In 1955, Jaguar planned to build 100 D-type racing cars. In the end, it only built 75, with production ending in 1956.
Today, at the 2018 Salon Retromobile show in Paris, the Coventry firm is to announce it’s restarting production of the D-type, to make the final 25 models and finally take production up to the planned 100-car total.
An engineering prototype will be displayed at the retro car show to mark the occasion.
Although they’re all-new, each of the 25 2018 D-types will be entirely period-correct, produced using the original engineering drawings and production records. Jaguar Classic has been through Jaguar’s entire archives to discovery everything it needs to know to start remaking the classic D-type.
The Jaguar D-type recreation follows the firm’s famous ‘bring-back-to-life’ Lightweight E-types and XKSS projects.
Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic engineering manager, said: “Recreating the nine D-type-derived XKSSs was hugely satisfying, and an even bigger technical challenge than the six missing Lightweight E-types, but lessons learned from the XKSS project have given us a head start on the final 25 D-types.”
Period detail is guaranteed, he promised. “Each one will be absolutely correct, down to the very last detail, just as Jaguar’s Competitions Department intended.”
Famous Jaguar competitions manager Lofty England helped defined the D-type in the early 1950s, and today’s buyers, like then, can pick either a 1955-spec Shortnose or a 1956-spec Longnose; the Retromobile exhibit is a Longnose, which is marked out by:
Extended bonnet
Tail fin
Wide-angle cylinder head
Quick-change brake calipers
Under England’s watch, the D-type won the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1955, 1956 and 1957.
Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director, said: “The opportunity to continue the D-type’s success story, by completing its planned production run in Coventry, is one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects that our world-class experts at Jaguar Land Rover Classic are proud to fulfil.
“The Jaguar D-type is one of the most iconic and beautiful competition cars of all time, with an outstanding record in the world’s toughest motor races. And it’s just as spectacular today.”
Looking to save money on your car insurance? Comparethemarket.com has released details of the top 10 cheapest cars to insure, based on the average price returned for cars with more than 1,000 enquiries for a particular model. By choosing one of these cars, you stand a better chance of not paying through the nose.
10. Dacia Duster: £541.72
According to Comparethemarket.com, where you live and where you store the car can have a big effect on the price of car insurance. The premium is affected by the risk of the vehicle being stolen and being bumped into when parked. Having access to a garage might lower the premium, but some insurers increase the price based on drivers misjudging the width of their car.
9. Mazda CX-5: £535.95
Your employment status will have also affect the premium. For example, you’ll pay more if you drive regularly as part of your job or if you carry expensive tools or equipment in your vehicle. Racing drivers pay more, as do journalists and window cleaners
8. Hyundai ix20: £531.21
Well-mannered and law-abiding citizens drive cars like the Hyundai ix20, which is why it’s a cheap car to drive. Having three points on your licence for a minor speeding offence will have a small impact, whereas a previous ban for drink-driving will make it hard to find a cheap policy. Some insurers will refuse to insure a previously convicted drink-driver.
7. Skoda Kodiaq: £515.48
The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best crossovers on the market, but it’s not going to appeal to a young driver. For 17 to 25-year-olds, the cost of insurance can be as expensive as the vehicle itself, but the premiums will start to decrease from the age of 26.
6. Renault Kadjar: £507.89
Comparethemarket.com is very specific here, referencing the Renault Kadjar Dynamique S Nav dCi 110 as one of the cheapest cars to insure.
5. Kia Venga 3: £499.26
Look, it’s the Kia Venga…
Comparethemarket.com loves the Kia Venga, boys.
4. SsangYong Korando: £495.92
The SsangYong Korando offers exceptional value for money, with prices starting from as little as £16,295. It should be cheap to insure, with Comparethemarket.com quoting an average of £495.92 for the SUV.
3. Citroen C3 Picasso: £488.22
The Citroen C3 Picasso has been replaced by the new C3 Aircross, but the old model is the one to have if you’re hoping to save money on your car insurance.
2. Skoda Roomster: £481.44
The Roomster disappeared from the Skoda range in 2015, but its practicality and clever packaging means that it’s a popular used car. It’s good to know it’ll be cheap to insure.
1. Skoda Yeti: £456.49
But it’s not the cheapest, because that accolade belongs to the now-departed Skoda Yeti. Another good reason to buy the quirky and brilliant Yeti, as if you needed an excuse.
