New Vauxhall Mokka is coming – and it’s going electric

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April 22, 2020

Vauxhall is putting the finishing touches to the all-new Mokka small SUV due for reveal later this year – and has confirmed a 100% zero-emissions electric version will be available from launch.

The new crossover SUV will begin customer deliveries from early 2021.

Vauxhall says regular petrol versions will still be available too, alongside the fully-electric model – likely called Mokka-e.

This is probably why the core new model is simply called Mokka, rather than today’s Mokka X model.

The firm has given us our first look at the new car, albeit hidden under a colourful camouflage.

Company execs described the design as ‘detoxed’, with simpler lines and bolder proportions.

Overhangs front and rear have been shortened, for crisper, more modern proportions.

The interior, adds the firm, will also be fully digitised, with colour screens replacing traditional dials.

Change perceptions

“The new Vauxhall Mokka will change people’s perception of our brand,” said Stephen Norman, Vauxhall’s MD.

“Not only does it show that we’re serious about electrification, but also that we’re not afraid to innovate with design, both inside and out of the car.

He also stressed what a crucial car the new Mokka will be for Vauxhall.

“The Mokka is still in its development phase now, but it is set to be one of Vauxhall’s most important models when it arrives with customers at the start of next year.”

The new Mokka follows on from this year’s all-new Vauxhall Corsa and zero-emissions Corsa-e electric.

The new supermini has already won the prestigious AUTOBEST Best Buy 2020 award and bosses will now be hoping for more success with all-new Mokka.

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You could be the new owner of an original classic Ferrari police car

By

John Redfern

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April 21, 2020

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Opportunities to buy an original 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 are rare. The chance to own one used by the Italian police force is a unique proposition.

Yet the car Girardo & Co. currently have for sale is a bona fide Ferrari Polizia, which saw service on the streets of Rome.

Such history and provenance mean this car is likely to be high on the ‘most wanted’ list for a serious Ferrari collector.

“What could be better than a Ferrari?”

Organized crime in Rome during the 1960s was rampant, with criminals attempting to evade the police causing high-speed pursuits.

Italian police officers had made use of Alfa Romeos, including the Giulia 1600, but even these proved too slow for the toughest crooks.

Armando Spatafora, a Rome-based police officer, was asked what he needed to bring criminals to just. He simply answered: “What could be better than a Ferrari?”

Rookie errors not permitted here

Spatafora’s superiors were clearly keen to end the crime wave. They sent him and three other officers to attend a high-speed driving course in Maranello – the home of Ferrari.

The four offices would also meet their newest recruit, being shown the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series II that would become their police vehicle.

Powered by a 3.0-l V-12 engine producing 240 horsepower, the 250 GTE’s top speed of over 155 mph would make escaping the Rome Police almost impossible.

Nowhere to run now

Ferrari actually delivered a pair of 250 GTE Polizia models, both finished in black paint and with tan leatherette upholstery. A police radio and flashing blue light were fitted, along with subtle Polizia markings.

One of the cars was destroyed after only a few weeks in service. However, chassis 3999 was treasured by the Polizia, serving the force for six years in total.

Spatafora was responsible for helping catch numerous criminals with the Ferrari, whilst those who managed to evade the duo would gain almost legendary status in the Rome underworld.

Back out on the streets again

Despite the demanding job the 250 GTE was tasked with, official records show that it was returned to Maranello meticulously for servicing as required. The car was noted to be in superb condition when sold at auction in 1972, following the end of its active service.

The buyer of the Ferrari was aware of how special the 250 GTE Polizia was, preserving the car and displaying it at selected events across Europe. Armando Spatafora had another chance to drive the car at the 1984 Coppa delle Dolomiti race, where the retired officer set the second fastest time.

Appearances at museums and celebrations followed, with the 250 GTE Polizia also taking part in Ferrari’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 1997. The seller acquired the car in 2015, and took it to the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2016.

The ultimate Italian 250 GTE

Unsurprisingly, Girardo & Co. have the 250 GTE Polizia listed as ‘price on application’. Values for concours examples are estimated at around $500,000 (£407,000), but this is no ordinary 250 GTE.

Right now this is the only private car in Italy with permission to drive with lights, sirens, and a “Squadra Volante” police livery.

Such a famous history, and preserved original condition, means this is truly a unique vehicle. The addition of a comprehensive history file, period images, and prized Ferrari Classiche certification only add to the desirability.

