Wild BMW 3 Series road-racer wins Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK

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August 27, 2025

A heavily modified BMW 3 Series has moved one step closer to being immortalised as a Hot Wheels die-cast model.

The 1982 E21-generation 3 Series was created by the father-and-son team of Paul and Ethan Foster from Wickford, Essex.

Chosen as the winner of the UK leg of the 2025 Hot Wheels Legends Tour, the 3 Series impressed a packed crowd and expert judges at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

It means the BMW will represent the UK in the European Hot Wheels Legends Tour regional final, and has a chance to progress to the Global Grand Final.

The car chosen as the ultimate winner will be turned into a bespoke 1:64 Hot Wheels model and sold around the world.

Searching for Britain’s coolest cars

Forming part of Slammed UK’s Gravity Show at the NEC, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK 2025 saw a shortlist of seven vehicles vying to be named the winner.

The final seven were whittled down from 200 entrants, which ranged from JDM drift machines to historic race cars. Along with the modified BMW, a Jaguar Mk VII was fast-tracked to the UK final. The third finalist was a classic Volkswagen Polo, which won the public vote.

However, the judging panel of Hot Wheels designer Charlie Angulo, Nicola Hume, Jordan Clark and Mat Armstrong, elected the BMW as the UK’s Hot Wheels Legend for 2025.

One step closer to Hot Wheels glory

For Paul and Ethan Foster, the 3 Series has been a 14-year project. Its race-inspired styling includes an enormous rear spoiler taken from a genuine Group 5 competition car.

A 420hp 5.0-litre Rover V8 provides the power, with side-exit exhaust tailpipes, a DTM-specification gearbox and a Quaife limited-slip differential. Adjustable coilover suspension and Wilwood brakes were also part of the makeover.

“It’s amazing to win the Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK. Built together with my son Ethan, it’s part of our family and we’ll never sell it. We’ve both been huge Hot Wheels fans since we were kids. I just can’t believe it,” said Paul Foster.

“Representing the UK at the next round of the competition is so exciting. Thank you to everyone for the support.”

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2025 Volkswagen T-Roc has sportier styling and hybrid engines

By

John Redfern

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August 27, 2025

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The new 2025 Volkswagen T-Roc has been revealed, with an evolutionary design that aims to capitalise on the original car’s success.

Along with larger exterior dimensions, the new T-Roc features hybrid-assisted engines and Volkswagen’s improved infotainment system.

After launching the first-generation T-Roc in 2017, Volkswagen sold more than two million examples around the world.

As such, this is an important car for the German marque. It slots into a burgeoning SUV range between the smaller T-Cross and larger Tiguan.

Sharper and sportier

Although the second-generation T-Roc bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor, its front-end design is more distinctive and aggressive.

Squint hard enough and there is perhaps even a hint of Lamborghini Urus in the new T-Roc’s angular face, along with a similarity to new Volkswagens such as the Tayron and ID.7.

Its LED headlights are connected by an illuminated full-width strip across the nose. The rear features a dramatic 3D light bar.

The C-pillar has the same crisp lines as the original T-Roc, but with a more coupe-like roofline. A lengthened roof spoiler and more shapely tailgate further the sporty look.

All hybrids from the start

Based on Volkswagen’s MQB-Evo platform, the T-Roc is 122mm longer than its predecessor, and also gains 28mm in its wheelbase. Overall length is 4,373mm: neatly between the T-Cross and Tiguan.

The larger dimensions mean boot capacity has risen by 20 litres to 465 litres. There is also more space in the rear for three passengers.

At launch, the T-Roc will be available solely in front-wheel drive with a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Buyers will be able to pick from 116hp or 150hp versions of a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, both with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. Active cylinder shutdown is standard to aid fuel economy.

Further hybrid powertrains and 4Motion all-wheel drive will follow. Anticipate a performance T-Roc R model in due course, too.

Pushing the T-Roc upmarket

On the inside, the second-generation T-Roc will be familiar to anyone who has spent time in a modern Volkswagen, with a large touchscreen dominating the dashboard.

