Penske Truck Rental has added a new vehicle option ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. However, it isn’t the most practical choice.
Along with the variety of trucks and vans listed on the Penske website, a Dallara DW12 IndyCar racer is now available to “rent”.
Penske is keen to highlight the extreme performance offered by the IndyCar, which develops 800 horsepower and can reach 240 mph.
Thiat makes it substantially faster than any of the other rental vehicles. Having 0.026 cubic-feet of cargo capacity does limit its practicality, however.
Fast, but slightly impractical
Penske also notes the IndyCar will need to undergo seven seconds of maintenance every 40 to 50 miles.
Averaging four miles per gallon on E85 renewable fuel could also be a challenge. Having an IndyCar pit crew on hand could obviously help here.
Despite the sheer level of effort Penske Truck Rental has gone to with its wildly impractical IndyCar option, sadly there is no way to actually reserve a race car at your local depot.
Instead, Penske is using the IndyCar rental option to offer enthusiasts the chance to win a VIP trip to this year’s Indianapolis 500 race.
Fans can enter the “Rev Up Your Rental” contest now, detailing in 500 words what winning a trip to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing would mean to them.
Head to the ultimate fan destination
The two lucky winners of the Rev Up Your Rental competition will receive air travel, hotel accommodation, and VIP access to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy 500.
This will include track-side hospitality, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Fox Sports TV compound, and even pre-race access to the starting grid of the hallowed circuit.
“Penske Truck Rental has always been about moving lives and businesses forward – and for true racing fans, the Indianapolis 500 is the ultimate fan destination,” said Kevin Malloy, senior vice president of rental at Penske.
“This new contest celebrates the stories that move us all, and we’re honored to help two passionate fans’ dreams come true of attending this legendary race and enjoying a VIP experience.”
The 110th Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 24 2026. This weekend sees the 2026 IndyCar Series head to California for the Long Beach Grand Prix.
Parking is one of most stressful and least enjoyable aspects of driving a car. Whether it’s the price to park, a shortage of spaces or the risk of being clamped, the issue is never far from a motorist’s mind.
The topic of where you can park is more complicated than you might think. Indeed, if you haven’t read the Highway Code for a while (not since your driving test, perhaps), you may have forgotten where you can’t stop or park. Similarly, you could be confused when it comes to parking outside your own home.
Here, we reveal the places where it’s illegal to park your car, along with a few useful facts about parking in the UK.
Most drivers are aware that yellow lines relate to parking restrictions. Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at ANY TIME, even if there are no upright signs. Basically, you cannot park on double yellow lines.
Things aren’t so clear when it comes to single yellow lines. You MUST NOT wait or park on yellow lines during the times of operation shown on the signs, or at the entrance to a Controlled Parking Zone.
Often, you will find that single-yellow line parking restrictions are lifted at quieter times, such as overnight or at weekends. Alternatively, they may only apply for a couple of hours a day – to deter people from parking in residential streets close to a train station, for example.
You also MUST NOT wait, park, set down or pick up on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping.
Parking at the roadside
The Highway Code says you must use off-street parking areas or bays marked out by white lines whenever possible. If you have to stop at the roadside, you should adhere to the following rules:
Do not park facing against the traffic flow
Stop as close as you can to the side of the road
Do not stop too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge
Do not park in spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders, residents or motorcycles
There are specific rules regarding parking partially or wholly on the pavement, depending on where you live. Currently, pavement parking is banned in London and Scotland, but there are moves to extend this policy to all of the UK. Visit Motoring Research for the latest parking news.
Where you MUST NOT stop or park
The Highway Code goes on to list the following places where you MUST NOT stop or park:
The carriageway or the hard shoulder of a motorway, except in an emergency
A road marked with double white lines in the middle, even when a broken white line is on your side of the road. The exception is to pick up or set down passengers, or to load and unload goods
A tram or cycle lane during its hours of operation
A cycle track
Red lines, unless otherwise indicated by signs
Other parking restrictions
Rule 243 of the Highway Code says DO NOT stop or park in the following places:
On the approach to a level crossing or tramway crossing
Opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
Near the brow of a hill or humpback bridge
Opposite a traffic island or another parked vehicle
Where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
Where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
In front of an entrance to a property
On a bend
Where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities
These rules apply at all times, EXCEPT when you are forced to stop by stationary traffic.
What if someone parks on your driveway?
Although you are not allowed to park across the entrance to a property, there is nothing to stop someone parking on the road outside your house.
