The all-new Jeep Wrangler is priced from £44,495 and launches in dealers this weekend (13-14 October), the firm has announced.

The surprisingly steep prices represent a big hike over the already-heady starting price of the outgoing model: in two-door Sahara guise, that was priced from just under £38,000.

But Jeep argues the new Wrangler is such a step on, it justifies a new starting price of well over £44k for the two-door Sahara diesel auto. Although we do think describing it as “outstanding value for money” is something of a stretch.

Jeep has introduced a new 2.2-litre MultiJet II turbodiesel engine for the new Wrangler, replacing the aged old 2.8-litre CRD. Producing 200hp, it will only be sold as an eight-speed auto.

Later in the year, it will be complemented by a 272hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol.

• You could own a new Suzuki Jimny for 85p

Because it’s a rugged mud-plugger capable of breezing across the Rubicon Trail, Jeep offers the Wrangler with two types of all-wheel drive system. Command-Trac is fitted to Sahara and Overland; Rock-Trac is standard on Rubicon.

Confusingly, both systems use the same two-speed transfer case… called Selec-Trac. (Don’t forget the Tru-Lock electric front and rear locking axles, nor the Trac-Lok limited-slip differential either, adds Jeep).

An all-new version of the classic original, the new Jeep Wrangler’s modern-retro styling should please. The doors can still be removed, the windscreen still folds. It’s the only full open-top 4×4 SUV on the market, says Jeep, and customers will have a choice of 10 different colours.

LED headlights add a modern touch outside; the all-new interior has a 7-inch TFT instrument display and 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new Wrangler is even offered with safety tech such as blind spot monitoring, reversing camera and rear cross path detection – although it still only has four airbags as standard.

UK pricing: new 2019 Jeep Wrangler

Mitsubishi says it is ‘surprised and disappointed’ at the sudden decision to abolish the Plug-in Car Grant for plug-in hybrids from November 11, 2018.

The move, says the firm, “is completely at odds with the government’s stated objective of making the UK a world leader in green mobility in the future”.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, helped by the £2,500 plug-in car grant for vehicles that emit less than 50g/km CO2 (and have an electric driving range between 10-69 miles).

1,325 vehicles were sold in September alone, giving the Outlander PHEV almost a 30 percent share of the UK’s alternative fuel vehicle market.

Plug-in technology is the perfect stepping stone between conventional cars and all-electric ones, argues Mitsubishi, “particularly as the charging network is nowhere near evolved enough to support widespread full EV use”.

The firm believes the move to scrap the grant is premature, given how electric cars and plug-ins make up such a “tiny proportion” of overall new car sales.

What’s doubly frustrating for Mitsubishi is that the Outlander is a rare plug-in hybrid that already meets the strict new WLTP fuel economy test regulations. The tests make it harder for plug-ins to dip below the 50g/km CO2 limit – yet the Outlander achieved it a few months ago.

• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in WLTP win

“Only those plug-in hybrids that offer real-world efficiency and a usable EV range would qualify for the grant anyway,” said the firm.

“The Outlander PHEV is one of only a small number of plug-in hybrids still on sale.” Other popular plug-ins, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE, have been withdrawn from sale, with little sign of them returning to the market.

A sanguine Mitsubishi MD Rob Lindley is still hopeful, though. “As segment leader for the past four years, we are confident that, despite this setback, people will still see the benefits of having a 220hp, all-wheel drive SUV that… offers huge real-world fuel cost savings compared to conventual petrol- and diesel-powered SUVs”.

The money-saving government grant for plug-in hybrid car buyers will disappear from 11 November, the government has announced – a move the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has described as “astounding”.

The grant for pure electric cars will also be cut, from £4,500 to £3,500.

160,000 green new cars have been financed with support from the Plug-in Car Grant since it was introduced in 2011: 100,000 of them are plug-in hybrids. It provides cash from government to offset the higher purchase price of electric and electrified cars compared to normal ones.

The government has tried to put a positive spin on the move, claiming the announcement will “support funding of the next 35,000 of the cleanest vehicles”.

