An air quality lobbying group led by an MP has called on the government to introduce stricter MOT testing for diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in order to reduce emissions.
At present, MOT testers only have to check for the presence of a DPF. However, the Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality says this is not good enough, pointing out that if the filter is damaged, particles will be emitted with reduced filtration. This could result in much higher particulate emissions.
The group – founded by Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield – cited research from Holland, which estimated 10 percent of diesel cars have damaged, faulty, tampered with or unlawfully removed DPF filters.
Members of the group include Renault Trucks UK, Siemens Mobility and the City of London Corporation.
Why are diesel particulate filters a problem?
Based on this data, the introduction of diesel particulate filter testing during MOTs could reduce PM2.5 particles in the UK by 1,000 tonnes per year, the group said.
It added a Dutch MOT testing centre measured a diesel vehicle with a faulty DPF and found that one single polluting vehicle’s particle emissions would be the same as from all the typical idling diesel vehicles with working DPFs in a 360-mile long, three-lane traffic jam.
Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield and the chair of the group, said: “As a Commission, we are committed to identifying and following best practice in achieving improved air quality – drawing expertise from home and abroad. More rigorous assessments of vehicles’ emissions levels would mitigate the harmful health impacts of high roadside air pollution and in turn, save lives.
“We will continue to relay to the Government the merits of being inspired by the successes from the Netherlands, and bring attention to best practice elsewhere.”
The cost of car insurance has fallen to its lowest point in seven years, with experts calling it a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to research conducted by Money Supermarket, the average cost of fully comprehensive insurance in the UK fell by £73.32 to £417.06 – a fall of 15 percent – in the first quarter of 2021, which represents the biggest quarter-on-quarter drop on record.
The firm claimed that, as drivers have been covering fewer miles, and there is a reduction of the number of vehicles on the roads, there is more competition for insurance sales, which causes insurers to lower premiums.
Meanwhile, fewer miles driven has led to fewer claims – which makes insurance more profitable and allows providers to reduce prices and pass this benefit on to customers.
From January to March 2021, every region across the country has benefitted from a reduction in the average cost of fully comprehensive premiums, Money Supermarket said.
In the West Midlands, policies were £101.54 cheaper between January-March 2021 than they were from October-December last year on average, representing a 17 percent fall in costs.
This is the largest drop of anywhere in the UK.
Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, the North East and the East Midlands all saw prices fall by 15 percent.
Premiums for fully comprehensive car insurance are cheapest on average in the Crown Dependencies (£276.25), as well as the South West (£291.08) and Scotland (£324.31) and they are most expensive in London (£607.73), the firm added.
The cheap car insurance bubble ‘could burst’
“Extra competition for sales is causing insurers to lower premiums, as fewer claims means that insurance is more profitable and providers can therefore reduce prices and pass this benefit on to customers,” said Andy Teasdale, car insurance spokesperson at Money Supermarket.
“However, it is likely the bubble will burst at some point as lockdown eases and driving – as well as accidents and claims – start to rise again.
“It is unclear how many of those who have been working from home during the last year will potentially reduce their time in the workplace. If there is a significant shift, it could mean that we can enjoy lower premiums for longer.”
Toyota president and CEO Akio Toyoda has been named 2021 World Car Person of the Year by the World Car Awards organisation.
The charismatic Toyota leader beat four other global automotive execs to the top spot thanks to votes from 93 international motoring journalists.
Mr Toyoda succeeds last year’s winner, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, in being honoured as someone who has made a significant contribution to the global automotive industry.
“On behalf of all 360,000 Toyota team members around the world, thank you for this tremendous honour!” said Mr Toyoda.
“If you don’t mind, however, I would like to change this award from car ‘person’ of the year to car ‘people’ of the year – because it’s the collective effort of all our global employees, retailers and suppliers that has truly made Toyota what it is today.
“I for one couldn’t be a luckier or more grateful CEO.”
