New app counts number of bugs splats on cars

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May 29, 2021

A new app has been launched to help track the number of bugs that end up splatted on car number plates. The idea is to help scientists survey the insect population.

Before making a journey, drivers are asked to clean their car’s number plate. They then count the number of bugs splatted at the end of a journey using the Bugs Matter app, which sends a photograph to the scientists running the project.

The survey is based on the ‘windscreen phenomenon’, says Bugs Matter, a term given to the observation that people tend to find fewer insects squashed on the windscreens of their cars compared with several decades ago. However, evidence of this decline is thin on the ground.

The campaign is being run by the Buglife charity and alongside the Kent, Gwent, Essex and Somerset Wildlife Trusts. The trial is set to run from 1 June through to 31 August.

‘A major concern to everybody’

“Many people remark on not having to clean bug splats off their car windscreens as much as they did 20 or 30 years ago,” said Andrew Whitehouse, countries manager at Buglife.

“The falling abundance of flying insects should be a major concern to everybody as these essential creatures are, quite simply, the small things that run the world.

“In 2019, dozens of citizen scientists helped Kent Wildlife Trust gather data on the numbers of insects squashed on car number plates. The results showed that the number of insects counted was 50 percent lower than in a survey using the same method carried out by the RSPB in 2004. This is a startling figure, although not enough evidence to say it represents a decline.”

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London crossings to prioritise people over cars

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 28, 2021

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Transport for London has modified 18 pedestrian crossings to prioritise those on foot over vehicles.

TfL said the crossings have been programmed to show a continuous ‘green person’ signal until a car, van or lorry approaches. The change is part of a plan to ‘help make the capital’s transport network even more sustainable and support a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic’.

According to TfL, crossings will show the green light until a vehicle is detected, which makes it easier for people to cross the road and enables more walking journeys to be completed.

The number of people walking in London has increased during the pandemic. At one point last year, the number of journeys made on foot increased from 35 percent to almost 50 percent.

Although just 18 pedestrian crossings use the new system, it is likely to be rolled out to other locations in future. A TfL spokesperson told the Telegraph it intends to “increase the number over the coming years”.

‘The world’s most walkable city’

“Walking has so many benefits – it doesn’t just enable us to get from A to B, but also improves our mental and physical health,” said Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner.

“We know that safety is a key concern for people walking around London, and giving pedestrians priority is a powerful way of putting them first and making it easier to cross London’s roads.

“By combining this with creating extra pavement space and ensuring roadworks are carried out in a way that doesn’t disrupt Londoners, we will make our city the world’s most walkable and eradicate collisions on our streets.”

Nick Owen, TfL’s head of network performance, added: “We know that walking is a brilliant way for people to make local journeys, boosting activity levels while cutting the number of car trips and the associated congestion and pollution they can cause.”

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Government to launch car parking consultation

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Daniel Puddicombe

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May 27, 2021

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The government is to launch a consultation on proposed changes to car parking charges which it said will ‘help deliver a fair, proportionate and consistent system across the country’.

The government wants to introduce a new Code of Practice for parking operators to make the system fairer for drivers.

At present, private parking charges are capped at £100 by the industry, regardless of how serious the breach of terms and conditions.

However the government is proposing a tiered system for parking charges, based on the severity of the offence.

The consultation will run for four weeks during the summer.

The government said it ‘understands that this will mean some changes for the private parking industry and will carefully consider all consultation responses when making a final decision’.

“This government is making life easier for motorists as we get back to life as usual and build back better from the pandemic,” said Local Government Minister, Luke Hall.

“I encourage motorists and parking operators to share their views on our proposed Parking Code of Practice.

“These changes will bring in a fairer system for drivers, creating a simplified appeals process and curbing excessive charges for millions of motorists.”

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You can buy IndyCar racer Graham Rahal’s Ford GT

By

John Redfern

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May 27, 2021

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Getting your hands on a second-generation Ford GT is no easy feat, but being a successful racing driver is likely to help.