But the elimination of the grants for plug-in hybrid vehicles will add £2,500 to the list price of models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, BMW 530e and Toyota Prius Plug-In (see full list below).

In the summer, the government released its long-awaited Road to Zero roadmap, outlining future targets for low emissions transport. It includes a target of at least 50 percent of new cars sold by 2030 to be ultra-low emissions – and its stretch target is as high as 70 percent.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said the changes to the Plug-in Car Grant scheme was “totally at odds” with this.

Latest new car registration figures show that although sales of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) such as electric cars and plug-ins are growing fast, this is largely being driven by hybrid vehicles. Pure electric cars make up a small proportion of AFV registrations.

“Plug-in hybrid vehicles are among the cleanest on the road, and can deliver significant CO2 savings compared to petrol and diesel cars” admitted the Department for Transport in a statement announcing the changes.

Unusually, it specifically named the Mitsubishi Outlander as an example of a plug-in hybrid success.

“These vehicles will continue to receive support through lower car tax rates, grants for charging infrastructure and local incentives (such as free parking).”

Now, the government is “focussing its attention to zero emission models such as the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3”.

Plug-in Car Grant: today

• Category 1: £4,500 (CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km, pure electric range of at least 70 miles)
• Category 2: £2,500 (CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km, pure electric range of 10-69 miles)
• Category 3: £2,500 (CO2 emissions between 50-75g/km, pure electric range of at least 20 miles)

Plug-in Car Grant: from 9 November 2018

• Category 1: £3,500
• Category 2: ELIMINATED
• Category 3: ELIMINATED

Cars not eligible for a Plug-in Car Grant

• Audi A3 e-tron
• BMW 225xe
• BMW 330e
• BMW 530e
• Hyundai IONIQ PHEV
• Kia Niro PHEV
• Kia Optima PHEV
• Mercedes-Benz C350 e (with 17 inch rear wheels)
• Mercedes-Benz E350 e SE
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
• Mercedes-Benz E350 e AMG Line
• MINI Countryman PHEV
• Toyota Prius Plug-in
• Volkswagen Golf GTE
• Volkswagen Passat GTE
• Volvo S90 Twin Engine
• Volvo V60 D5 Twin Engine
• Volvo V60 D6 Twin Engine
• Volvo V90 Twin Engine
• Volvo XC60 Twin Engine

Summer is well and truly over. The dark mornings and early evenings are creeping up, leaves are falling, and hay fever has become a distant memory. Or perhaps not, if your car has a clogged pollen filter.

The result of the most pollen-rich summer for 12 years could be winter hay fever, warns Volkswagen. The condition is caused by trapped allergens in vehicle air filters – particularly those that see plenty of daily use, such as trucks and vans. They’re calling it ‘air filter flu’.

The solution is to make sure filters are changed regularly. These are what contain the pollen, dust, bacteria and other allergenic particulates. 

Volkswagen says more than a quarter of van drivers fail to replace cabin filters regularly. They remain a key component to check in any official vehicle inspection. 

During the course of the summer, UK businesses lost almost five days for every hay fever-stricken employee.

“Downtime remains a huge problem for van users, whether that’s the vehicle being off the road or the driver,” said Trevor Hodgson-Phillips, head of service and parts for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

“We advised van owners before the summer to replace old air filters to reduce hay fever suffering and it’s just as important to replace blocked filters ahead of winter, especially after a record year for pollen. This is an example of quick and low-cost maintenance that helps keep the driver and the van on the road.”

Read more:

• Government pulls plug-in hybrid car grants
• Ford GT hypercar recalled due to fire risk
• Drivers could be invalidating insurance with undeclared modifications

Electric cars are almost silent in operation, which creates a dangerous challenge for blind and visually impaired road users. Next year, new European legislation comes into force that makes electric car safety sound systems mandatory – but Jaguar already has one in production on the new I-Pace.

The new system was tested by members of Guide Dogs for the Blind, as part of a four-year development programme to hone a noise that’s both audible yet unobtrusive.

Crucially, the engineers didn’t want it to be heard from inside the car.  

Called the Audible Vehicle Alert System, or AVAS, the I-Pace set-up works at speeds of up to 20km/h (around 13mph) and cannot be turned off.

