The UK Foreign Office has announced plans to switch diplomats into all-electric or hybrid cars as part of a drive to make it the “greenest diplomatic service in the world”.
Diplomats all around the world will quickly start switching to low- or zero-emission cars, with the global fleet becoming all-electric by 2030.
UK embassies in Oslo and Holy See have already replaced their cars. 30 other UK posts have cars on order and will receive their new green motors by April 2020.
The all-electric Jaguar I-Pace is going to feature heavily in the Foreign Office green fleet plans.
All embassies will also have fast-chargers installed.
“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time,” said Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Sir Simon McDonald.
“Our fleet of flag cars is a high-profile tool for demonstrating the UK’s international leadership on climate change diplomacy.
“I want us to be the greenest diplomatic service in the world. Shifting our vehicles away from petrol to all-electric will help us achieve this.”
The Foreign Office also plans to extend the use of solar energy on its buildings, and eliminate single-use plastics across all global posts.
With 2019 now over, this is the perfect time to review just what UK motorists wanted the most over the past year.
Using data from searches and advert views, Auto Trader had compiled an array of information on the most popular cars and SUVs of the year. A nationally representative survey of 2,000 drivers was also used to gather additional information.
The results cover a range of categories, along with the ten individual models that had the most viewed adverts of all. Get ready to see just how on-trend you were with your own car searches in 2019.
Most desirable new car brands of 2019
Kicking things off is which brands were the most desirable during the year. Auto Trader has accumulated the data for all adverts viewed, with Audi coming out on top.
Audi adverts were viewed more than 4.8 million times, with BMW in second with 4.03 million views. Volkswagen came in third, whilst Mercedes-Benz took fourth place, proving that German marques remain highly desirable.
Ford was in fifth place, with Land Rover, Jaguar, Hyundai, Nissan, and Toyota completing the top ten.
Most popular hybrid cars of 2019
With environmental concerns dominating the news in 2019, interest in hybrid vehicles has increased on Auto Trader. Topping the list of the most popular hybrid cars was the Toyota Corolla, buoyed by the launch of an all-new model.
Toyota also took both second and third place, with the RAV4 Hybrid and C-HR Hybrid respectively. The Honda CR-V Hybrid could be found in fourth place, with the Kia Niro in fifth.
Most popular electric cars of 2019
With more new electric cars than ever set to hit the market in 2020, we can expect the number of Auto Trader advert views for them to grow exponentially. During 2019 it was adverts for Audi’s E-tron that topped the electric charts.
The Jaguar I-Pace was the second most-viewed electric car, with the Volkswagen e-Golf clinching the final podium place. Established EVs like the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf completed the top five, but the new MG ZS EV was more of a surprise in seventh.
Most popular diesel cars of 2019
Dieselgate has reduced the market share of new diesel cars dramatically, with them now accounting for less than a third of new sales. Despite that, diesel is still a relevant option for certain buyers, with the Range Rover Evoque the most viewed diesel-powered vehicle.
BMW’s 3 Series claimed second place, with the full-sized Range Rover still proving popular with diesel fans in third. SUVs accounted for seven of the top ten places, although the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is notable for taking seventh place.
Most popular petrol cars of 2019
Proving just how far the popularity of diesel has fallen, even the Ford Mustang received more searches than the previous Range Rover Evoque. With 449,422 searches, the Mustang slots into fifth place on the list of the most popular petrol-powered cars.
At the very top of the table is a more predictable story. The Volkswagen Golf takes the crown for the petrol car with the most adverts viewed, followed by the Ford Fiesta. The Ford Focus takes third, with the Volkswagen Polo in fourth.
Most popular SUVs of 2019
The popularity of SUVs continues to rise seemingly unabated, and it is Land Rover that will be happiest with the results of Auto Trader’s data. The aristocratic Range Rover sits atop the pile as the SUV with the most viewed adverts in 2019.
Following close behind is the Range Rover Sport, whilst the Range Rover Evoque can be found in third place. The Range Rover Velar was the eighth most-viewed SUV, with the Discovery Sport just behind in ninth.
Although other brands are available, Auto Trader users seemingly only have eyes for Land Rover products.
Most popular estate cars of 2019
With SUVs becoming the default option for many buyers, the humble estate has fallen to being an also-ran when it comes to new cars. Yet choosing a station wagon instead of an SUV still matter to some buyers, with adverts for the Ford Focus estate being viewed the most of all.
