Category: News

MG has shared renders of a stylish electric sports car concept called Cyberster.

The images were created by SAIC, MG’s parent company, and appear to show a small, two-door sports car concept.

Few details have been released with the image, such as whether a physical concept will be produced or if this signals an intent to build an electric sports car. The British car maker has a rich history of making sports cars, but currently only has SUVs and a hatchback in its line-up.

Styling cues evident from the rendering include a long bonnet – an interesting choice given it is electric and therefore doesn’t need to fit a large engine in there – with a combination of swooping lines that converge on a sharp-edged rear.

Other details include the fact it will feature 5G connectivity technology and Level 3 autonomous driving.

In 2017, MG revealed the E-Motion concept at the Shanghai motor show. That was a four-seat performance coupe said to be capable of going from 0-60mph in less than four seconds while boasting a range of 310 miles.

Lamborghini has revealed the rear-wheel drive version of its Huracan Evo Spyder supercar.

The model expands the Huracan range to four, meaning there’s now a coupe and convertible version with all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.

The Huracan Evo RWD Spyder uses the traditional naturally aspirated V10 engine, making 602bhp and 560Nm of torque and allowing for a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 201mph.

It features a specially tuned traction control system and utilises three drive modes that adapt the experience for different situations – Strada, or ‘street’, optimises the car for road driving, Sport reduces traction control to make drifting possible, while Corsa optimises the setup for track driving.

It gets ventilated and cross-drilled steel brakes with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, with carbon-ceramic brakes and 20-inch alloy wheels available as an option.

The soft top can be stowed in 17 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph and can be specified in a variety of colours. The car itself can be extensively modified using Lamborghini Ad Personam, which gives buyers an almost limitless choice of colours and specification.

Stefano Domenicali, chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said: “The Huracan Evo Rear-Wheel Drive Spyder doubles the driving fun, delivering raw driving pleasure with the opportunity to celebrate life outside.

“The driver is perfectly in touch with Lamborghini’s engineering heritage, experiencing the feedback and engagement from the set-up of a rear-wheel drive car where electronic intrusion is minimised, while enjoying the sense of freedom and spirit of life that only open-top driving provides.”

The Lamborghini Huracan Evo RWD Spyder starts at £188,800.

Alfa Romeo has unveiled its refreshed Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio models.

The update follows on from tweaks made to the standard Giulia and Stelvio models, which tweaked their appearance while bolstering interior technology levels.

The revisions are much the same for these performance-orientated Quadrifoglio models. A larger 8.8-inch infotainment screen is now the focal point of the cabin, while its revised software includes race-orientated displays and functions.

Inside, new seat designs are available – including carbon-backed buckets – while the overall quality of the cabin has been lifted thanks to higher-end materials and a new leather stitched gear selector.

The exterior has been lifted too thanks to smoked rear lights – on both Giulia and Stevlio models – which now feature a revised design. Several new paint colours have also been introduced – Montreal Green, 6C Villa d’Este Red and a yellow-based shade called GT Junior Ocra – while 21-inch alloy wheels can be optioned on the Stelvio for the first time.

Mopar, the accessories arm incorporated into Alfa Romeo’s parent company Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), will also be supplying a range of additional features for the first time on the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. These include carbon-fibre mirror caps and an Akrapovic titanium exhaust with carbon-fibre tailpipes, among others.

Both the Stelvio and Giulia now benefit from enhanced driver assistance systems, with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring just a few of the included features. Level 2 self-driving ability is also added, though this still requires the driver to keep a hand on the wheel and remain alert.

Both cars retain the same 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo engine with the same outputs of 503bhp and 600Nm of torque.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio are set to go on sale this summer, with full UK pricing and specifications announced closer to that date.

London is the car theft capital of the UK according to new data released by stolen vehicle recovery experts Tracker.

Analysis of theft data for 2019 shows the UK capital is the region with the highest number of stolen and recovered vehicles, followed by its neighbouring county of Essex.

West Midlands, Manchester and West Yorkshire made up the top five.

Tracker says Essex has jumped to second place as Essex Police have been uncovering ‘chop shops’ where stolen vehicles are stripped for parts to be sold on.

Meanwhile, comparisons with UK Police Force data shows that the West Midlands has seen a 45 per cent increase in vehicle theft between 2016 and 2019. Meanwhile, Hertfordshire had seen a 50 per cent increase in thefts.

Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, said: “It is clear from both sets of data that thieves have stepped up activity in some regions over recent years.

