Trials of high-visibility orange smart motorway emergency areas are being extended to the M1, after first being launched on the M3 near Camberley in July.
The new-look emergency areas have orange road surfaces and benefit from much clearer advance signage, as Highways England tries to both improve their visibility and encourage their safe use.
14 of the new-look orange emergency areas are being installed on the M1 between junction 16 (Northampton) and junction 19 (Catthrope) as part of an ongoing smart motorway upgrade for the busy section.
What is a smart motorway?
A smart motorway is one using variable speed limits to control traffic flow and try to avoid stop-start congestion. Since 2004, smart motorway upgrades have also converted the hard shoulder into an additional running lane for when traffic is heavy.
An extended CCTV network helps Highways England operators monitor the motorway: they can immediately close lanes when they observe an incident.
Highways England says smart motorways improve journey times “and are just as safe as conventional motorways”. Some drivers remain confused by them – for example, continuing to drive on the hard shoulder when it is closed.
This is why Highways England is stepping up efforts to inform motorists. A national TV, radio and social media campaign is currently running, to tell drivers not to use lanes closed by ‘Red X’ overhead signs.
Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan hopes the move will help allay motorists’ safety concerns over smart motorways. “We recognise the public concern about smart motorways and we will also believe that changes such as these will help drivers have confidence when using them and be clear about where they can stop in an emergency.”
Hence the new orange emergency areas. “The bright orange colouring will make them as easy as possible to spot and should also discourage drivers from using them in non-emergency situations.
“I hope it helps drivers feel more confident about using a smart motorway.”
2017 is proving to be a difficult time for new car sales, with the SMMT reporting a record low since 2012 for registrations so far this year. As the plate-change month of September nears, a time when manufacturers typically go all-out to attract customers to showrooms, there’s no shortage of tempting offers available. We’ve hunted out the best September 2017 new car offers – from £11,500 off a new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT to free insurance for 18 year olds on a Seat Ibiza.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa is currently offering a £2,000 deposit contribution across a number of its models, including the Mito, Giulietta, Giulia and 4C when you take a test drive before September 30th. That doesn’t extend to the new Stelvio, unfortunately, but Alfa is offering a £439/month four-year PCP deal on its desirable new crossover.
There’s no shortage of finance deals available from your Audi dealer this September. One that caught our eye is a £299 a month Personal Contract Plan (PCP) offer on its ever-popular TT coupe. That’s following a £4,588.80 customer deposit, and a further £4,000 provided by the dealer. Hand it back after four years or stump up £13,295.25 to keep hold of it.
If you’re looking to swap your car every three or four years, Personal Contract Hire (PCH) deals can often work out slightly cheaper than PCP. BMW is currently offering its M140i Shadow Edition for £299 per month over four years on a PCH scheme. You’ll need to stump up an initial rental of £6,579.
Anyone car shopping on a budget should visit their nearest Citroen dealer for some great September 2017 new car offers. Until 30 September 2017, the French manufacturer is offering a £1,900 deposit contribution on its quirky C4 Cactus through its PCP scheme. Meanwhile, its popular C3 supermini is available with three years’ free servicing.
See Citroen new car offers
Dacia
While a £400 dealer deposit contribution doesn’t sound like a huge amount, £149 per month following a £1,880 customer deposit for a brand new Duster sounds like excellent value to us. The Sandero, meanwhile, is available from just £89 a month following a very reasonable £1,485 customer deposit.
See Dacia new car offers
DS
The DS 3 is getting old, but remains a fine supermini – and DS is offering up to £3,500 deposit contribution on certain models until 30th September. While the DS 4 isn’t as desirable, it’s available with £2,800 deposit contribution, and DS is offering £2,950 towards PCP plans on its DS 5.
See DS new car offers
Fiat
A £1,250 deposit contribution from Fiat results in £795 left to pay up front for a new 500 Lounge, followed by 48 monthly payments of £179. If you’d prefer something a little sportier, the carmaker is offering £2,500 towards a 124 Spider on PCP. That results in a customer deposit of £2,330, followed by 37 monthly payments of £249. Suddenly, buying a convertible in September seems sensible…
Ford currently has some tempting offers available across its range, including up to £2,950 off the Focus Titanium and Titanium X, and £2,750 across the Mondeo range. Add an extra £500 to that if you take a test drive and sign on the dotted line before August 31st.
Update – 22 August 2017
Ford has launched a scrappage scheme for older cars! It’s a true scrappage scheme too: all eligible – that’s Euro 1-4 cars registered before 31 December 2009 – will be scrapped and thus removed from British roads. The incentive is in addition to any of the offers outlined above, meaning buyers could save up to £7000 for switching into a green new car.
See Ford new car offers
Honda
Meanwhile, Honda is offering a deposit contribution of up to £3,000 when buying on finance. For the maximum discount, you’ll need to buy a 1.6-litre CRV SE Plus 2wd, which’ll cost £319 a month on PCP. That’s after a deposit of £4,725.38, plus Honda’s £3,000 contribution, with an optional payment of £11,505.14 if you wish to keep the car after three years.
Like Honda, Hyundai isn’t holding back on deposit contributions for PCP buyers. There’s £750 to be had towards certain i10 models, while the new i30 is available with a contribution up to £1,500. If you want a Sante Fe SUV, meanwhile, Hyundai will put a hefty £5,000 towards your deposit. These generous discounts can also be combined with 0 percent finance on certain i30 trims, making it very attractive indeed.
See Hyundai new car offers
Infiniti
Many car buyers will overlook Nissan’s posh sub-brand, Infiniti, but our research suggests you’d be daft to be so hasty. The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Q50 is available with a hefty £4,500 deposit contribution on PCP, taking the customer deposit down to £431 if you can afford monthly repayments of £431 over four years. There’s £2,250 available towards a Q30 too.
See Infiniti new car offers
Jaguar
Think premium brands like Jaguar wouldn’t resort to tempting discounts in a bid to sell cars? You’d be wrong – especially when it comes to ageing, expensive cars like the Jaguar XJ. Jag is currently offering a whopping £10,558 deposit contribution on a new XJ Luxury, along with interest-free finance over three years. You’ll just need to work out a way of affording the £499 monthly repayments.