There are neat design details, though, including soft-touch fabric trim and full-width metal strips around the climate control vents. Ambient lighting, applied across perforated artificial leather, is intended to provide an upmarket feel.

A new 10-inch digital instrument panel is standard, complemented by two sizes of central screen. Although traditional buttons and dials are minimal, there is a rotary ‘driving experience’ controller on the centre console.

Volkswagen has also enhanced the infotainment display, with a solid top bar to host menu shortcuts, plus a bottom bar for direct access to the heating and cooling system. ChatGPT technology is included as part of the infotainment setup, too.

New T-Roc on sale soon

At launch, Volkswagen will offer four trim levels for the new T-Roc. Buyers have a choice of Life, Style and R-Line themes, along with an entry-level version.

An extensive options list includes adaptive chassis control, a head-up display, a Harman Kardon sound system and a black exterior design package (pictured here).

Pre-sales of the new T-Roc start at the end of August 2025 in selected European markets, with a full model launch due in November.

Volkswagen UK says it will confirm prices and specifications for the 2025 T-Roc in the near-future.

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3 in 4 van drivers are ready to go electric

By

John Redfern

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August 27, 2025

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Choosing an electric van could now be the right option for the majority of van drivers in the UK, according to a new survey.

Three quarters (75 percent) of van drivers questioned by Volkswagen agreed that a fully electric van would be suitable for their business.

This figure is up from 67 percent who said the same when Volkswagen previously conducted a survey in 2023.

The rise in optimism about battery-powered vans comes as registrations of electric light commercial vehicles increased by 50.7 percent year-on-year up to June 2025.

Ad-van-tage electric

Financial considerations are a key driver of the move to electrification. Some 62 percent of survey respondents believed an electric van would be cheaper to run than equivalent diesel or petrol models.

In addition, more than half (52 percent) of businesses want to become more sustainable. And over a third (37 percent) say they are pleased with the greater selection of electric vans available.

Charging time for an electric van remains a concern for almost half of those surveyed. Even with a full battery, the feeling of ‘range anxiety’ persists for 43 percent of van drivers.

Despite these worries, the majority (69 percent) of businesses without an electric van expect to purchase one during 2025.

Charging ahead

Craig Cavanagh, national fleet manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “It’s encouraging to see van drivers embracing the transition to electric, with the majority now recognising the ways in which EVs can support their day-to-day businesses.

“We continue to enhance and expand our line-up of all-electric vehicles, including the new eTransporter and entry-level ID. Buzz variants, as well as continuously improving our range of partnerships as we support customers on this electrification journey.”

To help businesses make the switch to an electric van, Volkswagen’s Charge Anytime offer with Ovo Energy lets drivers recharge at home for just 7p per kWh.

In addition, the Charge Anytime deal gives up to 2,000 free miles of charging to Volkswagen customers for their new electric van – and up to 1,000 extra free miles over the next three years.

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Bid to win a Mini piece of Top Gear TV history

By

John Redfern

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August 27, 2025

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A battered 1990 Rover Mini, made famous by a starring role on Top Gear, is currently up for sale.

Offered online by Iconic Auctioneers, the Mini Cooper was used by Chris Harris during the BBC TV show’s Ethiopian special challenge.

Still wearing the battle scars collected on its epic adventure, the Mini has now returned to the UK and is looking for a new owner.

The timed online auction for this small piece of TV history is already live. Bids can be placed until 7pm on Thursday 28 August 2025.

A real Mini adventure

Filmed for the first episode of Top Gear season 27, the G-registered red Mini arrived on TV screens in June 2019.

It marked the start of a new era for Top Gear, with acclaimed journalist Chris Harris joined by Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuiness to present the show.

The trio were each given £4,000 to purchase an example of the first car they owned, before embarking on a journey through Ethiopia.

Harris bought the Mini Cooper, noted as being in respectable condition before it was subjected to the abuses of a Top Gear challenge.

As seen on screen

Although the exterior of the Mini is in need of some obvious attention, it is still said to start and run.

