The Ford Focus has been named as Britain’s most frequently stolen car, following a Freedom of Information request sent to police forces.

Data was collected from 17 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, with the Focus revealed as Britain’s most targeted motor. Last year, a total of 530 Ford Focus models went missing in the regions covered.

Britain’s most popular car, the Ford Fiesta, was next on the list, with 508 cars stolen in 2018. Thieves also targeted the Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Corsa, suggesting that the list of stolen motors, produced by online comparison site GoCompare, mirrors the list of the UK’s best-selling cars.

Earlier this month, we revealed that just seven police forces in England and Wales cut the number of cars stolen in 2018, with vehicle crime on the increase again following a downward trend in the number of thefts.

Keyless car theft – also known as ‘relay attacks’ – is at the centre of the problem, with 96 percent of motorists at risk of having their car stolen using this method.

Staffordshire hotspot

Once again, Staffordshire appears to be the country’s vehicle crime hotspot, with the GoCompare data showing that a high street in the county played host to 55 vehicles theft – more than any other road in England and Wales.

Three streets in Leicestershire, Humberside and Bedfordshire were named as other roads to avoid if you fancy seeing your car again in the morning.

Motorists are advised to invest in a signal blocker pouch (or Faraday bag) to avoid becoming a victim of keyless car theft, but more traditional methods, such as steering wheel locks, are another way to beat car thieves.

Most stolen cars in 2018

1. Ford Focus: 530 stolen
2. Ford Fiesta: 508
3. Vauxhall Astra: 344
4. Volkswagen Golf: 340
5. Vauxhall Corsa: 306
6. Audi A3: 43
7. BMW 1 Series: 35
8. BMW 3 Series: 32
9. Volkswagen Polo: 31
10. Renault Clio: 31
11. Vauxhall Zafira: 31
12. Range Rover: 29
13. Land Rover Defender: 29
14. Audi A4: 23
15. Land Rover Discovery: 23
16. Ford Mondeo: 22

Ordering for the new BMW 1 Series will open this week with prices starting from £24,430. Deliveries of the bigger, bolder BMW 3 Series-inspired front-wheel drive hatchback start in September.

Sensibly, but controversially, BMW has switched to front-wheel drive for this generation of 1 Series, to meet customer demands. Buyers wanted more space, rather than the more engaging handling of rear-wheel drive. For the first time in 15 years, BMW has responded.

This will, hopes the firm, help it take on its arch rivals: the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Both easily outsold the 1 Series in Britain last year.

The A-Class was a top-10 best seller last year. BMW will want the new 1 Series to do the same.

Bigger new 1 Series

Size-wise, the new 1 Series is actually 5mm shorter than the old car, at 4,319mm. It is 34mm wider and 13mm taller. It has far more interior space; 33mm more rear kneeroom and 19mm more headroom should fix one of the biggest complaints of the current car – its tiny rear seats.

There’s 13mm more elbowroom in the rear, and 42mm more elbowroom in the front will make it feel far roomier.

The boot grows to 380 litres, on a par with a Volkswagen Golf, extending to 1,200 litres with the seats down. It’s 67mm wider and, for the first time, 1 Series buyers can have an electric tailgate.

More tech

A higher quality interior has features such as touchscreen functionality and wireless smartphone charging. High-end BMW Live Cockpit Professional, as seen in the new 3 Series, is available as an option: it comes with a HD 10.25-inch screen.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is also now fitted. Say ‘Hey BMW’ to operate various functions and controls. It works in a similar way to a home smart speaker.

Various trim materials can be chosen and ambient lighting adds theatre at night. For the first time, the 1 Series can be optioned with a panoramic glass roof – which opens.

A head-up display is also offered in a 1 Series for the first time.

Model variants

BMW is selling the new 1 Series in three core trim lines: SE, Sport and M Sport. There will also be a range-topping M135i xDrive.

SE 1 Series have basic matt black air guides in the front bumper. They get high-gloss black paint on Sport models, which also gain a chrome frame kidney grill with high-gloss struts.

M Sport models have additional aero bodystyling, satin aluminium kidney grill struts and, inside, Dakota leather as standard.

M135i xDrive versions, pictured above, have a mesh kidney grille with the frame finished in Cerium Grey; other details including the door mirrors are also painted Cerium Grey. A high-gloss black rear diffuser and Alcantara M Sport seats with integrated headrests are standard.