Following behind in second place is the Audi A6 Avant, with the Volkswagen Golf Estate completing the top three. The Golf’s platform-sharing brethren of the Seat Leon ST and Skoda Octavia appear in fourth and fifth position.
Most popular coupes of 2019
Sporty two-door coupes saw greater advert views than estate cars, suggesting UK motorists are searching for driving fun rather than practicality. At the top of the tree is BMW’s new flagship 8 Series coupe, which saw the release of an even quicker Competition version in 2019.
With broad appeal, the blue-collar Ford Mustang is the second most-searched for coupe. BMW also takes the final podium position, with the M4 edging ahead of the Audi R8 for third place.
Variety can be found throughout the top ten with the Lotus Exige in seventh, and the Nissan GT-R in tenth.
Most popular saloons of 2019
BMW may produce far more than just saloons now, but the core of its range is seemingly still popular in the UK. Loved by business users and personal buyers, the BMW 3 Series was the four-door model with its adverts viewed the most in 2019.
The high-performance BMW M5 can be found in second, although the 5 Series on which it is based was strangely only in ninth position. Smaller executive saloons were more desirable, with the Alfa Romeo Giulia in third place, followed by the Jaguar XE in fourth.
Most popular hatchbacks of 2019
With broad appeal, hatchbacks continue to be the most popular bodystyle for UK drivers. The best-sellers list is frequently packed with hatchbacks, and this means adverts for them are suitably in favour.
The Volkswagen Golf, with a range that stretches from humble models to 300 hp performance machines, was the hatchback with the most viewed adverts. In second place is the Ford Fiesta supermini, with the Blue Oval also in third with the Focus.
Most important new car features of 2019
Modern cars are packed with more technology and features than ever before, as buyers expect a high level of specification. Auto Trader researched exactly which features buyers stated were most important to them when buying a new car.
Air conditioning was the most important feature for 52% of buyers, with electric windows desirable to just under half of those asked. A spacious boot and satellite navigation were tied in third place on 41%, with parking sensors desirable to 40% of buyers.
Most desirable new car colours of 2019
Choosing a colour is one of the most exciting parts of the new car buying experience for many. The past decade has been dominated by monochromatic colours, as buyers opt for conservative hues. It should therefore be no surprise that black was the most popular colour, with 21% making it their most desired option.
Closely behind in second place was blue, with 19% of buyers favouring it. Silver remains desirable to 16%, followed by red which is the top preference for 11% of buyers.
White may have started the decade as one of the most popular colours, but now it is only desirable to 10% of people.
Top 10 most popular car searches of 2019
10: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Now we move into the top ten most popular cars searched for in 2019, beginning with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. UK motorists have been drawn towards premium brands throughout the past decade, so its inclusion should not be a shock.
With 460,924 advert views during 2019, the C-Class is solidly in tenth place. The compact executive model comes in saloon, estate, coupe, and cabriolet formats, offering a model for every taste. A broad range of engines, including hybrid options, covers all the bases.
9: Volkswagen Polo
Based on the most recent sales figures, the Volkswagen Polo was the ninth best-selling car during 2019. It should therefore be no surprise that, with 463,548 advert views, the Polo was also the ninth most popular car on Auto Trader.
Volkswagen’s supermini manages to hold universal appeal, with the upmarket badge being a key part of the appeal. As we will see, it manages to be upstaged on this list by another Volkswagen.
8: Range Rover Evoque
Launched at the end of 2018, the latest Range Rover Evoque continues with the successful theme of its predecessor. Amassing 525,550 advert views during 2019, the smallest member of the Range Rover family is the first of three models from the brand to feature in the top ten.
Along with being the most desirable diesel-powered model of 2019, eighth place is impressive for such a boxfresh model. It clearly demonstrates the desirability of the compact premium SUV.
7: Mercedes-Benz A-Class
The UK’s love for all things premium continues, with the smallest Mercedes-Benz model accounting for 541,700 Auto Trader advert views during 2019. The A-Class has been a popular seller throughout the year, meaning seventh place here is to be expected.
Along with the Mercedes-Benz badge, the A-Class features an upmarket interior with technology that would shame cars from several classes above.
6: BMW 3 Series
Sixth place on the most-viewed Auto Trader adverts of 2019 goes to the BMW 3 Series. A total of 562,623 views covers both the saloon and estate versions of the 3 Series.
The latest seventh-generation of the 3 Series saloon went on sale in March 2019, followed by the Touring estate in June. More cabin space, greater technology, and new engines will have helped generate interest.
