Wireless phone charging isn’t always available on modern cars, let alone anything older. But there is a way of adding it retrospectively. Meet the Connects2 universal in-car charging pad.
This wireless charger can be placed anywhere flat in the cabin of your car, or indeed in the office or at home. And while wireless charging capability may cost several hundred pounds extra for a new car, this one retails at £29 from Halfords.
Also available is an in-car charging pocket, which adds a level of security for your device. Essentially, it holds your phone, rather than it resting atop a pad. It mounts in a glovebox, armrest or on any flat surface.
Lights on the pouch indicate the phone’s charge status and there are two USB ports for multi-device charging. This more comprehensive item is available for £79 from Halfords.
Opinion: Wireless chargers – gimmick or essential?
I’m not sure if I can speak for my MR colleagues, but I’ve been genuinely disappointed by the lack of wireless charging in some new cars I’ve driven recently.
I can confidently say this is something I’ll likely add to my own, older car. That’s an exclusive list, mostly reserved for broadcasting devices, which include aux cables and FM transmitters. It could make a nice replacement for my old-fashioned USB cable.
Lamborghini has delivered a new Huracan to Guglielmo Marconi Airport in Bologna. It’s the sixth car the marque has sent to its local airport, for use leading aircraft on the runways.
The ‘Follow Me’ Lamborghini is quite unlike any other Huracan. Designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile, a unique livery covers its Arancio orange body.
Lamborghini patents revolutionary electric car tech with university
The previous ‘Follow Me’ Huracan was a Grigio silver car with yellow livery. The new one features an Italian flag on each side, split into three ‘Y’ shapes, similar those in the Lamborghini Aventador’s rear lights.
Over the top, the Italian tricolore features again, along with a chequerboard design on the front and rear haunches. Up front, the Italian green and red colours can be seen on the front air inlets.
As if a bright orange Lamborghini covered in stripes wasn’t visible enough, there’s also a light bar on the roof. Flashing orange lights make sure pilots never lose sight of the V10 supercar.
Surprisingly, this Huracan isn’t the new Evo model, but a rear-driven LP-580. Slightly different for this specific example are the carbon side skirt inlets and wheels borrowed from the hardcore Performante.
Most people wouldn’t report a family member for drink-driving. That’s according to a survey of nearly 30,000 British drivers.
Just two percent of motorists would call the police if the driver was a family member, meaning a shocking 98 percent would turn a blind eye. Conversely, 49 percent of those surveyed said they would call the police if the driver was a complete stranger.
The AA members who took part in the study said they’d prefer to hide the keys, call a taxi or offer a lift to the person considering driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Male drivers aged 17-24 are over-represented in drink-drive accidents. They’re also less likely to perceive drink-driving as risky or unacceptable.
Last month, the government launched a campaign aimed at encouraging young people to stop their friends from getting behind the wheel when drunk.
‘Socially unacceptable’
Road safety minister Jesse Norman said: “Driving even while below the legal limit is becoming increasingly socially unacceptable, with more and more people choosing to turn down drinking any alcohol when they plan to drive. But even so, there are still some drivers who are willing to take the risk.
“Friends, colleagues and family members can positively influence those around them. So we are calling on them to stop potential drink drivers from getting behind the wheel and risking tragedy this Christmas.”
The legal limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg per 100ml, but there are calls to lower this to 50mg. This would bring the rest of the country in line with Scotland, where the limit has been lower for five years.
Drivers are encouraged to use the non-emergency 101 number to report dangerous driving to the police. However, stopping a drink-driver at source is a more effective approach, so hiding the keys is a recommended course of action.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “If you spot dangerous driving, it’s important that you report it – even if you think it’s an act that you shouldn’t get involved in, such as your boss driving home drunk from your company Christmas party.
“It’s a simple process and should only take a few minutes. Plus, you’ll be helping to keep the roads safe for everyone in the long-term.”
The penalties for being caught drink-driving are severe. Causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink carries up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine and a minimum two-year disqualification.
