Ferrari tops Disney as the world’s strongest brand

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January 22, 2020

Ferrari has been ranked the world’s strongest brand for the second year in a row. That’s according to the Brand Finance Global 500 report for 2020.

A brand strength index score of 94.1 out of 100 earns Ferrari the top spot on the list. It’s ahead of 11 other brands to have been awarded the highest AAA+ rating. It did, however, drop slightly from its 2019 score of 94.8.

Ferrari is also the only automotive brand to get an AAA+ rating. It defeated second-placed Disney (93.9), which spent more than seven-times the total brand value of Ferrari on film and TV assets owned by Fox.

Coca Cola, meanwhile, came sixth, with a score of 90.9 in the BSI index.

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In the name of preserving exclusivity, Ferrari plans to cut licencing agreements by 50 percent, and eliminate 30 percent of its product categories. Could that mean cheap Ferrari aftershave is a thing of the past?

The brand value of Ferrari grew to nearly £7 billion last year: a year-on-year rise of nine percent. The result is that, overall, Ferrari is 206th in the top 500 most valuable brands. It climbs from 220th place in 2019.

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Its success partly due to a new model offensive. Last year saw the marque introduce five new cars, including the SF90, a new supercar designed to deliver hybrid-hypercar performance, and the Roma, a higher-volume GT.

In terms of other areas of its business, Ferrari also closed a deal with the Giorgio Armani Group for the manufacturing of its clothing.

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“The embodiment of luxury, Ferrari continues to be admired and desired around the world, and its outstanding brand strength reflects this,” said David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance.

“It is no wonder that many consumers, who might never own a Ferrari car, want a bag or a watch emblazoned with the Prancing Horse, but it is also crucial that the company management remain at the steering wheel of the brand’s future and maintain its exclusive positioning by monitoring the licensing output closely.”

New bike rack camera is an ‘industry-first’

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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January 22, 2020

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A Swedish company specialising in mobile living has launched what it claims is an industry-first bike rack camera.

If you’ve struggled to reverse a motorhome, campervan, estate car or van with a bike rack on the back, the Dometic CAM200 Bike Rack Camera could be the best product of 2020.

It’s a common problem for anyone travelling with a bike rack. With the bikes loaded, the rear-view camera is obscured. This restricts the view for the driver, making it harder to reverse when the bike rack is in use.

Two cameras

Dometic’s patent-protected bike rack camera is the solution. It fits on the lower section of the bike rack to provide a clear rear view for the driver. Dometic says that by mounting it low, the “risk of misjudging the length of the rack can be excluded”.

As a bonus, the camera can be fitted without drilling on most bike racks – it simply slides into the outer rail by tightening the in-built screws.

The CAM2000 features two individually adjustable camera models, allowing the driver to find the best possible viewing angle. It switches between the two cameras to provide a clear view, even when bikes are loaded.

Of interest to UK buyers is the fact that the bike rack camera is waterproof. It’s also dust-proof. The system cable is detachable, so that the bike rack can be removed from the vehicle when not in use.

On sale in February for £320

It goes on sale in February 2020, with prices starting from €379 (£320).

Dometic separated from Electrolux in 2001. The Swedish firm specialises in products designed for the mobile living sector, which includes RVs and boats. Its portfolio includes cameras, monitors, air conditioners, awnings, toilets, blinds, generators, vacuum cleaners and sanitation systems.

The company turned over 18.274m SEK (£14.725m) in 2018 and employs 8,000 people across the world.

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You can now design your perfect Morgan in 3D

By

Ethan Jupp

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January 22, 2020

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Morgan has introduced an online configurator tool to help you bring your own hand-made British sports car to life.

The difference between this and the recently-announced Caterham configurator is you can build your Morgan from the comfort of your own home.

The tool works in 3D, and makes use of the fact the new Plus Six is the first Morgan entirely designed using computer aided design (CAD). Users can move around the car and look closer at specific details. The system can run in high, medium or low quality, depending on the speed of your connection.

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Morgan claims there are more than a trillion possible specifications. That’s over 1,000 billion, or a million million… When they say you can make your car your own, you really can.

Two initial options are available – standard or Touring. The latter adds a roof and removable windows.

The interior is fully customisable, with different materials, leather stitches, colours and trims. On the outside, you can customise beyond the paint colour, with plenty of different wheel and accessory options.

