Electric charging locations now outnumber petrol stations

By

-

November 5, 2019

The Department for Transport (TfL) has published a ‘league table’ illustrating the country’s public electric car charging infrastructure.

There are now more charging locations than petrol stations, it says, but there are still over 100 local authorities with fewer than 10 public charging devices per 100,000 people.

New figures show that there are 15,000 charging devices across the country, equating to 22,500 places to charge.

London leads the way, with almost 4,000 public electric charging points installed in the region. Scotland has more than 1,500, with the North West, South East and South West just behind.

’The new normal’

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Your postcode should play no part in how easy it is to use an electric car, and I’m determined electric vehicles become the new normal for drivers.

“It’s good news there are now more charging locations than petrol stations, but the clear gaps in provision are disappointing. I urge local councils to take advantage of all the government support on offer to help ensure drivers in their area don’t miss out.

“To help increase the provision of charging locations, the government is offering grants for the installation of charge-points on the street, in work and at home. We are also offering grants to lower the upfront cost of these cars so everyone is able to experience the benefits.”

Funding is available

Minister for the Future of Transport George Freeman added: “Mapping charge-points and producing a league table of availability by council area is intended to raise awareness.

“There are now more than 22,500 public charge-points and at least one rapid charge-point at over 95 percent of all motorway services areas.

“To help level up the country, we’ve recently doubled the funding available for councils to build charge-points on residential streets.”

Funding for charging points is available via a number of schemes, including:

A £5 million on-street residential charge-point scheme.
Workplace charging scheme, offering £500 per charge-point socket and £10,000 per business.
Electric vehicle homecharge scheme, offering £500 per socket.

Data for the ‘league table’ is sourced from Zap-Map. The information can be viewed here.

Private parking firms to give 10-minute grace period

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

November 5, 2019

0

Private parking firms will be required to give motorists a 10-minute grace period after their tickets expire.

This comes as part of the government’s continued efforts to clamp down on rogue car park operators.

A new Code of Practice developed by the British Standards Institution will make it easier for drivers to challenge unfair tickets. The knock-on effect will be a boost for local shops, the government says.

Measures to crack down on intimidating and aggressive debt collection practices are also being considered.

A 10-minute grace period was introduced for all council car parks in England in 2015, but is currently voluntary for private parking firms.

Under government proposals, motorists in England, Scotland and Wales will be granted up to 10 minutes extra parking before a fine is issued.

Any private parking operators found breaking the Code will be stopped from requesting Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data. This will mean they’re unable to pursue motorists for their charges.

A new independent appeals service promises to give consumers greater support when challenging unjustified parking fines.

Restoring common sense

Local government secretary Robert Jenrick said: “For too long rogue parking firms have operated in an unregulated industry, handing out unjust fines, putting drivers through baffling appeals processes and issuing tickets to motorists who were only seconds late back to their cars.

“That’s why we’ve appointed the British Standards Institution to work with consumer groups and industry to write the first ever compulsory Code of Practice for private parking firms.

“The new Code will restore common sense to the way parking fines are handed out, encourage people back onto our high-streets and crack down on dodgy operators who use aggressive tactics to harass drivers.”

The British Standards Institution will prepare the Code in consultation with consumer and industry groups. Members of the public will be given a chance to have their say via a full public consultation.

Opinion: The days of parking kindness could be over

Bentley Motors loses trademark battle with… Bentley Clothing

By

Richard Aucock

-

November 5, 2019

0

Bentley Motors will not be able to use the word ‘Bentley’ on its clothing range sold in the UK after losing a High Court battle with Bentley Clothing.

The car firm will also only be allowed to sell a limited range of clothing: jackets, silk ties, caps and scarves.

It will not be allowed to sell other types of clothing as part of its profitable lifestyle goods range.

Manchester’s Bentley Clothing, established in 1962, registered a trademark of the name Bentley in 1982. The car firm began selling its own clothing in 1987, a move described as ‘honest concurrent use’.

However, the judge said evidence gave the ‘strong impression’ that, from 2000, Bentley Motors made a “conscious decision” to develop its Bentley-branded clothing range.

