The new Ford Focus, which goes on sale in August 2018 for September delivery, is cheaper than the car it replaces, Ford has announced.
The range opens from £17,930 for the Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost 85 Style, which is £2,300 less than the outgoing car. Admittedly, this is slightly unrepresentative, as few people actually by the basic Style version, but other key models in the range are also cheaper.
Focus Zetec and ST-Line models together account for 55 percent of all Focus sales: the Zetec is £850 less than before (from £19,300 for a 1.0 Ecoboost 100 Zetec) and the ST-Line is £250 cheaper (from £21,570 for a 1.0 Ecoboost 125 ST-Line).
Seven Ford Focus variants are offered at launch: Style, Zetec, ST-Line, ST-Line X (from £24,050), Titanium (from £21,550), Titanium X (from £22,820) and new premium-style Vignale (from £25,450 for a 1.0 Ecoboost 125). Estate models are also offered from launch, for around £1,100 more than the comparable five-door Focus hatch.
The Focus Studio comes with 16in alloys, air con, DAB, Bluetooth, electronic parking brake and autonomous emergency braking. But the entry-level trim you really want is Zetec: this adds on the all-important Ford Sync 3 infotainment system, with 6.5in touchscreen boasting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Zetec models also come with front fog lamps, Quickclear heated windscreen and cruise control with speed limiter.
Titanium versions add more equipment: dual-zone climate control, all-round parking sensors, heated front seats, larger 8in touchscreen, keyless start and standard sat nav. Titanium X ups the posh features further, with part-leather seats, privacy glass and 17in alloys.
Ford’s warm hatch line is ST-Line, which sits on suspension 10mm lower than standard, and has pumped-up ST-Line bodystyling including a unique front end, rear spoiler and polished tailpipes, and inside, flat-bottom steering wheel and a black headlining. ST-Line X brings 18in alloys, red brake calipers, and the equipment features of the Titanium X grade.
And Vignale? That’s the ultra-posh one. It too has a unique front end and 18in alloys, full LED lighting front and rear, full leather seating inside, a head-up display, rear-view camera, heated steering wheel and a premium 675-watt B&O Play sound system (a £350 option on Titanium, Titanium X and ST-Line X variants).
Prices for the pumped-up Active crossover, which sits 30mm higher than regular cars and has tough bodystyling in the familiar Audi Allroad style, will be announced later.
Compile a list of the world’s toughest vehicles and the Toyota Hilux is likely to appear somewhere near the top. As comfortable at the centre of a civil uprising as it is on the uplands of Wales, Toyota’s virtually indestructible pick-up has developed a formidable reputation for robustness and dependability. To celebrate 50 years of the Hilux, we take a look back at the history of the truck even Jeremy Clarkson couldn’t kill.
Top Gear: the indestructible Toyota Hilux
First, he drove it down some steps. Next, he took it on a destructive tour of Bristol. Then, he parked it in the Severn Estuary and waited for the tide to come in. He even tried death by caravan and fire. But, no matter what Jeremy Clarkson did to the Toyota Hilux, he couldn’t kill it. So, James May stuck it on the roof of a tower block that was about to be demolished with explosives. Needless to say, it survived, and was driven into the Top Gear studio.
Top Gear: Toyota Hilux Arctic Trucks
In 2007, Clarkson, Hammond and May raced from the town of Resolute in Canada to the Magnetic North Pole, 450 miles away. Hammond travelled by dog sled, while Clarkson and May were at the wheel of a Toyota Hilux modified by Arctic Trucks. Three years later, James May was sent to Iceland to see how close it’s possible to drive to the mouth of an active volcano. His choice of wheels: a Toyota Hilux.
The Toyota War
Here is the Toyota Hilux being used as a force for good by the RAF, but the pick-up is also the choice of revolutionaries, guerrilla fighters and terrorists. In fact, such was the truck’s ubiquity in the Chadian-Libyan conflict of 1987, it became known as the “Toyota War”. In an article in Newsweek, Andrew Exum, a former Army Ranger and now a fellow of the Centre for a New American Security, said: “It’s the vehicular equivalent of the AK-47. It’s ubiquitous to insurgent warfare. And actually, recently, also counterinsurgent warfare. It kicks the hell out of the Humvee.”
Back to the Future: Toyota Hilux SR5 Xtra Cab
Think of Back to the Future and one car springs to mind. But while the DeLorean DMC-12 grabs the limelight, Marty McFly’s Toyota Hilux pick-up is arguably just as cool. The original SR5 Xtra Cab was written off, so a duplicate was required for the second movie. Be honest, you really fancy a black Hilux with a set of KC daylighters, don’t you?
Dakar Rally: Toyota Hilux
Toyota has participated in the Dakar Rally since its inception in 1979, with Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa entering three modified Hilux models in the 2018 event. In fact, of the 92 cars that began the 5,500-mile race, 47 were Toyotas. The Hilux finished second and third, as well as taking five positions within the overall top 10. But enough of the present, what about the history of the Toyota Hilux?
