Popular electric charge point locator app Zap-Map has launched a new route planner tool that lets electric car owners plan long journeys without having to worry about finding chargers en route.
The new tool will suggest up to three rapid chargers situated within a mile of their route, based on the estimated battery range of their car: users pre-select this when setting up the app.
Users can alter the parameters if they wish, creating a customised route: charger search criteria can be tweaked, as can percentage battery charge assumptions and route filters. EV newbies can also choose to have a higher battery ‘buffer’; old hands can remove this so they have a lower level of battery charge upon arrival.
Clever features will even use real-world data to automatically reduce the range if a lead-footed driver averages much over 50mph, or if they drive on roads with significant inclines.
The app, which has launched on Android devices and is due on iOS later this summer, contains a network of almost 16,800 public chargers at nearly 5,900 locations. Over half of them will show their status, which is updated every five minutes.
Zap-Map COO and co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham said: “With over 60,000 Zap-Map users across our desktop and app platforms each month and the EV parc expanding at a rapid rate, we know that there is a real demand from EV drivers.
“This new Route Planner will enable EV drivers to plan their electric journeys across any charge point network, with the latest status information.”
There’s more in the pipeline, too: future releases will let users select additional range factors, and alert them if important roads are closed or charging stations go offline.
A study commissioned by the Department for Transport has found that roadwork permit schemes have meant big benefits for drivers.
First introduced in 2010, permit schemes give councils more control over the roadworks undertaken on their streets. Companies have to apply to the local authority for a permit to carry out the work before starting, helping councils plan to minimise disruption.
The report found that in areas where permit schemes were used, the length of disruption to motorists was reduced by an average of more than three days. Findings also showed that the number of roadworks that overran were also reduced by the use of permits.
A key factors in the success of the scheme is that permits can specify what times of the day companies can undertake the works. Limits on the number of days allowed for the work, and even where equipment can be stored, can also be prescribed by the local authority. This stops companies and contractors from dragging out maintenance work unnecessarily.
Some 65% of local authorities now have permit schemes in place, with the Department for Transport encouraging the remaining 35% to introduce them as soon as possible.
A nationwide rollout of lane rental schemes will also follow later this year, and complement the use of permits. Lane rental sees utility companies charged up to £2,500 per day to dig up the busiest roads, further incentivising firms to get work done sooner.
At present, lane rental has only been trialled in London and Kent. However, the initial signs are that again they have had a positive impact on helping reduce congestion. Further guidance will be issued later in 2018 to see lane rental schemes applied across the country.
Roads Minister Jesse Norman has claimed that roadworks cost the UK economy more than £4 billion each year. The Department for Transport also has plans to encourage utility companies to place services beneath pavements, rather than roads, to minimise disruption.
A survey has found that members of the general public rate BMW to be the most innovative car brand.
Advent Consulting asked samples of more than 1,000 people in the United States, China and the United Kingdom to come up with its data.
In the UK, BMW was a clear winner, receiving some 20% of the vote. Fellow German company Audi was in second place with 17%, followed by Mercedes-Benz notching up 11% for third.
The results were not the same across the globe, however. In the United States it was Tesla that came out on top. The pioneering startup amassed the approval of 28% of those surveyed for innovation. With the sample made up of those aged over 12 years old, perhaps those voting for Tesla were not the ones currently awaiting delivery of a Model 3.
German manufacturers struggled to gain recognition in the United States overall, despite several brands having production facilities in America. Toyota was in second place with 22%, narrowly beating BMW in third place with 21%.
Members of the public surveyed in China placed Mercedes-Benz in second place behind BMW, with Audi ranked third. Domestic manufacturer BYD Auto claimed fourth place, no doubt aided by the firm’s commitment to becoming the top-selling plug-in electric car brand in the world.
Honda has agreed to supply Red Bull Racing with Formula One engines from 2019. The two-year deal will see Red Bull switch from its current supply of Renault engines.
Red Bull Scuderia Toro Rosso (pictured above) will also continue to use Honda F1 engines, meaning the Japanese automaker will supply two teams – each using identical-specification Honda Power Units.