A survey by Uswitch of 1,000 Brits found 60 percent thought they were legally entitled to park in the space outside their home. Yet a quarter of drivers would happily ‘steal’ the spot outside your house.
Hannah Parsons, a solicitor at DAS Law, says: “A homeowner has no special legal right to park directly outside their property. All road users have the same right to park anywhere on the public highway as long as they do not contravene parking restrictions.”
Things aren’t so clear cut when it comes to parking on a driveway. As Parsons explains, it’s not actually a criminal offence.
“If a vehicle is parked on your driveway without your permission, they are trespassing. As trespass is a civil and not criminal offence, the police will not always get involved. At most, they may send an officer to try and determine the owner of the vehicle and ask them to move it.”
Once the car is on a driveway, it’s technically on private property – where the local council has no jurisdiction. A council can remove an abandoned car from private or public property, but if the vehicle is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT they’re unlikely to touch it.
Florence Codjoe, a car insurance expert at Uswitch, said: “Whilst it’s really frustrating to find a vehicle parked outside your home for weeks or months, it’s the decision of your local council as to whether it’s removed. If the vehicle is damaged, causing an obstruction, uninsured and without road tax [Vehicle Excise Duty], it’s likely the council will remove it.”
Taking revenge by blocking the car in question isn’t recommended. Hannah Parsons says: “If someone has parked on your driveway and you were to block them in, your vehicle may be causing an obstruction to the public highway and this is a criminal offence. The owner of the vehicle could therefore call the police.”
This is a view shared by Paul Watters of the AA. He warns: “Frustrating though this may be, what you can’t do is pop a line of cones on the road outside. You’re then committing a criminal offence because they could cause an accident. This counts as obstruction and a penalty charge could be issued.”
Penalties for illegal parking
The Traffic Management Act 2004 was introduced to tackle congestion and disruption on the road network. It gives local authorities more power to manage parking policies, coordinate street works and enforce some moving traffic offences.
A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN, more commonly know as a parking ticket), might be enforced and issued through the civil rather than the criminal justice system. The fine can typically be up to £70 outside London, or up to £130 within the capital.
The PCN is discounted by 50 percent if paid within 14 days of receiving the ticket. If the fine is left unpaid, the local authority can pursue the debt through the County Court.
Ford has become the latest manufacturer to launch an electric car-based van in the UK, following the lead of Dacia and Volvo.
The new Ford Explorer Van converts the electric SUV into a practical commercial vehicle, aimed at moving ‘supervisors or inspection teams across multiple sites in the same day’.
Combined with these operational demands, there is pressure for some of Ford’s larger fleet customers to switch to electric vehicles – resulting in a need for models like the Explorer Van.
The company hopes the Explorer Van will replace existing company pool cars, or having to pay employees to use their own vehicles, in order to move people and specialist equipment.
Up to 374 miles of range
Discussions with Ford’s biggest fleet customers shaped the development of the Explorer Van, which will offer a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.
The rear-wheel-drive Explorer Van serves up 285hp, plus the ability to tow up to 1,000kg. The all-wheel-drive version is boosted to 340hp, with an increased towing capacity of 1,200kg.
Opting for the RWD Explorer Van means the potential to cover up to 374 miles, with rapid-charging technology allowing the battery to be replenished from 10 to 80 percent in around 25 minutes.
Ford’s Dagenham Conversion Centre is responsible for the commercial vehicle transformation, adding a new bulkhead behind the front seats, along with a flat load floor that uses innovative dividers.
Explorer Van on show this month
The rear side doors of the Ford Explorer Van remain operable, although the back windows have been replaced with solid panels. A maximum payload of 650kg can be carried.
Multiple option packs are offered for the Explorer, including stylish but utilitarian 19-inch steel wheels with hi-vis wheel nut indicators – as seen here.
The Explorer Van retains many of the same comforts as the SUV, including technology such as adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera. A 17-litre ‘MegaConsole’ can be used to hide valuables, too.
Fully homologated as a commercial vehicle, Ford will supply the Explorer Van with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
The new Ford Explorer Van will be on display at the CV Show in Birmingham later this month.
Honda’s electric car range is going retro. A bold new city car arriving this summer aims to shake up the UK’s affordable EV sector
The new Honda Super-N electric car will go on sale in the UK from July. And prices will start from less than £20,000.
