A new study reveals that 88 percent of new and young drivers aren’t aware of the added charges that obtaining insurance from a comparison website incurs. Such websites charge insurance companies a commission for policies sold via their platform.
In total, 61 percent of the 750 drivers surveyed said they believed price comparison websites were the best place to find cheap insurance. Just 11 percent said they contacted insurers independently after getting quotations from a comparison site.
Three in five young drivers admit to using their phone while driving
According to Honch, the insurance company behind the research, price comparison sites charge £60 per policy sold via their service. And that cost is passed on to policy buyers.
Unsurprisingly, once informed, 97 percent of those questioned said this was unfair.
“Drivers across the UK are being lulled into a false sense of security by price comparison websites, whose marketing tactics and friendly-faced company mascots can be very disarming,” said Gavin Sewell, CEO of Honcho. “However, these companies know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to squeezing a bit more money out of hard-pressed consumers and cover their tracks well
“We’re relieved that regulatory bodies such as the Financial Conduct Authority are beginning to break their silence on the issues currently plaguing the insurance sector and are looking to put measures in place to restore decorum to the industry.”
A raft of new safety technologies will become mandatory in European vehicles as of 2022. The overall aim: to protect passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.
Human error accounts for 90 percent of fatalities and injuries on our roads, says the European Commission. Advanced safety features will reduce the number of accidents and pave the way towards a connected and automated future, it says.
Two headline features include alcohol interlock installation facilitation and intelligent speed assistance. In other words, built-in breathalysers and speed limiters.
The Commission expects the proposed measures to save around 25,000 lives and 140,000 injuries by 2038.
It’s part of a wider plan to ‘help drivers get gradually used to the new driving assistance… [enhancing] public trust and acceptance of automated cars’.
The mandatory safety features will cover cars, vans, trucks and buses. Key features include:
For cars, vans, trucks and buses: driver drowsiness and distraction warnings, intelligent speed assistance, reversing safety with camera or sensors, ‘black box’ data recorders in the event of an accident.
For cars and vans: lane-keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking, crash-test improved safety belts.
For trucks and buses: improve the direct vision of bus and truck drivers, remove blind spots, detect and warn of vulnerable road users.
All will become mandatory from 2022, with the exception of direct vision for trucks and buses, which requires necessary structural design changes.
‘We can and must act’
Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, responsible for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: “Every year, 25,000 people lose their lives on our roads. The vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error.
“We can and must act to change this. With the new advanced safety features that will become mandatory, we can have the same kind of impact as when the safety belts were first introduced.
“Many of the new features already exist, in particular in high–end vehicles. Now we raise the safety level across the board, and pave the way for connected and automated mobility of the future.”
Mercedes-Benz is donating 50,000 toy cars to young girls across America.
It’s part of a plan to challenge gender stereotypes while encouraging girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers.
More than 100 organisations will engineer toy racetracks, design cars, engage with female role models and attend STEM workshops. The aim: to expand how girls see their future.
Research show that women represent 29 percent of the current science and engineering workforce in the United States. When pressed for reasons for not majoring in STEM subjects, young women cite a lack of encouragement and role models.
Which is why Mercedes-Benz, in partnership with Mattel and the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP), launched the No Limits initiative.
The 50,000 girls participating in the No Limits project will be given a Matchbox Mercedes-Benz 220 SE toy car.
It was in this car that Ewy Rosqvist and co-driver Ursula Wirth became the first all-female crew to win a major rally. In 1962, Rosqvist won the Argentinian Touring Car Grand Prix, finishing over three hours ahead of the rest of the field.
‘Question the gender stereotypes’
“Whatever they aspire to be – an astronaut, engineer, judge, nurse, even the President, we want all children to dream big, dream bold and never give up on that dream,” said Mark Aikman, general manager of marketing services for Mercedes-Benz USA.
“We’ve seen that stories like Ewy’s – championing women trailblazers and achievers – can have a big impact by calling into question the gender stereotypes that children may inadvertently adopt.”
Karen Peterson, founder and CEO of NGCP, added: “The No Limits initiative is important to the future success of our young girls.
