Audi is offering an extension of its new car warranties in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. This is to help customers who are unable to visit an Audi dealer during the lockdown.
The extension applies worldwide to all cars produced in Europe, Brazil, Mexico or India. Specifically, it applies to warranties due to expire between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2020.
Warranties will be extended by three months after the original date of expiry, at the latest on 31 August 2020. Mileage restrictions remain unchanged.
Audi says that in the case of any overlap, the start of an extended warranty will be postponed for three months.
Horst Hanschur, vice president retail business development and customer services at Audi, said: “We are reaching out to our customers in these trying times and are enabling more flexibility in order to organise visits to Audi dealerships.
“Many of our dealer partners worldwide are still closed or just in the process of opening their doors again.
“We are therefore making adjustments in a number of areas in order to ensure our customers still have a premium experience with the Audi brand, as well as to ensure the future of our dealerships.”
Audi announced a temporary suspension of production at its European sites in mid-March, but says it expects to “gradually initiate the restart of production” over the coming weeks.
Vehicle production will be ramped up from the end of April onwards according to a fixed plan.
Peter Kössler, board of management member for production, said: “The focus is on the employees, because they need a safe working environment.
“Audi teams of experts have therefore adapted processes with a view to health protection in consultation with the specialist departments and works councils.”
It’s the end of the month, which means thousands of motorists might be considering taking their car off the road. But the government is warning motorists to be on their guard for potential scams.
Some websites are charging motorists up to £40 to make a SORN declaration. SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification and is the way of notifying the DVLA that you’re taking a vehicle off the road.
It takes a matter of minutes to complete – and it’s FREE.
One SORN scam website, which we won’t name or link to, asks for the vehicle registration number, before taking you to a second page. Here, it asks for the 16-digit reference number from the V11 reminder, or the reference number from a V5C log book or V5C/2 new keeper supplement.
It also asks for your email address and contact number, before requesting payment. There’s a charge of £30 for ‘regular’ processing, or £40 for a ‘fast-track’ service.
By using the official DVLA website, you’ll be asked for a reference number and registration plate, with the option of providing an email address or mobile number if you require a confirmation.
It takes no more than a minute to complete, so there’s absolutely no need for a so-called ‘fast-track’ service.
As we said earlier, IT’S FREE.
Don’t be fooled by a SORN scam
The DVLA told This is Money, “Motorists should always double check that they are using GOV.UK and not to be fooled by these sites.”
It’s worth remembering the following about DVLA services:
The DVLA doesn’t send emails or text messages asking you to confirm your personal details or to request payment information. Do not open any links. Delete the text or email immediately.
Beware of misleading third party websites passing themselves off as the DVLA. They might include ‘DVLA’ in the website or use DVLA colours and old logos.
Some will use search engine tactics to get to the top of Google. Don’t be fooled.
Only use GOV.UK.
Never share images on social media that contain personal information.
According to Gear Patrol, “the term ‘hypercar’ was coined to qualify the top one percent of supercars”. So, expensive, wild, ludicrously fast and out of reach to mere mortals.
“Hypercars are the stick against which all cars are meant to be measured, and not a single compromise can be made,” concludes Bryan Campbell on Gear Patrol.
It’s hard to argue with the list created by Motorway.co.uk. It has used DVLA data to discover there 298 hypercars registered in the UK. That’s 5.6 percent of total production for the 15 cars in question.
The Bugatti Veyron tops the table, with 65 registered. This is followed by the McLaren Senna (64), Porsche 918 Spyder (49) and Porsche Carrera GT (42).
DVLA data is only up-to-date on the day it’s issued. In other words, more cars are likely to be declared SORN in the winter, which could serve to skew UK registration data.
This might explain why there’s not a single Pagani Huayra showing as registered in the Motorway.co.uk data. Similarly, some cars located in the UK might be registered overseas.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Motorway.co.uk data doesn’t include model derivatives and special editions. For example, although production of the ‘standard’ Huayra was limited to 100, Pagani also built a Huayra Roadster and a number of specials.
The same could be said of the Koenigsegg Agera and the models that followed, including the S (5 built), R (18 built) and RS (25 built).
Alex Buttle, director of Motorway.co.uk said: “The hypercar is the ultimate driving machine; with seven-figure price tags and top speeds to melt your face, our research reveals just how rare these ‘supercars on steroids’ really are.
“With fewer than 300 registered to UK-owners, hypercars aren’t just for the wealthy connoisseur; these are cars that laugh at a £1 million price tag and sit in a league of their own for the mega-rich.
“Sadly, the closest most of us will ever get to a hypercar is seeing one unveiled at a motor show. Or, if you’re lucky, parked outside Harrods.”
