2018 was a momentous year in the automotive world. New trucks were anticipated more highly than the Beatles while sedans were sent to death row. SUVs reached new heights of extravagance while manufacturers battled with tariffs and slashed production lines. Executives reached new heights of autocracy, even as industry stars left the firmament.

These are the top automotive headlines for 2018.

More news from Motoring Research:

• The history of the Toyota Supra in pictures
• Home candles more toxic than diesel fumes, scientists say
• Stick it! The sports cars you can buy with a manual gearbox

January – Ford Ranger Returns

Ford kicked off the year by unveiling the U.S.-spec Ranger midsize pickup at the Detroit auto show in January.

The Ranger had been sold in the U.S. market from 1982 to 2012, but Ford ceased domestic production. The market was shrinking, and the redesigned version for 2013 had grown to nearly the size of the F-150. Ford wanted to avoid any cannibalization of profits from its best-selling model, so the new Ranger was manufactured and sold worldwide to critical and popular acclaim, but not here.

Ford said in a January press release that U.S. midsize truck sales had increased 83 percent since 2014, and the success of the rival Chevrolet Colorado certainly bears that out. Ranger fans had also been clamoring for the model’s return, and the confluence of multiple factors finally won them the day.

Ford is currently taking orders for the new truck, with prices starting at $24,300. One engine is available, a 2.3-liter turbo four making 310 lb-ft of torque and paired with a 10-speed automatic.

March – the first pedestrian death caused by an autonomous car

In March, Elaine Herzberg of Tempe, Arizona, was hit by an Uber car, thus becoming the first pedestrian to be killed by an autonomous car.

Although a driver was present behind the wheel, the vehicle was in self-driving mode when it struck Herzberg, who was pushing a bicycle across a street. It subsequently emerged that the car’s operator, Rafaela Vasquez, had been streaming an episode of The Voice and not monitoring the road ahead.

In a report, the Tempe police department said the crash was “entirely avoidable” if Vasquez had been watch looking forward and not down at a screen. Earlier, Tempe police chief Sylvia Moir had said: “It’s very clear it would have been difficult to avoid the collision in any kind of mode.”

Uber suspended self-driving car tests in North America and said that its “hearts go out to the victim’s family”.

It has since emerged that Uber bosses had been warned that its self-drive cars had been involved in crashes. In a leaked email from operations manager, Robbie Miller, Uber was told that its cars were “routinely in accidents”.

Miller blamed the technology and the “poor behavior” of operators. At the time of writing, Uber hasn’t responded to the revelations.

April – Ford Discontinues Cars

In a move that shocked industry spectators, Ford announced on April 26 that it would discontinue all passenger cars except for the Mustang in its North American markets.

The Dearborn company cited declining demand and decreasing profits for the change, and intends to shift focus to what the market wants: trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.

“We’re going to feed the healthy parts of our business and deal decisively with the areas that destroy value,” said CEO Jim Hackett.

The F-Series pickup has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for decades, and the company has introduced a midsize Ranger model to capture additional market share. A sport Bronco SUV will join the lineup, along with a Focus-based crossover.

The models on the chopping block are the Fiesta subcompact, Focus compact, C-Max compact, midsize Fusion, and fullsize Taurus. Focus production ended in May, and the rest will wind down over 2019 except for the Fusion, which enjoys enough fleet sales to keep it afloat awhile longer.

Layoffs will be taking place at Ford, but spokeswoman Karen Hampton said they will affect the salaried workforce and not manufacturing positions.

May – Rolls-Royce Cullinan Revealed

Storied automaker Rolls Royce finally took the wraps off its ultra-luxury Cullinan SUV in May.

The public, said the manufacturer, demanded an alternative to the increasingly bland designs of the day. “Our customers are the new pioneers,” said design chief Giles Taylor, “And for them, it’s about their sense of adventure and daring in how they live their experiences.”

Starting over $400,000, the Cullinan is the latest in a crop of ultra-luxury SUVs. The Bentley Bentayga ($165,000) is definitely a member of the group. It might be argued that the Lamborghini Urus ($200,000) be included, along with the special edition Range Rover SV Coupe ($295,000), and perhaps the Mercedes-AMG G 65 ($223,000). One might argue, however, that those vehicle are merely very expensive, and not particularly exclusive.

The Cullinan, though, is a new watermark in luxury and truly represents a new world order of wealth. The center-opening coach doors allow rear occupants graceful ingress and egress. Second-row seating is carefully positioned to allow an outward and forward view for passengers while discouraging outside prying eyes. The armrests and C-pillars are heated. This is not a car meant for drivers, but for owners.