Christmas is coming, and shoppers will soon begin the last-minute dash for gifts. If a Lynx shower set won’t cut it for your loved one this year, we’ve got a few motoring-themed ideas that could make for a pleasant surprise.
Watching cars racing door-to-door on a circuit is always special . The Silverstone Classic delivers this, plus a sprinkling of live music on top, over the course of a summer weekend. Tickets are available from the event website.
Goodwood hosts the Members’ Meeting, Festival of Speed and Revival. If you love cars, you have to try all three. Tickets to any Goodwood event will be a surefire hit with any car fan.
Once you’ve got the tickets sorted, what are you going to wear? There is plenty of Jaguar gear you can kit out the petrolhead in your life with: jackets, glasses, T-shirts and more.
Maybach merchandise
Is your partner’s Louis Vuitton bag looking a little tired? Have no fear: Maybach, Mercedes-Benz’s luxury division, is here to help with a selection of bags and apparel. It’s lovely stuff, although perhaps not ideal for lugging around a car show.
If motoring-branded apparel isn’t quite the ticket, but the premium look is appreciated, check out The Outlierman. These ‘accessories for the gentleman driver’ include driving gloves, scarves and weekend bags. Swanky stuff.
Fully Charged apparel
Want to wear your eco credentials on your sleeve? The Fully Charged website could have something to suit, with hats, T-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more in stock.
Frank Stephenson sketch prints
Now for some car-themed art. We start our selection with a couple of pieces from Frank Stephenson, the genius responsible for designs from the new Mini to McLaren P1. Limited-edition prints detailing the design and inspiration for both cars are now available.
Motiveculture art
For something a bit more affordable, Motiveculture is almost unbeatable. The pictures are minimalist but stylish, with high-quality flat colours and sharp definition. Classic cars and modern art go together like bread and butter: get one on your wall.
If you love the above, but can’t find a particular car you like, Automobilist can probably help. It’s the company that created the awesome poster for the launch of the new De Tomaso.
If you reckon your friend isn’t punctual enough at Christmas, car-themed chronographs don’t come much cooler than these. Bonus points: the company’s founder is a genuine petrolhead.
Nurburgring Monopoly
Nurburgring-themed Monopoly should keep the whole family entertained this festive season. Counters include racing trophies, helmets, a Formula 1 car and more.
After tensions in Nurburgring Monopoly reach their peak, sit everyone down with a good film. Well, in the case of Hobbs & Shaw, perhaps just a film. Either way, if you love cars, it’s hard to turn down watching Jason Statham skid a McLaren 720S around London.
Lego and cars are connected like never before. There are so many models to pick from, but the new Land Rover Defender is one of our favourites. It’s available on Amazon. And so cool!
The Crew 2
You can only venture so far on a car-themed Christmas list before getting into games. With that, we have a mini list within a list, picking our favourite titles, plus the best kit to play them with. The Crew 2 is the most underrated open-world racer of the last 10 years. Pick your vehicle to explore America, including supercars, muscle cars, and rally cars, not to mention planes, helicopters and boats.
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4 does what The Crew does, but in the UK, with more cars and better graphics, albeit a much smaller map. It’s a good laugh for an hour of dry stone wall-smashing fun.
Project Cars 2
If The Crew and Horizon are a bit arcade-like and your loved one has ideas of being an amateur racing driver, Project Cars 2 is the one. Get them out on Classic Le Mans in a Ford MkIV, pretending they’re Dan Gurney. We won’t judge – we do it all the time.
Gran Turismo Sport
For a Playstation racing game fix, there is only one, isn’t there? Gran Turismo Sport is a welcome return to form for the GT franchise. It’s the best mix of realism and fun since 2004’s Gran Turismo 4.
Logitec racing wheel
All of the above are much more enjoyable if you use a proper racing wheel, rather than a controller. Logitec’s G920 (Xbox) and G29 (PS4) help get more from these games on a reasonable budget.
