Oxford Zero Emission Zone to go live in February 2022

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January 4, 2022

Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have revealed plans to open the country’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in the city.

It goes live in two phases from February 2022.

In the launch pilot scheme, petrol and diesel car drivers will be required to pay to enter the city centre in what’s being called the ‘red zone’.

The ‘green zone’, covering the wider city centre, will go live later, at a date to be confirmed.

It will work with a stricter version of the London’s ULEZ emission standards. While ULEZ-compliant vehicles go into the London zone for free, in Oxford they’ll pay a discounted rate.

Only zero emission cars will travel in the green zone for free – making it much more strict than the growing number of Clean Air Zones rolling out across the UK.

Red zone residents to get discount until 2025

The red zone will be live from 7am until 7pm. Drivers of non-compliant cars will be liable for a £10 charge.

Taxis licenced by Oxford City Council can use it for free, as can buses, emergency service vehicles and historic vehicles (those registered 40 years ago or more).

Blue Badge holders, won’t pay in full until 2024. Businesses in the red zone will be eligible for a discount until 2030.

Private residents living in the Oxford ZEZ will get a 90 percent discount until 31 July 2025 (five years earlier than a previous December 2030 target end date).

Where is the red zone? You could likely walk it inside half an hour. It’s a small patch of roads between Gloucester Green, Westgate and the Sheldonian Theatre.

Oxford Zero Emission Zone ‘leading the EV revolution’

“With our strengthened Zero Emission Zone and the introduction of hundreds of supporting charging points, our medieval city is leading the electric vehicle revolution,” said Councillor Tom Hayes, cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council.

“Our two councils have taken a fresh look at the big idea of charging commuters to drive polluting vehicles in and out of the city centre.

“And we’re listening to Oxford’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change by speeding up our journey to a city-wide Zero Emission Zone.”

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Renault Sport is officially no more

By

Richard Aucock

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January 3, 2022

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Renault Sport is officially no more as Alpine takes over as the sporting brand of the Groupe Renault.

Brand websites and social media accounts for the storied Renault Sport brand closed on 31 December and are now directing enthusiasts to Alpine accounts.

“It’s been a wild ride!” said Renault Sport in its final posts on Twitter and Instagram.

“From everyone at the Renault Sport team, thank you for following along with us on this adventure.”

https://twitter.com/RenaultSport/status/1471116835357704193

The switch from Renault Sport to Alpine was announced in May 2021 as part of the Renaulution strategy.

The switch had already been made on the racetrack as the Renault Sport F1 team became Alpine F1 for 2021.

Renault’s move is similar to Seat’s decision to turn Cupra into a higher-end standalone brand for sporting cars.

Racetrack to road

The Renault Sport brand was originally created for the racetrack, with the famous turbocharged Renault F1 cars first racing in 1977.

The first Renault Sport road car didn’t arrive until 1995, with the launch of the Renault Sport Spider.

The Renault Sport Clio 172 (pictured above) arrived in 1998 and the Renault Sport brand prospered throughout the 2000s and 2010s with a series of highly-acclaimed models.

The rebirth of Alpine marked the end for Renault Sport, though. There isn’t even a sporty version of the latest Clio and the current Megane R.S. is on borrowed time as Renault prepares to launch an all-new, all-electric version in 2022.

The firm’s plan is to move away from higher-volume models and focus on more exclusive and profitable vehicles.

Notably, it describes the new Alpines as “sportscars” but does say it will use the “scale and capabilities” of Renault’s CMF-B (latest Clio) and CMF-EV (new Megane Electric) platforms.

“The new Alpine entity takes three brands with separate assets and areas of excellence to turn them into an empowered, fully-fledged business,” said MD Laurent Rossi earlier this year.

“We’ll be on the track and on the roads, authentic and high-tech, disruptive and passionate.”

Renault aims for Alpine to become profitable by 2025 – and this will include its F1 activities.

Expect to hear more from Alpine in the coming months… but for now, it’s officially adieu, Renault Sport.