• Electric car range from shortest to longest

It’s surprisingly loud from outside the car, exceeding the 56dB minimum stipulated by next year’s European electric car low-speed noise alert legislation. This is described as the strictest in the world by Jaguar.

A speaker in the grille emits the noise, which can be heard in all directions. It varies in tone and pitch depending on the speed of the car – and an extra tone is added to signal the car is reversing.

As for the sound itself, Jaguar ditched early plans to make it sound like a spaceship. Pedestrians reportedly looked up at the sky rather than the road.

Instead, it sounds suitably futuristic and harmonious, and is the result of tireless development in anechoic champers and real-life urban scenarios.

John Welsman from Guide Dogs for the Blind said: “There are two million children and adults living in the UK affected by sight loss. That is why Guide Dogs campaigned hard to make it compulsory for quiet vehicles to have sound generating systems built in and turned on, including when the vehicle is stationary at a pedestrian crossing.

“We applaud Jaguar for being the first to launch an EV which meets standards before the new legislation even comes in.”

So successful have the tests between Jaguar and Guide Dogs for the Blind been, the two have now developed an ongoing relationship and plan to collaborate on other projects in the future.

Watch: Jaguar I-Pace sound approved by Guide Dogs for the Blind

A new women-only single-seater racing series has launched to aid the search for top-level female talent. It’s a response to fears that the current progression path towards the upper echelons of racing is biased towards men.

The series will begin in Spring 2019, following a stringent selection process involving track, simulator and fitness testing. A maximum of 20 of the very best will then take to the grid and race in identical Formula 3 cars.

There is a total prize fund of $1.5 million, including $500,000 for the overall winner of the series. Cash prizes go down to 18th place in the final standings. 

There is an imbalance

The new series has found favour with many big names in motor racing, from both in and out of the cockpit. Former F1 star David Coulthard is staunchly in support and takes issue with the current male-dominated roads into F1.

“In order to be a successful racing driver, you have to be skilled, determined, competitive, brave and physically fit… You also don’t have to be a man.

“At the moment, women racing drivers tend to reach a ‘glass ceiling’ at around the GP3/Formula 3 level on their learning curve, often as a result of a lack of funding rather than a lack of talent.”

Adrian Newey, one of the all-time great F1 designers and engineers, joins Coulthard in support of the new series. He too cites that it’s the opportunity that is inadequate, not the skills or physical performance ambitious female racers.

“I have a reasonable understanding of the constituents of a top-class driver’s necessary skill-set” says Newey.

“The reason why so few women have so far raced successfully at the highest levels against men may, however, be a lack of opportunity rather than a lack of capability.”

An inspiration for all women in motorsport… not just drivers

The W Series therefore is designed to give prospective female racing talent the stage on which to demonstrate their ability. W Series Racing director, Dave Ryan, says that encouraging women to get more involved in motorsport in all facets, is more important still.

“We want W Series to be a catalyst for positive change for all women in motorsport. We want W Series to encourage more girls and young women to study STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] subjects at schools, colleges and universities, so as to build rewarding careers as race mechanics, technicians, engineers, aerodynamicists and so on.”

The attention that the series is drawing and that it highlights the issue of gender imbalance in motorsport is surely a good thing. It’s one of the main goals of series creator, Catherine Bond Muir, to simply get the spotlight shone on female racing talent.

“There are just too few women competing in single-seaters series at the moment. W Series will increase that number very significantly in 2019, thereby powerfully unleashing the potential of many more female racing drivers.

“W Series drivers will become global superstars – inspirational role models for women everywhere.”

Reaction: W Series

Jamie Chadwick – British F3 winner

Many divided opinions, but personally I feel that any additional opportunity to race is positive ✅ As long as I can continue to live my dream and fulfil my ambition to race at the highest level of motorsport, then I’m happy! ? https://t.co/M5ceEGKe7G

— Jamie Chadwick (@JamieChadwick55) October 10, 2018

Abbie Eaton – first female on Blancpain Endurance Series podium

I’ve won and been on the podium in every series I’ve raced in. So what’s stopping me reaching the very top?

