Toyota Land Cruiser buyers in Japan could wait four years for delivery

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January 24, 2022

Toyota has warned Japanese buyers they could face a long wait to own a new Land Cruiser SUV.

Customers placing an order now may not have their Land Cruiser delivered until 2026.

Toyota has not confirmed the cause of the extreme delay. However, the problem is not due to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage.

Counting down the days

In a statement on its website, Toyota has said: ‘We sincerely apologise for the fact that Land Cruiser has been very well received, not only in Japan but also around the world, and it is expected that it will take a long time to deliver it after receiving an order’.

The company adds: ‘The delivery time for ordering from now on may be about four years. We will do our utmost to shorten the delivery time of our customers, and we appreciate your understanding’.

A report by BBC News notes that, unlike delays affecting other models, Toyota has said the Land Cruiser shortage is ‘not related to current semiconductor shortage or supply chain issue’.

Tackle the toughest terrain, eventually

The latest 300 Series is the first all-new Land Cruiser since 2007. Launched in June 2021, it makes use of the TNGA-F platform, which also underpins the North American-market Toyota Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.

Toyota has dropped the option of a V8 engine for the 300 Series Land Cruiser. Depending on the market, buyers can pick from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6, 4.0 naturally aspirated V6 or twin-turbo V6 diesel.

A new GR Sport trim level has been added, with unique styling and upgraded suspension. Toyota plans to use the Land Cruiser GR Sport in the 2023 Dakar Rally.

More than 10.6 million examples of the Land Cruiser have been built since 1951.

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Hennessey VelociRaptor Bronco charges into production

By

John Redfern

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January 23, 2022

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Impatient Ford fans patiently waiting for a performance version of the Bronco SUV may have a way to speed up the process.

Texas-based Hennessey has brought forward production of its VelociRaptor 400 Bronco, due to “unprecedented demand”.

The news comes as Ford is imminently due to announce its own Bronco Raptor.

Sportiest Utility Vehicle

Powering the VelociRaptor 400 Bronco is a modified version of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 found in the regular SUV. Hennessey’s upgrades include new engine management software, a stainless steel exhaust system, and a high-flow induction kit.

This results in a substantial 411 horsepower, with 603 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 mph sprint takes just 4.9 seconds, making this a seriously sporty SUV.

As part of the package, Hennessey also installs a set of 18-inch wheels, a larger intercooler, and unique VelociRaptor-branded bumpers.

The interior gains Hennessey-embroidered headrests, and a numbered build plaque.

New level of Bronco Fever

Pricing for Hennessey’s VelociRaptor 400 Bronco package begins at $24,950. This includes full installation, testing on a dynamometer and the road, plus a three-year / 36,000-mile warranty.

As part of the VelociRaptor 400’s launch in Scottsdale, AZ, Hennessey has also unveiled a special optional livery.

Adding an additional $6,000 to the price, it includes double body stripes and racing roundels for the doors.

Rapid queue jump

Hennessey will limit production of the VelociRaptor 400 to just 200 units each year. Buyers will be able to pick from two- or four-door bodies, and with the option of a soft-top roof.

Customer deliveries of the VelociRaptor 400 Bronco are due to begin now, as Hennessey races to meet demand.

John Hennessey, Hennessey’s founder and CEO, said: “Since we announced our plans for the Bronco mid-last year, we’ve been inundated with customer requests to take our upgraded version.

“For so many of our customers, the Bronco is a special car they’ve always loved – now we can give them a VelociRaptor 400 Bronco with the power and style to make it a truly special vehicle.”

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Brabus reveals sinister 800hp G-Class pickup truck

By

John Redfern

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January 23, 2022

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German tuning company Brabus has revealed one of its most extreme creations to date.

Branded the 800 XLP Adventure ‘Superblack’, the custom pickup truck has gained a new sinister black finish inside and out.