A 1997 Aston Martin V8 Vantage V550 ordered new by Sir Elton John will face the gavel at the Silverstone Auctions Race Retro classic car sale next month.
Showing less than 10,000 miles, auctioneers reckon this rare Aston could make as much as a quarter of a million at auction.
Based on the Virage coupe, the V550 nameplate was a nod to the 550bhp (558hp) twin-supercharged 5.3-litre V8 engine that took the two-tonne car to 60mph in 4.6 seconds and on to a 186mph top speed.
One of the last Astons to be hand-built at Newport Pagnell, Elton is said to have ordered it himself and had it built to his specification. Finished in black with a black leather interior, it’s one of just 239 V550s sold around the world, making it one of the most desirable supercars of its time.
“Sir Elton is a global superstar and is still making headlines around the world, so it’s a pleasure to offer for sale this Aston Martin that he ordered new back in 1997,” said Silverstone Auctions’ classic car specialist, Adam Rutter.
“As well as enjoying celebrity ownership, this stunning V8 Vantage has been maintained regardless of expense and has a mere 8,663 miles on the clock, that’s equivalent to being driven about 400 miles only a year.”
With such a low mileage, Elton must have hardly used his ultra-desirable Aston. Indeed, the auctioneers say it still has a ‘new car’ smell, helped no doubt by the sumptuous wood (look at it!) and leather.
Chassis number #70174 has spent a lot of time at specialist Rikki Cann and comes with the original service book showing 19 stamps in total. The seller says more than £7,600 was spent on work on the Aston last year.
Rutter added: “Our Race Retro auction is a rare opportunity to own one of the last coach-built Aston Martins. If that wasn’t enough, then throw in the fact it was ordered new by Sir Elton John and you have a truly special car.”
Watch: Jeremy Clarkson drives an Aston V8 Vantage V550
Kia has confirmed the new 2018 Ceed will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The European-designed car will be shown in five-door hatchback guise, plus “a second member of the Ceed family”.
It’s not yet clear what this second variant will be: Kia is dropping the slow-selling Pro_Cee’d three-door. Early rumours indicate the Geneva surprise could be a Kia Stinger-inspired fastback or shooting-brake style model: sister company Hyundai has recently rolled out a fastback version of its i30 hatchback.
Kia says the new Ceed hasn’t just been designed in Europe, but has been fully developed and engineered here too. Indeed, Kia says it’s been honed exclusively for Europe’s more challenging roads. Buyers are thus promised a more engaging drive, new engines and some innovative new tech.
The i30 offers 120hp 1.0-litre turbo and 140hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engines, both of which will also be available in the new Ceed. The 1.6-litre turbodiesel will also be upgraded, and there’ll be a choice of manual or DCT automatic gearboxes.
It’s also going to be simpler to write: at last, Kia has dropped the apostrophe from the name – so Cee’d becomes Ceed. Few got it right anyway, and the firm has at last banished two generations of irritation with this third-generation model.
Kia has reminded us what Ceed actually stands for, too: Community of Europe, with European Design. We hope it’s thus just a coincidence that European left-hand drive sales have been confirmed to begin in Q2 2018, but the UK on-sale date is currently simply to “be announced in due course”…
BP has become the latest fuel retailer to launch a smartphone app-based payment system, called BPme. The system is already live in more than 500 BP filling stations and the firm is targeting nationwide rollout by the spring.
Instead of visiting the filling station shop to pay for fuel, or fiddling with pay-at-pump systems, the BPme tech allows hands-free payment entirely through the app. Before leaving the car, users select the pump they’re at, wait for a ‘Start Fuelling’ dialogue, and then can leave their phone in the car and do just that.
The firm joins Shell in offering app-based payment tech: the Shell Fill Up & Go system was launched in 2017.
BP says the app will “give our customers a little bit of time back” and, says its UK head of retail Nicola Grady Smith, is a particular boon for parents who may not want to leave their children alone in the car while they go to pay for fuel.
Offered on both Android and Apple iOS, the app works by storing the user’s payment card details (and also their Nectar card, if they wish). The app will locate nearby BP filling stations and can route them to it via navigation apps including Waze, and BP says it will function even if only 3G signal is available.
“BPme has been designed to minimise data and battery usage,” adds the firm. And, for safety reasons, it “can only be used inside a vehicle”.
