NHS staff offered 75 percent discount on car insurance

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March 20, 2020

A temporary car insurance provider has announced that working NHS staff will be eligible for a discount of 75 percent. This is in support of those working the frontline to combat the spread and impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The new discount is in place from 19 March. It’s a specific aid to those NHS workers whose local links are limited or are trying to avoid public transport.

Driving tests CANCELLED due to coronavirus

Insurance could be a financial blockade to these staff members getting into their own personal transport. To get the discount, applicants need only show photo proof of their NHS badge. They will be in line to receive a 75 percent refund on their policy.

This temporary insurance provides cover for anything from one hour to 30 days.

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“As a nation we are indebted to the amazing frontline NHS staff working tirelessly round the clock to care for the country as we fight the coronavirus,” said Jean-Baptiste Limate, CEO of Veygo.

“To help ease any concerns over getting to and from work we are offering a 75 percent discount on our temporary car insurance policies. In the event public transport is limited, we want to ensure NHS staff can get to work safely.

“This may mean borrowing a car, car sharing with a colleague and sharing driving duties or driving to work in your own car. Our policies offer the protection for these unexpected circumstances, so they travel with peace of mind that themselves, their vehicle and other road users are covered.”

Ferrari F12 once owned by Top Gear’s Chris Harris up for sale

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 20, 2020

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The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta once owned by Top Gear’s Chris Harris is up for sale. It’s a 2014 car with 13,533 miles on the clock, presented in stunning gunmetal grey.

The seven-day auction will start on 23 March on the online platform Collecting Cars.

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Harris is known for having a contemporary taste in specifications, and this Ferrari F12 is no exception. On the inside is a very attractive Iroko brown leather appointment with orange stitching. The seats are also the desirable ‘Daytona’ spec, with the retro leather straps.

Other desirable options include the carbon wheel, complete with LEDs, plus front and rear parking cameras. While he owned the car, Harris swapped out the Speedline wheels for the Y-spoke items that reduce unsprung weight by 15kg. Chris is the second of the car’s three owners.

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Aside from its notable ownership history and desirable spec, the F12 is a desirable machine in its own right. Taking centre stage of this rip-roaring GT is the F140 V12, displacing 6.3 litres and putting out over 730hp.

It’s also the first front-mid Ferrari super GT to feature the excellent seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with shift speeds that are still impressive today. Needless to say, the performance holds up, too. It’ll sail past 200mph flat out, hitting 62mph easily in under 3.5 seconds.

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The car comes with full Ferrari main dealer service history, with the last at HR Owen in London. Knowing the way Harris drives, prospective buyers will be pleased to note that this F12 is wearing a fresh set of Pirelli P Zero tyres.

As for what you can expect to pay: Auto Trader listings for F12s show prices starting from £150,000, going up as far as £200,000 and beyond. Place your bets…

Chris Harris Top Gear Ferrari F12 for sale

Formula 1 to launch online Virtual Grand Prix Series this weekend

By

John Redfern

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March 20, 2020

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With Formula 1 having to postpone multiple races due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, organisers are finding new ways to keep the competition going.

An announcement this week saw the Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix postponed, along with the iconic Monaco Grand Prix.

Now Formula 1 is taking to hosting a Virtual Grand Prix Series, featuring all current F1 drivers in an online esports race, starting this weekend.

Welcome to the virtual grid

Set to take place on the Sunday of every postponed Grand Prix weekend, the Virtual Series will transport F1 drivers to a virtual grid.

Using the official Codemasters F1 2019 PC game, each driver will join the race remotely. A live broadcast will be hosted on YouTube and Facebook. Qualifying will be included, with race distances capped at 50 percent of the usual length.

This weekend will see the first race hosted on a virtual rendition of the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain. Car setups will be standardised for fairness, and F1 has noted that no official World Championship points will be awarded at the end.

Pulling double Dutch duty

Formula 1 is already behind the curve in creating a virtual esports series. Last weekend saw The Race’s All-Star Esports Battle attract an impressive crowd, watching real-world drivers take on the best virtual racers.

The All-Star Battle included current Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen, along with a host of star racers from across the world of motorsport.

