UK towing rules: here’s what you can legally tow this summer

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June 17, 2022

How to check what you can tow this summer

The worst of the pandemic may be over, but widespread flight cancellations and the complications created by Brexit mean that many holidaymakers have opted to stay in the UK.

If you plan to tow a caravan this summer (or indeed a trailer, such as a boat or horsebox), you must check your driving licence to see what you are legally entitled to tow.

The rules differ depending on when you passed your driving test, as explained below.

If you passed your test BEFORE 1 January 1997

In general, if you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, you can drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM).

Check your licence using this link to confirm.

If you passed your test on or AFTER 1 January 1997

If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, you are now able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.

These rules were simplified in December 2021 and DVLA will automatically update your driving licence, adding the category ‘BE’ to your record.

The next time you apply for a driving licence, it will show the category ‘BE’. You don’t need to contact the DVLA for this to happen.

Restrictions on motorhomes

The date of 1 January 1997 is also important when it comes to driving a motorhome. If you passed your test before then, you will have category C1 entitlement on your driving licence. This permits you to drive vehicles up to 7,500kg.

Drivers who passed their test after 1 January 1997 can drive a motorhome up to 3,500kg and tow a trailer up to 3,500kg behind it. In order to drive a larger motorhome (up to 7,500kg), you will need to pass an additional driving test. This will add the C1 category to your licence.

Harvey Alexander of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “There’s been a significant rise in the number of people choosing to spend their holidays caravanning.

“Leisure vehicles provide a fantastic way to explore parts of the country you may have never experienced before, and it’s very important to us that we do all we can to help holidaymakers do so safely and legally.”

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Insane 860 hp Hoonigan Subaru wagon is ready for Goodwood debut

By

John Redfern

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June 16, 2022

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Nestled among all the exotic supercars and motorsport machines at the Goodwood Festival of Speed will be a humble 1983 Subaru GL.

However, this is quite clearly not your grandmother’s old wagon. Instead, it’s a potent rally weapon developed by Subaru Motorsports USA and Hoonigan.

The Subaru will be driven at Goodwood by professional racing driver and stuntman, Travis Pastrana. Last year saw Pastrana finish second in the Hillclimb Shootout, and he will be gunning for victory with the ‘Family Huckster’.

Classic name, modern tech

The name is a pastiche of the woodgrain-clad Wagon Queen Family Truckster, which starred in the National Lampoon’s Vacation movie.

Similarities end with the name, though, as this special Subaru uses a state-of-the-art tubular spaceframe chassis clad in lightweight carbon panels. There is not a hint of woodgrain anywhere.

Active aerodynamics include a gigantic rear wing, along with hydraulic aero flaps that can be deployed manually or automatically. A functional roof rack is designed to draw air into the rear-mounted radiator.

World Rally Championship-specification suspension has been installed, with lightweight KMC wheels fitted. These have been custom-made to resemble the eight-spoke design used by Subaru during the 1980s.

Powered-up for the hillclimb

The turbocharged flat-four engine powering the Family Huckster owes very little to classic Subarus either. Developed from the Airslayer STI, previously driven by Pastrana at Goodwood, it generates an incredible 862 hp.

A six-speed sequential transmission is fitted, along with Subaru’s trademark all-wheel-drive system. The differential is said to incorporate knowledge from Pastrana’s record-setting run at the 2021 Mt. Washington Hill Climb.

Attention to detail can be found in the scanned recreation of a 1983 Subaru GL dashboard. This exact replica has been formed from blue carbon fiber, and even incorporates a period-correct radio.

A 12-inch digital dashboard also resembles the instrument panel you would have found inside the classic Subaru.

The raddest of wagons

After its debut at the Festival of Speed, the Family Huckster will take a starring role in Hoonigan’s award-winning Gymkhana series. Pastrana will be in charge of driving the Subaru wagon for its film debut.

“The GL wagon is an iconic Subaru that I thought would be pretty rad to see flying through the air,” said Pastrana. “Surprisingly, the Family Huckster is a lot smaller than the Airslayer. Combine that with the boxy shape and you have a perfect recipe for next-level precision driving.

“An active rear wing is helpful to an extent, but the ’83 wagon flies about as well as you would imagine… kind of a like a brick. This makes the jumps way more sketchy, but also more entertaining and less predictable. The Family Huckster is without a doubt my all time favorite vehicle to drive. I can’t wait to show the world at Goodwood, and later this year in the next Gymkhana.”