“Demand for workers with STEM-based skills is rapidly growing, yet women are still significantly underrepresented in these fields. We know that gender associations are formed at a very young age. We applaud Mercedes-Benz and Mattel in their efforts to breakdown the gender stereotypes that keep young girls from engaging in STEM studies.”
If you’re not one of the 50,000 girls who’ll be gifted a Matchbox Mercedes, the toy car will be sold in stores across America from December. Just in time for Christmas…
Auto Trader is upgrading the way its listings look. The car sales website is adding new features to help buyers feel more confident as they search the classifieds for their next car.
The changes will roll out across all platforms from early December.
In Auto Trader’s 2019 Car Buyers Report, it was revealed that 86 percent of buyers are concerned they can’t trust car dealers. Likewise, 88 percent worry they aren’t getting a good deal, while 85 percent are question the accuracy of the information about a car.
These are three key changes Auto Trader will make.
Consumer reviews
Reviews from customers of car retailers are being brought forward, to reinforce buyers’ trust in vendors.
Auto Trader wants to put its consumer reviews to better use, to corroborate other rewards and recommendations car sellers may have.
Auto Trader will be adding to its ‘low’, ‘great’ and ‘good’ price indicators, with ‘fair’ and ‘high’. It’s believed that buyers’ hesitance around pricing is a key barrier to doing the deal. With more comprehensive ‘flags’, Auto Trader hopes to put buyers at ease, and help them be sure they’re paying what they should.
The company claims that its valuations are ‘the most accurate reflection of the live retail market’. They include analysis of more than 1.9 million vehicles each day. Valuations are afforded depending on age, mileage and specification.
To help buyers find the specific cars, extra feature indicators are also being added. This means mileage and deal-critical optional extras can be highlighted in a listing.
Content relating to the car, including the description and spec, is being moved up the page, in order to help buyers find what is being offered more efficiently.
With Le Mans 66 opening in cinemas, the famous story of Ford’s triumph over Ferrari in the 24-hour race will be further immortalised in popular culture. It’s a rare treat for racing and motoring enthusiasts to see a movie where cars are the stars.
Two Ferraris featured in the film will be on display at LA’s Petersen Automotive Museum in January, as a part of the ‘Winning Numbers’ exhibit. The 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB SEFAC and 1957 Ferrari 625/250 TR will be joined by a Ford GT40 Mk3, the first Shelby Cobra from 1962 and a 1952 Ferrari 212/225 Barchetta. We start with the Ferraris…
Ferrari 250 SWB SEFAC
The 250 Short Wheel Base is an integral part of Ferrari’s road and race history. Affectionately known as the ‘hot rods’, the SEFAC 250 SWB Competizione racers were made from thinner alloy and produced more than 300hp.
The car on display at the Petersen brought home a GT class win for Ferrari at Le Mans in 1961 and finished third overall. It’s fair to say this car is a building block of the Ferrari Le Mans legend, one with which Ford was so determined to grapple.
The car is owned by Petersen founding chairman Bruce Meyer, who loaned it to the Le Mans 66 production team. Meyer bought it in 2010.
Ferrari 625 TRC
The other movie star car is a Ferrari 625 TRC Spyder by Scaglietti. Unlike the 250 SWB SEFAC, which is a GT racer, the TRC is a sports prototype. It came about right at the start of Ferrari’s era of dominance at Le Mans. The marque took outright wins from 1960 to 1965. The events of 1966’s race are, of course, the subject of the film.
While not a Le Mans winner itself, this 625 is an integral part of this story. It was raced in 1962 by none other than Ken Miles, star character of Le Mans 66, played by Christian Bale. He won his first race in the car, in Santa Barbara.
It’s appearance in Le Mans 66 must have been something of a trip down memory lane. Bruce Meyer bought the car in 2006.
Shelby Cobra
Matt Damon stars opposite Christian Bale in Le Mans 66, playing a young Caroll Shelby. He was instrumental in developing the GT40 to a state where it could legitimately take on Ferrari at Le Mans. Shelby had proven himself with his work on the AC Cobra.
Famous now, the Shelby Cobra was an experiment back in 1962 A Shelby-tuned Ford V8 was added to a small British roadster called the AC Ace, along with wide wheelarches and fat tyres.
The 1962 car on display at the Petersen is the very first production-specification, competition-ready car produced by Shelby. It’s also part of the Bruce Meyer collection.