The big news at Jeep is a massive £9,500 deposit contribution towards a Grand Cherokee SRT, plus an extra £2,000 if you take a test drive before the end of September plus 0 percent APR interest. While the fuel costs might put some off, the £2,000 test drive offer also extends to the Renegade and Cherokee. The latter is also available with a £6,000 deposit contribution with certain trims.
Kia’s offering a year’s free insurance and £500 towards its affordable Picanto and Rio models. Tempting for new drivers, but beware that the Ts and Cs state you have to be aged between 21 and 79 to take up the free insurance offer. Moving up the range, there are a number of tempting offers – including free servicing on various models, a £3,000 deposit contribution towards a Soul EV, and a free upgrade from an Optima saloon to an estate.
With most of Land Rover’s range looking pretty fresh, there’s no need to offer tempting deals to lure customers into showrooms. If you look, though, they are to be had. How does £2,250 towards an Evoque sound? 6.9 percent APR finance takes the edge of it a little, but it’s still a decent offer.
A combination of dealer and manufacturer deposit contributions means you can save £2,000 off most of the Lexus range, along with other tempting deals including two years’ free servicing on CT and IS models.
If you’re looking for a likeable supermini, the Mazda 2 is available with a tempting 0 percent PCP offer, along with a £850 deposit contribution. The bigger Mazda 6, meanwhile, is available with £2,500 towards your deposit.
Few people can afford to buy a brand new Mercedes-Benz outright, but fear not – there’s some excellent deals to be had through the firm’s Agility PCP scheme. How does more than £8,500 towards a G-Class tempt you, or over £12,000 towards a new S-Class? Admittedly the £699 monthly payments of the latter might be a bit high, but the A-Class can be had for £279 a month, following a £3,499 deposit and an extra £674 from your dealer.
If you’re trading in an EU1 – EU4 diesel car before the end of December, it’s also worth noting that Mercedes-Benz will also give you a £2,000 ‘changeover bonus’…
See Mercedes-Benz new car offers
MG
While MG isn’t offering any contribution towards a deposit on either its 3 or GS models, there is 0 percent finance available across the range. That translates to a tempting £115.93 per month over five years, following a reasonable £1,739 deposit. We’d be surprised if you couldn’t negotiate a discount, too…
See MG new car offers
Mini
“50 Mini Select PCP finance offers,” boasts the website. Where do you even begin? With the keenest deal on the best-value Mini there is, the Cooper three-door. For £169 a month over four years, it’s yours on a 5.9 percent APR PCP deal – all you have to do is find £2894 as a deposit, to which Mini will add £1400 to sweeten the deal further. Need more practicality? Take a five-door for £10 a month more. Want more economy? The Cooper D is £10 a month more again – but as the Cooper S also costs £189 a month on this offer, we’re pretty sure we’d hang the economy and go for the fun of 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds… meanwhile, other Minis have plentiful deals too – you can get a family-friendly Cooper Clubman from £199 a month, for example. There really is something for everyone.
See Mini new car offers
Mitsubishi
There’s a pick-and-mix offer of three years’ 0 percent APR with zero deposit on key Mitsubishi models, but perhaps the more well-rounded deal is the 5.9 percent APR PCP incentive on the Outlander PHEV. With Mitsubishi’s £2500 deposit contribution, and the £2500 you get from the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant, this takes the monthly cost of a £39,455 Outlander PHEV 4h variant down to £325 a month. Still too much? Have a used Outlander PHEV from £179 a month, so long as you can find a £6k deposit.
See Mitsubishi new car offers
Nissan
The standout Nissan offer this September is its deal on the Leaf. Yes, we’ll see its replacement next month, but that car won’t be here for a while yet – and can you resist a stonking £4000 deposit contribution on the current one? All you need is a £2768 deposit, then it’s yours for just £219 a month for three years, on 3 percent APR – and Nissan will even throw in a free home charger. If electric is still not for you, there’s a £1600 deposit contribution on the Micra, £2300 on the Juke, and a full £2500 on the old-shape Qashqai. Even if you prefer the facelifted model, Nissan will still chuck in £1500 to get you started on the 4 percent APR PCP.
No significant deals on the in-demand new 3008 SUV, but that doesn’t stop other key models boasting some tasty offers. The 208 supermini, for instance, can be bought from £149 a month, on a 2.9 percent APR PCP, with the dealer chucking in a £2000 deposit contribution. Still want an SUV though? Try the 2008, yours from £169 a month on a 4.9 percent APR PCP, and again with a £2000 deposit add-in. You can even get a 308 family hatch on 0 percent APR, with up to £1700 deposit contribution: yours from £249 a month.
F1 fans have plenty of reason to test drive a new Renault this September: they’ll all go into a draw to win a drive in a Renault F1 racing car. Back down to earth, all new Renaults currently offer two years’ free servicing, while the Captur and Kadjar come with three years’ 0 percent APR, and the popular Clio costs from £139 a month in 1.2 75 Dynamique Nav guise (yes, that’s a supermini with standard sat nav, for just £139 a month). You can even have models such as the racy Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo for just £89 a month, on 0 percent finance – provided you can find an £8400 deposit and, after three years, an £8600 final payment.
See Renault new car offers
Seat
Seat will give you £500 off a new car simply by turning up between now and October to take a test drive. That’s on top of model-specific offers, and one of the best surely is the £1500 deposit contribution on the excellent all-new Ibiza SE, if you take out a four-year, 4.9 percent APR PCP. Even more striking, Seat will even give a year’s free insurance to those aged 18 or over, potentially a massive saving on a car that, in 1.0 95 SE guise, costs from £195 a month. There’s also a £2250 deposit contribution deal on the Leon, with a lower 4.9 percent APR PCP deal.