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Dacia opens orders for ‘rebranded’ cars with new logo

By

Richard Aucock

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June 16, 2022

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Orders for the first Dacias wearing the firm’s new logo and brand identity have now opened.

The first ‘rebranded’ cars will be delivered later this year.

Already being rolled out across the dealer network, the new ‘Dacia Link’ emblem features in the middle of a redesigned grille, and on the centre of each wheel.

There is also a redesigned Dacia logo at the rear of the cars, along with on the steering wheel. The lettering is ‘pared back, so only the essentials remain’.

This is in line with the Dacia approach of just offering the bare necessities, with no bells or whistles, says the firm.

In line with this comes another promise: Dacia will become the first brand in the Renault Group to have a top speed limited to 111mph.

Furthermore, Dacia will also gradually abandon chrome trim, and all leather of animal origin.

Back to basics

The rebrand includes the use of a new signature colour, called Dusty Grey. This is a similar shade to natural moss, ‘underscoring Dacia’s close ties to nature’.

“Dacia now has a brand new skin, but still the same DNA,” said Dacia performance director Lionel Jaillet.

“This change is an opportunity to show that our way of doing automotive can still be as essential as it is appealing.”

David Durand, Dacia design director, said: “The streamlined logo is highly symbolic of the brand’s focus on getting back to basics.

“Similarly, the Dacia Link emblem evokes simplicty and robustness. It also carries the symbolism of the link, a strong element of the Dacia community.”

The firm says rolling out a new visual identity across all models at the same time is probably an industry-first, and has required plenty of coordination across the production lines.

The new look will also debut on cars shown at this year’s Mondial de Paris show in October 2022, with first customer deliveries beginning soon afterwards.

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New Polestar 5 GT prototype to debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed

By

John Redfern

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June 16, 2022

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Polestar 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Polestar will reveal its latest prototype electric car at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Polestar 5 has been developed from the Precept concept, and will be a luxurious four-door GT.

It is Polestar’s first ‘clean sheet’ design, with much of the development work undertaken at its British R&D facility in Coventry.

Due to enter production in 2024, the Polestar 5 has been the subject of the company’s ‘Precept: from Concept to Car’ YouTube documentary series.

From concept to hillclimb

To be located in the Festival of Speed’s First Glance paddock, the Polestar 5 will make several runs up the Goodwood hill.

The original Precept concept car will be on static display, with other Polestar models also making an appearance. These include the company’s electric roadster concept.

Polestar has previously used the Festival of Speed to demonstrate new vehicles. Last year, an experimental Polestar 2 took to the hill, while the Polestar 1 prototype was shown in 2018.

“Goodwood is our favourite place to show our cars in an enthusiast environment,” explains Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath. “This year, we are thrilled to showcase Polestar 5 going up the hill. Our UK R&D team is doing an amazing job developing the car, and we are proud to be able to highlight their hard work at this early stage.”

Limited numbers, more power

Goodwood will also see the new high-performance Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 make its public debut.

Limited to 270 examples, the special Polestar 2 has power from its electric motors increased to a combined 476hp. Its chassis has been lowered by 25mm, aided by trick Ohlins dampers, and matt black 21-inch alloy wheels are fitted.

Buyers can pick between Snow or Thunder paint schemes, or even opt for a dramatic full-body Battleship Gray satin wrap. Polestar’s trademark Swedish gold details remain, used for the suspension dampers, brake calipers and seatbelts.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed opens on Thursday 23 June, then runs until Sunday 26 June.

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Jaguar and Land Rover add What3Words navigation update to latest cars

By

John Redfern

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June 14, 2022

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Owners of select Jaguar and Land Rover cars will soon be able to use the What3Words navigation service.

The recently announced Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988 has What3Words installed from new, but other models now gain access to it.

Jaguar Land Rover is the first manufacturer to add What3Words to existing vehicles through an over-the-air software update.

Navigate anywhere in the world

First launched in 2013, What3Words works by dividing the globe into 57 trillion three-metre (10-foot) squares. Each square is then assigned a unique combination of three words, allowing non-traditional addresses to be located.

Drivers will be able to enter the three-word combination directly into the navigation search bar.

The system will be ‘always on’ in Jaguar Land Rover models, meaning a mobile phone signal is not required.

Cars with the Pivi Pro infotainment system gain the update, opening up access to What3Words. It becomes the latest improvement offered to Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, with 1.3 million vehicle software updates completed to date.

An ongoing partnership

Jaguar Land Rover has worked with What3Words in the past. The two companies helped create addresses on the remote island of Mull in Scotland, improving access to healthcare services.