Tesla Cybertruck reservation
Like buying a star, a reservation for a Cybertruck is both reasonably affordable and a bit of a laugh. You can even get a refund once the joke has passed. Or, if it actually happens, go through with your order…
New cars just keep on getting safer – and UK automotive research centre Thatcham Research is highlighting this by revealing the 10 safest new cars launched in 2019.
These 10 motors, it says, are some of the safest new cars ever made: “Carmakers have really raised their game this year,” says the organisation.
How 2019’s safest cars were judged
Thatcham Research used a set criterion to draw out 2019’s 10 safest new cars. All should have a five-star Euro NCAP rating and high scores in all the individual categories.
They should also have a broad array of standard-fit crash-avoidance tech, such as autonomous emergency braking and electronic lane-keeping. The 10 cars should also all be affordable and have strong sales potential, “bringing safety to the masses” and continually improving the crash performance of cars we can all afford.
Here, in alphabetical order, are the 10 safest new cars launched to market in 2019.
BMW 3 Series
The new BMW 3 Series scored an impressive 97 percent rating for Adult Occupant Protection. Even better than that, it scored 100 percent in the Euro NCAP pole crash, described as the most invasive crash test of all.
Mazda 3
Thatcham Research director Matthew Avery called the Mazda 3 “a really good performer in so many areas”. It also has an innovative Driver Monitoring system, “which isn’t included in the current Euro NCAP rating, but will be in the future”.
Mazda CX-30
The Mazda CX-30 scored 99 percent in the Adult Occupant Protection category – “maxing out in the Full Frontal, Side impact, Pole crash and AEB City tests was the highest ever seen in Euro NCAP testing,” said Avery. The car’s combination of class-leading active and passive safety was highly praised.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class
The B-Class is a family-friendly small people carrier that reinforces the Mercedes-Benz brand’s reputation of offering safety as standard across its model range. Further proof of this…
Mercedes-Benz CLA
… Comes with the second Mercedes-Benz to feature in the safest new cars of 2019 list. The CLA scored 90 percent across all the Euro NCAP categories, making it the best performer of 2019.
Seat Tarraco
Seat’s large SUV offers safety at a reasonable price point, said Avery. It put in a “good performance for its driver assistance technologies, with strong AEV and Lane Support System scores”. He added it is one of the safest big SUVs you can buy.
Skoda Scala
“Maximum safety on a minimal budget” is how Avery describes the Skoda Scala family hatch. It is “one of the safest small cars available in 2019,” rating particularly highly on passive and active safety protection.
Tesla Model 3
The stylish Tesla Model 3 electric car scored the highest overall score in Euro NCAP’s Safety Assist category – “and by some distance,” said Avery. The EV also scored top points in the Lane Support System tests too, going some way to validating Elon Musk’s bold claims for the performance of Tesla Autopilot and its related assistance systems.
Volkswagen Golf 8
Volkswagen’s best-selling car is a European favourite. The all-new Golf 8 has a broad array of standard-fit safety tech, such as AEB autonomous emergency braking, a Lane Support System, “and also some great driving assistance systems including Electronic Lane Keeping”.
Volkswagen T-Cross
A standout performer in the fast-growing small crossover segment, the T-Cross serves up the usual high performance of Volkswagen cars in impact testing, said Avery. It also has a standard Lane Support System.
All 10 cars will now go forward to be judged in the overall Safety Award 2019. Only one can win… and the victor will be revealed in early January. Which gets your vote, and why?
New data has revealed that one in four motorists have damaged their car on a pothole or speedbump. That number rises to nearly one in three (30 percent) for people in urban areas.
The Opinium survey of 2,000 drivers found that a quarter of those who had damaged their car in such a way had incurred costs of between £51 and £100 for the repairs. Over a third (175 drivers) had paid between £101 and £250, and 40 drivers had a bill of over £250.
Around 200 (39 percent) of the affected drivers said they had complained to the council about the damage to their cars. Over half (55 percent) said they were ignored. Thirty-nine percent (78 drivers) said that action was taken as a result of their complaint. Twenty drivers (10 percent) even sent their bill to their respective councils.
