Mazda UK switches classic cars to sustainable petrol

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June 30, 2023

Mazda UK has announced it will run its 15-strong heritage fleet on sustainable petrol. The cars, which range from a 1969 Cosmo 110S to a 2008 RX-8, will use Sustain Classic Super 80 supplied by Coryton, and made from 80 percent agricultural waste.

The Coryton fuel has an octane rating of 98 RON (equivalent to super unleaded) and is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65 percent versus conventional petrol. Crucially, it also requires no modifications – even for the cars with rotary engines.

The downside to the Coryton fuel is cost: from £3.80 per litre. The Super 80 blend used by Mazda is even pricier, at £4.65 per litre. The bills for running an RX-7 don’t bear thinking about…

We were lucky enough to drive most of Mazda’s classic fleet a little while ago, albeit not using the new sustainable fuel. Read on for our impressions of these exciting and very eclectic sports cars.

Mazda Cosmo

The Cosmo owes its name to the space race, and its sleek lines are straight out of The Jetsons. Spot the capsule-style cockpit and tail lights like rocket afterburners. While rivals such as the Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 911 looked to the past, the Cosmo was inspired by a brave new world. More than five decades on, it still looks fabulous: impossibly tiny and achingly pretty.

As the first Mazda to employ a rotary engine, the Cosmo was futuristic under the skin, too. The twin-rotor unit displaces just 982cc, but with only 940kg to shift – 200kg less than a Ford Fiesta – it reaches 62mph in less than 10 seconds.

This 1969 Series II is the rightful flagship of Mazda’s heritage fleet. Clamber inside and its houndstooth trim, and wood-rimmed wheel ooze Sixties style. It’s not as cramped as you might think, but you sit very low: at eye-level with the oversized alloys of modern SUVs. The steering is lively and the gearshift pleasingly slick, while the 10A engine spins up keenly. It whirrs and hums with a palpable lack of inertia, sounding and feeling quite unlike anything else.

On more challenging roads, the Cosmo doesn’t feel as sporty as its styling suggests. Its chassis shudders and shakes over potholes, while its brakes are more iron age than space age. Nonetheless, it’s a bracingly analogue experience and there’s a rare joy in piloting something so traffic-stoppingly beautiful.

Mazda RX-3

The 1973 RX-3 could hardly be more different. Squat and square-jawed, it looks like a shrunken muscle car and sounds like a wasp trapped in a megaphone. “You can thank the straight-through exhaust for that,” jokes an engineer from Jota Sport, the Kent-based race team that maintains Mazda’s heritage cars.

Called the Mazda Savanna in Japan, the RX-3 was sold in saloon and estate body styles, alongside the four-seat coupe seen here. Its interior is wall-to-wall black vinyl, with deep-set dials and a push-button AM radio. The unassisted steering works your biceps, the gearshift is notchy and mechanical, and the brakes demand a hefty shove. You can’t drive on auto-pilot; this car demands your attention.

Unlike the other Mazdas here, the RX-3 isn’t showroom-spec; its 110hp 1.2-litre motor and five-speed gearbox have been transplanted from a Mk1 RX-7. Aided by a kerb weight of 884kg, it blares to 62mph in 10.8 seconds and 115mph flat-out. Trust me, it feels faster.

For all its pop-and-bang fireworks, though, the Mazda is also free-revving and turbine-smooth. That eccentric engine, with its triangular rotor instead of reciprocating pistons, endows the car with a unique, somewhat contrary character. Journalists can be a cynical bunch, but nobody stepped out of this one without a smile.

Mazda RX-7 Mk1

Plenty of old cars are described as ‘barn finds’ when they’re nothing of the sort. This 1984 RX-7 is the real deal. Placed into storage by a Scottish Mazda dealer after he lost the franchise, it surfaced 33 years later – still unregistered – with a mere 49 miles on the clock.

Thankfully, rather than preserve it as a museum piece, Mazda changed the oil and coolant, fitted new tyres and brake pads, then added the RX-7 to its classic fleet. By the time we drive it, the odometer had crept up to 856 miles. Even so, the carpets and plush velour seats still looked factory-fresh.

After the raucous RX-3, this Mazda seems surprisingly chilled out. Its steering is light and rather vague around the straight-ahead, while the 115hp 1.2-litre twin-rotor engine rarely raises its voice. Initial acquaintance suggests an easygoing GT, rather than a grab-it-by-the-scruff sports car. Zero to 62mph takes 8.4 seconds, with a top speed of 125mph.

