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August 1, 2023

Lotus reveals prices and specs for AMG-powered Emira sports car

“Lotus was born in London 75 years ago, so this is a coming home moment,” says Niels de Gruijter. The director for Lotus Cars Europe is standing in front of a bright yellow Eletre SUV, speaking to the assembled press at Lotus London – a new flagship store, opening today.

In truth, this stylish showcase for all things Lotus is a long way from the lock-up garage in Hornsey, where company founder Colin Chapman created his first car – a modified Austin Seven christened the Mark I – back in 1948.

Located at 73 Piccadilly, directly opposite The Ritz hotel, it’s more about ‘brand experience’ than selling cars, with a minimalist aesthetic, ‘the best coffee in Mayfair’ and a brand new Evija hypercar taking centre-stage.

Past meets future

Walk into Lotus London and you’re greeted by a huge, nine-metre screen, also visible to anyone waiting for a taxi outside The Ritz. Framed photographs from the marque’s history, including its innovative F1 cars, are displayed straight ahead on the ‘heritage wall’.

The Evija currently on display is one of eight Fittipaldi limited editions, in black and gold JPS livery, and it shares the ground floor with the rest of the Lotus range: the Emira coupe and Eletre SUV.

Visiting the new flagship Lotus showroom in Mayfair today.

Evija Fittipaldi is one of eight cars marking 50 years since Emerson Fittipaldi and Lotus won the F1 drivers’ and constructors’ world championships.

Note the ‘Lotus Nyo’ badge, as this is a Chinese-market car. pic.twitter.com/nBRXRK12Ix
— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) July 28, 2023

Competition for showroom space may soon become more heated, however. Lotus plans to reveal an electric saloon later this year, followed by a smaller SUV and a fully electric sports car. Its quest to become a fully fledged Porsche-rival means increasing sales exponentially, from just 641 cars in 2022 to a goal of 150,000 by 2028.

Design your new Lotus

The ‘by invitation only’ downstairs area is where you can personalise your new car, using trim samples and an incredibly detailed life-sized screen. I spent a very diverting 10 minutes configuring a purple Evija with a blue interior, but – thankfully, perhaps – didn’t have the requisite £2 million to order it.

If that sounds a bit steep, Lotus London also sells a range of branded merchandise, from KEF Lotus Edition home speakers (£7,000 a pair) to T-shirts and baseball caps.

Niels de Gruijter hopes the Mayfair site will become London’s newest tourist attraction, heading up a Lotus network that will expand to 35 UK dealers by 2025. It’s definitely worth a visit on a London day out – and the coffee is exceptional, too.

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How to receive payment securely when selling a used car

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July 31, 2023

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You wrote a great advert and have sold your used car for the best price. Now you need to agree on how the buyer will pay for your car.

There are three methods of payment: cash, a cheque or banker’s draft, or electronic transfer. In all cases, don’t hand over the car keys or documents until the money is safe – regardless of whether it’s cash or electronic. The transaction isn’t complete until you have received cleared funds.

Make sure you give the seller a receipt when payment for the car has been made. Keep a receipt for yourself, too.

Payment in cash

Cash is the most immediate form of payment, so it’s ideal if you’re selling a used car for a relatively small sum. Make sure you count the money in front of the buyer. Ideally, arrange for the handover of the cash to take place in a bank. The cashier can count the money and ensure the notes are genuine, plus the funds can go straight into your account.

Be careful when walking around with large sums of money. Keep the notes hidden and don’t remove them from your pocket or bag until you reach the bank.

Bank transfer

A bank transfer is the safest and most convenient method of payment. How long it takes for the funds to clear depends on whether it’s via Faster Payments or the Clearance House Automated Payment System (CHAPS).

If your bank or building society accepts Faster Payments, the payment will arrive almost immediately, although in some cases it can take up to two hours. These electronic payments can be made online, over the phone or via a bank using a self-service machine.

A CHAPS payment could take longer. It is guaranteed to arrive on the day the buyer makes the payment, as long as it’s done before 3.30pm in a bank or over the phone, or 5pm if online. A payment made after these times, over the weekend or on a public holiday will clear on the next working day.

In both cases, make sure the payment is showing as clear funds before releasing the car. If in doubt, contact your bank.

