Fears of modern day slavery, health and safety breaches, and tax avoidance at hand car washes are some of the concerns hoped to be tackled by the newly launched Responsible Car Wash Scheme.

Numerous agencies across government, from the Environment Agency to HMRC, have contributed to creating the new scheme. It could mean that the end of the cheap hand car wash is over, but at least drivers will be able to have a clean conscience. 

With up to 20,000 car washes operating across the UK, the potential for regulatory breaches is huge. Whilst many do operate within the law, agencies such as the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) are well aware of workers being exploited, or denied the correct protective equipment. 

The Responsible Car Wash Scheme will allow operators to become accredited members. This will involve guidance on how to ensure they are operating legally, combined with audits and assessments of working practices. Spot checks will also be undertaken to ensure that members are adhering to the rules.

Scheme members will be able to display a special logo, marking them out clearly to consumers. The aim is that this will enable drivers to pick a car wash that is ethically and environmentally sound. 

As a result, standards across the car wash industry should hopefully be raised, whilst unscrupulous operators may find that their business dries up.

Five major supermarkets have backed the scheme, aiming to be the first to ensure that car washes operated on their sites meet the requirements. In turn, this should enable the public to become familiar with the logo of the Responsible Car Wash Scheme. Darryl Dixon from the GLAA believes the Scheme will be important to operators, but also so that consumer can “make a simple decision of using a legal operator or not.”

A pilot will be undertaken across the Midlands area throughout November. The results of this will determine a roll out across the wider UK.

For those concerned at the idea of having to pay more, drivers can rest assured that the scheme will not extend to press-ganging their children to wash the car on a Sunday morning for pocket money. 

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The Vauxhall Corsa surprisingly topped the European new car registrations chart in September 2018 as the shake-out from the new WLTP fuel economy tests continues.  

And the Volkswagen Golf, the car that is usually the EU’s favourite new motor? The premium hatchback had occupied the top spot since March 2017, but saw a massive 71 percent decline during September, slumping 12 places to 13th.

European automakers have already reported the extent of the September drop, with new car registrations down 30.5 percent across the EU. The UK fell 20 percent. 

JATO data shows that, in early October, only 57 percent of all models sold across Europe were homologated to the new WLTP rules. That’s 2,898 cars, which leaves over 2,100 cars which are still to be homologated. 

Deliveries cannot recommence until these cars have official approval. Progress has been made by the premium manufacturers, whose compliance percentage has jumped to 63 percent, while the luxury and supercar brands registered the lowest percentage at 8 percent.

Overall, 1.2 million vehicles were registered across Europe in September 2018 – 343,000 fewer than in the same month last year. The slump looks even more severe following the artificially inflated period in August, when sales were boosted by business registrations and stock clearances ahead of the introduction of WLTP.

How long will the drop last?

Felipe Munoz, JATO’s global analyst, said: “This is a huge drop, but it was somewhat expected across the automotive industry. We will continue to see registrations decline so long as a large portion of the market’s versions remains unavailable under the new test conditions.

“The big question now is how long the drop will last, which will depend on how long it takes carmakers to homologate the models they want to keep on the market.”

Of the top 25 brands, only Volvo in 16th (up 3 percent), Mitsubishi in 23rd (up 19 percent) and Jaguar in 25th (up 29 percent), managed to record an increase in registrations. PSA overtook Volkswagen to become Europe’s number one carmaker, while Opel/Vauxhall led the rankings by brand.