The regular 800 XLP, revealed in 2020, already comes with portal axles, bespoke suspension, and almost 800hp.

It seems the last thing it needed was ever greater presence on the street.

Powerful and practical?

Using the ladder frame chassis of a G-Class SUV as a base, Brabus stretches the wheelbase and adds bespoke bodywork. The rear wall of the cab is crafted from steel, whilst the truck bed is made from a combination of steel and carbon fibre.

Brabus also fits custom suspension parts, including height-adjustable coilover dampers plated with titanium. Portal axles allow for greater articulation, and give the Superblack a ground clearance of 49cm.

Power comes from an enhanced version of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine found in the G63 AMG. Larger turbochargers and an ECU remap help take the output to a huge 789hp with 737 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, of course, as is a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Despite weighing almost 3,000kg, the Superblack can still accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. Top speed is limited, perhaps sensibly, to 130mph.

Black is the new black

The reason for the limited top speed are all-terrain tyres, fitted to the 22-inch black Monoblock wheels. These sit beneath flared carbon fibre wheel arches, which added an extra 11.6cm to the width of the Superblack.

More carbon fibre trim can be found across the bodywork, including the front skid plate and detailing around the truck bed. The remainder of the exterior is finished in black, including the running boards and spare wheel carrier.

Brabus is particularly pleased with the performance exhaust system. It offers a choice of two volume levels to avoid upsetting the neighbours. The illuminated ‘Launch Ambience Lights’ that surround the side-exit tailpipes are another matter, however…

Almost all of the interior is finished in black leather, with the remainder covered in black Alcantara. Carbon fibre trim makes an appearance on the dashboard, steering wheel, and door handles. A further 206 elements are covered in shadow chrome.

Special anniversary present

Many of the interior trim items feature a ‘Heritage’ design, with embossed ‘77’ logos found throughout the cabin. This is a deliberate nod to the 45th anniversary of the company’s founding in 1977.

The market for the 800 XLP Adventure Superblack is likely to be limited, given the extreme levels of performance and extravagance on display.

A starting price of €725,900 (£605,000) is also likely to reduce the number of potential customers.

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Street lights could gain new tech to help self-driving cars

By

John Redfern

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January 21, 2022

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Street lamps will be key to helping prepare the nation’s roads for a digital revolution.

That is the message from National Highways, which says new technology such as 5G will allow street lighting to be used for far more than just illumination.

It follows a successful ‘proof of concept’ trial, which saw intelligent street lighting installed at the M40 junction 15 Longbridge roundabout, near Birmingham.

Illuminating the future

National Highways says drivers will have ‘been oblivious to the CCTV and communications technology hidden away in the street lamps’ at Longbridge. This was thanks to the work being done at the same time as an upgrade to LED lighting.

Conducted over five months at the end of 2021, the trial (fittingly named ‘Illuminate’) demonstrated the potential of street lighting. The lights were able to communicate data back to remote office equipment and tablet computers.

Illuminate’s initial success will now be used to help shape National Highways’ approach to managing Connected and Autonomous (CAV) infrastructure.

Truly smart roads

National Highways envisages the ability to communicate information to autonomous vehicles, such as speed limit restrictions, or warnings about hazards. Connected cars would receive these messages directly, rather than relying on drivers seeing overhead gantry signs.

The emergence of 5G connectivity allows the additional bandwidth to connect multiple cameras and wireless access points to street lighting.

National Highways’ innovations lead for the Midlands, Lisa Maric, said: “These are exciting times as we progress on our Digital Roads journey with the growth of digital technology and the move to electric, connected and autonomous vehicles that will fundamentally change how we use roads in the future.

“National Highways is committed to ensuring we are at the forefront of this digital revolution and is preparing the way for the greener and safer roads of tomorrow.

“Initial trials such as Illuminate will help us identify new innovations, technology and methods to meet our digital goals. We were pleased with how Illuminate performed as a proof of concept and the useful knowledge gained as we continue to plan for the roads of the future.”

