The Nissan Ariya is a new pure electric SUV with a range of up to 310 miles and futuristic styling that aims to kickstart the struggling Nissan brand.
It also comes in a surprise high-performance range-topping version with 394hp, 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds and an all-wheel drive system inspired by the Nissan GT-R supercar.
Built on an all-new electric car architecture, the Ariya has a distinctive front end with an LED-framed ‘shield’ and the first appearance of Nissan’s simplified new logo.
The sides are sleek and striking, and the rear has a distinctive rake and eye-catching LED lights.
Nissan says the short overhangs, coupe-like roofline and big wheels (19 inches are standard) are all a by-product of the 100 percent bespoke electric car underpinnings.
The interior is radical for a Nissan too, the firm likening it to a ‘café lounge on a starship’.
It has button-less haptic controls, dual 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment displays and slim ‘Zero Gravity’ seats that give plentiful space front and rear.
The roomy cabin allows those in the rear to cross their legs, while those in the front have a slide-out table in the centre of the dash that turns the car into a mobile office.
Ariya tech
Nissan is offering the Ariya in both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive guises: the latter is called ‘e-4orce’.
Both drive types come with either a 63kWh battery or an 87kWh battery, and the e-4orce is also available in more powerful 87kWh Performance version with greater output.
Bizarrely, there are five different power outputs in total:
2WD 63kWh: 217hp
2WD 87kWh: 242hp
AWD e-4orce 63kWh: 278hp
AWD e-4orce 87kWh: 306hp
AWD e-4orce 87kWh Performance: 394hp
The fastest Ariya does 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds, making it a seriously fast performance SUV. Even the standard version does it in 7.5 seconds, though.
The e-4orce versions ‘feature Nissan’s most advanced all-wheel control technology’ inspired by the Nissan GT-R supercar’s amazingly able system.
It’s easy for EVs to deliver quick 0-62mph times, said Nissan development chief Makoto Fukuda.
“The Ariya is also fast in a straight line, but it provides maximum, usable performance in a wide range of driving conditions such as on a snowy mountain road or on wet city streets.”
The twin electric motors even improve ride quality, claims Nissan.
Ariya range
The electric car range is plentiful too, with up to 310 miles on offer:
2WD 63kWh: 223 miles
2WD 87kWh: 310 miles
AWD e-4orce 63kWh: 211 miles
AWD e-4orce 87kWh: 285 miles
AWD e-4orce 87kWh Performance: 248 miles
Quick charging from CCS chargers is promised: 63kWh versions have a 7.4kW onboard charger, while 87kWh versions have a 22kW three-phase charger.
Rapid charging up to 130kW is supported.
Nissan’s second all-electric vehicle, which will sit above the Nissan Leaf, arrives in the UK in 2021, and is set to compete with vehicles such as the Tesla Model Y and forthcoming Volkswagen ID4.
Prices are to be confirmed but are expected to start well in excess of £30,000.
For more all-electric motoring news, visit our sister site MotoringElectric.com.
If you have spent any time on social media in the past few days, you may have seen and heard a lot of attention being placed on the new Ford Bronco.
Launched to great fanfare with a glossy video extravaganza, the 2021 Bronco has had Blue Oval fans on the edge of their seats for months.
Stick with us as we explain why it matters so much, and highlight some of the impressive features the new must-have four-wheel drive has.
Why is the Ford Bronco such a big deal?
Although the name might not mean much in the UK, for North American buyers the Bronco is a legendary vehicle. The original version, launched in 1966, is credited with helping create the SUV sector we know and love.
Ford sold thousands of examples of the Bronco, across five different generations, until production ended in 1996.
It combined a practical body with standard four-wheel drive, making it the perfect SUV. The Bronco made a debut not long after the Ford Mustang, and was meant to channel the same degree of fun into a go-anywhere vehicle.
For those outside North America, a white Bronco gained infamy by being used in the 1994 O.J. Simpson police chase. That was not the reason Ford axed the Bronco two years later – the market had simply moved on from buying two-door off-roaders.
OK, but why the hype for another new SUV?
Rumours of a new Bronco have been circulating for years, ever since Ford displayed a concept version at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show.
What we are seeing now is a combination of excitement for a brand-new model, combined with decades of nostalgia for the original versions.