“During this period of lockdown, it is even more important that car owners remain vigilant and do what they can to keep their car safe.

“Our analysis highlights some interesting manufacturer preferences by region, as 4x4s continue to dominate our top 10 most desirable makes and models that thieves are stealing.

“However, whilst it is common for car thieves to target premium marques, we should not underestimate the appetite for lower value cars.”

Tracker says BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover vehicles were the manufacturers of choice for criminals in the south-east of England, while the BMW X5 was the most stolen and recovered vehicle in West Yorkshire.

Furthermore, 92 per cent of the vehicles recovered by Tracker last year were from keyless thefts, up from 66 per cent the year before.

Drivers of cars with an automatic gearbox are paying close to £100 more to insure their cars compared to manual versions, new figures show.

On average, a motorist looking to cover their automatic car pays an average of £94.07 more than those who are purchasing a policy for their manual vehicle, data from 15 million individual quotes has shown.

Drivers of manual cars will pay an average of £466 per year to insure their cars, while those using an automatic vehicle will have to fork out £560 instead.

Yet despite this increase in cost, the number of people making enquiries for automatic car cover has risen, according to MoneySuperMarket, who analysed quotes provided between January 2018 and February 2020. Automatics now make up 28 per cent of insurance enquiries, rising from 22 per cent just two years ago.

While the average cost of insurance has fallen in recent years, the cost of covering a manual vehicle has dropped by 24 per cent – contrasting the fall of just 14 per cent for automatic cars.

When it comes to location, drivers in London are most likely to get a quote for an automatic car, with 51 per cent of residents choosing an automatic vehicle. In contrast those drivers in Belfast and the Isle of Lewis were the least likely to opt for an auto, with 86 per cent of the quotes in these areas being made for manual cars.

Dave Merrick, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket commented: “There are many factors that can affect the cost of insurance premiums, such as age, driving experience and the car make and model.

“From January 2018 to January 2020 we have seen a huge increase in the price difference between insurance for both automation and manual cars. This has risen from 5 per cent to 21 per cent and has stayed stable for the last six months.

“One reason for this could be a result of increased technology in automatic cars over time for, example, the parts that make up an automatic gearbox are more complex and could cost more to repair. However, due to improvements in technology, an automatic car might help you save money in the long run through better fuel efficiency.

According to MoneySupermarket, the reason for the premium that automatic cars command is simply because they cost more to repair than manual versions. It’s why insurance claims are often higher for automatic cars.

SORN, which stands for statutory off-road notification, is an official notice which states that you’re taking your car ‘off the road’ and not currently driving it. By doing this, you no longer have to tax it or insure it.

There are many reasons why motorists do this, whether it’s to save a bit of cash while they don’t need to drive, or because they’re working on a classic car that’s not currently roadworthy.

The government recently revealed the latest vehicle registration figures, which includes the number of each vehicle that was declared SORN in the fourth quarter of 2019, so we’ve collected the most common models to appear in this list.

One caveat: The models aren’t always split up logically, with some varying by trim level and some incomplete data, meaning these numbers are approximate. The most commonly SORN’d model was ‘Other British Missing’, likely referring to the nearly 40,000 classic British cars being ‘restored’, for example.

VW Golf – 67,000-plus

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this list is dominated by some of the best-selling cars in the UK, and the Golf is top of the list. Specifically, the performance-focused Golf GTI, first sold in 1976, was fourth overall with almost 13,000 examples being SORN’d.

Ford Fiesta – 57,000-plus

Another hugely popular car, it’s no surprise that everyone’s favourite city car is on this list. First introduced in 1976, we’re now on the seventh-generation of Fiesta. Proving hugely popular with young and old drivers alike, its low running costs and good practicality make it a car worth holding onto even when it’s not roadworthy.

Ford Focus – 54,000-plus

The second of three Fords on this list, the Focus is one of the best-selling family cars in UK history. When it first went on sale in 1998, its styling was considered a game-changer, and having sold in huge numbers ever since it’s no surprise to learn there’s more than 50,000 in storage.

Vauxhall Corsa – 40,000-plus

Much like the Fiesta, the Corsa has gained a reputation as an excellent small car. It has gained an image as more of a young drivers’ car than the Ford – being cheap to run and having cute styling has made it a hit with buyers since the 90s.

Peugeot 206- 29,000-plus

Another darling of the 90s small car scene, the Peugeot 206 proved hugely popular during its short stint on sale in the UK between 1998 and 2006, evidenced by the fact it’s so high on this list.