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If you’re not sure where to start when speccing up your Morgan, fear not. Morgan has listed some ‘inspirations’ to serve as starting points.

Price is important, so you’ll be able to keep tabs on the climbing cost as you progress through the configurator. When you’re done, save the spec and a packet of images to show off. And if you want to order, send it to Morgan.

So what does our Plus Six look like? We went for Sport Green over tan leather, with the ‘Speedster’ pepperpot wheels in black. With various trim and colour selections, we got the price up to nearly £83,000.

“We’re immensely proud to bring you our most advanced configurator yet,” said Michael Smith, lead digital designer at Morgan Motor Company.

“It’s the culmination of months of development work, bringing together teams across the business and externally. A highlight for me was working with the CAD engineers and designers to repurpose their work on the Plus Six. What’s been created is an extremely modern tool anyone can use at home or in a Morgan dealership.

“Built using the latest digital rendering technology, users can accurately visualise their dream Morgan in full 3D, utilising realistic paint rendering in incredible quality. We hope our customers and enthusiasts enjoy using the configurator.”

Half a million cars have a late MOT test in January

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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January 22, 2020

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Half a million cars had a late MOT in January 2019, as cash-strapped motorists deferred the test until payday. Of these, around 70,000 cars FAILED with a dangerous fault – that’s 14 percent.

January is a tough period for the household budget, with many families still paying the price for over-indulging at Christmas. The problems mount when the credit card bill arrives towards the end of the month.

Deferring an MOT is illegal and could be expensive. Anyone caught driving a vehicle without an MOT is likely to be fined up to a maximum of £1,000. It’s for this reason that Highways England is urging drivers to make sure their car has a valid MOT.

There’s no excuse for a late MOT. While some garages will contact a customer up to a month prior to the date of expiry, there are some things you can do from the comfort of your home. These include:

Putting a note on the calendar. Make sure you transfer the date when you get a new calendar at the start of the year. Alternatively, use the calendar on your smartphone and set a reminder for a month before the test is due.
Sign up for a free MOT reminder via the government website. You need the vehicle’s registration number and a mobile phone number or email address. If you own a car, van or motorcycle, you’ll receive a text message or email one month before the MOT is due.
Download an app to keep track of your car’s service and maintenance. The AA app includes special offers, a map and information about your car, including when the MOT is due, tyre pressures and the VED renewal date. You’ll receive a reminder before the MOT runs out.

If you’ve lost your MOT certificate, it’s worth remembering that you can check the MOT history of a vehicle at any time via the government website. You’ll need the vehicle’s registration number.

According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), around 50 percent of all faults found during the MOT test could be avoided by carrying out regular maintenance or by checking some basic items before the test.

Further MOT data reveals that around 40 percent of cars fail their MOT at the first attempt. Check out our guide to 10 easy pre-MOT checks to increase the chances of your car passing first time.

Simple regular checks for drivers

Highways England has issued further advice for drivers, regardless of when the MOT is due. These include:

Check tyres
- Prior to a long journey, check your tyre pressures are suitable for the load and the condition of your tyres. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm.
Check engine oil
- Use your dipstick to check oil regularly and before any long journey. Take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual.
Check water
- To ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screenwash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen.
Check lights
- If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT.
Check fuel
- Before setting out, check your fuel levels and make sure you have enough to reach your destination.

For more hints and tips, please visit our motoring advice section.

Caterham launches finance deal to go racing for £299 a month

By

Richard Aucock

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January 22, 2020

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Caterham is, for the first time, offering finance packages across its model range – and the packages extend to those who want to go racing in the Caterham Academy.

Developed in partnership with Santander Consumer Finance, the new package allows enthusiasts to now pay for a Caterham via affordable monthly payments (and it includes new and used models).

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The PCP-style conditional sale has a balloon payment at the end. Along with Caterham’s famously strong residual values, this helps keep monthly payments low.

The representative APR is 7.9 percent.

Including the Caterham Academy Package in the deal is unique. Priced from £29,995, this comprises a whole season of racing, at famous UK circuits such as Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Knockhill in Scotland.

Strictly for novices, the Caterham Academy turns people into fully-qualified racers – the deal includes an official Association of Racing Driver School (ARDS) test.

Caterham Academy cars are fully road-legal and, if racers pay off the balloon payment, they get to keep their racing car. Alternatively, they can choose to upgrade it onto the next ladder on the series, the Caterham Roadsport championship.