BP has, however, not changed its policy on using smartphones outside of cars on filling station forecourts – the practice is still prohibited. But this could be subject to change in the future, hinted BP bosses, if and when expert guidance is revised. Today’s smartphones, said one exec, are much safer than older handsets…
For now, though, UK filling station practices are similar – if you’re spotted on your phone while filling up, the fuel pump will be cut off and you’ll be given a stern warning…
Renault has cut its UK new car warranty from four years to three, with the change kicking in for all cars and vans ordered from 1 February 2018. The standard warranty deal is now three years and 60,000 miles, or three years and 100,000 miles for the Renault Zoe EV and Koleos SUV.
The firm has given new car buyers something in return, though. A new EasyLife Pack is now offered on all new Renaults: it’s a £99 add-on that includes three years’ free servicing.
Renault says this will potentially save owners more than £500 over three years.
It’s transferrable too, so if they sell the car (or trade it in early through a PCP upgrade), the new owner can still benefit from the free servicing deal.
Renault UK MD Vincent Tourette says the EasyLife Pack “will help customers save money on their servicing, manage future costs and ensure their vehicle is maintained by authorised, trained and professional staff in one of our nationwide retailers”. It will be accepted in all 160 Renault UK dealers.
The firm is making the move because so many new car buyers use three-year PCP deals, meaning the perceived benefits of an extended warranty are diminishing. Cheaper running costs are of greater interest – hence the appeal of Renault’s free servicing pack.
And for those upset by losing the fourth year of warranty, Renault will let customers add it back on, along with an extra year of roadside assistance, for £300. Four years’ servicing and warranty costs £400, and a full four-years servicing, warranty and roadside assistance pack is £500.
As with the £99 EasyLife Pack itself, these costs can be added to the finance agreement, so buyers don’t have to fork out for them upfront.
Data released this morning reveals that the UK’s new car market fell by 6.8 percent in January compared to the same period last year.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that 163,615 cars were driven off forecourts in January – with diesel being the hardest hit.
Fewer than 59,000 diesels were registered last month compared to 78,905 in January 2017 – something the SMMT describes as ‘concerning’.
“The ongoing and substantial decline in new diesel car registrations is concerning, particularly since the evidence indicates consumers and businesses are not switching into alternative technologies, but keeping their older cars running,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
“Given fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality and reduce CO2, we need government policy to encourage take up of the latest advanced low emission diesels as, for many drivers, they remain the right choice economically and environmentally.”
Registrations down 6.3% in Jan and the @SMMT is clear who’s to blame: “Confusion over government policy continued to cause buyers to hesitate”.
The organisation says the figures illustrate the importance of diesel cars and engines to the UK economy. Last year, more than two in five of the cars leaving British production lines were diesels, while manufacturers also produced more than 1 million engines – directly supporting some 3,350 jobs and, combined with the UK’s petrol engine output, delivering some £8.5 billion to the economy.
The sale of alternatively-fuelled cars, including hybrid and electric vehicles, increased by 23.9 percent from 7,279 to 9,020. They now account for a market of share of 5.5 percent.
Data of the best-selling cars in January reveals that the new Ford Fiesta is proving to be a hit with buyers – with nearly twice as many registered compared to the Volkswagen Golf, which sits in second place. Curiously, the once-popular Vauxhall Corsa has dropped to eighth place.
The new fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been revealed. The firm is bullish, saying it redefines modern luxury and revolutionises interior design in the compact class; ordering opens in March and deliveries begin in the spring.
The new A-Class is bigger than before, with a 370-litre boot now just 10 litres shy of a Volkswagen Golf. It’s easier to get in and out of – particularly in the rear – and easier to see out of as well. Naturally, it’s safer than ever, with S-Class-grade safety assist tech available, while comfort options include climate-controlled massaging front seats, 64-colour ambient lighting (including illuminated air vents) and semi-autonomous driving functionality.
Engines are all-new. The 1.4-litre (actually, 1,332cc…) M282 motor sounds the star of the show: it has cylinder deactivation, produces up to 167hp when they’re all activated, and should return diesel-like economy. The M260 2.0-litre puts out a handy-sounding 224hp and the OM608 1.5-litre turbodiesel produces a meagre-sounding 116hp but is bound to deliver good economy, low CO2 and, thanks to standard AdBlue NOx-reducing tech, ultra-low exhaust nasties. It will be a star of the new WLTP fuel economy rules.
What else is standout about the new A-Class, though? Here are 11 things you need to know.