Cheque or banker’s draft

If you’re accepting payment via cheque or banker’s draft, you’ll need to inform the car buyer that you won’t release the car until clearance of funds. Be warned: seeing the funds in your account isn’t the same as cleared funds. Your bank will tell you when the transaction is complete.

Make sure you have proof of the buyer’s name and address when they are paying by cheque or banker’s draft. A utility bill is a valid proof of address. Forged cheques and banker’s drafts are commonplace, so be on your guard.

PayPal

PayPal is ideal for paying for goods online, but it’s not recommended for buying and selling cars. There’s no safety net for the buyer or seller, as vehicles are exempt from PayPal’s protection policies.

While this does mean that once the transaction is authorised, the payment is final, you’re exposed to potential fraudulent activity. The account could have been set-up using false credit card details, or the buyer might have unauthorised access to somebody’s account.

As bank transfers are swift and secure, there’s no reason to use PayPal or another form of e-payment. It also means that neither the seller nor the buyer will have to pay any PayPal fees.

Escrow

Although it’s rare, some cars are bought and sold using escrow. This is when funds are trusted to a neutral third party until a set of conditions are met by the buyer and seller. Escrow might typically be used for expensive classic cars and supercars.

You should ensure that the third party company is legitimate by checking with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). If in doubt, use one of the other forms of payment listed above.

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How to find the cheapest petrol and diesel near you

By

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July 27, 2023

Is it illegal to run out of fuel on the motorway?

Fuel retailers will be forced to publish live prices to prevent drivers from being overcharged, the government has stated. The proposed change in the law comes after UK motorists were found to have paid an additional 6p per litre for petrol and diesel at supermarkets in 2022 – equivalent to £900 million in extra costs.

Although the major supermarkets, including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, were still generally the cheapest places to buy fuel, the Competition and Markets Authority found these retailers’ profit margins had increased hugely due to a lack of competition.

“We’ll shine a light on rip-off retailers to drive down prices and make sure they’re held to account by putting into law new powers to increase transparency,” said Energy Security Secretary, Grant Shapps.

In the meantime, you can already spend less on fuel by tracking down the best prices in your area. A few pence per litre can add up to a significant monthly saving. Read on for our comprehensive guide to finding the cheapest petrol and diesel near you.

Price comparison websites

Price comparison website Confused.com has a dedicated cheapest fuel price finder tool (pictured above).

Sign up for free, pop in your postcode, tick whether you want fuel stations that are open at that particular time and away you go. It’s a clean and crisp facility. The weekly update could catch you by surprise if there’s a sudden price hike mid-week, though.

That said, the cheapest fuel station tends to stay the cheapest, regardless of across-the-board rises. The main drawback of this tool is that you’ll have to search for your chosen fuel station separately on a map.

That’s where Petrolprices.com (pictured above) comes in. Like Confused, you enter your postcode, but the filling stations appear on a map within a radius around your chosen starting point. It seems the best of the website-based facilities that feature a map.

Where the Petrolprices website falters is in its clunkiness (we suspect due to the ads), but there is also a free mobile phone app you can download. The average user is claimed to save £200 a year on fuel fill-ups.

Waze

Waze is a free user-supported navigation app for Apple and Android smartphones. Accident alerts, roadworks, speed camera locations and more are fed in as contributions from people using Waze, thus keeping information up to date for the entire user base.

That user contribution-based system isn’t limited to route planning, either. One incredibly useful feature is the fuel station finder complete with, you guessed it, prices to match.

If the BP up the road is a bit pricey, Waze might show you a Sainsbury’s nearby that is 5p-a-litre cheaper. We are dealing with pennies here, of course, but if you have a long journey ahead, you’d save £2.50 on a 50-litre fill-up.

What are the drawbacks? Well, depending on where you are, the user-supported nature can be patchy. In busy urban areas, it’s great. Savvy commuters are always online, keeping the information fresh on all of the above, including fuel prices.

Find yourself further out in the countryside, however, and it falters. The user base is Waze’s most precious resource and if that dries up, so does Waze. The ads can also get irritating, but it’s a handy first port of call to have installed on your phone.

Connected cars

If you’re in a new car with internet connectivity via the infotainment system – an Audi equipped with Audi Connect, for instance – your route to the cheapest fuel in your area could be very swift indeed.

Audi utilises an online database to find fuel stations with the cheapest fuel options for you. Simply follow your way through the infotainment to the petrol stations icon, where it says ‘Refuel for the best price’.