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Showroom-fresh Porsche Carrera GT sells for a record $2 million

By

John Redfern

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January 20, 2022

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A 2005 Porsche Carrera GT supercar with just 250 miles on the odometer has set a new auction record.

Sold through US website Bring a Trailer, the $2 million (£1.471 million) winning bid becomes the highest sale price achieved by the online platform.

It surpasses the already impressive figure of $1.9 million (£1.4 million), which was achieved by a Carrera GT on Bring a Trailer earlier this month.

Continental cruiser

One of 1,270 Carrera GTs built by Porsche between 2003 and 2007, this particular car was delivered new to St. Petersburg, Florida. It later moved to Kansas, before being acquired by the Illinois-based seller.

The Carrera GT was clearly not driven on its trans-American journey, given its incredibly low mileage.

It means the previous owners have demonstrated plenty of restraint. With a 5.7-litre V10 engine, the Carrera GT’s 605hp output allows for a top speed of almost 210mph. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 3.9 seconds, but this requires mastering the Carrera GT’s six-speed manual gearbox and infamous clutch.

The Porsche was the first production car with a carbon-ceramic clutch. It requires particular care, with replacements costing upwards of $20,000 (£14,700).

Expensive service history

The car auctioned on Bring a Trailer is finished in trademark GT Silver metallic paint, which covers the lightweight carbon monocoque and body panels. A previous owner added a ceramic coating, plus paint protection film, to help preserve the Carrera GT’s exterior.

Inside, the car is trimmed in bold Terracotta leather, which covers the dashboard, steering wheel and bucket seats with Kevlar shells. A matching luggage set was included with the sale.

Despite its low mileage, the Carrera GT has received plenty of expenditure on maintenance. A complete service was performed in January 2021, at a considerable cost of $18,000 (£13,200)

This included the installation of a new water pump, engine belts, spark plugs and a battery.

More records to break

With Carrera GT values already being pushed higher, this barely used example was bound to attract interest when auctioned.

A total of 44 bids were received, helping the Porsche to set a new Bring a Trailer milestone.

The Bring a Trailer online auction platform also set new records for overall sales during 2021. With some 17,846 cars sold, it exceeded the previous year’s total by 108 percent.

Total sales were valued at $828 million (£608 million), and Bring a Trailer says it is now the largest online auction platform for collectable cars.

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Porsche celebrates 50 years of style with special 911 Targa

By

Tim Pitt

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January 20, 2022

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This has been a busy week for Porsche news. Firstly – and most excitingly – there’s a new 911: the Edition 50Y Porsche Design.

Based on the Targa GTS and limited to 750 cars worldwide, it celebrates 50 years of Stuttgart’s design and styling department.

The £144,360 Edition 50Y is inspired by a 911T 2.4 Targa from 1972, when Porsche Design was founded. Engineers spent two years restoring the air-cooled classic in-house, upgrading its chassis and flat-six engine to 190hp ‘S’ spec.

The black and platinum colour scheme mirrors the Chronograph I watch designed by F. A. Porsche – also in 1972.

Brand new retro

For the 911 Edition 50Y, an all-black exterior is combined with retro sill stripes and checked seats – the latter in grippy Sport-Tex fabric.

Power comes from a 480hp twin-turbo six (water-cooled this time), driving the rear wheels via a manual or PDK automatic transmission. Use launch control and it blasts to 62mph in 3.5 seconds.

Inevitably, owners can order a new edition of the classic Chronograph I watch, too.

Taycan things further

Also new this week is the Taycan Sport Turismo, now officially on sale and priced from £76,350.

Essentially, it is an estate version of Porsche’s class-leading EV, but without the lofty suspension and off-road attitude of the existing Cross Turismo. Options range from the 326hp rear-wheel-drive model to the 625hp Turbo S.