June – Trump Threatens Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson announced in June that it would be shifting some manufacturing out of the U.S. in a measure to avoid the European Union’s new tariffs on American motorcycles, imposed as retaliation for the Trump administration’s steel and aluminum tariffs.

The European tariffs added $2,200 on average to the price of the motorcycles, a cost likely to significantly depress sales. The company planned to shift production to a country that has lower or no tariffs to the EU, such as one of its facilities in Thailand, Brazil, India, or Australia.

Trump tweeted that Harley was waving the “White Flag” and that the taxes were “just a Harley excuse.” He then threatened the company by tweeting, “Harley must know that they won’t be able to sell back into U.S. without paying a big tax!”

The tirade continued: “If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end – they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!”

Harley decided to invest in the Thai plant after Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The trade deal would have lowered tariffs on the iconic American bikes in some of the fastest growing-markets in Asia.

“We would rather not make the investment in that facility, but that’s what’s necessary to access a very important market,” said Harley CEO Matt Levatich. “It is a direct example of how trade policies could help this company, but we have to get on with our work to grow the business by any means possible, and that’s what we’re doing.”

June – Detroit Auto Show Moving to June

2019 will be the last year Detroit sees its famed North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) take place during the chilly month of January. Organizers have announced that starting in 2020 the event will take place in June.

The show seeks to reinvent itself after multiple global manufacturers decided to skip the 2019 show. Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and some smaller automakers bowed out, attracting fewer journalists and new media outlets, creating a situation where even more brands might reconsider attendance.

In the modern world of marketing, auto shows are no longer the default way to introduce a new model. Appearances in video games, in the hands of social media influencers, and livestreamed private introductions away from the crowded show floor are all gaining in popularity as ways to connect with a new audience.

NAIAS also faces pressure from competing shows that attract attention from the coveted Millennials and Gen Z, such as the much larger and similarly-timed CES (Consumer Electronics Show). CES takes place in tourist-friendly Las Vegas and has ample crossover marketing opportunities, not just car shoppers.

The new NAIAS will embrace the warmer summer month, “Moving the show to the summer opens up new opportunities for companies as well as creating new experiences for attendees,” said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in a release. The show hopes to energize attendees with ride and dives, off-road challenges, dynamic vehicle debuts, and autonomous driving demonstrations through multiple venues in downtown Detroit.

June – Ford goes hybrid for Police Interceptor Utility SUV

As Robert Zimmerman once said, “The Times They Are a-Changin”. Soon, U.S. criminals will be hunted down by cops in a hybrid.

But you can sleep easy in your beds, as Ford says the new Interceptor Utility will be even faster than the 3.7-liter V6 version. It’ll be quicker off the line, boast a higher top speed and, we suspect, be able to idle in silence. Perfect for those early evening stakeouts.

The new hybrid Interceptor is estimated to save around $3,200 per vehicle in fuel usage compared to the old model, with the hybrid technology having no impact on the amount of interior space. Indeed, Ford has managed to squeeze even more cargo space into the new Utility.

The 2020 Police Interceptor Utility, which is set go on sale in the summer 2019, will feature an improved version of surveillance mode, using the blind spot information system to provide 270-degree monitoring outside of the vehicle.

Any potential threats will be shown on the instrument panel, while the rear-view camera can be operated on demand, not just when the vehicle is in reverse.

July – Sergio Marchionne Dies

Sergio Marchionne, architect of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, died on July 25 following complications from shoulder surgery. He was 66.

Marchionne took over a Fiat on the verge of bankruptcy in 2004, and drove the acquisition of Chrysler in 2009. Few onlookers predicted success, but on October 13, 2014, Marchionne rang the bell on Wall Street to celebrate the birth of London company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA). The Fiat of today is now worth nearly 10 times the amount as it was when Marchionne joined the company.

The Italian-born Canadian was known as a chain-smoking workaholic, fueled by a dozen espressos a day. In his Turin office hung a Picasso print adorned with the motto, “Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction.” On his first day at Fiat, he fired most of the executives, the did the same again at Chrysler. In the pursuit of profitability, Marchionne laid off thousands of workers.

In spite of his tactics and demeanor, Marchionne was seen as a visionary and captain of the industry. The cuts were necessary for the firms to thrive, and even union leaders spoke of him with respect. “The success of his vision changed people’s lives,” said Cindy Estrada, United Auto Workers Vice President. “That is a rich legacy.”

Marchionne famously campaigned for consolidation in the auto industry; there was too much capacity for all carmakers to survive, he believed. In 2015, he instigated a merger with GM that was rebuffed. By 2018, both GM and Ford made decisions to cut production.

Motor Trend posthumously named Marchionne 2019’s “Person of the Year.”