Ford GT40 Mk3
The story culminates with the victory of the Ford GT40 over Ferrari at Le Mans, the American marque taking over the podium with a 1-2-3 finish. It’s only right that an example should feature in the display at the Petersen.
This is a road-going Mk3 from 1967. It differs from the 1966 cars most obviously at the front, with more bulbous lights for road use. Other changes include more space for luggage, movement of the gear shifter to the middle, plus a de-tuned power output of 310hp.
Just seven Mk3 GT40s were made, of which one is on display at the Petersen. The car’s significantly modified looks supposedly put off some buyers, who wanted something resembling the triumphant racers.
Ferrari 212 225 Barchetta
This is a very significant car in the story of Ford taking on Ferrari, in spite of being built 14 years before Ford’s Le Mans win.
Henry Ford’s relationship with Ferrari became obsessive over time. Before having his takeover offer turned down, however, he was like any other fan. This 212 225 was a special order by FoMoCo for Henry Ford II, used as his personal car.
It’s said the diminutive Barchetta served as inspiration for a great many design cues that appeared on the Ford Thunderbird in 1955.
Ford v Ferrari
“The story of Ford’s triumph over Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans will be told for generations,” said Terry L. Karges, executive director at the Petersen Museum. “We’re excited to see the film, but we’re most excited to offer fans of the movie an opportunity to see the cars that will be in the film and learn about other vehicles that are pivotal to the story.”
Cars could be banned from the Lake District as part of plans to cut congestion in the National Park.
The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) and National Trust are looking at car-free zones and traffic management schemes, starting with the hamlet of Seathwaite.
Research carried out by National Parks UK in 2014 found that 93 percent of National Park visitors arrived by car. “It is not much fun being on the shores of somewhere such as Windermere on a bike or on foot when the A592 is nose to tail,“ said Julian Glover in the Landscapes Review, published earlier this year.
The LDNPA notes that 50 percent of its carbon budget is made up of emissions from visitors, much of which is from cars.
But cars are a big source of income for National Park authorities. The LDNPA charges up to £500 for an annual permit, and such fees “may be both a deterrent to car use and an incentive to National Parks to tolerate their continuation,” says Glover.
“We need to address traffic issues in the National Park,” said Thomas Burditt, National Trust general manager for the North Lakes. “Car-free zones are an option we are considering. We are in discussions with residents, the Highways Agency and the parish council.”
According to a report in The Times, the National Trust will present research on car-free zones at a summit in Kendal on Tuesday. Residents of Seathwaite would be able to use their vehicles inside the proposed zone.
‘Loved to death’
Kate Willshaw, officer for the Friends of the Lake District, said: “The Lakes are such an amazing place, but parts of it are being loved to death.
“A lot of it is still wild and tranquil, of course. But there are certain areas that are getting congested, such as Bowness, Keswick and Windermere. We call these places honeypots. They attract people because they are an easy win. You can get to them without driving on single-track roads, and the views are magnificent.”
In a 2018 report entitled National Parks for all: Making car-free travel easier, it was found that visitors arriving by public transport spend more than those arriving by car. They are more likely to spend money on food and drink locally and are more likely to pay for tourist attractions.
Many parts of the National Parks are served by the National Cycle Network, and it’s possible to combine cycling and rail travel for shorter trips.
It’s not clear whether or not the proposed car-free zone in the Lake District will include electric vehicles, but given this is as much about congestion as it is about air quality, they’re unlikely to be exempt from the ban.
The 2018 report said “greater use of electric vehicles would reduce the carbon emissions from road transport at the point of use although it would not reduce the number of vehicles in the Parks”. It referenced a Renault Twizy hire scheme in the Lake District.
Many locals would welcome a ban. “Congestion is horrendous and getting much worse. There was a fire in one of the houses near us and the fire engine couldn’t get down, there were so many cars parked,” said a local farmer in The Times.
“Right now, today, there are dozens of cars parked from our entrance right down the road. That’s a normal Friday. I would love this to be a car-free zone.”
A new environmental zone will see the dirtiest vehicles banned from the centre of Geneva, Switzerland, and the surrounding area.