Under Mr Toyoda’s stewardship, Toyota’s image has been transformed. Long one of the world’s most successful car companies, it is now among the most exciting mainstream brands, producing models such as the GR Yaris, Supra and upcoming new GR 86.
“No more boring cars,” said Mr Toyoda early in his stewardship – and he is proving true to his word.
All the time, as the World Car Awards organisation points out, while actively participating in motorsports himself as a driver.
“Thank you again for this award,” he said, “and to my fellow car lovers, see you on the track!”
Lotus is the latest car brand to launch a manufacturer-backed Approved Used scheme for secondhand cars.
Called ‘Lotus Approved’, the scheme can be applied by dealers to any Lotus up to 20 years old, provided it meets a pre-agreed set of criteria. These include passing technical and cosmetic checks, which the Norfolk-based carmaker says will ‘deliver a high-quality and consistent standard of pre-owned car throughout the Lotus network’.
In addition, Lotus dealers will be able to offer flexible finance on these cars.
A spokesman for Lotus told Motoring Research that while dealers have been able to market approved used vehicles before, they all worked to different standards. The Lotus Approved scheme introduces a set of criteria that has been laid down by the head office for the first time.
In order to be granted Lotus Approved status, vehicles must pass the following tests:
The car must be given a minimum 12-month warranty by the dealer supplying it
The car must have a full service history and the dealer must conduct a HPI or Experian vehicle history check.
The dealer must run a vehicle identity check with mileage verification
The car will undergo a multi-point vehicle inspection by a Lotus factory-trained technician
A Lotus factory-trained technician will take the car on a 10-mile road test
The dealer will conduct an appropriate service and/or MoT if either/both are due within three months
The dealer will offer a full vehicle valet
The dealer will include 12 months’ breakdown cover
In addition, every Lotus Approved car comes with a free Certificate of Provenance, which provides detailed vehicle information. Buyers will also get a few ‘Lotus collectables’, including an engraved aluminium plaque, a leather keyring, a presentation tin of four badges and a Lotus ink pen in a branded gift box.
Many manufacturers offer ‘approved used’ schemes for second-hand cars, but by including vehicles up to 20 years old, Lotus is going above and beyond most others. Ferrari’s used offering, for example, extends to cars up to 14 years old.
‘A win-win scenario’
Geoff Dowding, director of sales and aftersales at Lotus, said: “The launch of the Lotus Approved programme is another significant milestone in the transformation of our business.
“This is a win-win scenario for everyone; for customers new to the Lotus brand it delivers added value and peace of mind, and for our retailers it’s an opportunity to expand their customer base.”
More than 4 in 5 of motorists (85 percent) say they would like to see a halt on the construction of smart motorways “until the safety case is fully proven”, according to a new survey.
The poll of 4,500 drivers by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart also found that 84 percent have little faith in the safety systems’ abilities to detect their car if they were to break down in a running lane and protect them until help arrived.
Additionally, the IAM RoadSmart study found that 81 percent of motorists felt less safe travelling on a smart motorway compared to a traditional motorway, and 81 percent agreed that hard shoulders should be immediately reinstated on smart motorways.
Smart motorways aim to improve journey times by increasing capacity with the hard shoulder used as a normal lane. However, 40 percent of those surveyed said they found no noticeable improvement in their journey time.
Only four percent of the drivers that participated in the poll said they found a very noticeable improvement in journey times, while six percent claimed the introduction of smart motorways increased journey times.
‘Very little confidence in smart motorways’
“Our members include many high mileage, experienced and confident motorway users but the results of this survey are clear to see, with the vast majority having very little, or no confidence, in the safety of smart motorways,” said Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart’s director of policy and research.
“We would urge the Department for Transport and Highways England to listen to what smart motorway users are saying and to consider our findings, along with other in-depth research, to determine the best approach to developing the smart motorway network.
“Delaying decisions on smart motorways will only lead to more drivers getting stressed.”
Before tackling a long journey for the first time in a while, it’s also important to examine the condition of your car. Here are the top 10 areas to check before you hit the road.
