The Nissan Juke Enigma is the first special edition version of the firm’s latest-generation small SUV – and the first to come with Amazon Alexa compatibility as standard.
Built into the NissanConnect infotainment system, the Nissan Skill enables owners to control vehicle functions remotely from their smartphone, or from an Alexa-enabled device.
Services include checking how much fuel is left in the tank, whether the doors are locked or not, and sending a location to the car’s sat nav system.
The functionality means owners will, for example, be able to set a sat nav destination in the car simply by saying ‘Hey Alexa’ to an Amazon smartspeaker.
There are a total of 13 functions that can be accessed through Alexa.
The Nissan Juke Enigma is available in all-black paintwork, or either grey metallic or white pearlescent with a black roof.
All models carry an Enigma graphic on the C-pillar.
Other features include black 19-inch alloys and additional graphics for the door mirrors.
As with all new Juke models, the sole engine option is a 1.0-litre turbo petrol.
Prices start from £23,195 and ordering is open now.
MOT test centres remain open in all parts of Great Britain, the government has confirmed, despite newly announced lockdown restrictions in England and Scotland, and alert level 4 restrictions in Wales.
During lockdown, motorists are allowed to leave home and get an MOT ‘if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home’.
The government has reminded motorists they should book a MOT as normal if it is due from 1 August 2020.
The six-month MOT extension was only valid for tested due between 30 March 2020 and 31 July 2020.
The ending of the extension means many more vehicles are due for an MOT than is normal at this time of year.
Motorists without a valid MOT can be fined up to £1,000 – and if the vehicle is deemed dangerous and an MOT failure, the fine can increase up to £2,500 and motorists given three penalty points on their driving licence.
What happens during a Covid-friendly MOT?
MOT reception staff are instructed to wear single-use gloves to handle car keys during all tiers of MOT tests.
Centres that are able to follow social distancing rules can allow customers to view the MOT test and wait in reception – but they can also limit or close those areas if they want to.
Vehicle windows should be opened five minutes before starting the test, in order to ventilate the vehicle.
During the MOT, testers are instructed to use a new single-use pair of gloves. New seat covers should also be used.
Assistants should follow the same rules – however, they should not be inside the vehicle while the tester carries out interior checks.
They can only enter the vehicle once all interior checks are complete.
During underside and under-bonnet checks, assistants should ideally keep windows closed.
If this isn’t possible, they should only open the window far enough for the technicians to hear one another.
After the MOT test, gloves must be disposed of and the MOT team must wash their hands.
MOT certificates must not be printed out – although motorists can download and print their own certificate when they get home, via the government’s check MOT history service.
Mobile or contactless payments should be used wherever possible – however, the advised maximum MOT fee is £54.85.
Motorists are reporting a dramatic rise in the number of scam emails, texts and calls pretending to be from the DVLA – so the organisation has released images of the latest tricks to be aware of.
The DVLA says there has been a 603 percent increase in motorists reporting scams, with email scams being particularly prevalent.
Text message scams actually declined in number, although they remain a problem.
DVLA officials say the organisation never asks for bank details over email, and never sends text messages about vehicle tax refunds.
The only place to access official information on DVLA and its services is GOV.UK.
“Scammers are becoming more persistent in their efforts to target motorists,” said DVLA head of fraud policy investigation Phil Morgan.
“These more recent scams may at first seem legitimate, but they are designed to trick motorists into providing their personal details.
“We never ask for bank or credit card details via text message or email, so if you receive something like this, it’s a scam.”
Mr Morgan says motorists should report any suspicious emails to the National Cyber Security Service.
Any suspicious text messages should be forwarded to their network provider on 7726. The service is free of charge.
How motorists can stay safe online
Never share driving licence images and vehicle documents online
Never share bank details or personal data online
Avoid websites offering to connect to the DVLA contact centre
Only use GOV.UK when searching for DVLA contact details
If you think you have been scammed, immediately report it to the police via Action Fraud
Used car buyers in Northern Ireland are at risk of price rises due to Brexit – and potentially a reduced supply of second-hand cars, too.
Retailers report that changes to how VAT is calculated on cars imported from Great Britain mean prices may have to go up.
Previously, retailers paid VAT only on the profit margin of the car.
However, Brexit means Northern Ireland businesses are no longer part of the UK’s margin scheme on second-hand goods.
This means VAT has to be paid on the full sale price of the used car.
Trade title Auto Retail Agenda also adds that an increase in red tape might also restrict the supply of cars from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
That’s because UK suppliers might be deterred by the extra paperwork involved.
One car dealer is reported as calling it “total discrimination… we are not on a level playing field with Great Britain”.
Both governments are reportedly aware of the problem and, as part of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Westminster is “continuing to explore options for addressing the impacts”.
Around 270,000 used cars are sold in Northern Ireland each year, and many of them are imported into the country from Great Britain.
“If we can’t get cars, or there is 20 percent VAT, then that’s it – we’re finished,” said County Down used car dealer Ciaran Russell.