What3Words has become popular among car manufacturers, with Lamborghini adding it to the Huracan last year. Mercedes-Benz, Triumph, Lotus and Ford have also adopted the system.

Various emergency services make use of What3Words, although some have criticised the risk of similar words being found close together. Local accents and spelling mistakes have also caused confusion.

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New Bentley Flying Spur S to make Goodwood Festival of Speed debut

By

John Redfern

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June 14, 2022

0

Bentley will complete its range of sporty ‘S’ models at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The new Flying Spur S makes its debut at the event, and is designed to be ‘the most engaging Bentley four-door so far’.

Along with new interior and exterior design details, the Flying Spur S gains performance-orientated chassis changes and a revised digital dashboard.

Choose to go hybrid or V8

Offered with a choice of engines, the Flying Spur will be the first S-badged Bentley available with a hybrid powertrain.

Customers can pick from a 542hp 4.0-litre V8 or a 536hp 2.9-litre V6 hybrid. The latter is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, but can cover up to 26 miles in electric mode.

Models with the V8 engine gain a new sports exhaust system, along with standard four-wheel steering for improved agility. Bentley’s Dynamic Ride suspension has also been tuned to stay ‘stable under spirited cornering’. The V8 version posts a marginally faster 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds, with a 198mph top speed.

Both versions see the exterior chromework removed, with black trim added instead. A gloss black front grille, dark-tinted headlights and black exhaust tailpipes add to the meaner appearance.

Ready for its dynamic debut

The Flying Spur S is offered with a new 22-inch alloy wheel design, also finished in gloss black. A smaller 21-inch option is also available, with red brake calipers fitted regardless of wheel choice.

On the inside, suede-like Dinamica is used for the steering wheel, seat bolsters and gear lever. The digital dashboard has gained a new design, using the same graphics found in the Continental GT Speed.

Bentley will display the new Flying Spur S alongside the new GT S and GTC S at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This will include making runs up the famed hillclimb as part of the ‘First Glance’ class.

The 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from Thursday 23 June to Sunday 26 June.

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EV bargain: Citroen Ami electric car to cost £19.99 a month

By

Richard Aucock

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June 14, 2022

0

Citroen has announced the Ami electric city car will cost from just £19.99 a month on a two-year PCP.

Customers are required to place a deposit of £2,369 on the 6.9 percent APR deal. The optional final payment for the car, which is priced from £7,695, is £5,594.

An electric quadricycle with a 28mph top speed, the Citroen Ami has an EV range of 46 miles.

Its 5.5kWh battery takes three hours to fully charge from a home wallbox.

It even has a built-in charging cable located in the passenger door frame.

Those interested in the EV bargain can place a £250 fully refundable reservation fee via a special Ami website.

Deliveries are expected to begin later this summer.

Citroen at its best

“Having Ami in the UK is crucial,” said Citroen UK MD Eurig Druce.

“To be able to offer a fun and fabulous all-electric urban transport solution like Ami for just £19.99 a month is something we are really proud of.

“It is another example of Citroen at its very best, delivering affordable electric mobility for all.”

The Citroen Ami will be sold exclusively online. Alongside the basic Ami, there are also Pop and Vibe variants, plus a My Ami Cargo van version.

Three colour packs are available: orange, blue or grey.

Everyone who places a reservation will be individually contacted and offered the chance to speak with a Citroen Ami expert, if required.

The cars are sent to local Ami delivery points for collection – and, for an extra fee, buyers can even arrange home delivery.

Around 2,000 people have already placed reservations, who will now be able to turn them into firm orders and be among the first Ami owners in the UK.

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Plug-in Car Grant for new EVs to end TODAY

By

Richard Aucock

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June 14, 2022

0

The government has announced the Plug-in Car Grant for new electric cars has ended.

Customers who have already ordered a new EV will still get the £1,500 grant – as will those who have placed an order in the last two working days.

‘The government has always been clear the Plug-in Car Grant was temporary,’ said an official statement.

Previous reductions in the size of the grant have, apparently, ‘had little effect on rapidly-accelerating sales or on the continuously growing range of models being manufactured’.

Because of this, £300m of grant funding is being refocused to help fix the UK’s patchy public charging infrastructure instead.

“Government funding must always be invested where it has the highest impact,” said transport minister Trudy Harrison.

“Having successfully kickstarted the electric car market, we now want to use plug-in grants to match that success across other vehicle types, from taxis to delivery vans.”