How much is the new BMW 1 Series?

The new BMW 1 Series will launch with three diesel and two petrol engines. The entry-level engine, from £24,430, is the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo 118i, producing 140hp. It does 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds and CO2 emissions are down a massive 29g/km, to between 114-123g/km.

The only other petrol engine at launch is the M135i xDrive. Sorry, performance fans, the six-cylinder engine has gone: this one is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, producing 306hp. It does 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and costs from £36,430.

A 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine powers the 116d, priced from £25,480. CO2 emissions are down 5 percent, to as low as 100g/km, and it will average up to 61.4mpg.

118d (from £26,640) and 120d xDrive (from £32,470) both have 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesels. The 118d produces 150hp and does 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds; the 120d xDrive puts out 190hp and does 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds.

To add slight confusion to the buying process, BMW offers three different types of gearbox with the new 1 Series. 116d, 118d and 118i models have a regular six-speed manual as standard. A seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch auto is optional on the 116d and 118i.

Standard on the 120d xDrive and M135i xDrive is an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic; it is optional on the 118d.

BMW 1 Series prices

A classic Lamborghini supercar has been restored to former glory, and given important certification by the company’s heritage department.

Following completion of the painstaking work, the car has been on show at the prestigious 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este event. 

What makes this rare Miura P400 S even more special, is that it previously belonged to one of the most famous Italian singers of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Little Tony took his name, and musical inspiration, from American rock and roll trendsetter Little Richard.

Although born in Tivoli, Italy, Little Tony actually held San Marino citizenship. Whilst he lived most of his life in Italy, he is noted to have never applied to become an Italian citizen.

Regardless of his citizenship, Little Tony was a huge fan of Lamborghinis, and owned three Miuras. Finished in Azzuro Mexico blue, this particular 1971 car is one of just six painted in this hue by the factory.

Now owned by an Italian collector, the P400 S underwent a thorough restoration by an official Lamborghini dealership.

The work was carried out under the supervision of Lamborghini’s Polo Storico heritage department. This assistance included supplying original spare parts to ensure period correctness.

Polo Storico were also able to provide details of the original production specification. This meant the car could be rebuilt to exactly how it left the factory, even employing the same methods as used in the 1970s.

With the work completed, Polo Storico was able to certify the authenticity of the car. Doing so means the collectability of the car is now further enhanced, although the rare colour choice and famous first owner already make it desirable.

Held on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy, the Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este brings together a collection of the most beautiful classic cars and motorcycles.

The 2019 event focussed on “The Symphony of Engines”, with cars and bikes being judged not only on looks, but also on the sound they make. Little Tony’s Miura was displayed with a selection of other cars owned by musical celebrities.

The Extinction Rebellion environmental protests, the launch of the London ULEZ and the arrival of the Tesla Model 3 have all contributed to a peak in interest for electric cars in the UK.

In the 40-day period from the start of April, online traffic for EVs at car manufacturer and publisher websites was up 56 percent. This period included:

• 8 April: launch of London ULEZ
• 15 April: Extinction Rebellion protests
• 1 May: Tesla Model 3 arrives in the UK

Research by automotive analysis company Sophus3 shows three distinct ‘spikes’ in interest for electric vehicles around these dates. Encouragingly, since the beginning of May, this growth in electric car interest has been maintained.

“It was both reassuring and exciting to see this surge in online traffic to EV websites from April,” said Scott Gairns, MD of Sophus3.

“We believe the combination of environmental campaigning, low-emission legislation and news of the Tesla Model 3’s arrival stimulated a new level of consumer interest in EVs.”

He added that for EV sales to grow, confused consumers need both ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’ to help them make a decision.

“It is not enough for a car brand to launch a new EV alone, nor for new legislation to try and promote low-emission cars by penalising traditional petrol or diesel cars.”

The recent surge in EV interest should help turn around a decline in interest noted in the first quarter of 2019.

While visits to electric car pages grew 43 percent in Germany, 41 percent in Spain, 21 percent in Italy and three percent in France, they actually FELL six percent in the UK.

Early UK figures for April and May suggest that downward trend has now been reversed.

British drivers love to argue, according to new research by Privilege Car Insurance.

The study of 2,000 motorists found that drivers come to blows every 23 minutes. No they don’t. Yes they do. No they don’t. Repeat to fade…

Predictably, navigation is the number one cause of friction, with 26 percent of motorists falling out over the decision to turn left or head right.