“This partnership with Honda signals a new era for Red Bull Group in Formula One with both the Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing teams benefitting from common supply co-ordinated through Red Bull Technology,” said Red Bull motorsport adviser Dr. Helmut Marko.
“We have been extremely impressed by Honda’s commitment and progress and share like-minded ambitions to compete for Championships.”
Honda Motor Co. Ltd president and representative director Takahiro Hachigo revealed that discussions around the deal proceeded quickly, “thanks to Red Bull’s open and respectful attitude towards Honda, leading to a deal that is fair and equitable for all parties.
“Having two teams means we can access twice as much data as previously. We believe that working with both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing will allow us to get closer to our goal of winning races and Championships, building two strong partnerships.”
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner says the decision was taken dispassionately, and with one sole criteria: “do we believe the outcome will allow us to compete at a higher level.
“After careful consideration and evaluation we are certain this partnership with Honda is the right direction for the team. We have been impressed by Honda’s commitment to F1, by the rapid steps they have made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of their ambition, which matches our own.”
Honda suffered a tumultuous return to F1 in partnership with McLaren, and the two agreed to part last year. This year, McLaren is using the same Renault engines as Red Bull, but it’s the performance of the Honda-powered Toro Rosso team that has impressed many in the sport.
Red Bull, which has already won this year with Renault engines, clearly seen enough to convince itself that championships with Honda are a realistic possibility.
It’s going to be a fascinating few years in the sport…
Following on from announcements that Volvo partnered with Amazon to deliver V40s directly to interested customers, Citroen’s premium DS brand now has a similar scheme.
Billed by DS as taking a ‘test drive from your drive’, those in the market for the DS 7 Crossback SUV can now have one delivered straight to their door to try out. No more traipsing down to the dealership to run the gauntlet of salespeople now.
The DS 7 Crossback will be delivered by an ‘ambassador’ who can explain more about what the car can offer. And also to make sure you don’t abuse the new SUV out on the road, we imagine. DS believes that letting customers drive the car on their local streets will help them spend less time worrying about where to go, and more time enjoying the Crossback.
At present, the scheme is limited to those based within the M25 only, meaning those outside of London and the surrounding areas will still have to do things the old-fashioned way. Those fortunate to be inside the area covered can sign up online and specify their location of choice.
The launch of this scheme by DS follows a string of schemes and ideas from companies keen to challenge the traditional method of buying a new car. From Volvo teaming up with Amazon, to Skoda offering bespoke virtual tours of their products, consumers now have more options than ever on researching their next purchase.
This summer, all football roads lead to Russia, as fans across the globe tune in to watch the 2018 World Cup. Can Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane lead England to victory? That remains to be seen, but in the meantime, we’ve taken a look at the cars driven by the England squad members. Contains Range Rover.
Jordan Pickford (Everton): Mercedes-Benz C220 AMG Sport
Jordan Pickford is expected to be England’s number one keeper in Russia, but we’ve been unable to identify his current choice of wheels. In December 2012, he posted four photos of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C220 AMG Sport, with the caption: “Goodbye Audi, hello the Merc.”
Kyle Walker (Man City): Lamborghini Huracan
Kyle Walker played a key role in Manchester City’s title-winning season and is expected to be a central figure in England’s World Cup bid. In September 2017, Walker was named as the fastest Premier League player, so it’s perhaps fitting that he drives a Lamborghini.
Danny Rose (Tottenham): Range Rover Autobiography
Danny Rose is said to be up against Kieran Trippier for a place in the starting 11. Meanwhile, the Spurs star, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, drives a Range Rover Autobiography.
Eric Dier (Tottenham): Range Rover Sport
Should England lift the trophy, Kahn Design founder and CEO Afzal Kahn has promised to gift Eric Dier the number plate ‘NO 4’, said to be valued at £500,000. It’ll look good on his Range Rover Sport.
John Stones (Man City): Mini Cooper
Last summer, John Stones was pictured driving Kyle Walker to training in a Mini Cooper. The England and Man City defender posted a video of the drive on Instagram.