Only when you push a bit harder does the RX-7 experience start to gel. Its pliant, unflustered ride is well suited to British B-roads and its manual ‘box is slick and tactile – a Mazda trait that endures to this day. It also has pop-headlights, which make any car at least 20 percent cooler. Fact.

Mazda RX-7 Mk3

Most beautiful Japanese car ever? For our yen, the third-generation RX-7 faces a straight fight with the Toyota 2000GT. However, while a perfect 2000GT could set you back £1 million, decent RX-7s hover at around £30,000. Tempted? You should be.

Before you click on the classifieds, though, it’s worth noting that the ‘FD’ RX-7 has a fiendishly complicated engine – rotary, of course – that requires plenty of TLC. It featured the world’s first sequential twin turbochargers, with the second blower only joining the party from 4,000rpm. Mazda quoted 237hp at 6,500rpm: good for 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds and 156mph.

This 1993 RX-7 is one of just 210 cars officially imported to the UK. Standard apart from a massive tailpipe, it had covered less than 25,000 miles from new. Its snug cabin is as curvy as its bodywork, although there’s an abundance of black plastic and an ugly airbagged wheel. The twin-rotor 13B engine churns and then barks into life. Yep, that exhaust is LOUD.

Spoiler alert: we still have one car to go, but this is the Mazda I’d gladly take home. Deft and beautifully balanced, it feels like a proper driver’s car. The steering jostles with feedback, the brakes are progressive and the Torsen differential offers slingshot traction. Here, the rotary engine is a supporting act, not the star of the show.

Mazda RX-8

We conclude with the RX-8. In this company, it looks a tad conventional, but let’s not forget this is a rotary-engined coupe with a manual gearbox and rear-hinged ‘freestyle’ doors. The RX had evolved into something softer and more family-friendly, but Mazda was hardly painting by numbers.

Like its predecessor, the RX-8 has a reputation for mechanical melodrama, although plenty of specialists claim they can make it reliable. Its non-turbocharged 1.3-litre ‘Renesis’ engine drives the rear wheels and produces 231hp at a heady 8,200rpm. Today, its performance is on par with a middling hot hatchback: 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds and 146mph.

The Crystal White RX-8 in Mazda’s heritage collection is a 40th Anniversary Limited Edition, one of 400 cars to mark 40 years since the Cosmo was launched. Special touches include 18-inch grey alloy wheels, black leather trim and an ‘aerodynamically proven’ rear wing. As with all cars from this era (2003-2012), the LCD displays and technology have dated, but the four-seat interior is stylish and very comfortable.

Assuming you could live with its 25.2mpg thirst, this is certainly a car you could daily-drive. It has a calm, long-legged feel not unlike the original RX-7, with a whirring, twin-rotor engine, well-weighted controls and a comfortable ride. This was the end of the line for the Mazda rotary engine, but it has now made a comeback in the MX-30 crossover. So the story isn’t over yet.

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Diesel company cars numbers plunge as EVs surge

By

Richard Aucock

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June 30, 2023

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Britain’s company car fleet is greener than ever and increasingly going electric, new figures from HMRC show, as the number of diesel fleet cars plummets.

In the 2021-22 tax year, diesel cars comprised just over 1 in 3 company cars. This is a staggering drop from 80 percent of company cars in 2017.

The number of electric cars, however, is up 85 percent, from around 50k in 2020-21 to 125,000 in 2021-22.

Electric cars made up 17 percent of the company car fleet and numbers continue to increase rapidly. Highly advantageous benefit in kind tax rates are helping drive the switch.

Petrol company car numbers are growing fast too though, as fleet car motorists switch from diesel.

Numbers grew from 315,000 to 345,000 in a year.

Ultra-low emission plug-in hybrid company car numbers also shot up, from 137,000 to 243,000.

Company car CO2

Overall, company car CO2 emissions averaged just 86g/km. Even excluding EVs, the average was 103g/km – despite the decline of diesel.

Only 2 percent of company cars had CO2 emissions in excess of 165g/km in 2021-22.

In contrast, back in 2022-03, a whopping 58 percent of company cars had CO2 emissions in excess of 165g/km.

Overall, there were 720,000 company car drivers in 2021-22.