Skoda is Volkswagen’s value brand and it intends to live up to that this September. PCP deals start with a 2.9 percent APR offer on the Citigo, with a £1000 deposit contribution; the Fabia doubles that contribution, and a similar offer is available on the Octavia as well. You can get a £3000 contribution on the Superb, but the APR jumps up to 4.9 percent; if that’s a bit rich, take 0 percent finance on the Yeti, with a £1500 deposit contribution. As for the in-demand Kodiaq, that has a 5.6 percent APR deal with a £2000 deposit contribution: simply taking a test drive adds an extra £1000 to this. Oh, and all new Skodas come with three years’ free roadside assistance too.
A number of offers across the Smart range, and the headline one is the simplest: take a well-equipped 71hp Fortwo Passion, with metallic paint, for £139 a month over four years, with zero deposit and 0 percent APR. Smart adds in a £1053 deposit contribution too, just to further sweeten the deal. If the Fortwo doesn’t have enough seats, a Forfour Passion is yours from £169 a month.
See Smart new car offers
Ssangyong
‘Choose your offer,’ says SsangYong: it’s got no end of them in time for the 67-plate new registration. The headline-grabbing one is a free upgrade on the Tivoli: choose a model and you can add on either an automatic gearbox or 4×4 running gear, or move on up to the roomier XLV variant, without extra charge. Impressive, huh? There’s an extra £1000 deposit contribution on certain variants too, while all SsangYongs offer a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. SsangYong’s also running a 48-hour test drive programme, should you still need convincing one of its bargain-priced vehicles is for you.
Subaru has a few September 2017 new car offers for business users, such as a WRX STi for £329 + VAT a month for brave company car drivers who don’t mind being crippled on benefit-in-kind tax, but the tastier deals are the PCP offers for retail buyers. Get ready for winter with a £2500 deposit contribution on a Forester’s four-year 6.9 percent APR finance package: and if that’s a bit utilitarian, the posher Outback ups the deposit contribution by another £1000. Just make sure you keep the mileage down to below 6000 a year.
See Subaru new car offers
Suzuki
Many of Suzuki’s cars are so affordable, even £500 off amounts to a hefty saving: it’s yours, Celerio buyers. We’d rather go for the excellent new Swift though, particularly as you can take it with four years’ 0 percent finance, with zero deposit. Simply pay the monthly £192 cost of, say, a SZ-T 5dr, and it’s yours. How’s that for a deal? There’s also up to £2000 off the Baleno, taking entry prices down to under £10,000, and a 2.9 APR finance deal on the Vitara that’ll get you a 1.6 SZ-T for just £199 a month. Oh, and back to the Celerio: if you’re quick, you can pick up one of 500 City special editions, which Suzuki is currently offering on a four-year PCP for a mere £85 a month.
Startup electric car company Tesla has some very keen 1.5 percent PCP deals, but also has a typically innovative additional offer. Know someone who already owns a Model S or Model S? Ask them for a special referral code: owners can give up to five friends £750 off a Model S or Model X, plus unlimited free Supercharging. What’s in for them? Special owners’ rewards, including an owner-only upgrade to 21-inch Arachnid forged alloy wheels, VIP access to the launch of Tesla’s new truck, even access to a bespoke red Tesla Powerwall 2 home energy storage system. Genuinely, unlike any other September offers we know of.
See Tesla owner referral programme
Toyota
Plenty of 0 percent finance offers on mainstream Toyotas: you can pick up interest-free finance from £129 a month on an Aygo, £169 a month on a Yaris and £199 a month on an Auris. A RAV4 Hybrid Business Edition SUV looks a bargain at £229 a month on 0 percent finance, particularly as the C-HR crossover SUV can only do 5.9 percent APR – that’s their respective customer demand right there. There’s a head v heart 4.9 percent APR finance deal with £1000 deposit contribution, too: either the GT86 or Prius. Which would you go for – green or great fun?
See Toyota new car offers
Vauxhall
We half wonder if anyone has ever successfully navigated the full plethora of Vauxhall offers, so numerous are they. 0 percent finance, PCP incentives, low-rate contract hire, even £2000 trade-in ‘scrappage’ incentives – they’re all here. Really, you need either the patience of a saint or the help of a dealer to navigate them: grab a cuppa and head on over to Vauxhall’s site to get stuck in…
Update – 23 August 2017
Vauxhall has given its scrappage scheme a soft relaunch, highlighting some of the special deals it has for its dealers’ September 2017 new car offers billboards. Such as the popular Mokka crossover SUV: include scrappage and you can get up to £4400 off. It’s not just Vauxhall owners who are being drawn in either, added the firm: 63 percent of Vauxhall scrappage scheme owners come from other brands…
Volkswagen is on a UK sales drive right now. It seems intent on becoming Britain’s second-most-popular brand, overtaking Vauxhall, and has the staggering deals to help it achieve this. How about a £1800 deposit contribution on a Polo, with 6.0 percent APR finance? £1000 deposit on a Golf, on 4.9 percent APR? A hefty £4000 on a Passat, or up to £6000 on a Touareg? There’s £3500 off a Scirocco, and you can get three years’ servicing for just £149, while even the brand-new Arteon is offering a £3000 deposit contribution on a 4.9 percent APR PCP.
If you like free servicing, you’ll love Volvo this September: three years’ free maintenance is offered on every single new car it sells. Other incentives are added on, which largely correlate to the age and popularity of the car in question: on the XC60 and XC90 SUVs, it’s restricted to a 5.9 percent APR PCP deal. On the V90 and S90, the APR rate drops to 4.9 percent; on the S60 and V60, Volvo adds in a £750 deposit contribution. The V40 has the best package of all: 3.9 percent APR and a £1000 deposit contribution.
Oxford United has come up with an unusual way to improve players’ performance – threaten them with a Rover Metro if they lag behind during training.
Coach Pep Clotet has bought the L-reg Metro and given it a distinctive facelift, with a pink roof and yellow go-faster stripes. He told the Oxford Mail he’ll award it to the player who puts in the worst performance in training.
Midfielder Josh Ruffels was one of the first to get a glimpse of the retro Metro when it arrived on Wednesday.