From 15 January 2020, a temporary zone will be activated when air pollution in the Swiss city is at its highest. It will be operational from 6am until 10pm.
Vehicles will be measured on their environmental performance and must display one of six coloured Stick’Air vignettes. Green is for zero emission vehicles, while grey is for the least environmentally friendly cars. The emergency services and drivers with disabilities are exempt from the scheme.
Initially, vehicles displaying the grey vignette will be banned from the environmental zone during the period of peak pollution. If the smog persists, the ban will extend to vehicles showing the brown sticker, then orange, yellow and purple.
The stickers cost 5 Swiss francs (£4) and are valid for the life of the vehicle. Drivers who do not display a vignette or enter the city during the smog alert will be fined 500 francs (£400). Commercial vehicles will be granted a two-year transitional period to comply with the new law.
Under the regulations, the authorities could also introduce an 80km/h (50mph) speed limit on surrounding motorways, free public transport to encourage locals and tourists to leave their cars at home, and a ban on outdoor fires.
‘Right to breathe healthy air’
Antonio Hodgers, a Geneva councillor, said: “We have adopted a compromise between economic freedom and the right to breathe healthy air.”
Nearly 500,000 people live in the canton of Geneva, with around 200,000 people living in the city. This is the first environmental zone of its kind in the country, although Geneva’s proximity to France and Italy, plus the fact that it is home to more than 130 multinational companies, makes it a particularly high profile case.
This weekend will see a rare second-generation Ford Bronco making its way across the auction block.
But this particular retro SUV is not for sale in the United States. Instead, it is being auctioned in the United Kingdom, as part of the 2019 NEC Classic Motor Show Sale arranged by SIlverstone Auctions.
It means British fans of American trucks have a rare opportunity to grab this in-demand full-size SUV, without the hassle of importing one.
Produced for the 1978 and 1979 model years, the launch of the second-generation Ford Bronco was hit with several delays. The 1973 oil crisis saw full-size SUVs rapidly fall out of approval, with Ford pushing back the planned 1974 release date for the second-gen Bronco as a result.
It meant that rivals such as the Dodge Ramcharger and Chevrolet K5 Blazer had already established a foothold in the market. Despite this, the second coming of the Bronco still proved popular. Buyers were happy to wait months to get hold of the three-door SUV.
The short production period has boosted the collectability of the second-generation Bronco, as has the anticipation for the new 2020 version.
Whilst North America was the intended target for the second-gen Bronco, this particular example escaped across the Atlantic in April 1978. Ford UK shipped the Bronco to its Dunton Technical Centre, and registered it for use in the United Kingdom.
Fitted with the smaller 351-cubic inch (5.8-l) Cleveland V-8 engine, this Bronco left the factory with 156 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. A selectable four-wheel drive system is fitted, along with a four-speed manual transmission.
The Bronco was placed in dry storage between 1996 and 2019, meaning it has covered just 33,750 miles since new.
According to the Silverstone Auctions, substantial amounts of paperwork are present to support the ownership of the Bronco by Ford UK. A subsequent transfer to Ford New Holland in 1991 is also covered by the included paper records.
In 1998 the Bronco was sold to a former Ford employee, before finally becoming the property of the current vendor.
Restoration work was started by the previous owner, and continued by the seller. The period correct Silver Metallic paint has been resprayed, whilst new leather has been added to the four seats inside.
Opportunities to buy a second-generation Ford Bronco in the United Kingdom are limited at best. It means the chance to hook one officially imported from new is likely to appeal to fans of American metal.
The Bronco is being sold as part of two days of auction action during the 2019 NEC Classic Motor Show. Other vehicles crossing the block include a Jaguar XJ200 supercar, and a Mercedes-Benz previously owned by musician, Jay Kay.
Silverstone Auctions has estimated a sale price of £18,000 to £20,000 ($22,500 to $25,000) for the Bronco. The Ford UK provenance, plus the novelty of being an American retro SUV with a removable roof, should easily help it find a new owner.
Supercars don’t get all the hashtags on Instagram. Classics cars (and we admit, some classic supercars) get plenty of love, too.
Comparison website Comparethemarket has rounded up the most popular classics on the social media platform using the number of hashtags.
Here’s the top 20 in reverse order.