This figure, based on those receiving benefit in kind tax benefits, remained steady over the previous year, stemming a steady decline from 960,000 in 2015-16.

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1 in 4 motorists delay or DIY car servicing to save money

By

Richard Aucock

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June 29, 2023

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New research from the RAC has found that nearly 1 in 4 motorists are choosing to either delay car servicing or have a go at doing it themselves to save money.

The cost of living crisis is forcing 23 percent of car owners to try and cut costs on car servicing – but the RAC warns this is a false economy.

1 in 10 motorists say they have delayed their car servicing by up to a year. 1 in 20 have gone further still and are to delay car servicing by more than a year.

Such motorists say they will rely on the MOT to ensure their car is roadworthy, rather than getting it checked out separately.

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A further 10 percent of motorists say they will take the DIY route and either service their car themselves, or with the help of friends or family.

Of those who are choosing to still get their car serviced by a professional, nine percent of motorists are swapping a major service for a minor one, and eight percent are switching from their normal garage to a cheaper alternative.

False economy

“Not keeping on top of servicing a vehicle is almost always a false economy, said RAC spokesman Rod Dennis.

“The probability of suffering a breakdown emergency and having to fork out even more for expensive repairs down the line go up massively.”

He said that while motorists may think they are budgeting wisely by delaying car servicing, “we strongly advise against it as repair costs are likely to snowball when things start to go wrong”.

The RAC is one organisation aiming to help out here, with service plans that allow motorists to spread the cost of routine servicing and MOTs over two years.

Such schemes help lock in prices and enable motorists to dodge the impact of inflation on car servicing costs.

The findings come as the Motor Ombudsman warns that rising costs are the biggest challenge faced by both independent garages and franchised auto retailers.

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Hyundai, Toyota EV ads banned over rapid charging claims

By

Richard Aucock

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June 28, 2023

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UK advertising watchdog the ASA has banned electric car adverts from Hyundai and Toyota over “exaggerated” charge speeds and for “misleading” consumers over UK rapid charger availability.

Adverts for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 included a digital billboard at London’s Piccadilly Circus. It featured the statement, ‘10% to 80% charge in 18 minutes using a 350kW charger’.

Complainants questioned whether the claim could be substantiated and said it was misleading.

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Adverts for the Toyota BZ4X said rapid charging could recharge 80% of the battery in around 30 minutes.

The complainant also challenged this claim.

The ASA upheld both compaints – the first time it has banned ads against electric car advertising claims.

It also instructed Hyundai and Toyota not to mislead motorists about battery charging times in the future.

Real world factors

In its response to the Hyundai ad, the ASA said that various real-world factures, such as ambient temperatures and the age of the battery, would affect the time taken to charge to 80%.

It said it would “expect Hyundai to qualify the charging claim with an explanation of the conditions under which the figures were achieved and that they may not reflect actual consumer experience”.

The ASA also pointed to the limited availability of the 350kW ultra-rapid chargers that would deliver 18-minute charge times for the high-tech Hyundai Ioniq 5.

In April 2022, there were just 37 350kW chargers in Great Britain, six in the Republic of Ireland, “limited numbers in Wales and Scotland and none in Northern Ireland”.

In its response to Toyota, the ASA questioned whether the average consumer would have an awareness of the speed or availability of a 150kW charger compared to other EV chargers.

It said Toyota’s campaign would give the average consumer the impression it was relatively straightforward to access 150kW chargers throughout the UK in public places.

Toyota’s qualifier that ‘rapid charging power ratings can vary by location’ was insufficient, given the varying availability of 150kW chargers across the UK (of which there are none in Northern Ireland).

The ASA instructed both Hyundai and Toyota to not mislead about battery charging times in their ads.

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How to save money on car insurance

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Motoring Research team

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June 28, 2023

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Insurance is one of the major expenses associated with running a car. Fortunately, there are some straightforward ways to save money on car insurance.

No specific advice can guarantee cheap car insurance for all, but what follows is a general guide to cutting the cost of your cover. We also explain the things you definitely shouldn’t do…

Buy the right car

Choosing the best car seems like an obvious start. Generally speaking, though, the more powerful a car’s engine, the costlier its insurance.

Going for a more expensive car will also bump up the cost of insurance, as will any model considered a theft-magnet. Ask anyone who drives an in-demand hot hatchback, such as a Volkswagen Golf R or Audi RS3.