Classic examples of the Ford Bronco have become seriously collectable in recent years. Values have increased, with restored examples of the first-generation model demanding more than $300,000 (£240,000).
I assume the new Bronco will be cheaper than that?
Oh, indeed. Being built on the Ford Ranger pickup platform, rather than as a standalone model, has kept production costs down.
Pricing will begin at $29,995 (£24,000) for the entry level two-door model. That aims it squarely at the Jeep Wrangler, which will be the biggest competitor for the Bronco.
Moving further up the Bronco family sees things become much more costly. The range-topping First Edition version runs to a considerable $60,800 (£48,500).
The smaller Bronco Sport will be slightly cheaper to buy, priced from $28,155 (£22,500).
Who exactly is part of this Bronco family?
Ford has gone against the grain with the new Bronco, and launched three different styles of car in one big hit. Usually manufacturers would feed these in over time, but the Blue Oval has gone all out for the Bronco.
The range starts with a compact two-door model, which looks to have been directly inspired by the 1966 original Bronco. It comes with frameless doors, and removable roof panels, to bring the outside in.
A larger four-door version of the Bronco comes with a standard soft-top roof, along with similar removable roof panels. It boasts greater interior space, but Ford says it does not compromise on ability.
What about the Bronco Sport?
Alongside the traditional two- and four-door off-roader versions of the Bronco, Ford has also launched the Sport model. It is smaller than the other members of the family, and looks a lot more like what we would now consider a normal family SUV.
The interior is designed to be more refined, and there are no giant removable roof panels. Although the rear window does flip-up separately to allow access to the boot.
Ford is adamant the Bronco Sport will still cut it in the rough stuff, packing it with the same technology as found in its bigger brothers. It just delivers all this in a more user-friendly package.
Are the engine options all gigantic V8s?
On the contrary, Ford has shied away from big V8 engines with the Bronco. Instead, there are more examples of its EcoBoost turbocharged petrol range.
The entry-level engine is a 2.3-litre four-cylinder, producing 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Two-door versions come with a seven-speed manual gearbox, including a special low-speed ‘crawler gear’ for better control when off-roading.
A ten-speed automatic gearbox is fitted to four-door models as standard.
On the options list is a more powerful 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6, offering 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
Under the bonnet of the Bronco Sport is a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine on lower-spec models, with a 2.0-litre EcoBoost unit on fancier versions. An eight-speed automatic is standard on all.
Will it really go off-road?
If the promotional videos are anything to go by, the new Bronco looks to be a serious mud-plugging machine. Ford has fitted it with seven different G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes, allowing the Bronco to adjust to whatever environment it is in.
Selectable four-wheel drive is fitted to all Broncos, with a low-range transfer box for when the going gets tough. Electronic locking differentials can be added, whilst the cruise control has a special ‘trail mode’ to help control speed in tricky conditions.
The acronyms continue with H.O.S.S. (High-Performance, Off-Road Stability Suspension), that includes trick Bilstein dampers. A huge ride height allows the Bronco to wade through 33.5-inches of water, and gigantic 35-inch Goodyear tyres are on the options list.
In short, Ford has thrown every off-road trick in the book at the new Bronco.
But is the interior a basic stripped-out affair?
Although the inside of the new Bronco may look utilitarian, it is actually crammed with modern technology. There are cloth seats and floor carpets on base models, but the hardcore ‘Black Diamond’ version does have marine-grade vinyl seats and rubber flooring that you can wash out.
Climate control, an 8-inch multimedia screen, LED headlights, and an integrated roll cage with curtain airbags are some of the interior features on all versions. Luxury models can even be fitted with a powerful B&O stereo system, so be careful where you aim that hosepipe.
You will also find numerous hidden Bronco badges and emblems throughout the cabin, and neat details like MOLLE attachment points for your outdoor gear.
You’ve got me sold. When is it coming to the UK?
Not anytime soon. Sorry. Ford is very much focused on the North American market with the new Bronco. It is based on the Ranger pickup that is sold here, so that adds a faint glimmer of hope.
Given the excitement, we can also expect to see specialist dealers importing examples of the Bronco. But they will likely come with a premium price tag attached.
American customers are currently able to reserve their new Bronco for $100 (£80). The first deliveries are expected this time next year.