August – Musk tweets ‘funding secured’

After tweeting that he had the funding and investors to take Tesla private at $420 a share, CEO Elon Musk was charged with fraud by SEC and forced to resign as chairman of the company.

A $40 million fine was also levied, to be split between Musk and Tesla. Neither party admitted wrongdoing,

The problematic social media post occured on August 7 and read,

“Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.”

Followed less than two hours later with,

“Shareholders could either to sell at 420 or hold shares & go private”

According to the SEC complaint, Musk calculated the $420 price per share by adding a 20 percent premium to the day’s closing price for a sum of $419. He rounded that figure up a dollar because “He had recently learned about the number’s significance in marijuana culture and thought his girlfriend ‘would find it funny, which admittedly is not a great reason to pick a price.’ ”

August – Ferrari 250 GTO sells for record fee

This 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO set a world record for the most valuable car ever sold at auction when bidding closed at $48,405,000 at Monterey Car Week.

There were audible gasps in the auction room as bidding hit $35 million, surpassing the previous record, before, after nearly 10 minutes, the three bidders competing via telephone, drew proceedings to a close.

The 250 GTO was effectively the final evolution of the 250 model, which debuted in 1953 and ended with the last GTO in 1964. Just 36 GTOs were built, all of which survive today.

Chassis number 3413 GT began life as a factory car and was driven by Phil Hill in the 1962 Targa Florio. It passed through an unbroken chain of ownership in the hands of the world’s preeminent Ferrari collectors, before ending up in the care of Dr Greg Whitten, chairman of Numerix and former chief software architect at Microsoft.

RM Sotheby’s reported sales totalling $157,931,940 at Pebble Beach, making it the highest-grossing auction of Monterey Car Week.

October – Rupert Stadler shown the door

Volkswagen formerly fired Audi CEO Rupert Stadler in October, months after he was arrested by German police for his alleged role in the diesel emissions scandal.

Stadler had been suspended by Volkswagen AG and Audi AG following the raid of his home in Bavaria, which followed an investigation into charges of fraud and misrepresentation as part of ‘Dieselgate’.

The CEO, who began working with Audi in 1990, strenuously denied the accusations, with VW Group boss Herbert Diess describing the charges as a “massive shock”.

A statement from Volkswagen said: “Mr Stadler is leaving the companies with immediate effect and will no longer work for the Volkswagen Group. Mr Stadler is doing so because, due to his ongoing pre-trial detention, he is unable to fulfil his duties as a member of the board of management and wishes to concentrate on his defence. The contractual execution depends on the course and outcome of the criminal proceedings.”

November – Carlos Ghosn Arrested

Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested November 19 on suspicion of violating financial laws by filing false statements.

Prosecutors claim that Ghosn and board member Greg Kelly collaborated to underreport Ghosn’s income by approximately $44 million between 2010 and 2015. If convicted, the maximum penalty is ten years in prison and a 10 million yen (~$89,000) fine.

Nissan had been investigating Ghosn after a whistleblower filed a report, according to a statement released by the company. “The investigation showed that over many years both Ghosn and Kelly have been reporting compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount, in order to reduce the disclosed amount of Carlos Ghosn’s compensation,” it said.

“Also, in regards to Ghosn, numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered, such as personal use of company assets, and Kelly’s deep involvement has also been confirmed.”

Japanese law allows a suspect to be detained without a formal charge for 20 days. Exactly 20 days after the first arrest, Ghosn was arrested again and indicted on the same charge.

November – GM Restructures

General Motors (GM) announced a massive restructuring plan in late November that would save the company $6 billion by year-end 2020, but result in the loss of 14,000 jobs.

Six sedans are to be scuttled and the five plants that build them. The Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant has already announced the first 714 layoffs of an expected 1,542. The Lordstown Assembly plant will lose 1,618 jobs. In Canada, the Oshawa Car Assembly in Ontario will close after 111 years, for a total of 2,900 jobs.

Two facilities that supply drivetrains will also shut: the Warren Transmission plant in Michigan will lose 335 jobs, and Baltimore Operations 335.

The models affected are the Chevrolet Volt, Cruze, and Impala; the Cadillac CTS and XT6; and the Buick LaCrosse.

The company will also reduce management and salaried staff by 15 percent, around 8,100 employees.

Additionally, GM will close three foreign plants by the end of 2019, an assembly plant in Gunsan, Korea and two others as yet unannounced.

The company plans to focus on better-selling SUVs, pickups, and crossovers, as well as its electric vehicle operations.

November – Trump responds to GM announcement

In response to the GM announcement, Donald Trump renewed his threat to impose tariffs on imported cars, tweeting that tariffs were “being studied now”.