If your aim is to save money on car insurance, a humble supermini beats a racy sports car. But for many reading this, that won’t matter. You already have your car and simply want the lowest quote.

Shop around – and haggle

Many drivers get complacent about car insurance. Put in the legwork, shop around and switch providers if necessary. Never simply accept your renewal quote.

Try the price comparison sites, such as Money Supermarket and Confused.com, but also contact insurance companies directly. It’s mostly up to chance which provider gives you the best deal, so it’s worth talking to all of them.

Research by Consumer Intelligence shows haggling with your existing provider at renewal time could save you money, too. One in five drivers who haggle are offered lower premiums by their existing insurer, which will frequently match the best price quoted elsewhere.

Get your story straight

There are a number of things you must tell an insurance company about yourself and your driving career. These include: how old you are, how long you’ve been driving, if you’ve had any accidents and when, what you do for work, where you live, how much you drive, and so on.

While you must tell the truth, there is some leeway. Your career for instance, can be listed in a number of different ways. A photographer might be a videographer or a multimedia assistant. A bricklayer is a builder is a labourer. By all means play with the variables, but don’t stray from the truth.

It’s worthwhile working out how far you typically drive in a year, too. The number of miles you cover will affect your quote. Lower is better, in most cases, and will help you save money on car insurance.

Consider different types of policy

There are generally two types of policy: third-party fire and theft, and fully comprehensive. If your car is worth anything more than about £1,500, we’d recommend fully comprehensive.

Third-party policies do not cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle in the event of an accident – only the car or object you crash into. Third-party is often a last resort taken by new drivers to get their premium down.

Multi-car policies are interesting, however. Whether you’re living with your parents or have flown the nest, they can offer significant savings. Likewise, if you live with a partner and you both drive, it’s definitely worth checking whether you can share a multi-car policy.

Young drivers can also be added to a parent’s policy – fully-comp, with the ability to earn a no-claims bonus – for potentially a lot less than insuring themselves.

Get a black box fitted

It’s not the most pleasing of solutions, but a black box telematics systen watching your every move behind the wheel can lead insurance companies to charge you less.

They have become a mainstay of the newly-passed young driver. Indeed, many companies insist on a black box for the youngest road users.

Move somewhere safer

Location is a big factor in the cost of car insurance, including whether you park on the road or keep your car garaged, along with where you live. Big cities such as London and Birmingham normally equate to costlier insurance.

Perhaps you should consider moving away from Carjack Alley and closer to Upstanding Avenue.

Don’t crash

Obviously, not crashing is a good thing in general. Never mind the immediate stresses of a prang, for the next three years (at least), your insurance will be more expensive.

That’s all thanks to the no-claims bonus you shattered – along with somebody else’s tail light.

Get older

With age and experience come a great many things, including cheaper car insurance. Both 21 and 25 are big milestones when it comes to lower quotes.

If you can afford to go without a car, sit on your licence until you’re a bit older. Pass your test as early as possible, though. Remember, insurance companies will ask how long you’ve held your licence when totting up a quote.

How NOT to save money on car insurance

Be honest about everything – simple as that. Don’t lie about modifications, the miles you’ll be driving, where you live, what you do, or where the car is parked.

Any untruths will invalidate your policy in the event of an accident. It’s just not worth the risk.

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Aston Martin strikes deal with Lucid for electric cars

By

Richard Aucock

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June 26, 2023

0

Aston Martin has struck a supply deal with American luxury EV firm Lucid to create its future range of electric cars.

The supply deal with Lucid gives Aston Martin access to “industry-leading” electric vehicle technologies.

Aston Martin will have access to both Lucid’s current and future powertrain and battery technology. The tech will be used to power Aston Martin’s all-new, in-house Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) platform.

The deal, which was announced to the London Stock Exchange this morning, is described as a long-term relationship with Lucid.

Aston Martin’s existing tech partnership with Mercedes-Benz also continues – and a renewed deal was also confirmed today. This includes powertrain and electronic architectures, again for both current and future Aston Martin vehicles.

The British brand’s surprise decision to use Lucid EV powertrain technology, instead of Mercedes-Benz, is part of a £2bn investment which Aston Martin calls the Racing Green sustainability strategy.

Earlier this year, the acclaimed Lucid Air – the US firm’s first car – was named World Luxury Car of the Year 2023.

Game changer

Lawrence Stroll, executive chairman of Aston Martin, said: “The supply agreement with Lucid is a game changer for the future EV-led growth of Aston Martin.