Inspired by the 1980s Honda City Turbo II, the new Honda Super-N will have an electric range of 128 miles. However, in its natural city habitat, the firm says this will stretch to almost 200 miles.
It will also feature what Honda calls a ‘Boost Mode’, upping the electric motor’s power output from 64hp to 95hp.
There will also be a clever simulated seven-speed gearbox, plus an ‘Active Sound Control’ that ‘generates an engaging engine sound’.
As it will be one of the lightest EVs in Europe, Honda is promising fun and engaging dynamics. Engineers have tested prototypes here in the UK to ensure it’s calibrated to deal with our unique roads.
‘Joy of Driving’
“The Super-N promises to bring Honda’s ‘Joy of Driving’ and the thrill of EV performance to a whole new audience,” said Honda UK head of automobile, Michael Doyle.
“With its iconic looks, driving dynamics tailored to UK roads and unique features such as Boost Mode, every aspect of this model has been engineered to bring exhilaration and fun to every journey, no matter how short.”
The five-door, four-seat Honda Super-N has ‘enhanced’ front seats and clever ‘Magic Seats’ in the rear that individually flip up, deckchair-style, to boost cargo space.
There are blue highlights throughout the cabin, referencing the original City Turbo II, while the blue ambient lighting changes to purple when Boost Mode is engaged.
A range of exterior colours will be available, along with customisation options such as a two-tone spec with a contrasting gloss black roof and rear spoiler, plus a range of body graphics.
Full details of the new Honda Super-N will be confirmed nearer to the launch date. For now, Honda is inviting city EV fans to register their interest on its website.
The overwhelming majority of UK motorists say they would avoid buying a used car that has covered more than 100,000 miles.
Analysis by online marketplace eBay discovered almost three quarters (72 percent) of respondents would not buy a car with six figures on its odometer. And 81 percent of drivers are reluctant to look at high-mileage motors at all.
Interestingly, more than half of those surveyed (52 percent) said they would not even consider purchasing a car that has covered 50,000 miles or more.
Despite this, the majority of drivers (85 percent) said they are open to the idea of keeping their current car for longer than their previous vehicle.
Not everyone avoids high-miles motoring
Drivers aged over 65 keep their cars for the longest, at nearly seven years on average. At the other end of the scale, motorists aged 18–24 typically plan to hold onto their cars for 4.5 years.
According to the findings of a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by eBay, more than six million vehicles with over 100,000 miles were MOT-tested in the UK last year.
Analysis of MOT data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also uncovered that nearly 407,000 cars had passed the 200,000-mile mark, and were still being driven.
Astonishingly, some 43,000 vehicles had covered more than 300,000 miles at the time of being tested, with nearly 2,700 having passed half-a-million miles.
Modern cars are ‘built to last’
With British motorists defining a high-mileage car as being one that has covered more than 96,000 miles, eBay has gone much further – purchasing a 64-plate Toyota Prius with 293,000 miles on the odometer.
The company plans to maintain the Prius using new and Certified Recycled eBay parts, with work being undertaken by Laura Kennedy, founder of Spanners with Manners – a female-led garage in Finchley, north London.
Following eBay’s purchase of the high-mileage Toyota, Kennedy commented: “People often overlook high mileage cars, but the truth is, a well-maintained vehicle with more than 100,000 miles on the clock can be a bargain. Modern cars, like eBay’s Toyota Prius, are built to last far beyond what many drivers assume.
“If a car has been serviced on schedule, looked after, and drives well, there’s no reason why it can’t keep going for years. And it’s easy to find all the parts you’re ever likely to need on eBay.”
More than 93,000 electrified models, like the Toyota Prius hybrid, underwent an MOT test with more than 100,000 miles being recorded.
Dealer growth in the UK, Polestar’s largest global market, has already outpaced this in 2026.
Overall, Polestar’s global sales grew by seven percent in Q1 of 2026 to an estimated 13,126 cars, says the NASDAQ-listed firm.
“There was a strong performance in key markets such as Australia, Germany, Sweden, South Korea and the UK,” said CEO Michael Lohscheller, “testament to the hard work of our teams and our established brand position”.
The UK’s fastest growing premium brand
Sharp growth in Australia was particularly noteworthy as it came on the back of heightened concern around energy prices, particularly oil prices, due to the conflict in Iran.
Lohscheller said the performance shows resilience, “with market conditions becoming more challenging amid ongoing geopolitical developments”.