Toyota Briska
The Hilux can trace its roots back to the Hino Motors Briska, a small truck with seats for three people and a payload capacity of 750kg. The little truck made its debut in 1961, before the second-generation Hino Briska was launched in 1965. When Toyota and Hino Motors signed a partnership agreement in 1966, it wasn’t long before the Briska was given a Toyota badge, while Hino began working on a successor to the Briska, which was released in 1968 under the Hilux name.
Toyota Hilux N10
The N10 was born in March 1968, when Japanese dealerships took delivery of the first genuine Toyota Hilux pick-up. It continued to be built at Hino Motors’ Hamura plant and sat alongside the Corona and Masterline in Toyota’s range of light-duty pick-ups. The name, in case you were wondering, is a combination of “high” and “luxury”.
Toyota Hilux N10
In the same year, Toyota began exporting the N10 to Australia and Saudi Arabia, two regions where it would become part of the automotive furniture. In June 1969, the Hilux – simply badged as the Toyota Truck – was introduced to the US market, replacing the Stout, which had been on sale since 1964. The UK market would have to wait a little while longer.
Toyota Hilux N20
The second-generation Toyota Hilux arrived in May 1972, which signalled its introduction to the UK market. Although based on the previous model, the N20 featured an extended wheelbase and new safety features, including servo-assisted dual brake master cylinders and load-sensing brake proportioning valves. The length and the payload capacity remained the same. A long-bed version was added to the range in 1973, while a move upmarket led to the introduction of a 2.2-litre engine and SR5 trim level in the US.
Toyota Hilux N30
Until the late 1970s, the Toyota Hilux had been nothing other than a workhorse, complete with live axles and leaf springs. But, led by the market trends in the US, it was beginning to blaze a trail as a more lifestyle-led leisure vehicle. To this end, the third-generation Hilux of 1978 was far more car-like, with a greater focus on ride comfort.
Toyota Hilux N30
Three standard-length and four long-wheelbase versions were available, with a new Super Deluxe model introduced from launch, complete with extended cab some 90mm longer than standard. To take on the might of Ford and Chevrolet, Toyota marketed the pick-up under the banner of “Born in Japan, raised in the US,” emphasising the lifestyle element of its comparatively small truck.
Toyota Hilux N30
This was a period of big change for the Toyota Hilux, with the first four-wheel-drive model introduced in October 1979, sharing many of its components with the Land Cruiser. A year earlier, cumulative exports of the Hilux broke the one-million mark, with 800,000 units sold during the 1973 to 1978 period alone.
Toyota Hilux N30
In response to the demand for economical diesel vehicles, five diesel engines were added to the Hilux range in December 1979. The 2.2-litre engine – lifted from the Hiace van – was mated to the recently developed five-speed manual gearbox with overdrive.
Toyota Hilux N40
In November 1983, Toyota unveiled the fourth-generation Hilux, although its predecessor remained on sale in Japan as a rear-wheel-drive base model. All four-wheel-drive models featured a new body, complete with blister wheelarches at the front and rear. Once again, Toyota was keen to emphasise the car-like qualities of the Hilux, including a more ‘luxurious’ cabin and a new instrument panel. Options included power steering, an electric winch, automatic locking hubs, a clinometer and altimeter.
Toyota Hilux Surf
Back in 1981, Toyota had cosied up to Winnebago to create an oft-forgotten concept called the Trekker. The SUV was based on the four-wheel-drive Hilux, with Winnebago and two other body manufacturers adding a fibreglass body to create a rival to the Bronco or the Blazer. This led to the development of the Hilux-based Surf (or 4Runner), with a fibreglass top, electric rear windows, fabric upholstery and van-like versatility. Options included a carpeted rear deck, glass moonroof, rear heater for the back seat area and an electric winch.
Production reaches four million
In June 1986, Toyota announced that cumulative production of the Hilux had hit four million, making it the first Toyota truck to reach this milestone. Of the four million units, exports accounted for around 90 percent, although in 1985 this was as much as 95 percent.
Toyota Hilux N50
The fifth-generation Hilux was unveiled in September 1988, before arriving in the UK in 1989. “A commercial vehicle should combine reliability, durability, economy and the right specification for the job,” said Toyota GB, “and the familiar Hilux has done this with considerable style; its chunky good looks have always made it stand out in any working environment.”
Toyota Hilux N50
Three models were available at launch: a two-wheel-drive petrol for £7,348.50, and a choice of two four-wheel-drive options, powered by a petrol or diesel engine. Short- and long-wheelbase versions were available, along with double and Xtra cabs, but unlike in North America, the Hilux remained a commercial proposition.
Volkswagen Taro
In 1989, overseas production of the Hilux began in Hanover, Germany, following an agreement between Toyota and Volkswagen. The relationship lasted just eight years, but led to the introduction of the VW Taro, while some two-wheel-drive Hilux models sold in Britain were made in Germany.
Toyota Tacoma
Meanwhile, in the USA, the Toyota Hilux was going through something of a revolution. Independent front suspension gave Toyota the space to fit a V6 engine, enabling it to compete with the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet S-10. But it wasn’t enough, and Toyota was forced into a rethink. The decision was made to switch from an imported truck to the US-built Tacoma, which arrived in 1995.