“Cost has always been the biggest hurdle for any racing driver, especially those looking to get started in the sport,” said Caterham CEO Graham Macdonald.

“By splitting the cost of racing a full season in the Caterham Academy across several monthly payments, we are making racing more affordable and open.”

More broadly, said Macdonald, most cars today are purchased on finance. “It was a logical next step for us to include finance offers for our road and race cars.

“By dividing the cost of ownership across low monthly payments, we are aiming to attract a new, wider customer base of driving enthusiasts and aspiring race car drivers.”

Full Caterham Finance example

Cash price of vehicle	£29,995
Customer Deposit	£6,623.60
Amount of credit	£23,371.40
Interest charges	£6,025.62

Fixed rate of interest	4.09% p.a
Representative APR	7.9% APR

48 monthly payments of	£299.99
1 final balloon payment of	£14.997.50
Total amount payable	£36,020.62
Duration of the agreement	49 months

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How much do car accidents and repairs really cost?

By

Ethan Jupp

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January 21, 2020

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Sometimes car accidents can’t be avoided. But how much do they actually cost to put right, on average?

Research conducted by MoneySuperMarket found the average cost is around £415. That almost equals the average price of a year’s fully-comprehensive car insurance cover, which is £459.

An accident can add up to nine percent (£69) to a driver’s premium when it comes to renewing.

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Of the 37 percent who that said they’d had an accident in the last five years, one in five said they paid up to £100. This goes on repairs and associated insurance costs. A quarter had paid between £201 and £400, while 10 percent said they’d spent considerably more: between £801 and £1,000.

The most common repair is paintwork (45 percent). Bumpers (49 percent) and lights (29 percent) also attract a lot of damage. Of those who said they’d been in an accident during the last five years, a quarter said they didn’t claim on their insurance.

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Deciding whether to claim on your insurance will depend on the kind of accident you have, and the car you drive. If it’s minor damage and the car is safe and drives, it could be in your best interests to handle the cost yourself. Indeed, depending on what your voluntary excess is, it will cost you a certain amount anyway.

However, some cars, and certain repairs, mean it will just be easier to go through your insurance company. It’s also important to note that not claiming and not declaring are two entirely different things.

You must always declare an accident to your insurers. However, you can chose whether the insurer covers the cost of the repair or replacement of your car.

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“Our research shows that claiming after an accident could potentially add £69 to your premium, which may explain why a quarter of drivers who have an accident do not make a claim to their insurer,” said Dave Merrick of MoneySuperMarket.

“In some cases, it can be more cost efficient to make a claim rather than paying for the costs yourself. Whatever you decide, you should always let you insurer know. Most policies will have a clause that requires you to declare any incidents, regardless of who is at fault. Failing to do so could invalidate your policy.”

Vaping drivers could be refused insurance claims

By

Ethan Jupp

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January 21, 2020

0

Drivers who vape could soon find themselves denied an insurance payout if they have an accident while using the device.

Vaping creates a thick plume of vapour, which could be considered a hazard in a car, given how much it obstructs the driver’s view.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has described vaping at the wheel as a ‘growing and concerning trend’ for road safety.

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“Distracted driving is a leading cause of road accidents in the UK,” said Nick Lloyd, head of road safety at RoSPA.

“Any secondary activity which takes eyes off the road is potentially dangerous. As well as being a physical distraction, vaping while behind the wheel can create visibility problems if clouds of vapour are produced.”

At the moment, using a vape while driving isn’t illegal. Nor are there points about it in insurance policies. Any accident related to vaping could potentially be considered as distracted driving.

Soon, however, it’s expected that vaping while driving will be clamped down upon, by lawmakers and insurers alike.

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A spokesperson for specialist car insurance broker Carbon told AMT: “There could be exclusions written into some insurance policies in the future”.

“Even though our panel of insurers doesn’t currently ask whether drivers vape when they’re looking for a quote, it may well be something that gets asked in the near-future.”

NHS signs deal for 700 Jaguar I-Pace electric cars

By

Richard Aucock

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January 21, 2020

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NHS public sector staff from more than 200 organisations across the country are set to enjoy access to a fleet of 700 Jaguar I-Pace electric cars.

Described as an ‘unprecedented’ deal, the huge win for Jaguar sees the reigning World Car of the Year become part of the NHS Fleet Solutions scheme.

National Health Service workers will be able to sign up for an I-Pace via a salary sacrifice scheme: the fleet will become available from April 2020.