“The reason that the small truck business in the U.S. is such a go to favorite is that, for many years, Tariffs of 25% have been put on small trucks coming into our country,” he tweeted. “It is called the “chicken tax”. If we did that with cars coming in, many more cars would be built here…”

Trump has made the rebuilding of the U.S. auto industry one of his main priorities, and GM’s restructuring plans appear to have accelerated his long-held desire to impose strict tariffs on imported vehicles.

The President said we was “very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra”, adding that his administration would be “looking at cutting all GM subsidies”. The automaker’s shares fell 3 percent following Trump’s tweet.

December – the electric car takes charge

It’s too early to say whether or not 2018 was a turning point in the life of the electric car, but there’s a real sense that the EV is taking charge.

This was the year in which Jaguar, Audi and Mercedes-Benz entered the game, introducing SUVs with realistic range and a level of practicality demanded by families. When reporting on these vehicles, auto editors found it hard to resist a reference or two to Tesla, either in the headlines or within the opening paragraphs.

We’ve also seen the launch of the Kia Niro, an affordable crossover that makes the Nissan Leaf look outmoded.

Further evidence lies in the increasing number of cities introducing a ban on gasoline and diesel cars. Madrid, for example, has established a 472-hectare low-emission zone in the heart of the capital, while London will launch an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in April 2019.

Closer to home, British Columbia is planning to ban sales of new internal combustion cars by 2040, reportedly seeking to introduce legislation as early as 2019. With Europe taking the lead and Canada seemingly following suit, how long before U.S. cities adopt a similar strategy?

December – Jeep Gladiator Goes Live

In a fitting bookend to the year, the configurator for the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator pickup went live in December.

Jeep and FCA have been on a roll. The Wrangler was named Motor Trend’s “SUV of the Year” and the Ram 1500 as “Truck of the Year.” Given a pedigree such as that, a Jeep Wrangler pickup is a slam dunk.

The Gladiator name has not been seen on a Jeep since 1972, and the company’s last truck, the Comanche, ceased production in 1992. Fans have been roaring for the return of the Jeep pickup for years, and multiple concepts have been seen at the Easter Jeep Safari. Rumors and educated guesses flew, and the official announcement of the truck at the L.A. Auto Show in November came as no surprise.

The open-air Gladiator will launch with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, with production expected to begin in the first half of 2019. A diesel version will appear in 2020.

December – Tesla is boring

You have to hand it to Elon Musk. Just when we thought we’d conclude this gallery with the Gladiator, up he pops with the unveiling of the first test tunnel developed by The Boring Company.

The test tunnel, located in Hawthorne, California, runs from deep below the SpaceX property and will be used for the research and development of The Boring Company’s tunneling and public transportation systems.

Musk hopes to solve traffic problems by building a series of high-speed tunnel systems, wide enough to fit a single car. In what could pass as a Top Gear challenge, a Tesla is fitted with retractable wheel gear that turns the car into a rail-guided train.

The technology could be applied to any autonomous electric vehicle, with the system allowing for speeds in excess of 150mph. In tweet, Musk claimed that it would “feel like teleporting within a city”.

After a year of turmoil for Musk, could this be the light at the end of the tunnel?

Mazda has revised the line-up of its CX-5 family-sized SUV for 2019 and introduced a lavish GT Sport Nav+ range-topper which costs as much as £37,195.

The new halo car for the globally-popular CX-5 range mirrors the recently-launched Mazda6 GT Sport Nav+. On the outside, the key differentiator is 19-inch bright-finish alloys, but there’s much more to mark it out inside.

Rich Nappa leather seats turn up the decadence levels, as does satin chrome and real wood trim for the dashboard. The rooflining is black and LED illumination is bright white, and Mazda’s fitted a bespoke steering wheel with chrome centre and premium stitching.

The Mazda CX-5 GT Sport Nav+ gets a special TFT instrument display too, the only model in the SUV range to do so. Other extras include ventilated and heated front seats, heated rear seats and a sunroof.

Mazda has pushed the range upwards with the GT Sport Nav+ because, according to Mazda Motor UK MD Jeremy Thomson, “over 80 percent of CX-5s sold in the UK are Sport Nav+ trim, [which] shows that our customers value… our high-grade models.

“With the introduction of the GT Sport Nav+, we now have a new model that offers even more exclusivity and interior comfort.” It’s fitting, he adds, because a growing number of CX-5 customers are actually being lured from premium-badged rivals.

2019 Mazda CX-5

All 2019 Mazda CX-5 also now get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and the climate control panel has been revised to make it easier to use.

Mazda’s done work below the surface to make them better to drive, too. The front anti-roll bar is thicker and the rear bar is thinner: with other minor tweaks to suspension components, handling is crisper but the ride more plush.