Learner drivers lost more than £1 million as a result of the lockdown. This is according to a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
The figure is based on the number of expired theory test certificates during the pause in driving tests. The FOI shows that 35,937 theory test certificates expired between 23 March and 20 June – the proposed date for practical tests to resume. A certificate costs a non-refundable £23.
Based on the data from the 90-day period, 399 certificates expired daily. This is an average loss of £9,177 per day.
Car driving tests will resume in England on Wednesday 22 July. This 32-day extension equates to an additional average loss of £293,664. Using DVSA data, Marmalade car insurance estimates a loss of £1,120,215 for learner drivers.
Commenting on the data and what this means for learner drivers, CEO of Marmalade, Crispin Moger said:
“I don’t doubt that there will have been many learner drivers that were planning to take their test during this period and now will have lost out due to the lockdown. Learners whose certificates have expired will need to take the test and pass it again before they can take their practical driving test adding yet more time to their wait.
“For some this is just another roadblock to gaining freedom and will be a hindrance to many where a driving test pass was at the centre of their plans.
“That’s why we have launched a petition to ask the Government to extend these certificates by three months to allow learners the chance to qualify as drivers as soon as it’s possible, something which will also ease waiting times and pressure on theory test centres once they reopen.”
At the time of writing, around 600 people have signed the petition calling for a three-month extension of the theory test certificate once practical driving tests resume. You can sign the petition here.
Theory tests restarted in England on 4 July, with social distancing measures in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Driving lessons, theory tests and driving tests are still suspended in Scotland and Wales. There are also different dates for Northern Ireland.
The launch car will be the Premier edition. Pricing and spec details, along with the opening of pre-ordering, are coming in autumn 2020.
BMW says the iX3 uses the fifth generation of its eDrive technology. This builds on the experience of the i3 electric car and power density is said to have jumped 30 percent.
The same electric drive components will be used in 2021’s BMW iNEXT and BMW i4.
The iX3 is a rear-wheel-drive SUV, with 286hp making its performance comparable with the existing X3 xDrive30i.
However, whereas a petrol engine is less than 40 percent efficient, the iX3’s electric motor is 93 percent efficient.
Handling is said to be more dynamic than a regular version too, thanks to a centre of gravity lowered by a full 75mm.
Differentiating the iX3 from a regular BMW X3 are the almost fully-closed kidney grille and front bumper, and a more sculpted and lower-drag rear.
Even the wheels are more five percent more aerodynamic than regular alloys, adding six miles of range all by themselves.
Electric blue accent panels mark out the iX3, which otherwise looks broadly the same as a regular car.
Because it’s silent-running, BMW has fitted an acoustic alert system – using a soundtrack created by film score composer Hans Zimmer.
For more all-electric motoring news, visit our sister site MotoringElectric.com.
Nissan defined the popular electric car with the Leaf, then failed to build on that momentum. All that is set to change this week when Nissan unveils the all-new Ariya SUV.
Although details won’t be released until 15 July, we know that it will be Nissan’s second all-electric car. It will also draw heavily on the 2019 concept car, showcasing a new design direction for the company. The Ariya is likely to influence the design of the next Qashqai.
In the meantime, here’s another Nissan – and this is one you can build at home.
It’s called the Kidster. Like the Leaf and Ariya, it’s 100 percent zero emissions. In fact, it’s a good demonstration of reusing and recycling.
Although the Kidster is a product of Nissan USA, you’re free to make it a right-hand-drive vehicle for UK living rooms. Alternatively, you could place the steering wheel in the centre of the car, McLaren F1 style.
Once complete, the Nissan Kidster will sprint to 60mph (that’s metres per hour) in as fast as a parent or willing sibling is able to push.
There are zero emissions at the tailpipe – primarily because the Kidster doesn’t feature a tailpipe. Recharging takes a couple of minutes – the equivalent of refuelling at the kitchen table.
Nissan Kidster: just add child
Along with some imagination, you will need a cardboard box, packing tape, colouring materials, paper, printer, scissors, utility knife, glue, a paper plate, cork or pencil, tacks and aluminium foil.