Land Rover Discovery – 28,000-plus

Land Rover’s first car to be targeted more at being a family car, the ‘Disco’ proved hugely popular thanks to its large luggage space and more affordable price – yet still being capable off-road. There have been three generations since the first went on sale late in 1989.

Ford Ka – 26,000-plus

In a list dominated by small cars, the Ka is one of the smallest. Introduced in 1996 it won plaudits for its diminutive packaging and fun styling while offering diverse body styles that included a convertible and sporty version.

Mini – 22,000-plus

There were many variations of Mini in this list, including those made by Austin and Rover. However, of the purely Mini-branded models there are more than 20,000 currently off the road – a hugely impressive number for a classic brand that demonstrates just how popular it is.

Mazda MX-5 – 19,000-plus

Car enthusiasts will not be surprised to see this small roadster in this most-SORN’d list. The Mazda MX-5 is almost universally loved for offering affordable performance and a hugely appealing roof-down driving experience. However, early models are well-known for being rust magnets, but their owners love them so much they rarely let them go!

MG B – 14,000-plus

Much along the same lines as the MX-5, the MG B is a two-door convertible sports car, which was in production between 1963 and 1995 (but with a big gap in between). The British-built icon is hugely popular with enthusiasts, who are keeping its memory alive.

The majority of mainstream car manufacturers have been around for so long it’s almost impossible to think of them as anything other than a faceless corporation.

However, they all started somewhere, with many of those that have been around the longest getting their name from their founder.

We’ve brought together some of the most famous names in the car industry and explained the origin story of the companies they created.

Ford – Henry Ford

One of, if not the most famous names in the car industry, Henry Ford was an American industrialist and businessman who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

His greatest gift was creating the first affordable car, having been the first to properly develop the assembly line technique of mass production. The Model T revolutionised transport and began the car on its journey to become the world’s primary mode of transport.

Skoda – Václav Laurin and Václav Klement

In 1895, in the city of Mladá Boleslav in what is now the Czech Republic, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement started selling bicycles together. The pair then moved on to motorcycles – essentially bicycles with an engine within the frame – and by 1905, were selling their first car.

The car was made under the L&K brand, but in 1924 the factory was partially destroyed in a fire. This led to a merger with Czech engineering firm Skoda, and the car manufacturer would survive two World Wars and socialist-era planned economy to still build cars today.

Ferrari – Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari was a racing driving in the ‘20s before setting up Scuderia Ferrari, a racing team that specialised in preparing Alfa Romeos for other drivers to compete in. He ultimately moved on to build his own race cars but was halted by the outbreak of World War Two.

Ironically given the iconic name it has become, Enzo Ferrari didn’t actually want to build road cars, but reluctantly started to do so to fund the Scuderia Ferrari racing team. The first road car was the Ferrari 125 S, powered by a 1.5-litre V12 engine, and went on sale in 1947.

Lamborghini – Ferruccio Lamborghini

Lamborghini started life as a tractor manufacturer – and it still makes them today, in fact. However, in an interview with American magazine Car and Driver, long-time Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni explained how the sports car arm came to be.

Ferrucio owned two Ferraris, and would regularly burn through clutches. He eventually decided to ask his own tractor mechanics to fix his car rather than keep paying Ferrari to do it. He was angry to discover the clutch was a generic part that he also used on one of his tractors.

One day he met Enzo Ferrari and aired his grievances, to which he replied: “You are a tractor driver, you are a farmer. You shouldn’t complain driving my cars because they’re the best cars in the world.”

This, unsurprisingly, angered Lamborghini, who vowed to show him how a sports car should be built. The rest is history.

Honda – Soichiro Honda

Soichiro Honda was born in a small village near Mt Fuji in Japan. After six years as an apprentice mechanic in Tokyo, he returned home in 1929 to open a shop that made piston rings, but a wartime bombing and devastating earthquake meant he had to sell the remnants of his business.

In 1946, he had an idea to use surplus generators from World War Two to power bicycles. The idea was a huge hit and he struggled to keep up with demand as he developed the idea further.

In 1948 he teamed up with businessman Takeo Fujisawa to create the Honda Motor Company we know today. It started building motorbikes before adding cars in 1963.