Unsurprisingly, it does not have a current MOT certificate, but it retains the registration number used during filming for Top Gear.

Rob Hubbard, managing director at Iconic Auctioneers, said: “Cars with genuine screen provenance always capture attention, and this plucky Mini will be familiar to many Top Gear viewers. It is a fun, attainable piece of television and motoring culture, and we are pleased to present it in our timed online auction.”

Taking into account its on-screen history, Iconic Auctioneers has given a guide price of £8,000 to £10,000 for the now-famous Mini.

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Call to cut ‘legal but lethal’ England and Wales drink-drive limit

By

Richard Aucock

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August 26, 2025

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England and Wales are an ‘outlier’ with the highest legal drink-drive limit in the developed world, it is claimed. This is leading to ‘legal but lethal’ drivers on British roads.

Hunter Abbott is MD of AlcoSense Laboratories, a personal breathalyser firm. He welcomes proposals from the Labour government to reduce the legal drink-drive limit in England and Wales.

“We have drivers who are legal but lethal on our roads,” said Abbott. “The evidence is clear – even modest reductions in blood alcohol concentration significantly lower the crash risk.”

Abbott referred to a 2014 study that showed drivers with a breath alcohol level of 22 micrograms are six times less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those at the legal limit.

Currently, the legal alcohol limit for drivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath (or 80 micrograms per 100ml of blood).

This is far higher than many other countries, where the legal limit is low enough that even one drink could push a driver over it.

Notably, Scotland has a lower limit of 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath, or 50 micrograms per 100ml of blood). The government plans to match the Scottish thresholds, which were introduced in 2014, throughout the rest of the UK.

‘A simple step towards saving lives’

“Bringing our limit closer to a level where intoxication is meaningfully reduced should be a no-brainer,” added Abbott, a former racing driver and karting champion.

“It’s a simple, effective step towards saving lives and would bring England and Wales in line with international standards.”

He says the proposals “would reduce alcohol-related crashes and deaths, while also encouraging more cautious behaviour among drivers.”

The lower drink-drive limit is part of Labour’s road safety strategy, due to be published in the autumn. Public consultation is expected to follow toward the end of the year and into early 2026.

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Rock and Rolls: £500k Phantom takes a plunge in swimming pool

By

John Redfern

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August 26, 2025

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Rolls-Royce has paid tribute to a rock ‘n’ roll legend by submerging its flagship Phantom in a swimming pool.

Across 100 years and eight generations, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has embedded itself into the world of music. Famous owners include everyone from Duke Ellington and Fred Astaire, to Elvis Presley and John Lennon.

The Phantom has endured as a symbol of music industry success and excess, leading Rolls-Royce to recreate the infamous tale of Keith Moon, drummer for The Who, plunging his Phantom into a pool.

The king of rock ‘n’ roll

Now part of rock folklore, the story runs that Moon was celebrating his 21st birthday at a Holiday Inn in Flint, Michigan.

While enjoying the party, Moon is said to have pushed the Rolls-Royce into the motel’s swimming pool. The drummer later claimed the car may have been a Lincoln Continental instead, with others saying no vehicle at all ended up in the water.

Perhaps the truth does not really matter, though. The idea of a submerged Rolls-Royce Phantom remains a symbol of ultimate rock ‘n’ roll extravagance.

Taking a dunk

Tinside Lido in Plymouth is, arguably, a classier location than a Michigan motel for recreating a rock legend – and dunking a Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB worth £500,000.

In collaboration with Rolling Stone magazine, Rolls-Royce placed a Phantom Series II development prototype into the water for a special photoshoot.

Moved into position by barge, and then craned onto a submerged platform, the modern interpretation is less dramatic in its execution than Keith Moon’s effort. Nonetheless, the stunt apparently led to confusion among local Plymouth residents.

An enduring cultural icon

Chris Brownridge, chief executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “From the golden age of Hollywood to the rise of hip-hop, over the last 100 years, music artists have used Phantom to project their identity and challenge convention.