This amounted to “steady encroachment on Bentley Clothing’s goodwill”.

Bentley Clothing first approached the car firm about the matter in 1998, and launched the High Court action in 2017.

The Crewe-based car firm may now have to pay damages – and, reports, the BBC, could also be forced to “either hand over or destroy any items in its possession which infringe the trademark”.

Bentley Motors said it is considering an appeal and is “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

“We have been selling clothing for more than 30 years in the UK and at no point has there been any evidence of confusion with another company’s trademark.”

Bentley Motors reportedly tried to cancel Bentley Clothing’s trademark rights at the UK Intellectual Property Office.

It was unsuccessful in its attempt.

Jay Kay’s classic Mercedes estate heads to auction

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

November 4, 2019

0

Jay Kay has owned everything from a McLaren 675LT to a ‘Kermit Green’ LaFerrari. But the Mercedes-Benz estate heading under the hammer at this weekend’s NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, England is a little more down-to-earth.

Not that it comes with a down-to-earth price tag. In fact, you could say that the pre-auction estimate for the 1983 Mercedes-Benz 280 TE wagon is cosmic, girl.

Silverstone Auctions has given the Thistle Green estate an estimate of between £20,000 to £25,000 ($26,000 to $32,000), which might seem steep for an ageing load-lugger, but there are many reasons why it stands every chance of reaching such heady heights.

The celebrity factor shouldn’t be underestimated. Although the Jamiroquai frontman only bought the car in 2009, his reputation as a collector of fine vehicles gives it real provenance. One suspects that Jay Kay doesn’t buy just any old motor.

But there’s more to this Mercedes-Benz than a link to a music icon. The estate version of the W123 series Mercedes is regarded as one of the finest vehicles of its kind – people pay good money for fine examples.

The original Mercedes ‘Stationswagen’

Known as the ‘T’ (for Tourism and Transport) – with an internal designation of ‘S’ for Stationwagen – this was the company’s first production estate car. Although it was technically similar to the saloon, the estate had a bespoke feel, thanks to upgrades including self-levelling hydropneumatic rear suspension and carpeting throughout.

These vehicles were pressed into hard service, often used on business during the week and for family and lifestyle reasons at the weekend. Which is why it’s remarkable that this 1983 car has covered a mere 30,000 miles from new. It would appear that Jay Kay has added just 1,500 miles during his time, which suggests he’d prefer to drive his Enzo or LaFerrari.

It’s also worth noting that the car’s MOT expired in August 2019, so the winning bidder won’t be driving it away from the NEC unless it’s tested before the auction.

The 280 TE, powered by the six-cylinder petrol engine, is the pinnacle of the W123 estate range, and Jay Kay’s motor features cruise control, air conditioning, ABS, alloy wheels and headlight wash-wipe.

It’s not cheap, but when you consider that the top estimate is roughly the same as an entry-level Mercedes-Benz A-Class or GLA, it begins to make more sense. Besides, neither of these cars offers a rear-facing child bench in the boot.

If Jay Kay’s Mercedes-Benz appeals to you, it will be going under the hammer at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale on 9 November 2019.

Is this Honda Civic Si at SEMA the ultimate import tuner icon?

By

John Redfern

-

November 4, 2019

0

One of the highlights on the Honda stand for the 2019 SEMA Show will be a tuned 1999 Honda Civic Si, taken from the company’s heritage collection.

Set to be placed alongside a range of modified modern Hondas, this 20-year-old example demonstrates just how far the company, and tuning trends, have come.

But what is it that makes this compact coupe such an icon of the import tuning scene?

Gonna party like it’s 1999

Can 1999 really be that long ago? From worries about the Millenium Bug, to the debut of The Matrix in cinemas, the sixth-generation Civic Si coupe inhabits an era old enough for this car to classed as ‘heritage’ by American Honda.

The sixth-gen Civic Si was sold for only two model years between 1999 and 2000, making it a relative rarity. But it finally brought the mythical B16A2 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine to the United States Civic.