Your car’s oil and coolant play a vital role in keeping your engine running smoothly. If the oil level is half-way between the minimum and maximum markers on the dipstick, you don’t need to add any more. If it’s below this point, pour in some engine oil, adding a small amount at a time.
Check the coolant level
Coolant, or anti-freeze, prevents your engine from overheating in hot weather and freezing in colder weather. It’s stored in a clear plastic container, usually located near the radiator. There will be a mark or sticker on the container to indicate the correct fluid level. You may need to dilute the anti-freeze with distilled water.
Top up the windscreen washer fluid
The reserve is usually close to the top of the engine and is often marked with a windscreen wiper icon. If you can see the fluid level is low, top it up, based on the manufacturer’s recommended dilution (you’ll find this in your handbook).
Check the battery health
If you’ve only been doing short journeys in your car, or haven’t driven for several weeks, your battery may have gone flat as it won’t have been able to recharge over longer trips.
A longer drive – half an hour or more – will ensure the battery has a chance to recharge. If you’re having trouble starting your car for the first time in a while, you may need to jump-start it using another car or battery pack.
Check the tyres
Your car’s tyres could have deflated or even developed cracks due to lack of use. Before you set off, check them all (including the spare) for any splits, holes or tears. Look for glass or nails that could cause a puncture or tear in the future, and also check the depth of tread on each tyre. In the UK and Europe, the legal minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6mm across the entire circumference.
Check tyre pressures
Ensure your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressures by checking the guidelines in your car’s handbook or on the panel inside the driver’s door. You can check tyre pressure using a handheld tyre pressure gauge or, if you don’t have one at home, you can check and top up the air at most petrol stations.
Check the brakes
When a car has been left standing for long periods, as it may have been during lockdown, issues can arise with the brakes.
Sticking brakes are a common problem. Most cars use disc brakes, which include brake pads, rotors and calipers. Over time, particularly if your car has seen little use, parts of the brakes can become rusty. As the surfaces will be covered in a light coating of corrosion, you’ll notice a sticky sensation, plus a grinding or squealing noise.
Check the fuel level
Cars parked for an extended period of time can suffer from moisture gathering in an empty fuel tank. This can cause rust to build up inside. To get around this, simply fill up the tank completely, or add a stabiliser fluid to keep it fresh.
Check the car’s exterior
While sitting on a driveway or on the road, it is likely that leaves or debris might have got stuck on the outside of your car. Before setting off, check the air intakes in the front bumper are clear, as well as the lower part of the windscreen.
Try the car’s doors and handles
While many cars won’t have been used much at all, others might have just had one user in the form of a keyworker. Either way, you should check all of your car’s doors, including the boot, and lubricate locks and moving parts where necessary.
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Back in 2019, when driving abroad wasn’t a distant dream, we joined a Honda NSX convoy to France. The road-trip marked 30 years since the Honda NS-X concept (note the hyphen) made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show.
Our route took us past the historic Reims-Gueux circuit, then into the melee of rush-hour Paris, before arriving at Retromobile – France’s finest classic car show. Join us for a celebration of the NSX – plus some of the highlights from Retromobile.
Pop-up perfection
Representing the original NSX were two examples from Honda UK’s heritage fleet. The red car dates from 1989 and was the second NSX imported into the UK. Its 253hp 3.0-litre V6 drives the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic ’box.
The gold car, meanwhile, is a manual version from 2005: the final year of NSX production. The pop-up headlights have been sacrificed to US safety regs, but it gains an extra 200cc of engine capacity – upping output to 294hp.
As seen on Instagram
Heading south on the A26 to Reims, our three-supercar convoy became a rolling social media event. Each time we stopped for more 98 RON refreshment (a frequent occurrence), people took photos and asked about the cars.
Unsurprisingly, it was the newer NSX that arrived in Reims first. With a combined output of 581hp from its V6 engine and electric motor, some might say it has an unfair advantage.
