Music fans’ cars STRIPPED of parts at major festival

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August 28, 2019

There have been more warnings come that a no-deal Brexit could hit the UK car industry hard, to the tune of £4 billion every year.

Costly challenges include the exporting of cars, parts supply and border controls. Just getting new cars built in the UK is predicted to be extremely challenging, according to a report by GlobalData.

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“A no-deal Brexit could lead to significant delays at borders as new customs checks are applied,” said Ian Henry, writer of the report, director of AutoAnalysis and visiting professor at Birmingham City University’s Centre for Brexit Studies.

“Those delays will cost manufacturers money due to lost time and necessitate the stockpiling of components as the Brexit deadline approaches.”

Parts stockpiling is necessary to minimise manufacturing disruption if the UK leaves without a deal. A circa. £700 million cost is expected to affect low volume manufacturers. Higher-volume car and LCV exports could suffer to the tune of £2.7 billion.

“Regulatory alignment with the EU must be maintained if UK manufacturers wish to export their cars overseas,” continued Henry.

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“The UK Government may like to talk about the opportunities open to the UK economy after Brexit, but it is difficult to see what these are. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has described Brexit’s impact on the automotive manufacturing industry as ‘like death by a thousand cuts’. It is very difficult to argue against this view.”

The associated costs with a no-deal Brexit are such that they wouldn’t long be contained by the automotive sector. The effects are expected to reach far beyond and “ripple through the value chain causing widespread economic and social disruption”.

Special edition BMW X6 is ‘world’s blackest car’

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August 28, 2019

The BMW X6 has always divided opinion, and few more so than this one. It’s a special edition painted in Vantablack, otherwise known as ‘the world’s blackest black’.

From the description, it’s hard to imagine how that would look. And then you see it…

What is Vantablack paint?

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‘VANTA’ stands for Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Array, and around a billion of these tubes cover every square centimetre of the X6.

It’s a coating that was originally developed for use in space. It’s also useful for observatories, as it effectively cuts out stray light from the sun, allowing a clearer view of far-off planets.

Absorbs nearly 100% of light

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First developed by Surrey NanoSystems in 2014, the coating was found to absorb up to 99.965 percent of light. It also eliminates reflections, meaning the X6 looks almost two-dimensional.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Vantablack is so black that it effectively creates a void for the human eye. It’s like staring into a black hole. It robs the X6 of all of its styling lines. Potentially the perfect colour for it, then? X6 designer Hussein Al Attar seems to think so.

“The Vantablack VBx2 finish emphasises makes the BMW X6 look particularly menacing. Moreover, the BMW X6 has always been the most provocative and in-your-face model in our portfolio. So why not emphasise this even further, with a finish that simply captivates the viewer’s attention?”

Well suited to the X6

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It’s very interesting to look at, but not exactly a designer’s dream given that it effectively renders styling lines invisible. Al Attar seems to think that X6 owners would love the chance to paint their car in ‘the world’s blackest black’.

“BMW X6 drivers are among our most extrovert and free-spirited customers. If anyone were to opt for a Vantablack paint option, it would definitely be a BMW X6 driver.”

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What’s interesting is that Vantablack already has an automotive use, just not necessarily for style. It’s employed to stop sensors on autonomous cars from being corrupted by stray sunlight.

The latest X6 will be on show at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show in September and we sincerely hope this example will be there. A word to the wise: don’t lose yourself staring into it…

Electric car sales DOUBLE since summer 2018

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August 27, 2019

Electric car sales doubled in July versus the same month in 2018. There has also been a year-to-date sales increase of 98 percent, to 23,200 units.

Why the sudden rise in sales? JATO Dynamics, which collated the data, says new electric models introduced over the past 12 months have gained serious traction on forecourts.

The Tesla Model 3 has been available in the UK for a couple of months and has already set several EV sales records across Europe. Renault’s Zoe electric city car saw increased sales of 103 percent in July. The Audi E-Tron had its part to play, too, with 1,735 finding owners in July.

Hyundai’s EV sales volumes, meanwhile, were up a spectacular 334 percent, with Volkswagen up 64 percent.