Online motorsports magazine The Race already has another Esports Battle lined up for this weekend, with Max Verstappen set to star again.

Combining this with the official F1 Virtual Grand Prix Series will certainly keep the Dutch driver busy.

Light relief in unpredictable times

On weekends without a Virtual Grand Prix, Formula 1 has said it will host online exhibition races for fans to participate in.

Announcing the Virtual Series Julian Tan, F1’s Head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports commented that: “We are very pleased to be able to bring some light relief in the form of the F1 Esports Virtual GP, in these unpredictable times, as we hope to entertain fans missing the regular sporting action.”

Fans will be able to watch the Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday March 22nd, with the online broadcast set to begin at 8pm GMT.

The e-Bulli is a feel-good electric classic VW bus

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 20, 2020

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Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and eClassics have electrified a T1 bus – the classic camper – from 1966. It’s called the e-Bulli, and if you want to swap you air-cooled power for ions, you can: eClassics will take commissions for conversions.

As with VW’s previous classic electric conversions, the e-Bulli T1 exchanges its choppy, unreliable, smoggy and slow air-cooled motor for an electric drive system from a modern VW EV. It packs an 83hp electric motor in place of the original 44hp four-pot. Amazingly, this is the most powerful T1 that Volkswagen has ever made.

It’s not just Volkswagen that electrifies its classics. We’ve driven a Volkswagen Beetle that’s got EV power courtesy of electrogenic.

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Drive goes to the wheels via a single-speed transmission. The new lever, instead of swapping cogs, swaps between P, R, N, D and B. The first four are relatively self-explanatory. B, meanwhile, allows the driver to vary the degree of energy recovery under braking. The e-Bulli can be charged up to 80 percent in 40 minutes, using CCS charging. A full battery will get the electrified bus 124 miles up the road before it needs to juice up again.

It may look like a proper classic, but it’s not just the powertrain that’s changed underneath. A new multi-link front and rear axle with coilover shocks join a new rack-and-pinion steering system. The e-Bulli also features internally ventilated disc brakes.

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All that said, there are exterior hints as to the e-Bulli’s reinvention under the skin. There are new round LED headlamps, with day-runners.

At the rear, there are also LED charge indicators, so you know how much juice it has as you walk up to it. What is hidden, is the charging port, neatly behind the rear number plate. Overall, it’s subtle enough to retain the original’s classic style.

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The subtle update continues on the inside, while being rigorously faithful to the original’s style. The dial is old-school, but with a digital element within. The wheel is as was, while the seat trimmings match the exterior.

Out of sight, on the roof console, is a tablet which features Volkswagen ‘We Connect’, with all the connectivity features you’d expect on an ID.3 You can even check the charge status of your 1966 e-Bulli camper via your smartphone. The radio has a proper retro look, but has DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and USB built in. The best of both worlds, like much of this build.

I want one

We like it too, but it will cost you. A T1 conversion from eClassics will set you back more than £58,000. T2 and T3 campers can also be converted, and conversion kits can be sent to qualified dealers for the work.

Free bus service launched for critical NHS workers

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 20, 2020

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A transport company that ordinarily provides a commuter bus service for the likes of Jaguar Land Rover and Ocado has repurposed its vehicles for NHS staff and other critical workers.

Zeelo, which operates services across the UK and South Africa, is offering its fleets to get workers where they need to go during the coronavirus crisis.

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“With public transport services closing down and causing a risk to employees wellbeing, we have decided to dramatically improve our service standards to be able to support the healthcare, food, utility and critical logistics workers industries,” said CEO Sam Ryan.

“Zeelo has developed a pool of high-quality operators from our network to deliver a service that enables Britain’s key industries to keep staff travelling to and from work safely during this turbulent time.”

Zeelo’s definition of ‘key services’ is very similar to Boris Johnson’s. That is, NHS workers, along with food, utility and critical logistics staff.

“Now more than ever [they] need a safe, stress and risk-free way to get to and from work to ensure they can relax and overcome fatigue before heading back to the front line.”