Code red
The original New Sports eXperimental gave the Ferrari 348 a shock when it reached showrooms in 1990. Contemporary reviews praised its superb chassis balance, which was honed by Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren Honda at the time).
Unlike most of its rivals, the NSX was incredibly user-friendly; it proved that supercars don’t need to be badly built or difficult to drive. That auto transmission is certainly a step too far, though.
Gold leader
As enjoyable as the red car is, this last-of-the-line version – with that all-important six-speed manual gearbox – is in another league. It’s 3.2-litre engine feels absolutely ferocious beyond 6,000rpm, when the VTEC kicks in with a howl so hard-edged it could crack concrete.
Everything about the NSX, from its low-slung driving position to its perfectly-spaced pedals, seems set up for driving enjoyment. It’s utterly analogue, and all the better for that.
Tangled up in blue
The latest NSX is an altogether different beast: a high-powered hybrid with nigh-on hypercar performance (0-62mph in 2.9sec). Its character is very much defined by which mode you select: comfortable and GT-like in Quiet, aggressive and adrenalised in Sport Plus and Track.
Like the original, it’s as straightforward to drive as a Civic or Jazz, yet still inspires reverence on the right road – particularly since the 2020 update.
NSX appeal
After two days of driving, I’m torn between the uncomplicated charms of the original and the eye-popping pace of the current car. Even after 30 years, the NSX still feels like an agitator against the establishment – a leftfield supercar, rather than the default Ferrari or Porsche. Here’s to another three decades.
Keep scrolling for a virtual tour of Retromobile in Paris, including the most exciting cars.
Citroen DS 23
Paris is a rather fitting location for the Citroen DS, given that the ‘Goddess’ was unveiled at the city’s motor show in 1955. Sixty-four years later, this DS 23 was on hand to celebrate 100 years of Citroen, with the French manufacturer putting on a stunning display of production cars, concepts and racers.
The 2.3-litre DS 23 arrived in 1973 and was arguably the best of the breed. Two years later, DS production ended, with 1,445,746 DS and ID models sold.
Citroen GS Camargue
Citroen’s display of concept cars was as wonderfully eccentric as you’d hope. The stunning Citroen Camargue of 1972 was based on the recently launched GS and featured a body penned by Marcello Gandini.
In a parallel universe, the Camargue could have previewed a smaller and less expensive alternative to the SM, but it wasn’t to be.
Citroen ZX Rallye Raid
Back in the 1990s, few challengers could rival Citroen in the field of cross-country racing. The first Rallye Raid concepts made their racing debut at the Baja Aragon in 1990, with Citroen securing a one-two finish. A year later, the ZX Rallye Raid driven by Ari Vatanen and Bruno Berglund won the Paris-Tripoli-Dakar rally.
In seven seasons, the Citroen ZX amassed five world titles from 1991 to 1997. What a legend.
Renault Fuego Turbo
Not be outdone by Citroen’s centenary celebrations, Renault marked the 40th anniversary of its first F1 victory – the first by a turbocharged engine. The legendary RS 10 of 1979 was joined by 10 production cars to show how the turbocharger made the transition from track to road.
This a 1983 Renault Fuego Turbo, which was powered by a tuned version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine in the Renault 18. A set of BBS alloy wheels, ‘TURBO’ decals, headlight wipers and yellow fog lights are just a few of the delightfully period details.
Renault 5 Turbo
Aside from the name, the Renault 5 Turbo had very little in common with the regular R5 in the supermarket car park. This homologation hero represented Renault at its bonkers best, but a host of unique parts made the mid-engined Group 4 rally car rather expensive to build.
Renault solved this problem by launching the less specialised – and therefore less expensive to buy – Renault 5 Turbo 2.
Renault 21 Turbo
‘The 21 Turbo is the best sporting saloon Renault has ever built,’ proclaimed Autocar in 1988. High praise for Renault’s answer to the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth which could sprint to 60mph in under eight seconds before hitting a top speed of 137mph.