1. The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the first Merc not to have a cowl atop the dash. Instead, the dash ‘wing’ stretches from side-to-side, with the freestanding screens sitting proud on top.
2. Even the basic A-Class has twin 7-inch colour displays. The next one up has a 7-inch and a 10.25-inch display; the range-topper has dual 10.25-inch displays (that’s 26cm), housed under a single piece of glass. The central display is touchscreen, for the first time – you can pinch-zoom maps, like you do on a tablet device or smartphone.
3. The choice of ambient lighting colours has increased fourfold, from 12 to 64. To help you find the perfect hue, Mercedes-Benz has preassigned 10 colour ‘worlds’, delivering “an avant-garde lighting display with spectacular colour changes”.
4. The new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system has artificial intelligence (AI). If you always listen to PM on Radio 4, it will learn this, and suggest it to you at around 16.50 each weekday. It will learn who you regularly call and when, and pre-empt this for you. If you regularly drive a route, it will pop this up as a suggestion on the home screen: all you need to do is accept. It’s going to be quite uncanny.
5. It has voice control. Shout, “hey, Mercedes!” and you can fire instructions to your A-Class like you do your Amazon Alexa device.
6. It has a Cd drag factor of just 0.25. This is very aerodynamically slippery indeed – the best in its sector, in fact.
7. Even the smallest alloy wheel is 16-inches. The largest goes up to 19 inches. Will the future Mercedes-AMG A-Class nudge into the 20″s?
8. Three engines will be offered at launch: the A 200 is a 1.33-litre, the A 250 is a 2.0-litre and the A 180 d is a 1.5-litre. The A200 does up to 55.3mpg when fitted with the 7G-DCT automatic, although only this auto version has cylinder deactivation functionality. It works on partial loads between 1,250rpm and 3,800rpm.
9. Mercedes-Benz has built a new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS). The new A-Class is the first Merc to be developed there. Findings from real-life accidents have gone into it, helping optimise “every single bodyshell component… according to the loads and stresses encountered”.
10. Entry-level A 180 d and A 200, surprisingly, have basic (and cheaper) torsion beam rear suspension. Only A 250 and all 4MATIC models have a more advanced four-link independent rear suspension. You can get three types of dampers though: comfort, ‘sports comfort) lowered by 15mm, and active damping.
11. Mercedes-Benz has spent four years developing the new A-Class. It’s covered 12 million test kilometres, with “a few hundred” test cars covering miles in 10 countries (the UK was, sadly, not one of them).
And finally…
Mercedes-Benz surprisingly mentions the “Elk test” in its launch information for the new A-Class. The car “soon attracted criticism” following its 1997 launch, it says: “because an A-Class overturned… and Mercedes-Benz responded: the A-Class was given a revised suspension system and ESP as standard”. The firm, it says, duly raised the safety of compact cars and “put its stamp on the whole industry. It started the success story that is the A-Class.”
While crunching the numbers for our recent feature on popular cars vanishing from our roads, our heads were turned by the sheer number of vehicles listed by the DVLA as off the road. In other words, cars declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) by their owners.
The government introduced SORN 20 years ago this week, with owners required to let the authorities know when a vehicle has been taken off the road and is no longer taxed or insured. With this in mind, we’ve braved the spreadsheet once again with the aim of compiling the top 20 cars listed as SORN in the UK.
Firstly, it’s important to point out that SORNs aren’t the preserve of rare exotics and classic cars. The vast majority of cars registered as being off the road will be sat in a compound waiting for a new owner, or vehicles pre-registered by dealers in an effort to boost monthly sales figures. Which will explain why there are 21,000 Audi A4s registered as SORN in the UK. In all cases, we’ve rounded the number up or down to the nearest thousand.
19. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
On sale in the UK: 1993 – present
Number listed as SORN: 23,000
Other reasons for declaring a car SORN include large companies having a surplus of fleet vehicles, rental firms with too many vehicles, and the classic example of keeping a classic for summer use. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a popular fleet favourite and was the UK’s ninth best-selling car in 2017.
18. Volkswagen Passat
On sale in the UK: 1973 – present
Number listed as SORN: 23,000
The Volkswagen Passat is another fleet favourite, which is reflected in the specification of the cars listed as SORN. The SE TDI and Sport TDI are two of the most popular versions, both of which are recent models that might be coming to the end of a lease agreement. At the opposite end of the spectrum, it’s pleasing to know that there are 48 Passat W8s declared SORN.