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Sales of alternative-fuel vehicles, which include hybrids and plug-in cars as well as EVs, were up 29 percent year-on-year in July. Overall, electrified vehicles sold 96,600 units last month. Their market share is up from 5.8 percent to 7.4 percent.

Those numbers are, unsurprisingly, significantly bolstered by Toyota and Lexus’ long-standing hybrid range. However, new models from Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover are climbing the rankings. The German marque came third for hybrid sales, while the Range Rover Evoque was the fifth best-selling hybrid in July.

We expect hybrid sales will leap still further. More ‘normal’ cars are adopting mild hybrid technology range-wide.

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“Even if they still make up a comparatively marginal part of the overall market, electric vehicles are definitely becoming the industry’s bright spot during these challenging times,” said Felipe Munoz, JATO’s global analyst.

By “challenging times,” Munoz is referring to the 2.5 percent year-on-year drop in the overall market. Overall, July saw a marginal recovery, with registration figures up by 1.2 percent. It marks a mild but notable improvement on June’s 7.9 percent drop.

Buy this Camaro V8 muscle car and meet its Top Gear owner

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August 27, 2019

You could buy the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 currently owned by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris. The V8 muscle car will be auctioned online by Collecting Cars.

Harris has owned the Camaro for just under two years, having acquired it in autumn 2017. Since then, he’s added more than 7,500 miles to its odometer, which now shows 7,962 miles. Refreshing to see the car has been used, then…

Hot laps with Chris Harris

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This is an auction with a difference, even for rare track-prepped muscle car. The winning bidder not only receives the keys to a Z/28, he or she also gets hot laps around a track with Chris Harris.

If you’re thinking that a bowtie-badged 7.0-litre coupe is an odd choice for a motoring journalist with a well-documented penchant for bewinged Porsches, you’re not wrong.

The Z/28 is a bit special, though; Collecting Cars reckons there are just five in the UK. Think of it as Chevy’s answer to the Porsche 911 GT3. It’s 130kg lighter than the next fastest Camaro and has ceramic brakes, track-focused ‘Cup 2’ tyres and race-spec suspension.

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That 7.0-litre LS7 all-alloy dry-sump V8 is a ripper, too, with 505hp and know-how from Corvette racing. The Z/28 is so hardcore that even air conditioning was optional. Now, that does sound like more of a ‘Chris Harris’ car.

The lucky buyer will be pleased to note that the Cup 2 tyres it currently wears are in reasonable health.

At the time of writing, bidding has started at £30,000 (around $37,000) with just over two weeks to go. If you fancy a slice of the very finest track-honed American muscle, there are nine others ‘watching’ the auction, so get ready to flex that credit card.

Car insurance company tells drivers to slow down

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August 27, 2019

If you received a communication from your car insurance company telling you to slow down, would you take any notice?

Insurethebox says it has been in touch with 80,000 motorists over the past two years in an attempt to prevent bad behaviour. It says it can identify which customers are the most likely to have an accident.

It’s a little like receiving a tap on the shoulder from your headmaster. Or being told off by your dad.

But here’s the thing. Insurethebox reckons it has prevented around 700 road traffic accidents and 22 serious injuries over the past three years. That’s quite a claim.

This follows the news that researchers at a Canadian university concluded that speeding is a strong predictor of crashes.

“We know that speed is the single biggest influence on accident risk, but despite this, drivers are continuing to speed”, said Simon Rewell, road safety manager at Insurethebox.

“The latest government speed compliance statistics show that, in 2018, under free-flowing traffic conditions, 46 percent of cars exceeded the speed limit on motorways, 52 percent on 30mph roads and 10 percent on 60mph roads.

“We believe young, inexperienced drivers are particularly vulnerable to the risks.”

The company used five billion miles of driving data and associated claims to identify how, where and when speed has a critical influence on the frequency and severity of accidents.

Customers were targeted via tailored communications, highlighting the risks they pose to themselves and other road users.

It’s good to talk

“Encouragingly, 70 percent of customers say our programme has made them drive more safely,” continued Simon Rewell.

“Our initiative demonstrates in the most tangible way possible the huge beneficial social impact proactive risk management has, not just for inexperienced drivers but the population at large, averting or reducing the impact of life changing events.