“Their motor cars often became icons in their own right, with a lasting place in the history of modern music.

“This enduring connection reminds us that Rolls-Royce and the extraordinary people who are part of the marque’s story are united by one ambition: to make their presence felt.”

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Jeep slashes price of 2026 Gladiator truck for Canada

By

John Redfern

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August 22, 2025

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The 2026 Jeep Gladiator pickup has been announced for the Canadian market, with major price cuts for the new model year.

Reductions of up to CAD $11,400 have been applied across the Gladiator truck lineup, which now stretches to six trim levels.

The cuts in the MSRP mean the base 2026 Jeep Gladiator Sport S now costs from CAD $49,995 before destination costs and fees: equivalent to USD $35,600.

For the present 2025 model year, the Jeep Gladiator Sport S has a MSRP of CAD $63,190 including fees, which converts to USD $45,450.

A Canadian bargain

For comparison, the US-specification 2025 Jeep Gladiator Sport S currently costs USD $38,100 before freight and fees, meaning enthusiasts north of the border get a substantial discount for 2026.

The standard powertrain for the 2026 Jeep Gladiator remains the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. This is rated at 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

Helped by all-wheel drive, the 2026 Gladiator can haul trailers weighing up to 7,700 lb. It can also carry 1,725 lb in its load bed.

In addition, the Gladiator retains its most important selling point: being the only open-air pickup truck on the market.

‘Setting a pickup truck benchmark’

“By reducing MSRPs by as much as $11,400, we’re making the Jeep Gladiator more attainable than ever for Canadian customers,” said Jeff Hines, Stellantis president for Canada.

“This bold repositioning for the 2026 model year is a powerful statement of our commitment to delivering exceptional value — without compromising Gladiator’s legendary capability, authenticity, or its unmistakable design that sets the benchmark among midsize pickups.”

2026 Jeep Gladiator Canadian prices

Sport S – CAD $49,995 MSRP

Willys – CAD $54,995 MSRP

Mojave – CAD $64,995 MSRP

Mojave X – CAD $76,290 MSRP

Rubicon – CAD $64,995 MSRP

Rubicon X – CAD $76,290 MSRP

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New electric BYD Atto 2 SUV to cost from £30,850

By

John Redfern

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August 22, 2025

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Chinese electric car brand BYD has confirmed prices and specifications for its new Atto 2 compact SUV.

The Atto 2 is the latest model in a growing EV lineup, slotting into the BYD model range above the compact Dolphin and below the larger Atto 3.

This will see the Atto 2 take on popular rivals such as the Kia EV3, Hyundai Kona Electric and Skoda Elroq.

However, with a starting price of just £30,850 for the entry-level Boost model, the Atto 3 will undercut all these alternative electric SUVs on cost.

Bargain prices as standard

The Atto 2 features BYD’s innovative ‘Blade Battery’ pack. It also represents the company’s first use of its cell-to-body (CTB) technology in a compact model.

Integrating the battery directly into the vehicle’s chassis, CTB construction is said to offer better packaging and improved body rigidity.

Boost versions of the Atto 2 come with a 51.1kWh battery pack, offering a potential official range of up to 214 miles.

The more expensive Comfort version, priced from £34,950, makes use of a bigger 64.kWh battery. This increases the official range to 261 miles.

Charging the Atto 2 Boost from 10 to 80 percent takes 38 minutes. The Comfort model requires only 25 minutes for the same charge.

Ready to roll from September

Performance for both versions is the same: acceleration from 0-62mph takes 7.9 seconds and top speed is limited to 99mph.

Standard equipment for the Atto 2 includes BYD’s 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen. This incorporates satellite navigation, along with connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Other features include an eight-speaker audio system, panoramic sunroof, voice control and Vehicle-to-Load capability. The latter allows for mains devices – such as a portable fridge, for example – to be powered directly from the Atto 2.

Orders for the Atto 2 can be placed at BYD dealers now. First deliveries of the Boost model are due in September 2025, with Comfort versions expected later in the year.

