion-engined vehicle?
It could potentially. Sales and demand for EVs this year have been slower than expected and in order for the industry to meet those tough targets from the ZEV mandate, certain car manufacturers have been in talks about limiting the production of their combustion models in favour of offering the consumer the electric alternative in order to boost electric car sales. However, you’ll still be able to buy used petrol and diesel cars.
Are car manufacturers sticking to an all-electric future with the ZEV mandate?
Initially, there were quite a few manufacturers that were committed to ditching fossil fuels and moving down the EV-only route. Car manufacturers such as Volkswagen are still focusing on that pathway, and the recently rebranded firm, Jaguar, is also keeping its promises firm on the ground.
However, other car makers such as Lotus, Bentley and Mercedes have recently announced a slow-down in their future plans with some now delaying their EV-only initiatives and firms such as Lotus now wanting to offer extended-range plug-in hybrid models. Companies such as Ford have delayed their transitions towards an all-electric future due to slow uptake on sales of EVs and poor infrastructure in the UK.
Will I still be able to buy a used internal-combustion engine after the ZEV mandate hits 100 per cent of EV sales?
The simple answer here is, yes you can. The ZEV mandate only affects new vehicle sales, so after 2035 when the government wants us all to ditch our internal-combustion-powered cars for EVs, you will still be able to run your older petrol and diesel car for as long as you want.