Ford famously announced that initial customers for the GT would be hand-selected by the company. Those who were deemed to be the best ambassadors for the brand were allowed to buy a GT.

Being an experienced IndyCar racer, and the son of a former Indy 500 winner, meant Graham Rahal clearly met Ford’s criteria.

The car he bought is currently advertised for sale on the Bring a Trailer auction website.

Shades of Deep Purple

Rahal did not hold back when ordering his 2018 Ford GT. From a standard list price of $450,200, the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona winner spent an additional $131,500 on optional extras.

Accounting for $45,000 of that total is the special paint color. The custom order Deep Purple metallic hue is said to be derived from the Viola Parsifae color, used by Lamborghini.

A further $10,000 was spent on the Ingot Silver stripes, while the exposed gloss carbon fiber exterior trim added $15,000.

Highway Star

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6’s 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque are a little down on Rahal’s usual weekend ride, but still allow a top speed in excess of 215 mph.

A titanium exhaust system, adding a further $10,000 to the price, was picked to save weight and add more aural drama.

Carbon ceramic Brembo brakes, with silver-painted calipers were fitted at the factory. Rahal has installed a set of staggered HRE alloys, although the original $15,000 carbon fiber wheels will be supplied.

Machine Head

Compared to the exterior, the cabin of the GT is slightly subtler, but no less expensive. The Dark Energy interior finish cost $30,000, and sees ebony leather wrapped around carbon fiber bucket seats. Mounts for racing harnesses were a relative bargain at just $600.

Even more affordable was the $250 spent to wrap the two-spoke steering wheel in leather. Much like an IndyCar, the GT’s steering wheel is responsible for controlling numerous car functions. It also has black aluminum paddles for the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Purchased by Rahal in October 2018, the car was sold to a new owner in September 2020. The GT was then reacquired by the Indiana-based Graham Rahal Performance dealership in 2021.

Speed King

Compared to some second-generation Ford GTs, this particular car has clocked up more miles than usual. The odometer currently shows 1,500 miles, with recent servicing work undertaken in September 2020.

Opportunities to own a Ford GT are still relatively rare, and buying one in this specification is likely to be a unique chance. This has helped push bidding on the car to already deep into six figures, with more to follow.

The auction for the GT closes on Friday, 28 May, coinciding with Carb Day for the 2021 Indy 500. We imagine Graham Rahal will be focussing on this final practice runs, rather than checking the bids, though.

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All-female W Series races to be aired LIVE on Channel 4

By

John Redfern

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May 27, 2021

0

Ahead of the start of a new season in June, the all-female W Series has confirmed it will be broadcast live on Channel 4 throughout 2021.

The announcement ensures that the groundbreaking single-seater championship will remain free-to-air for UK fans.

During the inaugural 2019 season the W Series was, after football, the most-watched women’s sport in the UK. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Continuing to break down barriers

For the 2021 season, the presenting and commentary team for the W Series has been expanded. With an eye on equality, the team is made up of women and men in equal numbers.

Lee McKenzie, David Coulthard, and Ted Kravitz all return from the inaugural 2019 W Series.

They are joined by Anna Woolhouse as presenter, Amy Reynolds as a pitlane reporter, and Naomi Schiff as an analyst. Schiff competed in the inaugural W Series, and has represented the championship as Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador.

Alex Jacques, will be the lead commentator. This is an extension of his lead commentary role on Channel 4’s Formula 1 coverage. He will be joined by Billy Monger, who was a race pundit for the W Series Esports League in 2020.

Creating ‘more visible role models‘

Such a substantial TV lineup reflects the growing importance of the W Series. The 2021 season will see all eight rounds featured as support races for the Formula 1 World Championship.

Channel 4 will air all qualifying sessions and races for the W Series live, with on-demand access through the All 4 service.