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All the services will be fully sanitised before and after every journey. On-board, a no contact policy will be in effect, while the number of people on each vehicle will be capped. All services will feature hand sanitisers, while the drivers will be in protective suits.

Zeelo joins a number of other services that are offering discounts and special measures for critical workers, as well as people who are self-isolating.

Special discounted insurance policies are available for NHS workers, while Halfords is offering free car health checks and contact-free home visits for work on cars.

Car museums in America are even offering virtual tours for those locked in at home.

‘Try before you buy’ EV scheme coming to UK cities

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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March 20, 2020

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A ‘try before you buy‘ scheme for electric vehicles (EVs) could ‘act as a blueprint’ for cities across the UK. That’s according to the company behind a successful trial in Nottingham.

As part of the project, local businesses and public sector organisations were given chance to experience an electric car or van for up to 30 days. Organisations were offered the opportunity to drive a fleet of EVs including the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro.

In total, 52 organisations have experienced 72 electric car loans over the past 18 months. The result is that 20 electric vehicles have been adopted to date.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust trialled the electric Renault Kangoo and Nissan e-NV200 for a month, with the Nissan well received by the organisation. The Trust now operates two e-NV200s, but there’s a potential to add a further 40 electric vans to the fleet.

The scheme was piloted by the Nottingham ULEV Experience project and financed through Nottingham City Council’s Go Ultra Low funding. Leasing company DriveElectric supplied the electric vehicles.

Similar schemes could be rolled out in other cities, particularly those operating Clean Air Zones (CAZ) to improve air quality. The Leeds CAZ will go live in September, with the Birmingham CAZ expected to launch in July.

Budget bonus for EVs

At the recent Budget, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the government will provide £403 million for the Plug-in Car Grant, extending the scheme to 2022-2023. A further £129.5 million will be provided to extend the grant for vans, taxis and motorcycles.

However, the grant itself has been cut from £3,500 to £3,000, with cars costing £50,000 or more ineligible for the grant.

The Plug-in Van Grant also continues, providing up to a maximum of £8,000 off the price of a plug-in van, and there’s up to £20,000 off the price of large vans and trucks.

Meanwhile, exemption of Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), for zero emission electric vehicles will continue. What’s more, they are also exempt from the ‘expensive car’ first-year supplement for vehicles costing over £40,000.

‘Need to experience electric’

Mike Potter, managing director of DriveElectric, said: “Most organisations need to experience electric vehicles before making a decision to purchase. Fully-funded month-long EV loans are not readily available through dealerships, manufacturers or any other source.

“Therefore the ‘try before you buy’ EV loans provided by the ULEV Experience have been extremely valuable in filling a gap in the market not offered elsewhere.”

Track-ready £40k Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition sells out

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 20, 2020

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Honda’s hardcore Civic Type R Limited Edition has sold out. The UK will get just 20 examples of this stripped-out, track-focused hot hatchback – and they’re all spoken for.

That’s in spite of a hefty price tag of £39,995 on the road. In fact, the cars sold out before buyers even knew how much they’d be paying.

The 20 UK cars make up a fifth of the total 100-car European allocation. The Limited Edition represents what Honda calls the ‘purest expression of Type R, with less weight, improved dynamics and a strong driver focus’.

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The Limited Edition brings a 47kg weight saving over the standard Type R. That comes from binning the infotainment system and climate control, along with thinning out much of the sound deadening.

New touch-points include an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and counterweighted Civic EK9-style alloy gear knob. The rear seats remain, however – unlike some rivals such as the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R.

On the outside, it’s most easily identifiable by its bright Sunlight Yellow paint. However, the Limited Edition also features new lightweight 20-inch BBS forged alloy wheels.

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“As with the previous generation, we were expecting a huge demand for the Civic Type R Limited Edition,” said Phil Webb, head of cars at Honda UK.

“To have sold all 20 examples so quickly and before anyone has even seen, let alone driven the car, is fantastic and testament to the work done by the multiple-award-winning Civic Type R.”

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Along with the Limited Edition, a standard Type R with a refreshed look was also launched for 2020. Interesting, too, was the launch of the subtler GT, which does without the normal car’s huge rear wing.