Men are paying 26 percent more than women to insure their car. That’s according to data from 15 million insurance quotes provided from January 2018 to January 2020.
The research found that men pay an average of £581 for cover, while women pay £460: a difference of £121.
MoneySuperMarket, the company that commissioned the research, says there are a number of factors behind the price difference.
For example, men are five times more likely to own a car that costs £1,000 or more to insure. They’re also 16 percent more likely to own a car that costs £500 more to cover.
Similarly, men are 84 percent more likely to work in jobs that result in an average premium of £500 or more.
One such job is professional football. The data shows 96 percent of professional footballers who enquired about car insurance were men. The average premium for a footballer is a whopping £2,166.
Insurance group rating is another factor. In the UK, cars are placed into groups ranging from 1 to 50. Although there are a number of factors at play, the lower the insurance group, the less you’re likely to pay for car insurance. One in five men drive a car in the top 20 groups.
Shop around for a better deal
Dave Merrick, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket said: “Our research shows that on average men pay £121 more than women for car insurance. Whilst insurance providers cannot legally discriminate based on gender, other rating factors – such as the car you drive and your occupation – will influence the price you pay.
“Our data shows that men typically drive cars in higher insurance groups and work in professions that attract a higher insurance premium, pushing up the cost of their insurance.
“No matter your personal circumstances, there are a number of things you can do that may help to reduce the cost of your insurance. For example, parking your car in a secure location, fitting an alarm and reducing your mileage are all ways to bring costs down.
“Shopping around for a better deal can also save you up to £2,702. It’s vital to ensure your policy doesn’t auto-renew as this can sometimes lead to an increase in your premium. More than 14 million motorists still allow their policy to auto-renew every year, meaning that £565 million more is being spent on car insurance than is needed.”
Part of the Launch Mode, Cheetah Stance lowers the front end of the car, while leaving the rear raised – just like a cheetah when it’s about to pounce.
Launch Mode itself is also easier to engage.
With a ‘free’ 50hp boost to peak power, the result is 0-60mph acceleration in just 2.3 seconds.
The standing quarter-mile dash also falls to 10.4 seconds. These are figures normally associated with high-end Ferraris and Bugattis. Power above 80mph is improved as well.
Tesla has also improved the thermal efficiency of the electric drive systems, which means such rapid acceleration can be repeated multiple times.
All UK Tesla Model S and Model X Performance owners, including earlier P100D vehicles, should now be receiving the over-the-air software update.
It’s part of the V2020.12.5 push that is now being supplied Tesla owners – and for free.
Launch Mode improved
Accessing Launch Mode to unlock such rapid acceleration is now more straightforward.
Owners are then advised to press hard on the brake pedal with their left foot, and the press the accelerator pedal to the floor with their right foot.
Then, wait for ‘Launch Model Enabled’ to display on the dashboard – the mode will remain active for 15 seconds.
Simply lift the brake pedal to access it (Tesla experts advise waiting a little while for the front end of the car to lower into Cheetah Stance).
The car should no longer ‘lurch’ when Launch Mode is activated either, thanks to improved driveshaft pre-loading.
Want to see it in action? U.S. drag racing experts DragTimes carried out a test – and validated just how fast Tesla Model S and Model X Performance models now are…
German sports car manufacturer RUF has released a special film on YouTube, telling the story of how the company has evolved.
Founded as a simple service station in 1939, RUF has gone on to become famed for its performance cars based on unstamped Porsche chassis.
With the brand celebrating its 80th anniversary during 2019, this was the perfect opportunity to document RUF’s history.
A turbocharged history lesson
Producing RUF: Love at the Red Line has been an intensive exercise, as the movie attempts to chronicle the eight decades of the company’s existence.
The film is centred on interviews with key people who have made RUF into a global success story. Alois Ruf Jr., son of company founder Alois Ruf Sr., takes a major role in the film, explaining how RUF began building its own performance vehicles in 1977.
From that early development of the Porsche 930 Turbo, RUF has gone on to develop a range of performance cars. Along with iconic vehicles like the mythical CTR Yellowbird, RUF has also made mid-engined supercars like the CTR3, capable of over 235 mph.
Passion for performance
Kazunori Yamauchi, the CEO of Polyphony Digital responsible for creating the Gran Turismo video game franchise has contributed to the film. Gran Turismo 2, released in 1999, included a number of RUF models, bringing them directly to the screens of gamers around the world.
Also included is car designer Freeman Thomas. Having worked at Porsche following his graduation from the Art Center College of Design, Thomas went on to work at Volkswagen, Chrysler and Ford. His enthusiasm for rear-engined German sports cars brought him to assist RUF in the development of the carbon-bodied 2018 SCR.