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Sir James Mackey is chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare, the organisation that’s signed the new deal with Jaguar Land Rover.

“We are delighted to be working with Jaguar Land Rover UK,” he said. “This is a great deal for NHS and public sector staff and delivers genuine benefit to our patients.

“To have a fleet of cars that are fully electric demonstrates our on-going commitment to making decisions that reduce our impact on the environment and help us become greener.”

The zero-emissions I-Pace will become part of the NHS ambition to reduce its carbon footprint.

Claire Watson-Brown from JLR said the company was “very proud to provide NHS and public sector staff with this fleet of Jaguar I-Paces”.

The multi-award-winning SUV “demonstrates our latest electric vehicle technology, developed here in the UK to deliver clean, sustainable and efficient transport”.

Leases on the NHS Fleet Solutions cars will run for three years.

The salary sacrifice scheme has itself run for 15 years and has more than 21,000 cars in public sector employees’ hands.

Daimler deploys electric school buses in America

By

Ethan Jupp

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January 21, 2020

0

Daimler-owned Thomas Built Buses has begun supplying fully-electric versions of the famous black and yellow American school bus. The first 50 examples of the ‘Jouley’ have been ordered in the state of Virginia.

The goal is to have at least 1,000 electric buses on American roads by 2025, although a bus manufacturer has not yet been selected to fulfill this order.

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The Thomas Built bus has been developed in collaboration with California company, Proterra. Its battery has a total power capacity of 220 kWh – just over twice that of a top-end Tesla Model S – and has a theoretical range of 134 miles. These buses are also the only of their kind to feature DC fast charging as standard.

So how quickly can an electric school bus be charged? If the 60 kW fast charging system is used, it’ll juice up in around three hours. That leaves plenty of time in between the morning drop-off and the afternoon pick-up for buses to be prepared for their second shift of the day.

Interestingly, these buses are also equipped with vehicle-to-grid technology, allowing them to supply power back into the grid. With 1,000 buses in use, their batteries could provide enough energy to power more than 10,000 homes.

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How can you tell the difference between the new electric bus and its diesel predecessor? Well, if it’s running, you’ll clock one even with your eyes closed. There will be no diesel clatter – and no smell of fumes. To look at, the differences are subtle. Pictured above is an older, more traditional American school bus.

There’s blue LED lighting in the grille to mark it out, while ‘Jouley’ is plastered down the side. It still has the silhouette of the familiar American school bus, though, right down to the long nose where you might ordinarily find an engine.

Toyota invests £300m in electric air taxi company

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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January 21, 2020

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Toyota has teamed up with Joby Aviation to develop an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Little information has been released, but Toyota hopes to commercialise the eVTOL, with the aim of delivering “fast, quiet and affordable air transportation”.

An eVTOL combines elements of helicopters and small aeroplanes, offering zero emissions, fast travel and quiet operation. Details of the prototype aircraft and the production plans will be announced at a later date.

Earlier this month, Hyundai and Uber unveiled a ride-sharing air taxi concept at CES 2020. The companies hope to be airborne within three years.

Toyota is the lead investor in Joby Aviation’s $590 million (£452 million) Series C financing. In addition to a $394 million (£302 million) investment, Toyota will also share its expertise in manufacturing, quality and cost control.

Founded in 2009, Joby Aviation is at the forefront of the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market. The Californian company has developed a four passenger aircraft that can fly at speeds of up to 200mph, delivering 150+ miles of flying ranging from a single charge.

‘On land, and now in the sky‘

Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation president and CEO, said: “Air transportation has been a long-term goal for Toyota, and while we continue our work in the automobile business, this agreement sets our sights on the sky.

“As we take up the challenge of air transportation together with Joby, an innovator in the emerging eVTOL space, we tap the potential to revolutionise future transportation and people’s lives.

“Through this new and exciting endeavour, we hope to deliver freedom of movement and enjoyment to customers everywhere, on land, and now in the sky.”

JoeBen Bevirt, Joby Aviation founder and CEO, added: “This collaboration with Toyota represents an unprecedented commitment of money and resources for us and for this new industry, from one of the world’s leading automakers.

“Toyota is known globally for the quality and reliability of its products, driven by meticulous attention to detail and manufacturing processes. I am excited to harness Toyota’s engineering and manufacturing prowess to drive us towards our dream of helping a billion people save an hour-plus commuting time every day.”