Toyota has announced updates for the raucous GR Corolla sport compact, aimed at making it even better to drive.
Lessons learned from racing in the Japanese Super Taikyu Series, along with days spent pounding the Nurburging Nordschleife circuit in Germany, have all contributed to the revised 2026 GR Corolla.
Toyota has also rationalized the GR Corolla model range, leaving just the base trim level and Premium Plus version.
Sales of the revised 2026 GR Corolla will start soon, with the first deliveries expected to take place this fall.
Racing improves the breed
Demonstrating the level of detail Toyota Gazoo Racing engineers went to, the 2026 GR Corolla has gained 45.6 feet of new structural adhesive in the front and rear sections of its body.
This is said to increase rigidity for sharper handling, along with improving grip at the rear of the hot hatchback.
Toyota says the extra strengthening has a minimal impact on curb weight, but brings more consistent steering feel and stable cornering.
Another important technical change is the installation of a high-rev-activated air duct for the secondary air intake. Drawing cold air directly from the front grille, it should reduce engine temperatures on extended track drives.
The rest of the turbocharged 2.0-liter three-cylinder engine remains unchanged, with outputs of 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
GR Corolla buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. All versions come with the rally-developed GR-Four all-wheel-drive system, combined with front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials.
In dealerships this fall
A further change for the 2026 model year is the addition of a subwoofer for the JBL Premium sound system.
Standard on the GR Corolla Premium Plus model, the nine-speaker setup also comes with Active Sound Control. This produces “sporty sounds”, depending on the level of acceleration.
Prices for the base 2026 GR Corolla start at $39,920 for the six-speed manual, with the automatic version commanding an extra $2,000.
The top-level GR Corolla Premium Plus costs $45,965 in manual guise, or $47,965 with an automatic transmission.
Britain’s motorways are rarely out of the news, whether it’s the controversy surrounding smart motorways or endless reports about roadworks, accidents and tailbacks.
Millions of drivers use the motorways, but many misunderstand the particular rules that apply to these unique – and statistically very safe – roads. Motorway use isn’t included in the UK practical driving test, after all.
Here, with help from LeasePlan UK, we have busted 12 common motorway myths. How many of these facts are news to you?
1. Any vehicle can drive in the right-hand lane
On a three-lane motorway, it’s against the law to drive a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight of more than 7.5 tonnes in the outside lane.
This same weight limit applies to vehicles pulling a trailer, including caravans, so don’t use the ‘fast lane’ to get to the campsite more quickly. You could be docked three points on your driving licence and fined up to £2,500.
2. The left-hand lane is the lorry lane
Similarly, the inside lane of the motorway can be (and should be) used by any vehicle. Worryingly, a survey by the AA found nearly one in 10 young drivers described the left-hand lane as the ‘lorry lane’, only to be used by those driving HGVs.
Drivers who use the middle or outside lanes when the inside lane is empty can be hit with an on-the-spot fine. Keep left where possible.
3. There is no national speed limit on the motorway
We all know there is a speed limit on the motorway, but many drivers think they can get away with travelling at 80mph or 90mph. While speed cameras typically stick to the ’10 percent plus 2mph’ rule – so they’re unlikely to issue a fine for speeds up to 79mph on a motorway – traffic officers are within their rights to penalise you for driving at anything beyond 70mph.
You should note, too, that a lower 60mph limit applies to vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, or those towing a trailer (including caravans). If your car has cruise control, this can be a useful tool to avoid your speed drifting beyond the limit.
4. If you break down, you can remove any animals from your car
If you have to pull over onto the hard shoulder, it’s important for you and your passengers to safely leave the vehicle and stand behind the crash barrier. Accidents involving cars stopped on the hard shoulder are fairly common, and the damage can be devastating if a lorry takes out a broken-down car.
However, you should not take out any animals you have in the car. We all love our pets, but removing them at the side of the motorway is too dangerous. You don’t know how they will react – they might panic and run into the road, causing a pile-up. It’s safer to leave them inside the vehicle.
5. You can stop on the hard shoulder if you are ill or need the toilet
A motorist stopped on the hard shoulder for a ‘comfort break’ is still a worryingly common sight. The hard shoulder is for emergency use only – and that doesn’t include a passenger feeling travel sick, needing the toilet or reading a map.
Keep going until you can leave the motorway to find somewhere safe and legal to stop. There are regular signs showing the distance to the next motorway services, too.
6. Fog lights should be used in poor visibility
The Highway Code states: ‘You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves’.