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Lockdown Lego project: we build a £330 Bugatti Chiron

By

Ethan Jupp

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April 21, 2020

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Lego Bugatti Chiron We’ve only gone and got ourselves a Bugatti Chiron to test. OK, it’s not the actual, 1,500hp, £2 million hypercar. Nor when you buy a real Chiron, does Bugatti ask you to build it yourself.

We are, of course, talking about the Lego Technic Bugatti Chiron – and it’s very nearly as cool as the real thing. It’s a great project to fill your time during lockdown.

More LEGO cars on Motoring Research

Motoring Research’s photo and video guru, Bradley, fancied himself as a junior Bugatti technician, so we handed the Bug-build over to him.

The car is comprised of 3,599 individual pieces, contained within six boxes. The process is spread over 970 steps and took Bradley more than 15 hours to complete – handily caught on video and condensed into 16 minutes here.

This project might seem nightmarish to some, but Bradley really enjoyed it. And seeing the finished Lego car – a sizeable 560mm long, 250mm wide and 140mm tall – makes all his efforts seem worthwhile. It looks fantastic.

The attention to detail is stunning, from the LED light clusters at the front to the tan interior and engine with working pistons. Drive, reverse or neutral gear options dictate how those pistons leap around in the cylinders as you roll along.

There’s even a Bugatti-branded overnight bag under the bonnet.

At the back, the real magic happens. A ‘key’, modelled on an actual Chiron key, can activate the rear wing and air brake.

Our Chiron comes with its very own serial number, as they all do, which can be used on the Lego Technic website to unlock special content.

Next up, we’re hoping to tackle James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5. That should pass another day or two in isolation…

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Prince Philip crash encourages older people to quit driving

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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April 21, 2020

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Prince Philip seems to be behind a sharp rise in the number of older drivers giving up their licences.

Last year, the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a car crash while driving a Land Rover Freelander near the Sandringham Estate. The crash resulted in two women requiring hospital treatment, with the Prince saying he was “deeply sorry” for the incident.

DVLA figures reveal a 21.2 percent jump in the number of drivers aged 90 and over voluntarily surrendering their licences in 2019. This compares with an increase of 9.7 percent in 2018.

The data, which was sent to retirement specialists Responsible Life, also shows a 39 percent increase for drivers of Prince Philip’s age or older. The Duke of Edinburgh will celebrate his 99th birthday in June.

‘Old age is cruel’

Steve Wilkie, executive chairman of Responsible Life, said: “When to stop driving remains one of our most difficult decisions in later life. For many retired motorists it means letting go of a symbol of their independence, even if they only make the occasional trip to the local shops.

“Older age is also cruel and creeps up on you, making it impossible to judge the best time to hang up the steering wheel and get a taxi, rather than soldier on for another year.

“Prince Philip’s misfortunes, however, seem to have jogged a great number of people into confronting this difficult decision head on.”

Although there’s no requirement for older people to stop driving, there are laws which outline the medical standards that every driver must meet, no matter how old they are. There are also minimum eyesight requirements, along with the need to renew a driving licence at the age of 70.

Renewing a licence can be done online for free if you’re 70 or over, or will be 70 in the next 90 days.

‘Red herring’

At the time of Prince Philip’s crash, Nick Lloyd, acting head of road safety for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: “In the wake of the incident, we have inevitably heard calls for mandatory testing of people of a certain age. This is a red herring – age is a completely arbitrary and unreliable measure for assessing someone’s ability to drive. Statistically, older drivers have fewer accidents than other age groups.

“If we were to restrict drivers based on any relationship between age and accident rates, we would need to take a fresh look at inexperienced, younger drivers aged 17 to 24. Although this younger age group accounts for just seven per cent of the driving population, they are involved in around 22 percent of fatal or serious road traffic incidents.”

Visit the RoSPA older drivers website for more advice and information.

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Air pollution linked to COVID-19 deaths in Europe

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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April 21, 2020

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Exposure to high levels of air pollution could increase the chances of dying from COVID-19. That’s according to the results of a new study.

By analysing coronavirus fatalities in 66 administrative regions in Italy, Spain, France and Germany, scientists found that of the 4,443 deaths, 3,487 were in five regions in northern Italy and central Spain.

Data shows these regions – which include the cities of Milan, Bologna, Turin, Venice and Madrid – are main nitrogen dioxide hotspots over Europe. The combination of pollution, surrounding mountain ranges and weather conditions make it difficult for dirty air to disperse from urban areas.

‘Important contributors to fatality’

Yaron Ogen, a researcher at the Martin Luther University in Germany, said: “These results indicate that the long-term exposure to this pollutant may be one of the most important contributors to fatality caused by the COVID-19 virus in these regions and maybe across the whole world.”