Many manufacturers have taken similar measures to get connected and now offer comparable services – it’s worth asking the salesman as you shop around for the best car deals.

Know your fuel brands

One thing it’s easy to overlook is a knowledge of fuel station brands. As mentioned, a general rule is that supermarket filling stations are cheaper than branded stops such as Shell, BP and Esso. Especially if you’re in the market for super unleaded.

The AA produces a regular report on fuel prices, and the results make for interesting reading. The average at supermarkets is nearly always cheaper than the national average. Asda regularly sets the standard for fuel price-cuts.

A rule of thumb? Stay well away from motorway service stations unless you want to pay a huge premium for a litre over literally anywhere else.

So, if you’re in an unfamiliar area and want a safe bet on cheap fuel, simply ask someone where the local supermarket filling station is.

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Porsche reveals ultimate Manthey-modified Cayman GT4 RS

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July 26, 2023

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Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS with Manthey Kit

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is already a pint-sized supercar-slayer. Now an optional Manthey Kit, with enhanced aero and better brakes, stretches its potential still further.

The upgraded GT4 RS is a joint effort between the ‘Nordschleife specialists’ at Manthey and Porsche Motorsport. Never heard of Manthey? The respected German racing team has seven Nürburgring 24 Hours victories to its name, and has been majority-owned by Porsche AG since 2013.

As the top rung on the 718 Cayman ladder, the GT4 RS starts from £123,000, although a long waiting list means we’ve seen ‘flipped’ cars advertised for twice that amount. The price for the Manthey Kit is still to be confirmed, but it will be sold through UK Porsche dealers from December.

Disc jockey

The first thing to note is that the Manthey Kit doesn’t include any extra power. The 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine – shared with the 911 GT3 – still develops 500hp at a heady 8,400rpm: good for 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 194mph.

Instead, the improvements are mainly focused on aerodynamics. The front of the car incorporates new air curtains, wheelarch Gurney flaps and a carbon fibre undertray with built-in diffusers. At the rear, CFRP aerodisc wheels help reduce turbulence, while an 85mm wider spoiler offers four stages of adjustment, almost doubling downforce to 169kg at 200kph (124mph) in its Performance setting.

Further modifications by Manthey (say it: ‘Man-tie’) include 20 percent stiffer springs for the coilover suspension and optional racing brake pads. You can also specify front and rear towing loops, in case it all ends in the crash barrier, along with some – rather less functional – illuminated door sill guards with the Manthey logo.

Purple reign

Inevitably, all this fine-tuning and obsessive attention to detail leads to a Nürburgring lap-time. Driven by Jörg Bergmeister, and wearing super-sticky (but road-legal) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, the Manthey GT4 RS lapped the ‘Green Hell’ in 7min 3.12sec. That’s 6.18 seconds quicker than the standard car, albeit still behind the latest Porsche 911 GT3 RS (6min 49.33sec).

How much difference the Manthey Kit makes in the real world, even for those tackling the occasional track day, is open to question, but there’s an obvious allure to owning the ultimate GT4 RS – and indeed the fastest, most extreme Cayman before its electric successor arrives in 2025.

Lastly, if you’re less concerned about lap times and want even more emotional appeal, Porsche recently revealed the drop-top 718 Spyder RS. We’ll be driving it this week, so come back to Motoring Research soon for our review.

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How to stay awake and alert when driving long distances

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July 24, 2023

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A fifth of road accidents in the UK are caused by tiredness. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that a third of UK motorists are scared of driving in the dark.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), driver fatigue also plays a part in up to a quarter of fatal and serious-injury accidents.

And another worrying stat: such crashes are 50 percent more likely to result in death or serious injury. That’s because because a driver who has fallen asleep cannot take action to mitigate an impact.

RoSPA says accidents caused by tired drivers are most likely to happen:

On long journeys and on monotonous roads, such as motorways
Between 2am and 6am
Between 2pm and 4pm (especially after eating, or drinking even one alcoholic drink)
After a night of interrupted or reduced sleep
After drinking alcohol
If taking medicines that can cause drowsiness
After working long hours or a night shift

Identify the signs of tiredness

Half of van drivers falling asleep at the wheel

It’s important to recognise the signs of tiredness. Failure to do so could result in a car accident caused by reduced reaction times, decreased attention levels and an inability to judge risks.