The 21 Turbo Quadra added four-wheel drive to the mix, which meant you had a fighting chance of handling the explosive power. Sadly, too few of these cars remain on the road.
Lamborghini Miura SV
‘Better than new’ is an overused and often inaccurate description used by car dealers, but in the case of this Lamborghini Miura SV, it’s perfectly apt. This example is owned by motorsport supremo Jean Todt, who had just taken delivery of the car following a 13-month restoration at the hands of Lamborghini’s Polo Storico division.
Although we were delighted to drive home from the show in an NSX, we wouldn’t have minded heading back in this Miura – via the Alps, naturally.
Lamborghini 400 GT
Before the Miura, there was this: the Lamborghini 400 GT. It was essentially a 350 GT with an enlarged engine and a body designed by Carrozzeria Touring.
A Canadian collector has left this 1966 400 GT in the safe hands of Polo Storico, so you can be sure that the restoration will be first-rate. Who knows, the finished article might be on show at Retromobile 2022…
Bugatti EB110 Super Sport
The Bugatti EB110 made its production debut in Paris back in 1991, with the name chosen in honour of Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birthday. A year later, Bugatti unveiled the lighter and more powerful EB110 SS (Super Sport), but just 30 were ever produced.
A 1994 EB110 Super Sport (not pictured) was also part of the RM Sotheby’s Retromobile sale.
BMW Z1
The first BMW Z1 rolled off the production line 32 years ago in 1989. It featured a pair of trick sliding doors, a 170hp straight-six engine from the BMW 325i and a sophisticated ‘Z-axle’. Just 8,093 were built before production ended in 1991.
We’d have to wait four years before its replacement, the American-built BMW Z3, made its debut in the James Bond film Goldeneye.
Jaguar XJ220
It’s easy to get lost in tales of an economic recession, unhappy customers and the ‘wrong’ engine when discussing the Jaguar XJ220, but three decades on from when the big cat was unveiled in Birmingham, the supercar has lost none of its impact.
We’ll never come to terms with how large this thing looks in the metal.
Jaguar XE SV Project 8
Nurburgring car stickers are nothing new, but the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is truly fit to wear the map. In 2017, Jag’s skunkworks super-saloon completed a lap of the ‘Green Hell’ in 7min 21.23sec – fully 11 seconds faster than the previous four-door saloon record holder.
Jaguar later broke its own record, with a lap of 7min 18.36sec in summer 2019, this time using a different tyre compound.
Ferrari F40
Designed and built to commemorate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the F40 remains of the most famous and lusted over supercars on the planet.
We could have spent many hours gawping at this and many of the other cars on display at Retromobile, but the clock was ticking… we had a date with a Japanese supercar.
Heading home in a Honda
With copy filed and the photos uploaded to the web, all that was left was the journey home in a Honda NSX, this time without the detour via Reims. What a glorious couple of days that was.
Insurance company NFU Mutual has predicted there will be at least an 18 per cent increase in the number of road accidents from next week.
From Monday 12 April, self-contained holiday accommodation lets, non-essential retail, personal care, outdoor hospitality and indoor leisure venues are scheduled to reopen, and more motorists are expected to take to the roads.
A spokesperson told Motoring Research the projected figure is based on data gathered when lockdowns were eased in 2020.
Claims to NFU Mutual forcar accidents increased by 22 percent over the late May Bank Holiday last year, shortly after lockdown was eased on 11 May, while car accident claims also increased by 12 percent over the Christmas period compared with previous weeks, the insurance firm said.
The company added that its research indicated one in four drivers are “feeling nervous” about making long journeys once lockdown is eased.
Of 2,000 drivers surveyed, 37 percent said they are planning to drive somewhere to go on holiday in the UK when Covid restrictions allow it. This equates to more than 12 million drivers taking to the roads from next week.
The company added the most nervous driving groups – including two-thirds of those aged 18-34, and more than half of Londoners – are also those taking to the UK’s roads to holiday in the highest numbers.