“You’ve got to drive it in for a week, so we were having a laugh in it testing it out,” explained the footballer.
“It should be quite fun when it starts, but the pressure’s on.
“You don’t want to be the worst trainer.”
The 23-year-old car has covered nearly 100,000 miles and required a substantial amount of welding to get it through its last MOT test.
Used car sales in Britain slowed over the last three months, reports the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), reflecting the big slowdown in the new car market. 13.5 percent fewer used cars were sold in April, May and June – that’s almost 285,000 fewer secondhand car transactions.
Analysts say the slowdown reflects a lack of consumer confidence in the marketplace, and Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, admitted it came as no surprise.
The cause? Overall market turbulence set off by the introduction of April’s controversial VED rate changes on new cars – which has had an inevitable knock-on effect on the used car market as well. Add in general consumer uncertainty and it’s no wonder used car sales fell so significantly: they’re now down 5.1 percent overall in 2017.
“Although the market remains at an exceptionally high level, given the softening we’ve seen in registrations of new cars in more recent months,” said Hawes, “looking ahead it is vital that government secures the conditions that will maintain consumer and business confidence if we are to see both markets prosper.”
It’s not all bad news, though. “With demand easing over recent months, this could offer motorists the opportunity to get some great deals.”
Best-selling used cars 2017
SUVs are where it’s at with the new car market… and they, along with city cars, were the only type of model whose used car transactions went up in the last quarter. Diesel, too, is holding up: sales fell just 0.1 percent, compared to a surprise 8.9 percent fall in petrol car sales.
25 brilliant used cars for £1000 or less
1.62 million secondhand diesel cars have been sold in 2017, compared to 2.29 million petrol cars. As for alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids and EVs, sales rose 24.2 percent overall, with electric cars up 79.3 percent – but they still only account for 1.2 percent of the secondhand market overall.
Although the used car market has slowed overall, Britain’s love for the supermini shows no signs of declining, either. Of the almost 4 million used cars sold thus far in 2017, almost a third of them were superminis – and Britain’s favourite new supermini, the Ford Fiesta, is also its top secondhand car overall.
The rest of the top 10 best-selling used cars throws up a few surprises though, with Brits’ love of premium cars elbowing some former secondhand favourites down the rankings. As proven by the car in 10th place…
10: Audi A3
Over 56,000 secondhand Audi A3s have been sold so far in 2017. Audi’s premium compact car is thus more popular than once-perennial top 10 used cars such as the Peugeot 208 and Ford Mondeo. But it’s still some way behind…
9: Mini
… The British-built Mini. We Brits love the reborn classic, with sales of over 71,500 secondhand Minis so far in 2017 taking it…
8: Volkswagen Polo
… Within spitting distance of the Volkswagen Polo, on 72,500. How long before the Polo is overtaken by the Mini?
7: Renault Clio
The Renault Clio remains a more popular secondhand supermini than the Volkswagen Polo, with around 76,000 being sold so far in 2017.
6: BMW 3 Series
Another premium brand in the top 10, over 98,000 used BMW 3 Series have been sold so far in 2017. It’s an enormously in-demand model, although it still has a little way to go before it breaks into the top five.
5: Volkswagen Golf
More than 122,000 used Volkswagen Golfs have been sold in the UK so far in 2017. How many of these have TDI engines, the figures don’t disclose…
4: Vauxhall Astra
The Vauxhall Astra is a more popular used car than the Volkswagen Golf: this will please Vauxhall, as the tables are reversed on the new car market.
3: Vauxhall Corsa
Vauxhall follows it up with the Corsa sitting third in the used car popularity stakes. Indeed, the little Vauxhall is far closer here to its arch-rival from Ford than it is in the new car tables – although this does perhaps suggest the Corsa can only fall down the secondhand car popularity stakes from here…
2: Ford Focus
In July, the Ford Focus was Britain’s most popular new car. It can’t quite manage to repeat this in the used car stakes, but sales of almost 170,000 thus far in 2017 mean it’s still finding plenty of fans. And it’s a family sibling that of course sits ahead of it in top spot…
1: Ford Fiesta
Yes, the Fiesta is Britain’s most popular used car, with 185,062 finding new homes thus far in 2017. Given the continued strength of its new car sales over the years, we can’t see this changing any time soon.
Best-selling used car colours 2017
As for top secondhand colours, as we’ll see, there’s a battle at the top of the charts between black and silver, with what was once Britain’s favourite used car colour, blue, relegated to third place. Silver has topped the charts for the past seven years, but is it holding onto this in 2017? Click on to find out…
10: Yellow
Yellow is a bold choice of colour but it seems Brits aren’t in the mood for being bold right now: used car transactions of yellow cars are dropping, with fewer than 24,000 sold thus far in 2017.
9: Brown
In contrast, sales of brown cars have remained consistent this year: they have pulled ahead of yellow in the popularity stakes and are just behind another retro hue making a comeback…
8: Beige
Yes, beige is the seventh most popular used car colour in Britain right now. Fashions really do always come around.
7: Green
Green is next up, selling four times as strongly as beige on the secondhand market. But the next-best colour is four times more popular again…
6: Red
Red was once a hit colour of the 1980s and, while its popularity has faded (rather like a once-red car that’s turned pink in the sun), it’s still found more than 418,000 secondhand buyers thus far in 2017.
5: White
White didn’t used to feature all that highly on the used car colour popularity chart, but the recent resurgence in white new car sales is now powering it up the rankings on the secondhand market. It’s closing in on another popular colour…
4: Grey
Almost half a million grey cars have been sold so far in 2017. White is catching it up but, for now, this sensible-shoes hue remains the fourth most popular used car colour in Britain.
3: Blue
Blue cars come in all shades, from doom blue to Hawaii blue. There are currently some beautiful blue colours on the market, which are finding favour with new car buyers, so we expect its rise up the used popularity rankings – and the clear advantage it has over grey – to only increase further.