Previously featured in the open-top del Sol two-seater, the B16A2 produced 160 horsepower at an incredible 7,600 rpm, and would rev all the way to an 8,000 rpm redline. It would also accelerate the EM1 Civic Si from 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds, with the accompanying aural kick of the DOHC VTEC system.

Up for the challenge

Honda had clearly sensed that the Civic Si coupe would have major appeal to the tuning scene, and used is part of the eponymous Civic Si Challenge in 2000.

This saw competitors invited to spend a $10,000 budget to create the ultimate street, drag, or show car version of the new Civic Si. The cars were then subjected to a number of tests, designed to evaluate who had done the best job.

The car set to be featured at SEMA this year was created by Super Street magazine, who won the top prize in the 2000 contest. Along with the glory of winning, a 1:18-scale diecast replica of the finished car was created by Mattel.

Think less Plain Jane, more blank canvas

What the Super Street-created car did was show the inherent potential within the Civic Si. On leaving the factory, the standard car was a fairly indistinctive-looking two-door coupe, with only a handful of small decals to show how special it was.

Yet that was simply a blank canvas for modifiers to put their own personal stamp on the Civic shape. You only need to look at the ‘shopping list’ of parts on the SEMA Civic, featuring brands like Wings West, Momo, and Racing Hart to understand the range of options tuners had available.

A price of $17,445 in 1999, slightly more than a base V-6 Ford Mustang, also made the Civic Si accessible to a wide range of potential owners. Honda does not have exact figures, but estimates around 30,000 of the two-door Si models found homes between 1999 and 2000.

A screaming VTEC legacy

The affordable and tunable legacy the 1999 Civic Si left, is one that Honda is still keen to pursue today. The current 2020 Civic Si Coupe might be turbocharged, and won’t rev to 8,000 rpm, but it does cost only $25,200 and comes with 205 horsepower.

A $25,000 price tag is also what buyers now need for the finest unmolested examples of the EM1 Civic Si, like this one which sold on Bring a Trailer last year. That may seem a lot of money for a simple Honda coupe from the 1990s, but it demonstrates the impact this car had.

Although other cars on the import tuner scene may have had more power or fancier designs, the humble Civic Si managed to be an accessible starting point for many into the world of VTEC performance.

Mini John Cooper Works GP hot hatch to cost £33,895

By

Ethan Jupp

-

November 4, 2019

0

Mini has announced prices for the GP variant of its Cooper JCW hot hatchback – and it’s not cheap. The hottest Mini will start from £33,895.

In its defence, the GP is a very special type of Mini. This third-generation car will pack 306hp, new chassis technology and bespoke aerodynamics. It all adds up to a Nurburgring lap-time of less than eight minutes.

Not so long ago, times like that were the preserve of ‘grown-up’ hot hatches like the Seat Leon Cupra, Volkswagen Golf Clubsport S and so on.

Lewis Hamilton ‘earns £40,000 per Instagram post’

Built in limited numbers, this hardest of hardcore Minis has, in the past, proven its worth as an investment. While expensive when new, the original GP1 of 2006 still costs upwards of £10,000, while similar non-GPs are around five times cheaper.

The GP2 also does well in terms of retained value, with both cars very well regarded by enthusiasts.

Three thousand examples of the new GP3 will be made available. The GP1 and GP2 of 2006 and 2013 were a fair bit rarer, however, with just 2,000 of each generation. The original GP1 was priced from around £22,000, while 2013’s GP2 exceeded £30,000.

Beige against the machine: the least popular car colours revealed

This car’s launch has been a long-drawn-out process. It was shown in disguised prototype form at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier in the summer. Its full reveal is scheduled for the Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens on 22 November 2019.

The new GP seems an appropriate way to round out a year of celebrations of Mini’s 60th anniversary.

UPDATE: An earlier version of this article listed the new Mini GP’s price as £34,995. A spokesperson told us this is the car’s expected on-the-road price, but it is not fully confirmed yet, so the firm is now quoting £33,895 as the car’s recommended retail price.

Opinion: This Mini is half the price, but not half the fun

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

November 4, 2019

0

Whichever way you look at it, £34,995 for a new Mini is a lot of money. I’m not going to venture down the ‘Mini car, Maxi price’ alley, but £35k for a supermini? Ouch.