Symptoms include:

Yawning or rubbing your eyes
Frequent blinking
Daydreaming
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven
Missing exits or traffic signs
Drifting from your lane

How to stay awake when driving

Why sleep is the best prevention for drowsy driving

Not getting behind the wheel when tired is a good place to start, but the following tips will help you stay awake:

Prevent tiredness: make sure you get between seven and eight hours of sleep the night before you drive. If you’re regularly feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep, arrange to see your doctor.
Plan ahead: design your journey to allow you to take regular rest breaks, especially if you’re driving during peak tiredness times.
Minimise the risk: plan to stop at a motorway services for a quick rest. Arrange to share the driving with a friend or family member. Coffee will help, but it’s NOT a solution to tired driving.
Stay cool: excessive use of in-car heating will make you feel sleepy. Keep the car comfortably cool and open the windows to get some fresh air.

Rule number 91 of the Highway Code also states that a minimum break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving is recommended.

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Lotus reveals prices and specs for AMG-powered Emira sports car

By

John Redfern

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July 19, 2023

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Lotus is now taking orders for the four-cylinder version of its Emira coupe. Following the launch of the 400hp supercharged 3.5-litre V6 model, the new 2.0-litre turbocharged version expands the Emira range.

Supplied by Mercedes-AMG, its mid-mounted engine is closely related to that in the AMG A45 hot hatchback. A 365hp output makes this the most powerful four-cylinder Lotus sports car ever made.

It’s also the end of a long bloodline of four-cylinder Lotus models, including the Elise, Exige and Esprit, as the British brand prepares to go fully electric.

Small and mighty

Helped by a twin-scroll turbocharger, the Lotus Emira’s engine generates a substantial 317lb ft of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is fitted as standard (there’s no manual option), with steering wheel-mounted paddles for rapid shifts.

Combined with a relatively low kerb weight of 1,446kg, the Emira delivers impressive performance. Sprinting to 62mph takes just 4.4 seconds: a mere 0.1 seconds behind the V6. Top speed is 180mph.

As you’d expect, Lotus has also tuned the handling of the Emira to suit its new engine. An aluminium rear subframe saves 12kg compared to the V6 model, plus there is a choice of Tour or Sport chassis settings. The car rides on bespoke tyres, and features a specially calibrated stability control system.

First Edition ready to go

A fully-loaded First Edition model marks the start of four-cylinder Emira production, and is offered in a choice of 13 paint colours. The standard power-adjustable and heated sports seats can be upholstered in a leather or Alcantara (artificial suede) trim.

Along with a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, the Emira also features a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 10-speaker 560W audio system.

Orders for the Lotus Emira First Edition can be placed now, with prices starting from £81,495 – a modest £4,500 less than the V6. A cheaper standard version should join the range in 2024.

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What is E10 petrol and is it suitable for older cars?

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July 18, 2023

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Consultation begins on standardisation of E10 petrol

E10 petrol was introduced across the UK from September 2021. However, many drivers remain unaware of the change – and up to 600,000 cars on British roads aren’t compatible with it.

In this guide, we explain what E10 is – and examine its pros and cons.

The difference between the old E5 and current E10 grades of petrol is quite simple. The numbers refer to the percentage of bioethanol in the fuel. E5 has five percent and E10 contains 10 percent.

Petrol and diesel had already been renamed at the pumps before the switchover, to E5 and B7, to inform motorists of their biofuel content.

Why the switch to E10 petrol?

The main reason for bringing in E10 is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Department for Transport says CO2 output has been cut by around 750,000 tonnes a year.

This is around two percent less CO2 per car, or equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off UK roads.

In conjunction with the gradual switchover to electric cars, the move will help achieve Britain’s climate change targets, and meet the government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. The latter is designed to encourage the use of biofuels.

What are the problems with E10 fuel?

The worry is that some older cars can suffer when filled with E10 petrol. The bioethanol, which is created from fermented plants, can be corrosive to certain components. These include hoses, seals, plastics, gaskets and even certain metals in the fuel system.

The process can damage fuel pumps, injectors, pressure regulators, carburettors and fuel tanks. And it’s worth noting that ‘older’ doesn’t necessarily mean classic cars. Many more recent vehicles could sustain damage if filled with E10.

When asked in parliament what assessment she had made of the issues with E10 for older vehicles, Rachel Maclean, Parliamentary Under Secretary (DFT) said: “One of the main barriers to introducing E10 has been vehicle compatibility. Currently, around 95 percent of petrol cars used in the UK can use E10.”