“We also believe the results demonstrate that if all insurers communicated with policy holders in a similar way to us, 1,000 serious injuries could be avoided and 80 lives saved each year in the UK alone.”

Would a letter or email from your car insurance company encourage you to change your driving behaviour? Let us know in the comments below.

Honcho ‘matchmaker’ app promises cheaper insurance for young drivers

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August 27, 2019

Click here to find out how to get cheaper car insurance.

A new app is targeting young drivers with a promise of cheaper car insurance.

Honcho is a reverse-auction marketplace which acts like a ‘matchmaker’ between customers and insurance companies or brokers. It’s available for motorists of all ages, but the company says young drivers will see the greatest benefits.

Unlike price comparison websites, Honcho charges insurance companies and brokers a £1 fee to compete for consumers’ custom. The insurers get three rounds of bidding to offer the best price, with the companies able to view rival bids. Young drivers should see a reduction in the £1,177 a young driver typically pays for insurance.

The company says insurers are charged up to £60 per policy on a price comparison website and this fee is passed on to the consumer. The £1 fee should mean that the insurance companies can reduce their own prices, it says.

It can’t guarantee the lowest price for a particular policy, so consumers may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

‘Revolutionary for drivers of all ages’

Gavin Sewell, CEO of Honcho, said: “Honcho is one-of-a-kind and will be revolutionary for drivers of all ages. However, we’re especially keen to see the benefits to young motorists who, for so long, have struggled to acquire fairly priced policies – with many paying 149 percent more than the average driver.

“We see Honcho taking on the role of ‘matchmaker’ between customers and insurers or brokers, initially for car insurance, but with a view to offer the service across a range of other insurance products and markets later this year.

“We’re also very much championing consumers’ interests with absolute clarity and transparency in all that we do. It’s going to be the way forward and price comparison websites are going to feel us hot on their heels.”

To use Honcho, consumers download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and then scan their driving licence. Insurers bid against each other to offer the price, with consumers able to use a so-called ‘Honchometer’ to see how closely each bid matches their requirements.

In common with a price comparison website, the consumer is free to choose the insurance provider of their choice.

Companies signed up to the platform include Brightside, Flux Direct, Quoteline Direct, Freedom Brokers, Marmalade and Think Insurance. Underwriters include Aviva, Axa, LV, Ageas and Zurich.

Andy Martin, broker and distribution director at Marmalade, said: “This new app has the potential to really shake up the way insurance is delivered and we’re especially excited to be reaching out to more young drivers to help them drive down the cost of insurance with the help of our black box technology.”

New Skoda Kamiq: everything you need to know

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August 23, 2019

The Skoda Kamiq is the Czech company’s newest – and smallest SUV – and it sits below the Kodiaq and the Karoq in the range.

It has to face some serious rivals, such as the Renault Captur, Volkswagen T-Cross and the soon-to-be-launched Nissan Juke. But given the excellence of its larger siblings, it stands a good chance of being a smash hit.

We’re still waiting for Skoda to confirm UK specs and prices (we expect it to start from around £17,000), but in the meantime, this is what we know so far.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Kamiq is pronounced ‘Ka-Mick’.

Skoda Kamiq: sizes

At 4,241mm long, 1,793mm wide and 1,553 high (including roof rails), the Kamiq is by far the smallest SUV in the Skoda range. For context, the Renault Captur is 4,122mm long, 1,778mm wide and 1,566mm high.

The boot offers 400 litres of space, which can be extended to 1,395mm by folding down the 60:40 split rear seat. This means it’s less practical than the Scala, which offers 467 litres extending to 1,410 litres.

Skoda Kamiq: engines

Four engines are available: three petrol and one diesel, with a choice of five- and six-speed manual gearboxes and a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission.

At launch, a pair of 1.0-litre TSI petrol engines producing 95hp and 115hp will be joined by a 1.6-litre TDI producing 115hp. A more powerful 150hp 1.5-litre petrol will join the range before the end of the year.

The Kamiq offers 39mm more ground clearance than the new Scala hatchback and can be fitted with Sports Chassis Control, which lowers the ride height by 10mm.