Sure, it comes with a Nurburgring lap time, but I’ve seen coaches, campervans and even Chrysler PT Cruisers lapping the big toll road in the trees, so that’s no big deal.

To be honest, I wouldn’t care if the Henry Cooper Works Doctor came with a dinner date with Keeley Hawes and a lifetime supply of Hobnobs, because it still seems expensive. Actually, thinking about it, the Hawes and Hobnobs thing could tip the balance in favour of the hot hatch.

Naked attraction

I digress. My biggest problem the hardcore Mini isn’t the price, it’s the fact that maximum Mini thrills are available at a more affordable price. Like, less than half the price.

The Mini three-door Hatch One Classic is a rather awkward name for a quite brilliant car. This is the modern Mini in a state of undress – laid bare for a warts and all examination of the car’s famed ‘go-kart’ handling.

It costs £16,195, which is just £200 more than an entry-level Ford Fiesta. For that you get LED lights galore, air conditioning, multi-function steering wheel, a 6.5-inch display, vegan-friendly seats, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio and 15-inch steel wheels.

Yes, steel wheels. Forget what you might have read in What Glamour? magazine, because owning a small car with steel wheels is a rite of passage. It’s like the transition from the nursery slopes to the black run – first you must prove your mettle with a set of steelies.

The Mini One Classic is powered by one of the best three-pots in the business. In this form, the BMW 1.5-litre twin-turbo produces 102hp, which isn’t going to set any ‘Ring records, but is more than enough to raise a smile on the inner ring road.

At 44.8mpg to 47.9mpg, it’s also the most frugal Mini Hatch, short of putting your name down and waiting in line for the electric version. But unlike the leccy one, the Mini One offers enough range for a Londoner to take a day trip to Crich Tramway Village near Matlock without breaking into a sweat.

Other tramway museums are available. Probably.

Just say no

Clearly, Mini has made a mint out of a business model that encourages dealers to encourage punters into upgrading to a more expensive model. Mini would rather you didn’t buy a three-door Hatch One Classic, not when there are countless trim levels, engines, packs, options and accessories to choose from.

Anyone who leaves a Mini showroom with a £16,195 Mini has either mastered the art of saying “no” or is a former cast member of Grange Hill.

I’m fully aware that the list price is largely irrelevant, so the fact that the Mini One Classic is available on PCP or PCH for £199 a month will be music to the ears of Generation Rent. Granted, the rear seats are best reserved for child contortionists, and the ride is a little on the firm side, but if your heart is set on a Mini, I doubt you’ll care.

It’s also fair to say that the Fiesta offers better value for money and greater practicality, so the rational money would be on the Ford. But that’s missing the point of this pointless opinion piece.

Personally, I think Mini could go further by targeting its entry-level model at the under 25s, offering free telematics-based insurance and other incentives to get them behind the wheel. In a few years, they might want to ‘upgrade’ to a Sport, Cooper or JCW, but I suspect they’ll be having too much fun in the One Classic to even notice.

Still want that Nurburgring special, etc, etc?

Ultimate electric SUV: Lister modifies Jaguar I-Pace for £125,000

By

Ethan Jupp

-

November 4, 2019

0

Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace SUV has gained some welcome extra attitude from Lister. The famous racing marque and Jaguar modifier has modified Jaguar’s first EV to create the SUV-E Concept.

From a distance, you’ll note the obvious flashes of classic Lister green and yellow, as well as new Lister titanium wheels. Get closer and the more aggressive bodywork comes into view. The front and rear bumpers, splitter, rear diffuser, bonnet and spoiler are all made of carbon.

On the inside, customers get a choice of Nappa leather in no less than 60 colours.

Under the skin of the SUV-E

New Aston Martin Vanquish could have a manual gearbox

Upgrades to the I-Pace are more than skin-deep. Carbon-ceramic brakes are added, as is fully-adjustable lowered suspension. All the carbon parts help reduce weight by 100kg to 2,033kg.

Updated software offers increased horsepower and torque, although specific numbers haven’t been quoted yet. Lister estimates the SUV-E will crack 60mph in four seconds.