Just over a fifth of those who had taken damage from potholes or speed humps said they did consider complaining but “didn’t see the point” because “nothing would change”.
Roads that damage cars could be increasing emissions
Incredibly, one in six drivers (17 percent) said that they consciously take a longer route to avoid potholes and other road damage. Longer journeys often translates to more emissions, meaning potholes could, in some way or another, be increasing emissions output.
“Damage to cars caused by speedhumps and potholes, in particular, is becoming a big problem as councils struggle with the cost of repairing them,” said Ben Wooltorton, COO of InsureTheGap, the company behind the survey.
“This cold snap will see more potholes and, as we can see from the research, repairs can run into hundreds of pounds. It really is worth avoiding them if possible, and going a different way if the road is particularly bad.”
The Petersen Automotive Museum is set to open a new exhibition featuring winning cars from the Chip Ganassi Racing team.
Opening on December 14th 2019, ten special vehicles will be on display in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery at the Los Angeles-based venue.
Titled as “Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks to Success | 30th Anniversary Tribute”, the display of vehicles will lead up to a special celebration event in April 2020.
Having competed in motorsport for almost three decades, Chip Ganassi Racing has become one of the most successful racing outfits on the planet. The organization has competed in a variety of disciplines, covering IndyCar, NASCAR and more.
The ten cars set to feature at the Petersen will encompass the winning ways of Chip Ganassi and his eponymous team. Highlights will include the Patrick Racing Wildcat MK9B, driven by Ganassi himself to his 8th-place finish at the 1983 Indianapolis 500.
A 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 NASCAR, driven by Kurt Busch, brings the collection completely up to date. The #1 racer took victory at the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in July this year.
Other cars set to be displayed will highlight the successful involvement of Chip Ganassi Racing in sports car and endurance competition. A key highlight here will be the Ford GT racer, which took a historic victory in the LM GTE Pro category at the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Choosing a selection of just which cars to feature will have tested the curators at the Petersen. Chip Ganassi Racing has taken more than 16 championships, and 200 individual victories, since being founded in 1990.
It is also holds the considerable achievement of being the only team to win the 24 Hours at Daytona, the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 in a single 12-month period.
Speaking about the new exhibition, Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges, commented that “Chip Ganassi is an influential member of the automotive community, and his team’s penchant for success is a reflection of his raw skill and passion for the sport”.
Karges added that along with the vehicles themselves, the display will be “complemented by a visually dynamic and compelling 180-degree video” and that it will “celebrate the team’s victories and tell its story while taking visitors on a trip down memory lane.”
Following a preview event on December 12th 2019 the Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks to Success exhibition will be on display until January 31st 2021. Chip Ganassi himself will also be officially honored at the Petersen’s Annual Racers Night in April 2020.
Mercedes-Benz has been named the most influential car brand by a social media agency in Scotland.
The agency looked at the social accounts for the major car brands, before calculating the total followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
With 48,133,119 fans and followers, Mercedes-Benz finishes top, ahead of BMW (46,284,467) and Volkswagen (41,587,168) in second and third place.
Whether or not true ‘influence’ can be judged purely on number of followers is up for discussion. However, there’s no doubt that the three German brands are big players in social circles.
With 34 million Twitter followers, Volkswagen leads the way in the automotive sector, while BMW tops the Instagram table with 23 million fans.
But Mercedes-Benz only manages to finish 27th overall, making it a relative minnow in comparison to some non-automotive brands.
National Geographic leads the way with a mammoth 202,817,271 followers and fans, making it the most influential brand in the eyes of Pilotfish Media.
Next up is Samsung (180,880,818), followed by Nike (134,840,198), NBA (118,371,052) and Coca-Cola (116,650,534).