The torque vectoring system, called GVG Plus, now has what’s called direct yaw control, which Mazda says helps high-speed stability.

Every Mazda CX-5 comes well stocked straight out the box. Even the basic cars get LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, sat nav and folding door mirrors. Prices for the entry-level 165hp SE-L Nav+ petrol start from £25,595 and deliveries of the 2019 range begin in February.

2019 Mazda CX-5 prices

SE-L Nav+

• 2.0 165 2WD: £25,595 (auto: £27,195)
• 2.2D 150 2WD: £27,295 (auto: £29,195)

Sport Nav+

• 2.0 165 2WD: £28,695 (auto: £30,295)
• 2.2D 150 2WD: £29,895 (auto: £31,795)
• 2.2D 184 AWD: £32,895 (auto: £34,795)

GT Sport Nav+

• 2.0 165 2WD: £31,095 (auto: £32,695)
• 2.2D 184 AWD: £35,295 (auto: £37,195)

It’s that time of the year again when magazines, television channels and websites roll out their ‘greatest hits’ of the past 12 months. Those carefully curated lists of ‘top this’ and ‘best that’: prime fodder for when you’re suffering from mince pie fatigue and the Christmas sherry has turned your brain to mush.

• The best new cars we have driven this year

Which is why we’re getting in on the act. Ladies and gentlemen, may we present to you, our most-read stories of 2018. Delivered, in time-honoured fashion, in revere order.

Click the headlines to read more.

20. 2019 Suzuki Jimny: what you need to know

The Suzuki Jimny has owned 2018. While this preview piece creeps into our year-end round-up, the other Jimny articles – including our first drive in Germany – are all hovering just outside the top 20. Not bad for a sub-£20k 4×4 that is yet to hit the streets. It’s worth noting that the Jimny review is second only to the McLaren 600LT on the list of most-read new car reviews.

19. Blues and toes: Britain’s wildest new police cars revealed

In June, we visited the National Association of Police Fleet Managers show to see what a motor show for police officers is really like. Based on this evidence, we can’t get enough of a good police car, unless one happens to be filling your rear-view mirror.

18. The biggest and most flamboyant American cars

John Redfern loves a good American land yacht, and many of you seem to share his passion. If this feature is anything to go by, size does matter. Some wood helps, too.

17. Revealed: the biggest car brands in the world 2017

A straightforward top 25 list of the biggest car brands in the world, based on overall registrations in 2017. Thanks to the Corolla, RAV4 and Camry, Toyota sat at the top of the sales tree. We predict it will retain its throne when we repeat the gallery in 2019.

16. Diesel particulate filters: why are they a problem?

A relatively new piece on a rather common problem. If you drive or are considering buying a modern diesel car, you need to be aware of the DPF and what impact it could have on your bank balance.

15. Why you are UNABLE to tax a car this weekend

Back in August, the DVLA carried out ‘essential system maintenance’, which meant anyone buying a car was unable to tax it and drive it home. This wouldn’t have been a problem when VED was transferrable. Cue lots of online chatter about the good old days…

14. How you can declare SORN instead of paying car tax

Speaking of tax, a month ago, Ethan wrote an informative piece on how to declare SORN when taking your car off the road for the winter. It secures 14th place on the list of our most-read items of 2018.

13. Jeremy Clarkson has named his car of the year

There are two names guaranteed to generate clicks: Jeremy Clarkson and Kim Kardashian. Imagine a headline containing both Clarkson and Kardashian. That’s guaranteed to break the internet.

12. Fifth Gear returns to TV on Quest

Wonders will never cease. A short news item on the return of Fifth Gear was read more times than the piece about Clarkson’s favourite car. Good news for Tiff, Jonny Smith and VBH.

11. The most economical new cars in 2018

Nobody loves wasting money, so if you fancy spending less time at the pumps in 2019, these are some of the cars you might want to consider. Alternatively, if you enjoy visiting petrol stations, why not buy a Monaro? Or a Bentley.

10. The cost of a car the year you were born

It’s an old piece, but it continues to deliver the goods. This nostalgic feature contains some rather evocative press photos, including a black and white shot of a Rover Vitesse and a Ford Lotus Cortina on three wheels. Hashtag clickbait.

9. Top 25 cheap classic cars to invest in

First published in January 2016, this feature on cheap(ish) classic cars remains relevant at the end of 2018. Most of the cars remain relatively affordable, but you’ll have fewer to choose from.

8. New Discovery rear end ‘transformed’ by a £1,200 number plate kit

Would you spend £1,200 on a number plate kit for the new Land Rover Discovery? Based on the number of times this piece from the summer has been read, there are plenty of people who would.