Some drivers switch on their car fog lights at the slightest hint of rain, snow or mist – then forget to turn them off. They can be blinding to other drivers and may even obscure your brake lights.
If you can see the rear lights of the car ahead comfortably, you probably don’t need your fog lights switched on.
7. Motorway traffic should move over for joining vehicles
If there’s a lot of traffic heading down a slip road and you’re in the inside lane, it might be helpful to indicate and move outwards to create space. Ultimately, though, it’s the job of joining traffic to give way to cars already on the motorway.
Some people are overly cautious when joining the motorway. Joining at low speeds can be very dangerous. If you’ve got a queue of traffic behind, you could put other drivers in a tricky situation. It’s easier to lose speed than gain it, so build up your speed on the slip road then slot into traffic when you join the motorway.
8. Lorry drivers can see everything
However many mirrors and cameras are fitted to lorries, drivers will always have blind-spots. This is particularly true for drivers of left-hand-drive lorries on British motorways, who might struggle to see cars or motorbikes alongside them. If you are overtaking a lorry, spend the minimum amount of time alongside it.
Also, be careful not to change lanes into a lorry’s blind-spot when the driver might be about to pull out and overtake a slower vehicle.
9. You should slow down for speed cameras
Average speed cameras are increasingly common in areas with roadworks and on smart motorways. These time how long a vehicle takes to travel between cameras. You can be issued a fine, and receive points on your licence, if your average speed is above the variable limit.
Unlike with normal speed cameras, slowing down when passing below gantries before speeding up again could still land you with a ticket. It will also annoy other drivers. Keep it steady and your journey will be safer and less stressful.
10. Traffic officers can stop you for speeding
You will sometimes see drivers sitting in line behind a Highways Agency traffic officer doing 68mph. Yet while their liveried vehicles might look similar to police cars, they have no powers to pull you over or prosecute you for speeding.
Traffic officers are there to help in emergency situations – and have the authority to close the motorway when required.
11. Smart motorway cameras aren’t always on
On smart motorways, the overhead display screens aren’t always illuminated. However, that doesn’t mean the speed cameras are switched off.
If no speed is displayed, you can assume the standard 70mph limit applies. Exceed that, though, and you risk a flash and a fine.
12. Smart motorway speed limits are advisory
If the motorway ahead looks clear and a 40mph, 50mph or 60mph speed limit is displayed, many drivers assume this is advisory. In fact, that’s only the case if orange lights are flashing.
If the speed limit is ringed by a red circle, it is compulsory – so you could face points and a fine if you exceed it. You have been warned.
Fuel is one of the biggest regular bills when it comes to running a car. If you fill up with £50 of petrol or diesel each week, for example, it adds up to £2,600 a year – probably more than you will spend on insurance, tax or maintenance during the same period.
Thankfully, using less fuel in your car isn’t difficult. Our easy-to-follow advice could keep you going ‒ and save you hundreds of pounds in the process. Read on for our 14 top tips.
Check your tyre pressures
Admit it, it’s been a while since you checked your car’s tyre pressures. Michelin recommends you should measure them at least once month and before long journeys.
Ignoring this advice could damage your tyres, and have a negative effect on the way your car handles or stops in an emergency. It will also impact your fuel consumption.
Tyres under-inflated by 15psi (one bar) will lead to around six percent greater fuel use. That’s the equivalent of 47mpg instead of 50mpg. Most petrol stations will have a tyre inflater and some are free to use. Alternatively, you could invest in a good quality tyre pump, allowing you to check your pressures at home.
Remember, the correct tyre pressures will be listed in your car’s handbook, as well as somewhere on the car itself. You can often find them inside the fuel filler cap.
Turn off the air conditioning
At low speeds, using the air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by between five and seven percent. That’s according to research by the Millbrook Proving Ground. At higher speeds, air conditioning has less of an impact.
If possible, turn off the air-con when driving through town or when stuck in traffic, opening the car windows instead. When travelling on faster roads, close the windows and switch on the air conditioning, as driving with the sunroof or windows open will increase drag and thus fuel use.
Remember to use your air conditioning at least once a month to maintain its efficiency and avoid problems with the system.
Reduce weight
The more your car is carrying, the harder the engine is having to work, which uses more fuel. In simple terms, if you don’t need it, don’t carry it.
This doesn’t mean you can dump your mother-in-law at the bus stop and tell her to walk, but it does mean you can remove all the rubbish piled up in the footwells and the garden waste you’ve been hauling about for the past few weeks.
You should also remove your set of golf clubs from the boot, unless of course you’re intending to bowl a few overs after work. Or whatever it is you do on a golf course.