Harry Maguire (Leicester City): Audi A5 S Line
In June 2013, Harry Maguire took delivery of a new Audi A5 S Line. At the time he was playing for Sheffield United, so we suspect he has moved on to something with a little more bling since his move to Leicester City (via Hull City).
Jesse Lingard (Man Utd): Bentley Continental GT
Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard drives a Continental GT, complete with a red Bentley badge on the bonnet. There are more Bentleys in Cheshire than there are tanning shops. Probably.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool): Audi RS7
Jordan Henderson has been spotted driving many cars, including… yes, you’ve guessed it… a Range Rover, along with an Audi RS7.
Harry Kane (Tottenham): Jaguar F-Pace
England expects Harry Kane to deliver the goods in Russia, but at least we know he’s patriotic about his home nation. He owns three cars, all of which are made in England – a Jaguar F-Pace, Range Rover Autobiography and Bentley Continental GT Supersports.
Raheem has been spied driving a number of cars over the years, including a Smart Fortwo, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Audi S7 Sportback, Audi Q7, Range Rover Evoque, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga. This is his Flying Spur-based Onyx Bentley GTX 700-4.
When Jamie Vardy signed a new £13m contract at Leicester City, he celebrated by splashing out on a Bentley Continental GT. Tipping his hat to his club, the Bentley is finished in blue, while the number plate is a highly personalised ‘J9 VDY’.
Kieran Trippier (Tottenham)
Here’s Kieran Trippier during his time at Burnley, when the club was presented with two new MG3s. The England wing-back is pictured on the left, alongside Steve Durkin (MG dealer), Sam Vokes and Tom Heaton.
Jack Butland (Stoke City): Audi RS5
In 2014, Jack Butland took to Twitter to appeal for help in finding his Audi RS5. The car was stolen from his driveway just hours before his full Premier League debut against Liverpool.
Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
Danny Welbeck, pictured here on Citroen duties for Arsenal, has owned a number of cars, including an Audi S3 and a Corvette, with the Chevrolet presented to him as part of the American giant’s sponsorship of his former club, Manchester United.
Gary Cahill (Chelsea): Range Rover Sport SVR
Gary Cahill has owned a number of Range Rovers and has often been papped around Stamford Bridge or the club’s Cobham Training Centre. This tweet from 2016 suggests he took delivery of a new Range Rover Sport. A 575hp SVR, perhaps?
Phil Jones (Man Utd): Range Rover Sport SVR
Phil Jones is another England star with an Onyx Bentley on his drive, but earlier this year, the Manchester United defender picked up the keys to a new Range Rover Sport SVR. The fastest Land Rover ever costs from £101,145 and can top 162mph.
Nottingham-based AC13 create bespoke Mercedes-Benz V-Class special editions, “built for complete practicality as well as keeping that faultless luxurious feel throughout”. Perfect for Manchester City and England star, Fabian Delph.
Ashley Young (Man Utd): Bentley Continental GTC
According to social media, Ashley Young has owned a number of flash motors, including a Bentley Continental GTC, Audi Q3 and a customised Range Rover Vogue.
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd): Urban Automotive Range Rover SVR
Urban Automotive specialise in body kits, styling and alloy wheels for Land Rover vehicles, and the Milton Keynes-based company can boast England starlet Marcus Rashford as one of its clients. The Manchester United forward has also been spotted at the wheel of various Mercedes-Benz cars.
Dele Alli (Tottenham): Bentley Continental GT Supersports
Much is expected of Dele Alli, with England fans hoping his successful partnership with Harry Kane will migrate from the Premier League to the World Cup. He drives a Bentley Continental GT Supersports.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea): Mercedes-Benz CLA
Ruben Loftus-Cheek spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Crystal Palace, but here he is leaving a Chelsea game in 2016 at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): Audi A3
Trent Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed an amazing season, starring for Liverpool in their run to the Champions League final and making it to the World Cup as part of the England squad. As yet, the fame and fortune hasn’t gone to his head – he still drives a humble Audi A3.
Nick Pope (Burnley): a milk float?