Around a third of Polestars sold in 2026 thus far were delivered to customers in the UK. Sales are up 12.3 percent year-to-date, with Polestar now bigger in Britain than Lexus, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo.
“Polestar UK has seen a record Q1 and remains the fastest-growing premium brand,” said UK MD Matt Galvin.
“We have seen a significant uplift in interest owing to ‘pump anxiety’ replacing the outdated term of ‘charging anxiety’.”
Motoring Research recently spoke to Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller. Look out for the full interview soon
Kia has announced the sale of its 100,000th electric car in the UK – becoming the first Korean brand to reach that milestone.
Described as a landmark achievement by bosses, it has taken Kia just over 11 years to break the 100,000 electric cars barrier.
Notably though, it has taken the firm just five years to jump from 10,000 EVs to 100,000 – and just three years to double the 50,000 figure reached in 2023.
“The milestone of reaching 100,000 EV sales is a significant landmark for Kia UK,” said president and CEO Paul Philpott.
“In a relatively short space of time, we have gone from strength to strength, steadily building our EV line-up, and have seen customer demand increase in line with our product desirability.
“We now have one of the industry’s most complete EV line-ups… further cementing ourselves as a leading player in the EV market.”
Kia EVs in the UK
Kia’s UK electric journey began in November 2014 with the Soul EV. With a 27kWh battery, it offered 132 miles of range, and only a few hundred sales a year were forecast.
Things accelerated in April 2019 with the launch of the Kia e-Niro. This had a far larger battery, delivering a 282-mile range, and sales responded accordingly.
Today, Kia has seven dedicated EVs, comprising the ‘EVx’ car and ‘PVx’ commercial vehicle ranges. Broadly, there’s an electric equivalent for every petrol or diesel car Kia sells.
The 100,000th Kia EV sold was an EV5 in Iceberg Green. The landmark sale was made on 11 March 2026 – and sales have continued to grow, with the latest figure standing at almost 105,000.
The next EV to launch will be the Kia EV2, the company’s smallest and most affordable EV yet.
Automatic gearboxes dominate the new-car marketplace, with less than a quarter of models now offered with three pedals.
Analysis of data covering the top 30 car manufacturers reveals that only 67 of the 292 new vehicles currently available in the UK can be ordered with a manual transmission.
Online automotive marketplace CarGurus, which conducted the research, says the number of cars offered with a manual gearbox has declined by two thirds (66 percent) in the last 10 years
In 2016, some 197 cars were sold with a manual ‘box. The number offered has also tumbled by 18 percent since 2025.
Automatic for the people
Conversely, the number of cars offered solely with an automatic gearbox has increased substantially.
The UK now has eight brands in the top 30 that only sell models equipped with an automatic transmission, with Fiat and Honda being the latest additions. Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, Mini, Tesla and Lexus are the other marques that exclusively offer automatics.
This represents a 60 percent increase in automatic-only marques during the past two years.
Given the growing significance of Chinese brands in the UK, and the ongoing rise of electrification, the number of vehicles without a manual option looks set to increase.
Outside of the top 30 brands, new entrants BYD, Omoda and rapid-selling Jaecoo together offer 15 new models, none of which are available with a manual transmission.
Three pedals for enthusiasts
Manual transmissions have generally become the preserve of enthusiast-targeted models, rather than affordable entry-level cars.
Examples include the BMW M2, Toyota GR Yaris, Porsche 911 Carrera T and Mazda MX-5 – all of which are marketed with three pedals.
Chris Knapman, CarGurus UK editorial director, said: “Manual gearboxes are becoming increasingly rare in the new car market, now making up just under a quarter of all models. Over the past decade, the number of new manuals has more than halved, reflecting the wider shift towards automatic, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Yet for drivers who still value the engagement and control of a traditional gearbox, the used market still offers a wide variety of options.
“From compact hatchbacks to sporty coupes, enthusiasts can still find vehicles that deliver the connection and enjoyment of a manual. Our research highlights that while new manual cars are declining, there has never been a better time to explore the used market.”
Chris Bond is head of motor retail and a business tax partner at accounting and consultancy firm, BDO. He explains his concerns about the forthcoming, mileage-based eVED tax system – and how it could slow the adoption of electric cars.
Charging for electric car mileage will be with us by 2029, thanks to the UK Government’s proposed new eVED system. How this will work is an important consideration for the automotive industry – and indeed for the British public.