What was your favourite Renault Sport? Let us know in the comments below

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AA revives Covid vaccination centre road sign campaign

By

Richard Aucock

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December 27, 2021

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AA Covid-19 vaccination centre road sign

The AA is once again installing road signs directing motorists to temporary Covid-19 community vaccination centres to support the UK Get Boosted Now campaign.

The motoring organisation expects to put up thousands road signs – and has pledged to do so for free.

AA president Edmund King contacted transport secretary Grant Shapps to make the latest offer, which has now been agreed with the Cabinet Office.

Earlier this year, the AA installed signs for community vaccination centres opened in January 2021. The organisation extended this offer to centres opened throughout February.

The NHS has listed the location of walk-in vaccination centres across England.

NHS England has revealed there are more than 1.5 million booster slots available between now and 3 January.

The number of Covid vaccination centres expands further once Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are included.

Some of these centres may be in unfamiliar locations, says the AA.

In Hertfordshire, a vaccination centre occupies a disused nightclub in Batchwood. In South West London, there’s a vaccination centre at Nonsuch Mansion, a Grade II listed house.

In Plymouth, The Staddy is a vaccination centre five miles outside the city centre.

Find a Covid-19 vaccination centre

“The AA has been producing road signs to guide drivers for over 100 years, so we knew that using this expertise was a unique way for us to offer further help in the national booster vaccination effort,” said Mr King.

“We are pleased to be guiding road users on two wheels or four with directions on route to these very important destinations.

“It’s clear that the signs are already helping people find their way to their local community vaccination centres.”

The move has been praised by the transport secretary.

“I’m pleased to announce our agreement with the AA.

“Their expertise will help people reach their centre, contributing to the already-huge national effort underway to get more people vaccinated and to support the booster vaccination programme.”

The bespoke sign has been created by the AA Signs team, which arranged to design, print, install and then remove and recycle up to 5,000 signs.

The road signs are made from recycled plastic and the AA says the project is an entire end-to-end service for every community vaccination centre.

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Driving into London at Christmas: What you need to know

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Motoring Research team

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December 25, 2021

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As the Omicron variant spreads, the situation in terms of Covid-19 restrictions is constantly changing. Our advice is to check the UK government website before you travel.

That said, it doesn’t look likely that any limitations on movement or social gatherings will be imposed in England imminently.

So, if you’re driving into London this Christmas, here’s what you need to know.

Congestion Charge at Christmas

Be selective about your visits to London and you won’t need to pay the Congestion Charge. For starters, you don’t need to pay between 10pm and 7am.

The Congestion Charge will not be in operation on Christmas Day (25 December), but will return on Boxing Day (26 December).

Congestion charge – what you’ll pay

Supposedly to help combat the coronavirus, the Congestion Charge daily fee increased to £15 last year. Transport for London (TfL) also extended the operating hours, removed the weekend exemption and closed the residents’ discount scheme to new applicants.

However, Blue Badge holders remain eligible for a 100 percent discount, as do accredited breakdown vehicles, vehicles with nine or more seats, some motor tricycles and roadside recovery vehicles.

Otherwise, only electric cars and hydrogen fuel-cell cars are exempt from the charge. Their owners must register for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount with Transport for London and pay a £10 admin fee.

Not paying the C-Charge when it is due will incur a fine of £160. If you pay within 14 days of the charge being issued, a 50 percent discount will be granted, reducing the fine to £80.

If the penalty charge is not paid within 28 days, the fine increases to £240.

The ULEZ and Christmas

Recently expanded, the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) now covers the area inside the North Circular and South Circular roads.

It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Most vehicles need to meet the emissions standards or pay a daily charge. Petrol cars registered after 2005 and diesel cars registered after September 2015 should meet the minimum requirements. The cost is £12.50 for cars, motorcycles and vans (up to 3.5 tonnes), or £100 for heavier vehicles, including lorries, buses or coaches.

TfL says London’s roads are likely to be busiest between 23 and 27 December.

Click here to read the latest Christmas and New Year travel information for London. The page includes updates on public transport, safe travel and daily travel advice.