From £5,000 to zero

The Plug-in Car Grant has been progressively reduced over the years. Once worth £5,000, in its final guise it offered a £1,500 discount – and only to pure electric cars with a list price of less than £32,000.

The government says the grant supported the sale of almost half a million EVs (and, originally, plug-in hybrids) since being introduced in 2011.

EV sales of less than 1,000 cars in 2011 have since grown to almost 100,000 in the first five months of 2022 alone.

‘The wrong message’

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has criticised the decision.

Chief executive Mike Hawes says it “sends the wrong message to motorists and to an industry which remains committed to government’s net zero ambition.

“We are now the only major European market to have zero upfront purchase incentives for EV car buyers, yet the most ambitious plans for uptake. The decision comes at the worst possible time.

“If we are to have any chance of hitting targets, government must use these savings and compel massive investment in the charging network, at rapid pace, and at a scale beyond anything so far announced.”

‘Prices need to fall’

RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The UK’s adoption of electric cars is so far impressive but in order to make them accessible to everyone, we need prices to fall.

“Having more on the road is one important way of making this happen, so we’re disappointed the Government has chosen to end the grant at this point.

“If costs remain too high, the ambition of getting most people into electric cars will be stifled.”

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Volkswagen makes plans to conquer TikTok

By

John Redfern

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June 13, 2022

0

Attention, Generation Zers! The Volkswagen Group has taken to TikTok to share its ‘New Auto’ strategy with you.

The company’s channel on the social media platform, titled ‘newauto’, is intended to appeal to tech enthusiasts.

With more than one billion global users viewing short videos on TikTok each month, it represents a huge potential audience for Volkswagen.

Engaging with younger generations

The company hopes to use its various brands to deliver ‘creative and entertaining’ videos to TikTok users. In particular, these will focus on how Volkswagen is now moving to position itself as a tech company, rather than a vehicle manufacturer.

Topics to be covered include decarbonisation, the circular economy, electric vehicle charging, car software and autonomous driving ideas.

When creating videos for its new channel, Volkswagen will make use of existing employees in front of the camera. This is intended to deliver an additional degree of authenticity to its content.

Behind the scenes

Some 40 percent of TikTok users say they like ‘behind the scenes’ content, with 77 percent of those on the platform said to be particularly tech-savvy.

Tesla has previously been ranked as the most popular car company on TikTok.

The Volkswagen Group has made a major commitment to reaching target groups around the world through bespoke social media. Along with TikTok, the company will interact on Twitter, LinkedIn and Reddit.

Michael Manske, head of digital communications at the Volkswagen Group, said: “We are experiencing the biggest transformation in the history of the car. That means new business areas and disruption. To promote trust in New Auto, we also want to reach the digital, environmentally-conscious Generation Z. Instead of saying: strategy is too complex for a platform like TikTok, we are simply going ahead and trying it out.”

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Government demands urgent review of petrol station fuel prices

By

John Redfern

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June 13, 2022

0

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been asked to investigate whether petrol stations are giving motorists a fair deal.

Responsible for regulating competition across the UK, the CMA has been urged to act by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

It follows the Government’s reduction in fuel duty by 5p per litre earlier this year, in response to rapidly rising prices for petrol and diesel.

Drivers deserve a fair deal

In a letter to the CMA’s Chief Executive, Dr Andrea Coscelli CBE, the Business Secretary notes that drivers are frustrated by fuel prices still increasing.

How to save money on fuel

Kwarteng says that the fuel duty cut “does not always appear to have been passed through to forecourt prices.

“Drivers should be getting a fair deal for fuel across the UK.

“Healthy competition between forecourts is key to achieving this, with competition working to keep pressure on prices.”

It asks that an urgent review be conducted into why disparities remain between fuel providers, and how prices can “remain higher than in similar, nearby towns”.

However, the CMA will also be tasked with conducting a larger, longer-term, review into how the fuel market operates in the UK. This will be performed under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Time is of the essence for drivers

As part of this larger review, the CMA is tasked with discovering if “the retail fuel market has adversely affected consumer interests” in the UK. It will be asked to consider whether there are any additional steps the Government, or the CMA itself, could take to help.

An initial report into fuel prices has been requested from the CMA by 7 July 2022.

The report request comes as fuel prices have crossed an ominous milestone. Last week saw the RAC report that the average cost of filling a family car has passed the £100 mark.

RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “March’s 5p fuel duty cut now looks paltry as wholesale petrol costs have already increased by five-times that amount since the Spring Statement”.

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