We’re not sure what car Nick Pope drives, but in a recent interview he revealed that he used to be a milkman. This will come in handy if he plays in goal at the World Cup, as you need a lot of bottle to face the world’s best strikers. Badum-tish.
If you’re out on the pull this summer, you’ll need a car that’s up for the challenge. Fortunately, the experts at Practical Caravan, What Car? and The Camping and Caravanning Club have put their heads together to bring us the Tow Car Awards 2018. Put simply, these are the best cars for pulling.
A total of 44 cars were entered this year, each one matched to a caravan from the UK’s biggest caravan manufacturer, the Swift Group, or a trailer ballasted to the recommended maximum of 85 percent of its kerbweight. Cars are also assessed for value for money, ride comfort, running costs, refinement, passenger space and practicality.
Up to 1,400kg: Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L DSG
The Skoda Octavia scoops the award for the best small tow car, with the judges saying: “This is getting to be something of a habit for the Skoda Octavia. Every year but one since 2013, the Octavia has been our favourite small tow car.” The judges loved the huge boot, space for passengers and high speed stability.
The Octavia handled the lane-change test reasonably well, although the caravan was swaying and starting pull hard at the back of the car. However, the judges praised the brakes, saying: “If you need to stop in a hurry rather than swerve you’ll find the Octavia’s brakes reassuringly powerful. The car took just 10.8 metres to stop from 30mph on a dry track.”
1,400-1,549kg: Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L Executive
Moving on to the Skoda Superb, which is a winner in the 1,400-1,549kg category. Commenting on the Superb’s success, the judges said: “It’s hard to find any really serious faults with the Skoda Superb. It puts a big tick in just about every important box.” High praise from the experts.
The Superb took one of the sternest challenges in its stride, with the experts saying: “Arguably the toughest test we put cars through is the emergency lane-change. It’s far more violent than any swerve you would hope to make on the public road unless you had to change direction at the last minute to avoid an accident. The test was performed three times at steadily increasing speeds and only on the third and final run could the caravan be felt pulling at the back of the car.”
Moving up a level, the Peugeot takes the prize in the 1,550-1,699kg category. The judges were quick to praise the “exemplary” stability, the ride comfort and the “refined and smooth” engine.
“For a car of this size and price the Peugeot is rather light – a plus for most owners, but not necessarily for caravanners. However, provided the 5008 makes a suitable match for your tourer it’s an excellent tow car,” said the judges.
1,700kg-1,899kg: BMW 520d Touring xDrive M Sport
This is one of the toughest categories, with the judges commenting that half a dozen new models could have taken the honours. So, why did the BMW 520d Touring emerge victorious? “Because if you make a list of the attributes you’d want from a tow car, the 5 Series Touring has all of them.”
The judges said the BMW was “unshakeable at speed”, before describing the car as “unfazed” during the lane-change test. The 5 Series Touring was also praised for its interior space, boot size and ride comfort.
1,900kg+: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 TD6 HSE
According to the judges, victory for the Land Rover Discovery “never looked in serious doubt”, with the experts describing the off-roader as a “compelling all-round car”, with a “calm assurance to everything it does”.
The judges also described its performance in the lane-change test as “imperious”, before praising its performance on the 1-in-3 hill-start test – “something we wouldn’t even consider in the vast majority of cars”. The Discovery earned the second highest practicality score of any car tested this year.
Best ultralight tow car: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 115PS SEL DSG
Provided you match the Volkswagen Polo to a lightweight caravan, it makes for a very fine ultralight tow car. That’s according the judges, who praised its “big-car feel in terms of ride comfort and refinement”.
The legal towing limit is just 1,100kg – or 1,070kg going by the VIN plate rather than Volkswagen’s brochure – while the Polo’s 355-litre boot is large enough for a short break on the continent.
Best petrol tow car: Kia Stinger 2.0 T-GDI GT-Line
“We’ll admit the Stinger doesn’t look like a typical tow car. But the Kia proves that you don’t need a practical estate or a tough SUV to go caravanning,” said the judges. It also makes for a most agreeable photo!