5: Range Rover Sport
It may have been on sale since 2013, but the Range Rover Sport seems to show no sign of diminishing interest. With 591,323 views of Auto Trader adverts during 2019, it was the fifth most-popular new vehicle for the year.
Engine options for the Range Rover Sport span four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, through to the impressive 575 hp supercharged V8 unit in the SVR model.
4: Range Rover
Even more desirable than the Range Rover Sport is the top-of-the-line version in the Land Rover hierarchy. The full-size luxury model received 617,085 advert views during 2019, placing it fourth in the overall list.
Auto Trader does not state how many of those views translated into sales. So this may be buyers genuinely interested in a Range Rover, or simply the idle dreaming of those wondering how to spend a hypothetical win on the National Lottery.
3: Ford Fiesta
Less likely to be the result of fantasy daydreams, the Ford Fiesta was the clear best-selling model in the UK during 2019. With 721,306 advert views, it finishes third on the Auto Trader list.
Affordable, practical, and enjoyable to drive should make the Fiesta’s inclusion here no major surprise. The limited edition Performance version of the Fiesta ST hot hatch is also likely to have driven even more interest during 2019.
2: Ford Focus
With both second and third places on the list, Ford must be fairly pleased with the results of the Auto Trader data. The larger Focus hatchback outperformed the Fiesta by a substantial amount, with an impressive 846,212 advert views in 2019.
The family hatchback was certainly popular, but what did it lose out to?
1: Volkswagen Golf
For the second year in a row, the Volkswagen Golf takes the top spot as the UK’s most popular model of new car. Of the more than 38 million Auto Trader adverts viewed during 2019, the Golf accounted for 1,307,303 of them alone.
Given the huge variety of new car models for sale in the UK, seeing the Golf account for so many advert views is a considerable demonstration of its popularity. This is more remarkable, taking into account the replacement eight-generation Golf was launched during the year.
The big question will be whether the new Golf can make it a hat trick in 2020.
The push for eco-friendly cars is extending far beyond what comes out of tailpipes.
Animal welfare charity, Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been putting pressure on the car industry to find alternatives to leather for some time.
Now it’s using ‘Veganuary’, when many people forgo meat and animal products for a month, to highlight the issue.
Peta says some of the biggest players in the car industry are listening and taking action, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Tesla.
The Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla’s first high-volume models, will be completely vegan while Volkswagen will offer leather- and wool-free cabins in its ID.3 and e-Up electric cars. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is continuing the eco-friendly trend. It’s not only electric, but eco-friendly on the inside.
Mercedes-Benz and Bentley are also looking to the future, with Peta’s help. The Vision EQS Concept – a preview for future luxury Mercedes models – uses recycled plastic-based Nappa leather.
Likewise, the exotic Bentley EXP100GT Concept uses vegan grape leather. Yes, you read that right: Bentley is investigating using run-off from the wine industry to furnish its luxurious GTs, limousines and SUVs.
Flying Bee: Bentley bees are making honey
Swathes of models from Honda, Hyundai and Kia all have eco-conscious interior appointment options. Even Chevrolet, in everything from the Cruze to the Silverado, offers the option to be, as Peta says, ‘fully loaded with compassion’.
Having a vegan option in a selection of cars from a selection of brands seems positive, but Peta wants to go all the way. In a post on its website, the charity says ‘We won’t stop until all car companies use only 100 percent leather-free and vegan interiors”.
Highways England has revealed its latest gadget to help speed up roadworks – an autonomous robot that helps cut the time it takes to paint white lines.
Developed by contractor WJ, the robotic pre-marker uses precise positioning technology to mark out where white lines need to be painted.
It recently marked up an eight-mile section of the M6 motorway in Staffordshire in four hours. Two engineers would normally take more than a week to do the same job.
Pre-marking roads for white lines is a tiresome job; humans have to calculate where the markings need to be, then walk miles to bend down and spray or chalk them onto the road.
This is both dangerous and arduous, increasing the risk of back injuries.
The robot is proving increasingly popular with Highways England contractors: it has worked on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement, plus the M4, the M1 and the M60.
“We’re always looking at innovative new ways of working,” said Julian Lamb, A14 construction director. “With safety our top priority, the time savings the robot can provide, coupled with removing our operatives from a potentially hazardous situation, make it a great solution”
Lamb added Highways England has also been working with the manufacturers of a self-driving dumper truck on the A14 project.
Electric car batteries are two to three times greener than they were in 2017. That’s according to new research conducted in Sweden.