“Based on our strategy and requirements, we selected Lucid, gaining access to the industry’s highest performance and most innovative technologies for our future BEV products.

“We will not only leverage the significant investments Lucid has made to develop its world-class technologies, but will also further enhance and differentiate the drive experience through the work Roberto Fedeli [Aston chief tech officer] and his teams are already developing, aligned with our ultra-luxury, high-performance strategy.

“Along with Mercedes-Benz, we now have two world-class suppliers to support the internal development and investments we are making to deliver our electrification strategy.”

Stroll added the recently-announced long-term partnership with Geely will open up access to its tech too, along with its expertise of China, a key strategic market.

As part of the EV tech deal, Lucid will receive phased cash payments of around £182m, and become a 3.7 percent shareholder in Aston Martin.

Aston Martin EV strategy

The new Aston Martin BEV platform will underpin all the firm’s future EVs, “from hypercars to sports cars, GTs and SUVs”. The first will launch in 2025.

The single BEV platform will be bespoke and combine Lucid’s powertrain technology with the Mercedes-Benz electric architecture.

Aston Martin says the next-generation technology will deliver class-leading performance and “brilliantly resolved vehicle dynamics”.

Enthusiasts are promised ultra-precise control of power delivery to each wheel, to create a “unique and distinct dynamic fingerprint for each Aston Martin BEV”.

The firm will also lean upon the expertise of Aston Martin Performance Technologies, the consulting arm of the Aston Martin Formula 1 team.

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World’s fastest track car: £1m McMurtry Spéirling EV returns to Goodwood

By

John Redfern

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June 26, 2023

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An updated, production version of the radical McMurtry Spéirling will be unveiled at next month’s 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

With a 1,000hp electric motor and a ground-effect fan system to generate astonishing levels of downforce, the new McMurtry Spéirling Pure is pitched at wealthy track-day enthusiasts.

Only 100 examples of the electric hypercar will be produced, at a price of £984,000 including taxes. The first finished examples should be delivered to customers in 2025.

Downforce on demand

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a fitting place for the Spéirling Pure to make its public debut. At last year’s event, with ex-Formula 1 driver Max Chilton at the wheel, the original Spéirling set a new record on the Goodwood hillclimb.

A time of just 39.08 seconds made it quicker than both a McLaren MP4/13 Formula 1 car and Volkswagen’s ID.R electric racer.

Key to the Spéirling Pure’s ability is the fan system, which literally sucks the lightweight machine to the road. The ‘downforce-on-demand’ setup can produce 2,000kg of suction – more than twice the weight of the vehicle itself.

New wider tyres and revised bodywork mean the Spéirling Pure can achieve cornering forces of up to 3G. A revised rear axle allows a top speed of 190mph, too.

Rapid performance, rapid charging

McMurtry has fitted the Spéirling Pure with a 60kWh battery suited to track days. It can cover 10 hard-driven laps of the Silverstone National Circuit, for example, before needing a recharge. The charging process is also ultra-rapid, taking just 20 minutes before the car is ready to go again.

Despite its diminutive dimensions, the single-seat Spéirling Pure comes with adjustable pedals to accommodate drivers up to 6ft 7in tall.

The 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from 13-16 July. Look out for the McMurtry Spéirling Pure in the Supercar Paddock.

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EU car firms warn of £3.7bn hit if ‘no-deal’ on post-Brexit EV trade

By

Richard Aucock

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June 23, 2023

0

European car makers are calling for a three-year delay in post-Brexit trade rules around electric cars – warning of both a loss of production and a potential €4.3 billion (£3.7 billion) tariff hit.

The restrictive rules on electric vehicle trade between the EU and UK are set to come into force in six months. These require ‘rules of origin’ compliance, meaning electric car batteries must be assembled in Europe to be exempt from tariffs.

The tightened rules, due from 2024, require all battery parts (and some battery material) to be produced either in the EU or UK to qualify.

At the moment, most electric car batteries are sourced from China.

If the rules aren’t changed, cars built in Europe and imported into the UK face a 10 percent tariff. The UK is the largest export market for the EU car industry, and accounts for one in four EV exports.

Three-year delay

“Europe has not yet established a secure and reliable battery supply chain that can cater to these more restrictive rules right now,” said Sigrid de Vries, director general of EU auto trade body ACEA.