7. Waze and Google Maps now in Apple CarPlay with iOS 12 update

Forget dreaming of a white Christmas, it would appear that many people were simply waiting for Apple CarPlay to add Waze and Google Maps functionality. Next year, we expect Apple CarPlay to include a Santa tracker.

6. Audi A4 1.4 TFSI 150 (2016): long-term review

Richard spent six months with an Audi A4. Fittingly, his long-term review secures sixth place on our list.

5. Can you drive your car after an MOT fail if the old test hasn’t expired?

If there was a prize for the longest headline, this would be in with a shout.

4. Ferrari, Cobra worth $4 million found in condemned NC garage

Back in January, John Moroney told the tale of a small collection of cars that were driven into a North Carolina garage in 1991 and then forgotten about for the next 26 years. It struck a chord, because the internet loves a good ‘barn-find’.

3. The must-visit events for car enthusiasts in 2018

This one is of no use to you now, but rest assured, we’re preparing a new version for 2019.

2. How to find the cheapest petrol and diesel near you

The articles in first and second position couldn’t be further apart in terms of content. One is about finding cheap fuel…

1. The world’s fastest SUV will be a 200 mph Lister

While the other is focused on a 200mph SUV. News of the Lister LFP was by far and away our most-read story of 2018 and, by some margin, the one with the most comments. To be fair, you might need to know where to buy cheap petrol if you drive a 200mph SUV.

Happy New Year, and thanks for reading the words of Motoring Research in 2018.

McLaren F1 designer Professor Gordon Murray has been awarded a CBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours, for services to motoring.

Murray’s honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire comes after a 50-year career in automotive design.

South African-born Murray is still actively involved in the industry via his automotive design company Gordon Murray Design Limited.

“It is extremely humbling to receive a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours,” said Murray.

“I’ve spent more than 50 years doing what I love, working with a wealth of highly-talented and creative people around the world, but primarily in the UK.

“From the competing during the heyday of Formula One, to designing the world’s fastest supercar, I’ve loved every minute.”

Murray joined the Brabham Formula One Team in 1967 and, as technical director, won two world championships, in 1981 and 1983. He then moved to McLaren, winning another three world championships, in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

But Murray is perhaps most famous for his work at McLaren Car Limited, creating the legendary McLaren F1 road car. It later went on to race, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1995 and two world sports car championship titles.

Gordon Murray Design was founded in 2005 and has designed, engineered, prototyped and developed several innovative vehicles. It is recognised for the “innovative and disruptive” manufacturing technology iStream.

Murray is also understood to be working on a brand new supercar. 

Other motor industry people honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours 2019 include Kevin Fitzpatrick, one of the original 22 people who set up Nissan’s factory in Sunderland. Currently Nissan’s senior vice president for manufacturing in Europe, he has been awarded a CBE for services to manufacturing and engineering.

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has also been awarded a CBE, for services to music. Mason is a well-known car enthusiast, regularly competing at Goodwood with his amazing collection of cars which includes a Ferrari 250 GTO.

For more than a decade, Mason has been president of the Guild of Motoring Writers, the world’s largest organisation for professional motoring journalists.

The 2018 Formula One season has arguably been one to forget for Williams Racing, with an 8th place in Azerbaijan the team’s best result.

But if the achievements of the Grove-based outfit in the virtual racing world are anything to go by, the team need not be overly glum.

Despite only being formed in May 2018, the fledgling Williams Esports squad has amassed a substantial haul of race wins and even championship titles.

Ready, player one

With the esports world growing at a dramatic rate, this is far more than teenagers playing video games in their bedroom.

Many of the championships feature popular games such as Gran Turismo Sport and Forza Motorsport. But esports racers compete against each other in dramatic arenas, using expensive gaming chairs and high-end steering wheel and pedal setups.

The Williams Esports team features a roster of 26 sim racing drivers, hailing from 10 nations across the globe. This year the squad has competed in a total of 20 different championships, including the FIA-sanctioned Gran Turismo Sport World Championship.

Where real and virtual worlds meet

Williams sim racing driver Igor Fraga became the first-ever FIA Esports winner this year, taking victory in the inaugural GT Sport Nations Cup event in Monaco.

His success in this year’s GT Sport event meant attending the FIA Gala in St Petersburg, and receiving a trophy just like the winners of other major FIA championships.

For the 20-year-old Brazilian, competing in virtual racing is just another part of his motorsport career. He has previously competed in the real-world USF2000 series, and Formula 3 races in Brazil.

This fits neatly with the plans for the Williams Esports team, who have already explored the links between real and virtual racing. Nine of the 26 drivers on the roster have come from motorsport backgrounds, and have had the chance to experience the simulator used by actual F1 drivers.