20. Toyota Celica Supra
We begin with a classic Japanese sports car, and the ancestor of a modern icon. The Celica Supra birthed the top-flight Toyota that dominates so many car enthusiasts’ conversations today. The original Celica Supra is tagged 122,585 times on Instagram.
19. Pontiac Firebird
You can’t talk about classic cars without mentioning American muscle. One of the great icons of the breed is the Pontiac Trans Am. The Firebird’s 133,178 Insta mentions may have been boosted by its Smokey and the Bandit movie fame.
18. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The classic Karmann Ghia coupe is far less famous – but no less cool – than the Volkswagen bus or Beetle. It managed 159,846 mentions on Instagram.
17. Ferrari Testarossa
OK, it’s a supercar, but it’s also a stone-cold classic. The Testarossa is an icon of the 1980s, and gets 168,909 Insta mentions as a result.
16. Chevrolet Impala
From police cruisers, to between-the-lights racing, to the darling of the low-rider scene, the Chevy Impala is one of the most versatile and culturally significant American classics. It gets 182,615 hashtags in total.
15. Porsche 944
The 944 is having its day in the sun, yet it wasn’t always so loved. When new, it was what a yuppie banker’s first paycheck might have been splashed on. Today, it’s a respected part of Porsche history. It gets 196,111 Instagram mentions.
14. Lamborghini Countach
If the Testarossa wasn’t your poster car in the 1980s, the Lamborghini Countach probably was. The wedge-shaped Countach still looks utterly exotic. It edges just ahead of the 944, with 196,120 hashtags.
13. AC Cobra
Carol Shelby’s muscular roadster is entrenched in British motoring history. This 170mph brute is the reason we have a 70mph motorway speed limit. It totals 216,236 tags on Instagram.
12. Jaguar E-type
It’s fair to say this is the British classic, so you might expect the E-type to place further up the list. A total of 224,364 mentions puts it 13th.
11. Ferrari Enzo
Incredible as it is, we’d struggle to define the Ferrari Enzo as a classic. Lord knows it will be, but it’s not even 20 years old yet. Still, it’s counted on Comparethemarket’s list, so it counts here – with 248,362 mentions.
10. Volkswagen Golf Mk2
The people’s classic? This is real, affordable retro, although like many classics the second-generation Golf is becoming hard to find in good condition. Many have also been modified – a popular scene in itself. It gains a healthy 321,968 hashtags.
9. Porsche ‘993’ 911
The 993 was the last air-cooled Porsche 911, so to some purists it’s also the final classic. Certainly, we’d sooner afford the 993 classic status than the water-cooled 996 that followed. It gets 383,124 mentions.
8. Ferrari F40
As much a classic as a supercar now, the F40 celebrated its 30th birthday a couple of years ago. Its performance, however, remains decidedly modern. It seems well worthy of 443,994 hashtags.
7. Porsche 356
If you weren’t convinced by the 993, that’s alright. The 356 is perhaps the ultimate classic Porsche, pre-dating even the 911. This air-cooled beauty gets 462,341 mentions.
6. Datsun 240Z
Beginning a bit of a streak for the Japanese on Instagram is the Datsun 240Z. This sleek coupe was an unashamed imitation of Jaguar E-Type, yet still has its own appealing aesthetic. It’s the beginning of a legendary line of Nissan sports cars, with 471,217 hashtags.
5. Toyota MR2
But it doesn’t beat Toyota’s mid-engined sports car. Born in the 1980s and lasting for three generations, the MR2 is sorely missed in the modern Toyota line-up. That’s proven by its Instagram popularity: it gets 476,518 mentions.
4. DeLorean DMC-12
If we’re talking cult classics, the DeLorean has to earn a mention. Although a flop in terms of sales, few other cars are quite so significant in popular culture. The Back to the Future star has 517,716 posts on Instagram.
3. Volkswagen Beetle
It had to be near the top, didn’t it? ‘Iconic’ is an overused word, but the Beetle is more than deserving of the term. From Hitler’s ‘strength through joy’ car to the hippies’ hero, everyone loves a Beetle. A massive 1.54 million Instagram tags are testament to that.