Skoda Kamiq: specification

We don’t know the Kamiq trim levels, but they’re likely to be similar to other Skoda models, so could include S, SE, SE Technology and SE L.

Some models will get split LED headlights with daytime running lights above (a Skoda first), while cars with full LED lights will get dynamic front and rear indicators. A panoramic roof will be optional.

Other options include a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit, a heated windscreen and steering wheel, an electric tailgate and a retractable tow bar. Standard features should include manual air conditioning, DAB radio, 16-inch alloy wheels and a 6.5-inch infotainment screen.

Skoda Kamiq: prices

Right now, this is the great unknown. The Volkswagen T-Cross starts from £16,995, so we’d expect the entry-level Kamiq to follow suit. Most buyers will opt for the SE model with the more powerful 1.0-litre engine, which should come in just shy of £20,000.

Skoda Kamiq: what else do we need to know

Skoda doesn’t make a bad car. Each one offers great value for money and is loaded with neat features. The Kamiq will be no exception.

Skoda is promising a range of ‘Simply Clever’ features, such as door-edge protection, a tip-to-close electric tailgate, a removable LED torch, an integrated funnel in the lid of the windscreen washer tank and, of course, an umbrella.

We’ll bring you full details of prices and specifications as soon as they’re announced, along with driving impressions when we’ve driven the car in the UK.

Buying a car on PCP? Avoid ‘rip-off’ optional extras

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August 23, 2019

Car buyers are being warned to avoid ‘rip-off’ optional extras when purchasing a car on a PCP deal.

Buying a car on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) means that you’re financing the difference between the car’s value NOW and the forecasted residual value at the END of the contract.

There’s a deposit to pay at the start, followed by a succession of fixed monthly payments, then an optional ‘balloon’ payment at the end.

Around 90 percent of privately-bought new cars are now financed, and PCP is popular because the monthly payments tend to be cheaper than traditional finance packages. Consumers also have the option to upgrade to a newer model at the end of the deal.

But analysts at BuyaCar.co.uk have calculated that adding optional extras to cars financed on PCP adds a disproportionate amount to the monthly payments.

Most new car finance schemes charge the full original cost of any options split into instalments, ignoring the fact that a car with thousands of pounds’ worth of extras would be worth more at the end of the contract – which should reduce how much those extras add to the monthly fee.

It means that adding extras like a panoramic roof, premium sound system, winter pack or suite of safety features might cost significantly more to finance than a car with a higher trim level offering the kit as standard.

According to BuyaCar.co.uk, on a typical PCP deal for a Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre 100 Titanium, every £1 per month covers £72.94 of the list price. Meanwhile, the same £1 increment equates to £46.91 worth of options. This is based on a 48-month contract, with zero deposit and 9,000 miles per annum.

The same is true of a Volkswagen Golf TSI Match – £1 per month covers £69.56 of the value, with each additional £1 covering just £43.63 of extras. In another example, BuyaCar.co.uk showed that adding £22,465 worth of extras to a Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport would add an additional £505.55 per month to the £504.33 monthly fee for the car.

Don’t load a basic car with expensive features

Austin Collins, managing director of BuyaCar.co.uk, said: “Although PCP finance has made new cars more affordable to ordinary people than ever before, there are still aspects of personal contract purchase which do not always represent the best value buyers could get for their money and option costs are one of them.

“Buyers can protect themselves though, by choosing a car with the desired equipment already installed rather than loading a basic model with expensive features.”

Mini, for example, recognises that certain options or option packs make the car more valuable at the end of the contract. While the Navigation Plus and Comfort packs should add £2,900 to the cost of a five-door Mini Cooper Sport, it only adds £2,148.26 to the total cost of a PCP deal.

In monthly terms, a customer pays an extra £51.75 a month rather than an additional £71.

The only true way to avoid inflated PCP payments is to buy a used car loaded with your desired options. Austin Collins said: “Used cars represent the very best value for money when it comes to getting a car with plenty of standard and optional kit fitted, because they have already lost the bulk of their original value and that is reflected in the purchase cost – and PCP finance monthly payments – for the car.”

More heavy metal to star at the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2020

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John Redfern

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August 23, 2019