Top 10 most influential car brands
Brand
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Total
Mercedes-Benz
20,992,148
3,415,143
22,625,828
1,100,000
48,133,119
BMW
20,992,255
1,992,760
23,043,452
955,000
46,284,467
Volkswagen
34,046,736
580,669
6,801,763
158,000
41,587,168
Lamborghini
12,722,642
1,852,725
22,531,891
1,090,000
38,197,258
Ferrari
16,381,658
562,120
16,103,144
641,000
33,687,922
Porsche
11,694,523
1,799,720
1,760,357
786,000
32,240,600
Audi
11,206,274
2,029,077
14,901,907
448,000
28,585,258
Ford
15,773,235
1,193,886
3,602,808
2,000,000
22,569,929
Mini
12,283,157
91,377
1,099,070
100,000
13,573,604
Jeep
6,013,939
996,269
5,627,470
168,000
12,805,678
Toyota
9,466,553
771,663
1,529,967
370,000
12,138,183
Most influential brands overall
Looking at brands overall, Pilotfish Media claims these are the most influential:
Most influential brand: National Geographic
Most influential sector: Sport
Most influential brand on Facebook: Samsung
Most influential brand on Twitter: NBA
Most influential brand on Instagram: National Geographic
Most influential brand on YouTube: National Geographic
Want to make your life easier and save money? The Car Hacks book contains 126 tips and tricks designed to improve your car, covering subjects such as cleaning, storage and modernising. Here, we reveal 18 car hacks that involve items you’ll find in your home. For more information, you’ll have to buy the book, which is on sale now.
Herbal tea bags
Did you know that a few herbal tea bags can dehumidify your car while giving the interior a fresh aroma? Leave them around the cabin overnight – one in each door pocket and one on the dashboard ought to do it – and the car will feel fresh in the morning. Author Craig Stewart advises against re-using the teabags for your morning cuppa…
Old socks
Are you bugged by cups or bottles that rattle around your cupholders when driving? The Car Hacks book suggests grabbing an old sock and pulling it over the bottom of the bottle, flask or cup. The result: a snug fitting drinks utensil without the rattle. We’d advise washing the sock first…
Cupcake cases
Cupholders are great, but it’s not long before they fill with dust and crumbs. Assuming you’ve finished reenacting The Great British Bake Off, grab some silicone cupcake cases from the kitchen and drop them into the cupholders. You can even add a splash of colour to an otherwise drab cabin.
Rubber band
Grab a rubber band if you’re after a temporary smartphone holder. The book suggests looping it through one of the air vents in the dashboard, from where it should be possible to stretch it around your phone. A good short-term solution for getting directions via the phone’s navigation app.
Silicone mat
Head back into the kitchen to grab a silicone mat that may have been used for baking or to line the drawers. It can be used to stop items rattling or rolling around door pockets or storage bins, helping to remove any irritating rattles in the process.
Bungee cord
We like this one. If you’ve ever arrived home from the supermarket to find your groceries strewn across the boot, the bungee cord hack is for you. Simply attach one end of the bungee cord to one side of the boot, then thread it through the bag handles before fixing it to the other side. Alternatively, you could arrange home delivery, but that’s not in the spirit of the book.
Nail polish
Nail polish isn’t going to restore your car to concours-winning glory, but as the book points out, it should ensure it ‘passes the kerbside inspection test’. A near-matching nail polish will improve the appearance of stone chips or small scratches, until such time you can afford to get the car professionally repaired.
Hand sanitiser
After nearly a year of living with Covid-19, we all have a bottle of hand sanitiser at home. If you discover your car’s locks are frozen, simply squirt some sanitiser into the keyhole and wait a few seconds. The alcohol in the fluid will work its magic, turning the ice to water. Obviously this one is for the old-school motorists who don’t rely on keyless entry…
Toothpaste
This hack utilises toothpaste’s abrasive properties to remove light scuff marks from the car’s bodywork. Apply a small amount with your finger, then rub it gently around the mark. Using a drill and polishing wheel, rub the area until it has blended into the surrounding paintwork. When you’re finished, apply some wax to protect the paintwork.
Tights or stockings
Few of us are diligent enough to carry a spare wiper blade in the boot, so what happens in an emergency? Assuming somebody in the car is wearing tights or stockings, you can use them to prevent a damaged blade from scraping the windscreen, which should be enough to get you home. Maybe you should carry a pair of tights in the glovebox. Oo-er.