Not my ability. It’s lack of Money.

Why waste money on a segregation? Invest in the already successful female racers that NEED the money. #MoneyMakingScheme #WSeries

— Abbie Eaton (@AbbieEaton44) October 10, 2018

Damon Hill – 1996 F1 World Champion

Great big announcement. Big news for our sport. All the best to @therealdcf1 @TheBishF1 Adrian Newey and the W Series. Great opportunity for female aspiring racing drivers @D2BDofficial etc etc. #f1 https://t.co/gaeHb4rxgR

— Damon Hill (@HillF1) October 10, 2018

David Coulthard – multiple F1 winner

This creates opportunity rather than taking it away and that’s why I believe it’s a day my sister Lynsay would have loved to be part of #ifyouwantafundamentalchangeintheoutcomeyouneedafundamentalchangeintheprocess https://t.co/XdFgYVOww5

— David Coulthard (@therealdcf1) October 10, 2018

Race of Champions

pic.twitter.com/yyXetItUVZ

— Race Of Champions (@RaceOfChampions) October 10, 2018

The Toyota car plant in Burnaston was the first in Europe to start building hybrid cars – and, from barely two in 10 cars leaving the line as hybrids in 2010, output quickly jumped to six in 10 cars by 2017.

Today, seven in every 10 Toyotas leaving Burnaston is a hybrid. What’s more, with the introduction of the all-new Corolla later this year, Toyota expects the proportion to grow still further – to as much as 85 percent, says Tony Walker, managing director at Toyota Motor Europe (London office).

It’s not only good for the car production plant in Derby either: Toyota hybrid engines are also made in the UK, at Deeside in North Wales. “The facility is busier than ever,” said Marvin Cooke, MD of Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK. “And the engines that don’t go to Derby are exported to Turkey, for use in the C-HR.” Currently, 55 percent of Deeside-made motors are exported from the UK.

Toyota will not sell a diesel version of the new Corolla: the engine line-up will comprise a 1.8-litre hybrid, a new and more powerful 2.0-litre hybrid and a 1.2-litre turbo petrol (built overseas). All are made on the same line – and Toyota has used the installation of the new TNGA global architecture system at Burnaston to make it more efficient. It’s now even easier to fit a hybrid system.

Last year, Burnaston produced around 1 in 11 British-built new cars and is currently in the final stages of a £250 million investment programme to build the new Corolla hatch and estate. This takes total Toyota investment in the UK since 1992 to £2.5 billion.

Switching on to electrification

Hybrid (hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs), believes Toyota, will remain a key part of the alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet, along with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), fuel cells (FCEVs) and battery electric cars (BEVs).

By 2030, half of Toyota’s new car fleet (around 5.5 million vehicles) will be electrified “but we still see the majority being hybrid, as most AFVs are today”.

The Corolla replaces the Auris, and even the most efficient non-hybrid petrol version still emits around 25 percent more CO2 than the Auris Hybrid. In town, hybrids offer a limted range of pure electric driving and Toyota adds constant development of the hybrid system has reduced its rare earth content to 10 percent of the original 1997 Prius.

Walker, speaking at a regional SMMT event in Derby, also called for a greater understanding of vehicle electrification. “They are not only ones you can plug-in: from today’s range of electrified vehicle options, only two actually need to be plugged in.” Toyota, he said, has started referring to its hybrids as ‘self-charging hybrids’ as a result.

“The Road to Zero strategy seems to favour battery electric vehicles and we want to level up the emphasis. Battery electric vehicles are good for shorter journeys, but we see today’s hybrids and plug-in hybrids still taking a greater share of medium range journeys.”

Cooke added that Burnaston has proven so flexible, and the workforce so engaged, the facility could theoretically start building hydrogen fuel cell vehicles within two years. “There are no current plans, but the engineering has been simplified so much, it wouldn’t worry me.”

Toyota has committed to installing TNGA-based powertrains in 80 percent of the cars it sells in all major regions globally. Fuel cells, it added, will be a key future technology in its pursuit to popularise electrified vehicles.