BYD will hope the new Atto 2 helps to retain its position as the best-selling electric car brand in the world.

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Crazy 800hp Vauxhall Corsa concept is coming to Gran Turismo

By

John Redfern

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August 22, 2025

0

Vauxhall has revealed a Corsa GSE concept car: an extreme hot hatchback offering hypercar levels of power and performance.

The fully electric Vauxhall Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo has been developed in both physical and digital forms.

Following its real-world debut at the IAA Mobility 2025 event in Munich this September, the Corsa GSE Vision will be available to play in the Gran Turismo 7 video game.

It makes this eye-catching Vauxhall the latest virtual car designed for the Gran Turismo series, joining concept creations from Jaguar, Bugatti and many others.

**The Corsa of Max Power dreams**

The Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo packs two 476hp electric motors, resulting in combined outputs of 800hp and 590lb ft of torque.

Such colossal power means the all-wheel-drive Corsa GSE can accelerate from 0-62mph in a scant 2.0 seconds, and reach a top speed of 199mph.

It is performance far beyond what Vauxhall Corsa modifiers back in the 1990s could have imagined. An 80hp boost mode is also included, with an 82kWh battery pack to ensure the GSE has a decent range on the racetrack.

We have fingers and toes crossed this concept will evolve into a production car, which could potentially rival the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.

A virtual concept brought to life

A dramatic bodykit means this Corsa resembles something from the Max Power era. Indeed, its 21-inch three-spoke alloy wheels are a deliberate nod to retro Vauxhalls.

Pearl white is used to cover the exterior, with vivid yellow for the bonnet, spoiler and enormous rear diffuser. The roof and front wheelarch extensions are made from Bcomp: a lightweight material created from flax, with similar characteristics to carbon fibre.

The interior is ultra-minimalistic, with a simple steering wheel and single head-up display to allow the driver to focus on the circuit ahead.

Gran Turismo series producer, Kazunori Yamauchi, said: “We are delighted to welcome such an exciting and innovative take on the Corsa to Gran Turismo, which will be popular with GT players around the world.

“We love seeing Vision Gran Turismo cars brought to life as full-scale models and can’t wait for the reaction of fans when it is unveiled at the IAA Mobility 2025 on September 8th, before it is displayed at the Gran Turismo World Series event in Berlin on September 20th”.

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Arnold Clark opens new public EV charging network

By

Richard Aucock

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August 21, 2025

0

Auto retail giant Arnold Clark has opened its in-house electric car charging network to the public.

There are currently more than 50 Arnold Clark Charge hubs across the UK. Each has up to eight rapid chargers, with car charging speeds of up to 150kW.

They should offer good value, too. Arnold Clark Charge offers a rate of 55p per kWh at present, which compares to the industry-wide average of 81p per kWh.

More charging hub locations are due to be added by the end of the year. Arnold Clark has more than 200 car dealerships across the UK.

The firm launched Arnold Clark Charge in 2024 as part of a £30 million investment. It describes itself as the UK’s largest independently-owned family-run auto retailer.

Download the Arnold Clark app

Motorists can pay for charging in several ways: via the Arnold Clark app, contactless payments, or by using apps such as Zap-Pay, Octopus Electroverse and Plugsurfing.

Chargers at each branch are split between Arnold Clark app users and ‘pay and go’ customers. Charging sessions can also be booked through the app – and most sites are accessible 24/7.

“We’ve made significant investments in our own UK-wide bookable ultra-rapid charging network,” said Arnold Clark CEO Russell Borrie. “These new charging hubs are designed to provide the public with convenient, reliable and cost-effective charging solutions while they’re on the move.”

The firm stresses that use of the hubs is not restricted to Arnold Clark customers. Anyone can download the app, create an account and sign up to Arnold Clark Charge. “They can then book a charge at a time or a place that suits them.”

To further support the switch to electric, Arnold Clark also runs two Electric Innovation Centres in Glasgow and Stafford. These are staffed by alternative-fuel vehicle experts, who can give motorists advice on charging, EV driving tips and more.

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