Reduce drag
Roof racks and roof boxes will seriously damage your car’s aerodynamic properties, rendering the hours that engineers spent in the wind tunnel well and truly wasted.
Now, we’re not saying you should leave your mountain bikes at home when heading off for a cycling holiday. And we’re also not suggesting emptying the contents of your roof box into the boot and leaving the dog at home.
However, once you’ve arrived at your destination, you should remove the roof box or anything else you plonked on the roof rack. Oh, and if possible, remove the roof rack as well.
Change up earlier
Develop a smooth driving style, accelerating gently and reading the road ahead to avoid any unnecessary braking.
Don’t let the engine labour, but aim to change up a gear at around 2,500rpm in a petrol-engined car or 2,000rpm in a diesel. If your car has a gear-shift indicator to aid economy, use it.
When possible, change up into fifth or sixth gear, which should see fuel consumption drop to its lowest level. But don’t speed, because that’s illegal and it could hurt your wallet. More on this shortly.
Stop braking. No, really…
Strange as it may sound, we urge you to stop braking. Don’t worry, we haven’t taken leave of our senses, it’s just that using your brakes is seriously bad for your wealth.
However, before you go careering off into a wall or the back of that Honda Jazz, hear us out…
If you can keep the car moving all the time, you’ll use less fuel. This is because the act of stopping then starting again uses more fuel than simply rolling along. Read the road ahead and anticipate the flow of traffic, especially when approaching roundabouts. Maintain a steady speed without stopping and you’ll save money over time.
Reduce your speed
Speeding is the big no-no, but not only from a legal perspective. A car travelling at 80mph will consume 10 percent more fuel than the same car travelling at 70mph. If you spend most of your time on motorways, this could turn out to be a significant chunk of money.
Of course, it’s not a simple case of the slower you drive, the less fuel you’ll consume; there is a happy medium to be achieved. Driving at speeds of between 50mph and 60mph in fifth or sixth gear will maximise your returns. But we do appreciate you need to reach your destination at some point.
Whatever, don’t speed – a flash from a camera could result in a fine totalling the cost of a tank of fuel, or much more after penalty points and insurance are taken into account.
Service your car
A serviced engine is a happy engine. Well, that’s according to an oil-stained poster we saw hanging up in a garage, once upon a time.
The fact is that a well-maintained engine will run more efficiently and use less fuel. So you should really think about giving your car a long-overdue service.
Your car’s handbook will tell you when it should be serviced, and don’t ignore that persistent warning light on the dashboard. Remember to check your oil regularly and always use the correct grade for your engine. Again, consult your handbook or nearest dealer for advice.
Leave earlier
Sounds obvious, but you should think about leaving earlier for that very important meeting. If you’ve got a deadline to meet, leave home or the office with plenty of time to spare. Not only will you avoid speeding, you may arrive an hour early, giving you time to relax and prepare for that awfully important meeting.
Similarly, if you can combine numerous trips into one journey, you’ll save fuel. Clearly that’s not possible if you have to be in Skipton one day and St Ives the next, but with some basic planning, you could be able to cut down on there number of trips you make in a single month.
Avoid driving at peak times
Nobody likes getting stuck in a jam. A congested morning commute can set you off on the wrong foot, while a stop-start journey home means added stress before you reach your front door. So, why not avoid driving during peak times?
Setting off for work 30 minutes earlier could result in you missing the jams altogether, giving you time to go for a stroll or have a relaxing coffee before you face the working day. In fact, the money you save on fuel could mean you can afford a few extra lattes every month.
If you can’t avoid the rush hour, think about buying a hybrid car, which should use less fuel in traffic than a standard diesel or petrol model. At the very least, you should consider a car with stop-start technology, which will minimise the amount of fuel you’re wasting.
Shop around for fuel
The cost of fuel can vary from retailer to retailer and it’s not uncommon to find a different set of prices in two outlets next door to each other. So it pays to shop around, although we wouldn’t recommend taking a 20-mile journey to save 1p on a litre of fuel.
A general rule is that supermarket filling stations are cheaper than branded stops such as Shell, BP, Esso and so on. And stay well away from motorway service stations – they can be hugely more expensive.
PetrolPrices.com is an excellent fuel price comparison website and smartphone app (available for Apple and Android phones). It takes data from thousands of petrol stations across the UK, displaying prices at nearby outlets on an interactive map.
You can also find local fuel prices via the Waze navigation app and on the Confused.com cheapest fuel price finder tool.
If you have a relatively modern car, you may not even need an app. Some infotainment systems offer a ‘refuel for the best price’ option, directing you to the cheapest petrol station nearby via the sat-nav.