Numerous other RUF enthusiasts have contributed to RUF: Love at the Red Line, which is available to watch now on YouTube.
A leading UK tyre retailer is giving away free tyres to local NHS and emergency servics workers.
Kwik Fit is asking people to nominate someone who deserves a free set of tyres as a way of saying thank you to the frontline workers across the country.
To make a nomination, you need to visit your local Kwik Fit centre’s Facebook page and complete the entry requirements. Entries must be submitted by midday on Monday 4 May.
You can nominate yourself if you think you deserve a free set of tyres.
In total, 64 local heroes will be selected to receive four tyres. Winners will be drawn at random from all nominations received during the giveaway period.
‘Say thank you to these heroes’
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “Throughout the last few weeks we have served many NHS and blue-light workers at our centres, both in emergency vehicles and in their own cars, so our staff have heard lots of stories from the frontline.
“One of our centre managers had the idea to provide community nurses with protective seat and steering wheel covers and gloves and we have now provided hundreds of thousands of these across the country.
“Offering free sets of tyres is a further way that we can say thank you to these heroes for keeping the nation rolling. We encourage anyone who would like to nominate a local hero to visit their nearest Kwik Fit centre’s Facebook page and let us know the reasons for their nomination.”
Kwik Fit is also providing a 10 percent discount off all its products for NHS workers and is raising money through its website.
Other tyre retailer schemes
Here’s a selection of initiatives and schemes being rolled out by the major UK tyre retailers:
ATS Euromaster is offering a discount to the fire service, police, NHS, ambulance service and armed forces via its Hero Club scheme
Halfords is offering free motoring and bicycle checks for NHS and emergency workers, along with a 10 percent discount on tyres
Blackcircles.com has a 15 percent discount for NHS workers when buying Avon, Michelin, Kumho, Yokohama and Nankang tyres
With UK road travel down 73 percent during the lockdown, it’s hardly surprising that some cars are being left for long periods of time. However, his can lead to unexpected problems further down the line.
A flat battery is the most obvious issue, but a prolonged period of inactivity can also have an impact on the brakes, tyres, air conditioning and paintwork.
With this in mind, Kia has produced a series of short animation videos giving guidance on basic safety and maintenance procedures to follow during the lockdown.
There are four videos in total, which we have linked to below.
Brakes
Episode one provides information on the brakes and what to expect if a car has been inactive for a long period of time.
Introducing – Kia’s Lockdown vehicle maintenance and safety video series. Starting with episode one – Brakes: What to expect when they have been inactive for several days. pic.twitter.com/VTyxqVuSlk
In episode two of Kia’s Lockdown maintenance and safety video series, we give clarity on how to maintain optimum car battery health pic.twitter.com/lWOmagylaj
In the third episode, Kia explains what you need to do to check the exterior of your car, including brake lights and tyre pressures.
The third instalment of Kia’s Lockdown maintenance and safety series focuses on exterior safety checks including lights and tyre pressures pic.twitter.com/7h85i3CBly
The final episode shows you how to ensure the essential fluid levels are checked and maintained.
The final episode in our Lockdown maintenance and safety series explains what to do ‘under the bonnet’ in regards to ensuring essential fluid levels are checked and maintained pic.twitter.com/fthGh7yrCA
It’s also important to keep your car clean during the lockdown, especially if it is being used to attend medical appointments, for going to work, or to collect the weekly grocery shopping.
An Auto Trader spokesperson said: “We understand that people still need to use their cars to get around, whether it’s for shopping for necessities, going to work, or attending medical appointments.
“Many may also be transporting other family members, so having multiple people in and out of a car means a higher risk of infection through contact with surfaces. By keeping cars as hygienic as possible with regular cleaning and disinfecting, we can reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading through car use.”
Fast Fords from the 1980s have become hot property at auctions in recent years, with records broken for the biggest sales.
One of the lots listed for the forthcoming Silverstone Auctions May Live sale is another desirable modern classic.
However, the winning bidder might need to be prepared to get their hands dirty to make the most of this hidden treasure…
Awakened after two decades
The ‘barn find’ phenomenon has taken over the auction world, with collectors fighting for abandoned classics. The 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth in question here is slightly different, having been deliberately stored in a garage by its owner.
Sold new in June 1987, the car passed through several owners before reaching the current registered keeper in June 1991.
The Sierra was then driven round 16,000 miles, taking the total recorded on the odometer to 84,552. In 1998, the car was then placed into a state of hibernation until March this year.
Break out the chamois leather
Untouched for more than two decades, this Cosworth has all the dirt and dust you’d expect from a lengthy period living in a garage.