Playing cards
If your wheels are looking tired and you’re tempted to break out the spray gun, you’ll want to protect your tyres from overspray. The Car Hacks book recommends tucking playing cards between the rim and the tyre all around the circumference of the wheel. The result: no overspray on the tyres. Just make sure you’ve got a spare set of playing cards for the inevitable Christmas game of rummy, or your mother-in-law won’t be happy.
Pool noodles
If you park your car in a narrow single garage, the fear of your door coming into contact with the wall is a constant menace. Assuming your children have finished with their swimming pool noodles, they can be used to provide a cushioned bumper for your door edges. Alternatively, off-cuts of carpet or old cushions work just as well.
Tennis ball
A tennis ball is a decent substitute for parking sensors – who’d have thought it? How does it work? You’ll have to buy the book to find out…
Self-adhesive hooks
Nissan claims to have invented the curry hook when it debuted on the Almera in 1996. But you don’t have to buy an Almera to carry a takeaway without ruining your car’s pristine interior. Simply grab some self-adhesive hooks and attach them to a suitable location.
Olive oil
Used sparingly, olive oil can be used to clean and protect interior plastics. Used less sparingly, olive oil can smarten up tired-looking leather seats, but make sure it doesn’t come into contact with the steering wheel, gear stick or handbrake.
Clothes peg
Speaking of oils – although not of the olive variety in this case – take a wooden clothes peg and drop some essential oils on the end. Clip the peg on to one of the central air vents, and when the fans are on, the scent will be circulated around the cabin.
Baking soda
Baking soda can be used to remove smells from the car upholstery. Sprinkle it over the affected area and then remove it using a vacuum cleaner.
Screwdriver
Because Q-tips and cotton buds are being discouraged from use for their role in plastic pollution, you’re going to require another solution for cleaning those hard to reach places. Wrapping a microfibre cloth on the end of a screwdriver is the answer.
Find more Car Hacks
In total, there are 126 tips and tricks in the Car Hacks book, and it comes highly recommended by Motoring Research. The retail price is £12.99, but it’s currently available online for less than a tenner. Grab a copy while stocks last.
There’s only one guaranteed way to avoid getting caught speeding: don’t speed. But if you do break the law, it pays to know where you’re most likely to get caught.
New research reveals Britain’s speeding hotspots, providing an insight into the regions where you’re likely to be issued a ticket.
Freedom of Information requests were sent to the constabularies of the most populated towns and cities around the UK. The aim: to discover how many fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued for speeding in 2018.
Although not every police force responded to Dick Lovett’s request, one constabulary stands head and shoulders above the others.
Nearly 165,000 speeding tickets were issued by Avon and Somerset Police, making it the region in which you’re most likely to be caught speeding.
Next up is West Mercia (90,203 tickets), followed by Hampshire (73,220) and Northumbria (68,552).
Interestingly, Avon and Somerset also takes the honour of seeing the highest recorded speed during the same period. A driver was clocked doing 162mph.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, just 135 FPNs were issued in Gwent, followed by Bedfordshire (254), Wiltshire (657) and Cambridgeshire (687).
This doesn’t necessarily mean that drivers in these areas are law-abiding citizens. There are a number of factors at play, including the fact that Gwent has fewer speed cameras and motorways.
If you’re caught speeding
The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points added to your licence.
You could be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 36 months.
If you get a FPN, you can choose to plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty, you’ll have to pay a £100 fine and have three points added to your licence, unless you’re given the option to attend a speed awareness course.
If you plead not guilty, you’ll have to go to court. If you’re found guilty by the court, the amount you’re fined depends on what the speed limit was and how much over it you were driving.
It’s usually a percentage of your weekly income, up to a maximum of £1,000, or £2,500 if you were driving on a motorway.
For more information on speeding fines, including what happens if you’re caught speeding by a camera, visit the government website.