Toyota Hilux N60
With the Hilux Surf/4Runner and Tacoma forging their own paths, the Hilux was left to go it alone. The sixth-generation pick-up arrived in 1997, with Toyota keen to emphasise the split-personality of the Hilux: as adept at carrying building materials as it was transporting mountain bikers to a muddy trail. “The new Hilux is dramatic and sporty in its design and will satisfy both the established market for reliable, working pick-up trucks and the newer, growing market where customers drive the vehicle in their leisure time,” said Toyota GB in October 1997.
Toyota Hilux N60
All models now came with independent front suspension, which played in a part in the Hilux re-establishing its lead in the commercial one-ton pick-up market. In Japan, Toyota even went as far as labelling the Hilux designed for personal use as the “Sports Pickup”, complete with sports seats.
Toyota Hilux N70
The seventh-generation Hilux arrived in August 2004 and was now on sale in 164 markets. This was the first Hilux to not be built in Japan, with production facilities based in nine different countries, including Thailand, South Africa and Argentina. Significantly, with sales (at this point) totalling 12 million, it was the second-best selling Toyota behind the Corolla.
The current Toyota Hilux
The current Toyota Hilux was introduced in May 2015, by which time the pick-up had amassed cumulative global sales of more than 18 million. Hiroki Nakajima, Hilux executive chief engineer, said: “My motto is ‘seeing is believing’, so I made it a point to begin by visiting as many countries where Hilux is sold as possible. Of those 172 countries around the world, I visited more than 110, to hear first-hand from real users and witness for myself the conditions in which Hilux was being driven.”
A Porsche works driver has lapped a special evolution version of the firm’s Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid LMP1 sports car around Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit more quickly than reigning F1 champ Lewis Hamilton in last year’s title-winning Mercedes-AMG racer.
The incredible lap time of 1:41.770, set by Swiss Neel Jani, was a full 0.783 seconds faster than Hamilton’s 2017 pole position time of 1:42.553. Porsche LMP1 vice president Fritz Enzinger described it as “an absolute fantastic lap – an outstanding drivers’ performance from Neel and the result of great engineering.”
Why did Porsche stage the high-speed demonstration run? To “prove the ultimate performance of the most innovative race cars of its time. Our target was to show what the 919 Hybrid Evo is able to do when we loosen the restrictions that normally come from the regulations.”
Jani, who hit a top speed of 223mph during the lap, called the car “brutally impressive. It is definitely the fastest car I ever drove. The grip level is at a fully new dimension for me – I couldn’t imagine this amount beforehand.
“The speed at which everything happens on a single lap with the 919 Evo is that fast that the demand on reaction speed is very different to what I was used to in the WEC (World Endurance Championship).
“We are not only faster than the F1 pole from 2017… today’s lap was 12 seconds faster compared to our WEC pole position from last year!”
Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo: what’s changed?
You might think, given such an amazing demonstration of sheer speed, that Porsche has massively modified its Le Mans winner. Not so, insisted Stephen Mitas, the car’s chief race engineer and leader of the 919 Evo project.
“We all knew no matter how successful the 919 Hybrid was, it could never show its full abilities.” But Porsche has sought to explore them not by modifying the engine – none of the powertrain hardware has been changed – but by simply upping the fuel flow rate and increasing the amount of energy the hybrid system can recover.
More extensive are the changes to the car’s aerodynamics A revised aero package delivers 53 percent more downforce and 66 percent greater aerodynamic efficiency. Meanwhile, 39kg has been cut from the kerb weight (taking it under 850kg) and Michelin has even developed special tyres to cope with a car that generates more downforce than an F1 car. It’s a phenomenal machine.
Actually, even the Evo version doesn’t fully exploit the technical potential, added Mitas. “This time we were not limited by regulations but by resources.” Even so, “it is a very satisfying feeling that what we’ve done to the car was enough to crack the Formula One record.”
Don’t think you’ve missed your opportunity to see the monstrous Porsche 919 Evo in action, either – as part of the 919 Tribute Tour, it’s coming to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, and the Festival of Porsche at Brands Hatch in early September.
Don’t miss your chance to witness what could possibly be the fastest racing car ever built…
New vehicle excise duty (VED, or car tax) rules have now come into force that could cost you as much as £500 – yet a survey has revealed that nearly nine out of 10 drivers still don’t know about the changes.
The revised system, introduced at the beginning of April, is based on new ‘real driving emissions’ tests. This means if you buy any new Euro 6 diesel that emits more than 120mg/km of NOx (nitrogen oxides), you’ll be forced to pay more for road tax in the first year.
Currently, all diesel cars on the market exceed this figure, meaning they’ll all move up a band under the new VED rules. This means a Nissan Qashqai 1.5-litre dCi 110, for example, which emits 99g/km CO2, will now cost £145 to tax for the first year – up from £125 currently.
At the other end of the scale, a Mitsubishi Shogun will cost a hefty £2,070 to tax for the first year – an increase of £370.
Under new regulations introduced in 2017, all new petrol and diesel cars costing less than £40,000 are charged a first year tax rate based on CO2 emissions. This is followed by a flat rate of £140 every year, plus an extra £310 supplement for five years for cars costing more than £40,000.