Ford v Ferrari had it all: a story ready-made to be a movie blockbuster. We haven’t seen the potential for such front-page intrigue between two global car manufacturers in Formula 1 for decades (maybe wider international motorsport too? Let me know the comments below…).
But I reckon 2021 could well be a new movie in the making.
In the red corner, there’s Ferrari, the world’s most famous F1 team, which has suffered a dreadful 2020. It’s paid the price for exploiting an undisclosed technical loophole, and team boss Mattia Binotto says “at least third” in the Constructors’ Championship is the goal.
In the green corner, there’s Aston Martin, the newly-rebranded Racing Point team, that’s traditionally been a giant-killer. Last year, it copied the 2019 Mercedes-AMG F1 racer, creating the third-fastest car. And finished fourth.
Aston Martin has had a desperate couple of years and is entering F1 to fast-track its rise into a true global luxury superbrand. Of which, Ferrari is one of the very best of all.
Ferrari is in F1 because, well, neither would be the same without the other. And F1 is one of the best global advertisements of all.
Both are now set to take on each other not only in the world’s showrooms, but on the racetrack as well. And there’s a fair bit of baggage to add spice to the story…
Take Sebastien Vettel, Aston Martin’s new lead driver. Ferrari dispensed with his services before the 2020 season had even started. Arguably, his performances during the year validated this, but they also may have been the result of the decision.
He will go into the 2021 season determined to prove why he’s a four-time World Champion, and prove his old team wrong.
The fact Racing Point / Aston Martin also elbowed out a star driver – who won for it last year – adds an extra subplot to the story (all good movies need ’em): he’s now driving for the second-fastest team, Red Bull… the team Aston Martin was title sponsor for last year, until deciding to go it alone. He’ll be determined to prove his old team wrong.
Ferrari suffered slings and arrows all season long, and it’s something the team is not accustomed to. It wants to restore its position at the front end of the grid, and may already be assuming it’s got the measure of Aston Martin. The Silverstone team will be determined to prove it wrong.
Oh, and Ferrari is also hard at work on its first-ever SUV, a model to belatedly take on the Aston Martin DBX – and Aston’s upmarket off-roader will be taking to the track in 2021 as pace car in a shared arrangement with Mercedes-AMG.
Cue shots of a red Ferrari lining up behind a silver Aston Martin, perhaps with a green Aston Martin harrying it from behind if the director wants to be particularly pointed.
Both Aston Martin and Ferrari want the same thing in Formula 1 this year. And may well trip over themselves in getting it.
The story already has plenty going for it, and that’s even before we start to consider F1’s new 2022 rules, that could fast-track both of them to the front of the grid for a genuine front-running battle.
The Aston Martin Formula One Team has revealed its new logo and teaser video ahead of taking to the F1 grid in March.
Aston Martin returns to F1 racing in Melbourne, Australia, on 21 March, for the first time in six decades.
The British sports car brand’s last F1 race was back in 1960 at the British Grand Prix.
Chairman Lawrence Stroll said the return as a full F1 constructor was the natural next progression after being a title sponsor of Red Bull Racing.
“Formula 1 is a hugely powerful platform that will play a key part in the overall Aston Martin strategy as we seek to take the company forward.
“It is a truly global sport with a huge audience that we believe can help reignite the brand and further increase its desirability all over the world.
“We now have an opportunity to write a new page in the history books.”
A team for everyone
Aston Martin bosses are promising to bring fans right into the heart of the team, which in recent years has ran as Racing Point (complete with its distinctive pink livery).
“It will become a team for everyone, reaching out to new audiences in this rapidly changing world but always remembering the loyalty of the racing fans.”
Aston Martin Formula One Team will feature across all the brand’s social media channels – and the firm is planning to launch a website dedicated to the F1 team.
The 2021 racing car and livery will be revealed in February 2021, by drivers Lance Stroll and four-time F1 champion Sebastien Vettel (pictured above).
Aston Martin F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer said everyone in the team was looking forward to the reaction when the new team identity is revealed. “We’ve earned a well-deserved reputation for punching above our weight, so we’re confident we can do the Aston Martin name proud right from the get-go.”
The New Year festive animation goes live from today (31 December) and will be available to customers with the latest software between 1-7 January 2021.
Described as a “stunningly orchestrated ambient lighting sequence”, the New Year treat is played to a backdrop of fittingly festive music.
It’s activated through a special Christmas banner that appears in the Control Display. Owners clicking this are treated to the New Year programme.
It can also be triggered manually, by saying “Hey BMW, Happy New Year“, or through the app in the Vehicle menu.
BMW says the New Year banner will automatically appear uo to three times on starting the car and can be accessed anytime in the Messages menu after the first activation.
To see the message, owners need to have a model with BMW Operating System 7.0, running software status 07/2020 or later.
New research has found that an overwhelming majority of electric vehicle drivers plan to stick with battery power.
Conducted by Zap-Map, the Annual EV Charging survey saw more 2,000 respondents share their views on electric car ownership.