The 2021 W Series starts on 26 June, with the opening round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria

W Series CEO, Catherine Bond Muir, commented that: “I am delighted that W Series’ founding broadcast partner, Channel 4, has reinforced its commitment to showcasing women’s sport and our talented racing drivers.”

Muir added: “Live free-to-air motorsport coverage is rare, but our partnership with Channel 4 is a key part of W Series’ plan to create more visible role models to inspire girls and women to be a part of motorsport, whether that is on track, on screen or behind the scenes, and the expertise and insight provided by our brilliant commentary team will be instrumental to our efforts.”

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MPs to ask the public about electric cars

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 27, 2021

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A cross-party group of MPs has launched a survey to determine what is important to motorists when purchasing an electric car.

It forms part of an inquiry by the Transport Committee looking into zero-emission vehicles and road pricing, including the infrastructure that will be needed to make the transition to zero-emission vehicles viable.

The survey could also guide the government with finding ways to replace the income lost from fuel and excise duty, such as the introduction of road pricing.

It includes questions on issues such as finance, charge points and electric car range, plus there’s also an opportunity to submit a question about electric vehicles to the Department for Transport.

The Committee will choose questions to put directly to the minister during the final evidence session of the inquiry.

The survey will run until 2 June 2021 and can be found here.

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New Genesis models score five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 27, 2021

0

Automotive safety organisation Euro NCAP has awarded its top five-star rating to the new Genesis G80 and GV80.

The G80 and GV80 are the first cars that Hyundai’s upmarket brand will sell in the UK. Euro NCAP said the GV80 scored full points for side impact protection.

Both cars also get top scores for child occupant protection and ‘provide a full array of driver assistance systems to help prevent accidents in the first place’.

Euro NCAP did add that the GV80’s pedestrian protection is ‘some way behind that of the G80’. However it was still enough to secure a five-star rating.

Elsewhere, the third-generation Citroen C4 scored four stars, with Euro NCAP saying its performance in adult occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assistance failed to break the five-star threshold.

Euro NCAP also performed tests on the BMW 4 Series coupe and convertible models, wawarding them a five-star rating. The cars are largely based on the BMW 3 Series and Euro NCAP said some results were carried over, while in other areas extra tests had to be completed ‘to ensure that the safety is at the same 2019 five-star level’.

“These remain difficult times for the car industry, with the pandemic and semiconductor shortage presenting big challenges,” said Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP.

“Still, Genesis has managed to bring two cars to the market that offer excellent all-round robust safety performance. Citroen chalked up a respectable four-star rating for the new C4 models, but still left us with the impression that with some more careful engineering it could have been much better.”

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‘Holy Grail’ Subaru Impreza 22B sells for £171,000

By

Richard Aucock

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May 26, 2021

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A two-owner Subaru Impreza 22B STI Type UK has sold at auction for an astonishing £171,000, setting a new UK record.

The Silverstone Auctions May Sale saw the ‘ultimate Subaru road car’ entered for the 22 May event, immediately attracting huge interest when bidding opened.

One of just 16 official Subaru UK cars, the record-breaking 22B is believed to be the 16^th car, and one of just 10 still remaining.

‘Time warp’ Rally GB-winning Subaru Impreza ready for auction

The vendor had owned the car for the last 18 years, featuring it in magazines and on TV – and winning high-profile awards with it.

This is not a museum-piece car: it has 49,000 miles on the clock and two owners in the logbook.

However, Silverstone Auctions said the 1999 22B is very well regarded within Subaru circles and is a ‘rare, special and hugely coveted’ car.

It still carries the original car-specific aluminium-covered information booklet, hand-signed by the sales director of Subaru UK, plus the ‘special instruction’ booklet and model-specific floor mats.

Also included are the original service booklet, manuals, two original keys and two original Subaru alarm fobs. The registrtion ‘N22BUK’ is also included.

It has a bulging service history and a few choice upgrades such as a special gearbox, upgraded front brakes and bespoke exhaust – with all the original parts included in the sale for originality.