First year VED rates 2018-2019
CO2 emissions (g/km)
Petrol cars
Diesel cars
0
£0
£0
1-50
£10
£25
51-75
£25
£105
76-90
£105
£125
91-100
£125
£140
101-110
£145
£165
111-130
£165
£205
131-150
£205
£515
151-170
£515
£830
171-190
£830
£1,240
191-225
£1,240
£1,760
226-255
£1,760
£2,070
More than 255
£2,070
£2,070
Although the premium is small for cleaner diesels, high-emitting diesels could face an increase of more than £500 in their first year.
In reality, most diesel car buyers won’t notice a huge difference, as the first year’s road tax is lumped into the on-the-road price of a new car. However, it’s another in a series of anti-diesel messages which nearly half of drivers say are confusing, according to the survey by Confused.com.
“Drivers are clearly confused about the messaging around diesel vehicles,” said the website’s motoring editor, Amanda Stretton. “It’s no wonder motorists are not up to speed with the latest laws.
“As we head towards 2040, when the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles will be banned, we expect drivers will see numerous incentives and penalties being introduced. Whether such measures will encourage take up of more environmentally friendly car-types remains to be seen.”
The number of new diesel cars being registered continues to plummet, as Confused.com’s research reveals that 60 percent of drivers say they wouldn’t consider a diesel for their new car.
Speaking earlier this month, the Society of Motor Manufacturer and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Although the new car market has dipped, it remains at a good level despite the drop in demand for diesel. Consumers should be reassured, however, that the latest cars are the cleanest in history and can help address air quality issues, which is why they are econxempt from any restrictions.”
2018 car tax changes: Q&A
Is tax for petrol cars going up?
Yes – but only by a small amount. Petrol cars emitting 99g/km CO2 will now be charged £105 in VED compared to £100. A car producing more than 255g/km CO2 will now be taxed £2,070 in the first year compared to £2,000.
Can I negotiate money off a new car to drop it below the £40,000 threshold?
No. The VED is based on a car’s list price including options as well as fuel, number plates and a delivery charge.
Are electric cars cheap to tax?
Yes and no. Zero-emission cars with a list price below £40,000 are free to tax, while hybrids are taxed on emissions, like petrol and diesel cars (albeit slightly cheaper). Even electric or hybrid cars with a list price of more than £40,000 attract the £310 premium for years two to six on top of the standard VED rate.
Read more:
Barely 1 in 3 new cars sold last month was a diesel
The rolling exemption for classic cars means that on the 1 April each year, vehicles built more than 40 years before 1 January that year will automatically be exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
With this in mind, we’ve identified 12 of the many cars launched in 1978, as owners can look forward to a tax-free future.
Saab 99 Turbo
The 99 Turbo was a turning point, not just for Saab, but for the world of performance cars. It was there at the genesis of mass-produced turbocharged cars, and went on sale in the UK with a price tag of £7,850. A few weeks later, it was overshadowed by the preview of the Saab 900, which arrived in showrooms in the spring of 1979.
Citroen Visa
Designed to fill the gap between the 2CV and the GS, the Citroen Visa was typically idiosyncratic. Highlights included a dashboard layout inspired by the CX, thermoplastic elastomer bumpers and, for entry-level models, a larger version of the 2CV’s air-cooled engine. Few cars survive.
Ford Capri Mk3
The Ford Capri Mk3 was announced on the 2 March 1978, boasting four circular headlights, a louvred radiator grille, new rear lights and a front spoiler. The new appearance was designed to improve aerodynamics, but Ford’s marketing men would have been pleased with the improved aesthetics. The Capri lived on for another decade, bowing out with the limited edition 280.
Porsche 928
Making its debut at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show, the first right-hand drive Porsche 928 cars were delivered in February 1978. Famously launched to succeed the iconic 911, the 928 failed to capture the public’s imagination and sales were slow and steady. A programme of gradual improvements created a fine GT car, but the 928 died in 1995, leaving the 911 to live on as Porsche’s flagship sports car.
Aston Martin Lagonda
Two years after the first prototype was unveiled, the first Aston Martin Lagonda saloon models were delivered in 1978. In April of that year, a Lagonda would have set you back £32,620, which is about £193,250 in today’s money.
Mercedes-Benz W123 T
In 1977, Mercedes-Benz launched its first estate car, with the first right-hand drive models scheduled for delivery in 1978. The W123 T – or Touring and Transport – is arguably the ultimate version of one of the greatest cars of the 20th century. If you’re looking for reliable family transport, this is so much cooler than a PCP deal on a new crossover.
Opel Monza
Previewed in 1977, the first Opel Monza models went on sale in May 1978. Based on the Opel Senator, the Monza felt more exotic than its GM parentage would suggest, especially in 3.0-litre form. It certainly sounded more glamorous than the Vauxhall version…
Vauxhall Royale
Aside from the badge and front grille, the Vauxhall Royale was little more than a reskinned version of the Opel Monza. Just like its Opel sibling, the Royale was built in Germany, but Vauxhall would have to wait two years before the 3.0-litre engine was offered in the UK. In the meantime, Royale customers had to ‘make do’ with the 2.8-litre six-cylinder unit.