The top 10 models in full

1. Vauxhall/Opel Corsa – 24,752 registrations (up 5%)
2. Ford Fiesta – 22,478 (up 20%)
3. Renault Clio – 21,944 (down 18%)
4. Toyota Yaris – 19,479 (up 2%)
5. Peugeot 208 – 17,751 (down 12%)
6. Mercedes-Benz A-Class – 17,680 (up 7%)
7. Citroen C3 – 16,307 (up 1%)
8. Fiat 500 – 15,876 (down 16%)
9. Volkswagen Polo – 15,864 (down 21%)
10. Peugeot 3008 – 15,315 (up 8%)

Other models of note: Skoda Octavia 11th (down 25%), Volkswagen Golf 13th (down 71%), Nissan Qashqai 17th (down 51%), Mercedes-Benz C-Class 20th (down 28%), Ford Focus 21st (down 40%) and Toyota C-HR 24th (up 23%)

Read more:

• What the new WLTP car fuel economy test means for you
• Every new BMW now meets new WLTP fuel economy regulations
• Updated Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in WLTP win

A hydrogen fuel cell car has been tested for the first time by Euro NCAP – and the Hyundai Nexo has set the bar high with a maximum five-star rating.

The results of the test “should dispel concerns about how hydrogen fuel cell powered cars perform in a crash,” said Euro NCAP testing partner Thatcham Research’s director of research Matthew Avery.

“With the Nexo, Hyundai has successfully demonstrated that alternative fuelled cars need not pose a risk to car safety.”

Hyundai’s standard-setting result was also praised by Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen. It points the way for future powertrains, he said, “and Euro NCAP will work to ensure that the safety performance as well as energy efficiency remains at the top of the manufactures’ agenda”.

The Hyundai Nexo fuel cell is refilled with hydrogen, which powers a fuel cell that converts this into electricity. It is a zero-emissions model that ‘cleans the air as it drives’, and will be offered in right-hand drive guise from early 2019.

It is also a contender for the 2019 World Car Awards. 

There was another five-star result for another alternative fuel car, the hybrid Lexus ES, while the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Mazda 6 also scored five stars.

The van-derived people carrier trio of the Peugeot Rifter, Citroen Berlingo and new Vauxhall Combo earned four stars.

“This is a satisfying set of solid test results and we are pleased that cars continue to perform well in the AEB tests, including for pedestrians and cyclist,” said van Ratingen.

“It is very welcome to see manufacturers rising to Euro NCAP’s challenge of effective vulnerable road user protection.”

Audi has revealed a facelifted R8 supercar ahead of sales beginning in early 2019. It has sharper looks, crisper handling – and now the power to equal its arch-rival, the mighty McLaren 570S.

The 5.2-litre V10’s power boost to 570hp sees it gain a significant 30hp. Audi says that’s thanks to learning from the “almost identical” engine in its race-going R8 LMS GT3 and R8 LMS GT4.

And there’s more: a new titanium valvetrain for the enhanced Performance version (formerly called Plus) takes the power of that up to 620hp, a 10hp gain. It does 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds; the regular car still does it in 3.4 seconds.

Both cars’ exhausts are cleaned up by a gasoline particulate filter. The clean-breathing supercar is here; a switch from rectangular to oval tailpipes is a visual indicator of the filtered R8.

Audi says it’s also had to upgrade the pump for the dry sump engine’s oil system. That’s because it’s now capable of cornering at 1.5 G. Handling is also more stable and precise, reckon the engineers, and the steering delivers a better, more pure response.

New ‘dry’, ‘wet’ and ‘snow’ modes are added to the Audi drive select system, while tweaks to the stability control system (ESC) mean the range-topper brakes from 62mph 1.5 metres earlier – and from 124mph five metres earlier.

A wider, flatter ‘Singleframe’ grille marks out the revised R8 range. The shiny aluminium honeycomb of the old car is gone, as are the vertical vanes in the outer air inlets: overall, the intakes are bigger and the features around them sharper and crisper.

Audi’s added three slits at the top of the grille, to reference the Ur-quattro, and a wider front splitter at the bottom.

Two new colours, Kemora Gray (seen above on the R8 Spyder) and Ascari Blue, are added, and three different exterior styling packs are offered. The Audi badges and rings can be painted gloss black too, completing the new car’s moodier appearance.