The judges praised the “lively and willing” 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and “secure and stable” motorway manners. The Stinger also scored highly for its boot, which offers “room to squeeze in more bags than we found in some SUVs”. Overall, the Kia Stinger 2.0 petrol is described as a “surprise package”.
Best family SUV: Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro
A day doesn’t go by without Volvo winning an award, so the Swedes might need to order another trophy cabinet. At least Volvo won’t have any problems hauling the cabinet back from Ikea, with the XC40 scooping the award for best family SUV.
The XC40 was praised for its stability, acceleration, drama-free lane-changing capabilities and “beautifully put together” interior. Only the transmission tunnel and a relatively small boot managed to blot a near-perfect copybook.
The i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi wins the fuel economy award, with David Motton, Practical Caravan tow car editor, commenting: “Not only was the Hyundai’s 24mpg the best economy figure of the cars we tested, we were also impressed with the i30 Tourer’s stability at speed and composure in emergency manoeuvres. The Hyundai is a frugal and practical lightweight tow car.”
Tony Whitehorn, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, added: “When choosing a car for towing purposes, good fuel economy and practicality will be important considerations for many customers. I’m therefore delighted that the i30 Tourer has been recognised for its efficiency at this year’s Tow Car Awards. The Tourer is a great choice for lightweight towing and proves itself as an extremely practical family car – especially for those long journeys. It also comes with the added peace of mind of Hyundai’s industry-leading five year unlimited mileage warranty,”
Overall winner: BMW 520d Touring xDrive M Sport
Which brings us to the overall winner. The judges claimed it was an easy decision, saying: “The 5 Series Touring is an excellent car, and in the specification we tested it’s close to perfect for towing. BMW’s xDrive 4×4 system means the car has good traction in all weathers, and the 520d’s 2.0-litre diesel strikes pretty much the ideal balance between price, performance and economy.”
The world has woken up to the scandal of plastic waste, and Volvo is one of the first carmakers to respond with a headline commitment: all its new cars will, by 2025, contain 25 percent recycled plastics.
The firm’s even revealed an early special-build XC60 (the 2018 World Car of the Year) that features a large amount of recycled plastics – yet is visually identical to a conventional car off the production line.
“Volvo is committed to minimising its global environmental footprint,” said Hakan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “Environmental care is one of Volvo’s core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business.
“This car and our recycled plastics ambition are further examples of that commitment.”
The recycled XC60 contains the following innovations:
Tunnel console made from renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes
Carpet made from PET plastics bottles and recycled cotton from clothing manufacturers’ offcuts
Seats containing PET fibres from plastic bottles
Underbonnet soundproofing made out of used car seats from old Volvos
Volvo revealed the recycled-plastics XC60 at the Ocean Summit during the Gothenburg Volvo Ocean Race stopover. The race is already working in partnership with the United Nations Environment Clean Seas campaign: hence the ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’ branding.
“Extensive recycling and reuse of plastic is vital to our efforts to turn the tide on plastic pollution” said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment.
“Volvo’s move to integrate plastic waste into the design of their next fleet of cars sets a new benchmark that we hope others in the car industry will follow.
“This is proof that this problem can be solved by design and innovation.”
Other environmental targets Volvo’s set itself include electrifying all its new cars by 2019, selling 50 percent fully electric cars by 2025, and making its manufacturing operations climate-neutral by 2025.
Auto Trader has vowed to give away a new car every time England score a goal in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Up for grabs are an Abarth 595, Alfa Romeo Mito, Fiat 500X and a Jeep Renegade.
The new and used car marketplace has signed up England legend (and one-time rapper) John Barnes as ambassador for the campaign. “It’s impossible to describe the feeling of scoring a goal in the World Cup,” he said, “but I imagine winning a brand-new car is up there.”
The competition launches TONIGHT, Monday 18 June, with England’s opening game against Tunisia.
How do you enter the competition to win a new car when England score? Simply, use the hashtag #AutoTraderGoals. Do this as soon as the goal is scored, on the following social media channels:
The competition window opens as soon as the goal is scored, and one winner will be picked at random. Fans have until the next goal is scored to enter, or until the end of the match if no more goals are scored.