Lotus Esprit S2
The Lotus Esprit S2 arrived in August 1978 and featured new Lotus-designed Speedline alloy wheels, Rover SD1 rear lights, an integrated front spoiler and scoops behind the doors.
Mazda RX-7
The rotary-engined NSU Ro80 died in 1977, but Mazda wanted the world to believe there was still life in the Wankel. The RX-7 was designed to go head-to-head with the Datsun 260Z and the Porsche 924 in North America, but UK deliveries began before the end of 1978.
BMW 635CSi
This was a big year for BMW. Along with the aforementioned M1, Bavaria also unveiled the 323i – the fastest 3 Series to date – and this: the 635CSi. Arriving in July, the 635CSi gave the 6 Series the performance to match its good looks, with power sourced from a 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine.
Chrysler Horizon
The Simca-Chrysler Horizon scooped the European Car of the Year award in 1979, beating the Fiat Strada and Audi 80 into second and third place, respectively. “Built to win you over,” proclaimed the press ads, although it was always facing a losing battle against the Volkswagen Golf. Within a year, it became a Talbot, but was dead by the mid 80s.
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Many are blaming the current demonisation of diesel for this, at least in part – but although rising sales of alternative fuel cars reveal some may be making the switch from diesel to electric, it’s plug-in hybrids, which combine electric with a ‘range-extending’ petrol engine, rather than pure zero-emissions EVs, that are benefiting.
Indeed, sales of pure electric cars actually fell in March, the largest and most important month of the year for new car sales, and by a not-insignificant 7.5 percent.
Plug-in hybrid new car sales, by contrast, rose by 18.2 percent.
The decline in pure electric cars is a surprise, as the assumed trend has been that sales will accelerate as battery ranges increase, prices fall and buyers become more familiar and confident with the concept of an electric car.
But while more than 3,100 pure electric cars were sold in March 2017, little more than 2,900 were registered in 2018. This is despite Renault, one of the biggest brands for electric cars, offering some appealing £199-a-month deals on its all-electric Zoe.
One explanation for the fall in electric car sales could be Nissan’s launch of the new Leaf. Often, there can be a hiccup in deliveries as production switches from one generation to the next.
Ford very publicaly showed what happens when things go wrong last year, when Britain’s perennial best-selling car, the Fiesta, lost its top spot for a few months.
However, another explanation could be that, simply, the bulk of British car buyers don’t think they’re yet ready for electric. Early adopters already have one and it’s going to take the roll-out of the next-generation of electric cars to really rally the market.
Again, the Leaf may well prove pivotal here, just as the original one did in establishing the idea of an everyday electric car in Britain. Fresh from scooping the 2018 World Green Car of the Year Award, can it deliver?
Analysts will thus be watching pure EV registration figures carefully over the next few months. Because surely it’s far too early in the life of the everyday electric car for a sales stumble to continue for long…
‘Alternative-fuel vehicles’ – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric – accounted for just over five percent of car sales in February 2018. That’s according to JATO Dynamics, which collates car registration figures for 27 European markets. Here, we reveal the top five best-sellers in each of those three eco-friendly categories. These are Europe’s best-selling hybrid and electric cars
Hybrid no.5 – Kia Niro
We start with conventional hybrids: those where on-board batteries are charged solely by an internal combustion engine (i.e. they can’t be plugged in). In fifth place is the Kia Niro, finishing ahead of its Hyundai Ioniq stablemate with 1,853 sales. It’s the only non-Toyota in the top five.
Hybrid no.4 – Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Toyota has majored on hybrids ever since the first Prius was launched in 1997. Interestingly, though, the car many people associate with ‘going green’ is not inside the European top five. It’s outsold by the fourth-placed RAV4 Hybrid for starters, which found 3,326 new owners in February.
Hybrid no.3 – Toyota Auris Hybrid
Our next Toyota is the Auris Hybrid. This dull-but-worthy car offers the same petrol/electric drivetrain as the Prius, but packaged in a more conventional hatchback body. There’s also a practical Touring Sports estate. Sales of 4,408 put the Auris in third place.
Hybrid no.2 – Toyota C-HR Hybrid
Fashionable crossover it may be, but the C-HR’s slash-cut styling certainly divides opinion. Still, unconventional looks are no barrier to success in this sector – as proved by the Nissan Juke and the C-HR’s strong standing here. It finishes second, with 5,436 sales.
Hybrid no.1 – Toyota Yaris Hybrid
So the number one hybrid in Europe is – you guessed it – a Toyota. The Yaris Hybrid is the smallest and most efficient car in the top five, with official figures of 85.6mpg and 75g/km. It’s also reliable and easy to drive – particularly in town, where a ‘B’ mode for the automatic gearbox boosts regenerative braking for one-pedal driving.