Finally, consider signing up to a supermarket or petrol station loyalty card. Points you earn can be converted into money-off vouchers.
Buy a more economical car
Some of the smallest and most economical new cars can be purchased on a PCP finance contract for less than £200 a month. If they offer twice the fuel economy of your current car, the maths could add up.
Work out how many miles you drive in a year and how much you’re currently spending on motoring. Then work out how much it would cost with a new car and go from there. Don’t be lured into a false economy.
If it won’t save you money, stick with what you’ve got and look at ways of driving more economically.
Go electric
Electric cars still have their detractors, but battery power has come a long way since the 1967 Ford Comuta (pictured above), which had a range of 37 miles and top speed of 37mph.
If you have the capacity to install a home charging point (i.e. a driveway or off-street parking), an EV is worth considering. Recharging via the mains is certainly cheaper than filling up with fuel, particularly if you charge overnight when electricity tariffs are cheaper. Maintenance and tax will cost less, too – even though road tax (VED) is no longer free.
However, electric cars are generally more expensive to buy. And if you have to rely on the public charging network, where prices can reach 90p per kWh, ‘refuelling’ an EV may be no cheaper than filling up with petrol. It all depends on how you’ll use the car. Check out our sister Motoring Electric website for answers to your EV questions.
Walk or use public transport
If all else fails, leave the car at home and go for a walk. Clearly this won’t work if you live in the country and have a 30-mile commute to contend with, but in some cases a walk, cycle ride or public transport could be the answer.
Alternatively, think about a car-share scheme. By pairing up with another commuter heading in the same direction, you could literally halve your cost of fuel. Hey, it worked for Peter Kay, so it can work for you…
If the MG octagon still makes you think of classic British sports cars, the Chinese-built MGU9 pickup may come as something of a shock.
The reborn MG Motors marque, now owned by Chinese giant SAIC, will offer the new truck to buyers in Australia and New Zealand.
Said to offer the ‘robust strength of a ute’, combined with ‘the refinement of a modern SUV’, the MGU9 is the biggest vehicle ever to wear an MG badge.
Due on sale by the end of 2025, the MGU9 will be another player in the important ‘ute’ market, alongside the also-new Kia Tasman.
A global pickup truck
As has become common for SAIC, the MGU9 is a badge-engineered version of an existing truck in its brand range. Sold in China as the Maxus Interstellar X, the double-cab pickup is also marketed in Europe as the Maxus Terron 9.
The MG-branded version is intended to offer greater refinement and ride comfort, along with an electric-opening tailgate that incorporates a step for easy access to the load bed.
Powering the MGU9 is a 215hp 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, described by MG as being ‘robust’. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, combined with a four-wheel-drive system that incorporates electronically controlled locking differentials.
The MGU9 can haul braked trailers weighing up to 3,500kg. It can also carry a payload of up to 870kg, depending on the trim level chosen.
A big step up for MG
A core part of the MGU9’s appeal in Australia and New Zealand will likely be its pricing. The entry-level Explore version costs from $52,990 – equivalent to just £26,000.
All models come with LED headlights, a host of safety equipment, parking sensors and a reversing camera. Infotainment is controlled by a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, combined with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is included, too.
A seven-year warranty is part of the deal, provided the MGU9 is serviced within the MG dealership network.
Peter Ciao, CEO of MG Motor Australia and New Zealand, said: “Many Aussies and Kiwis have been a part of MG Motor’s journey from zero to a top 10 brand. The MG success story so far has been based on smaller cars and SUVs that Aussies fell in love with. But from today the MGU9 is our ‘big’ model step up.”
At present, there are no plans to launch the MGU9 in the UK. However, being made in right-hand drive does boost its chances.
Tired parents can spend 24 hours getting to know the Hyundai Kona Electric, thanks to a new test drive offer.
Hyundai’s new ‘Rest Drives’ initiative is designed with families in mind, as way to experience using the car in daily life.
A number of Hyundai dealerships throughout the UK will offer Rest Drives, which are available until 31 October 2025.
Families can put the Kona Electric SUV through its paces on the morning school run, or on late-evening drives aimed at helping youngsters get to sleep.
Driving in the pursuit of sleep
The Rest Drives programme was inspired by Hyundai research that found that almost three quarters (73 percent) of parents went driving just to get their kids to sleep.
These drivers spend an average of nine hours behind the wheel each month in pursuit of sleep. Some 95 percent of parents also they experience nap-time problems.