2: Silver
Brits have loved silver cars more than any other for years. But not any more. While still far more popular than blue, around 14,000 fewer silver cars have been sold so far this year than the colour at the top of the charts. Which is…
1: Black
The biggest shock in the used car market has been the usurping of silver from the ranks of Britain’s favourite used car colour. Black is the new black, it seems: surely not reflecting the mood of the industry in general?
BMW has previewed the new 2018 Z4 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, with this radical Concept Z4: officially called a design study, BMW’s happy to admit it gives us a first indication to how next year’s series production model will look.
What is it? Why, “an all-out driving machine,” says BMW Group Design boss Adrian van Hooydonk, one that boats all the traditional roadster fundamentals: long wheelbase, low and stretched silhouette plus a stubby tail. The bonnet isn’t as exaggeratedly long as previous BMW roadsters though, sitting the driver (and the engine) closer to the centre of the car, thus making it look sportier and, presumably, feel more agile to drive.
This is BMW’s new design language at work, explains van Hooydonk: dynamic front end, clean-cut tail, striking body sides, minimalist lines and “subtle interplay between surfaces”. It’s been paired back a lot compared to, say, the busy-looking outgoing Z4, but it’s still all “enough to generate a sense of power and emotion,” he reckons.
There are still striking design elements though: the large rear domes are certainly one, both housing the rollover hoops and giving the rear end a standout look. Could they possibly make it to production? We’re not at all sure how, but who knows what BMW might be able to do with a trick folding soft-top…
BMW says the front end references the Z8: headlights are mounted relatively high, with the double kidney grille set down low. The grille doesn’t have plain old vertical bars, but fancy mesh, as per the classic BMW 328 Mille Miglia. And, get this, the traditional BMW double-headlight layout has been reinterpreted, with the dual half-circle lamps stacked on top of one another rather than sitting side-by-side. Is nothing sacred, traditionalists may right now be spluttering.
We can’t see a front apron quite as extreme as this making it through to production but, again, you never know. It feeds turbocharged petrol engines behind it – either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder or 3.0-litre inline six – and also provides cooling air that then filters back out through the side air breathers.
The body sides are clean and voluminous. Fluid, beautifully rendered surfaces create a striking array of gentle light and shade as your eyes move across them: it’s organic, and set off perfectly by low-set and sharply-edged lower sills. BMW doesn’t run out of ideas at the rear, either: this is all pumped muscularity, bulging wheelarches and a lovely set of pure-form OLED tail lamps.
The interior blends familiar bits from new models such as the 5 Series, a parallelogram-shaped iDrive infotainment screen and an open-form electronic instrument binnacle with a simple leather-trimmed hood. Its chiselled design theme is distinctive, and that deeply-dished steering wheel is lovely: we’re desperate for that to make it through to production (although we’ll likely be denied: how might an airbag work effectively within it?).
Note also the tiny lap timer display in the lower section of the steering wheel…
You might also have noticed that half the interior is black and the other half is a sort of browney orange. Yup, it’s on purpose: to create a “clearly defined area that warps around the driver like a capsule”, says BMW. Which then goes on to say something about it creating “a pure-of-purpose driving environment with a pronounced ‘cone of vision’, where the steering wheel as well as the surrounding black surfaces appear to be surging forward”. Quite.
What next for the new BMW Z4?
BMW is co-developing the new Z4 with Toyota; the latter will use the same scaleable architecture to revive the Supra. But unlike that other Toyota sports car joint venture, the GT86-Subaru BRZ project, there’ll be more differentiation here. Not least, the fact BMW’s Z4 sticks with an open-top while the Supra will be a hard-top coupe.
Both will be rear-wheel drive, and the Supra will use a Toyota V6, while the BMW will boast all-Munich engines. There could even be a range-topper producing up to 450hp: yes, that’s exactly what the 3.0-litre straight-six produces in the M3 Competition Pack.
We can certainly expect to see the Z4 next year, with production likely to be well underway by the autumn. As for the Supra, time will tell. Most of the spy shots up to now have been of the Bimmer, suggesting it may be the one that’s delivered first. Surely the very fact we’re getting a new Supra at all means the wait will be worth it?
A report released this morning has suggested that bendy buses should be returned to London’s roads in a bid to reduce congestion and encourage drivers to swap their cars for the bus.
Banning the articulated buses was a flagship policy for former London mayor Boris Johnson, who described them as “cumbersome machines” which were too big for the city.
The influential London Assembly Transport Committee reports that – despite two billion journeys made on London buses every year – numbers dropped by six percent in 2016/17 compared to 2014/15. It says there could be a number of reasons for the decline in popularity of the bus – including improved tube services and a “dramatic” rise in the number of private hire vehicles, such as Ubers. The biggest reason, the committee suggests, is a rise in congestion on London’s roads, which is leading to longer waiting times for buses.
Looking at ways to encourage the use of buses in the capital, the committee says more express routes are needed. With limited stops, these express routes allow faster journeys between major centres. It adds that articulated buses, also known as bendy buses, could be the most appropriate for these routes.
“Articulated buses may be appropriate for use on newly designed routes and offer passenger benefits, including more space, faster journeys, and enhanced accessibility for disabled passengers,” says the report.
More London news on MR:
Uber trials fleet of all-electric Nissan Leafs in London
Other ways to encourage bus use could include introducing wifi and air-conditioning on more buses, and making the bus network easier to understand.
Deputy chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon said: “There’s a huge demand for more buses in outer London – but at the same time, we need to make bus travel more attractive to passengers. Express buses, orbital routes and wifi will help to give buses a much needed boost.
“Bendy buses are controversial – but in outer London they may be the solution to more capacity on routes that feed stations. They also increase accessibility, with more space for wheelchairs.”
The JD Power Dependability Study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of cars after 12-36 months of ownership. A total of 177 problems are analysed across eight categories: vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/communication/entertainment/navigation; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; interior; and engine and transmission.
The results reveal the most dependable cars across six segments, with JD Power listing the top three for each group. Read on to discover the most reliable new cars you can buy.
City car, winner: Peugeot 108
Shocked to find a Peugeot sitting at the top of the city car category? This is a tough segment, so Peugeot will see this as a good result. The 108 shares its platform with the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo, with prices starting from £8,995 for a three-door model.