Audi Sport GmbH technical MD Oliver Hoffmann succinctly sums up the new R8: “It’s now even more powerful and faster.” But he also stresses the motorsport aspect and throws up a fact that supercar buffs might like to quote.

“With around 50 percent shared parts with the R8 LMS GT3 and even 60 percent with the R8 LMS GT4, no other automobile is so close to motor racing as the R8.”

Prices for the revised road-going racer Audi R8 will be revealed later, ahead of order opening in early 2019. Now over to you, McLaren: time to rename the 570S in response?

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is currently the world’s fastest four-door around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Now, for €199 (£175), passengers can go along for the ride.

A Project 8 saloon has been added to the Jaguar Nürburgring Race Taxi fleet, lining up alongside the existing XJR575 hot limo.

We can’t promise XE passengers will sample a lap time in 7 minutes, 21.23 seconds, but the combination of extreme Jaguar and pro driver should still be quite the experience.

Indeed, Jaguar bolted on some measuring gear and said passengers will experience g-forces of more than 1.3g during the 12.9-mile, 73-turn lap, peaking at up to 1.8g around the famous Karussell. Speeds in excess of 155mph will be the norm on the straights.

The 600hp, 200mph Project 8 is no stranger to the Nürburgring. Much of its development was done at the SV Development Centre, located on the other side of the road that runs parallel to the track.

The Race Taxi Project 8 is in two-seat Track Pack spec and Jaguar says it’s easily the most circuit-biased car Special Vehicle Operations has yet built. It’s actually the first Jaguar to come with a dedicated Track Mode setting.

It’s also the first car in the world to come with ceramic wheel bearings – tech that to now has only been used in F1 racing.

Fancy a spin? If you’re quick, your £175 will get you a ride until the circuit closes in mid-November (book at www.jaguar-experience.de). Jaguar will then run the Nürburgring Race Taxi Project 8 throughout 2019.

Uber wants every car on the app in London to be fully electric by 2025 – and, from early 2019, will add a 15p per mile ‘clean air fee’ onto every ride to pay for it.

The fee will add 45p to the average Uber ride in London, estimates the firm.

Cash raised will help Uber drivers switch into fully electric cars, as part of the new Uber Clean Air Plan announced today.

Uber will base how much drivers get to upgrade on the hours they’ve worked on the app. A driver working 40 hours per week today could get £3,000 of EV upgrade support in two years’ time.

This would rise to £4,500 in three years.

Uber bosses say the clean air fee could raise £200 million in the next few years – and expects the first 20,000 drivers to have switched into electric vehicles by the end of 2021.

Electric vehicle charging will also be facilitated by an Uber-led partnership between home charging suppliers, and another collaboration with ChargePoint to install rapid charging points in Central London.

Uber scrappage scheme

The ride-sharing app is also taking steps to clean up London air today, with a ‘scrappage scheme’ initiative aimed at Uber riders.

The firm will give 1,000 people in London, who scrap a pre-Euro 4 diesel vehicle, £1,500 of credit to spend on Uber rides.

Uber’s plans for London are intended to future-proof it for London’s ever-tightening restrictions on vehicle usage, and also win the confidence of regulators. Last year, Transport for London (TfL) said it would not renew Uber’s licence to operate in the capital.

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A court case saw Uber granted a short-term licence of 15 months rather than five years, and the company said this was a ‘wake-up call’. It is now hoping to prove to TfL it is a responsible operator.

“The Mayor of London has set out a bold vision to tackle air pollution in the capital and we’re determined to do everything we can to back it,” said Uber CEP Dara Khosrowshahi.

The Clean Air Plan is described as a long-term investment that Uber hopes will see Londoners “replace their car with their phone by offering a range of mobility options – whether car, bikes, scooters or public transport – all in the Uber app”.

Chris Large from Global Action Plan, the charity behind Clean Air Day, called Uber’s plan “one of the most ambitious aims of any major company in the future mobility sector.