A substantial 91 percent of those surveyed would not consider changing from an EV back to a petrol, diesel, or hybrid car.
Electrical evangelists
Whilst 9 percent of respondents said they would possibly consider switching back, less than 1 in 100 admitted to actually missing their diesel or petrol-powered car.
In terms of overall ownership satisfaction, full battery electric vehicles were judged to be the best with a score of 92 out of 100.
Plug-in hybrids scored 84 for satisfaction, with conventional diesel and petrol models further behind with a satisfaction score of 72.
Making the results more significant was the fact that 73 percent of respondents were first-time electric car owners. Tellingly, more than half of respondents had bought their current electric car in 2020.
Satisfaction guaranteed
A number of electric cars were also rated as highly satisfying by their owners. The new Volkswagen ID.3, Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid, and BMW 3 Series saloon all received a maximum score of 100.
The Tesla Model 3 and Kia e-Niro were close behind with a score of 96, whilst the Hyundai Kona electric was rated as 94.
Sales of electric vehicles have surged during 2020, with 9.7 percent of all cars sold to date featuring a plug-in connection. Just 3.2 percent of cars had the same during 2019, and only 1.1 percent of those sold in 2015 were electrified models.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-Founder of Zap-Map, commented that: “It’s clear that many of the historical challenges of owning and running an EV have fallen away.
“The dramatic growth in EV sales in 2020 is one of the good news stories to come out of this difficult year for the car industry.”
Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has been knighted in the latest Queen’s New Year Honours list.
It tops a year in which the British driver claimed his seventh F1 Drivers’ title, putting him on a par with Michael Schumacher for championship wins.
Along with his continued success on track, Hamilton has also used his position to further social justice and change throughout 2021.
The most successful F1 driver, ever
Hamilton is now the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1. He holds the record for the most F1 race victories, sealing his 95th win at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
This is in addition to achievements such as the most pole positions, and most podium finishes, of any driver in F1 history.
Such was the dominance of Hamilton’s 2020 F1 season, he will undoubtedly break more records should he continue (as expected) in the sport.
More than just a one-track mind
Other achievements in 2020 have included winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize. He was also given the prestigious role of guest editor for the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.
The latter was used by Hamilton to highlight his influence on social matters. At Hamilton’s request, the Mercedes-AMG team painted their cars black in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The Stevenage-born driver also had to battle coronavirus, missing out on the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix as a result. Returning to the grid for the Abu Dhabi finale, Hamilton admitted he was “grateful to be alive” after contracting the virus.
Arise, Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE
Hamilton had been awarded an MBE in the 2008 New Year Honours list, following his first title. Despite his continued success on track, many felt Hamilton had been unfairly overlooked for a knighthood.
Pressure had been growing for him to receive the top honour, with various petitions pushing for his knighthood.
He will become only the fourth Formula 1 driver to receive a knighthood. Sir Jack Brabham was knighted in 1978, with Sir Stirling Moss following in 2000.
A year later in 2001, Sir Jackie Stewart was bestowed with the same honour.
The successful Aston Martin Racing team has called time on its direct involvement in the World Endurance Championship.
It comes after the outfit secured both the GTE Drivers’ and GTE Manufacturers’ championship titles for the 2019-20 season, with the Vantage.
An end to the nine-year run has been brought about by Aston Martin’s intended return to the Formula 1 grid for 2021.
Going out on a GTE high
Aston Martin has been a mainstay of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) since the series was formed in 2012. Two versions of the Vantage GTE race car have been used, competing across seven WEC seasons.
During that time, the Aston Martin Racing team has recorded a considerable 47 class victories, with 103 podiums in total. This had led to nine individual championship wins and, perhaps most significantly, four 24 Hours of Le Mans class victories.
Customer teams around the world have made use of the Vantage GTE in 323 races, amassing 62 first-place finishes.
In such a competitive format that maximises close racing, to achieve an almost 20 percent win rate is highly impressive.
Customers to keep racing on
For 2021 and beyond, it will be these customer teams that Aston Martin will rely on to keep the Vantage GTE successful.
Aston Martin has reached a new agreement with motorsport engineering firm, Prodrive. The British-based company will continue to build and supply the current version of the Vantage GTE, letting teams around the world keep racing.
Customer teams will be particularly supported in tackling prestigious ‘blue riband’ events. These include the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship, Intercontinental GT Challenge, and GT World Challenge.
A new Aston Martin focus for 2021
Driving the change in GTE racing strategy is the return of the Aston Martin Racing name to Formula 1, for the first time in six decades. The team last competed as an F1 manufacturer in 1960, but did investigate options for returning to the sport in 2010.
Instead, the team has acted as a title sponsor for the Red Bull Racing team. The two companies collaborated on a number of projects, including the Valkyrie hypercar.
The new Aston Martin Racing F1 team will be a rebranding of the current Racing Point outfit. Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll is a co-owner of Racing Point, and also a major investor in Aston Martin itself.
His son, Lance Stroll, and four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel will drive for the Aston Martin F1 team in 2021.