When attempting to lull their children to sleep, getting stuck in traffic was a problem for 42 percent of those surveyed. Engine noise was a challenge for 41 percent, while just over a third (36 percent) said fuel stops were a barrier to nap-time road trips.
By contrast, a comfortable ride was an important factor for two thirds (65 percent) of respondents, along with smooth acceleration (55 percent), quiet engines (48 percent) and eco-friendliness (29 percent).
Can an EV be part of the family?
Hyundai hopes that the Kona Electric will demonstrate all the qualities parents are looking for in the 24-hour Rest Drive.
As an added bonus, parents will also receive a Rest Drive baby box that includes a Jellycat soft toy, baby blanket, book and healthy snacks.
Ashley Andrew, president of Hyundai Motor UK, said: “Our wide EV range is designed to fit seamlessly into family life, and with the Hyundai Electric Grant offering up to £3,750 off a new Hyundai EV, switching has never been more affordable.
“The Kona Electric, with its whisper-quiet powertrain and refined driving experience, is the perfect partner for everything from school runs to nap-time drives, and through our ‘Rest Drives’ initiative parents can experience its calming, family-friendly benefits first-hand.”
Porsche has unveiled a unique version of the new 911 S/T, inspired by a historic 911 with an incredible backstory.
It all starts at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a Porsche 911 2.5 S/T that claimed victory in the GTS 2500 class.
The classic 911 S/T continued racing until 1975, then passed through two more owners before it disappeared off the map.
Decades passed until the first clues to its location were uncovered in 2008. Five years later, a Swiss collector found the 911 S/T in a barn just outside San Francisco, then transported it back to Europe to begin a lengthy restoration.
Rescued and restored
Entrusted to the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur department in Zuffenhausen, the original 911 2.5 S/T was given a complete bare-metal overhaul.
More than 1,000 hours were put into ensuring the bodywork was perfect. Porsche technicians were able to fabricate missing parts from scratch, working from original technical drawings and sheet metal gauges.
The Exclusive Manufaktur specialists sealed the bare body with a cathodic dip coating, the same process used for corrosion protection on modern production Porsches.
A complete respray in the original colour of Light Yellow was the finishing touch, which prompted the 911 S/T’s owner to embark on another Porsche project.
And it was all yellow
Porsche’s Sonderwunsch (‘special wishes’) department was commissioned to build a tribute based on the current 525hp 911 S/T.
The same Light Yellow paint was hand-applied to the new car, complete with replicas of the racing decals on the 1972 Le Mans winner.
Lightweight forged magnesium wheels are finished in Darksilver, and complemented by black brake calipers. The interior is entirely black, too.
Delivered to its owner in Switzerland, the modern 911 S/T now lives alongside the original Le Mans winner that inspired it. Which one would you jump into first?
Thefts of tools from vans increased again during 2024, with more than one in four drivers (28 percent) reporting the crime.
This compares to the 19 percent who said they had tools stolen in 2023. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, which undertook a survey of van drivers, found the value of thefts had also risen dramatically.
During 2023, the value of tools stolen from vans averaged £1,700. However, this jumped to the average value of £2,433 for tools stolen from a van in 2024 – a 40 percent increase.
More cost, more unplanned downtime
More than a quarter (27 percent) of tool thefts were valued at in excess of £3,500, compared to just 10 percent the year before.
Extrapolating the results of its survey of 1,000 drivers, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles estimates the total cost of theft from vans to businesses now exceeds £3.5 billion every year.
In addition to the financial burden, the overwhelming majority (86 percent) of van drivers said they had to take unexpected downtime following a tool theft.
This resulted in an average of 3.97 days off work. And 20 percent of van drivers lost a whole week as they restocked and repaired their vehicle.
Piling the pressure on business
Increasing occurrences of tool thefts from vans, combined with the rising value of the items taken, is adding to the pressure being felt by businesses.
More than a third (36 percent) of survey respondents said the ongoing cost-of-living crisis was a stress factor, with van crime only making matters worse.
John Ricardo-Neto, head of product planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Tool theft remains a huge issue for van drivers and businesses in the UK, and it’s concerning to see the number of incidences and the scale of their impact continuing to rise.
“We encourage van drivers to take extra precautions – via our theft prevention technologies, ensuring tools are always well secured and vehicles parked in well-lit, CCTV-monitored areas – so that tradespeople can focus on what really matters.”
Lack of demand for high-end electric vehicles is making Porsche reconsider its plans to introduce new battery-powered models.
Announcing a ‘realignment of its product strategy’, the German car manufacturer is making drastic changes to its future vehicle lineup.