Earlier studies showed that exposure to nitrogen dioxide causes inflammation in the lungs. This latest research suggests that topography and atmospheric conditions could also play a part in the death rate.

Ogen continued: “Poisoning our environment means poisoning our own body and when it experiences a chronic respiratory stress, its ability to defend itself from infections is limited.”

‘This new study is worrying’

Jenny Bates, an air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth, told the Guardian: “This new study is worrying. We know nitrogen dioxide is a toxic gas that inflames the lining of the lungs and reduces immunity to lung infections, so it may not be surprising that people who have suffered in areas with high levels of nitrogen dioxide could be more susceptible to coronavirus.

“This is all the more reason to keep traffic and pollution levels down as much as possible now and get out of this terrible situation with a view to fewer but cleaner vehicles on the road.”

These findings are backed by similar studies across the world. Research in the United States suggests COVID-19 death rates increase by around 15 percent in areas with even a small increase in fine-particle pollution levels.

Air pollution in the UK has dropped dramatically since lockdown measures were enforced in March. Some cities have seen a 60 percent fall in airborne nitrogen dioxide.

Zagato celebrates 100 years with Aston Martin V12 twins

By

Tim Pitt

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April 21, 2020

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Italian design house Zagato is celebrating its centenary with bespoke versions of the Aston Martin Vantage V12.

Based on the 2011 V12 Vantage coupe and Roadster, the Zagato Heritage Twins come as a pair. A total of 38 will be sold to 19 customers, with the majority already spoken for.

The project is licensed by Aston Martin and production takes place at R-Reforged in the UK. Its Warwick facility also builds ex-Jaguar designer Ian Callum’s Aston Martin Vanquish 25 project – previewed in detail here.

60 years of Aston and Zagato

Zagato has a long history of modifying Aston Martins. Its first collaboration, the DB4 GT Zagato, debuted in 1960 and only 25 were made. Surviving examples now change hands for £10 million or more.

The Heritage Twins are awash with classic Zagato styling cues, including a gaping front grille and the coupe’s ‘double bubble’ roof.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato.

Getting blasé about these! One at Salon Privé yesterday, another at Hampton Court today. pic.twitter.com/ibwITxGKkO

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) September 1, 2017

All body panels are bespoke carbon fibre, while both cars wear 19-inch centre-lock APP Tech alloys and 100th anniversary gold ‘Z’ badges.

A new pop-up rear spoiler is claimed to ‘improve stability at high speeds whilst maintaining the clean surfaces and pure lines of the Zagato design.’

Lots of grunt in the front

Beneath their vented bonnets, the coupe and speedster twins use a reworked version of Aston’s 5.9-litre V12.

Quoted output is 608hp – 86hp more than the original car. Zagato hasn’t published performance figures, but these siblings won’t be slow. The standard V12 Vantage coupe hits 62mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 190mph.

Crucially, the ‘AM11’ engine from the DBS is naturally aspirated. That means no turbo lag and a stonking soundtrack. Google ‘Aston Martin V12 Vantage sound’ to see what we mean.

Lots of poke, very bespoke

These cars are anything but ‘standard’, of course, and there’s plenty of opportunity to tweak your Zagato Twins to your taste.

Buyers can meet with the designers at Aston Martin St Gallen in Switzerland, with options including an ‘infinity colour palette’. Want your supercars to match your shoes? Not a problem.

After choosing a specification (and presumably placing a hefty deposit), you can then watch both cars being hand-built at R-Reforged.

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato.

One of 100 made. Design was a joint effort between Zagato and Fisker. pic.twitter.com/3nPR4En2MI

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) August 25, 2018

Marella Rivolta Zagato, who co-runs the Milanese carrozzeria, specified the first twins, seen here. “When I was selecting the body colours, I looked for something that would simultaneously represent our 100-year heritage and our future,” she explained.

“The most symbolic colours are gold and platinum, which are precious metals. Gold, an emblem of purity and distinction, is in my mind a tribute to our first century. Platinum is resistant to corrosion and has great catalytic capabilities, which is what I wish for our next 100 years!”

Company CEO and third-generation designer Andrea Zagato added: “The Aston Martin Vantage V12 Zagato Heritage Twins by R-Reforged are undoubtedly a highlight of our centenary celebrations. To own these collectible cars will be a very personal and emotional experience.”

This isn’t the first time Zagato Astons have been sold as a pair. Last year, the DBS Zagato – based on the current DBS Superleggera – was offered together with the DB4 GT continuation, a faithful reproduction of Zagato’s 1960 original. The price for the ‘DBZ Centenary Collection’? A cool £6 million.