Given how the original sale price in 1999 was £39,950, today’s price of £171,000 represents quite a return for “the absolute ‘Holy Grail’ of these already very special rally cars for the road”.

However, even though it’s a headline-grabbing price, it still can’t match the price of an immaculate 25,000-mile 22B that sold earlier this year in the U.S. – for $312,555.

Here in the UK, that equals more than £210,000…

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Jaguar I-Pace is Google Street View’s first EV

By

Richard Aucock

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May 26, 2021

0

Google Street View has taken delivery of its first pure electric car, with Jaguar’s I-Pace taking the crown as the landmark Google Maps-mapping EV.

What’s more, the zero-emissions Jaguar will also be used to measure air quality, thanks to a battery of onboard sensors.

It is part of a 12-month ‘Air View Dublin’ project in the Irish capital, with scientists aiming to create detailed maps of street-level air pollution.

“The integration of Google Street View technology with the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace is the perfect solution for measuring air quality,” said JLR’s Elena Allen.

“We are delighted to support this project as it aligns with our own journey to becoming an electric-first business and achieving net zero carbon by 2039.”

The I-Pace’s specialised mobile air sensors will measure NO2, CO2 and fine-particle PM2.5 – while also helping update Google Maps.

The Street View camera is mounted on the roof, and JLR engineers have fitted new rear window glass to incorporate the wiring. The dashboard has also been modified to incorporate the Google Street View controls.

“Air quality is a serious concern, especially for cities, but there is a gap in terms of localised data and insights available to both decision makers and citizens,” said Google’s Paddy Flynn.

“As part of this project, we’re using technology to capture this important data and make it accessible so that, together with Dublin City Council, we can drive solution planning.”

Jaguar adds that the occupants of the I-Pace over the next 12 months will also be well protected, thanks to onboard cabin air ionisation and PM2.5 filtration…

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100,000 classic car jobs ‘at risk’ from green rules and Brexit red tape

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 25, 2021

0

A new trade association representing the classic car industry has warned a perfect storm of post-Brexit bureaucracy and poorly-targeted environmental legislation could put 100,000 jobs at risk.

The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance said it fears ‘complex new rules’ around exporting and importing cars and parts to and from the EU, plus ‘widespread misunderstanding of the environmental impact of vintage motoring’, are damaging owners’ confidence and enthusiasm.

It has called upon the government to introduce new legislation to help grow the sector.

The group claimed annual turnover, including international trade, is estimated at £18.3 billion. The three-million-strong British classic vehicle fleet is valued at over £12 billion, while annual tax revenue generated for the exchequer is close to £3 billion.

The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance says there is a misconception surrounding classic vehicle emissions, which have a ‘relatively modest impact on the environment’ compared with modern cars.

On average, classic vehicles are driven 16 times a year and cover just 1,200 miles during that period, which equates to 20 percent of the CO2 emissions produced by a computer and a mobile phone during the same time.

‘A great British success story’

The organisation says it will aim to ‘educate public, politicians and regulators on environmental issues’.

It adds that while the industry is respectful of the green agenda, it argues that restoration of classic vehicles ‘is in fact the epitome of sustainability’ because it is all about prolonging the life of great pieces of craftsmanship, rather than surrendering to built-in obsolescence.

“Our sector is a great British success story and has been for decades,” said HCVA director – and sales manager at Silverstone Auctions – Harry Whale.

“But it’s in serious jeopardy, and may not survive to continue providing opportunities for future generations if we don’t act now. In a world of mind-boggling bureaucracy, with environmental and other legislation looming, we need to ensure the voice of the industry and owners is heard and understood by regulators and those in power.

“We’ll work hard for the whole sector. We’re taking the initiative now to address current challenges, clear up confusion and grasp opportunities to find solutions. These problems span the world and we’re determined to take a long-term view as we campaign to secure the future.”

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