The best bit, perhaps, is the upgraded exhaust sound. The noise complies with new electric vehicle regulations, to make them safer for pedestrians.

Lister’s site reads: ‘Whilst at Lister petrol runs through our veins instead of blood, we cannot ignore the interest in electric vehicles.

The 675hp Lister LFT-C is a 205mph drop-top

‘We are therefore introducing the SUV-E concept based on the Jaguar I-Pace as an opportunity for those interested in electric power to own a truly unique and bespoke electric vehicle. All Lister SUV-E will be built to customers individual specifications.’

Lister expects the SUV-E production car to cost around £125,000, and it will be produced in very limited numbers. Exactly how many is yet to be determined, as the company gauges interest in the car.

You could own Bond villain’s Jaguar hypercar

By

Ethan Jupp

-

November 4, 2019

0

A Jaguar C-X75 prototype stunt car used in 2015 James Bond film Spectre is up for auction later this month. If you can drag yourself away from the Formula One action, it will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sale on 30 November.

While it looks like Jaguar’s mothballed hybrid hypercar of 2013, this is a very different beast underneath. The first of four prototype stunt cars, it features a WRC rally-spec spaceframe and a 492hp V8, rather than the Cosworth four-cylinder engine of the original.

It also has a hydraulic handbrake, for some sideways car chase theatrics, plus a bucket seat to keep the stunt driver held in properly.

How future electric cars could charge in 10 minutes

In the film, Mr Hinx, played by muscle-bound wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista, pursued Daniel Craig’s 007 around Rome at the wheel of the big Jag. Craig, of course, was piloting his special Aston Martin DB10.

As well as the film, this car has also appeared for various promotions. Felipe Massa had some hot laps in it prior to the 2015 Mexican Grand Prix, for example.

The car has undergone a full inspection by its builders, Williams Advanced Engineering, while recent work includes an engine rebuild and new clutch.

Audi engine badges explained: from 30 to 70

While the Jaguar is far from a finished article, it is a curious slice of movie history. Not to mention being devastatingly pretty.

How much can you expect to pay? It’s anyone’s guess; there’s not much of a precedent here. All will be revealed when the car crosses the block in Abu Dhabi.

ALSO READ

Morris returns… with an electric van

Ant and Deck working on a new BBC TV car show

Vauxhall outlines EV plans, with electric Astra on the way

Germany to get ONE MILLION electric car chargers by 2030

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

November 4, 2019

0

Angela Merkel wants Germany to have ONE MILLION electric charging stations by 2030.

In a video message on Sunday, the German chancellor said investment in charging stations would encourage demand for electric cars and accelerate the shift away from petrol and diesel vehicles.

Germany currently has around 21,000 charging stations, while the UK has around 10,000, according to the latest Zap-Map figures.

“For this purpose, we want to create a million charging points by the year 2030 and the industry will have to participate in this effort, that is what we will be talking about,” Merkel said in her weekly podcast.

Today, the German Chancellor will hold meetings with senior industry executives, parts suppliers and labour unions on how to boost sales of all-electric vehicles.

Topics will include investment in the electric car charging network, manufacturers and the government sharing the cost of subsidies for the purchase of electric cars, plus investment in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

There are also concerns that Germany faces a surplus of car industry workers, as fewer employees are required to build electric cars.

“We want to take our specialist workers along on the road to a modern, climate-friendly future,” Merkel said.

A poor charging infrastructure, high purchase prices and limited range are three of the most common reasons cited for drivers not making the switch to electric cars.

Germany is at the forefront of a new generation of electric vehicles. Before this evening’s meeting, Angela Merkel will visit the Volkswagen factory in Zwickau to mark the start of production of the new ID.3 – the company’s first mass market all-electric vehicle.

Once complete, the plant in Zwickau will be Europe’s largest factory exclusively building electric cars, building 330,000 cars every year.

Stephen Weil, the prime minister for Lower Saxony, home of Volkswagen, wants to see 100,000 public charging points in place by 2021.

“An extremely demanding time lies ahead for the German automotive industry that must be accompanied actively by policymakers,” he said.