The V12 Vantage Twins will likely be slightly more affordable, but you can still bank on spending well into seven figures. Just imagine the noise of them both firing up together…

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Cars could be banned to aid social distancing

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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April 20, 2020

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Councils could be free to ban cars from urban streets, the BBC has learned. The idea is to help key workers cycle or walk more safely during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Department for Transport has written to local authorities saying: ‘This is a temporary guidance and will be withdrawn once conditions allow’. Normally, it would take weeks to implement car-free measures, but the government is keen to remove the red tape.

To date, few cities have taken the step of closing streets to cars, despite road travel plummeting by 73 percent. The near-empty streets have resulted in a large drop in air pollution, as people heed advice to stay at home.

Noise pollution is also down, encouraging wildlife to enter urban areas.

‘Extra safe open space’

Brighton and Hove City Council has responded quickly to the government letter, taking the decision to close Madeira Drive to traffic to allow local residents more space to walk, run and cycle. The changes come into force today (20 April).

Councillor Anne Pissaridou, chair of the city’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “Madeira Drive is a long, wide road right by the seafront and will create an extra safe open space for local people in the area to use for their daily walk or bike ride.

“It will provide a traffic-free place for the many residents in that area who do not have access to a garden. We are pleased to be able to offer this change so quickly and are considering other locations to see if we can extend this to other roads in the city.”

Other parts of the world have been quick to implement car-free measures. Last week, four streets were closed in New York City to aid social distancing. The city has also removed 80 basketball hoops due to non-compliance.

Meanwhile, Berlin has widened cycle lanes, while Bogota has created 47 miles of additional cycle lanes.

‘Moral responsibility’

There are calls for car-free measures to be kept in place after the lockdown. Campaign groups have pointed to the improved air quality and the ongoing climate crisis as reasons to ban cars from urban areas.

Ashok Sinha, from the London Cycling Campaign, told BBC News: “First we have a moral responsibility to keep staff safe whilst cycling to work during the crisis.

“We know this crisis will end – but we will still be faced with an ongoing climate crisis which, longer term, will cause much more loss of life.

“We are being taught a lesson here about what a difference it makes to people’s activity and air quality and carbon emissions if we allow people to cycle safely.”

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Tesla tax win: Model 3 is FINALLY road tax free

By

Ethan Jupp

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April 20, 2020

0

The Tesla Model 3 is finally now exempt from UK road tax (VED) as part of changes in the 2020 Budget that make all electric cars tax-free.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the removal of the £40,000 ‘luxury car tax’ limit for electric cars emitting 0g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2).

The change came into force in April 2020.

ALSO READ: How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3?

After the first year of ownership, this saves Tesla Model 3 drivers £325 a year for five years.

The government has committed to the tax cut for electric cars for five years, up to 2025.

Click here to see a full table of VED rates for all vehicles.

How was a zero-emission Tesla taxed?

Originally, the Tesla Model 3 was taxed under the government’s unpopular 2015 Summer Budget road fund licence changes. This made it liable for £310 ‘additional rate’ road tax for five years (since raised to £325).

It effectively more than halved the government’s £3,500 Plug-in Car Grant contribution to the price of the car for long-term Tesla owners.

The Plug-in Car Grant itself has since been cut to today’s £3,000 sum.

All new cars (registered on or after 01/04/2017) with a list price over £40,000 have to pay a £325 per-year base rate for five years from the start of their second licence. To be clear, that’s one year after you buy the car new, when the first road tax payment is due.

It is this charge that electric cars have now been exempted from.

The government has also backdated the exemption, which is good news for Tesla Model 3 early adopters. UK deliveries of the car began in June 2019.

Tesla currently sells three grades of Model 3 in the UK. The cheapest Standard Range Plus version costs from £40,490.

The Long Range model is £46,990 and the Performance grade is £56,490.

Revealed: The UK’s most dangerous roads

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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April 20, 2020

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The A35 in Dorset has been named Britain’s most dangerous road. This follows a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to the country’s regional police forces.

A total of 1,837 traffic collisions took place in Dorset last year, 594 of which were on the A35. The road actually starts in Devon, at the junction with the A30 in Honiton, and finishes in Southampton, Hampshire.

Other dangerous roads in Dorset include the A354 (184 collisions), the A3049 (178), the A31 (155) and the A350 (135). Dorset is one of only a few counties in England without a motorway.