Plug-in hybrid no.5 – Volkswagen Golf GTE
We move on to plug-in hybrids, starting with the fifth-placed Volkswagen Golf GTE. Cars in this class usually boast incredible – and not entirely realistic – CO2 emissions figures, due to the fact they complete much of the official NEDC test on electric power alone. The sporty Golf GTE, for example, emits just 40g/km. A total of 665 were sold in February.
Plug-in hybrid no.4 – BMW 225xe iPerformance Active Tourer
‘BMW 225xe iPerformance Active Tourer’ is a bit of a mouthful, and you wouldn’t call this front-wheel-drive MPV attractive. However, its strengths lie elsewhere, with a versatile interior and 46g/km CO2 emissions (meaning low company car tax and VED). It’s Europe’s fourth most popular PHEV, with 692 sold.
Plug-in hybrid no.3 – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Mitsubishi sells diesel and plug-in petrol/electric versions of its Outlander SUV for the same price. Result: the PHEV is hugely more popular, regularly topping the charts as the UK’s most popular plug-in. In Europe overall, it finishes third, shifting 924 units in April. A updated Outlander arrives soon, promising more power and improved economy.
Plug-in hybrid no.2 – Volvo XC60 T8
How about this for the best of both worlds? The T8 ‘twin engine’ XC60 has a combined output of 407hp with an official CO2 figure of 49g/km. It’s also stylish, spacious and very comfortable. What’s not to like? Well, perhaps a nigh-on £60,000 price tag, although that didn’t stop 976 T8s finding buyers around Europe.
Plug-in hybrid no.1 – Volkswagen Passat GTE
The Passat GTE takes the number one spot, with 1,034 sales – comfortably more than its cheaper Golf sibling. Like the Golf, it’s a performance-oriented hybrid, using its 9.9kWh lithium-ion battery for extra oomph as well as cutting fuel use. The 0-62mph dash takes a swift 7.4 seconds, with CO2 emissions of 39g/km (in theory, at least).
Electric car no.5 – Smart Fortwo EQ
Our third and final top five, also based on Jato Dynamics data, is for fully electric cars (EVs). Times are changing, but many EVs are still small cars designed primarily for city use. The Smart Fortwo EQ is typical of the breed: a two-seat runabout with an 80mph top speed and a 96-mile range. A total of 741 were sold.
Electric car no.4 – BMW i3
When BMW launched its eco-focused ‘i’ sub-brand, it was the i8 supercar that stole the headlines. However, the i3 hatchback is, in truth, the more innovative car: a futuristic alternative to a 3 Series with a choice of electric or range-extender hybrid powertrains. BMW sold 1,130 electric i3s in February.
Electric car no.3 – Volkswagen e-Golf
The sprawling Golf range covers all bases, including the fully-electric e-Golf (1,403 sold). From the outside, this five-door hatchback looks near-identical to a petrol or diesel Golf – a blanked-off grille with a blue stripe is a giveaway – but its 24.2kW lithium-ion battery means zero emissions. For everyday driving, there’s simply no compromise.
Electric car no.2 – Nissan Leaf
Where Volkswagen fitted an existing car with a battery and electric motor, Nissan took the opposite approach – designing an EV from the ground up. The Leaf is now into its second-generation and the new model has a huge, 235-mile range when fully charged. European buyers snapped up 1,508 in February 2018.
Electric car no.1 – Renault Zoe
Renault sold 2,177 Zoes in the same month, however, putting this chic supermini comfortably in first place as Europe’s most popular EV. Not a bad achievement for a car first launched in 2012. Renault has pioneered a monthly battery leasing scheme with the Zoe, which helps keep list prices down. Opt for the beefier 41kWh battery and range increases to around 180 miles.
Everything sounds better in Italian. For example: “Il mio scarico è bloccato. Chiama un idraulico.” If Google Translate is to be believed, that’s telling somebody you have a blocked drain and you’d like them to call a plumber. With this in mind, I’ve been tasked with coming up with 25 car names that sound great in Italian, but sciocchezze in English.
Ferrari 488 Pista
The Ferrari 488 Pista: ask an Italian to pronounce the name and it will sound beguiling, evocative and exotic. Ask somebody from an English-speaking nation and it will sound unpleasant and slightly whiffy. Pista is, of course, Italian for “track”, but if you thought it sounded faintly ridiculous without an Italian accent, have a look at Travis Okulski’s piece on Road & Track. It doesn’t translate particularly well, especially if you’re Estonian, Lithuanian, Persian or Ukranian.
Fiat Strada
The Fiat Ritmo was exported to most English-speaking markets as the Fiat Strada, which itself sounds more appealing than the Fiat Street. Why was it called the Strada in the UK and USA? Simply because Ritmo is Italian for “rhythm”, which is a natural form of contraception.
Ferrari 458 Speciale
Say the word “special”. Now say “speciale” in your finest Italian accent. It just sounds so right, even if your impression of an Italian is about as convincing as Joe Dolce’s Shaddap You Face. Ask your parents.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Strada is Italian for “street”, while stradale is “road”. Whatever, just admire the majesty of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. Italian car manufacturers have a history of using the name to denote a road-going version of a racing car.