Battery researchers at IVL Sweden found that the carbon footprint for the most common type of EV battery is between 61kg and 106kg of CO2.
This is significantly lower than the 150-200kg figure measured by the same Swedish researchers in 2017.
Clean transport campaign group Transport & Environment says that there are three reasons behind the rapid improvement. Firstly, the commercialisation and scaling up of battery cell manufacturing means less energy per cell is required, resulting in a drop in CO2 emissions.
Secondly, current data is more accurate and based on authentic information, rather than relying on estimates and assumptions.
Finally, the electricity generation in the key manufacturing regions is using more renewables, decarbonising the grid and reducing emissions.
‘Cleaner and cleaner’
Lucien Mathieu, e-mobility analyst at Transport & Environment, said: “EV batteries are getting cleaner and cleaner by the month. This is because production is becoming more efficient with the scale and because the energy mix to manufacture is decarbonising.
“So it does matter where the factory gets produced. This supports the current Commission push to establish a battery cell industry in our continent via the EU Battery Alliance.”
“The new study also acknowledges that accurate data is a challenge. So the upcoming EU battery regulations should establish a robust database and require companies to report accurate carbon footprint data. Data on metals supply chains is a particular problem. Thus the need for traceability and binding due diligence so that sustainable and responsible production is ensured.”
Transport & Environment goes on to claim that the figures from 2017 were “used and misused by many to exaggerate the climate impacts of battery production”.
This year we will see a number of new electric cars entering the market, including a new breed of affordable city cars and superminis. Click here for a list of some of the best EVs you’ll be able to buy in 2020.
Political and economic uncertainty have led to turbulent classic car values over the last few years. According to market experts at Hagerty insurance, the result was a deflated market overall in 2019. There are however, some cars that have gone up in value, despite the market conditions.
In 2018, the Ferrari Testarossa that was the poster car for lofty expectations. The average price of an advertised car was £116,000, compared with an average sale price of just £87,800. That difference of £28,200 closed in 2019, as sellers have smelled the coffee: £110,225 was the average advertised price, versus £91,100 for a sale.
“Things are now much more realistic than they were a year ago,” says Hagerty.
Also according to Hagerty, the end-of-year rise in sell-through rates can largely be attributed to a shift in the types of cars up for sale.
The buzz is around modern classics: cars that are aspirational but not expensive, and on the up in terms of values. They also represent a lower risk than traditional ‘blue chip’ models.
The classic car winners of 2019
The king of modern classics is the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. Values had stalled more recently following a big jump. However, 2019 showed some strong results. Overall the Sierra Cosworth saw a 13.7 percent rise in value last year, based on average sale prices.
A more conventional classic led the way for appreciation overall, however. The curvaceous 1960s Jaguar MkII – the original super saloon – had a bumper 2019. Following years of stable values, prices jumped 23.6 percent last year.
Hagerty claims the modern classic ‘Goldilocks zone’ is popular luxury and performance cars from 1990 onwards. In terms of value, if you’re looking to spend £150,000 or more, you could be taking a risk. For cars at that level, it’s a buyers’ market.
However, if you’ve got a smaller budget, and a classic car you want to own had previously looked unattainable, perhaps now is the time to look again.
Kia has kickstarted 2020 with the launch of a trio of new special editions and trim levels.
All models are on sale from 2 January and come with Kia’s acclaimed seven-year warranty.
The Kia Picanto Zest is the most eye-catching of the new cars, featuring Lime Light green metallic paint as standard. It also boasts 15-inch alloy wheels, grey faux-leather upholstery, a reversing camera and rear privacy glass.
A seven-inch touchscreen, LED rear lights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complete the package.
The Picanto Zest is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine and costs £12,650.
Kia Stonic Maxx
Moving up a size, the new Kia Stonic Maxx comes in white with a contrasting red roof. Standard equipment includes 17-inch graphite-coloured alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, black faux-leather, LED rear lights and a reversing camera.
The Stonic Maxx is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and offered with either a six-speed manual gearbox (£19,055) or seven-speed automatic (£20,055).
Kia Niro PHEV 2
Finally, Kia has launched a new entry-level version of the Niro plug-in hybrid. The Niro PHEV ‘2‘ costs £30,265 and comes with a long list of standard equipment.
The specification includes an eight-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, smart cruise control and a towing pack.
Dual-zone climate control, 16-inch alloy wheels, lane-keep assist, lane-follow assist, hill-start assist and forward collision avoidance assist are also fitted as standard.