Nearly two thirds of drivers aged 18-34 (63 percent) and more than half of Londoners who drive (53 percent) will be doing so for a UK getaway this year, NFU Mutual said.
‘Drivers should take care on the roads’
“While uncertainty remains on whether European holidays are on the cards, our research shows that millions will be taking to the UK’s roads for holidays from next week when lockdown eases,” said NFU Mutual motor insurance specialist, Jade Devlin.
“Where easing has happened in 2020 we’ve received sharp surges in reported car accident, with roads getting busier very quickly and drivers taking their first long distance drives for a while.
“We’re sadly expecting the same from 12 April when many venues and holiday lets start opening up, so would urge drivers to take care on the roads.”
Clean energy company Octopus Energy has launched an electric vehicle leasing scheme.
The company has offered EV-specific energy tariffs for consumers and businesses for a number of years to help drivers to save money when recharging. Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Energy’s electric vehicle offshoot, told Motoring Research the addition of a leasing scheme will make Octopus a one-stop shop for electric car drivers.
Howarth explained: “There are benefits in bringing our energy and technology experience to the leasing sector. It enables us to move more quickly and start a different way of thinking. It’s all about working with consumers as they get their car and we have a lot of experience of doing this from the energy side already.”
The intention behind the leasing division – called Electric Dreams – is to make switching to an EV as easy as possible, and Howarth added Octopus would have an advantage over a traditional leasing company when it comes to procuring EVs, too.
“We just focus on this one type of vehicle – EVs – and we can also pull together our knowledge about charging and green energy tariffs.”
As well as providing leasing for private motorists, the company is offering salary sacrifice schemes for businesses. Similar to a cycle-to-work scheme, a salary sacrifice allows employees to pay for an EV out of their gross salary. It can save thousands of pounds on both national insurance and income tax as they take advantage of preferential Benefit-in-Kind rates for EVs compared with petrol or diesel cars.
Huge savings possible
To illustrate its point, Octopus Energy claimed a 20 percent taxpayer can make a saving of £7,104 on a Peugeot e-2008 over four years compared with similar petrol or diesel vehicles. And a 40 percent taxpayer can save £13,920 on a Tesla Model 3 over four years.
Unlike a traditional company car scheme, salary sacrifice is open to all employees, but Howarth said the awareness of such schemes is low at the moment, adding that some firms are overwhelmed by the paperwork. “When businesses do want to put it into practice, they may find it is tricky and complicated, so we’re making it easy.”
If an employee leaves a business at short notice, a company car can be an expensive asset, but Octopus Energy will negate that risk.
“We are giving them [employers] generous terms around early termination. If you leave the business and you return the car before the end of the contract, we will cover businesses, so it is a low-risk scenario,” Howarth explained.
Indeed, the rate of used car price growth is accelerating once again, after a 6.6 percent rise was recorded in February.
Auto Trader points to record levels of consumer demand, something reflected in its new all-time high of 69.7 million site visits in March. This is 27 percent up on March 2019.
The marketplace also says the number of leads sent to retailers has gone up 91 percent in two years – reflecting changing buyer behaviour where customers get in touch with a dealer before visiting.
Demand may even grow further from 12 April when showrooms fully reopen, said Auto Trader director of data Richard Walker.
“With such strong demand in the market, we anticipate prices will remain buoyant for some time to come.”
The price of the average used diesel car is now up to £14,708 – £2k more than the price of the average used petrol.
The rise in diesel prices is partly being driven by falling supply, which was down 14.2 percent last month. The effect of the decline in new diesel popularity is starting to impact used car prices.
Petrol prices also increased, going up 5.8 percent after several months of slipping demand. Demand for petrol cars rocketed 35 percent last month, with diesel demand rising 32.9 percent.
That’s nothing compared to the 131.6 percent rise in demand for pure electric cars though, which far exceeded strong growth in supply of 117.8 percent.
The average price of a used EV therefore went up 9.3 percent last month – edging closer to the £20k mark and showing why the truly affordable secondhand EV may still be some way off.