Most notably, a new flagship SUV, intended to sit above the current Cayenne in the model hierarchy, will now be launched with petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Previously, Porsche had intended the new luxury model – which has not been named yet – to be sold solely as an EV.
Petrol power to live on longer
Porsche will also extend the lifespan of combustion-powered models, making the Cayenne and Panamera available with traditional engines long into the next decade.
In addition, Porsche says it will push back the development and launch of other intended fully electric models to later dates.
This means that the creation of an all-new electric platform, planned to underpin a range of Porsche EVs in the 2030s, will be ‘rescheduled’.
The new platform will also be ‘technologically redesigned’, in coordination with the wider Volkswagen Group. As a result, expect a bigger pool of brands to adjust their plans due to this change in EV strategy.
Existing electric Porsches will continue to be developed, however, including the Macan, Cayenne and Taycan. A new electric 718 sports car is on the way, too.
Slowing EV demand to blame
Porsche was unequivocal about the reason for its new direction, explaining that it was in ‘response to the significant slower growth of the demand for exclusive battery-electric vehicles’.
“Today we have set the final steps in the realignment of our product strategy,” said Porsche CEO, Oliver Blume. “We are currently experiencing massive changes within the automotive environment. That’s why we’re realigning Porsche across the board.
“In doing so, we want to meet new market realities and changing customer demands – with fantastic products for our customers and robust financial results for our investors.”
Running a car accounts for a hefty chunk of your monthly income. And with the increased cost of living in recent years, many drivers are understandably looking to save money.
Fortunately, it’s easy to reduce how much you spend on driving. Our expert motoring advice will save you pennies in some places, and pounds in others. But it all adds up.
Read on for our easy-to-follow guide to cut your motoring costs. It covers everything from filling up with fuel to leaving behind unnecessary luggage. Dare we even suggest going electric?
Choose petrol instead ofdiesel
Unlike in the recent past, diesel is no longer a guaranteed way to save money. For starters, diesel cars cost more than petrol cars – on a hatchback, for example, the premium can be 10 percent or more.
Diesel will cost you more at the pumps, and while these engines often provide better fuel economy, efficient petrol motors – including those with hybrid assistance – are catching up. Even relatively modern diesel cars may incur a charge for entering the London ULEZ zone, too.
Unless your annual mileage is very high, or you are buying a large and heavy SUV, you should stick to petrol.
Choose electric instead of petrol
This is a controversial one, perhaps, but as our sister Motoring Electric site explains in detail, there can be many advantages to owning an electric car. Granted, the days of free road tax for EVs are over, but running costs should still be lower than an equivalent petrol car.
The key is being able to charge at home, ideally taking advantage of cheaper overnight electricity rates. If you are forced to rely on the public charging network, the cost of replenishing your EV’s battery isn’t much different to filling up with fuel.
Maintaining an electric car is cheaper, though, with no need to change engine oil, spark plugs, belts, coolant, air filters and transmission oil. And while EVs are generally still more expensive to buy, the gap is narrowing all the time – helped in some cases by the government’s Electric Car Grant.
Check your tyre pressures
This simple check can save you plenty. Sure, it might cost you 50p or £1 to check your tyre pressures at a petrol station, but the savings soon add up.
Tyres underinflated by 15psi – a difference you may not notice from a visual glance – can reduce fuel economy by six percent. That’s the difference between averaging 40mpg and 42mpg.
Find cheaper fuel
Use a comparison website such as Petrolprices.com to find the cheapest fuel in your area. The difference can be huge, adding up to many pennies per litre. Be warned: driving out of your way to pick up cheap fuel is a false economy, which becomes even more negligible the less economical your car.
Never fill up at a motorway services unless you’re desperate for fuel – the costs can be astronomical.
Share your car
Do you actually need to drive? Could you car share instead? You don’t even need to know someone going in the same direction: services such as BlaBlaCar bring trusted carpooling to everyone.
Simply enter your location and where you want to go, and a carpooling service will search for available rides. You can even add your own car to the service.
Empty your boot
Don’t carry unnecessary weight around with you. As this unimpressed Tetris champion with his Dacia Jogger points out, a boot full of junk means you’re using extra fuel for nothing. Emptying it out will offer small savings that add up the further you go, particularly if your motoring is mainly stop-start driving.
While you’re there, remember to remove your roof rack and cycle carrier when they’re not in use. These will add aerodynamic drag, along with additional weight.
Take an advanced driving course
An advanced course will teach you how to drive economically – you’ll still make good progress but be doing it in a more efficient way. Gentle inputs and anticipation are the key tenets.