Entrants also have to be over 18, and hold a full UK driving licence.
But what if you’re not on social media? Don’t worry, Auto Trader’s thought of that, too. You can enter online, by adding your email address to the online form.
Barnes added the England squad is one of the youngest ever to play for the team in the World Cup. “I’m hopeful this tournament will show the fruits fo what this new generation is capable of, so I’m confident Auto Trader will be giving away plenty of new cars during what hopes to be a memorable World Cup.”
Recent history hasn’t been kind to Fernando Alonso. He spent years with Ferrari, almost winning the F1 World Championship, but nearly wasn’t good enough and he left in a huff to go and win with a McLaren team renewing its famed partnership with Honda instead.
Umm… that hasn’t quite gone to plan either. Three years of abject failure by Honda has seen virtually all McLaren’s big-name sponsors desert it, and Fernando almost run out of very slow things to publically compare the car to over the in-race radio. GP2 car? F3 car? Honda Jazz? Even his most ardent detractors couldn’t help but have sympathy.
Perhaps inevitably, McLaren itself almost lost arguably the most gifted F1 driver of his generation. As it earlier lost one of the other most gifted talents, Lewis Hamilton, it didn’t want a repeat. So it spent months and millions on lawyers to ditch Honda and nab a Renault engine. Not the fastest engine, no, but certainly one powerful enough to take Red Bull Racing to a couple of wins last year. You’d have to put money on it doing the same for Alonso this year.
But there’s more. Because the day job’s been so pitiful over the past few years, Alonso’s looked elsewhere. He started by driving a Honda-powered car in the 2017 Indy 500, a Blue Riband event that he was looking good for until, ahem, the engine went pop. Earlier this year, he drove in the Daytona 500 sports car race, another classic.
And now, he’s going one better, by entering as many World Endurance Championship races as he can, behind the wheel of the much-fancied Toyota LMP1 car. Including, you’ve got it the Le Mans 24 Hours. See what he’s doing here?
Alonso, for years, was seen as a quick driver but also a bit of a sulky bugger. A deserving two-time World Champion, but yet another destined to have things fizzled out by Ferrari (take note, Sebastien Vettel…) before making up the numbers and retiring.
He’s having none of that. If the way he’s battled chronically slow McLarens for the past three years isn’t proof of that, his newfound determination to drive in every classic motor race going, and try to win it, should be. Nando doesn’t just want to be an F1 winner, he wants to be a genuine motor racing legend, someone proving his speed in as many disciplines as possible, not just F1.
This is what our racing heroes of years gone by used to do. Sir Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, all barely had a weekend off when in their prime, so many different cars were they driving. That famous shot of Jim Clark in a Lotus Cortina? That was no mere demonstration – he was racing.
Alonso might well be doing the same. He might be the Mario Andretti of our generation, still driving well into his 60s. Let’s relish it, racing fans. One of the greatest stories in motor racing might be unfolding before our very eyes.
Popular electric charge point locator app Zap-Map has launched a new route planner tool that lets electric car owners plan long journeys without having to worry about finding chargers en route.
Honda has agreed to supply Red Bull Racing with Formula One engines from 2019. The two-year deal will see Red Bull switch from its current supply of Renault engines.
This summer, all football roads lead to Russia, as fans across the globe tune in to watch the 2018 World Cup. Can Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane lead England to victory? That remains to be seen, but in the meantime, we’ve taken a look at the cars driven by the England squad members. Contains Range Rover.
The world has woken up to the scandal of plastic waste, and Volvo is one of the first carmakers to respond with a headline commitment: all its new cars will, by 2025, contain 25 percent recycled plastics.
Auto Trader has vowed to give away a new car every time England score a goal in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Up for grabs are an Abarth 595, Alfa Romeo Mito, Fiat 500X and a Jeep Renegade. 
Recent history hasn’t been kind to Fernando Alonso. He spent years with Ferrari, almost winning the F1 World Championship, but nearly wasn’t good enough and he left in a huff to go and win with a McLaren team renewing its famed partnership with Honda instead.