Bentley – W.O. Bentley

Walter Owen Bentley, who preferred to be known as W.O. Bentley, started Bentley in 1919 after receiving £8,000 from the Commission of Awards to Inventors after he received an MBE for contribution to the war effort – his aluminium pistons were fitted to fighter planes and were more powerful and reliable than what they replaced.

His policy was simple: “We were going to make a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.” It planned to build road cars that were essentially race cars with luggage carrying abilities.

After initial reluctance to compete at the Le Mans 24hr race, he changed his mind after a customer car came fourth in 1923. Bentley would go on to win five out of seven races after that.

Porsche – Ferdinand Porsche

Along with his son, also called Ferdinand, Porsche Sr. started the Porsche car company in Germanuy in 1948, aiming to be known for making great sports cars and race cars.

Porsche Sr. had worked on Daimler-Benz vehicles in his independent design and engineering firm, and was behind the design of the Volkswagen Beetle. He’s even credited with building the world’s first petrol-electric hybrid vehicle.

The first car built by the new Porsche company was the 356, using a souped-up, rear-mounted Beetle engine that made 40bhp.

Rolls-Royce – Henry Royce and Charles Rolls

The iconic luxury car manufacturer was born in 1906, when electrician and mechanic Henry Royce teamed up with high-quality car dealer Charles Rolls.

Royce had built his first vehicle in 1904 and signed an agreement with Rolls that would see these vehicles sold exclusively by Rolls’ London-based company under the name Rolls-Royce.

Because it was such a success, the pair created the Rolls-Royce company and launched the six-cylinder Silver Ghost, which would quickly be known as the best car in the world.

Tesla – Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Ian Wright, Elon Musk and J.B. Straubel

It’s almost impossible to talk about Tesla without mentioning its controversial CEO Elon Musk. However, you might be surprised to learn that although he played a huge part in its success, he didn’t start the company.

That was electrical engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who were motivated to start their own electric vehicle company in America after GM cancelled its EV-1 project in 2003. Tesla Motors was incorporated the same year.

Elon Musk joined in 2004 when he invested $6.5 million (about £5.2m) during the company’s first round of investment. However, Musk took an active role in advancing the company and its vehicles, helping it avoid bankruptcy to ultimately become CEO himself in 2008.

A lawsuit settlement in 2009 allowed Elon Musk, Marc Tapenning, Martin Eberhard, businessman J.B. Straudel, and the company’s third employee Ian Wright to call themselves co-founders.

Falling supercar prices are ‘not a cause for concern’ after a McLaren 720S sold yesterday at about half what it cost new just two years ago.

The 710bhp supercar went for £124,500 (£130,500 including fees) on the Collecting Cars auction platform, which sent a shock through social media users.

When the car was first bought in 2018, it would have cost nearly £260,000, including £50,000 of optional extras, but has seen a massive drop in value since then despite covering just 5,000 miles.

The McLaren 720S, like most luxury vehicles, doesn’t typically hold its value well at the best of times. However, there had been concern that this particularly low selling price was a sign of the potentially negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the high-end supercar market. Similar examples have been listed recently for £40,000 more.

However, Tom Jaconelli, director of supercar dealer Romans International, said a sale like this was merely a ‘temporary blip’.

Jaconelli said: “This platform is spreading a lot of negativity about the market when it’s selling cars in the middle of a lockdown where no one can even go to view the car. It is not a great indicator of the overall market.

“As soon as dealers are allowed to be fully open again you will see prices firm up so if anything these very low prices people are seeing are likely to be a temporary blip, although I would stop short of saying there will be a very quick recovery.”

“Whoever is choosing to sell their car during this time, it is likely to be a forced sale and therefore is going to get a kick in the teeth with regards to a price.”

However, the online auction platform that sold the car responded by saying cars were ‘overpriced’ in the market.

Ed Callow, head of communications at Collecting Cars, said: “The ‘asking price’ is not the ‘getting price’ and the market has been stuffed with too many cars at overambitious prices for too long. It’s a buyer’s market now, and the dealers that are listing with realistic prices are still selling cars.

“There’s going to be a temptation for some dealers to blame a lack of interest, calls and enquiries on this crisis, but the reality in many cases is that too many sellers simply have an outdated perception of the market.

“Even under normal circumstances last year, 95 per cent of sales on Collecting Cars happened without a viewing.”

Last year, new vehicle registrations were down 1.1 per cent on 2018, with 2.9 million vehicles registered for the first time.

While that’s not a drastic drop or anything to worry about for the industry, there were a few seeds of positivity planted within the figures.