“Time is needed to build up the required capacity… In the meantime, vehicle manufacturers must rely on battery cells or materials imported from Asia.

“We are asking the European Commission to extend the current phase-in period by three years.”

Huge cost

Without a delay, ACEA says the 10 percent tariff would cost nearly €4.3 billion over the three-year period from 2024 to 2026.

“This would be detrimental not only to the EU auto industry, but also to the European economy,” added Sigrid de Vries. “As we face increasing competitive pressures from abroad, the application of these rules would have severe consequences for electric vehicle manufacturing in Europe.”

The ACEA estimates that, without a delay, tariffs could lead to a cut in EV production in the EU by up to 480,000 units. This is the equivalent output of two average-sized car factories.

Chinese threat

Chinese-made EVs already make up around a third of the UK market, despite a 10 percent customs duty.

If European car makers are forced to pay the same tariff, said de Vries, “they will clearly lose ground to third-country competition. Failure to act now will hamper our ability to remain competitive… and lead to lost market share – which will be extremely difficult to regain.”

The European Commission has not yet commented on calls to delay the post-Brexit trade rules.

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New BYD Dolphin family EV prices to start from £25,490

By

Richard Aucock

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June 21, 2023

0

The new BYD Dolphin small electric five-door hatch arrives in the UK later this year with prices starting from an extremely competitive £25,490.

The entry-level model undercuts the best-selling Vauxhall Corsa Electric by around £8,500 – and even the top-spec long-range model is around £3,500 cheaper than the Vauxhall EV.

It also undercuts the MG4 EV, the 2023 UK Car of the Year: prices for the BYD Dolphin’s Chinese arch-rival start from £26,990.

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The new BYD Dolphin is the Chinese EV brand’s second EV to launch in the UK, following the BYD Atto 3 electric SUV.

Measuring just under 4.3 metres long, the BYD Dolphin is actually larger overall than the Corsa, and only around 100mm smaller than the Vauxhall Astra family hatch.

It is similar in size to the Volkswagen ID.3 – and its pure electric architecture ensures plenty of interior space and a decent 345-litre boot.

This space efficiency is certain to draw interest from cost-conscious UK buyers, and give it an edge over the smaller EV models it also undercuts on price.

BYD Dolphin range

The BYD Dolphin is offered with a choice of two batteries. It launches with a 60.4kWh battery, delivering a 265-mile range.

In early 2024, a 44.9kWh battery arrives, with up to a 211-mile range in the entry-level Active variant.

The model range is a bit complicated, because BYD mixes and matches batteries and electric motors. In a nutshell, there are four models:

BYD Dolphin Active

44.9kWh battery
60kW DC rapid charging
95hp motor
211-mile range
£25,490

BYD Dolphin Boost

44.9kWh battery
60kW DC rapid charging
176hp motor
193-mile range
£26,490

BYD Dolphin Comfort

60.4kWh battery
88kW DC rapid charging
204hp motor
265-mile range
£29,490

BYD Dolphin Design

60.4kWh battery
88kW DC rapid charging
204hp motor
265-mile range
£30,990

All but the base BYD Dolphin Active have multi-link rear suspension, which improves handling and gives more sophisticated ride comfort on challenging roads.

They all also have the firm’s famous ‘rotating’ central infotainment screen. It goes from portrait to landscape format at the touch of a button.

The top-spec BYD Dolphin Design has a panoramic glass roof, two-tone paint, eye-catching tri-colour alloys, rear privacy glass and wireless smartphone charging.

It also has ‘vehicle-to-load’ functionality, which allows the car’s battery to power something else, such as laptop chargers.

A heat pump is standard, for better efficiency in cold weather, while BYD is proud of the Dolphin’s vegan leather.

Ordering is open now from the Chinese brand’s growing UK dealer network, with deliveries beginning towards the back end of 2023.

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New EA Sports F1 23 racing game review

By

John Redfern

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June 19, 2023

0

The latest Formula 1 World Championship has been a little predictable, thanks to the ongoing dominance of Max Verstappen. So, if you want to rewrite the record books for this year, say hello to EA Sports F1 23.

The brand new official Formula 1 video game is available to buy now, and is offered for Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and Windows PC.

Does it do enough to be a worthwhile upgrade from EA Sports F1 22, released less than 12 months ago? Let’s find out…

Las Vegas, baby!