However, if it was the Limited Edition you wanted, you’ll need to look to the second-hand market. Needless to say, given the limited availability, you may pay a premium.

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Coronavirus boosts demand for small, cheap cars by a FIFTH

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 19, 2020

0

A used car website is reporting a spike in searches for cheap used cars, in the wake of the unfolding coronavirus pandemic. There has been unprecedented demand for small cars priced below £2,000, such as the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and VW Polo.

Over the course of the last week, ‘traffic on our site has been way outside normal parameters’ – so says used car website, DesperateSeller.

Demand for the above models in the lower price bracket has increased by 18 percent in the past seven days.

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That’s on average, too. The site reports that London has seen a 27 percent jump in the popularity of this type of car. And such models seem to be cannibalising other segments: searches for £15,000-£20,000 cars are down by 11 percent.

So why the popularity of these cars specifically? Well, being relatively cheap to start with, they’re the newest and, it’s assumed, most reliable cars you can buy at this price point.

With public transport running at limited capacity, more compact vehicles will appeal to urban drivers.

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“People are veering away from public transport in order to better isolate themselves, but they also want to support elderly relatives even more than before,” said a spokesperson for DesperateSeller.

“Suddenly, getting a cheap runabout with a good reputation for reliability (like a Corsa, Fiesta or Polo) makes a lot of sense. It looks like budget cars could be the motoring equivalent of handwash, and dealers will certainly welcome the increase in demand. The circumstances in London mean it is a particular hotspot.”

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Famous car designer challenges bored children to ‘Colour with Callum’

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 19, 2020

0

As the country goes into lockdown, startup automotive design company Callum Designs has come up with a novel way to keep children entertained – and there are prizes up for grabs for the most talented junior designers…

The company, started by legendary designer Ian Callum, is currently most famous for the Vanquish 25 restomod.

Now, to relieve the boredom of school closures and social distancing, Callum has created some ready-to-colour black and white sketches of the car. Time to dig out the crayons…

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It’s not just for fun, because this colouring-in exercise could have some much-needed calming benefits. Research shows that the simple act of colouring can relax the amygdala – fear centre of your brain – regardless of your age.

Callum is encouraging people to share their efforts on social media, with prizes to be won for the best efforts.

Just be sure to tag your work #ColourWithCallum.

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From McLaren helping to develop ventilators, and Vauxhall offering to build them, to Callum helping children to relax, it’s amazing to see the ways in which British companies are doing their bit to ease the pain and worry of the coronavirus outbreak.

Callum launched the Vanquish 25 last year, as the realisation of Ian Callum’s original vision for his Aston Martin flagship.

It represents the modernisation of a car that Callum first began designing more than two decades ago.

Now, the World Car Awards-winning former Jaguar designer wants to see what new designs you can add to his iconic creation.

Over to you… click to download them below!

Halfords launches ZERO CONTACT servicing and repairs

By

Ethan Jupp

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March 19, 2020

0

Halfords has launched a true zero-contact servicing and repair facility to help combat the coronavirus. The service is available to self-isolating and social distancing motorists.

Technicians from Halfords’ mobile vans fleet will come to your home to work on your car without any contact whatsoever. This includes its Mobile Expert and Tyres On The Drive services.

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Motorists can book online or via telephone. They will have to make sure their vehicle is in a suitable place to be worked on, and set a pre-agreed safe place for things like keys and locking wheel nuts. After the work is complete, the driver will be notified on their phone and can check the vehicle with the technician at a safe distance. This makes this a truly contact-free service.

Tyres On The Drive offers tyre repair and replacement, while Mobile Expert deals with batteries, oil changes, windscreen chips and other services.

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“By introducing a contact-free fittings and repairs service, we believe we will give customers who are staying indoors or self-isolating the option of still being able to drive when they really need to, while also protecting our technicians,” said Karl Baker from Halfords.

Yesterday, Halfords confirmed that in light of the self-isolation situation, it would also waive any MOT rebooking fees, that would otherwise be incurred in a retest cancellation. Halfords joins a number of companies in the automotive sector in the UK collaborating to work against coronavirus in various ways.