For 2019, Williams Esports is looking to expand further by recruiting more drivers to the squad. This will mean an even wider array of championships to explore. Hopefully next year can bring success for the Williams team in both virtual, and real-world, racing.

A freedom of information request by the RAC has discovered more than half a million potholes were reported to authorities for repair in 2017.

This represents a staggering increase of 44 percent in pothole reports in just two years.

The situation could be worse still, adds the RAC. Not all authorities provided data: extrapolate the numbers to include them, and the number of pothole reports in 2017 reaches almost 675,000.

• Revealed: the worst cars for potholed roads

“It is shocking to see the number of reported potholes in Britain has risen by nearly 50 percent in two years,” said RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes. 

“Our own analysis of breakdown data shows the damage suffered by motorists is a constant source of frustration and expense, but the scale of the problem is obviously far greater than the numbers show.”

Lyes added motorists are now more inclined to report potholes than in previous years, “but we believe the sheer size of the increase is further proof the condition of our roads is worsening.”

English authorities saw the biggest increase in pothole reports, with a 55 percent rise. Wales increased 22 percent and Scotland rose just 2 percent between 2015 and 2017 (but 52 percent from 2014). 

Surprisingly, although pothole reports in London rose 21 percent between 2015 and 2017, they actually FELL 13 percent between 2014 and 2017.

Potholes: did you know?

Cuts to local authority budgets means regular inspections of roads is occurring less frequently than in previous years.

However, said the RAC’s Lyes, “when users report potholes, the onus is on the authority concerned to fix them or risk suffering subsequent compensation claims as a result of not doing so.

“For that reason, we urge everyone to report potholes, so that motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and other road users don’t suffer the consequences.”

Local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have easy-to-use pothole reporting tools. Simply click on the links below, enter a postcode and follow the instructions.

• How to report a pothole in England and Wales
• How to report a pothole in Scotland
• How to report a pothole in Northern Ireland

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created yet another bespoke model, designed to celebrate the past successes of the Woking-based marque.

This time it is the 720S supercar which has been subject to MSO modifications, made in honour of one of the greatest race tracks in the world. The three lucky owners of the 720S Spa 68 Collection will get the chance to share in commemorating one of the iconic moments in McLaren history.

Company founder and namesake Bruce McLaren took the first ever Formula 1 win for the McLaren team at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix. Held at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the venue and brand have been intertwined ever since.

Remembering June 1968

That success in 1968 marked an important milestone for the McLaren team, and one which has seen the outfit becomes the second-most successful constructor at the Spa circuit. With 14 wins in the Belgian hills, only Ferrari has managed more F1 wins there.

To celebrate this, and Bruce McLaren’s historic 1968 victory, the three Spa 68 Collection examples of the 720S all wear the same Anniversary Orange paintwork, created by MSO.

This is, of course, a similar of orange to that worn by the race-winning McLaren M7A half a century ago. Carbon fibre sill covers feature the inscription of “1st McLaren F1 victory Belgian Grand Prix 9th June 1968 – Bruce McLaren”, ensuring there is no doubt as to what is being celebrated here.

The master of Spa-Francorchamps

The 720S Spa 68 Collection features more than just orange paint though. An outline of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit – in the 14km layout as conquered by Bruce McLaren in 1968 – features ahead of the rear wheel arch.

The same outline also appears embroidered on the headrest of the sports seats inside each 720S. Anniversary Orange appears again on the ignition key, whilst a unique dedication plaque commemorates each of the three individual cars to be built.

A further use for Anniversary Orange comes in the contrasting thread used throughout the cabin. Externally, a set of twin-spoke lightweight alloy wheels in satin black make the exterior paint look even more dramatic.

Fifty years of Belgian success

Should you want to own a piece of McLaren history, you’ll need to be quick. Two of the three cars have already been sold, leaving just one example available from McLaren Brussels.

Whatever the age of McLaren customer, there is undoubtedly a Spa victory that resonates with them. Whether it is that initial 1968 win with Bruce McLaren, through to Jenson Button standing on top of the podium in 2012, each generation will have their own memory.

However, one of the greatest wins must be that from 2000. Mika Häkkinen’s amazing three-wide overtake of Michael Schumacher at 200mph will forever be one of the most incredible moments in F1.

We can only await the release of the Häkkinen edition 720S with bated breath.

Land Rover has confirmed the all-new Defender will be revealed at last in 2019 – and used the announcement to showcase fresh images of the new heavy-duty SUV hidden under camouflage. 

In a surprise announcement, Jaguar Land Rover North America uncovered the new Defender’s 2019 reveal date: it will once again go on sale in the U.S. and Canada in 2020.

The original Land Rover Defender had an on-off relationship with North America, which favoured the homegrown Jeep Wrangler. It was withdrawn for good in the late 1990s.