Audi Quattro
Anybody who has ordered a four-cheese pizza will know that quattro is Italian for “four”. An apt name, then, for a performance coupe that put four-wheel drive on the map as a real-world option.
Maserati Quattroporte
It sounds like the most exotic car on the planet, but it means little more than Maserati Four Door. Back in 1963, when the original Quattroporte was launched, it was the fastest four-door saloon in the world.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde
The history of the Quadrifoglio Verde – or “green four-leaf clover” – dates back to 1923, when Ugo Sivocci decided to add the symbol of luck to his race car. Sivocci won the 1923 Targa Florio, and it was assumed that luck played a small part in his victory. Later that year, Sivocci died during practice for the Italian Grand Prix. The Quadrifoglio Verde hadn’t been applied to his race car…
Fiat Cinquecento
The Fiat Cinquecento: the city car of choice for The Proclaimers. Well, they’d almost certainly walk 500 miles to find a good one.
Fiat Seicento
But the Scottish duo wouldn’t walk 600 miles for a Fiat Seicento. That would be da da da (da da da) daft.
Fiat Tipo
The Fiat Group’s Tipo Due platform – or “Type Two” platform – was conceived from the outset with the intention of shared use, beginning with this: the Fiat Tipo. It was designed by IDEA to go head-to-head with the Volkswagen Golf, and was good enough to scoop the European Car of the Year award in 1989.
Fiat Sedici
Fiat teamed up with Suzuki to develop the Sedici, which is also known as the Suzuki SX4. The Giugiaro-designed Sedici was the official car of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and the name means “Sixteen”. It’s a 4×4, you see. And four times four equals sixteen. Neat.
Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that sedici means “sixteen”. And you won’t need access to Rosetta Stone to know that valvole means “valve”. Back in the 90s, a 16v badge on your car’s rump was a sign of merit. But SEDICIVALVOLE on the back of your Tipo was a badge of distinction.
Fiat Uno
The Mini One: yeah, it’s OK. But the Fiat Uno? Much, much better.
Fiat Punto
Giorgetto Giugiaro described the Fiat Punto as “a two-box, verging on one-box, car with all the advantages that this type of build offers in terms of habitability and visibility within a predetermined length.” Twenty-five years on from its launch in Turin, it’s time to recognise the glorious simplicity of the Fiat Punto, or Fiat Point.
Fiat Grande Punto
Anyone who has ordered an expensive takeaway coffee will know what Grande means in Italian. The Fiat Big Point doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
Fiat Barchetta
The Barchetta name can trace its roots back to the Fiat 509S Bateau of the 1920s and racing Ferraris of the late 1940s. But the Fiat Barchetta – or Little Boat – is arguably the most famous use of the name.
Fiat Stilo
If you’re going to call your car Stilo – or Style – you need to ensure it hits the mark. Sadly, the styling of the Fiat Stilo wasn’t greeted with universal acclaim. “We clothed our new car in a markedly ‘pan-European’ skin, reserving our more distinctively Italian creativity for a few of the details,” said Nevio Di Giusto, Fiat Auto’s product engineering chief.
Fiat Topolino
Is this the cutest name in the history of the motor car? The Fiat Topolino, aka the Fiat Little Mouse.
Ferrari Testarossa
The Ferrari 500 TR featured a cylinder head painted red, hence the name Testa Rossa, or “Red Head”. The name was revisited in 1984, albeit in Testarossa form for the Pininfarina-designed supercar.
Fiat Campagnola
Campagna means “country”, so Campagnola is an apt name for an Italian off-road vehicle. The Fiat Campagnola enjoyed success in its domestic market, most notably among the Carabinieri and Polizia.
Fiat Multipla
The Multipla name was used for the four-door MPV version of the Fiat 600, before being reused for the aesthetically-challenged, but oh-so-cool, MPV launched in 1998. Multipla means “multiple”, which in this case means seats. The Fiat Multipla has two rows of three seats.
Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta
In Italian, a berlina is a saloon car, while a berlinetta is a “little saloon”. The name has been used by manufacturers to denote a sporty coupe, but the Berlinetta badge is not restricted to Italian marques. Take the Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta: the European name was designed to add a touch of luxury to the all-American pony car.
Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole
The Quattrovalvole name, often shortened to QV, simply means “four-valves”, as in four valves per cylinder. It’s a good excuse to use this photograph of a Lamborghini Countach QV.
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
The Alfa Romeo Disco Volante or “Flying Saucer”. Its curvaceous styling led to it being given the internal nickname of Disco Volante, and the unofficial name caught on, thanks in part to the obsession with UFOs in the 1950s.
Ferrari F430 Scuderia
We conclude with the F430 Scuderia, or “stable” in English. It sounds so much better in Italian and is rather apt for a company name with blacksmith roots and a Prancing Horse for a badge.fi
New car registrations plummeted by 15.7 percent in March 2018 compared to the same month last year, latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed. March is traditionally the largest month of the year for new car sales.
The latest figures mean new car sales have fallen month-on-month for 12 months running.
However, the trade organisation has stressed that although the headline figure is “grim”, the bigger picture is “relatively strong”. Speaking to the BBC, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes revealed that new car sales in March 2018 were still the fourth-biggest month on record.