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Why the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is 2022’s most-wanted sports car

By

Tim Pitt

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December 22, 2021

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This isn’t quite the last days of Rome, but you get the sense some car companies have kicked off their sandals and downed a flagon of wine.

As the 2030 ban on traditional combustion cars looms (extended to 2035 for plug-in hybrids), the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche are gorging on petrol-powered profligacy while they still can. Frankly, as a car enthusiast, I’m all for it.

The Ferrari Daytona SP3 is the most hedonistic of them all: a targa-topped two-seater with an 840hp naturally aspirated V12. Then there’s the forthcoming Aston Martin V12 Vantage, successor to perhaps the greatest Aston of the modern era.

A question of Rennsport

And the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, of course: the first non-911 to get the ‘Rennsport’ treatment and the car I’m most excited about for 2022.

At its heart, the Cayman has the same howling 4.0-litre flat-six as the latest 911 GT3, albeit detuned a token 10hp to 500hp. It rides 30mm lower and bristles with angular aero – including an adjustable front splitter and GT3-style swan neck wing.

Also, while not devoid of luxuries, the RS has been on a diet. The Porsche crest on the bonnet, for example, is now a sticker.

‘A real action hero’

The results are a modest kerb weight of 1,415kg, 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 195mph. More significantly, the RS can lap the Nurburgring in 7 minutes, 4.5 seconds: some 23.6 seconds quicker than a standard GT4.

If you want even more track pace, order your RS in race-ready Clubsport spec. Frank-Steffen Walliser, former head of Porsche Motorsport, describes it as “a real action hero”.

At £108,370, the GT4 RS won’t be cheap – and that’s before you add options such as the Weissach package (£11,186) or 20-inch forged magnesium wheels (£10,521). You can also expect a long waiting list to buy one.

Still, future classic status is assured, particularly as this Porsche, like many sports cars of late, may be the last of a dying breed.

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Grand National Roadster Show to return in January 2022

By

John Redfern

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December 21, 2021

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The Grand National Roadster Show has been confirmed to make its return next month.

One of the world’s largest gatherings of hot rods, custom cars, lowriders and muscle cars will take place at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.

Held from 28-30 January 2022, more than 1,000 vehicles will be on display, including two special celebratory exhibitions.

Commemorating the Deuce

The 72nd edition of the Grand National Roadster Show will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the 1932 Ford.

Presented by C.W. Moss & So-Cal Speed Shop, the ‘32 Ford display will honor an iconic car that has become a legend of hot-rodding culture.

A special external parking area will be set aside for 1932 Fords that are registered for the ‘Grand Daddy Drive-In’ event.

The 2022 show will also include ‘A Gathering of Hot VWs’, presented by Hot VWs Magazine and EMPI.

Competing for roadster glory

However, the centerpiece of the Grand National Roadster Show will be the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) exhibition.

A total of 12 roadsters from the country’s top builders will compete for glory, plus a check for $12,500. The winner will also have their name added to the impressive nine-foot-tall perpetual trophy – and receive a smaller personal trophy to take home.

A further 12 vehicles will be in competition for the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. This is awarded to the best car or truck not in the running for the AMBR award.

General admission tickets for the 2022 Grand National Roadster Show are on sale now, with prices starting from $25.

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Peugeot boosts electric e-208 driving range to 225 miles

By

Richard Aucock

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December 21, 2021

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Peugeot has boosted the driving range of the electric e-208 through a series of tech tweaks.

The 50kWh battery is now able to power it for 225 miles between charges, up from the current car’s 217-mile range.

Peugeot has achieved this by adding an interior humidity sensor at the top of the windscreen, which allows more efficient use of the climate control system.

The efficiency of the heat pump has been improved too, so it warms and cools the interior more efficiently, particularly in winter.

A more efficient gearbox ratio for higher-speed driving also helps improve the electric range at motorway speeds, as do more efficient Class A+ tyres.

The improvements mean the Peugeot e-208 still retains a driving range advantage over its Vauxhall Corsa-e sister car, despite the British firm’s own recent tech improvements.

Some upgraded 2022 model year Peugeot e-208 are still eligible for the recently-cut Plug-in Car Grant, adds the firm.