You’d have thought that sat-nav would have all but eradicated this traditional source of tension. Maybe drivers enjoy arguing with electronic devices?

One in three respondents named the car as the most stress-filled spot outside of the home, while 10 percent of millennials and six percent of men have parted company with the person they were arguing with in the car.

Traffic, the temperature of the climate control, the choice of music and even passing wind were also named as common reasons for a quarrel. If in doubt, don’t let it out.

The research also appears to suggest that we’re a touchy bunch, with 54 percent of drivers getting annoyed by passengers touching the handbrake or gearstick, 53 percent by pressing the horn, and 37 percent by rummaging thought the glovebox.

‘Easy to get irritated’

Charlotte Fielding, head of Privilege Car Insurance, said: “The car can be a high-pressured place for many as tensions overflow during a journey, especially over what can seem to be the more trivial things.

“At Privilege, we want our drivers to have a stress-free journey so that they themselves, their passengers and others on the road are as safe as possible.

“It takes high levels of concentration to drive safely which can make it easy to get irritated, so please think twice before rummaging in the glove compartment or offering driving tips from the back seat of the car!”

Top reasons for arguments

1. Directions (26 percent)
2. Back seat drivers (22 percent) 
3. Other people’s driving (21 percent)
4. Traffic (20 percent)
5. Forgetting something and needing to turn back (14 percent)
6. Kids misbehaving (13 percent)
7. Passengers distracting the driver (12 percent)
8. Other people’s speed (10 percent)
9. Temperature (9 percent)
10. Music (9 percent)
11. People making a mess (9 percent)
12. Other people’s bad parking (9 percent)
13. Driving speed (9 percent)
14. Needing to stop for the toilet (7 percent)
15. Passing wind (7 percent) 

Vauxhall has revealed the new Corsa, due on sale later in 2019, in all-electric Corsa-e guise – instantly transforming the fortunes of the popular but dated supermini.

The first all-electric Vauxhall to launch, the new Corsa-e will have a range of 205 miles, and will able to use rapid chargers for 30-minute battery charges.

It will also do 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds and accelerate from zero to 30mph in just three seconds.

Vauxhall says the 50 kWh battery’s 205-mile official range can be extended by a further 40 percent by using a special eco mode. This will give owners more than 80 extra miles.

But if you’re not ready to go all-electric just yet, don’t worry. Regular petrol and diesel versions of the new Corsa will also be launched soon – and be on sale later in 2019.

Crucial Corsa

The Corsa is an extremely important car for Vauxhall: for years, it has been the firm’s best-seller. Last year, it was Britain’s third best-selling car, with almost 53,000 (including the extraordinarily good value Corsa Griffin) finding new homes.

In total, 2.1 million Corsas have been sold in Britain since it replaced the Nova in 1993.

However, it’s an ageing car these days. The current car is effectively a facelift of the version launched in 2006 – 13 years ago. This all-new one is desperately overdue – and is therefore going to be a bit of a revolution for owners of the current Corsa.

Corsa design

The new Corsa and Corsa-e (which will be visually almost identical) have a clean, solid design that’s sleeker and more modern than the current car.

The wheelbase is longer, overhangs are shorter and a stretched, wrapover bonnet removes the traces of ‘mini people carrier’ seen in the current one.

A strong, tapering shoulder-line and the familiar lower Vauxhall ‘swoosh’ define the sides, and subtly muscular rear haunches are a contemporary touch. The contrast roof colour will be an option from launch.

Inside, the interior is transformed, with an available 10-inch touchscreen sitting high and proud on the dashboard. It will have both Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectiveity, and will be a feature on most grades of new Corsa above the base level. Even base cars get a seven-inch touchscreen, though.

Adaptive radar cruise control, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, voice recognition, emergency braking and a drowsy driver warning buzzer are other high-tech features coming to the new Corsa.

The new model will even have an autonomous parking gadget and a panoramic rear-view camera that increases rear visibility by 180 percent (it’s able to show approaching traffic from the sides of the car).

Vauxhall will now roll out more information about the new Corsa and Corsa-e in coming weeks, ahead of its motor show debut in Frankfurt this autumn. Ordering will open this year too, with first deliveries towards the end of 2019.

Watch out, Ford Fiesta…