City car, second: Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is arguably the best value city car you can buy, with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and a great specification, especially on the Premium and Premium SE models. Speaking about the survey overall, Mark Lendrich, head of research at JD Power Europe, said: “Minor issues like foggy windows, noisy brakes or navigation systems that are difficult to use can be very frustrating for owners and can negatively affect brand loyalty.”
City car, third: Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Up
Mark Lendrich went on to say: “These design problems aren’t easy to fix at a service appointment and, if the owner has to live with these problems for the duration of time they have the vehicle, they’re less likely to purchase the same brand in the future.” The Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Up are tied for third place.
Compact car, winner: Volvo V40
Moving on to the compact car segment where we find the Volvo V40 taking a seat at the top of the class. The V40 has been on sale since 2012 and was, at the time of its launch, the safest car in the world.
Compact car, second: Mazda3
The Mazda3 finishes second in a highly competitive segment, ahead of the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Ford Focus. According to JD Power, owners of premium cars tend to stay loyal to the brand, but place a higher importance on problem-free ownership.
Compact car, third: Toyota Auris
The Toyota Auris might not be the most exciting car in the segment, but this result proves that it’s likely to be one of the most reliable. It also offers the option of a fuel-efficient hybrid, with up to 80.7mpg possible on a combined cycle.
Large and luxury, winner: Jaguar XF
Perhaps more than in any other segment, the right badge is everything in the large and luxury segment. And if you’re paying for the privilege of the right image, it’s only right that you demand some reliability. This is a tremendous result for Jaguar, with the XF finishing ahead of the three German rivals.
Large and luxury, second: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The JD Power study is based on vehicles registered from February 2014 through April 2016, which means this result is based on the previous generation E-Class. The latest model (pictured), is arguably the best executive car in the world…
Large and luxury, third: BMW 5 Series
Although BMW might have something to say about that. Once again, the result will be based on the previous generation 5 Series, launched in 2010. The new model is available from £36,000, although the majority of models cost over £40,000.
Midsize car, winner: Vauxhall Insignia
To those who dismiss Vauxhall as a mere also-ran in the industry, we bring news that might just change your opinion: the griffin has not one but two class winners. We start with the previous generation Insignia, which scoops the award in the midsize car segment. We always felt that ubiquity was its biggest crime. This result suggests the old model will make a terrific secondhand buy.
Midsize car, second: Volkswagen Passat
Finishing just behind the Insignia is the Volkswagen Passat, which arrived in 2014. Thanks to its understated but classy styling and a quality interior, the Passat is a near match for the premium rivals in the segment, with the bonus of a GTE petrol-electric option.
Midsize car, third: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a consistent best-seller, with more than 30,000 units registered in 2017. This makes it the most popular four-door saloon in the UK, a fact demonstrated by the sheer number you’ll see on the outside lane of the M4 corridor.
Small car, winner: Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia manages to upstage its Volkswagen Polo sibling by being named the most reliable small car in the JD Power study. Fabia prices start from £11,295, which is about £700 cheaper than the entry-level Polo. That said, some healthy discounts are available on the outgoing Polo, with a new model waiting in the wings.
Small car, second: Suzuki Swift
Once again we have to say that this result is based on a previous model, with the Suzuki Swift replaced by a 2017 version. We’re big fans of the Swift, which is high on spec, great to drive and offers tremendous value for money.
Small car, third: Hyundai i20
The Hyundai i20 finishes third in the small car category, which suggests you might not require the five-year warranty. Hyundai is offering sizeable discounts across the range, including £1,610 off the price of an i20 S, which takes it down to £9,995.
Small MPV, winner: Vauxhall Meriva
Yes, people still buy compact MPVs, but you might be surprised to discover that the Vauxhall Meriva is the most reliable of the lot. The Meriva features clever rear-hinged back doors and a flexible seating arrangement. Prices start from £14,270.
Small MPV, second: Ford B-Max
The Ford B-Max offers an alternative to the rear-hinged set-up of the Meriva with a pair of sliding rear doors. This makes it easy to access the back and to fit child seats. Prices start from £16,145, although the Zetec Navigator is available for a promotional price of £14,945.
Small MPV, third: Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is a segment-busting supermini with designs on the compact MPV sector. Over the years it has become a paragon of reliability, often topping tables such as this. An updated Jazz will be unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, with a facelifted exterior and a new 1.5-litre petrol engine.
Best brand: Kia and Volvo
JD Power has also revealed the most dependable brands, based on the responses of more than 12,000 owners of new cars. The results were analysed to produce a score based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100).
Kia and Volvo finished joint top with 83 PP100, ahead of Skoda with 89 PP100 and Suzuki on 92 PP100. At the other end, BMW finished bottom on 198 PP100, just behind Audi with 187 PP100.
With over 700 million Instagram users, it’s easy to see why car manufacturers value the social platform for marketing and engagement. But which brands are doing best to win followers amongst the memes and celebrities on Instagram? We’ve crunched the numbers and, at the time of publishing, these are the top 21 in ascending order.
The Instagram account for Honda USA is predominantly corporate, majoring on official press images and marketing videos. Being American-orientated, naturally images abound of US products like the Ridgeline pickup truck, although the new ‘global’ Civic Type R hot hatchback makes regular appearances, too. For comparison, the Honda UK account boasts just 28,000 followers.
Nissan’s global Instagram page focusses on user-created content, encouraging submissions directly to them. It clearly works, with over 1.8m followers wanting to see what’s next. Predictably there is little evidence of more everyday Nissan products like the Pulsar or Qashqai here. It’s all about the GT-R and 370Z – especially if they’re heavily modified, and spitting flames from their exhausts – although retro Datsuns do also get a look in.
Who could really say no to the idea of an exotic Italian supercar, pictured against a stunning backdrop? As such, Pagani seems a natural fit for a social media channel that centres on the aesthetically pleasing, so its inclusion on this list shouldn’t be a surprise. The latest Huayra Roadster steals a lot of the limelight, but a recent epic Pagani road trip across the United States has provided video snapshots, too. You’ll need to be a real fan of carbon fibre though.