17. Fiat Punto/Grande Punto
On sale in the UK: 1993 – present
Number listed as SORN: 24,000
The Fiat Punto made the headlines in 2017 when it became the first car to be given a zero-star safety rating by Euro NCAP. In its current guise, the Punto has been on sale since 2005, so a replacement is long overdue. There are 24,000 listed as SORN, all trying hard to avoid a run-in with a lamppost or a pedestrian.
16. Honda Civic
On sale in the UK: 1973 – present
Number listed as SORN: 26,000
Of the 26,000 Honda Civics listed as SORN, we wonder how many are parked in and around Swindon. Interestingly, at around 2,300, the Type-R is the most common Civic listed as being off the road. Nine percent is a large proportion for the most enthusiast-led car in the range.
15. Ford Ka/Ka+
On sale in the UK: 1996 – present
Number listed as SORN: 29,000
Rust is the enemy of the original Ford Ka, but it remains one of the best designs of the 1990s and can still teach modern city cars a thing or two about dynamics. There are around 29,000 Kas languishing in garages, compounds and forecourts.
14. Vauxhall Vectra
On sale in the UK: 1995 – 2008
Number listed as SORN: 30,000
This is an interesting one. The Vauxhall Vectra has been gone a decade – and lease agreements have long since expired – and yet there are 30,000 of them sat doing nothing in the UK. Is somebody storing them in a huge warehouse, ready to launch a one-make banger racing series? To provide some context, there are just 3,300 Insignias registered as SORN.
13. Renault Megane/Megane Scenic
On sale in the UK: 1996 – present
Number listed as SORN: 30,000
Aside from the Renault Sport versions and the Coupe and Cabriolet models, the Megane is largely a disposable product. That’s to say that there’s little love for them once the cost of maintenance begins to outweigh the purchase cost. And yet, there are 30,000 of them listed as SORN.
12. Nissan Micra
On sale in the UK: 1983 – present
Number listed as SORN: 32,000
The Nissan Micra has enjoyed 35 years of uninterrupted sales in the UK, which goes a little way to explaining the 32,000 cars deemed surplus to requirements. Just think of all those driving school adventures you could have in one of these spare Micras.
11. Volkswagen Polo
On sale in the UK: 1975 – present
Number listed as SORN: 34,000
Another old-timer in terms of length of service, the Volkswagen Polo has been on sale in the UK since the mid-70s. Two of the most popular models listed as SORN include the Polo E (4,738 units) and Polo S (2,633 units). The rarest? That’ll be the Polo LX Formel E, with just one unit.
10. Ford Mondeo
On sale in the UK: 1993 – present
Number listed as SORN: 40,000
The Ford Mondeo is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018, having been a mainstay of Travelodge and Little Chef car parks since 1993. True to repdom form, the LX is the most common model listed as SORN.
9. Ford Escort
On sale in the UK: 1968 – 2000
Number listed as SORN: 43,000
It’s 50 years since the Escort first hit the streets, making this another anniversary for Ford. But while the Mondeo continues to press on to face the rise of crossovers and SUVs, the Escort died out at the turn of the millennium, so it’s surprising to discover that there are 43,000 units registered as SORN.
8. Peugeot 206
On sale in the UK: 1998 – 2006
Number listed as SORN: 43,000
The 206 is Peugeot’s best-selling car of all-time, so it’s no surprise to see a large number of cars listed as SORN. But let’s not forget that the last 206 was sold in the UK back in 2006, so all the cars will be at least 12-years-old.
7. Renault Clio
On sale in the UK: 1991 – present
Number listed as SORN: 48,000
The Renault Clio was the second best-selling car in Europe in 2017, and yet it couldn’t even manage a top 20 slot in the UK. However, there are around 48,000 Clios listed as SORN.
6. Ford Focus
On sale in the UK: 1998 – present
Number listed as SORN: 62,000
SORN was introduced on 31 January 1998, the same year in which the Ford Focus made its debut. It immediately struck a chord with UK buyers, with its New Edge styling representing a radical departure from the tired and lacklustre Escort.
5. BMW 3 Series
On sale in the UK: 1975 – present
Number listed as SORN: 67,000
Into top five, where we find the only premium car to finish in the top half of the table. Introduced in 1975, the BMW 3 Series soon became the benchmark for premium compact saloon cars, and while the Mercedes C-Class sells in greater numbers, the 3er remains the dynamic leader in its class.