Once the Kidster is complete, just add child. Big kids are also welcome
Some pretty cool ‘print and paste’ parts are available on line, including a steering wheel, lights, badges and wheels. You have a choice of two badges: Rogue or Altima. The Nissan Rogue is the U.S. equivalent of the Nissan Qashqai.
We reckon it would be more fun to build a cardboard Nissan GT-R. Alternatively, maybe you should build your own Ariya ahead of the launch on Wednesday.
The UK automotive industry has called the lack of specific support from chancellor Rishi Sunak “bitterly disappointing” and says a dedicated support package is now “critical”.
Sector-specific support for the automotive industry is needed “urgently” says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The UK, it says, is the only country of Europe’s ‘big five’ economies not to provide a support package for the automotive sector.
It is something the SMMT has “been calling for repeatedly over the last three months,” said chief executive Mike Hawes.
This would give new car buyers £2,500 off and help put 600,000 cars on the road.
It would not be restricted just to electric vehicles, and include regular diesel and petrol models. It “must support the entire market” said the letter.
The scheme would make money, said the SMMT: the UK economy would see a net benefit of £3 for every £1 spent, through VAT and VED car tax.
“The industry is already facing its biggest challenge in living memory and until critical industries such as automotive recover, the UK’s economic recovery will be stuck in low gear,” said Mr Hawes.
“Year to date registrations are now down 48.5 percent, representing the lowest level since 1971 and resulting in an estimated £1.1 billion loss to the Treasury in VAT receipts alone.
“This is clear evidence as to why we need policies that provide broader support for consumer confidence to boost big-ticket spending, which in turn will help drive manufacturing.”
Some people see a plug-in hybrid vehicle as a ‘stepping stone’ to all-electric motoring. A chance to test the viability of life with an electric car before going ‘all in’.
Volvo agrees.
It has now started referring to plug-in hybrids as ‘part-time electric cars’ – vehicles that ‘pave the way’ for a fully electric future.
This news comes as Volvo launches a range of new features for its Volvo On Call smartphone app. The aim: to encourage drivers to charge and drive fully electric as often as possible.
Using the app, drivers can see how far they have driven in all-electric mode, along with their electricity and fuel consumption.
Crucially, the app will also reveal how much has been saved by driving in electric mode.
‘Personal experience’
“We want the Volvo On Call app to make life easier for you as a user and create a more personal experience,” said Ödgärd Andersson, chief digital officer at Volvo Cars.
“As the car becomes ever more connected, the potential of the app increases and we intend over time for it to be as much a part of the Volvo as the car itself.”
Volvo’s range of plug-in hybrid vehicles consists of seven cars: XC90, XC60, XC40, V90, V60, S90 and S60. They are sold under the ‘Recharge‘ banner, which also includes the all-electric Volvo XC40.
Plug-in hybrid sales account for almost 25 percent of the company’s total volume in Europe. More electrified cars will follow, as Volvo pushes towards making all-electric cars account for 50 percent of global sales by 2025.
‘Part-time electric cars’
“Just like a step counter helps people exercise more, I believe that by giving people better insight into their driving patterns, it will help them to drive in a more sustainable way,” said Björn Annwall, head of EMEA at Volvo Cars.
“We see plug-in hybrids as ‘part-time electric cars’ that encourage changes in people’s behaviour and help pave the way for a transition towards fully electric cars.”
Twenty-five people complained that the term was misleading because it misrepresents the way in which the battery is charged.
The ASA rejected the complaints, saying: “Because the ads did not misrepresent the way in which the electric battery was recharged by using the petrol engine, we concluded they were not misleading.”
For more all-electric motoring news, visit our sister site MotoringElectric.com.
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Motorists are being warned to take care not to miss a road sign hidden by overgrown roadside vegetation, which is currently particularly hazardous thanks to recent rain.
Many local authorities are already stretched due to the coronavirus crisis and the maintenance of road signs might not be a priority.
Hidden road signs are not only an inconvenience, they could also be misleading and even dangerous.
“If you can’t see a sign,” said GEM Motoring Assist chief executive Neil Worth, “then your ability to make safe decisions is compromised, especially if you’re on unfamiliar roads.”
As Brits plan staycations instead of overseas holidays this year, motorists may find themselves driving on unfamiliar roads more frequently.
It’s not just local roads, either. A 2019 survey by Transport Focus revealed that one in three drivers had missed a motorway exit due to concealed road signs.