It might be one of the biggest car brands in the USA, but the bowtie-wearing Chevrolet loses out on Instagram followers to other American companies. It is at least the most-followed of all General Motors manufacturers, beating Cadillac and Buick. However, Chevrolet’s feed is more business, less fun, with slick and polished press office photography the order of the day. Corvettes and Camaros get the most likes, whilst the Spark city car gets a less favourable reception.
With a current image built almost entirely on muscle cars, you can guarantee a plentiful supply of Chargers, Challengers and Vipers on the official Dodge Instagram feed. Mixing Dodge’s own photography with user-submitted content strikes a balance between being engaging, but also on-message. If you do somehow get bored of seeing Challenger Hellcats doing smokey burnouts, you can count on retro Mopar images to break things up.
Despite having made less than 20 posts since the beginning of this year, Tesla still proves to be a popular attraction on Instagram. Perhaps there is only so many times you can post pictures of the Model S and Model X, although the new Model 3 does offer some alternatives. Curiously, the Instagram feed of Tesla CEO Elon Musk also has 2.3m followers at present, but then he does share cool videos of his SpaceX rockets.
No prizes for predicting that the Mustang makes a significant contribution to the images on the Blue Oval’s feed. From the brand-new 2018 Mustang, all the way back the original first-generation pony car, there is plenty of ‘Stang love here. As an American account, the F-150 pickup truck is prominently on display, but there are also pics of the Focus and Fiesta ST models. Ford’s UK Instagram profile has attracted a more modest 35,200 followers.
Boasting over a million more followers than that of the McLaren F1 team, this Instagram account perhaps proves that supercars have even more appeal that Fernando Alonso. With more posts since the beginning of this month than Tesla has managed this year, you can be sure of a contribution from McLaren cropping up in your feed most days. The new 720S accounts for many of the latest images, but there are also archive pictures like the P1 featured here.
Glance quickly at the global Instagram page for Land Rover and you could be mistaken for thinking the company produces nothing but Range Rovers these days. From Evoque, to Velar and Sport, the premium off-roader makes up the bulk of the content, meaning you’ll have to watch carefully to spot a Discovery or Defender making an appearance. Land Rover UK’s own Instagram page has 90,000 followers alone, and packs in the retro archive images to good effect.
To get the full effect of the Rolls-Royce Instagram account you need to visit the brand’s full profile page, and take in the nine-image composite picture of the new Phantom. Viewed in your timeline it appears as a collection of random car parts, which isn’t quite the desired effect. The new giant saloon currently takes centre stage, although other older posts focus on the bespoke craftsmanship which goes into the creation of each Rolls-Royce.
We’re sure Rolls-Royce won’t be too bitter about losing out to former stablemate, Bentley. With an emphasis placed more on ‘lifestyle’ than products alone, the Bentley Motors feed includes images of fashion and fishing along with the usual pictures of cars. Motorsport does also get an occasional look in at least, with the GT3-spec Continental race cars appearing – especially when they win.
Despite #ferrari accounting for over 11 million hashtags on Instagram, the profile for the Italian supercar maker is only able to claim ninth place on our list. Notably, Ferrari only follows one solitary account on Instagram – that of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team, which attracts 1.4 million followers alone. For those solely interested in road cars, Ferrari posts numerous pictures of the latest machinery from Modena, but mixed with highlights from a back catalogue spanning seven decades.
Aston Martin is probably quite satisfied to have the edge over Ferrari in this Instagram battle, with the only official Aston account nudging the Italian brand into tenth place. Although mostly filled with official press photography, the Aston Martin feed does also feature, and encourage, fans and owners to submit their own images. An easy task, given how naturally photogenic the brand’s products are.
How can a company that has released just two new cars in two decades, have managed to amass an Instagram following close to 5 million strong? It probably helps that the car duo in question are powered by quad-turbocharged W16 engines, and are capable of more than 240mph. As the newest of the two, the Chiron garners most of the attention on the Bugatti feed, but occasional pictures of the previous Veyron do also make appearances.
Jaguar Land Rover can surely congratulate itself on building a strong social media following, adding an additional 5 million Jaguar fans to those following Land Rover. Most of the images come from Jaguar direct, although some are user contributions, covering the full range of products, including the new E-Pace compact SUV. Photo highlights from the Formula E Jaguar Racing team can also be found, serving as a reminder for where the brand is heading.
Surpassing even Ferrari for Instagram fans, Maserati offers up photographs that the company believes capture timeless elegance and sporting prowess. It also means featuring photos of Maserati cars next to polo horses and players, given that the company is the title sponsor for a number of major polo tournaments. It’s clearly a strategy that works, along with pictures of the new GranTurismo, and Maserati-branded merchandise. In case you’re wondering, yes you can buy a Maserati polo shirt…
This may be the Instagram account for Porsche Cars North America, but it has become the top destination for followers of the Stuttgart marque. Encouraging user contributions through the #PorscheMoment tag, there is an international flavour to the feed despite the American origins. Highlights from the forthcoming Silverstone Classic are teased, along with the best bits from the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the Le Mans 24 hours race. Plus lots of 911s, obviously.
Another North American profile that acts as an Instagram brand beacon, especially when the Audi Deutschland account attracts just 227,000 followers. Unlike Porsche, Audi North America keeps things firmly on one side of the Atlantic, with photos and videos of Audi models in virtually every state throughout the country. User submissions are also encouraged, and feature alongside professional photography. Despite all this, Audi UK’s own Instagram page boasts a healthy following itself of more than 92,000.
Claiming top position in the battle of the Italian supercar manufacturers, and sneaking into the top three ahead of the company that controls it, is Lamborghini. The featured photography is as eclectic as you would probably expect from the Sant’Agata brand, mixing modern work in with retro goodness. A recent road trip of six new Huracans along the Romanian Transfăgărășan route helped produce impressive images like that featured here.