Hypermiling is the art of driving as economically as possible. Once you take on the challenge, it can become addictive.
Haggle for cheaper insurance
Car insurance is one of the biggest motoring costs you will face. Never accept your automatic renewal quote – always give your insurer a call to see if you can haggle it down.
Better still, arm yourself with a car insurance comparison quote to see how well your price compares.
Add family members to your insurance
We’re not recommending ‘fronting’, which is where a parent insures their child’s car in their name and adds them as a named driver, even though the parent never drives the vehicle. This is illegal.
However, adding your partner as a named driver on the family car can balance the risk and reduce your premium by a few pounds.
Do some basic pre-MOT checks
There are really simple things you can check prior to an MOT, such as whether your car’s bulbs are all working, the condition of its tyres, the state of its windscreen wipers, and even if the washer bottle contains any fluid.
No matter how simple they are, the garage won’t rectify them before completing the MOT test, and will fail you for the most minor faults. Why risk the inconvenience and potential expense?
Appeal against parking tickets
Think you have been unfairly caught out by a parking ticket? Try making an appeal.
Provide evidence, check the terms and conditions, present a compelling case, and sometimes you won’t have to pay. It’s a great feeling when you get a ticket overturned, too.
Find cheap or free parking in advance
Don’t simply park in the closest car park you can find, or the one you always use. Check there isn’t a cheaper one nearby first, using apps such as Parkopedia.
This can save you a fortune, particularly in big cities. If you’re travelling to an unfamiliar place, plan your parking in advance.
Source car parts yourself
Been quoted big money by a dealer to replace parts? Consider buying them yourself online and using a local garage to fit them. This could potentially save you hundreds of pounds.
If you’re running an older car, websites such as eBay can be helpful in sourcing rare parts and accessories.
Don’t overestimate your mileage
If you tell your insurance company you cover 10,000 miles a year but you actually drive far less, you could be paying a higher annual premium than is necessary.
Give the company a realistic figure instead. But don’t underestimate, or you could be left without cover.
Keep off the kerb
It’s amazing how many people drive up and down kerbs. This damages the metal wires in the sidewalls of the tyres (and often the alloy wheels as well), and will eventually lead to a puncture.
Not only will avoiding bumping up and down kerbs save you money, it will also keep you safe.
Park away from other vehicles
If your car is paid for on finance, it will be assessed for condition before you hand it back – and you’ll be charged if any rectification is needed. An easy way to reduce the risk of damage is to park away from other cars, so their opened doors can’t damage it. They can’t scrape it when driving in and out, either.
Remember, even small panel dents could lead to a big bill. And everything will be logged by the dealer on the condition report.
Buy a smartphone holder
If you are caught using a hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel, you face a £200 fine and six points on your licence.
Use your smartphone for navigation or as an audio player? Avoid the risk – both financial and in terms of road safety – by fitting it into a phone holder.
Don’t use your windscreen wipers on ice
Windscreen wipers can cost £20 or more to replace and they’ll wear out much more quickly if you use them on ice in winter.
Scrape the windscreen or use de-icer spray instead to avoid damaging your wiper blades.
Don’t hit the gas straight away
Every modern car has engine electronics to regulate the engine starting procedure. In the past, you needed to use a little gas to get the car running, but this is no longer necessary.
So, don’t waste the extra fuel and risk damage to your engine. The car will start cleanly without any need to rev it.
Drive gently when the car is cold
Cars are at their least efficient when they are cold. If you drive quickly straight from start-up, you are redoubling the wasted fuel, and wearing out the engine more quickly in the process.
Show some mechanical sympathy and you will immediately start saving money.
Stick to your PCP mileage limit
If your PCP car finance scheme covers you for 9,000 miles a year and you end up driving 10,000 miles, you will face an excess mileage surcharge. These can be punitive, but even a minor-sounding 0.06p per mile adds up to a £180 bill if you go 3,000 miles over.
Often, it would have been cheaper to factor this mileage into the monthly PCP payments in the first place, so be realistic.
Don’t pay extra for premium fuel
Fuel sold in the UK is some of the best in the world. If you have a regular car with a normal-output engine, standard 95 octane unleaded petrol or everyday diesel will be fine.
You won’t feel any benefit from using higher-octane premium fuels, but you will notice the significant extra expense when you fill up.
Consider joining a car club
Don’t use your car much? You might save money by simply borrowing a car whenever you need one, rather than paying out for tax and insurance on a car you only use occasionally.
Car clubs usually let you reserve cars via an online app, and you can often borrow them for anything from half an hour to a couple of days. Many clubs cost as little as 30p a minute or £5 an hour for all-inclusive use, or you can pay more for a larger or more upmarket car.