Britain is the second largest market worldwide for Taycan sales and it accounted for a third of Porsche GB’s volume in 2021. The practical Sport Turismo looks set to bolster that success – look out for the Motoring Research review in early February.

Platinum jubilee

Finally, we should mention the new Cayenne Platinum Edition, which features unique satin paint and extra equipment.

Starting from £69,230, the petrol or plug-in hybrid SUV comes with 21-inch RS Spyder alloy wheels, sports exhaust tailpipes, eight-way adjustable leather seats, a Bose audio system and a panoramic sunroof.

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Car insurance prices rise 7.6% in three months

By

Richard Aucock

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January 20, 2022

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The cost of fully comprehensive car insurance rose by 7.6 percent in the final three months of 2021, well above the rate of inflation.

It means the average fully-comp car insurance policy is now £443, up from £412 in autumn 2021.

After a major drop at the start of 2021, research by Moneysupermarket shows prices were still down 6.6 percent year-on-year. However, they have started creeping back up over the past three consecutive quarters.

Londoners are still paying the most for car insurance, with an average premium of £616. Those in the North West pay an average of £509, while West Midlands motorists pay £504.

Motorists in the South West pay the least, with the average premium at just £295 – more than £320 less than a typical Londoner pays.

Meanwhile, in terms of age profiles, it’s those aged 21-24 that are faced with the highest premiums, averaging an eye-watering £857.

‘Remain vigilant’

Car insurance prices have been on an upward trajectory since the standout lows seen at the start of 2021, says Moneysupermarkets’s Sara Newell, “with figures for the last quarter showing the most unwelcome jump yet.

“If you’re a driver, it’s really important that you stay vigilant to price rises – particularly against the backdrop of price rises across lots of other household bills and consumer goods.

“If you’re nearing the end of your policy, make sure you shop and around for a new deal to avoid losing out.”

Newell added that, although new rules from the FCA addressing unfair pricing for new and renewing customers are welcome, “it’s important to recognise that these measures alone won’t save you money.

“The only guaranteed way of saving money on your car insurance is to shop around for a new deal. Doing so through Moneysupermarket could save you up to £264.”

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Volkswagen Group doubled electric car sales in 2021

By

John Redfern

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January 19, 2022

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The Volkswagen Group achieved an impressive 95.5 percent increase in global electric vehicle sales during 2021.

Across the multiple brands within the group, a total of 452,900 electric cars were delivered to customers.

It marks a substantial increase on the 231,600 EVs delivered during 2020, despite the ongoing challenges caused by the pandemic and semiconductor chip shortages.

However, the overall number of vehicles delivered by the Volkswagen Group fell by 4.5 percent last year, down to 8.82 million.

Skoda Enyaq iV Czech’s out

In terms of increased EV sales, Skoda stood out as the clear VW Group winner. In 2020, the Czech brand sold 15,200 electric vehicles around the world.

This rose to 49,100 Skoda EVs in 2021: a substantial 222.9 percent jump. A full production year for the Enyaq iV electric SUV accounted for the increase.

Volkswagen-badged electric cars almost doubled in sales, too. A total of 263,200 in 2021 compares with 133,900 the year before – a 95.5 percent rise.

Audi also enjoyed EV success. The brand’s expanded range of E-tron models saw deliveries up by 57.5 percent, from 52,000 to 81,900 cars.

Taycan control of the market

Yet it was Porsche that posted the second-largest increase in electric vehicle deliveries. Despite the relatively high list price of the Taycan EV, Porsche more than doubled the number sold last year.

Including the Sport Turismo estate, a total of 41,300 Taycans found new homes. Compared with 2020, that represents a 106.3 percent improvement.

Sales of electric Volkswagen Group vehicles made big gains in all major markets. China saw sales leap by 319.5 percent, with the United States recording a 200.2 percent rise.