Report road signs
Mr Worth advises motorists to report hidden road signs to the local authority responsible.
In England and Wales, there is a dedicated page to sort street signs: enter a postcode and it takes you to the local authority responsible for that road sign.
In Northern Ireland, there is also a dedicated page to report road signs – and if it’s already been reported, you can add your name to the list of people reporting it.
Meanwhile, on motorways and A-roads, TransportFocus has a ‘Sort My Sign’ hub: enter the location, road name or postcode, detail the problem, and the report will be sent straight to Highways England.
Top tips for road sign safety
Knowing the shape of road signs can be enough: ‘Stop’ is the only octagonal road sign, for example
‘Give Way’ is the only upside-down triangular sign – if you see it, there is a junction ahead
Anticipate speed limit changes: if you’re on a country road approaching a built-up area, expect a speed limit change to 30mph
Many new cars come with road sign displays in the instrument panel. They are a useful reminder – but if the road sign is hidden, do remember that the camera won’t be able to read it either.
Video game superstar James Baldwin is ready to make the leap to real-world racer in this year’s British GT Championship.
The 22-year-old British driver had seen his motorsport debut delayed due to COVID-19. However, the changes have worked in his favour, with an expanded calendar for his first season.
Baldwin will now compete in six races during 2020, whereas his previous plans would have seen him enter just five events in the GT World Challenge Europe.
Playing the waiting game
The Intelligent Money British GT Championship will be the first opportunity for Baldwin to demonstrate the skills he showed to win the 2019 World’s Fastest Gamer competition.
Last year saw Baldwin beat nine other finalists in the World’s Fastest Gamer event. He had to battle through an intense combination of real-word and virtual racing challenges.
Victory netted him an impressive $1 million race contract, and a seat with the Jenson Team Rocket RJN outfit driving a McLaren 720S GT3.
Two-player mode enabled
Jenson Team Rocket RJN is co-owned by Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion. Baldwin will be partnered by McLaren junior driver Mike O’Brien for the British GT series.
O’Brien has previously competed in the GT4 category of the British GT Championship, so bring his own experience to the pairing.
Baldwin has not let the COVID-19 delay affect his enthusiasm to go racing. He commented that: “I should have already completed three races so far this year, but when I look at my new schedule, I’m massively excited.
“I’m going to get so many more race laps under my belt, which will fast track my development this year.
Become your own racing hero
His first race outing the McLaren 720S GT3 will come at Oulton Park on the 1st to 2nd August.
The revised 2020 calendar will see Baldwin competing in five other races, with the season finale at Silverstone on the 7th to 8th November.
For those who want to try and emulate Baldwin’s success, qualification for the latest edition of World’s Fastest Gamer is currently live. Entrants can use the Gear Club mobile racing game to demonstrate their skills in the hope of motorsport glory.
Almost 55,000 MORE vehicles were stolen in 2018-19 compared to four years ago – that’s a 56 percent increase, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
10,000 more vehicles were stolen in 2018-19 alone, compared to the year before.
More than 150,000 vehicles in total were stolen in 2018-19, with some areas recording particularly large increases.
The Freedom of Information request by RAC Insurance showed six forces recorded more than a doubling of vehicle thefts.
They were up 172 percent in Suffolk, 133 percent in Surrey and 121 percent in the West Midlands.
In terms of the number of vehicles stolen, Kent recorded a 12,550 increase to more than 40,000 vehicle thefts, a 45 percent increase.
Almost 10,000 vehicle thefts were recorded by the Metropolitan police (up 46 percent) and the 121 percent rise in the West Midlands was due to an increase of 5,677 to 10,372 vehicle thefts.
Only three regions recorded a reduction in vehicle thefts: Lincolnshire, the City of London and Police Scotland.
‘Disturbing’
RAC spokesperson Simon Williams said the picture “paints a rather disturbing picture – vehicle thefts are on the rise almost everywhere, and in some parts of the country, numbers are rocketing.
“While vehicle crime is at far lower levels today than it was in the early 1990s… it’s still concerning that so many more vehicles are being stolen than just a few years ago.”
Mr Williams said government figures reveal thieves use keys to access vehicles in around half of crimes: “Perhaps some drivers could do more to keep their keys safe.”