4. Vauxhall Corsa/Corsavan
On sale in the UK: 1993 – present
Number listed as SORN: 73,000
Still with us? OK, well you’ll be amazed to discover that there are 73,000 Vauxhall Corsas listed as being off the road in the UK. If not amazed, you’ll be enthralled. Tell you friends. Amaze people at your next dinner party.
3. Vauxhall Astra/Astramax/Astravan
On sale in the UK: 1980 – present
Number listed as SORN: 74,000
If you were expecting to find a treasure trove of exotics and rarities at the end of this rainbow, prepare to be disappointed. The cars featured here reflect the UK market place, particularly the stock of fleet, used, rental and pre-registered vehicles. Which is why the Vauxhall Astra finishes third.
2. Ford Fiesta
On sale in the UK: 1976 – present
Number listed as SORN: 75,000
Predictably, there’s some correlation between the two best-selling cars in the UK and the number of vehicles listed as SORN. Which is why there are 75,000 Fiestas registered as off the road.
1. Volkswagen Golf/Golf Plus
On sale in the UK: 1974 – present
Number listed as SORN: 81,000
And a further 81,000 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Plus models are registered as SORN. That’s a Golf for every person in Harlow. Or one between two for every resident of Oxford. Or half a Golf for every person in Barrow-in-Furness. In other words, there are a lot of unused Golfs in the UK.
Seat has cut up to £1,945 from the list price of its Leon Cupra range, taking the entry-level SC three-door and five-door models below £30,000 – for both manual and DSG automatics.
The reductions comprise £555 off the manual cars, and a heftier £1,905 off the DSG autos. It means manual and automatic Leon Cupras now cost exactly the same: an auto is effectively a no-cost option.
Seat Leon Cupra: 2018 prices
Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 manual: £29,600
Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 DSG auto: £29,600
Seat Leon Cupra 300 5dr manual: £29,900
Seat Leon Cupra 300 5dr DSG: £29,900
Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 manual: £30,895
Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 4Drive DSG: £32,580
There’s been no cut in standard equipment despite the lower prices, either. Indeed, Seat’s now added as standard its Digital Cockpit electronic instrument binnacle as standard, along with 19-inch alloys, Dynamic Chassis Control, and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Of course, even sub-£30k prices are too much for most of us to stump up outright. So Seat’s pulled together a PCP finance package that offers a five-door Leon Cupra DGS, with metallic paint, for £349 a month.
It requires a £5,099 customer deposit, but the dealer adds £1,500 to this, and the £349 a month finance plan is spread over four years at 5.8 percent APR. the final payment is £11,538 and the total amount payable is £33,050 (compared to the list price of £30,480).
Oh, and if you’ve already ordered a Leon Cupra at the higher prices, don’t worry. So long as it’s not already been registered, Seat will update your order to the better-equipped and cheaper cars. Effectively giving you cashback without lifting a finger!
2018 Seat Leon Cupra vs rivals
So how does the new Leon Cupra compare in terms of price to its key rivals? Here are the starter list prices for some of its direct competitors…
In 1955, Jaguar planned to build 100 D-type racing cars. In the end, it only built 75, with production ending in 1956.
Looking to save money on your car insurance? Comparethemarket.com has released details of the top 10 cheapest cars to insure, based on the average price returned for cars with more than 1,000 enquiries for a particular model. By choosing one of these cars, you stand a better chance of not paying through the nose.
Kia has confirmed the new 2018 Ceed will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The European-designed car will be shown in five-door hatchback guise, plus “a second member of the Ceed family”.
BP has become the latest fuel retailer to launch a smartphone app-based payment system, called BPme. The system is already live in more than 500 BP filling stations and the firm is targeting nationwide rollout by the spring.
Renault has cut its UK new car warranty from four years to three, with the change kicking in for all cars and vans ordered from 1 February 2018. The standard warranty deal is now three years and 60,000 miles, or three years and 100,000 miles for the Renault Zoe EV and Koleos SUV.
The new fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been revealed. The firm is bullish, saying it redefines modern luxury and revolutionises interior design in the compact class; ordering opens in March and deliveries begin in the spring.
Seat has cut up to £1,945 from the list price of its Leon Cupra range, taking the entry-level SC three-door and five-door models below £30,000 – for both manual and DSG automatics.