Both Active Premium (£28,225) and Allure Premium (£29,525) qualify for the £1,500 government Plug-in Car Grant saving.

e-208 buyers also get a six-month subscription to BP Pulse, while support for up to 100kW rapid charging means an 80 percent charge can be achieved in 30 minutes.

Vauxhall still has an advantage in terms of value, though: the Corsa-e range now opens from less than £26k.

2022 Peugeot 208

Regular petrol and diesel engine 208 have also been improved for 2022, with Peugeot simplifying the range by removing the unpopular Allure variants.

Customers can now pick from a four-strong line-up of Active Premium, Allure Premium, GT and GT Premium.

Top-spec GT Premium models are now only offered with a 1.2-litre Puretech petrol engine option; it produces 100hp with a six-speed manual, or 130hp with an eight-speed auto gearbox.

Active Premium and Allure Premium buyers also get diamond black door mirror covers as standard.

Peugeot adds that every 208 feature a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and automatic headlights are also standard.

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Vauxhall slashes electric car prices after Plug-in Car Grant cut

By

Richard Aucock

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December 20, 2021

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Following the government’s latest cut to the Plug-in Car Grant, Vauxhall has followed suit and cut prices of its electric cars to ensure the full ranges remain eligible for the grant.

A full £3,000 reduction has been applied across all Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e – which, in the case of the Corsa-e, takes prices down to less than £26k.

The entry-level Vauxhall Corsa-e SE now costs £25,805, once the Plug-in Car Grant is applied.

Previously, it cost £27,305.

Vauxhall Mokka-e prices also now start from less than £30k, with the entry-level SE priced from £29,365 – down from almost £31k before.

The price cuts come just days after Vauxhall announced an electric range boost for the Corsa-e and Mokka-e; the Corsa-e can now travel for up to 222 miles between charges.

“Vauxhall wants to move the UK to electric motoring as quickly as possible,” said MD Paul Willcox.

“In light of a further evolution to the government Plug-in Car Grant, we have taken the decision to change our pricing policy on our all-electric Corsa-e and Mokka-e models.

“With more attainable pricing from significant reductions on both models, as well as the grant, we hope to put zero-emissions-in-use motoring within the reach of even more British motorists.”

Vauxhall adds that the new pricing is in lieu of all previous customer offers.

Last week, the government caused controversy with a surprise cut to the Plug-in Car Grant – the second in 2021.

The £2,500 discount was reduced to £1,500, while the qualifying price cap was reduced from under £35k down to under £32k.

Vauxhall, which plans to go all-electric by 2028, is the first car manufacturer to respond with price cuts to its EVs.

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Ferrari Testa Rossa J driven: All I want for Christmas…

By

Tim Pitt

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December 17, 2021

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Still searching for the ultimate Christmas gift? Instead of buying your kids 2021’s must-have piece of plastic – a remote control BatBot, my 10-year-old tells me – how about a three-quarter-scale electric Ferrari Testa Rossa?

Just imagine the fun you (sorry, they) could have on Christmas morning. Batteries are included, as you’d hope for £95,000.

Granted, the Testa Rossa J (for ‘Junior’) isn’t cheap, but one of the 34 full-size original cars, built between 1957 and 1961, could set you back £30 million. And this is a genuine Ferrari, officially endorsed by Maranello.

Little wonders

“Ferrari was on board with the idea straight away,” explains Ben Hedley, founder of The Little Car Company. “We also proposed making a 250 SWB California Spyder or P4, but the Testa Rossa was a clear favourite. They allowed us to scan the technical drawings, so the chassis is identical.”

Based at Bicester Heritage, a former RAF base near Oxford, The Little Car Company makes ‘little’ versions of motoring icons. Projects so far include the Bugatti Baby II (based on the 1924 Type 35) and Aston Martin DB5 Junior – newly available in No Time To Die spec, with rotating mini-guns, digital number plates and a push-button smokescreen.

A road-legal replica of the Tamiya Wild One RC buggy is in development, too.