“This number is expected to decrease as vehicles come to the end of their life. However, some classic and cherished vehicles that are not advised to use E10 will remain in use. The prolonged use of E10 fuel in those older and classic vehicles not under manufacturer warranty can cause corrosion of some rubbers and alloys used in the engine and fuel systems. For those vehicles, the department remains committed to ensuring that E5 is retained as a protection grade.”

On the latter point, the official government statement says: ‘We’ll also require the higher-octane Super grade to remain E5 to provide protection for owners of older vehicles.’

So drivers still have the option of E5 fuel, albeit at a significantly higher cost (typically around 12p more per litre than standard unleaded).

Moving the CO2 around

Emissions reduction congestion charge zone

The RAC has raised concerns about the retention of E5 as a ‘protection grade’ of petrol. While perhaps less of an issue for classic car owners, its higher cost could put a strain on low-income drivers.

Furthermore, fuel station forecourts may not have the capacity to incorporate both E5 and E10 grades. That could further affect motorists, particularly in rural areas.

A more general issue, highlighted by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, is logistics. It was reported that the only UK refinery for the E10 fuel additive is no longer running. The environmental benefit of the E10 rollout could thus be negated by the emissions cost from shipping.

Getting the word out about E10

Drivers of older cars clearly need to be aware of the change to fuel grades. If you’re part of a classic car club, it’s an issue worth highlighting.

Helpfully, ou can check if your car is compatible with E10 fuel by using the tool on the official GOV.UK website.

Finally, some words of reassurance from RAC fuel spokesperson, Simon Williams: “For the overwhelming majority of drivers with compatible vehicles, the introduction of E10 petrol will make little difference, other than a possible slight reduction in fuel economy.”

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Triumph returns with radical TR25 electric sports car

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July 14, 2023

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Do not adjust your screen. This really is a new Triumph sports car – the first since the TR8 of 1978 – although the TR25 remains very much a concept for now. Revealed in London, the radical roadster celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Triumph Motor Company.

The TR25 was inspired by the ‘Jabbeke’ Triumph TR2, which broke the production car speed record in 1953. The one-off streamlined special has been reimagined by Makkina, a British design house that usually works behind the scenes for major car manufacturers.

The project has the blessing of the BMW Group, which owns the Triumph name, and its electric powertrain comes from an i3S. After BMW’s successful reinvention of Mini and Rolls-Royce, could the TR25 herald (sorry, car joke) a comeback for this much-loved British brand?

‘Pure driving pleasure’

Bold without being brash, and both retro (the bug-eyed headlights) and futuristic (the aero-enhancing LED tail lights), the TR25 concept is an alternative vision for a modern sports car. Its doors open vertically, the rear buttress incorporates a reversing camera and a modest fly screen is the sum total of its weather protection.

The Triumph’s chassis and body panels are made from carbon fibre, with a default single-seat layout to ‘emphasise the fact that this car is about pure driving pleasure’. Makkina also claims near-perfect weight distribution for ‘superior handling on the roads it’s designed to tackle’.

The minimalist aesthetic continues inside, with simple digital readouts, tactile toggle switches and plenty of exposed metal. The position of the driver’s seat is fixed, but the steering wheel and pedals both adjust. Remove the cockpit cover and there’s also a flip-out jump seat suitable for short trips – perhaps a jaunt to the pub on a summer evening.

Less is more

The ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 used a boisterous 90hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine to achieve its record-breaking velocity of 124.889mph. Makkina’s 21st century remake has twice the power, with a 42.2kWh battery and 181hp electric motor. Weighing in at 1,090kg (nearly 200kg lighter than an i3S), it reaches 62mph in 5.3 seconds – a second quicker than a Golf GTI. A maximum speed of 115mph won’t worry the 1953 original, though.

Makkina founder and director Michael Ani is a big fan of the BMW i3. He first bought one at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 and has been driving them ever since. “The i3S platform proves that driving an electric car can be fun,” he said. “The combination of instant torque, acceleration, agility and silence are as compelling now as ever.”

The TR25 is that rare thing: an EV that tugs at the heart strings. A production version is unlikely, we suspect, but it certainly propels Triumph back into the public consciousness. Your move, BMW…

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F1-tribute Pininfarina hypercar to make Goodwood FOS debut

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July 11, 2023