The seller has decided to put it up for auction in unrestored original condition.
Externally, there is enough grime to keep a professional valeter busy for days. The 15-inch multispoke wheels need a deep clean, while the interior is grubby but looks complete.
Under the bonnet, the 204hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine is far from being in concours condition, but could be smartened up again.
Returning to rude health
Despite the covering of dust, the seller notes the car does run. More than £1,300 has been spent fitting a new fuel tank and fuel pump, along with a comprehensive service, to get it working again.
Other work included freeing seized brake calipers after decades of standing still. A new water pump and cambelt were also installed for the Cosworth YBD engine.
When new, the rear-wheel-drive Sierra RS Cosworth would have been capable of 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of nearly 150 mph. The racing Sierras the road car existed to homologate were considerably faster, and dominated Touring Car competitions around the world.
A whale of a time
Putting a value on this Sierra RS Cosworth is no easy task. Being one of only 1,650 examples old in the UK makes it rare, while the decades spent in storage add a special twist.
Last year a barn-find RS Cosworth sold for more than £80,000 at auction, with that example having been taken off the road in 1991.
Bidders and enthusiasts will have to wait until 23 May to see what the Sierra sells for. Silverstone Auctions will run the sale behind closed doors, but you can bid via telephone or online.
One of the cars for sale at the upcoming H and H Classic Motor Car Auction has a special movie connection.
The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T included in the sale is said to have been inspired by Vanishing Point, the 1971 cult classic film.
For fans of the movie, or Detroit muscle in general, this represents a relatively rare chance to buy a desirable ‘70 Challenger.
“He’s presently driving a Dodge Challenger”
Introduced in late 1969 for the 1970 model year, the Dodge Challenger was intended to take on the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Smaller than the Charger, it was offered in either coupe or cabriolet body styles.
Engine options ranged from a 198-cubic inch (3.2-litre) inline-six with 125 hp, through to the terrifying and expensive optional 426-cubic inch (7.0-litre) Hemi V8 with 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque.
With more than 76,000 sold in the first year, the Challenger certainly captured the wallets of many Americans. It also caught the attention of the production team making Vanishing Point.
“Speed means freedom of the soul”
A total of five brand-new Dodge Challenger R/Ts were supplied for the production of the 1971 film, all finished in Alpine White. No factory modifications were made, with the cars prepared by stunt coordinator Carey Loftin, who had previously worked on Bullitt with Steve McQueen.
Vanishing Point would see delivery driver Kowalski, played by Barry Newman, set out to reach San Francisco from Denver, Colorado in less than three days.
Along with trying to evade the police, Kowalski also meets and inspires numerous characters along the way.
American rock band Audioslave would use the film as the basis for the music video accompanying their 2003 single “Show Me How to Live”.
“Kowalski, can you hear me?”
The seller of this particular Challenger R/T was clearly a fan of Vanishing Point, using the film as a starting point for the restoration work on the car.
A combination of Alpine White paintwork, and a black vinyl interior, mean the car apes the one used by Kowalski. Larger deep-dish wheels, and a Challenger T/A-style rear spoiler, have been added for extra visual impact.
Inside remains the same as when it left the Chrysler factory in Hamtramck, Michigan in 1970. This means a three-spoke steering wheel, along with a Rallye dashboard finished with woodgrain trim, as was standard for all R/T cars.
“The last American hero”
Powering this particular Challenger R/T is the gigantic optional 440-cubic inch (7.2-litre) Magnum V8 engine, fitted with ‘Six Pack’ carburettors. Official factory ratings put output at 390 hp, accompanied by a thundering 440 lb-ft of torque.
Being cheaper than the 426 Hemi option, but still with serious performance, made the 440 R/T a popular choice for Mopar fans. Contemporary road tests claimed it would hit 0-60 mph in around 6 seconds, and run a quarter-mile sprint in under 14 seconds.
An optional three-speed automatic transmission was specified for this car, whilst it also wears an exhaust system with quad tailpipes.
“Patiently. That’s the only way to wait for somebody.”
Opportunities to buy true muscle cars like the E-Body Challenger in the UK are rare occasions. The chance to purchase a desirable 1970 model year Challenger R/T, with inspiration from Vanishing Point, is rarer still.
An estimated sale price of between £50,000 and £60,000 ($62,000 to $75,000) compares favourably with Challenger values seen in the United States. However, the fuel mileage will be as low as you might suspect…
The H and H Classic Motor Car Auction will take place on Wednesday 29th April. To ensure the safety of staff and bidders, the sale itself will take place behind closed doors with being placed by telephone or made online.
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