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Morgan celebrates Le Mans victory with limited-run Plus Four LM62

By

John Redfern

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January 19, 2022

0

British sports car maker Morgan is continuing to celebrate its motorsport history with a new special edition.

A limited-run version of the Plus Four, the LM62, commemorates Morgan’s class win at Le Mans six decades ago.

Numerous special parts are fitted to the Plus Four LM62. Production will be limited to 62 cars, priced from £78,995.

Spirit of 1962

The LM62 pays tribute to the Morgan Plus 4 SuperSports – known by its registration: ‘TOK 258’ – that took victory in the 2.0-litre class at Le Mans in 1962.

Both colour options for the LM62 have been directly influenced by Morgan racers from the 1960s. The successful TOK 258 was painted dark green, whereas many Morgan racers were finished in red at the time.

Morgan Jet Green or Morgan Tertre Rouge paint finishes will both be combined with a Heritage White hard-top. It marks the first time Morgan has built a Plus Four with a hard-top as standard.

An LM62 graphics pack includes racing roundels, along with an LM62 rear badge, silver-painted wire wheels, a Le Mans-style fuel filler cap and a domed rear panel.

Numbered inside and out

Inside, the LM62 gains a numbered plaque, displaying which of the 62 cars it is.

Laser-engraved leather door pulls and headrests embroidered with the specially designed LM62 graphic are also fitted. Completing the interior are heated black leather seats and a tawny wood dashboard.

Potential buyers can place their orders for the Plus Four LM62 now. It will be offered in both right- and left-hand drive, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine remains unchanged.

Morgan motorsport history

The LM62 is the latest Morgan to take inspiration from the world of motorsport. The radical Plus Four CX-T was announced during 2021, paying homage to off-road rally vehicles.

Last year also saw Morgan release its most powerful road car ever. The V8-powered Plus 8 GTR was directly inspired by Morgan’s GT racing efforts during the 1990s.

Steve Morris, chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company, said: “The 1962 Le Mans class-winning Morgan Plus 4 holds a special place in the hearts of Morgan enthusiasts, employees and owners around the world.

“It marked one of Morgan’s greatest motorsport achievements, the car covering more than 2,200 miles at an average running speed of almost 94mph, and triumphing – like David vs. Goliath – over our bigger and better-funded rivals of the time.”

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18 January is the most dangerous day of the year to drive

By

John Redfern

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January 18, 2022

0

If yesterday’s ‘Blue Monday’ – apparently the most depressing day of the year – wasn’t enough to worry about, today brings new challenges for motorists.

Detailed analysis of data spanning a decade has found 18 January is one of the most dangerous days for drivers.

The data, compiled by Admiral Motor Insurance, shows 33 percent more claims are made on this day compared with the average across the year.

In the bleak midwinter

Admiral analysed insurance claim data covering the period from 2012 to the end of 2021. Claims for fire, theft, malicious damage and windscreen damage were excluded from the numbers crunched.

The top 10 days with the greatest volume of insurance accident claims were all found in winter months. Spanning November to February, the most dangerous dates identified by Admiral are:

18 January
5 December
4 December
16 January
28 February
1 December
18 December
1 February
30 November
14 December

Lorna Connelly, head of claims at Admiral, said: “More of us travel by car in the colder months, so combine that with wetter weather and icier road conditions and driving becomes more risky in the winter.”

‘Poor weather and stressed drivers’

Connelly added: “Our claims analysis from the last 10 years found more road accidents happen on 18 January than on any other date, with around 33 percent more claims on this day compared with the average day throughout the year. Poor weather combined with busier roads and stressed drivers, as we return from the Christmas break, could all be contributing factors.

“While November and December are overall the most treacherous months, with the most accidents, January 18is overall the date of the year we see the highest number of accident claims.”

Tips from Admiral for reducing the risk of a winter collision include leaving plenty of time for your journey, along with mapping out the best route to take in advance.

We also have our own winter driving guide, with tips to keep you safe on the road.

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