One of the more notable was that the number of ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEVs) – that’s electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extender vehicles – registered for the first time in 2019 was up 26 per cent.

Of the 80,578 such vehicles, here are the top 10.

Tesla Model 3

The affordable family car was always Tesla boss Elon Musk’s ultimate goal for his company, and now it’s on UK roads it has proved a huge success.

The Model 3 has not only been the first electric vehicle to enter the best-selling cars of the month list in the UK, but it has also surged ahead to outsell all other ULEVs in the UK by a comfortable margin.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi has long been a somewhat niche manufacturer, building likeable cars that quietly fly under the radar compared with more mainstream names.

However, it bucked this trend with the Outlander PHEV, a plug-in hybrid SUV, which has been at the top end of ULEV sales charts for years now. This has been driven by being the first plug-in SUV to go on sale, generous government grants making it similarly priced to the diesel, and low BIK rates making it appealing to business users.

Nissan Leaf

Another car that has benefitted from being one of the first mainstream cars to go fully electric, the latest-generation Leaf looks good, has plenty of range, and is great to drive, too.

It might have sold almost exactly half that of the Tesla, but the Leaf holds a comfortable second place above more premium brands, proving that affordability and a strong reputation as a class leader are hugely important.

BMW 3 Series

BMW’s hugely popular 3 Series model became all the more appealing to business buyers in recent years with a plug-in hybrid option, so it’s no surprise to see this car so high up the list.

The 330e has an electric range of 37 miles, so it’s great for shorter commutes, also benefiting from the usual BMW selling points of having a great interior and driving experience.

BMW 5 Series

Another win for BMW, the larger 5 Series model’s PHEV was also a best-seller. It has all the same ownership benefits as the 330e, but with more cabin space and room in the boot.

Its all-electric range is a bit lower at between 30 and 35 miles, but for most people that will still result in much-reduced fuel bills on shorter journeys.

BMW i3

BMW’s domination of the electrified space continues with the i3, with its futuristic styling inside and out and use of eco-conscious materials being particularly appealing to green car buyers.

Despite the fact its sub-200-mile range means it’s losing out in this department to newly introduced rivals, it’s clearly still striking a chord with style-conscious buyers.

Jaguar I-Pace

The I-Pace has been a huge success story for Jaguar, with the only issue being that they couldn’t make them fast enough. It’s a practical SUV with fantastic styling and blistering performance from its electric powertrain.

It’s this appeal – and its significantly lower cost – that has helped it sell more than three times the number of Tesla Model Xs, arguably its closest rival.

Range Rover PHEV

Jaguar has found a rival within its own family, as the Range Rover PHEV is hot on the heels of the I-Pace in the sales department.

The latest model pairs the luxurious cabin, imposing road presence and bundles of badge appeal with a petrol-electric powertrain that offers 31 miles of electric range, almost 400bhp, and absolutely none of the range anxiety associated with full EVs.

Volkswagen e-Golf

It should come as no surprise that one of the UK’s best-selling cars full stop is also popular in its electric form.

Despite only having a range of about 144 miles, buyers have clearly resonated with the fact it doesn’t shout about its eco credentials – unless you know what you’re looking for, this could be any other Golf from the outside.

Mini Countryman

When it first arrived on the scene the Countryman was derided for being against the ethos of the old school Minis. However, it’s proved hugely popular with buyers who want high-quality interiors, cool styling and decent practicality.

So it’s no surprise to see the plug-in hybrid variant is popular, with its 26-mile electric range and low running costs.

Rolls-Royce is going to be the first British car manufacturer to resume production on May 4.

Bringing back 1,000 workers at its manufacturing site at Goodwood, West Sussex, the company will restart production of its range of cars, as well as continue to produce PPE for the NHS, following its closure in mid-March.

It will start with a phased-in approach to production, operating a one-shift policy instead of the standard two. The number of staff on-site will be around half of that usually working, too.

Rolls-Royce has already been delivering safety equipment to NHS staff during the lockdown, dropping off face visors and gowns in a fleet of its cars.

Now, the company has confirmed that it will resume full production on May 4 – making it the first company to ramp back up to 100 per cent.

The announcement comes as new car demand in China – one of Rolls-Royce’s largest markets – builds up following the coronavirus crisis.

The company has confirmed that factory workers will be going back to work after consultations with both worker representatives and unions.

All staff will be supplied with PPE, while increased health and safety measures will be implemented. Social distancing will be introduced across the manufacturer’s site.