Land Rover engineers are currently testing the new Defender around the world, and landed in North America earlier in December for validation tests (and photoshoots).

• Chemical giant hopes to revive the Land Rover Defender
• Land Rover builds Selfidges Edition Defender… in Selfridges
• New 2020 Land Rover Defender spied in testing

The firm is driving it in areas as cold as -40 Farenheit (-40 Celsius) to +120 Farenheit (almost 50 Celsius), and testing it across terrain as high as 13,000 feet above sea level.

“There are a handful of automobiles that are beloved around the world and stand for a brand, a country and a distinct way of life,” said Kim McCullough, vice president of marketing for Jaguar Land Rover North America.

“The Land Rover Defender is such a singular vehicle.

“On behalf of Land Rover and our retailers, we are proud to announce the voices of American and Canadian customers has been heard: The all new Defender will be for sale here starting in 2020.

“This announcement is a holiday gift to our Defender fans in North America and a hint of what’s to come in the New Year.”

Land Rover promises the new Defender will still be recognisable as an authentic Defender, although it will carry an all-new exterior and interior design. The latest connectivity and driver assistance features will be built in, too.

“The next-generation Defender will be a revolutionary product for Land Rover with even broader public appeal.”

JLR North America adds the ‘NAS-Spec’ Defenders have, in the decades since they were sold there, appreciated significantly and are now highly desirable collectors’ vehicles.

Land Rover finally withdrew the Defender from the North American market ahead of the 1998 model year. Production of the original model ended at the Solihull, England plant in 2016.

Hyundai is launching world-first smart fingerprint recognition technology on the 2019 Santa Fe SUV, allowing owners to use their finger to unlock and start the vehicle. 

A fingerprint sensor on the doorhandle unlocks the car, and another one on the ignition scans the finger again before starting the engine. A built-in fingerprint controller makes the match. 

This, reckons Hyundai, makes traditional car keys redundant. 

The new tech is much more secure than existing smart keys. The chance of misrecognising a fingerprint is 1 in 50,000. That makes it five times as secure normal car keys, says the firm.

The system uses capacitive recognition to detect different levels of electricity in the fingerprint, which “effectively prevents forgeries and faked fingerprints”. It is also self-learning, so becomes more accurate the more it is used.

• American Hyundai driver clocks up 1 million miles in just FIVE years
• Uber is offering free Christmas rides for NHS staff
• This Hyundai SUV CLEANS the air in London as it drives

Once a fingerprint is recognised, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe will also auto-adjust seat positions, door mirror angles and other connected car features.

“In the future, Hyundai plans to further expand the application of the technology to allow the adjustment of temperature, steering wheel position and many other features which will be tailored to the driver’s preferences” said Albert Biermann, the firm’s president and head of R&D. 

It has been a record year for the number of vehicles declared off the road, with 5,134,244 registered as SORN in Q3 2018.

That’s up from 1,201,340 in the same period in 2018 – an increase of nearly 4,000,000.

• How you can declare SORN instead of paying car tax

A car must be declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) when it is taken off the road and it is no longer taxed or insured. If SORN, it must be kept in a garage, on a drive or on private land. Failure to declare SORN will result in a fine of £80.

Not all of the vehicles registered as SORN will be classic cars – many will be newer cars, either untaxed, uninsured, being broken for spares or kept off the road for other reasons. These could include the owner being out of the country or the car used for summer use only.

But as Footman James points out, a growing number of drivers are opting for off-road insurance, also known as laid-up insurance. This type of policy protects a car from fire, theft and damage.

David Bond, managing director at Footman James said, “It’s clear that many owners cancel their insurance policies when they declare their classic car as SORN. But while it’s not a legal requirement to insure a vehicle while it’s SORN, there are risks to not having cover.

“For Footman James customers, our laid-up policy provides peace of mind should the worst happen while they’re restoring, garaging or exhibiting their vehicle long term. Laid-up insurance is also often cheaper than a standard policy.”

‘A no-brainer’

Dave Richards, a classic car enthusiast who owns a fleet of eight vehicles, explained: “For me, taking out laid up, or off-road insurance, is a no-brainer. It’s so cheap and although it won’t make up for the loss of what are usually treasured vehicles, at least it covers the financial loss if there has been theft or damage.”

As if to prove that the majority of vehicles registered as being off the road are not classics, the Land Rover Discovery Tdi is the most common car declared SORN, followed by the Ford Focus Zetec and Mazda MX-5.

SORN declarations by quarter:

• Q1 2018: 9,777,578
• Q2 2018: 4,875,568
• Q3 2018: 5,134,244

Click here for more information on how to declare SORN.