Nottinghamshire is the second most dangerous county in which to drive, with the Carwow FOI revealing a total of 1,772 collisions in 2019. Cumbria, Lincolnshire and Cheshire complete the ‘top’ five. It’s worth noting that only 15 police forces responded to the request.

Vix Leyton, a motoring expert at Carwow, said: “Whilst the roads are much quieter than usual right now, it is still important to remain vigilant and drive carefully on those essential journeys.

“Looking ahead, by the time lockdown is lifted, many drivers will have gone weeks without driving on busy motorways or A-roads, and should try to gradually ease themselves back into a ‘motorists mindset’ before setting out on long journeys and routes once life in the UK returns to normal.

“No matter how confident a driver you are, you cannot account for other road users and it is vital to always concentrate, and not allow yourself to slip into autopilot.”

The most dangerous counties/roads

Dorset (A35, A354, A3049) – 1,837 collisions
Nottinghamshire (Mansfield Road, A60, A1) – 1,771 collisions
Cumbria (A595, M6, A590) – 633 collisions
Lincolnshire (A52, A16, A15) – 625 collisions
Cheshire (M6, M58, A49) – 434 collisions
Avon & Somerset (A4174; M5, J19-20; M5, J20-19) – 369 collisions
Gloucestershire (A40, A38, A417) – 367 collisions
Staffordshire (A500, A38 Clay Mills, A38 Fradley Lane) – 357 collisions
Warwickshire (A46, A452, A444) – 335 collisions
Greater London (Haringey, High Road; Ealing, Western Avenue; Enfield, Great Cambridge Road) – 298 collisions
North Wales (A548, A55, A5) – 289 collisions
City of London (Bishopsgate, Victoria Embankment, Lower/Upper Thames Street, London Wall/Wormwood Street – 219 collisions
Cleveland (A19, A66, A174) – 207 collisions
Hertfordshire (M1, A1, M25, Hertsmere Borough) – 157 collisions
Bedfordshire (A505, M1, Luton, A5141) – 150 collisions

Are these the best driving films of all time?

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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April 20, 2020

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Four weeks into the lockdown, the chances are you’ve exhausted your DVD collection and the top picks on Netflix. But if you’re looking for inspiration, this list of driving films might help.

A survey conducted by a dashcam company has revealed the nation’s favourite driving films – plus the most popular scenes involving cars. There are one or two surprises on the lists.

The Fast and the Furious is number one. The first film in the franchise premiered in 2001, giving us the first opportunity to see Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) on screen together. Two decades later, the franchise is still going strong.

You’d need to set aside more than 900 minutes to watch the eight films in the Fast Saga franchise, plus extra time for the spin-offs and short films. Fast & Furious 9 – or F9 – was set for release in 2020, but has been delayed until April 2021 due to the coronavirus.

Second on the list of top driving films is Mad Max: Fury Road, followed by Cars, The Transporter and Baby Driver. The latter is one of the most recent films on the list and a must-watch if you haven’t seen it already.

Top 10 driving films

The Fast and the Furious
Mad Max: Fury Road
Cars
The Transporter
Baby Driver
Ford v Ferrari (Le Mans 66)
Drive
Green Book
Senna
Locke

Bryn Brooker, head of marketing at Nextbase said: “In my humble opinion, it was a surprise to see The Fast and The Furious top this list. But, the people have spoken and there is no denying that the film offers some very entertaining driving sequences!

“That said, there are some truly excellent entries on both of these lists and we absolutely encourage everyone to give these a watch during this time. The variety here will help to keep people’s interest and, with many of our vehicles sat outside being given very little use during this time, it may be the closest we can get to a long, leisurely drive for a while – not that any of us drive like Vin Diesel on a daily basis, obviously!”

Top 10 driving scenes

The respondents to the survey were also asked to name their favourite scenes involving a car or cars. Here are the results:

The Italian Job. No, not the iconic scene involving the red, white and blue Minis. Instead, it’s Michael Caine’s line about blowing the doors off.
Mr Bean’s Holiday. When Bean takes to the wheel of a Mini in France.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When the car takes flight for the first time.
Bullitt. No prizes for guessing this one.
The Spy Who Loved Me. When 007 tested the seals on his Lotus Esprit by taking an underwater excursion.
The Bourne Identity. The epic chase scene in Paris.
Thelma & Louise. That bit when they drive off the edge of a cliff.
Rain Main. When Raymond Babbitt drives the Buick Roadmaster in Las Vegas.
Taxi. When you’ve got 25 minutes to catch your flight…
Dirty Harry: Magnum Force. The famous car chase scene.