Things were distorted in 2017 due to a spike in sales ahead of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) road tax changes coming into force the following month. Many buyers pulled forward their purchase to escape punitive added costs.
“March’s decline is not unexpected given the huge surge in registrations in the same month last year,” said Hawes.
Other factors in the weak 2018 performance include the weather – and this is why, said Hawes, the 4×4 sector was the only one to do reasonably well: registrations remained broadly stable, while all other sectors fell.
“Consumer and business confidence… has taken a knock in recent months and a thriving new car market is essential to the overall health of our economy.” What needs to happen in order to restore momentum? “Creating the right economic conditions for all types of consumers to have the confidence to buy new vehicles,” said Hawes.
Diesel declines – again
Diesel car sales, in contrast, continued to suffer. The market was down a whopping 37.2 percent percent in March, adding yet more pressure to car manufacturers seeking to meet upcoming new car CO2 targets. Less than 1 in 3 new car buyers purchased a diesel car in March.
Sales of petrol cars rose slightly, by 0.5 percent. Pure petrol sales comprise 62.5 percent of all new car sales – and while alternative fuel vehicle sales rose, the gain was a mediocre 5.7 percent, taking the share up from 4.1 percent to 5.1 percent.
Overall, new car sales in 2018 are down 12.4 percent – with the decline of diesel a striking 33.3 percent.
“All technologies, regardless of fuel type, have a role to play in helping improve air quality,” said Hawes. “Government must do more to encourage consumers to buy new vehicles rather than hang onto their older, more polluting vehicles.”
More than 1,400 automotive industry jobs at Vauxhall’s van plant in Luton have been secured after new owner PSA Peugeot Citroen announced plans to build the next-generation Vivaro van at the historic factory.
The site may even produce Peugeot- and Citroen-branded vans in the future.
The news follows Groupe PSA’s record LCV unit sales of 476,500 in 2017, an increase of 15 percent on 2016. The investment in Luton is driven through a performance plan negotiated between the Unite trade union and the Luton plant, despite what Vauxhall calls “Brexit uncertainties”.
Business secretary Greg Clark said: “Today’s decision is a vote of confidence in Vauxhall’s high-skilled workforce and the UK’s world-leading automotive sector. This investment in upgrading the production platform will safeguard and grow jobs, ensuring the future of the Luton plant well into the next decade and help ensure the plant is well positioned for future Vauxhall models to be made in the UK.
“We have been clear in our commitment to the automotive sector which is why, through the Industrial Strategy, we established a landmark Automotive Sector Deal that will see us working with industry to put the UK at the forefront of new technologies.”
PSA bought General Motors’ European business in 2017 and there had been widespread speculation surrounding the future of the Vauxhall plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port.
In 2017, the Luton plant produced 60,000 Opel and Vauxhall Vivaros, but the investment, which is said to total £100m, including £9m from the UK government, could increase capacity to around 100,000 vehicles a year.
‘Major milestone’ for Luton plant
Carlos Tavares, chairman of the managing board Groupe PSA, said: “Performance is the trigger for sustainability and I would like to thank all stakeholders involved and underline the open mindset of our union partners, as well as that of the UK Government.
“This is a major milestone for the future of the Luton plant and a key enabler to serve our ambitions in the commercial vehicle market, guaranteeing customers the best offering in this segment”
PSA considered building Vivaro vans in Germany and Poland, but the UK site “had a natural advantage because it already houses a paint shop fitted to produce van-sized vehicles – an operation that would be expensive to set up elsewhere,” said the FT.
The news is a welcome boost for UK commercial vehicle manufacturing, which fell 24.2 percent in February to 6,019 units. Exports still drive UK production volumes, with almost 70 percent of UK-built vans, trucks, buses and coaches destined for global customers.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), welcomed PSA’s decision, saying: “This announcement is great news for the UK automotive sector and, especially, the Luton plant.
“The UK continues to be a centre of excellence for vehicle production thanks to our engineering expertise, high levels of productivity and a collaborative relationship with [the] government which has enabled us to build a robust industrial strategy and a sector deal.
“We will continue to work with policy makers to ensure the UK remains as competitive as possible now and in the future so we can continue to build on our long heritage in vehicle manufacturing.”
The new Ford Focus, which goes on sale in August 2018 for September delivery, is cheaper than the car it replaces, Ford has announced. 
A Porsche works driver has lapped a special evolution version of the firm’s Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid LMP1 sports car around Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit more quickly than reigning F1 champ Lewis Hamilton in last year’s title-winning Mercedes-AMG racer.
The rolling exemption for classic cars means that on the 1 April each year, vehicles built more than 40 years before 1 January that year will automatically be exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
New car sales in March 2018 saw the 12th monthly decline in a row, with 
New car registrations plummeted by 15.7 percent in March 2018 compared to the same month last year, latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed. March is traditionally the largest month of the year for new car sales. 
More than 1,400 automotive industry jobs at Vauxhall’s van plant in Luton have been secured after new owner PSA Peugeot Citroen announced plans to build the next-generation Vivaro van at the historic factory.