While I support the principle of a mileage-based system, there are key issues of fairness, administration and user-confidence yet to be addressed in the proposals. To work properly, the final legislation will need to create a simple, transparent and cost-effective system that aligns with the real-world behaviour of drivers and car dealers.
I agree that a mileage-linked duty is logical. However, it may be seen as unfair because it disadvantages drivers of smaller cars, which damage the road less than heavy SUVs. A better option would be to have a tiered structure that reflects vehicle kerb weight.
Estimates ‘vulnerable to manipulation’
My major concern, though, is the government’s suggestion that motorists will have to estimate their annual mileage for the year ahead. Such a system would clearly be vulnerable to error and manipulation. Instead, in BDO’s response, we have recommended fees based on the previous year’s mileage as being clear, verifiable and easily understandable.
For new car owners with no historic mileage, national average assumptions might be used. These could then be corrected once verified personal mileage data becomes available.
Clearly, garages that perform MOTs and car servicing will become accredited mileage-check providers. Extending this reporting to service bookings for new electric cars (which aren’t due an MOT for the first three years) could be integrated into existing systems without much difficulty.
eVED technology needs to be proven
For the longer-term, technology-based solutions are the obvious answer. Data from EV charging points, smart-meter-style integrations and domestic charger apps could eventually support accurate monthly billing. However, the mandatory adoption of such solutions should only occur once the technology is proven, which is unlikely until the mid-2030s.
Until then, annual mileage verification by accredited providers will remain necessary. This will also provide confidence for drivers, as they can see a paper trail.
If the government is fixed on an estimated mileage approach, this will probably have to come with a differential pricing structure to discourage frequent under-estimation. For example, a higher rate could be applied to any additional miles if the final certified figure is more than 20 percent higher than the driver’s estimated mileage.
Also, to retain flexibility for life events that could alter driving habits (the car’s owner starting a new job, for instance) such a system should allow motorists to update their estimated mileage during the year. No doubt, HMRC will insist on some form of penalty regime to address misuse, yet this all seems rather like overkill compared to a previous-year mileage approach.
The problem of taxing leased vehicles
Regardless of which system is adopted, providing drivers with an online eVED account with the DVLA will be important to help them manage payments and other vehicle information efficiently.
For leasing businesses, variable eVED charges may introduce new complexities, particularly where the lessor currently pays the car tax. Annual mileage accreditation would require data sharing between motorists, leasing companies and the DVLA.
To mitigate these challenges, BDO has suggested fixed mileage charges for three years, based on annual mileage averages, for electric cars that are leased. Options such as mileage banding could also be explored for fairness.
I really hope the government doesn’t go down the in-year mileage estimation route. Unless the eVED charge, due in 2029, is simple to use and perceived as fair by all parties, it could hit future sales and leasing uptake for electric cars. And that would be a bad outcome for us all.
The award-winning Toyota GR Yaris has been upgraded for the 2026 model year.
Having won four consecutive World Rally Championship constructors’ titles, Toyota Gazoo Racing has used its motorsport expertise to modify the hot hatchback.
The changes follow the launch of a special Aero Performance version of the GR Yaris last year, which used lessons learned from the Japanese Rally Championship for its dramatic new bodykit.
The updates for the 2026 Toyota GR Yaris are much more subtle, and will be evident to only the most ardent hot hatchback aficionado.
However, they reflect Toyota’s continuing commitment to the GR Yaris, some five years after the car was first launched.
GR Yaris updates in detail
Having analysed five years of data from racing and rallying, Toyota has identified the components damaged through motorsport, and taken feedback from its drivers.
This has resulted in a smaller steering wheel, reduced in diameter by 5mm to 360mm. Toyota says this will enable faster inputs during spirited driving.
The grip area on the steering wheel has also been redesigned, along with the layout of the switches. This is said to aid competition drivers, who might often turn the wheel through 180 degrees without repositioning their hands.
The buttons have thus been moved further away from where the driver’s hands would be.
A gripping story continues
Another change for the GR Yaris is the fitment of new high-grip Bridgestone Potenza Race tyres. Toyota’s geekiness even extends to a revised tread pattern and new rubber compound, designed to boost grip on track days.
Upping the grip level from the tyres has also meant retuning the front and rear suspension dampers, along with the car’s power steering.
Toyota has left the GR’s 1.6-litre turbocharged engine untouched. It still develops the same 280hp, which is channelled through a four-wheel-drive system.
UK prices and availability for the updated GR Yaris will be confirmed by Toyota later this year.