Racing Red

Despite their playful side, Hedley insists these aren’t toys: “We take classic cars that are now too valuable to drive, then shrink them down 25 percent”.

For the Testa Rossa J, that also means batteries and a 12kW electric motor: good for a 50mph top speed and fully-charged range of 56 miles. “Raffaele di Simone [Ferrari’s official test-driver] took the car out and came back smiling,” he says, as I clamber awkwardly aboard.

Here’s the production Testa Rossa J from the Little Car Company.

Nine official Ferrari liveries are available – this one replicates car no. 0724.

Optional 12-inch wheels are genuine Borrani wires. pic.twitter.com/eWmzfYoeG6
— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) November 12, 2021

The hand-beaten aluminium body of my Testa Rossa is finished in authentic Ferrari Rosso Corsa. The chassis plate and prancing horse badges are also pukka Ferrari parts, while the drilled pedals come from a 488 Pista.

Other spec highlights include a Nardi steering wheel, Bilstein coilover suspension, Brembo brakes (sourced from a Ducati Diavel motorbike), and Borrani wire wheels with Pirelli tyres.

Take to the track

A modern Ferrari-style manettino on the dashboard offers four drive modes. Novice is for smaller children and permits just 1kW of power, with a key fob kill-switch for parents. Mind the Christmas tree! Comfort allows speeds up to 25mph (into the garden with you), while Sport serves up the full 12kW (save it for the country estate).

There’s also a Race mode, which offers balance of performance settings for miniature motorsport. The Little Car Company hopes to organise Testa Rossa J races alongside Ferrari’s FXX track days.

My drive takes place on the Bicester Airfield circuit and, after a few exploratory laps, I’m straight into Sport mode. With just 250kg to shift and the instant torque of an electric motor, the Ferrari catapults out of corners, easily reaching its maximum speed on the main straight.

There are no gears to shift, so you can left-foot brake and concentrate on clipping each apex. All that’s missing is the visceral roar of a Colombo V12.

Don’t wrap it…

Hedley says the weight distribution of the Testa Rossa J is similar to the real thing – and while I don’t have a near-priceless classic car for comparison, it does feel supple and neatly balanced.

Indeed, on a slightly damp track, the car is easily provoked into four-wheel drifts, my hands juggling the wood-rimmed wheel as I daydream about Mike Hawthorn on the 1958 Targa Florio.

The Testa Rossa J is brilliant fun and a perfect gift for the petrolhead who has everything. That said, come Christmas morning, Thomas is far more likely to unwrap a BatBot than a Ferrari. Sorry son, maybe next year.

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Electric Cupra Born priced from £33,735

By

Richard Aucock

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December 16, 2021

0

The first all-electric Cupra, the Born, is now available to order, with prices starting from £33,735.

First deliveries of the sporty five-door electric hatchback are expected in spring 2022.

A more focused sister car to the Volkswagen ID.3, the Cupra Born will initially be offered in 204hp guise, with a 58kWh battery.

This will quickly be followed by a more affordable 150hp version with a 45kWh battery – a car that’s likely to qualify for the newly-reduced Plug-in Car Grant.

Cupra says a more powerful 231hp version, with either 58kWh or 77kWh batteries, will arrive later in 2022.

Rapid-charge ready

The launch Born’s 58kWh battery gives a driving range of 263 miles, plus a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds.

It’s ready to use DC rapid chargers up to 120kW, which will top the battery up from five percent to 80 percent in 35 minutes.

Keeping it simple

The firm’s simple model-grade structure continues with the Born: choose it in V1, V2 or V3 guises.

Even the smallest alloy wheel size is 18 inches, and all models get full LED headlights, a 12-inch touchscreen, front bucket seats in sustainable Seaqual yarn, plus 11kW AC capability for speedier home charging via a wallbox.

V2, which costs £34,190, adds 19-inch alloys, dark-tinted rear windows, heated front seats and an augmented reality head-up display – a first for Cupra.

V3 stretches the wheels further, to 20-inches, and switches the seats to heated, massaging, electrically-operated granite grey Dinamica buckets. It costs £37,375.

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