“Two major barriers slowing the uptake of electric cars are still the purchase price and substandard charging network. Uber’s efforts to overcome these barriers should be commended.”

Company car drivers running a BMW 320d SE are now paying 105 percent more Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax than they were a decade ago – despite real wages only rising 20 percent.

Automotive analysts CAP HPI says the tax increase for the BMW, a favourite of fleet car drivers, is proof of how the tax burden has ‘soared’ since 2009.

The firm thus wants the government to rethink its approach to company car tax ahead of the 2018 Budget on 29 October.

The tax burden on company car drivers has intensified in 2018 with the introduction of the new WLTP fuel economy regulations. This has seen CO2 increases on many models, which is having “a real impact” on fleets.

“Successive governments have continued to ramp up taxes on company car drivers to the point where it has become punitive,” said Matt Freeman, CAP HPI’s managing consultant.

“Hitting the company car driver will not help the UK meet its environmental targets.” Company cars are usually among the newest and most advanced, he said.

“A more balanced approach is needed to protect both the industry and the environment.”

Earlier this year, CAP HPI warned that clamping down on diesels may see the UK miss the 2021 EU CO2 targets. It was already challenging even before the demonization of diesel, said Freeman.

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“It is imperative that diesel continues to command a substantial share of the new car marketplace.

“If consumers, with no option of transitioning to hybrid or EVs, switch to petrol, the environmental impact is clear – their CO2 emissions would likely rise between 3 percent and 23 percent.”

Company cars, he added, typically account for more than half the UK new car market. Cleaning up fleets is one of the quickest ways to quickly reduce new car CO2 emissions – but also rapidly increasing them if drivers instead switch from diesel to petrol…  

Only when you’ve survived death by Jeremy Clarkson, had a war named in your honour and conquested both the North and South Poles can you wear the ‘Invincible’ tag.

The Toyota Hilux Invincible 50 is a celebration of the toughest, rugged and most kick-ass pickup on the planet. Form a disorderly queue, because just 50 individually numbered examples will be available for UK customers.

We suspect the numbered plaque was applied by a tattoo artist drunk on Elijah Craig barrel-proof whiskey to the soundtrack of Now That’s What I Call Death Metal.

The tattooist was probably on hand to work on the classic T.O.Y.O.T.A tailgate decal, which is the most welcome nod to history since Suzuki unveiled the new Jimny. Just don’t expect the Jimny to emerge unscathed from a battle with the Hilux – that would be like Dwayne Johnson inviting your Aunt Hilda for an evening of arm-wrestling.

Toyota turned to the tough-as-old-boots Arctic Trucks for help with the Invincible 50, with the Iceland-based outfit instrumental in the decision to add Bilstein suspension and 265/75R16 BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres.

The vehicle is raised by 40mm at the front and 20mm at the rear for those moments when you’re driving over small obstacles, like stately homes, entire villages and The Wall along the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms.

‘Genuine Hilux enthusiasts’

Styling features include bespoke, wider front and rear wings, a double-hoop sports bar and four high-power Vision X LED lights for launching your own personal crusade on fog light abusers. The 16-inch alloy wheels are unique to the Invincible 50 because other Hilux models are too lily-livered to wear them.

All vehicles are finished in black paintwork – marigold or vanilla wouldn’t have cut it – and powered by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has rear parking sensors, although we doubt a Hilux driver would ever admit to using them.

Toyota reckons the order books will open on 1 November, and interested parties are invited to a bare-knuckle fight at an as-yet-unknown industrial estate to find out who be given the keys to the 50 pickups. Alternatively, you can simply speak to your local Toyota dealer.

As for the price, Toyota says it will be “accessible for genuine Hilux enthusiasts”, but we reckon you’ll have to pay well over £40,000 for this flagship anniversary edition.

Read more:

• 50 years of the truck Jeremy Clarkson couldn’t kill
• Opinion: This Arctic Truck is the best thing I’ve driven this year
• Geneva 2018: the best new SUVs and trucks