With almost 9,000 photos and videos shared, Mercedes-Benz goes big when it comes to Instagram. As a result the Stuttgart brand boasts over 10 million avid followers, and encourages numerous submissions by Mercedes-Benz fans and owners from across the globe. With such an extensive history, the Mercedes account includes a plentiful supply of retro images. The Mercedes-AMG sub-brand has its own Instagram account, attracting 5.6 million followers on its own.
This is it, the peak of the Instagram car brands, and by the time you read this BMW will probably have increased its follower count to 13 million. That’s equivalent to the entire population of the Republic of Guinea eagerly awaiting new photos that capture the ideas of ‘sheer driving pleasure’ on Instagram. As impressive as BMW’s Insta achievement might be, it’s still a long way from brands like Nike (73.5m) and National Geographic (80m) who truly dominate the platform. Still, we imagine neither of those feeds will feature a classic 3.0 CSi or cutting-edge i8 anytime soon, so well done, BMW.
Aston Martin has quadrupled its ultra-special range of custom-built Vanquish Zagato models with the reveal of a stunning Speedster limited-run production model – and the surprise announcement of a Shooting Brake ‘estate’ version.
The Speedster will be showcased at the Pebble Beach auto show next week, and will join the existing Vanquish Zagato Coupe and Volante models, first shown in 2016. Aston has also confirmed total Vanquish Zagato production will be capped at just 325 models, across all four variants.
That breaks down to 99 Coupes, 99 Volantes, 99 of the new Shooting Brake and just 28 Speedsters. They’ve largely all been sold already, added the firm: the Coupe and Volante are already in production and the Speedster is scheduled for delivery in 2018.
Prices? For the Speedster, likely in excess of £1 million; pay from around a ‘mere’ £500,000 for the other models.
The Shooting Brake will enter production in 2018, says Aston Martin. For now, we’re only seeing a teaser of it, plus a single side-on sketch of its dramatic shape. The firm’s planning to reveal it in full later in the year.
It’s still a two-seater, says Aston, boasting a “luxuriously trimmed rear cabin area” beneath the extended roofline, which carries the trademark Zagato ‘double bubble’ look right to the rear of the car: it’s inlayed with glass, to let even more light into the cabin. Opening the rear hatchback reveals a set of tailored luggage.
As for the Speedster, this has a bold set of Zagato-themed double ‘Speed Humps’ which flow back from the rear seats, made from carbon fibre (and featuring twin pop-up roll-over hoops). Like other Vanquish Zagatos, there are dramatic tail lamps and plenty of Zagato ‘Z’ logos, both outside and within.
The overhead shot reveals the full drama of the design: Aston Martin hasn’t yet revealed how the roof will work.
Aston’s chief creative officer Marek Reichman said it was the first time Aston had revealed a full family of Zagato models – which he described as dead-cert future concours collectors’ cars. “Many of our customers want different things. Some prefer the purity of A Coupe, but others love the idea of something more extreme, like the Speedster.
“And, yes, some of them have ordered one example of each.”
Andrea Zagato is CEO of the famous Italian coachbuilder, and acknowledged the start of the relationship with Aston Martin almost 60 years ago, with the DB4 GT Zagato. “To have a creative ‘marriage’ thrive for three generations is something unique as the cars themselves.
“My family name is associated with all kinds of wonderful designs, but for many enthusiasts and collector around the world those that combined the Z of Zagato with the wings of Aston Martin are the most special.”
All four Vantage Zagato models are based upon the Vanquish S, so pack a 600-horsepower 6.0-litre V12 engine. Aston says that as each specific version is fine-tuned, buyers can expect “exceptional driving pleasure that is every bit as stimulating and memorable as their design.”
Question is, just how many will actually be driven?
Come back to Motoring Research next week to see more from the ultra-exclusive 2017 Pebble Beach extravaganza.
Responding to independent research commissioned by Auto Trader, the company says it isn’t fair to compare the asking price of a car as part of a private sale with their “genuine offer to buy”.
“WeBuyAnyCar provides a convenience service which allows motorists to sell their car often within a matter of hours, free-from the hassles and risks associated with a private sale,” a spokesman told Motoring Research. “Many alternative options also charge a fee upfront for a service that cannot guarantee a sale.”
The service provides customers with a quote for their car via their website. If the customer is happy with the quote, they can book an appointment at a nearby branch where the car will be inspected and a firm offer made.
While the valuations provided by WeBuyAnyCar are often lower than owners could expect to achieve from a private sale, WeBuyAnyCar says many customers value the convenience.
“We actually recommend consumers seeking the very highest price to sell privately, if they don’t mind dealing with strangers on the doorstep and handling the test drive,” added the spokesperson. “There are personal safety and security issues to consider, as well as managing often substantial payments, sometimes made in cash. Often all this effort is for the sake of what may be a few hundred pounds after negotiations and other fees.”
“We remain the number one choice for over a million customers, who want to sell their car promptly, securely and safely with guaranteed payment and would rather avoid time-wasters, tyre-kickers and the personal risks associated with selling privately.”
Trials of high-visibility orange smart motorway emergency areas are being extended to the M1, after first being launched on the M3 near Camberley in July.
2017 is proving to be a difficult time for new car sales, with the SMMT reporting a record low since 2012 for registrations so far this year. As the plate-change month of September nears, a time when manufacturers typically go all-out to attract customers to showrooms, there’s no shortage of tempting offers available. We’ve hunted out the best September 2017 new car offers – from £11,500 off a new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT to free insurance for 18 year olds on a Seat Ibiza.
Used car sales in Britain slowed over the last three months, reports the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), reflecting the big slowdown in the new car market. 13.5 percent fewer used cars were sold in April, May and June – that’s almost 285,000 fewer secondhand car transactions.
BMW has previewed the new 2018 Z4 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, with this radical Concept Z4: officially called a design study, BMW’s happy to admit it gives us a first indication to how next year’s series production model will look.
Aston Martin has quadrupled its ultra-special range of custom-built Vanquish Zagato models with the reveal of a stunning Speedster limited-run production model – and the surprise announcement of a Shooting Brake ‘estate’ version.