Monitor your fuel economy
Don’t rely on your car’s trip computer to monitor fuel economy – they’re not always accurate – but use an app on your phone to calculate your miles per gallon each time you fill up.
Once you know how well it performs, work out how you can improve it – and challenge yourself by making a game of it.
Wash your car yourself
Hand car wash centres charge just a few pounds and save you effort, so where’s the harm? Well, even a £7 fortnightly car wash adds up to £182 a year.
Doing it yourself will not only save you money, it will also allow you to keep an eye on the condition of your car and get any damage rectified before it gets more serious.
Know how to buy economical tyres
Need new tyres? While it might be tempting to go for the cheapest available, that can prove to be a mistake in the long run. Not only are budget tyres inferior in terms of braking and handling ability, they may also hit your fuel economy.
All tyres are fitted with an EU tyre label with a fuel efficiency rating. An ‘A’ rating means the tyre decreases the energy lost through the tyre (often referred to as ‘low rolling resistance’), while a G rating is the worst performing – resulting in increased fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Use your phone to avoid extra parking charges
Paid for parking? Not returning to your car in time can prove expensive if you’re hit with a fine. But many parking companies offer payment via a phone app.
Although there may be a small convenience fee, the app should notify you when your parking is nearly up – and you can extend it remotely so you’re not caught out.
If you’re young, research insurance carefully
Unfortunately, being a young driver means you’re going to get stung for car insurance. That’s unavoidable. However, there are ways to make it cheaper. Try getting quotes for a wide variety of cars. Although you’d expect small cars in low insurance groups to be cheaper to insure, you might discover a few exceptions.
Use insurance comparison websites to shop around and try approaching a few companies directly. Also consider a ‘black box’ telematics policy to help you build up a no-claims discount.
Buy road tax annually, not monthly
You can pay vehicle excise duty (VED, or car tax) annually, monthly or every six months. Many opt for a monthly direct debit, but it works out more expensive over the entire year. Pay the full amount at the outset if you can.
If you’re strapped for cash, consider taking out a zero percent interest credit card and setting up a direct debit to pay it off over the year. It’ll work out cheaper than choosing the monthly option.
Comprehensive cover might be cheapest
If you’re on a budget, many assume third-party insurance (the minimum legal requirement, which only covers damage to other vehicles) will be the cheapest. But try getting quotes for fully comprehensive as well.
The weird algorithm of insurance companies’ computers often means comprehensive cover is cheaper than going third-party only.
Buy a classic car to save on tax
You could save money by buying a classic car. Vehicles registered more than 40 years ago are exempt from paying VED, which could make for a significant saving.
Buy sensibly and you could also save on insurance. And your car might even appreciate in value over time – certainly not the case with a new car.
The electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme has claimed the title as the world’s fastest production car.
Reaching an astonishing top speed of 308.4mph at the Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP) test facility in Germany, the Yangwang has surpassed both the Hennessey Venom GT and Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.
The outright production car record comes just weeks after the Chinese-made U9 Xtreme officially became the world’s fastest EV.
It all marks a major achievement for the Yangwang brand, which is a new, upmarket division of the globally successful BYD Auto company.
High-voltage engineering
A development of the regular Yangwang U9 electric sports car, the Xtreme receives a suitably extreme boost in performance.
Four electric motors, capable of spinning at up to 30,000rpm, generate an incredible 3,000hp. By comparison, the standard U9 makes do with ‘just’ 1,305hp.
Powering the U9 Xtreme is Yangwang’s Blade Battery, boasting the first use of 1,200V technology to offer an even faster discharge rate.
Other changes for the Xtreme, previously known as the Track/Special Edition, included the fitment of semi-slick tyres and smaller 20-inch wheels – rather than the standard 21-inch rims.
Yangwang’s DiSus-X suspension also gained specific tuning to cope with the demands of high-speed track driving.
For those who want to recreate a high-speed run, Yangwang plans to build a limited run of 30 examples of the U9 Xtreme.
Achieved with electric power
Taking the wheel for the U9 Xtreme’s record-breaking run was Marc Basseng. With extensive motorsport experience, including winning the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship, the German driver was well suited to the task.
Basseng said: “This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance. Technically, something like this is not possible with a combustion engine.
“Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes, and that allows me to focus even more on the track.”
BYD executive vice president, Stella Li, added: “This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division. Yangwang is a brand that does not recognise the impossible, and only through this commitment to what’s coming next can you end up with a vehicle like the U9X.”