It has been hard to miss the hype around the addition of the Las Vegas Street Circuit to the 2023 Formula 1 calendar. Although the real race does not take place until November this year, players of F1 23 can explore the new neon-lit track straight away.

EA Sports has also finally added Qatar’s Losail International Circuit to the track selection, too, after it was first used in the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Spain’s recently reprofiled Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya is included as well, along with the changes to Austria’s Red Bull Ring. Jeddah, Zandvoort, Miami and Baku receive minor tweaks such as new kerbs or extended grandstands.

All the latest car designs and liveries from the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship are, as you would hope, available from the off.

Braking the limit, again

Those who played the F1 21 game will remember the Braking Point interactive story mode. Although not present in last year’s game, it makes a return for 2023.

Braking Point 2 sees Aiden Jackson and Devon Butler, the protagonists from the original story, back again. This time they are placed at a fictional Konnersport Formula 1 team, facing the challenges of being teammates and driving for a brand new outfit.

They are joined by the character of Callie Mayer, introduced as the first woman to win the Formula 2 championship. EA Sports worked with three-time W Series winner, Jamie Chadwick, to gain her unique insight.

A point to prove

The gameplay for Braking Point focuses around scenarios during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, typically seeing the player chucked into the middle of a race with objectives to meet.

Away from the track, press interviews, social media posts and even team management decisions are all included. It does give a useful introduction for those new to Formula 1 games, but the scripted drama can be tough going.

The inclusion of a female Braking Point character marks an important step for the F1 franchise, even more so after the W Series entered administration earlier this month.

Lapping with precision

EA Sports is particularly proud of the new ‘Precision Drive’ feature, which is said to improve the experience for those using a games controller. Typically, using a controller has been viewed as less immersive than a full force-feedback steering wheel, and more suited to casual players.

Previous F1 games have made using a controller tricky. In our experience, it took a lot of experimenting with menu settings in F1 22 to feel confident playing with one.

F1 23, however, is instantly more playable with a controller. Alongside the improved physics and handling for the cars themselves, there are likely to be fewer moments of frustration this time around.

Driven by fan feedback

As part of developing this year’s game, EA Sports says it has taken fan feedback onboard about how to improve the F1 franchise.

Red flags make a return to F1 23 franchise after a surprising nine-year absence. This makes sense, given their increasingly frequent use in real-world Formula 1 races. Both offline and online modes can see the race red-flagged, usually due to collisions or bad weather.

Other tweaks have included the return of the popular 35 percent race distance, noted as the ‘sweet spot’ for combining strategy and speed of play.

Graphics tune-up included

Previous games in the F1 franchise often had graphics that appeared rudimentary, with a focus on performance over detail. Pleasingly, F1 23 has been given a major boost, with improved colour encoding and lighting dynamics.

There is a definite difference when placed side-by-side with last year’s title, and it makes for the most realistic looking F1 game to date.

New on-screen graphics can be seen when racing, designed to more closely mimic those viewed on TV broadcasts. This extends to updated driver grid rundown visuals at the start of each race.

Create your own F1 World

Replacing last year’s ‘F1 Life’ social hub is the rebranded ‘F1 World’ for F1 23. This allows access to both solo and multi-player racing, and delivers fresh daily, weekly and seasonal challenges.

It still allows for plenty of customisation, along with a new F1 World car that can be developed and enhanced. EA Sports hopes that F1 World will appeal to those familiar with other racing games such as Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, allowing more pick-up-and-play arcade action.

However, the usual options to play a complete Formula 1 season still remain, as does the ability to build your own team and driver. Updated real-world driver ratings have been added for 2023, bringing the game up-to-date.

Verdict: EA Sports F1 23

Developing and publishing a new video game in just 12 months will always limit just how dramatic any changes can be. This is a characteristic not only common to the F1 game franchise, but seen across the wider EA Sports range.

The addition of new circuits, along with the genuinely impressive Precision Drive for controller users, does deliver important upgrades to F1 23. Bringing back red flags, the 35 percent race distance option, and the visual upgrades are notable improvements as well.

On the flipside, Braking Point 2 will hold little appeal for those who just want an accurate recreation of the current Formula 1 season. Those who buy into the Drive to Survive-style drama will enjoy it, but more experienced players are likely to give it a miss.

For 2023, the positive additions to EA Sports F1 23 outweigh the features simply carried over from previous F1 games. This makes it easier to recommend for both experienced players, and those new to the world of virtual Formula 1.

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