2. Volkswagen Type 2
But not quite as many as the 1.541 million of the Volkswagen Type 2. All of the above (minus the dubious WW2 origins) also applies to the VW bus. Yet it ekes out another 230 hashtags versus its smaller sibling.
1. Mazda RX-7
But it’s the RX-7 that wins out. This was a long-lived classic, going from the 1970s up until the early-2000s. Although it evolved in style, the principle was the same: light weight, a rotary engine and rear-wheel drive. It’s also a bit of a tuning icon, which probably goes some way to earning its 1.69 million Instagram hashtags.
In a game of playground football, the Mitsubishi Mirage would be the last kid to be picked for a team. Then told to play in goal.
In a running race, it would be the last one to finish, crossing the line long after everyone else has packed up and gone home. The last piece of quiche left on the buffet table. The last raffle prize picked at the office Christmas party.
The Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t very good. In a world of exceptional small cars, it would be a while before some deranged thinking leads you to the Mirage, and even then you’d still contemplate taking the bus instead.
When movies are promoted using vox pops of excitable cinemagoers making hysterical claims, there’s a pretty good chance that the film will be wack. It’s going straight to DVD.
Mitsubishi has used a similar approach in the brochure for the current Mirage.
“You cannot find a better car in its class for your money,” says Zach. “I love this car! It’s adorable.”
Sorry, Zach, but even in a class of one, the Mitsubishi Mirage would struggle to be the class-leader. Google ‘really good small car’, and you’ll be presented with a list of names as long as your leg. And adorable? Pull the other one.
Mitsubishi Emptiness
Even people who have zero interest in driving pleasure will be sent into a coma by the Mirage, while the rear-seat accommodation is about as inviting as an East German border post.
Mitsubishi calls it ‘first class accommodation’, which it is, if the price spent on it equates to the price of a postage stamp.
There are points in its favour: the cabin is quite spacious, the 1.2-litre engine is reasonably economical, and the top-spec version offers a decent level of kit. There’s also a tight turning circle, which will make things easier when you decide to do an emergency U-turn should you find yourself test-driving a Mirage.
To find the showroom, turn left at ‘hell freezes over’, go straight on at ‘fat chance’, then left at ‘never in a month of Sundays’. If you reach the end of the world, you’ve gone too far.
It’s just that, when cars like the Volkswagen Up, Dacia Sandero, Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 exist, it’s hard to stake claim for something as mediocre and lacklustre as the Mitsubishi Mirage. The new one can’t come soon enough.
From Despair to Where?
Mitsubishi speaks of a ‘distinctive Mitsubishi-ness’, whatever that means. If nothing else, it’ll mean that the new Mirage has a look that fits with the rest of the range. The teaser photo suggests it will be quite the looker – even the four-door saloon looks vaguely desirable.
If the Mirage can retain its lightweight construction – the current car weighs 875kg in its most basic form – it will help efficiency, and it could even make the Mirage fun to drive. Memories of the flawed but bonkers Colt Ralliart come flooding back.
It also needs an interesting dashboard and cabin. Suzuki provides the proof that you don’t need swathes of soft-touch plastics and expensive materials to make a good interior. Something that looks like the interior designers could be bothered would be a start.
The Volkswagen Group and the South Koreans have had things their own way for too long. We need a credible and interesting rival to enter the ring. The Japanese have the ingenuity and skills required to strike a blow. Let’s hope ‘Mitsubishi-ness’ can land a killer punch.
This weekend will see a rare second-generation 
Produced for the 1978 and 1979 model years, the launch of the second-generation Ford Bronco was hit with several delays. The 1973 oil crisis saw full-size SUVs rapidly fall out of approval, with Ford pushing back the planned 1974 release date for the second-gen Bronco as a result. 
Whilst North America was the intended target for the second-gen Bronco, this particular example escaped across the Atlantic in April 1978. Ford UK shipped the Bronco to its Dunton Technical Centre, and registered it for use in the United Kingdom.
According to the Silverstone Auctions, substantial amounts of paperwork are present to support the ownership of the Bronco by Ford UK. A subsequent transfer to Ford New Holland in 1991 is also covered by the included paper records. 
Opportunities to buy a second-generation Ford Bronco in the United Kingdom are limited at best. It means the chance to hook one officially imported from new is likely to appeal to fans of American metal. 