All three models are on sale now.
Kia is also offering up to £2,500 scrappage discount off the price of a new car. A saving of £2,000 is available on the Picanto and Rio, with a £2,500 allowance available on the Stonic, Sportage, Niro hybrid and Niro plug-in hybrid.
The offer is available from now until the end of March 2020. For more information, visit the Kia website.
Breakdown organisation the RAC is already predicting the first Monday after the festive break could be its busiest day of the year.
Older cars and those with aged batteries will be particularly at risk of a ‘New Year non-start’.
Around 12,000 RAC breakdowns are forecast for Monday, with around 1 in 3 caused by a flat battery. The organisation dealt with 3,600 flat batteries on Monday 7 January 2019, and 2,422 on Wednesday 2 January.
40 percent of people who have suffered a post-Christmas flat battery discovered the problem on the way to work.
How to avoid a flat car battery
RAC patrol of the year Ben Aldous said motorists can take steps this coming weekend to avoid a nasty surprise.
The simplest tip is to take the car for a good run – not simply a quick trip around the block. This will allow the battery to recover a good level of charge.
It’s also worth checking your car over sooner rather than later. This gives plenty of time to either sort the problem or call out for help before the Monday rush.
“Experience tells us that it is often families with two or more vehicles that suffer most from flat batteries on the return to work after Christmas and New Year,” said Aldous, “as they tend only to drive one over the festive period.”
He added it is a good idea to make sure everything you may have plugged into the car is disconnected after every journey. “Sat navs and other devices can drain the battery if left connected – every volt is precious first thing in the morning.”
In an RAC poll, 6 percent of people admitted they had experienced a flat car battery after not using their car over the Christmas break. 13 percent have fallen victim twice…
Tech writers at Stuff Magazine have voted the Nissan Leaf Car of the Year in the latest Stuff Gadget Awards.
The Stuff Car of the Year gong is one of 20 awards presented by the magazine and website writers. Previous winners include the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X.
“Cars are big gadgets on wheels,” said editor-in-chief James Day.
“Nissan’s Leaf has been a trailblazer for electric vehicles ever since its inception, and the latest model comes packed with a number of smart driver aids that guarantee massive grins when getting from A to B… or parking in a multi-storey.”
The Leaf’s relative affordability helped its case; prices start from £26,345, once the government Plug-in Car Grant is taken off.
The 2019 Leaf e+ variant’s extended 239-mile range and power boost to 217 hp helped, too(although it is more expensive, priced from £35,895 post-Plug-in Car Grant). And the judges liked its e-Pedal function and ProPilot driver assistance tech.
“The Leaf is packed with the kind of technology you wouldn’t expect from such an affordable family car.”
Nissan is almost certain to make much of the award in 2020: Stuff describes itself as the world’s biggest gadget magazine and website. It has both brand recognition and influence – a potent combination to help spread the word…
More than one-in-10 drivers don’t know where their car’s battery is located, despite flat batteries being a leading cause of winter breakdowns.
A survey of 2,000 UK adults also found nearly a third (30 percent) have never checked their car battery, while more than half (53 percent) haven’t done so within the past five months.
This lack of battery TLC could cause problems tomorrow (2 January) as many motorists return to work – and cars left idle over the Christmas break refuse to start.
Equally, while older cars might require a straightforward jump-start (via leads connected to a healthier car, to boost the battery and start the engine), this process can overload the electronic systems of modern vehicles, leading to greater problems.
The poll, commissioned by Halfords, also reveals 42 percent of motorists don’t know how to fix their car battery if it dies. Yet many have noticed the early-warning symptoms.
In total, a third (31 percent) of drivers have heard a clicking sound when they turn the ignition key, a fifth (21 percent) have noticed their dashboard lights dimming when turning over the engine, and 13 percent have experienced the ignominy of their car backfiring.
“If your battery takes more attempts than usual to start the car, appears sluggish or the warning lights on your dashboard are illuminated, it could be a sign of imminent failure,” explains Laura Walsh from Halfords. “Using your car’s heater, lights and devices like sat-navs places greater demand on your battery. This, combined with leaving your car standing idle in the damp could result in a less than positive start to 2020, so it’s worth giving your car a quick health check.”
Many cars have a voltage gauge on the dashboard to indicate battery health. Alternatively, you can check your battery using an electrical tester. Examples are available online from less than £5.
More than one-in-10 drivers don’t know where their car’s battery is located, despite flat batteries being a leading cause of winter breakdowns.